Hypericin-loaded in modified theranostic liposome nanoplatform: a preliminary in vivo study of targeting and diagnosis.

Modified theranostic liposomes were created by combining phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-3-glycerol-phosphatidylcholine with two previously modified Pluronic copolymers covalently linked with spermine and folic acid to carry and stabilize the photosensitizer compound hypericin. After physicochemical characterization, the photocytotoxicity was evaluated against different cancer and healthy cells presenting a strong photodynamic effect. The formulation exhibited no photoactivity without illumination and without hypericin.

Predicting major adverse cardiovascular events after orthotopic liver transplantation using a supervised machine learning model: A cohort study.

Background: Liver transplant (LT) patients have become older and sicker. The rate of post-LT major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has increased, and this in turn raises 30-d post-LT mortality. Noninvasive cardiac stress testing loses accuracy when applied to pre-LT cirrhotic patients.

Advanced theranostic nanoplatforms for hypericin delivery in the cancer treatment.

Biomodified coated-lipid vesicles were obtained using the DPPC lipid (L) and F127 copolymer linked covalently with spermine (SN), biotin (BT), and folic acid (FA), resulting in LF127-SN, LF127-BT, and LF127-FA nanoplatforms. The photosensitizer hypericin (HY) was incorporated into the nanosystem by a thin-film method and characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and transmission electronic microscopy. The results provided a good level of stability for all nanoplatforms for at least 5 days as an aqueous dispersion.

Development of Environmentally Responsive Self-Emulsifying System Containing Copaiba Oil-Resin for Leishmaniasis Oral Treatment.

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa species of the genus, and the current treatments face several difficulties and obstacles. Most anti-leishmanial drugs are administered intravenously, showing many side effects and drug resistance. The discovery of new anti-leishmanial compounds and the development of new pharmaceutical systems for more efficient and safer treatments are necessary.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure is independently associated with higher mortality for cirrhotic patients with acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage: Retrospective cohort study.

Background: Acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage (AEVH) is a common complication of cirrhosis and might precipitate multi-organ failure, causing acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Aim: To analyze if the presence and grading of ACLF as defined by European Society for the Study of the Liver-Chronic Liver Failure (EASL-CLIF) is able to predict mortality in cirrhotic patients presenting AEVH.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study executed in Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul.

Metastatic gastric cancer from breast carcinoma presenting with paraneoplastic rheumatic syndrome: A case report.

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. It is the leading cause of death by malignant disease in women.

Case Summary: A female patient, 73 years of age, sought care due to weakness, mild abdominal pain, arthralgia, and weight loss.

Formulation and performance evaluation of emulgel platform for combined skin delivery of curcumin and propolis.

The environment can modify the physiology and body protective function of the skin. Propolis (PRP) and curcumin (CUR) possess important antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and they can be administered in a combined way and using photodynamic therapy (PDT). Emulgels can control drug release due to the physicochemical properties of the gel and the emulsion.

Multifunctional Nanoparticles as High-Efficient Targeted Hypericin System for Theranostic Melanoma.

Biotin, spermine, and folic acid were covalently linked to the F127 copolymer to obtain a new drug delivery system designed for HY-loaded PDT treatment against BF cells. Chemical structures and binders quantification were performed by spectroscopy and spectrophotometric techniques (NMR, HABA/Avidin reagent, fluorescamine assay). Critical micelle concentration, critical micelle temperature, size, polydispersity, and zeta potential indicate the hydrophobicity of the binders can influence the physicochemical parameters.

Melanoma-targeted photodynamic therapy based on hypericin-loaded multifunctional P123-spermine/folate micelles.

Multifunctional P123 micelle linked covalently with spermine (SM) and folic acid (FA) was developed as a drug delivery system of hypericin (HYP). The chemical structures of the modified copolymers were confirmed by spectroscopy and spectrophotometric techniques (UV-vis, FTIR, and H NMR). The copolymeric micelles loading HYP were prepared by solid dispersion and characterized by UV-vis, fluorescence, dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

ACUTE-ON-CHRONIC LIVER FAILURE IS INDEPENDENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS WITH SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS.

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a decompensation of cirrhosis with an in-hospital mortality ranging from 20% to 40%.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze if EASL-CLIF definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is able to predict mortality in cirrhotic patients with SBP.

Methods: Historical cohort study conducted in a public tertiary care teaching hospital.

Design and Optimization of Stimuli-responsive Emulsion-filled Gel for Topical Delivery of Copaiba Oil-resin.

