Effects of intrauterine exposure to concentrated ambient particles on allergic sensitization in juvenile mice.

Intrauterine exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with an increased risk of asthma development, which may differ by the age of asthma onset, sex, and pollutant concentration. To investigate the pulmonary effects of in utero exposure to concentrated urban ambient particles (CAPs) in response to house dust mite (HDM) sensitization in juvenile mice. Mice were exposed to CAPs (600 μg/m PM) during the gestational period.

[The development of autonomy among adolescents with Down syndrome based on the pedagogy of Paulo Freire].

Autonomy is a process that enables us to understand and act on the environment and on ourselves. During adolescence, transformations result in the development of autonomy. Adolescents with Down syndrome (ADS) have perceptual-cognitive limitations and few opportunities to acquire autonomy.

Medical students' perceptions and motivations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: There has been a rapid increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 in Latin America, Africa, Asia and many countries that have an insufficient number of physicians and other health care personnel, and the need for the inclusion of medical students on health teams is a very important issue. It has been recommended that medical students work as volunteers, undergo appropriate training, not undertake any activity beyond their level of competence, and receive continuous supervision and adequate personal protective equipment. However, the motivation of medical students must be evaluated to make volunteering a more evidence-based initiative.

Sleepiness, sleep deprivation, quality of life, mental symptoms and perception of academic environment in medical students.

Background: It has been previously shown that a high percentage of medical students have sleep problems that interfere with academic performance and mental health.

Methods: To study the impact of sleep quality, daytime somnolence, and sleep deprivation on medical students, we analyzed data from a multicenter study with medical students in Brazil (22 medical schools, 1350 randomized medical students). We applied questionnaires of daytime sleepiness, quality of sleep, quality of life, anxiety and depression symptoms and perception of educational environment.

Relationship between metacognitive awareness and motivation to learn in medical students.

Background: In self-regulated learning, learning is defined as metacognitively guided, intrinsically motivated and strategic. In the context of medical education, the development of self-regulated learning can be associated with better academic and clinical performance. Hence, this report focuses on demonstrating the association between metacognitive awareness and motivation to learn among medical students in the clinical sciences portion of their education (3rd and 4th years of the medical programme) and characterizing medical students' motivational factors.

Dehydrodieugenol improved lung inflammation in an asthma model by inhibiting the STAT3/SOCS3 and MAPK pathways.

Background: Eugenol, a common phenylpropanoid derivative found in different plant species, has well-described anti-inflammatory effects associated with the development of occupational hypersensitive asthma. Dehydrodieugenol, a dimeric eugenol derivative, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and can be found in the Brazilian plant species Nectandra leucantha (Lauraceae). The biological effects of dehydrodieugenol on lung inflammation remain unclear.

Effects of VAChT reduction and α7nAChR stimulation by PNU-282987 in lung inflammation in a model of chronic allergic airway inflammation.

The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway has been shown to regulate lung inflammation and cytokine release in acute models of inflammation, mainly via α7 nicotinic receptor (α7nAChR). We aimed to evaluate the role of endogenous acetylcholine in chronic allergic airway inflammation in mice and the effects of therapeutic nAChR stimulation in this model. We first evaluated lung inflammation and remodeling on knock-down mice with 65% of vesicular acetylcholine transport (VAChT) gene reduction (KDVAChT) and wild-type(WT) controls that were subcutaneously sensitized and then inhaled with ovalbumin(OVA).

Early activation of ubiquitin-proteasome system at the diaphragm tissue occurs independently of left ventricular dysfunction in SHR rats.

Unlabelled: Hypertensive status induces modifications in the respiratory profile. Previous studies have indicated that hypertensive rats show increased respiratory-sympathetic coupling compared to normotensive rats. However, these effects and especially the mechanisms underlying such effects are not well known.

Author Correction: Effects of the serine protease inhibitor rBmTI-A in an experimental mouse model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Diphteria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine reduces specific IgE, inflammation and remodelling in an animal model of mite-induced respiratory allergy.

Background: Adjuvants, such as bacterial lipopolysaccharides, have been studied to improve the efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy. The Bordetella pertussis (Pw) vaccine has been shown to have a protective role in ovalbumin-induced asthma models. However, its role in allergy to mites is unknown.

Inhibition of MAPK and STAT3-SOCS3 by Sakuranetin Attenuated Chronic Allergic Airway Inflammation in Mice.

Asthma allergic disease is caused by airway chronic inflammation. Some intracellular signaling pathways, such as MAPK and STAT3-SOCS3, are involved in the control of airway inflammation in asthma. The flavonoid sakuranetin demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect in different asthma models.

