Sunflower Trypsin Monocyclic Inhibitor Selected for the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 by Phage Display.

Main protease (Mpro), also known as 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), is a nonstructural protein (NSP5) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the cleavage of virus polyproteins during viral replication at 11 sites, which generates 12 functional proteins. Mpro is a cysteine protease that presents specificity for the amino acid residue glutamine (Gln) at the P1 position of the substrate. Due to its essential role in processing the viral polyprotein for viral particle formation (assembly), Mpro inhibition has become an important tool to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), since Mpro inhibitors act as antivirals.

ST8Sia2 polysialyltransferase protects against infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Glycosylation is one of the most structurally and functionally diverse co- and post-translational modifications in a cell. Addition and removal of glycans, especially to proteins and lipids, characterize this process which has important implications in several biological processes. In mammals, the repeated enzymatic addition of a sialic acid unit to underlying sialic acids (Sia) by polysialyltransferases, including ST8Sia2, leads to the formation of a sugar polymer called polysialic acid (polySia).

Women in surgery: do surgical specialties keep up with the feminization of medicine in Brazil?

Introduction: historically, surgical medical specialties are mostly male, a scenario which, in recent years, has undergone changes. In this sense, despite the relevance of the growth of female participation in the medical career, little is discussed about the distribution between genders of the main surgical medical specialties in the country.

Objective: discuss the process of feminization in surgical specialties in Brazil over the last few years, tracing a distribution profile of these specialties.

Low-cost suture simulator to gain basic surgical skills.

Purpose: To introduce a new low-cost simulation model for training basic surgical skills.

Methods: The training model was made from a mixture of 20 g of acetic silicone with 11 g of maize starch. Validation consisted of serial training sessions, evaluating the mean pre- and post-training time and the mean final score according to the global rating scale.

A realistic model for vasectomy reversal training using swine testicles.

Purpose: To evaluate the viability of the porcine vas deferens as a realistic microsurgical training model for vasectomy reversal.

Methods: The model uses swine testicles (vas deferent), which are usually discarded in large street markets since they are not part of Brazilian cuisine. The spermatic cord was carefully dissected, and the vas deferens were isolated, measuring 10 cm in length.

Profile of thyroidectomies in Brazil from 2010 to 2020 from a macro-regional perspective.

Objective: To describe the distribution profile of thyroidectomies in Brazil from 2010 to 2020 from a macro-regional perspective.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective, detailed and descriptive study built on secondary data obtained from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). We organized the data in tables and grouped them according to the federative unit, macro-region, type of procedure, mortality rate, and year of performance.

The Effects of Hydrolyzed Collagen and Collagen Peptide in the Treatment of Superficial Chondral Lesions: An Experimental Study.

 To evaluate the effects of hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptide in the treatment of superficial chondral lesions in rats.  This research employed 18 . A single intraarticular infiltration of sodium iodoacetate (2 mg solution) through the patellar ligament induced joint damage in previously anesthetized animals.

Protein Arginylation Is Regulated during SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: In 2019, the world witnessed the onset of an unprecedented pandemic. By February 2022, the infection by SARS-CoV-2 has already been responsible for the death of more than 5 million people worldwide. Recently, we and other groups discovered that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces ER stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway.

Low cost and easy acquisition: corn grain in microsurgery training.

Objectives: develop an easily accessible model for training the initial motor practice in microsurgery using corn kernels.

Methods: ten corn kernels (Zea mays) were used. A 7mm longitudinal cut was made on one side of the corn grain.

Anacardium occidentale L. (cajueiro) in the healing of skin wounds: an experimental study in rats.

Purpose: To analyze the effects of Anacardium occidentale Linn on the healing of skin wounds.

Methods: Twenty Wistar male rats were distributed into four groups (with five animals each one): negative control group (NCG), treated with saline solution; cashew tree group (CG), treated with hydroalcoholic extract of the bark of A. occidentale Linn; manipulated cashew tree group (MCG), with the ointment of extract of the bark of A.

Leaf Lectin (SteLL) Reduces the Bacterial and Inflammatory Burden of Wounds Infected by Promoting Skin Repair.

Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found in wound infections where this pathogen impairs skin repair. The lectin isolated from leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius (named SteLL) has antimicrobial and antivirulence action against S. aureus.

Epidemiological profile of surgical treatment of varicose veins in Brazil from 2010 to 2020.

Background: Varicose veins have become more common over recent years and in the most serious cases surgical treatment is necessary to resolve patients' clinical status. Despite their importance, there are no epidemiological studies that cover the whole of Brazil, showing how surgery to correct varicose veins conducted by the Unified Health System (SUS) is distributed in the country.

