Soybean β-Conglycinin and Cowpea β-Vignin Peptides Inhibit Breast and Prostate Cancer Cell Growth: An In Silico and In Vitro Approach.

B-cell lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2) is an important regulator of cell apoptosis. Inhibitors that mirror the structural domain 3 (BH3) of Bcl-2 can activate apoptosis in cancer cells, making them a promising target for anticancer treatment. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate potential BH3-mimetic peptides from two vicilin-derived legume proteins from soybean and cowpea bean.

Thermoforming for Small Feature Replication in Melt Electrowritten Membranes to Model Kidney Proximal Tubule.

A novel approach merging melt electrowriting (MEW) with matched die thermoforming to achieve scaffolds with micron-sized curvatures (200 - 800 µm versus 1000 µm of mandrel printing) for in vitro modeling of the kidney proximal tubule (PT) is proposed. Recent advances in this field emphasize the relevance of accurately replicating the intricate tissue microenvironment, particularly the curvature of the nephrons' tubular segments. While MEW offers promising capabilities for fabricating highly and porous precise 3D structures mimicking the PT, challenges persist in approximating the diameter of tubular scaffolds to match the actual PT.

Bertiella mucronata in Black-and-Gold Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

This is the first reported case of Bertiella mucronata infection in a black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) in Brazil. The present study confirms the widespread of B. mucronata in South America and suggest that black-and-gold howler monkeys may serve as viable reservoirs for B.

Safety of Hepatitis B Virus Screening in Blood Donors from the Hospital Foundation of Hematology and Hemotherapy of the State of Amazonas (HEMOAM) in the Brazilian Amazon.

Background: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease of worldwide importance and of great interest to transfusion medicine. The Amazon region has areas of high endemicity, outlining a worrying scenario for transfusion and epidemiological safety.

Objective: To analyze the profiles of serological and molecular markers for HBV of blood donors from HEMOAM.

1-1,2,3-triazol-1,4-naphthoquinone Derivatives: Novel Inhibitors Targeting Pyocyanin Biosynthesis for Infection Treatment Advances.

Background: This study investigates the potential of eleven 1H-1,2,3-triazol-1,4-naphthoquinone conjugates as virulence factor inhibitors (like Pyocyanin) and their affinity for PhzM, a crucial enzyme for Pyocyanin biosynthesis in infections.

Methods: A straightforward synthetic pathway enabled the production of these compounds, which were characterized and structurally confirmed through spectroscopic analyses. Evaluation of their impact on PhzM thermal stability identified promising candidates for PhzM binders.

Political factors and arrangements influencing primary health care financing and resource allocation: A scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Primary health care is a key element in the structuring and coordination of health systems, contributing to overall coverage and performance. PHC financing is therefore central in this context, with variations in sufficiency and regularity depending on the "political dimension" of health systems. Research that systematically examines the political factors and arrangements influencing PHC financing is justified from a global and multidisciplinary perspective.

Hypothermic and cryogenic preservation of cardiac tissue-engineered constructs.

Cardiac tissue engineering (cTE) has already advanced towards the first clinical trials, investigating safety and feasibility of cTE construct transplantation in failing hearts. However, the lack of well-established preservation methods poses a hindrance to further scalability, commercialization, and transportation, thereby reducing their clinical implementation. In this study, hypothermic preservation (4 °C) and two methods for cryopreservation (, a slow and fast cooling approach to -196 °C and -150 °C, respectively) were investigated as potential solutions to extend the cTE construct implantation window.

Enhancing volumetric muscle loss (VML) recovery in a rat model using super durable hydrogels derived from bacteria.

Bacteria can be programmed to deliver natural materials with defined biological and mechanical properties for controlling cell growth and differentiation. Here, we present an elastic, resilient and bioactive polysaccharide derived from the extracellular matrix of sp. BCCS 001.

Investigating the 'Bolsonaro effect' on the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic: An empirical analysis of observational data in Brazil.

Brazil counts among the countries the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. A great deal has been said about the negative role played by President Bolsonaro's denialism, but relatively few studies have attempted to measure precisely what impact it actually had on the pandemic. Our paper conducts econometric estimates based on observational data at municipal level to quantitatively assess the 'Bolsonaro effect' over time from March 2020 to December 2022.

Experimentally-guided in silico design of engineered heart tissues to improve cardiac electrical function after myocardial infarction.

Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) built from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) showed promising results for cardiac function restoration following myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, human iPSC-CMs have longer action potential and lower cell-to-cell coupling than adult-like CMs. These immature electrophysiological properties favor arrhythmias due to the generation of electrophysiological gradients when hiPSC-CMs are injected in the cardiac tissue.

Covalent Grafting of Functionalized MEW Fibers to Silk Fibroin Hydrogels to Obtain Reinforced Tissue Engineered Constructs.

