Publications by authors named "Castilho R"

Aim: Ultrasonography (US) has shown accuracy in imaging healthy periodontium. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of US for estimating dimensions of inflamed periodontium induced by ligature and bacteria.

Methods: Periodontal tissues of maxillary as well as mandibular premolars and molars in six female mini pigs were treated with ligature and three strains of bacteria for 4-10 weeks.

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Menopause occurs due to the depletion of the ovarian reserve, leading to a progressive decline in estrogen (E2) levels. This decrease in E2 levels increases the risk of developing several diseases and can coexist with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Arterial hypertension (AH) is another condition associated with menopause and may either contribute to or result from CKD.

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Brain accumulation of the branched-chain α-keto acids α-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC), α-keto-β-methylvaleric acid (KMV), and α-ketoisovaleric acid (KIV) occurs in maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), an inherited intoxicating metabolic disorder caused by defects of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. Patients commonly suffer life-threatening acute encephalopathy in the newborn period and develop chronic neurological sequelae of still undefined pathogenesis. Therefore, this work investigated the in vitro influence of pathological concentrations of KIC (5 mM), KMV (1 mM), and KIV (1 mM) on mitochondrial bioenergetics in the cerebral cortex of neonate (one-day-old) rats.

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  • Binodacarus tocantinensis sp. nov. and Rhodacarus emilianoi sp. nov. are two new species identified based on features of adult females found in soil and litter from the Cerrado biome in northern Brazil.
  • The study includes detailed morphology descriptions for these new species.
  • It also offers identification keys for distinguishing female species within the Binodacarus and Rhodacarus genera globally.
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is found in the stomach of patients with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, infecting approximately half of the world's population. Current treatment for infection involves a multi-drug therapeutic regime with various adverse effects, which leads to treatment abandonment and contributes to the emergence of resistant strains of . Previously, we demonstrated that the essential oil of leaves exhibited an anti- activity.

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Articaine (ATC) has emerged as one of the most popular local anesthetics (LA) in dental clinics, despite its relatively recent introduction to the market. As a member of the amino-amide class of LA, ATC possesses unique features, including a thiophene ring and an ester group, which allow for its use at higher clinical concentrations. However, reports have indicated a higher incidence of paresthesia associated with ATC, though the underlying cause of this effect remains unclear.

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The present investigation aimed to assess the safety of photobiomodulation (PBM) on the oral carcinogenesis process induced by 4NQO, focusing on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Sixty-six Wistar rats received systemic 4NQO for 12 (n = 33) and 20 weeks (n = 33), divided into Control group, PBM 0.3 J, and PBM 1 J.

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  • The study investigates the role of the mitochondrial protein NNT in obesity-related metabolic issues, using a specific mouse model lacking NNT genetic material.
  • Unlike previous studies, this research utilized a high-fat diet (45% calories from fat) that better represents typical fat-rich diets compared to the usual 60%.
  • Results show that mice without NNT gained less weight on a high-fat diet but had poorer glucose tolerance, while also revealing an increase in brown adipose tissue mass and inflammatory markers in the hypothalamus associated with diet-induced inflammation.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and affects millions of people worldwide, particularly the elderly population. The pathophysiology of OA is complex and involves multiple factors. Several studies have emphasized the crucial role of inflammation in this process.

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Background: NEK10, a serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase belonging to the NEK (NIMA-related kinases) family, has been associated with diverse cellular processes. However, no specific target pathways have been identified. Our previous work knocking down NEK10 in HeLa cells suggested a functional association with mitochondria, as we observed altered mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial oxygen consumption, mtDNA integrity, and reactive oxygen species levels.

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  • Portugal has a lot of different plants and animals because of its unique geography and history, but these species are in danger from things like climate change and over-exploitation.
  • Researchers in Portugal are working together through a project called Biogenome Portugal to study and document biodiversity, which means looking closely at the genes of different species.
  • The goal is to create a library of genetic information to help protect endangered species and promote conservation efforts in Portugal, especially for unique plants and animals found only there.
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While mechanisms controlling uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) in thermogenic adipocytes play a pivotal role in non-shivering thermogenesis, it remains unclear whether FFo-ATP synthase function is also regulated in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Here, we show that inhibitory factor 1 (IF1, encoded by Atp5if1), an inhibitor of ATP synthase hydrolytic activity, is a critical negative regulator of brown adipocyte energy metabolism. In vivo, IF1 levels are diminished in BAT of cold-adapted mice compared to controls.

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Objective: Rete pegs are projections of the oral epithelium into connective tissue. Their dimensions change during pathological conditions and may correlate with wound-healing status. Non-invasive, high-frequency ultrasound (US) may be able to capture these changes and aid in early detection of histopathological changes.

