Latin American Natural Product Database (LANaPDB): An Update.

Natural product (NP) databases are crucial tools in computer-aided drug design (CADD). Over the past decade, there has been a worldwide effort to assemble information regarding natural products (NPs) isolated and characterized in certain geographical regions. In 2023, it was published LANaPDB, and to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to gather and standardize all the NP databases of Latin America.

Updating and profiling the natural product-likeness of Latin American compound libraries.

Compound databases of natural products play a crucial role in drug discovery and development projects and have implications in other areas, such as food chemical research, ecology and metabolomics. Recently, we put together the first version of the Latin American Natural Product database (LANaPDB) as a collective effort of researchers from six countries to ensemble a public and representative library of natural products in a geographical region with a large biodiversity. The present work aims to conduct a comparative and extensive profiling of the natural product-likeness of an updated version of LANaPDB and the individual ten compound databases that form part of LANaPDB.

Chronic exposure to TiO micro- and nano particles: A biochemical and histopathological experimental study.

The aim of this work was to analyze the effects of long-term exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO) micro- (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) (six and 12 months) on the biochemical and histopathological response of target organs using a murine model. Male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with a suspension of TiO NPs (5 nm; TiO-NP5 group) or MPs (45 μm; TiO-NP5 group); the control group was injected with saline solution. Six and 12 months post-injection, titanium (Ti) concentration in plasma and target organs was determined spectrometrically (ICP-MS).

Anti-Trypanosomal Bufadienolides from the Oocytes of the Toad (Anura, Bufonidae).

Amphibians are widely known as a prolific source of bioactive metabolites. In this work, we isolated and characterized compounds with antiparasitic activity from the oocytes of the toad collected in Panama. Bio-guided isolation and structural elucidation were carried out using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively.

Navigating the Chemical Space and Chemical Multiverse of a Unified Latin American Natural Product Database: LANaPDB.

The number of databases of natural products (NPs) has increased substantially. Latin America is extraordinarily rich in biodiversity, enabling the identification of novel NPs, which has encouraged both the development of databases and the implementation of those that are being created or are under development. In a collective effort from several Latin American countries, herein we introduce the first version of the Latin American Natural Products Database (LANaPDB), a public compound collection that gathers the chemical information of NPs contained in diverse databases from this geographical region.

Design and Diversity Analysis of Chemical Libraries in Drug Discovery.

Chemical libraries and compound data sets are among the main inputs to start the drug discovery process at universities, research institutes, and the pharmaceutical industry. The approach used in the design of compound libraries, the chemical information they possess, and the representation of structures, play a fundamental role in the development of studies: chemoinformatics, food informatics, pharmacokinetics, computational toxicology, bioinformatics, and molecular modeling to generate computational hits that will continue the optimization process of drug candidates. The prospects for growth in drug discovery and development processes in chemical, biotechnological, and pharmaceutical companies began a few years ago by integrating computational tools with artificial intelligence methodologies.

Understanding the (Brine Shrimp) Test: Pharmacological Significance and Global Impact.

Background: The microplate benchtop brine shrimp test (BST) has been widely used for screening and bio-guided isolation of many active compounds, including natural products. Although the interpretation given to the results appears dissimilar, our findings suggest a correlation between positive results with a specific mechanism of action.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate drugs belonging to fifteen pharmacological categories having diverse mechanisms of action and carry out a bibliometric analysis of over 700 citations related to microwell BST.

Exfoliated oral mucosa cells as bioindicators of short- and long-term systemic titanium contamination.

Background: Humans are exposed to exogenous sources of titanium-containing particles that can enter the body mainly by inhalation, ingestion, or dermal absorption. Given the widespread use of biomaterials in medicine, the surface of a titanium (Ti) biomedical device is a potential endogenous source of Ti ions and/or Ti-containing particles, such as TiO micro-(MPs) and nano-particles (NPs), resulting from biotribocorrosion processes. Ti ions or Ti-containing particles may deposit in epithelial cells of the oral mucosa, and the latter may therefore serve as bioindicators of short and long-term systemic Ti contamination.

Synthesis and Evaluation of a Chitosan-Silica-Based Bone Substitute for Tissue Engineering.

