CHONDROITIN SULFATE AND GLUCOSAMINE SULFATE AS PROTECTIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS IN THE ULCERATIVE COLITIS DSS MODEL IN RATS.

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GlcN) are indicated for the treatment of some inflammatory diseases, such as osteoarthritis, mainly because of the anti-inflammatory effects in reducing metalloproteinases activities (MMP), and other inflammatory mediators. Herein, we reported the structure of the CS, the anti-inflammatory and protective effects of the CS, and GlcN administration in ulcerative colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats. Experimental data indicated that CS disaccharide composition is very similar to the C4S standard, with modal molecular weight at 30.

First-line Double Stentriever Thrombectomy for M1/TICA Occlusions : Initial Experiences.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy is the standard of care for acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion; however, mechanical thrombectomy fails to achieve adequate recanalization in nearly one third of these cases. Rescue therapy using two stentrievers simultaneously yields good results in clots refractory to single stentriever treatment. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of first-line double stentriever thrombectomy for acute occlusion of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery and/or terminal internal carotid artery (TICA).

Identifying Plectin Isoform Functions through Animal Models.

Plectin, a high-molecular-weight cytoskeletal linker protein, binds with high affinity to intermediate filaments of all types and connects them to junctional complexes, organelles, and inner membrane systems. In addition, it interacts with actomyosin structures and microtubules. As a multifunctional protein, plectin has been implicated in several multisystemic diseases, the most common of which is epidermolysis bullosa simplex with muscular dystrophy (EBS-MD).

Antiobesity, hepatoprotective and anti-hyperglycemic effects of a pharmaceutical formulation containing Cecropia pachystachya Trécul in mice fed with a hypercaloric diet.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (Urticaceae), known as embaúba, are used as hypoglycemic and for weight reduction in Brazilian traditional medicine.

Aim Of The Study: This study investigated the effects of a pharmaceutical formulation (ECP20) containing C. pachystachya extract on some metabolic alterations caused by a hypercaloric diet in mice.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of Siparuna guianensis Aublet, an amazonian plant traditionally used by indigenous communities.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Siparuna guianensis Aublet leaves, known as negramina, are used by indigenous and local communities in Brazil and other countries in the Americas to treat pain and inflammatory diseases.

Aim Of The Study: To characterize the chemical constituents and to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and locomotor activities of the dichloromethane fraction (DF) of S. guianensis leaves.

The Barcelona-Asymptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerosis study: Subclinical intracranial atherosclerosis as predictor of long-term vascular events.

Background And Aims: Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence and occurrence of other vascular events. However, ICAS has been poorly studied from its asymptomatic stage. The objective of our study was to determine if subclinical intracranial atherosclerosis is associated with long-term incident vascular events in Caucasians.

Morphological and histological characterization of sexual segment of the kidney in Notomabuya frenata (Cope, 1862) and Aspronema dorsivittatum (Cope, 1862) (Squamata, Mabuyidae).

The kidneys in two viviparous species of Neotropical lizards, Notomabuya frenata and Aspronema dorsivittatum (Mabuyidae), were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy in order to determine the presence of the sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) and to study its morphology. The individuals used in this study belong to the Herpetological Collection of the Herpetology Laboratory - Reptiles of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (CHUFJF-Reptiles) and they were collected between the years 2008 and 2012 from the Cerrado region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The SSK was present only in sexually mature males (with sperm in the testes / epididymis), whereas it was absent in sexually immature males.

Comparative analysis of Lacistema pubescens and dexamethasone on topical treatment of skin inflammation in a chronic disease model and side effects.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the chronic topical anti-inflammatory activity of the pharmaceutical formulation ProHLP containing the hexane fraction of Lacistema pubescens (HLP). It was also investigated the possible cutaneous and systemic adverse effects of HLP and ProHLP in mice when compared to dexamethasone.

Methods: The chronic topical anti-inflammatory activity was determined by croton oil multiple application-induced mouse ear oedema model.

Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides: challenging clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis.

Mycosis fungoides is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with various clinical and pathological presentations. Early lesions are nonspecific, which hinders early diagnosis. The folliculotropic subtype is manifested as acneiform lesions, follicular papules or erythematous plaques mainly on the face, neck and upper trunk.

Effects of dimethylsulfoxide and pentoxifylline in the vitality of cutaneous flaps in rats.

Objectives: to verify the influence of dimethylsulfoxide and pentoxifylline on the vitality of cutaneous flaps in rats and the tissue repair process.

Methods: were studied 30 Wistar rats, submitting them to a 2cm wide by 8cm long dorsal cutaneous flap, of caudal base. We distributed the animals in three groups: Control Group (n=10) with application gauze moistened with 0.

New aspects on the hepatoprotective potential associated with the antioxidant, hypocholesterolemic and anti-inflammatory activities of Vernonia condensata Baker.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Vernonia condensata Baker (Asteraceae) is traditionally used in South American Countries as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and hepatoprotective.

Aim Of The Study: This study aimed to investigate the in vivo hepatoprotective and antioxidant, and the in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of the ethyl acetate partition (EAP) from the ethanolic extract of this medicinal plant leaves.

Materials And Methods: For the in vivo hepatoprotective activity, rats were pretreated orally for seven days with vehicle, silymarin 100mg/kg or EAP 50, 100 and 200mg/kg.

Pereskia aculeata Miller leaves accelerate excisional wound healing in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae), known as Barbados gooseberry, are used as emollients and to treat skin wounds and inflammatory process in Brazilian traditional medicine.

