Polyethyleneimine-mediated gene transfection in porcine fetal fibroblasts.

Polyethylenimine (PEI) has been explored as an efficient non-viral system for delivering genes to cells; however, there were no protocols for its use in porcine fetal fibroblasts (PFF). Therefore, we compared different concentrations of FITC-PEI (0.625, 1.

Effects of a Sorghum Beverage with on Body Composition, Lipid Profiles, and Intestinal Health in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Randomized Single-Blind Pilot Study.

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an extruded whole-grain sorghum beverage containing on body composition, lipid profiles, and intestinal health in overweight and obese adults. (2) Methods: A chronic, single-blind randomized controlled pilot study was conducted with 30 volunteers allocated to three groups ( = 10/group): extruded sorghum beverage (ESB), extruded sorghum beverage with (ESPB), and control beverage (CB) (waxy maize starch). The chemical composition of the beverages was analyzed.

Transcranial direct current stimulation is more effective than pregabalin in controlling nociceptive and anxiety-like behaviors in a rat fibromyalgia-like model.

Objectives: Despite the fact that fibromyalgia, a widespread disease of the musculoskeletal system, has no specific treatment, patients have shown improvement after pharmacological intervention. Pregabalin has demonstrated efficacy; however, its adverse effects may reduce treatment adherence. In this context, neuromodulatory techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be employed as a complementary pain-relieving method.

Short-term effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation in the nociceptive behavior of neuropathic pain rats in development.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by a lesion that triggers pain chronification and central sensitization and it can develop in a different manner, dependent of age. Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating NP. Then, we aimed to investigate the effects of tDCS and BDNF levels in neuropathic pain rats in development, with 30 days old in the beginning of experiments.

Preemptive transcranial direct current stimulation induces analgesia, prevents chronic inflammation and fibrosis, and promotes tissue repair in a rat model of postoperative pain.

This study evaluated the effects of previous exposure to Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on nociceptive, neuroinflammatory, and neurochemical parameters, in rats subjected to an incisional pain model. Forty adult male Wistar rats (60 days old; weighing ∼ 250 g) were divided into five groups: 1. control (C); 2.

Cumulus-oocyte complexes from sows show differences in lipid metabolism compared to cumulus-oocyte complexes from prepubertal gilts during in vitro maturation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of donor age on lipid metabolism during in vitro maturation (IVM) of pigs cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). We evaluated transcript levels of genes, the percentage of ooplasm occupied by lipid droplets (LD) and evaluated DNA methylation in COCs from sows and prepubertal gilts. Transcript levels of six genes (ACACA, ACSS2, FASN, FABP3, SLC27A4, PLIN2), which were analyzed in cumulus cells (CCs), increased after 44 h of IVM in the sow group.

Involvement of GABAergic, glutamatergic, opioidergic, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor systems in the trigeminal neuropathic pain process.

Trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP) is an intense pain condition characterized by hyperalgesia and allodynia; however, its neural mechanisms are not completely understood. Its management is complex, and studies that investigate its biochemical mechanisms are important for improving clinical approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the involvement of GABAergic, glutamatergic, and opioidergic systems and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the TNP process in rats.

Association of low-dose naltrexone and transcranial direct current stimulation in fibromyalgia: a randomized, double-blinded, parallel clinical trial.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a complex, generalized, and diffuse chronic musculoskeletal pain. Pharmacological approaches are widely used to relieve pain and increase quality of life. Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) was shown to increase the nociceptive threshold in patients with fibromyalgia.

Cancer symptoms: do patients, family caregivers and professionals agree?

Objectives: To assess the level of agreement among patients, their family caregivers and health professionals regarding the symptoms presented by patients with cancer.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in patients with cancer admitted to a hospital in Brazil from December 2019 to July 2020. One family caregiver for each patient was included in the study.

