Sequential Hemodynamic Analysis of Ruptured Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms Treated With Coil Embolization and Delayed Flow Diversion.

Background And Objectives: Computational fluid dynamics has advanced our knowledge of the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms and the dynamic changes observed after treatment. Herein, we analyze hemodynamic changes throughout the intervention stages for ruptured posterior communicating artery (PComA) aneurysms, treated with acute coiling and delayed flow diversion (FD).

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of ruptured PComA aneurysms treated with the acute coiling and delayed FD strategy between June 2013 to November 2022, using 3-dimensional reconstructions of digital subtraction angiographies.

Moojecin: The first disintegrin from Bothrops moojeni venom and its antitumor activity in acute myeloid leukemia.

Disintegrins are a class of peptides found in snake venom that inhibit the activity of integrins, which are essential cell adhesion receptors in tumor progression and development. In this work, moojecin, a RGD disintegrin, was isolated from Bothrops moojeni snake venom, and its antitumor potential in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) HL-60 and THP-1 cells was characterized. The isolation was performed using a C reverse-phase column in two chromatographic steps, and its molecular mass is 7417.

Breast cancer survival and the health system in Brazil: an analysis of public and private healthcare.

Background: The incidence of breast cancer is increasing globally; however, survival outcomes vary and are lower in developing countries.

Methods: We analyzed the 5- and 10-year survival rates for breast cancer according to the type of healthcare insurance (public . private) in a referral center for cancer care in the Brazilian southeast region.

Temperature Monitoring of Two Different Thermal Boxes for the Transport of Biological Samples.

Background: According to the Resolutions of the Collegiate Board of Directors RDC No. 20/2014, 214/2018, and 707/2022, validation of the temperature of thermal boxes for the transport of biological samples must be based on standardized procedures and tested by the Tissue Banks, guaranteeing safety and quality. Therefore, they can be simulated.

Educational Actions to Raise Student Awareness About the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues.

Background: In Brazil, family refusal to donate organs and tissues is the main reason for not performing transplants, making it necessary to implement different educational strategies in diverse populations on this topic. Thus, this study aimed to raise awareness among school-aged adolescents about the method of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Methods: This is a descriptive experience report with a quantitative and qualitative approach to educational actions in the school environment, mediated by the action research method, carried out with 936 students aged between 14 and 18 years from public schools in the interior of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens.

Introduction: For several decades, testosterone and its synthetic derivatives have been used for anabolic and androgenic purposes. Initially restricted to professional bodybuilders, these substances gradually became more popular with recreational weightlifters. Considering its increasing prevalence, the consumption of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has become a matter of great concern.

Models of Quality Management Systems Applied in Specialized Services for the Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues.

Background: Quality management tools and models are used to improve processes and products, including those related to organ and tissue donation and transplantation protocols. This study aims to map, discuss, and disseminate models/tools of quality management systems applied in health services, specializing in the donation and/or transplantation of human organs and tissues.

Methods: This is an integrative literature review over the last 10 years, operationalized through searches carried out on the PubMed portal and the databases: SciVerse Scopus (SCOPUS), Scielo, Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), Nursing Database (BDENF), and the Virtual Health Library (BVS).

The Significance of the Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) to Prevent Viral Contamination in Musculoskeletal Tissue Transplantation.

 The present study aims to highlight the significance of the nucleic acid test (NAT) for musculoskeletal tissue donation and to compare the sensitivity of this test on the different available platforms.  The present study is a retrospective survey in a human tissue bank database and an integrative literature review encompassing the last 10 years. The PubMed portal and the SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were queried for articles.

Hemodynamic impairment induced by Crotoxin using in vivo and ex vivo approach in a rat model.

Crotalus durissus snakebite represent 10 % of snakebite cases in Brazil, which cardiovascular disorders are associated with severe cases. Considering crotoxin (CTX) as the major venom component, the present study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamic alterations induced by CTX using in vivo and ex vivo approaches in a rat model. In vivo cardiac function parameters were analyzed from anesthetized rats treated with CTX or saline only (Sham), along with serum creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and lung myeloperoxidase.

Roles of Bothrops jararacussu toxins I and II: Antiviral findings against Zika virus.

Zika virus is the etiologic agent of Zika fever, and has been previously associated with cases of microcephaly, drawing the attention of the health authorities worldwide. However, no vaccine or antiviral are currently available. Phospholipases A (PLA) isolated from snake venoms have demonstrated antiviral activity against several viruses.

Digital rectal examination impact on PSA derivatives and prostate biopsy triggers: a contemporary study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the digital rectal exam (DRE) on PSA measurements and clinical decision-making.

Methods: Healthy male volunteers between 50 and 70 years old were recruited during a 30-day public screening program. PSA levels were measured using two different methods (standard enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay-ECLIA, and novel immunochromatography assay-ICA/rapid PSA) in the same blood sample.

Use, Misuse and Abuse of Testosterone and Other Androgens.

Introduction: For several decades, testosterone and its synthetic derivatives have been used for anabolic and androgenic purposes. Initially restricted to professional bodybuilders, these substances gradually became more popular with recreational weightlifters. Considering its increasing prevalence, the consumption of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) has become a matter of great concern.

Chikungunya virus entry is strongly inhibited by phospholipase A2 isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is the etiologic agent of Chikungunya fever, a globally spreading mosquito-borne disease. There is no approved antiviral or vaccine against CHIKV, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapies. In this context, snake venom proteins have demonstrated antiviral activity against several viruses, including arboviruses which are relevant to public health.

