Angiotensin-(1-7) infusion in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: a seamless phase 1-2 randomized clinical trial.

Background: The coronavirus-related disease (COVID-19) is mainly characterized by a respiratory involvement. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a relevant role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, as the virus enters host's cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

Methods: This investigator-initiated, seamless phase 1-2 randomized clinical trial was conceived to test the safety and efficacy of continuous short-term (up to 7 days) intravenous administration of Angiotensin-(1-7) in COVID-19 patients admitted to two intensive care units (ICU).

Serosurvey of in Descendants of Former Black Slaves (Quilombola Communities) of Southern Brazil.

Brazilian descendants of former Black-slave (quilombola) communities have been predisposed to several zoonotic diseases due to social vulnerability, characterized by subsistence and close contact with livestock and companion animals. Accordingly, the present study has assessed anti- antibodies in 200 individuals and 20 dogs from four quilombola communities located in Paraná State, southern Brazil. Serum samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using in-house and commercial diagnostic protocols, with analysis of seropositive titers and antibody type.

The influence of the tear film on the intraocular pressure and the corneal biomechanical properties analyzed with the Ocular Response Analyzer.

Purpose: As ocular dryness and glaucoma are more prevalent with increasing age, understanding how the tear film affects tonometry is important. The present study aims to understand the impact that changes in the tear film have on intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal hysteresis, and corneal resistance factor measurements.

Methods: Cross-sectional research was conducted and 37 patients were assessed.

ROBOTIC VERSUS LAPAROSCOPIC ROUX-EN-Y-GASTRIC BYPASS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A SINGLE CENTER.

Background: Bariatric surgery is the best treatment option for patients with obesity. As a result of the advancement of technology, the robotic gastric bypass presents promising results, despite its still high costs.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare patients submitted to a robotic versus a laparoscopic gastric bypass at a single center by a single surgeon.

Autoregulation of blood flow drives early hypotension in a rat model of systemic inflammation induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Uncontrolled vasodilation is known to account for hypotension in the advanced stages of sepsis and other systemic inflammatory conditions, but the mechanisms of hypotension in earlier stages of such conditions are not clear. By monitoring hemodynamics with the highest temporal resolution in unanesthetized rats, in combination with ex-vivo assessment of vascular function, we found that early development of hypotension following injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide is brought about by a fall in vascular resistance when arterioles are still fully responsive to vasoactive agents. This approach further uncovered that the early development of hypotension stabilized blood flow.

COVID-19 liver and gastroenterology findings: An analysis of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with liver molecules.

Background: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has not only been shown to affect the respiratory system, but has also demonstrated variable clinical presentations including gastrointestinal tract disorders. In addition, abnormalities in liver enzymes have been reported indicating hepatic injury. It is known that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) might infect cells the viral receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which is expressed in several organs including the liver.

Influence of social and environmental factors for distribution in Northeastern Brazil: a risk index.

is a vector of lymphatic filariasis. One important component in planning filariasis control activities is the mapping of vector distribution. A tool that involves socio-environmental factors and density can contribute to the identification of areas that should be prioritized in surveillance actions.

Molecular docking of DS-3032B, a mouse double minute 2 enzyme antagonist with potential for oncology treatment development.

Background: It is known that p53 suppression is an important marker of poor prognosis of cancers, especially in solid tumors of the breast, lung, stomach, and esophagus; liposarcomas, glioblastomas, and leukemias. Because p53 has mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) as its primary negative regulator, this molecular docking study seeks to answer the following hypotheses: Is the interaction between DS-3032B and MDM2 stable enough for this drug to be considered as a promising neoplastic inhibitor?

Aim: To analyze, , the chemical bonds between the antagonist DS-3032B and its binding site in MDM2

Methods: For molecular docking simulations, the file containing structures of MDM2 (receptor) and the drug DS-3032B (ligand) were selected. The three-dimensional structure of MDM2 was obtained from Protein Data Bank, and the one for DS-3032B was obtained from PubChem database.

