Bixin Combined with Metformin Ameliorates Insulin Resistance and Antioxidant Defenses in Obese Mice.

Bixin (CHO; 394.51 g/mol) is the main apocarotenoid found in annatto seeds. It has a 25-carbon open chain structure with a methyl ester group and carboxylic acid.

Progesterone modulates TNF receptors expression by Jurkat cells cultured with plasma from pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE) present a shift in the immune response to an inflammatory profile. This deviation could be due to the interaction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) with TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptors, besides the failure in modulation of inflammation regulatory mechanisms. This study evaluated the effects of progesterone on the expression of TNFR1 and TNFR2 by Jurkat cells after stimulation with plasma from PE and normotensive (NT) pregnant women.

Thermoactivated cement from construction and demolition waste for pavement base stabilization: A case study in Brazil.

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) worldwide generation accounts 10 billion tonnes yearly. The major fraction is landfilled requiring innovative recycling methods to reduce the associated environmental impacts and to increase its circularity. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of using different CDW fines to develop recycled cements and optimized the content of CDW recycled cements with well-graded crushed stone (WGCS) for use as pavement base layer.

Photodynamic Therapy Directed to Melanoma Skin Cancer by Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Chlorophyll A.

Melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer intricately linked to genetic and environmental factors, is predicted to reach 100,000 new cases worldwide by 2040, underscoring the need for effective and safe treatment options. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of a photosensitizer called Chlorophyll A (Chl-A) incorporated into hydrogels (HGs) made of chitosan (CS) and poloxamer 407 (P407) for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) against the murine melanoma cell line B16-F10. The HG was evaluated through various tests, including rheological studies, SEM, and ATR-FTIR, along with cell viability assays.

Activity of Bacteriophage D29 Loaded on Nanoliposomes against Macrophages Infected with .

The search for new antimicrobial agents is a continuous struggle, mainly because more and more cases of resistant strains are being reported. (MTB) is the main microorganism responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. The development of new antimicrobial agents is generally aimed at finding strong interactions with one or more bacterial receptors.

Nanoencapsulation of Ruthenium Complex Ru(ThySMet): A Strategy to Improve Selective Cytotoxicity against Breast Tumor Cells in 2D and 3D Culture Models.

Background: Ruthenium complexes have shown promise in treating many cancers, including breast cancer. Previous studies of our group have demonstrated the potential of the trans- [Ru(PPh3)2(N,N-dimethylN'-thiophenylthioureato-k2O,S)(bipy)]PF6 complex, the Ru(ThySMet), in the treatment of breast tumor cancers, both in 2D and 3D culture systems. Additionally, this complex presented low toxicity when tested .

Tumor vascular heterogeneity and the impact of subtumoral nanoemulsion biodistribution.

Investigate the heterogeneous tumor tissue organization and examine how this condition can interfere with the passive delivery of a lipid nanoemulsion in two breast cancer preclinical models (4T1 and Ehrlich). The authors used image techniques to follow the nanoemulsion biodistribution and microtomography, as well as traditional histopathology and electron microscopy to evaluate the tumor structural characteristics. Lipid nanoemulsion was delivered to the tumor, vascular organization depends upon the subtumoral localization and this heterogeneous organization promotes a nanoemulsion biodistribution to the highly vascular peripherical region.

Combined Effects of Lycopene and Metformin on Decreasing Oxidative Stress by Triggering Endogenous Antioxidant Defenses in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Since lycopene has antioxidant activity, its combination with metformin may be useful to contrast diabetic complications related to oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the effects of metformin combined with lycopene on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Seventy-two C57BL-6J mice were divided into six groups: C (control diet-fed mice), H (HFD-fed mice for 17 weeks), H-V (HFD-fed mice treated with vehicle), H-M (HFD-fed mice treated with 50 mg/kg metformin), H-L (HFD-fed mice treated with 45 mg/kg lycopene), and H-ML (HFD-fed mice treated with 50 mg/kg metformin + 45 mg/kg lycopene).

Event-related potential and lexical decision task in dyslexic adults: Lexical and lateralization effects.