Environmental niche and functional role similarity between invasive and native palms in the Atlantic Forest.

Invasive species can significantly affect native species when their niches are similar. Ecological and morphological similarities between the invasive Australian palm, and the native palm from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, , suggest that they have similar environmental requirements and functional roles (i.e.

L-amino acid oxidase induces apoptosis and epigenetic modulation on Bcr-Abl cells.

Background: Resistance to apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is associated with constitutive tyrosine kinase activity of the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein. The deregulated expression of apoptosis-related genes and alteration in epigenetic machinery may also contribute to apoptosis resistance in CML. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors target the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein and are used in CML treatment.

Implementation and certification of ISO 9001:2015 seal in human tissue bank HCFMRP-USP.

The Quality Management System has been a management technology applied to guarantee the quality of processes and products of a given organization. Thus, ISO 9001:2015 certification assists organizations that want to develop, implement, maintain, and improve a quality management system to enable process improvements and assessments to meet the needs of its customers. This experience report addresses the implementation and certification of the ISO 9001:2015 quality management seal at the Human Tissue Bank of the Ribeirão Preto Clinical Hospital (HCRP) at the University of São Paulo (USP) at Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP)-Brazil.

Histological analysis of the intestinal wall of newborn rats submitted to hypoxia and reoxygenation to evaluate the protective effect of N-Acetylcysteine.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in newborn rats submitted to hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) conditions in an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Methods: Eight pregnant rats and their 70 cubs were used (5 groups) and exposed to H/R conditions and received NAC at different times. The animals in the H/R groups were placed in a gas chamber (100% CO2) for 10 minutes and then reoxygenated for 10 minutes (100% O2), twice a day for the first three days of life, with a six-hour span between events.

Bothrops moojeni venom and BmooLAAO-I downmodulate CXCL8/IL-8 and CCL2/MCP-1 production and oxidative burst response, and upregulate CD11b expression in human neutrophils.

Bothrops snake venoms contain biologically active components, including L-amino acid oxidases (LAAO) that induce significant leukocyte accumulation at inflammatory sites characterized by early neutrophil infiltration. As it remains unclear how snake venoms modulate neutrophil activation and chemokine production, here we examined whether Bothrops moojeni crude venom (BmV) and its LAAO (BmooLAAO-I) affect expression of the surface activation markers CD11b and CD66b, production of the chemokines CCL2/MCP-1, CCL5/RANTES, CXCL8/IL-8, CXCL9/MIG, and CXCL-10/IP-10, and activation of oxidative burst in human neutrophils. Cell viability, expression of activation markers, and chemokine production were assessed by flow cytometry, while the oxidative burst response was measured by chemiluminescence.

BthTX-I from induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines and decreases cancer stem cell subpopulation.

Background: Breast cancer is the neoplasm with both the highest incidence and mortality rate among women worldwide. Given the known snake venom cytotoxicity towards several tumor types, we evaluated the effects of BthTX-I from on MCF7, SKBR3, and MDAMB231 breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: BthTX-I cytotoxicity was determined via MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide assay.

Effects of crotoxin, a neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, on human endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelium plays an important modulatory role due to the production of molecules that mediate vasomotricity, inflammation, and leukocyte adhesion and rolling. Here we addressed whether crotoxin (25-200 μg/mL) - the main component of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom - interferes with cell viability, apotosis/necrosis, and cell response to oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. We also examined whether crotoxin alters the levels of interleukins, adhesion molecules, and endothelial vasoactive factors in HUVEC cells treated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 μg/mL; 24 h).

Expression, purification and virucidal activity of two recombinant isoforms of phospholipase A from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom.

The global emergence and re-emergence of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) over the past four decades have become a public health crisis of international concern, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. A limited number of vaccines against arboviruses are available for use in humans; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop antiviral compounds. Snake venoms are rich sources of bioactive compounds with potential for antiviral prospection.

A synthetic snake-venom-based tripeptide (Glu-Val-Trp) protects PC12 cells from MPP toxicity by activating the NGF-signaling pathway.

Venom small peptides that target neurotrophin receptors might be beneficial in neurodegeneration, including Parkinsońs disease (PD). Their small size, ease of synthesis, structural stability and target selectivity make them important tools to overcome the limitations of endogenous neurotrophins as therapeutic agents. Additionally, they might be optimized to improve resistance to enzymatic degradation, bioavailability, potency and, mainly, lipophilicity, important to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB).

Multiple effects of toxins isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus on the hepatitis C virus life cycle.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of liver disease and transplantation worldwide. Current therapy is expensive, presents additional side effects and viral resistance has been described. Therefore, studies for developing more efficient antivirals against HCV are needed.

Pharmacological Properties of (Vochysiaceae) Extract to Neutralize the Neuromuscular Blockade Induced by Bothropstoxin-I (Lys49 Phospholipase A) Myotoxin.

Bothrops snakes are responsible for more than 70 % of snakebites every year in Brazil and their venoms cause severe local and systemic damages. The pharmacological properties of medicinal plants have been widely investigated in order to discover new alternative treatments for different classes of diseases including neglected tropical diseases as envenomation by snakebites. In this work, we have investigated the ability of Vochysia haenkeana stem barks extract (VhE) to neutralize the neuromuscular effects caused by Bothropstoxin-I (BthTX-I), the major phospholipase A (PLA) myotoxin from B.