Electrochemical magneto-immunoassay based on Mycobacterium leprae mimotope for serological diagnosis of leprosy.

Leprosy is an infectious disease classified as Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Its diagnosis is challenging, relying on clinical symptoms and invasive procedures. Delays can cause severe physical disability, including hand, foot, and eye impairments.

Combination of a Synthetic Bioceramic Associated with a Polydioxanone-Based Membrane as an Alternative to Autogenous Bone Grafting.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the repair process in rat calvaria filled with synthetic biphasic bioceramics (Plenum Osshp-70:30, HA:βTCP) or autogenous bone, covered with a polydioxanone membrane (PDO). A total of 48 rats were divided into two groups ( = 24): particulate autogenous bone + Plenum Guide (AUTOPT+PG) or Plenum Osshp + Plenum Guide (PO+PG). A defect was created in the calvaria, filled with the grafts, and covered with a PDO membrane, and euthanasia took place at 7, 30, and 60 days.

Identification of a common epitope in knottins and phospholipases D present in Loxosceles sp venom by a monoclonal antibody.

In the Americas and specially in Brazil, the Loxosceles intermedia, Loxosceles gaucho and Loxosceles laeta are the three most medically relevant brown spider species, and whose bites can lead to the condition known as loxoscelism. Here, we report the development of a tool capable of identifying a common epitope amongst Loxosceles sp. venom's toxins.

Evaluation of Vitamin D isolated or Associated with Teriparatide in Peri-Implant Bone Repair in Tibia of Orchiectomized Rats.

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphometry of peri-implant bone tissue in orchiectomized rats, treated with vitamin D isolated or associated with teriparatide. (2) Methods: 24 rats were divided into 4 groups: ORQ-orchiectomy, without drug treatment, ORQ+D-orchiectomy, treated with vitamin D, ORQTERI-orchiectomy, treated with teriparatide and ORQTERI+D-orchiectomy, treated with teriparatide + vitamin D. Each animal received an implant in the tibial metaphysis.

Performance of Polydioxanone-Based Membrane in Association with 3D-Printed Bioceramic Scaffolds in Bone Regeneration.

This study evaluated the bioactivity of 3D-printed β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds or hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds associated with polydioxanone (PDO) membrane (Plenum Guide) for guided bone regeneration in rats. Fifty-four rats were divided into three groups (n = 18 animals): autogenous bone + PDO membrane (Auto/PG); 3D-printed β-TCP + PDO membrane (TCP/PG); and 3D-printed HA + PDO membrane (HA/PG). A surgical defect in the parietal bone was made and filled with the respective scaffolds and PDO membrane.

Comprehensive Characterization of the Regulatory Landscape of Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Novel Transcription Factors and Targets Associated with Prognosis.

We reconstructed a transcriptional regulatory network for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) using transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-ACC cohort. We investigated the association of transcriptional regulatory units (regulons) with overall survival, molecular phenotypes, and immune signatures. We annotated the ACC regulons with cancer hallmarks and assessed single sample regulon activities in the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) cohort.

An effective strategy for the humanization of antibody fragments under an accelerated timeline.

The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in therapy is gradually advancing and discussions entail its safety, rentability and effectiveness. To this date, around a hundred mAbs have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of various diseases. Aiming for their large-scale production, recombinant DNA technology is mainly employed, and antibodies can be expressed in various eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems.

Effect of Topical PTH 1-34 Functionalized to Biogran in the Process of Alveolar Repair in Rats Submitted to Orchiectomy.

(1) Background: There are many therapies for osteoporosis control and bone maintenance; anabolic drugs such as teriparatide and bone grafts help in the repair process and stimulate bone formation. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of repaired bone in the presence of PTH (teriparatide) associated with Biogran (biomaterial) through a sonochemical procedure after extraction in rats. (2) Methods: The insertion of Biogran with PTH in the alveolus was performed 30 days after incisor extraction.

Flowers and thorns in pregnancy: experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To understand the repercussions of COVID-19 on the path of pregnancy.

Method: Qualitative, participatory action research (PAR) study, based on Paulo Freire's Research Itinerary. A virtual culture circle was held in October 2020, with the participation of 12 pregnant women, living in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil.

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Screening Syndrome Profile in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer from Paraná State Southwest.

Objective:  This study evaluated the risk of the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome in patients with breast cancer by using the Family History Screening 7 (FHS-7) tool, a validated low-cost questionnaire with high sensitivity able to screen the HBOC risk in the population.

Methods:  Women diagnosed with breast cancer ( = 101) assisted by the Unified Health System at the 8th Regional Health Municipal Office of the state of Paraná answered the FHS-7, and the results were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma Steroid Profiles: Pan-Cancer Analysis of TCGA Data Uncovers Immunotherapy Targets for Potential Improved Outcomes.

Despite progress in understanding the biology of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), treatment options have not dramatically changed in the last three decades, nor have we learned how to avoid some of its long-term side effects. Our goal was to improve the understanding of immune pathways that may include druggable targets to enhance immune responses of patients with ACC, focusing on immune evasion and the activation of immune cells against ACC. Our strategy was aimed at improving insight regarding gene expression without steroid interference.

and Evaluation of Mimetic Peptides as Potential Antigen Candidates for Prophylaxis of Leishmaniosis.

