Mercury exposure in riverine populations of Terra do Meio Extractive Reserves in the Xingu basin, Amazon, Brazil.

Amazon is a hotspot for mercury (Hg) contamination and Terra do Meio region, despite its protected status for sustainable use, has never been monitored for this element. Looking to address this gap, this study aimed to quantify capillary Hg concentration in riverine populations of Terra do Meio (Xingu Basin, Central Amazon, Brazil) and associated factors with high Hg levels (90 percentile). Hair samples from 182 individuals from Iriri, Riozinho do Anfrísio and Xingu Extractive Reserves (RESEX), aged between 18 and 70 years old, were collected to measure total mercury levels (HgT), and socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical-epidemiological data were annotated.

The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of Brazilian diagnosed with COVID-19 and comparison of symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress with undiagnosed subjects.

Background: The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of survivors are little known, especially regarding the occurrence of psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. In this study, we evaluated the impacts on the mental health of Brazilian survivors who were not infected or asymptomatic with COVID-19.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted collecting information through an electronic form from January to May 2021.

Sociobehavioral, Biological, and Health Characteristics of Riverside People in the Xingu Region, Pará, Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic, behavioral, and biological profile and its relationship with the emergence of chronic non-communicable diseases in riverside populations in the Xingu region, Pará, Brazil. Characteristics related to health indicators and which risk factors are considered most important were analyzed. This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and descriptive study.

The impact of the social isolation in elderly Brazilian mental health (anxiety and depression) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The impact of social isolation in the pandemic context on elderly Brazilian mental health is little known, especially about the occurrence of depressive symptoms. In this study, we evaluated elderly people undergoing social isolation in order to identify factors associated with depression and which of these are more important to characterize elderly Brazilians with depression. In a cross-sectional, exploratory, and analytical study of a quantitative nature, the mental profile of elderly individuals subjected to social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic period was used.

Nitrite and tempol combination promotes synergic effects and alleviates right ventricular wall stress during acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Introduction: The mechanical obstruction and pulmonary vasoconstriction are major determinants of the sudden right ventricular (RV) afterload increases observed during acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT). Vasodilators and antioxidants agents have been shown to mitigate pulmonary hypertension. We examined whether sodium nitrite and the antioxidant tempol combination could be advantageous in an APT sheep model.

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibition attenuates right ventricular dysfunction and improves responses to dobutamine during acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Activated matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) cause cardiomyocyte injury during acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT). However, the functional consequences of this alteration are not known. We examined whether doxycycline (a MMP inhibitor) improves right ventricle function and the cardiac responses to dobutamine during APT.

The antioxidant tempol decreases acute pulmonary thromboembolism-induced hemolysis and nitric oxide consumption.

Introduction: Acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT) is a critical condition associated with acute pulmonary hypertension. Recent studies suggest that oxidative stress and hemolysis contribute to APT-induced pulmonary hypertension, possibly as a result of increased nitric oxide (NO) consumption. We hypothesized that the antioxidant tempol could attenuate APT-induced hemolysis, and therefore attenuate APT-induced increases in plasma NO consumption.

Elevated plasma hemoglobin levels increase nitric oxide consumption in experimental and clinical acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Objectives: We examined whether experimental lung embolization with autologous blood clots or with the infusion of microspheres increase cell-free hemoglobin levels and nitric oxide consumption by plasma samples from anesthetized lambs. These parameters were also measured in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism at baseline conditions and after thrombolysis, and in healthy controls.

Design: Controlled animal and clinical studies.

Recombinant human matrix metalloproteinase-2 impairs cardiovascular β-adrenergic responses.

Growing evidence supports the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases. Particularly, imbalanced MMP-2 activity apparently plays a critical role in cardiovascular remodelling. While some studies have suggested that MMP-2 may affect the vascular tone and impair β-adrenoreceptor function, no previous study has examined the acute haemodynamic effects of MMP-2.

Antioxidant treatment protects against matrix metalloproteinase activation and cardiomyocyte injury during acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities and may underlie cardiomyocyte injury and the degradation of cardiac troponin I (cTI) during acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT). We examined whether pretreatment or therapy with tempol (a ROS scavenger) prevents MMP activation and cardiomyocyte injury of APT. Anesthetized sheep received tempol infusion (1.