Bone defects have prompted the development of biomaterial-based bone substitutes for restoring the affected tissue completely. Although many biomaterials have been designed and evaluated, the combination of properties required in a biomaterial for bone tissue engineering still poses a challenge. In this study, a chitosan-silica-based biocomposite was synthetized, and its physicochemical characteristics and biocompatibility were characterized, with the aim of exploring the advantages and drawbacks of its use in bone tissue engineering.

Mutagenic damage among bronchiectasis patients attending in the pulmonology sector of a hospital in southern Brazil.

Objective: Bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by inflammation, irreversible dilation of the bronchi, and recurrent pulmonary infections, with a high morbidity and mortality rate, but is less studied from the point of view of its prevalence and associated factors not directly related to respiratory prognosis. As it is a disease related to the exacerbation of the inflammatory process and oxidative stress, this study searched to investigate the micronucleus frequency in patients with and without bronchiectasis treated at a specialized pulmonology service in a hospital in the extreme south of Brazil.

Methods: Patients with a confirmed tomographic diagnosis of bronchiectasis were defined as cases.

Increasing Engagement in Kitten Fostering Programs: Lessons Learned From High Kitten Intake Zip Codes in Los Angeles County.

The goal of the current study was to identify ways to increase awareness and engagement in kitten fostering programs (KFPs) among residents of areas with a high intake of kittens to animal shelters in Southern California (i.e., Los Angeles County).

Latin American databases of natural products: biodiversity and drug discovery against SARS-CoV-2.

In this study, we evaluated 3444 Latin American natural products using cheminformatic tools. We also characterized 196 compounds for the first time from the flora of El Salvador that were compared with the databases of secondary metabolites from Brazil, Mexico, and Panama, and 42 969 compounds (natural, semi-synthetic, synthetic) from different regions of the world. The overall analysis was performed using drug-likeness properties, molecular fingerprints of different designs, two parameters similarity, molecular scaffolds, and molecular complexity metrics.

A Biocompatible Ultrananocrystalline Diamond (UNCD) Coating for a New Generation of Dental Implants.

Implant therapy using osseointegratable titanium (Ti) dental implants has revolutionized clinical dental practice and has shown a high rate of success. However, because a metallic implant is in contact with body tissues and fluids in vivo, ions/particles can be released into the biological milieu as a result of corrosion or biotribocorrosion. Ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) coatings possess a synergistic combination of mechanical, tribological, and chemical properties, which makes UNCD highly biocompatible.

Combinations of Peptide-Protein Extracts from Native Probiotics Suppress the Growth of Multidrug-Resistant and via Membrane Perturbation and Ultrastructural Changes.

The occurrence of multidrug-resistant pathogens in the food chain causes health problems in humans, thus, research for novel antimicrobials to combat their growth is of interest. This study evaluates the antimicrobial potential of several combinations of peptide-protein extracts (PCs) consisting of peptide extracts from three native probiotic strains, UTNGt2, UTNGt28, and UTNGt21A, alone or in combination with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) against multidrug-resistant ATCC1026 and UTNB3Sm1. Based on the antimicrobial assay, among the 19 tested PCs, two (PC11 and PC17) produced a greater zone of inhibition against both pathogens in vitro.

Systemic effect of TiO micro- and nanoparticles after acute exposure in a murine model.

The surface of a biomedical implant can be a potential endogenous source of release of microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) into the biological environment. In addition, titanium particles from exogenous sources can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact. The aim of this work was to evaluate the biological response of the lung, liver, and kidneys to acute exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO ).

Associations of pro-protein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9, soluble low-density lipoprotein receptor and coronary artery disease: A case-control study.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is the primary pathway for removal of cholesterol from the circulation, pro-protein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted protease that binds to and promotes degradation of the LDLR protein. The goal of this case-control study was to investigate the role of soluble LDLR (sLDLR) and PCSK9 in coronary artery disease (CAD) and investigate the relationship between these two indices and CAD.

Methods: In a sample of 144 Chinese patients recruited between January 2018 and August 2018, 81 cases with mild and severe stenosis characterized by coronary angiograph (CAG) and 63 healthy controls were selected using the propensity score matching (PSM) based on demographics and medical history.