This study presents a phytotherapeutic emulsion-filled gel design composed of Pluronic® F127, Carbopol® C934P, and high level of copaiba oil-resin (PHY-ECO). Mathematical modeling and response surface methodology (RSM) were employed to access the optimal ratio between the oil and the polymer gel-matrix constituents. The chemometric approach showed robust mechanical and thermoresponsive properties for emulsion gel.

Herb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The use of herbal supplements and alternative medicines has been increasing in the last decades. Despite popular belief that the consumption of natural products is harmless, herbs might cause injury to various organs, particularly to the liver, which is responsible for their metabolism in the form of herb-induced liver injury (HILI).

Aim: To identify herbal products associated with HILI and describe the type of lesion associated with each product.

Chromolaena laevigata (Asteraceae) as a source of endophytic non-aflatoxigenic Aspergillus flavus: chemical profile in different culture conditions and biological applications.

Endophytes are microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with their host. These microorganisms can produce a variety of secondary metabolites, some of which have inhibitory effects on pests and pathogens or even act to promote plant growth. Due to these characteristics, these microorganisms are used as sources of biologically active substances for a wide range of biotechnological applications.

Ramp-up of Hawking Radiation in Bose-Einstein-Condensate Analog Black Holes.

Inspired by a recent experiment by Steinhauer and co-workers, we present a simple model which describes the formation of an acoustic black hole in a Bose-Einstein condensate, allowing an analytical computation of the evolution in time of the corresponding density-density correlator. We show the emergence of analog Hawking radiation out of a "quantum atmosphere" region significantly displaced from the horizon. This is quantitatively studied both at T=0 and even in the presence of an initial temperature T, as is always the case experimentally.

Evidence-based protocol for diagnosis and treatment of hepatorenal syndrome is independently associated with lower mortality.

Background: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is the deadliest complication of cirrhosis. The purpose of this study is to analyze if the use of a protocol for HRS is associated with higher survival in these patients.

Methods: An evidence-based protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of HRS was instituted in 2013.

The design, synthesis, and trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activities of 1,3-thiazole and 4-thiazolidinone ester derivatives.

Chagas and leishmaniasis are both neglected tropical diseases, whose inefficient therapies have made them remain the cause for millions of deaths worldwide. Given this, we synthesized 27 novel 1,3-thiazoles and 4-thiazolidinones using bioisosteric and esterification strategies to develop improved and safer drug candidates. After an easy, rapid and low-cost synthesis with satisfactory yields, compounds were structurally characterized.

Antileishmanial activity of -clerodane diterpenes from .

Nowadays, new leishmanicidal drugs are needed and natural products arise as a promising alternative source. Therefore, bioguided fractionation of a hydroethanolic extract from the stem bark of Baill. were conducted based on its antileishmanial activity.

Epidemiological profile of inflammatory bowel disease in Caxias do Sul, Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases affect mostly young patients and have a huge impact on their quality of life and growing treatment costs. Currently, there are few Brazilian studies concerning their epidemiological profile.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the regional clinical and epidemiological profile of these pathological conditions in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome associated with inflammatory bowel disease: A case report and systematic review.

Background: A previously healthy 22-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain and jaundice. She had a reagent antinuclear factor (1:640, with a homogeneous nuclear pattern) and hypergammaglobulinemia (2.16 g/dL).

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Case Report and Systematic Review.

Aim: To report a case of a female patient with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and to systematically review the available cases of the association between HLH and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: In accordance to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, retrieval of studies was based on Medical Subject Headings and Health Sciences Descriptors, which were combined using Boolean operators. Searches were run on the electronic databases Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE (PubMed), Biblioteca Regional de Medicina, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Cochrane Library for Systematic Reviews and Opengrey.

New cadinene-sesquiterpene from (lam.) R. M. King & H. Rob (Asteraceae) aerial parts and biological activities.

Phytochemical investigation of led to the isolation of a new cadinene-sesquiterpene, chromolaevigone glucoside (), along with nine known compounds: daucosterol (), stigmasterol glycoside (), stigmasterol (), β-sitosterol (), pilloin (), gonzalitosin I (), quercetin-3--α-rhamnopyranoside (), 7,7-dihydroxy-calamen-12-oic acid lactone () and trachelanthic acid (). Others 11 known compounds were identified by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. These compounds are being described for the first time in this species, with the exception of cadinene .

Hypericin photodynamic activity in DPPC liposomes - part II: stability and application in melanoma B16-F10 cancer cells.

Hypericin (Hyp) is considered a promising photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), due to its high hydrophobicity, affinity for cell membranes, low toxicity and high photooxidation activity. In this study, Hyp photophysical properties and photodynamic activity against melanoma B16-F10 cells were optimized using DPPC liposomes (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) as a drug delivery system. This nanoparticle is used as a cell membrane biomimetic model and solubilizes hydrophobic drugs.