Aim Of The Study: This study investigated the topical wound healing activity of gels containing the methanol extract (ME) and hexane fraction (HF) of the leaves of this plant in a model of excisional wound healing in mice.

Material And Methods: Mice were anesthetized and excisional skin wounds were performed using a circular metal punch of 5mm diameter.

Early IFN-γ production together with decreased expression of TLR3 and TLR9 characterizes EAE development conditional on the presence of myelin.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a model for the study of multiple sclerosis, which is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite increased efforts to elucidate the function of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in autoimmune diseases of the CNS, the relative contribution of other factors, including the immunomodulatory properties of TLR signaling, role of the innate response and the presence or absence of myelin peptides remain unclear. The aim was to evaluate TLR expression in the CNS during EAE development by investigating the expression of TLRs in the initial phase of EAE and establishing correlations with the modulation of inflammatory factors.

In vivo wound healing activity of gels containing Cecropia pachystachya leaves.

Objectives: To evaluate the in-vivo wound healing and in-vitro antioxidant activity of gels containing the ethyl acetate extract of Cecropia pachystachya (ECP) 2% and 5%, and to perform the chemical fingerprint of ECP by HPLC-DAD.

Methods: The wound healing activity of the gels was evaluated for 21 days, using the excision model in rats followed by histopathological and histomorphometric analysis. The in-vitro antioxidant effect of ECP was investigated using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, reducing power, β-carotene bleaching and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assays.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma simulating scarring alopecia.

The microcystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare, locally aggressive malignant adnexal neoplasm associated with significant morbidity. It is often underdiagnosed due to clinical and histopathological resemblance with other cutaneous neoplasms and/or a combination of lack of familiarity associated with inadequate samples. We report a case with clinical hypothesis of scarring alopecia and histopathological diagnosis of microcystic adnexal carcinoma with favorable outcome in a follow-up of eleven years, after surgical treatment.

Topical application of the hexane fraction of Lacistema pubescens reduces skin inflammation and cytokine production in animal model.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute topical anti-inflammatory effect of the hexane fraction (HLP) of Lacistema pubescens in mice.

Methods: Ear oedema models induced by croton oil, arachidonic acid, phenol, histamine, ethyl phenyl propiolate and capsaicin. Histopathological analyses of ear tissue samples sensitized with croton oil were performed.

Pereskia aculeata Miller leaves present in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity in models of acute and chronic dermatitis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The leaves of Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae), known as Barbados gooseberry, are used in Brazilian traditional medicine as emollients and to treat skin wounds and inflammation. This study investigated the topical anti-inflammatory activity of the hexane fraction (HF) obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves of this species in models of acute and chronic ear dermatitis in mice.

Material And Methods: Mice ear edema was induced by topical application of croton oil, arachidonic acid, capsaicin, ethyl-phenylpropiolate and phenol; and by subcutaneous injection of histamine.

Molecular Characterization and Biochemical and Histopathological Aspects of the Parasitism of Haemoproteus spp. in Southern Caracaras (Caracara plancus).

Haemoproteid species have a wide global distribution, and they have been described in falcon species in several parts of the world. However, few studies in South America have focused on these birds. Haemoproteus spp.

Molecular architecture and function of the hemidesmosome.

Hemidesmosomes are multiprotein complexes that facilitate the stable adhesion of basal epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. The mechanical stability of hemidesmosomes relies on multiple interactions of a few protein components that form a membrane-embedded tightly-ordered complex. The core of this complex is provided by integrin α6β4 and P1a, an isoform of the cytoskeletal linker protein plectin that is specifically associated with hemidesmosomes.

Mutation in exon 1a of PLEC, leading to disruption of plectin isoform 1a, causes autosomal-recessive skin-only epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

PLEC, the gene encoding the cytolinker protein plectin, has eight tissue-specific isoforms in humans, arising by alternate splicing of the first exon. To date, all PLEC mutations that cause epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) were found in exons common to all isoforms. Due to the ubiquitous presence of plectin in mammalian tissues, EBS from recessive plectin mutations is always associated with extracutaneous involvement including muscular dystrophy, pyloric atresia and cardiomyopathy.

Increase of glycosaminoglycans and metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in liver extracellular matrix on early stages of extrahepatic cholestasis.

Context: Cholestasis produces hepatocellular injury, leukocyte infiltration, ductular cells proliferation and fibrosis of liver parenchyma by extracellular matrix replacement.

Objective: Analyze bile duct ligation effect upon glycosaminoglycans content and matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) activities.

Methods: Animals (6-8 weeks; n = 40) were euthanized 2, 7 or 14 days after bile duct ligation or Sham-surgery.

Different MOG(35-55) concentrations induce distinguishable inflammation through early regulatory response by IL-10 and TGF-β in mice CNS despite unchanged clinical course.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) shows distinct clinical courses. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model to study multiple sclerosis, can be induced by different protocols, which show distinct cytokine and antibody production. The factors involved in this heterogeneity remain unclear.

Molecular architecture and function of the hemidesmosome.

Hemidesmosomes are multiprotein complexes that facilitate the stable adhesion of basal epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane. The mechanical stability of hemidesmosomes relies on multiple interactions of a few protein components that form a membrane-embedded tightly-ordered complex. The core of this complex is provided by integrin α6β4 and P1a, an isoform of the cytoskeletal linker protein plectin that is specifically associated with hemidesmosomes.