To Combine or Not to Combine Physical Therapy With tDCS for Stroke With Shoulder Pain? Analysis From a Combination Randomized Clinical Trial for Rehabilitation of Painful Shoulder in Stroke.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is an intervention that seems to be an ideal tool to enhance the effects of rehabilitation therapies given it facilitates generation of plasticity in the stimulated brain area. In stroke this strategy has been highly utilized; however, the results have been mixed. In this trial we have evaluated the analgesic and functional effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) combined with physiotherapy in stroke survivors with shoulder pain.

Measuring emotional preoperative stress by an app approach and its applicability to predict postoperative pain.

Background: The Brief Measure of Emotional Preoperative Stress (B-MEPS) was developed to evaluate the preoperative individual vulnerability to emotional stress. To obtain a refined version of B-MEPS suitable for an app approach, this study aimed: (i) to identify items with more discriminant properties; (ii) to classify the level of preoperative emotional stress based on cut-off points; (iii) to assess concurrent validity through correlation with the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) score; (iv) to confirm whether the refined version of B-MEPS is an adequate predictive measure for identification of patients prone to intense postoperative pain.

Methods: We include 1016 patients who had undergone surgical procedures in a teaching hospital.

Evidence of Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in a CFA-Induced Chronic Inflammatory Pain Model in Wistar Rats.

Introduction: Given that chronic inflammatory pain is highly prevalent worldwide, it is important to study new techniques to treat or relieve this type of pain. The present study evaluated the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in rats submitted to a chronic inflammatory model by nociceptive response, biomarker levels (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-10), and by histological parameters.

Methods: Sixty-day-old male Wistar rats were used in this study and randomized by weight into 6 major groups: total control, control + sham-tDCS, control + active tDCS, total CFA, CFA + sham-tDCS, and CFA + active tDCS.

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibitors Vs Calcineurin Inhibitors in Chronic Graft Rejection After Lung Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The number of lung transplantations has been rising constantly. However, use of this therapeutic resource is limited by several issues that are difficult to resolve, such as chronic graft rejection and complications secondary to immunosuppression.

Methods: This systematic review compared mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor immunosuppression associated with low-dose calcineurin inhibitors with isolated calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppression on the new-onset chronic rejection development and mortality 12 months after lung transplantation.

Fibromyalgia: A Review of Related Polymorphisms and Clinical Relevance.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome that affects the central nervous system and generates disability, which is characterized by generalized pain, fatigue, and functional decline. In this review, we aimed to identify the polymorphisms related to the pathophysiology of FM and the clinical characteristics generated by genetic influence. Only original studies with genes related to FM were considered, totaling 27 articles.

Dysfunctional eating behavior in fibromyalgia and its association with serum biomarkers of brain plasticity (BDNF and S100B): an exploratory study.

Objective: To assess disordered eating, hunger and satiety perceptions in women with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to healthy controls (HC) and their association with biomarkers of brain plasticity (brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B)).

Methods: Cross-sectional exploratory study. The sample included FM (n = 20) and HC (n = 19), matched to age and waist perimeter.

IL-23 and IL-17 in acute ischemic stroke: Correlation with stroke scales and prognostic value.

Background And Purpose: Inflammation plays a crucial role in brain damage following stroke. Here, we evaluate interleukin 23 (IL-23) and interleukin 17 (IL-17) in the inflammatory process and its relations with neurological findings of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Material And Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with AIS admitted to our hospital within 24 h of stroke onset were enrolled in a prospective cohort study.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Reverses the Long-term Memory Impairment and the Decrease of Hippocampal Interleukin-10 Levels, both Induced by Neuropathic Pain in Rats.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is characterized by the presence of spontaneous pain, allodynia and hyperalgesia. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is one of neuromodulatory techniques that induces satisfactory NP relief, including that from refractory pain patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate rTMS treatment over long term memory (LTM) and hippocampal BDNF and IL-10 levels in rats submitted to a NP model.

Biomarkers in the prognostic evaluation of ischemic stroke: Is there benefit in the measurements of TREM-1 and TREM-2 in the acute phase?