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  • Management of skin injuries presents significant financial challenges for patients and healthcare systems, negatively impacting quality of life.
  • Periostin (rhOSF) plays a vital role in promoting wound healing, yet effective delivery methods using scaffolds are currently lacking.
  • This study developed a novel method using rhOSF-loaded mesoporous nanoparticles in bioprinted constructs, which not only supports cell growth but also withstands mechanical forces, showing promise for improving healing in burn wounds.
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Objective: Limited availability of authentic human adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) cell lines has hindered progress in understanding mechanisms underpinning the biology of this disease and the development of safe and effective therapies.

Study Design: Surgical human ACC specimens (UM-HACC-6, UM-HACC-14) were dissociated into single cell suspensions and cultured in fibronectin-coated flasks. Alternatively, tumor fragments were transplanted subcutaneously into female immunodeficient (SCID) mice to establish patient-derived xenograft tumors (PDX; UM-PDX-HACC-14).

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This review article critically examines the pivotal role of chromatin organization in gene regulation, cellular differentiation, disease progression and aging. It explores the dynamic between the euchromatin and heterochromatin, coded by a complex array of histone modifications that orchestrate essential cellular processes. We discuss the pathological impacts of chromatin state misregulation, particularly in cancer and accelerated aging conditions such as progeroid syndromes, and highlight the innovative role of epigenetic therapies and artificial intelligence (AI) in comprehending and harnessing the histone code toward personalized medicine.

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Compound databases (DBs) are essential tools for drug discovery. The number of DBs in public domain is increasing, so it is important to analyze these DBs. In this article, the main characteristics of 64 DBs will be presented.

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Overall health relies on features of skeletal muscle that generally decline with age, partly due to mechanisms associated with mitochondrial redox imbalance and bioenergetic dysfunction. Previously, aged mice genetically devoid of the mitochondrial NAD(P) transhydrogenase (NNT, encoded by the nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase gene), an enzyme involved in mitochondrial NADPH supply, were shown to exhibit deficits in locomotor behavior. Here, by using young, middle-aged, and older NNT-deficient (Nnt) mice and age-matched controls (Nnt), we aimed to investigate how muscle bioenergetic function and motor performance are affected by NNT expression and aging.

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Climate change is restructuring biodiversity on multiple scales and there is a pressing need to understand the downstream ecological and genomic consequences of this change. Recent advancements in the field of eco-evolutionary genomics have sought to include evolutionary processes in forecasting species' responses to climate change (e.g.

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Sea turtles are critical components of marine ecosystems, and their conservation is important for Ocean Governance and Global Planet Health. However, there is limited knowledge of their ecology in the Gulf of Guinea. To fill this knowledge gap, this study presents the first integrative assessment of green and hawksbill turtles in the region, combining nesting surveys over 9 years and telemetry data, to offer insights into these population dynamics, and behaviours, including nesting preferences, morphological and reproductive parameters, diving patterns and inter-nesting core-use areas.

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AbstractMass mortality events provide valuable insight into biological extremes and also ecological interactions more generally. The sea star wasting epidemic that began in 2013 catalyzed study of the microbiome, genetics, population dynamics, and community ecology of several high-profile species inhabiting the northeastern Pacific but exposed a dearth of information on the diversity, distributions, and impacts of sea star wasting for many lesser-known sea stars and a need for integration across scales. Here, we combine datasets from single-site to coast-wide studies, across time lines from weeks to decades, for 65 species.

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Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare neoplasm known for its indolent clinical course, risk of perineural invasion, and late onset of distant metastasis. Due to the scarcity of samples and the tumor's rarity, progress in developing effective treatments has been historically limited. To tackle this issue, a high-throughput screening of epigenetic drugs was conducted to identify compounds capable of disrupting the invasive properties of the tumor and its cancer stem cells (CSCs).

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Introduction: Ankle fractures rank as the second most common lower limb fractures, and surgical intervention is essential for unstable ankle fractures. The use of ankle arthroscopy in such cases offers several advantages. This study aim is to assess whether arthroscopy influenced on complication rates in 171 ankle fractures treated with arthroscopic assistance.

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Article Synopsis
  • The evolutionary development of an internal biological clock, tied to a 24-hour cycle, influences various cellular functions like growth and DNA repair.
  • The study investigates the role of the core clock gene BMAL1 and its epigenetic modifications in skin cells, particularly during injury response and tissue regeneration.
  • Findings show significant changes in acetylation levels of histones in skin with altered BMAL1 activity, highlighting the potential for using these mechanisms to enhance skin healing.
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Background: Pathogenic variants in the nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase gene (NNT) are a rare cause of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI), as well as functional impairment of the gonads.

Objective: Despite the description of different homozygous and compound heterozygous NNT variants in PAI patients, the extent to which the function and expression of the mature protein are compromised remains to be clarified.

Design: The activity and expression of mitochondrial NAD(P)+ transhydrogenase (NNT) were analyzed in blood samples obtained from patients diagnosed with PAI due to genetically confirmed variants of the NNT gene (n = 5), heterozygous carriers as their parents (n = 8), and healthy controls (n = 26).

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