Hydrogels are ideal materials to encapsulate cells, making them suitable for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, they generally do not possess adequate mechanical strength to functionally replace human tissues, and therefore they often need to be combined with reinforcing structures. While the interaction at the interface between the hydrogel and reinforcing structure is imperative for mechanical function and subsequent biological performance, this interaction is often overlooked.

Proinflammatory phenotype of iPS cell-derived JAK2 V617F megakaryocytes induces fibrosis in 3D in vitro bone marrow niche.

The myeloproliferative disease polycythemia vera (PV) driven by the JAK2 V617F mutation can transform into myelofibrosis (post-PV-MF). It remains an open question how JAK2 V617F in hematopoietic stem cells induces MF. Megakaryocytes are major players in murine PV models but are difficult to study in the human setting.

Orthotopic equine study confirms the pivotal importance of structural reinforcement over the pre-culture of cartilage implants.

In articular cartilage (AC), the collagen arcades provide the tissue with its extraordinary mechanical properties. As these structures cannot be restored once damaged, functional restoration of AC defects remains a major challenge. We report that the use of a converged bioprinted, osteochondral implant, based on a gelatin methacryloyl cartilage phase, reinforced with precisely patterned melt electrowritten polycaprolactone micrometer-scale fibers in a zonal fashion, inspired by native collagen architecture, can provide long-term mechanically stable neo-tissue in an orthotopic large animal model.

Clinical and Acoustic Alterations of Swallowing in Children Exposed to Zika Virus during Pregnancy in a Cohort in Amazonas, Brazil: A Case Series Study.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) is a swallowing disorder that involves difficulty in safely passing the food bolus from the oral cavity to the stomach. OD is a common problem in children with congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS). In this case series, we describe the clinical and acoustic alterations of swallowing in children exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy in a cohort from Amazonas, Brazil.

Challenges in building radiotherapy capacity: A longitudinal study evaluating eight years of the Brazilian radiotherapy expansion plan.

Background: In 2012, the Brazilian government launched a radiotherapy (RT) expansion plan (PER-SUS) to install 100 linear accelerators. This study assesses the development of this program after eight years.

Methods: Official reports from the Ministry of Health (MoH) were reviewed.

Microstructural differences in the osteochondral unit of terrestrial and aquatic mammals.

During evolution, animals have returned from land to water, adapting with morphological modifications to life in an aquatic environment. We compared the osteochondral units of the humeral head of marine and terrestrial mammals across species spanning a wide range of body weights, focusing on microstructural organization and biomechanical performance. Aquatic mammals feature cartilage with essentially random collagen fiber configuration, lacking the depth-dependent, arcade-like organization characteristic of terrestrial mammalian species.

Does the Presence or a High Titer of Yellow Fever Virus Antibodies Interfere with Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Zika Virus Infection?

Zika virus (ZIKV) and yellow fever virus (YFV) originated in Africa and expanded to the Americas, where both are co-circulated. It is hypothesized that in areas of high circulation and vaccination coverage against YFV, children of pregnant women have a lower risk of microcephaly. We evaluated the presence and titers of antibodies and outcomes in women who had ZIKV infection during pregnancy.

Gold nanoparticles conjugated with epidermal growth factor and gadolinium for precision delivery of contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging.

The utilization of contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become increasingly important in clinical diagnosis. However, the low diagnostic specificity of this technique is a limiting factor for the early detection of tumors. To develop a new contrast agent with a specific target for early stage tumors, we present the synthesis and characterization of a nanocontrast composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), gadopentetic acid (Gd-DTPA), and epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Microfiber-reinforced hydrogels prolong the release of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to promote endothelial migration.

Extracellular vesicle (EV)-based approaches for promoting angiogenesis have shown promising results. Yet, further development is needed in vehicles that prolong EV exposure to target organs. Here, we hypothesized that microfiber-reinforced gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels could serve as sustained delivery platforms for human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived EV.

3D Printed Magneto-Active Microfiber Scaffolds for Remote Stimulation and Guided Organization of 3D In Vitro Skeletal Muscle Models.

This work reports the rational design and fabrication of magneto-active microfiber meshes with controlled hexagonal microstructures via melt electrowriting (MEW) of a magnetized polycaprolactone-based composite. In situ iron oxide nanoparticle deposition on oxidized graphene yields homogeneously dispersed magnetic particles with sizes above 0.5 µm and low aspect ratio, preventing cellular internalization and toxicity.

Tonantzitlolone B Modulates the Endogenous Opioid System to Promote Antinociception in Mice.

Tonantzitlolone B (TZL-B) is a diterpene isolated from the roots of . Its antinociceptive effects were investigated in male Swiss mice using the following models of pain: formalin test, inflammation induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA), tail flick test, and cold plate test. The influence of TZL-B on the opioid system was assessed , using opioid antagonists; , investigating the chemical similarity among TZL-B and opioid agonists; and , measuring preproenkephalin (PENK) gene expression in the spinal cord by RT-qPCR.