Molecular and serology methods in the diagnosis of COVID-19: An overview.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic, being a global health concern since December 2019 when the first cases were reported. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the COVID-19 causal agent, is a β-coronavirus that has on its surface the spike protein, which helps in its virulence and pathogenicity towards the host. Thus, effective and applicable diagnostic methods to this disease come as an important tool for the management of the patients.

Phosphoproteomic studies of alamandine signaling in CHO-MrgD and human pancreatic carcinoma cells: An antiproliferative effect is unveiled.

Alamandine is a heptapeptide from the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with similar structure/function to angiotensin-(1-7) [ang-(1-7)], but they act via different receptors. It remains elusive whether alamandine is an antiproliferative agent like ang-(1-7). The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential antiproliferative activity of alamandine and the underlying cellular signaling.

Intraocular pressure measurement: A review.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting around 80 million people worldwide. Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease of poorly understood pathogenesis, with intraocular pressure being the most significant risk factor. Currently there are different methods of intraocular pressure measurement, based on different physical principles, some of which are continuous measurement methods and others which are only measured in the medical office.

infection: How does age influence the inflammatory pattern?

The inflammatory pattern during () infection is changeable and complex. During childhood, it is possible to observe a predominantly regulatory response, evidenced by high concentrations of key cytokines for the maintenance of Treg responses such as TGF-β1 and IL-10, in addition to high expression of the transcription factor FOXP3. On the other hand, there is a predominance of cytokines associated with the Th1 and Th17 responses among -positive adults.

Peptide fragments of bradykinin show unexpected biological activity not mediated by B or B receptors.

Background And Purpose: Bradykinin (BK-(1-9)) is an endogenous nonapeptide involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes. Peptide fragments of bradykinin are believed to be biologically inactive. We have now tested the two major peptide fragments of bradykinin in human and animals.

Relationship between Th17 immune response and cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and epidemiological projections predict growing cancer mortality rates in the next decades. Cancer has a close relationship with the immune system and, although Th17 cells are known to play roles in the immune response against microorganisms and in autoimmunity, studies have emphasized their roles in cancer pathogenesis. The Th17 immune response profile is involved in several types of cancer including urogenital, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin cancers.

Increased circulating levels of angiotensin-(1-7) in severely ill COVID-19 patients.

https://bit.ly/3xFXuTU.

Highlighting COVID-19: What the imaging exams show about the disease.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global emergency, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The gold standard for its diagnosis is the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, but considering the high number of infected people, the low availability of this diagnostic tool in some contexts, and the limitations of the test, other tools that aid in the identification of the disease are necessary. In this scenario, imaging exams such as chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) have played important roles.

Electron Driven Reactions in Tetrafluoroethane: Positive and Negative Ion Formation.

In the search for alternatives to chlorine-containing gases, tetrafluoroethane, CFCHF (R134a), a widely used refrigerant gas, has been recognized as a promising substitute for dichlorodifluoromethane, CClF (R12). When R12 is replaced by R134a, the global warming potential drops from 8100 to 1430, the ozone depletion potential changes from 1 to 0, and the atmospheric lifetime decreases from 100 to 14 years. Electron interactions in the gas phase play a fundamental role in the atmospheric sciences.

Tertiary peritonitis: A disease that should not be ignored.

Intra-abdominal infections can be classified into uncomplicated or complicated (peritonitis). Peritonitis is divided into primary, secondary, and tertiary. Tertiary peritonitis is the less common but the most severe among peritonitis stratifications, being defined as a recurrent intra-abdominal infection that occurs 48 h after a well-succeeded control of a secondary peritonitis.

Electron-Transfer-Induced Side-Chain Cleavage in Tryptophan Facilitated through Potassium-Induced Transition-State Stabilization in the Gas Phase.

Fragmentation of transient negative ions of tryptophan molecules formed through electron transfer in collisions with potassium atoms is presented for the first time in the laboratory collision energy range of 20 up to 100 eV. In the unimolecular decomposition process, the dominating side-chain fragmentation channel is assigned to the dehydrogenated indoline anion, in contrast to dissociative electron attachment of free low-energy electrons to tryptophan. The role of the collision complex formed by the potassium cation and tryptophan negative ion in the electron transfer process is significant for the mechanisms that operate at lower collision energies.