Objectives: To describe the ecological profile of surgical treatment to correct varicose veins in Brazil from 2010 to 2020.

Anatomical description of the extratemporal facial nerve under high-definition system: a microsurgical study in rats.

Purpose: To describe the microsurgical anatomical aspects of the extratemporal facial nerve of Wistar rats under a high-definition video system.

Methods: Ten male Wistar rats (12-15 weeks old), without veterinary diseases, weighing 220-280 g, were used in this study. All animals in this study were submitted to the same protocol and by the same surgeon.

Incisional hernia repair in rats: description of the sublay technique under videomagnification system.

Purpose: To describe the technique of sublay correction of incisional hernia in Wistar rats under videomagnification system.

Methods: Five male rats of the species Rattus norvegicus, of the Wistar lineage, with body weight between 250-350 g and 60 days old were used. Incisional hernia was inducted in all animals.

Anatomical description of the ventral and dorsal cervical rootlets in rats: A microsurgical study.

Purpose: To describe the anatomical aspects of the cervical rootlets and to quantify the number of rootlets that compose C1 to T1.

Methods: Twenty male rats were used in this study. The dorsal rootlets from C1 to T1 were analyzed.

Anatomorphometry of the brachial plexus under high-definition system: an experimental study in rats.

Purpose: To study the anatomorphometry of the plexus brachialis (PB) of rats under a high-definition video system.

Methods: Ten male Wistar rats discarded from other research that did not interfere in the morphology of the animal, respecting the principle of reduction, were used. All animals were submitted to the same protocol.

A new anesthetic protocol to medullary nerve roots access in rats.

Purpose: To describe a new anesthetic protocol medullary and nerve roots access and in Rattus norvegicus.

Methods: Seventy female Wistar rats (n=70) were used. The animals were randomly divided into two laminectomy groups: cervical (n=40) and thoracic (n=30).

Remote ischemic conditioning improves rat brain antioxidant defense in a time-dependent mechanism.

Purpose: To clarify the best protocol for performing remote ischemic conditioning and to minimize the consequences of ischemia and reperfusion syndrome in brain, the present study aimed to evaluate different time protocols and the relation of the organs and the antioxidant effects of this technique.

Methods: The rat's left femoral artery was clamped with a microvascular clamp in times that ranged from 1 to 5 minutes, according to the corresponding group. After the cycles of remote ischemic conditioning and a reperfusion of 20 minutes, the brain and the left gastrocnemius were collected.

Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts from the (Aubl).

(Aubl), commonly known as "mirim", is a plant of the Humiriaceae family, which consists of 39 species divided between eight genera: and . This study aimed to characterize extracts by LC-MS/MS and evaluate their antimicrobial potential through in vitro and in vivo assays. The leaves and stem bark of were collected and dried at room temperature and then ground in a knife mill.

Vascular surgery in the most populous state in the Amazon: socio-professional profile and aspirations of the specialty.

Background: There is a dearth of studies conducted to understand the socio-professional profile of the vascular surgery specialty and the population demands of specific regions, which are needed to support creation of care policies and direct infrastructure improvements in healthcare.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the socio-professional profile of vascular surgeons in the state of Pará, Brazil, to guide creation of tools for professional improvement.

Methods: A cross-sectional, self-report survey was conducted in Pará using a questionnaire comprising 30 questions covering six main topics.

Association of interferon lambda-4 rs12979860 polymorphism with hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health concern worldwide. Several factors, including genetic polymorphisms, may be evolved in the progression of HCV infection to liver diseases. Interferon lambdas (IFNLs) modulate the immune response during viral infections.

Criteria for assessing peripheral nerve injury. Behavioral and functional assessment in non-operated Wistar rats.

Purpose To evaluate the normality pattern in functional tests of peripheral nerves. Methods Sixty female and sixty male Wistar rats were submitted to vibrissae movement and nictitating reflex for facial nerve; grooming test and grasping test for brachial plexus; and walking tracking test and horizontal ladder test for lumbar plexus. The tests were performed separately, with an interval of seven days between each.

Novel Porcine Kidney-Based Microsurgery Training Model for Developing Basic to Advanced Microsurgical Skills.

Background:  Microsurgery training is critical to the practice of microvascular procedures in many surgical areas. However, even simple procedures require different levels of complex skills. Therefore, simulation-based surgical training, mainly in the area of vascular anastomosis, is of great importance.