Dermatoses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease under tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors treatment.

Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor (anti-TNF-α) agents are essential in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Their use, however, may cause dermatoses. This study aims to characterize the dermatoses in IBD patients on anti-TNF-α therapy.

Poor cardiorespiratory fitness may be an indicator of more severe liver inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to cardiovascular disease. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important indicator of cardiovascular health. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the CRF of NAFLD patients.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic liver disease of different etiology in a Brazilian referral center: comparison of two different hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid amplification protocols: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the liver of individuals with undetectable hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. The actual prevalence of OBI and its clinical relevance are not yet fully understood.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of HBV DNA in liver biopsies of HBsAg-negative patients with chronic liver disease of different etiologies in a referral center in Brazil and compare two different HBV DNA amplification protocols to detect HBV.

The treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome with eculizumab in pediatric patients: a systematic review.

Background: The atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare form of thrombotic microangiopathy associated with high morbidity and high mortality. Eculizumab, a humanized anti-C5 monoclonal antibody, was the first medication approved for treating aHUS in 2011.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eculizumab treatment in pediatric patients with aHUS.

The Role of Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Basal Ganglia Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Calcium (Ca) plays a central role in regulating many cellular processes and influences cell survival. Several mechanisms can disrupt Ca homeostasis to trigger cell death, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis. Voltage-gated Ca channels (VGCCs) act as the main source of Ca entry into electrically excitable cells, such as neurons, and they are also expressed in glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.

Involvement of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Stress: State of the Art and Research Perspectives.

Background: Along with other canonical systems, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has shown important roles in stress. This system is a complex regulatory proteolytic cascade composed of various enzymes, peptides, and receptors. Besides the classical (ACE/Ang II/AT1 receptor) and the counter-regulatory (ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor) RAS axes, evidence indicates that nonclassical components, including Ang III, Ang IV, AT and AT, can also be involved in stress.

Telomere Shortening and Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Telomeres are aging biomarkers, as they shorten while cells undergo mitosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether psychiatric disorders marked by psychological distress lead to alterations to telomere length (TL), corroborating the hypothesis that mental disorders might have a deeper impact on our physiology and aging than it was previously thought. A systematic search of the literature using MeSH descriptors of psychological distress ("Traumatic Stress Disorder" or "Anxiety Disorder" or "depression") and telomere length ("cellular senescence", "oxidative stress" and "telomere") was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library and ScienceDirect databases.