Antigen formulation is the main feature for the success of leishmaniosis diagnosis and vaccination, since the disease is caused by different parasite species that display particularities which determine their pathogenicity and virulence. It is desirable that the antigens are recognized by different antibodies and are immunogenic for almost all species. To overcome this problem, we selected six potentially immunogenic peptides derived from histones and parasite membrane molecules obtained by phage display or spot synthesis and entrapped in liposome structures.

From adrenarche to aging of adrenal zona reticularis: precocious female adrenopause onset.

Objective: Adaptive changes in DHEA and sulfated-DHEA (DHEAS) production from adrenal zona reticularis (ZR) have been observed in normal and pathological conditions. Here we used three different cohorts to assess timing differences in DHEAS blood level changes and characterize the relationship between early blood DHEAS reduction and cell number changes in women ZR.

Materials And Methods: DHEAS plasma samples (n = 463) were analyzed in 166 healthy prepubertal girls before pubarche (<9 years) and 324 serum samples from 268 adult females (31.

spp. monoclonal antibody against a CPA2 transporter: a promising molecular tool for acanthamoebiasis diagnosis and encystment study.

Free-living amoeba of the genus Acanthamoeba are ubiquitous protozoa involved in opportunistic and non-opportunistic infection in humans, such as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and amoebic keratitis. Both infections have challenging characteristics such as the formation of the resistant cysts in infected tissues, hampering the treatment and most usual diagnosis depending on time-consuming and/or low sensitivity techniques. The use of monoclonal antibodies presents itself as an opportunity for the development of more effective alternative diagnostic methods, as well as an important and useful tool in the search for new therapeutic targets.

Loxoscelism: Advances and Challenges in the Design of Antibody Fragments with Therapeutic Potential.

Envenoming due to spider bites still remains a neglected disease of particular medical concern in the Americas. To date, there is no consensus for the treatment of envenomed patients, yet horse polyclonal antivenoms are usually infused to patients with identified severe medical conditions. It is widely known that venom proteins in the 30-35 kDa range with sphingomyelinase D (SMasesD) activity, reproduce most of the toxic effects observed in loxoscelism.

Targeting epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi with a peptide isolated from a phage display random library.

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted by insects of the family Reduviidae. Since conventional treatments with nitroheterocyclic drugs show serious adverse reactions and have questionable efficiency, different research groups have investigated polypeptide-based approaches to interfere with the parasite cell cycle in other Trypanosomatids. These strategies are supported by the fact that surface players are candidates to develop surface ligands that impair function since they may act as virulence factors.

Biomolecular engineering of antidehydroepiandrosterone antibodies: a new perspective in cancer diagnosis and treatment using single-chain antibody variable fragment.

Aim: To develop a monoclonal antibody against dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and miniaturize it, generating a single-chain antibody variable fragment (scFv) against DHEA as an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) marker.

Material & Methods: DHEA conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used as an immunogen to obtain anti-DHEA hybridomas. Variable fragments were cloned from hybridoma 5B7 total RNA, and used to detect DHEA in normal adrenal tissue and ACC cells.

Engineered biomarkers for leprosy diagnosis using labeled and label-free analysis.

The biotechnological evolution towards the development of antigens to detect leprosy has been progressing. However, the identification of leprosy in paucibacillary patients, based solely on the antigen-antibody interaction still remains a challenge. The complexity of clinical manifestations requires innovative approaches to improve the sensitivity of assays to detect leprosy before the onset of symptoms, thus avoiding disabilities and contributing, indirectly, to reduce transmission.

Anti-hMC2RL1 Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles for Adrenocortical Tumor Cells Targeting and Imaging.

The low rate of cure of adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) in children and adults is related to germ line TP53 mutation, late diagnosis, incomplete surgical resection, and lack of an efficient adjunctive therapy. To provide a new approach for the improvement of ACC diagnosis and therapy, the present study aimed to explicitly target ACC cells using gold nanoparticle (AuNP) probes bound to specific antibodies. Immunohistochemistry of ACC and positive and negative control tissue micro-sections under light microscopy was used to test a purified polyclonal antibody raised against the 80–93, outer loop 1 position of the human melanocortin receptor 2 (hMC2R).

Understanding the barriers to successful adoption and use of a mobile health information system in a community health center in São Paulo, Brazil: a cohort study.

Background: Mobile technology to support community health has surged in popularity, yet few studies have systematically examined usability of mobile platforms for this setting.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study of 14 community healthcare workers at a public healthcare clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. We held focus groups with community healthcare workers to elicit their ideas about a mobile health application and used this input to build a prototype app.

Generation of recombinant antibody fragments with toxin-neutralizing potential in loxoscelism.

Loxosceles spider bites often lead to serious envenomings and no definite therapy has yet been established. In such a context, it is of interest to consider an antibody-based targeted therapy. We have previously prepared a murine monoclonal IgG (LiMab7) that binds to 32-35kDa components of Loxosceles intermedia venom and neutralizes the dermonecrotic activity of the venom.

Generation and characterization of monoclonal antibody against Advanced Glycation End Products in chronic kidney disease.

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are toxins that are involved in structural and functional alterations of several organs and tissues, resulting in various pathologies. Several types of AGEs have been described but carboxymethyllysine (CML) is the major antigenic AGE compound. In this study, three different immunogenic carrier proteins (KLH, keyhole limpet hemocyanin; BSA, bovine serum albumin; and HSA, human serum albumin) were modified by glycation.