Background And Purpose: Triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells 1 and 2 (TREM-1 and TREM-2) are cell surface receptors important for modulation of microglia immune response. In this study, we evaluate serum levels of TREM-1 and TREM-2 as potential biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Material And Methods: Prospective cohort study of 50 patients with AIS admitted at our hospital.

Pain catastrophizing in daughters of women with fibromyalgia: a case-control study.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain related to the musculoskeletal system. Patients feel incapable and show catastrophic thoughts (exaggeration of the sensations) related to painful events. This study aimed to compare catastrophic thoughts of pain between daughters of women with fibromyalgia and daughters of women without fibromyalgia, no daughter having the syndrome.

Nociceptive Profile and Analgesic use of Patients Submitted to Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery: A Prospective Cohort.

 This study aimed to evaluate the nociceptive profile and the intake of analgesic drugs of patients submitted to rotator cuff repair surgery. Also, to evaluate the nociceptive thresholds and the integrity of the descending inhibitory system, pain catastrophism and prevalence of nociceptive or neuropathic pain.  Approved by the Ethics Committee of La Salle University (1.

Hydrochar obtained with by-products from the sugarcane industry: Molecular features and effects of extracts on maize seed germination.

Sugarcane bagasse, vinasse and a mixture of sugarcane bagasse and vinasse were hydrothermally carbonized (HTC), with and without the addition of phosphoric acid, in order to propose new applications of sucroenergetic industry by-products on soil. Detailed information on the composition and properties of hydrochars has been obtained through elemental composition, thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance and, thermochemolysis GC-MS. The soluble acidic fraction from the hydrochar samples were applied to maize seeds to evaluate the agronomic potential as biostimulants and relate the molecular features with maize seed germination.

Antinociceptive and neurochemical effects of a single dose of IB-MECA in chronic pain rat models.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a single administration of IB-MECA, an A3 adenosine receptor agonist, upon the nociceptive response and central biomarkers of rats submitted to chronic pain models. A total of 136 adult male Wistar rats were divided into two protocols: (1) chronic inflammatory pain (CIP) using complete Freund's adjuvant and (2) neuropathic pain (NP) by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia was measured using von Frey (VF), Randal-Selitto (RS), and hot plate (HP) tests.

Effects of gestational and breastfeeding caffeine exposure in adenosine A1 agonist-induced antinociception of infant rats.

Objectives: Caffeine is extensively consumed as a psychostimulant drug, acting on A and A adenosine receptors blockade. Chronic exposure to caffeine during gestation and breast-feeding may be involved in infant rat's behavioral and biochemical alterations. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of chronic caffeine exposure during gestation and breast-feeding in the functionality of adenosine A receptors in infant rats at P14.

Neonatal morphine exposure and maternal deprivation alter nociceptive response and central biomarkers' levels throughout the life of rats.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of repeated neonatal morphine exposure and/or maternal deprivation(MD) on the nociceptive response and central biomarkers' BDNF, IL-1β, and IL-4 levels at postnatal days 16(PND16), 30(PND30), and 60(PND60). At birth, the litters were standardized to contain 8 pups/dam (n = 58). From PND1 to PND10, the pups of the deprived groups were separated daily from their mothers for 3 h and divided into 5 groups: control(C), saline(S), morphine(M), deprived-saline(DS), and deprived-morphine(DM).

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Induces Analgesia in Rats with Neuropathic Pain and Alcohol Abstinence.

Neuromodulatory techniques have been studied to treat drug addiction or compulsive eating as well as different chronic pain conditions, such as neuropathic and inflammatory pain in the clinical and preclinical settings. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the association of alcohol withdrawal with neuropathic pain based on nociceptive and neurochemical parameters in rats. Thirty-six adult male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: control, neuropathic pain, neuropathic pain + tDCS, neuropathic pain + alcohol, and neuropathic pain + alcohol + tDCS.