Evaluation of the neuromuscular junction in a middle-aged mouse model of congenital myasthenic syndrome.

Introduction: Reduced expression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) leads to changes in the distribution and shape of synaptic vesicles (SVs) at neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), suggesting vesicular acetylcholine (ACh) as a key component of synaptic structure and function. It is poorly understood how long-term changes in cholinergic transmission contribute to age- and disease-related degeneration in the motor system.

Methods: In this study we performed confocal imaging, electrophysiology, electron microscopy, and analyses of respiratory mechanics of the diaphragm NMJ components in 12-month-old wild-type (WT) and VAChTKD mice.

Effects of the serine protease inhibitor rBmTI-A in an experimental mouse model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation.

To evaluate whether a recombinant serine protease inhibitor (rBmTI-A) modulates inflammation in an experimental model of chronic allergic lung inflammation. Balb/c mice were divided into four groups: SAL (saline), OVA (sensitized with ovalbumin), SAL + rBmTI-A (control treated with rBmTI-A) and OVA + rBmTI-A (sensitized with ovalbumin and treated with rBmTI-A). The animals received an intraperitoneal injection of saline or ovalbumin, according to the group.

Inflammatory and functional responses after (bio)diesel exhaust exposure in allergic sensitized mice. A comparison between diesel and biodiesel.

Unlabelled: Many cities fail to meet air quality standards, which results in increased risk for pulmonary disorders, including asthma. Human and experimental studies have shown that diesel exhaust (DE) particles are associated with worsening of allergic asthma. Biodiesel (BD), a cleaner fuel from renewable sources, was introduced in the eighties.

Physical Exercise Induces Immunoregulation of TREG, M2, and pDCs in a Lung Allergic Inflammation Model.

The benefits of moderate aerobic physical exercise for allergic asthma are well-known, particularly that of the anti-inflammatory effect that occurs by reducing Th2 responses and lung remodeling. However, the mechanisms of this immunoregulation are still under investigation. In this study, we investigated the possible immunoregulatory mechanisms of lung inflammation induced by moderate aerobic exercise in an experimental asthma model.

iNOS Inhibition Reduces Lung Mechanical Alterations and Remodeling Induced by Particulate Matter in Mice.

. The epidemiologic association between pulmonary exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) and acute lung damage is well known. However, the mechanism involved in the effects of repeated exposures of PM in the lung injury is poorly documented.

Author Correction: Low dose of chlorine exposure exacerbates nasal and pulmonary allergic inflammation in mice.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Gender differences in the perception of quality of life during internal medicine training: a qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Background: The higher level of participation by women in medicine may impact this profession's evolution due to gender differences perceived during medical school, after graduation and during residency. Gender differences regarding quality of life are associated with higher states of anxiety and depression among female physicians. We aimed to assess gender differences in the perception of quality of life with quantitative methods and to understand further, from the female residents´ point of view, the reasons that may influence the perception of quality of life using qualitative method.

A plant proteinase inhibitor from Enterolobium contortisiliquum attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and remodeling in a mouse model of asthma.

Introduction: Proteinase inhibitors have been associated with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and may represent a potential therapeutic treatment for asthma.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Enterolobium contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor (EcTI) on pulmonary mechanical function, eosinophilic recruitment, inflammatory cytokines, remodeling and oxidative stress in an experimental model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation.

Methods: BALB/c mice were divided into 4 groups: C (saline i.

The Plant Proteinase Inhibitor Plays a Role in Controlling Asthma Response in Mice.

is a protein isolated from bark. It has been shown to exhibit several biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, and insecticidal activities. There are no studies evaluating the role of in experimental asthma models.

Low dose of chlorine exposure exacerbates nasal and pulmonary allergic inflammation in mice.

Work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) is defined as preexisting asthma that worsens with exposure to irritants [e.g., chlorine (Cl) derivatives] in the workplace.

Aerobic exercise inhibits obesity-induced respiratory phenotype.

Purpose: Obesity results in decreased lung function and increased inflammation. Moderate aerobic exercise (AE) reduced lung inflammation and remodeling in a variety of respiratory disease models. Therefore, this study investigated whether AE can attenuate a diet-induced obesity respiratory phenotype; including airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), remodeling and inflammation.

Animal models of asthma: utility and limitations.

Clinical studies in asthma are not able to clear up all aspects of disease pathophysiology. Animal models have been developed to better understand these mechanisms and to evaluate both safety and efficacy of therapies before starting clinical trials. Several species of animals have been used in experimental models of asthma, such as , rats, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, pigs, primates and equines.