Recent Advances in Synthetic and Natural Biomaterials-Based Therapy for Bone Defects.

Synthetic and natural biomaterials are a promising alternative for the treatment of critical-sized bone defects. Several parameters such as their porosity, surface, and mechanical properties are extensively pointed out as key points to recapitulate the bone microenvironment. Many biomaterials with this pursuit are employed to provide a matrix, which can supply the specific environment and architecture for an adequate bone growth.

A collagen-silica-based biocomposite for potential application in bone tissue engineering.

Bone is a hierarchical material that has inspired the design of biopolymer-derived biocomposites for tissue engineering purposes. The present study sought to synthesize and perform the physicochemical characterization and biocompatibility of a collagen-silica-based biocomposite for potential application in bone tissue engineering. Ultrastructure, biodegradability, swelling behavior, and biocompatibility properties were analyzed to gain insight into the advantages and limitations to the use of this biomaterial as a bone substitute.

Use of antioxidants to restore bond strength after tooth bleaching with peroxides.

This review compiles the literature on the antioxidants used after tooth bleaching with either low or high-concentrated carbamide and hydrogen peroxide to recover the bond strength. Antioxidants used in bleached teeth are mainly natural and non-enzymatic, except for catalase. Commonly, antioxidants are applied to remove any reactive oxygen species (ROS) residues left from bleaching gels, which adversely affect adhesive procedures, such as restorations or orthodontic brackets bonding.

Peri-implantitis is not periodontitis: Scientific discoveries shed light on microbiome-biomaterial interactions that may determine disease phenotype.

Peri-implantitis is an immune-mediated biological complication that is attributed to bacterial biofilms on the implant surface. As both periodontitis and peri-implantitis have similar inflammatory phenotypes when assessed cross-sectionally, treatment protocols for peri-implantitis were modeled according to those used for periodontitis. However, lack of efficacy of antimicrobial treatments targeting periodontal pathogens coupled with recent discoveries from open-ended microbial investigation studies create a heightened need to revisit the pathogenesis of peri-implantitis compared with that of periodontitis.

Titanium dental implant-related pathologies: A retrospective histopathological study.

Objectives: To perform a retrospective, descriptive, histopathological study of peri-implant tissue pathologies associated with titanium dental implants (TDI), and to evaluate the presence of metallic particles in samples from a single diagnostic center.

Methods: Sixty-eight cases of TDI-associated lesions were retrieved from the Surgical Pathology Laboratory archives, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires (UBA) (1990-2018). The study included re-examining the histopathological features of the biopsy samples, analyzing the inflammatory infiltrate, and examining the samples to detect metallic particles whose chemical composition was determined spectrophotometrically (EDS).

and its Effects on the Prognosis of Bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis, which is an abnormal and irreversible dilation of one or several bronchial segments, causes significant morbidity and impaired quality of life to patients, mainly as the result of recurrent and chronic respiratory infections. is a microorganism known for its high infectious potential related to the production of molecules with great pathogenic power, such as enzymes, toxins, adhesins, and biofilm, which determine the degree of severity of systemic symptoms and can induce exacerbated immune response. This review highlighted the clinical significance of colonization/infection in bronchiectasis patients, since little is known about it, despite its increasing frequency of isolation and potential serious morbidity.

Neurotoxicity mediated by oxidative stress caused by titanium dioxide nanoparticles in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells.

Background: Titanium is widely used in biomedicine. Due to biotribocorrosion, titanium dioxide (TiO) nanoparticles (NPs) can be released from the titanium implant surface, enter the systemic circulation, and migrate to various organs and tissues including the brain. A previous study showed that 5 nm TiO NPs reached the highest concentration in the brain.

Research on implants and osseointegration.

Osseointegration was originally defined as a direct structural and functional connection between ordered living bone and the surface of a load-carrying implant. It is now said that an implant is regarded as osseointegrated when there is no progressive relative movement between the implant and the bone with which it is in direct contact. Although the term osseointegration was initially used with reference to titanium metallic implants, the concept is currently applied to all biomaterials that have the ability to osseointegrate.