Developmental dyslexia is a specific learning disorder that presents cognitive and neurobiological impairments related to different patterns of brain activation throughout development, continuing in adulthood. Lexical decision tasks, together with electroencephalography (EEG) measures that have great temporal precision, allow the capture of cognitive processes during the task, and can assist in the understanding of altered brain activation processes in adult dyslexics. High-density EEG allows the use of temporal analyses through event-related potentials (ERPs).

Fabrication of Functional bioMOF-100 Prototype as Drug Delivery System for Breast Cancer Therapy.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in women, representing the fifth leading cause of cancer death overall. Therefore, the growing search for the development of new treatments for breast cancer has been developed lately as well as drug delivery systems such as biocompatible metal-organic Frameworks (bio-MOFs). These may be promising and attractive for drug incorporation and release.

Development of New Natural Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Loaded with Aluminum-Phthalocyanine for Photodynamic Therapy against Melanoma.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by photosensitizers loaded in nanostructures as solid lipid nanoparticles has been pinpointed as an effective and safe treatment against different skin cancers. Amazon butters have an interesting lipid composition when it comes to forming solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). In the present report, a new third-generation photosensitizing system consisting of aluminum-phthalocyanine associated with Amazon butter-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-AlPc) is described.

Modulatory effect of two regimens of magnesium sulfate on the systemic inflammatory response in pregnant women with imminent eclampsia.

Objective: This study compared the modulatory effect of two intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO) regimens on the systemic inflammatory response in pregnant women diagnosed with imminent eclampsia.

Study Design: In a single-blind cross-sectional study, 33 women were allocated according to the Zuspan (n = 16) and Sibai (n = 17) MgSO regimens, and treated for 24 h. Blood samples were collected pre-administration of the loading dose, at 24 h of the maintenance dose of MgSO, and at 48 h, when patients were without treatment.

Antifungal activity and toxicity of an octyl gallate-loaded nanostructured lipid system on cells and nonmammalian animals.

Octyl gallate (OG) loaded into a nanostructured lipid system (NLS) was tested for antifungal activity and and toxicity. The features of NLS-OG were analyzed by dynamic light scattering and showed adequate size (132.1 nm) and homogeneity (polydispersity index = 0.

Solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with curcumin: development and toxicity against CT26 cells.

To develop a new curcumin carrier consisting of murumuru butter nanoparticles (SLN-Cs). A phase-inversion temperature method was used to produce SLN-Cs. The interaction of SLN-Cs with murine colon adenocarcinoma (CT26) cells was analyzed by confocal microscopy.

Study of antimycobacterial, cytotoxic, and mutagenic potential of polymeric nanoparticles of copper (II) complex.

This study aimed to encapsulate and characterise a potential anti-tuberculosis copper complex (CuCl(INH).HO:) into polymeric nanoparticles (PNs) of polymethacrylate copolymers (Eudragit®, Eu) developed by nanoprecipitation method. NE30D, S100 and, E100 polymers were tested.

In Vitro Phenotypic Activity and In Silico Analysis of Natural Products from Brazilian Biodiversity on .

Chagas disease (CD) affects more than 6 million people worldwide. The available treatment is far from ideal, creating a demand for new alternative therapies. Botanical diversity provides a wide range of novel potential therapeutic scaffolds.

Challenge in the Discovery of New Drugs: Antimicrobial Peptides against WHO-List of Critical and High-Priority Bacteria.

Bacterial resistance has intensified in recent years due to the uncontrolled use of conventional drugs, and new bacterial strains with multiple resistance have been reported. This problem may be solved by using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which fulfill their bactericidal activity without developing much bacterial resistance. The rapid interaction between AMPs and the bacterial cell membrane means that the bacteria cannot easily develop resistance mechanisms.

[10]-Gingerol-Loaded Nanoemulsion and its Biological Effects on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

The apoptotic, cytotoxic, and cytostatic activities for [10]-gingerol in triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs) were already reported. However, despite these important antitumor activities, the compound has the disadvantage to have a hydrophobic characteristic, hindering in vivo administration. To surpass this issue, in this study we have created a [10]-gingerol-loaded nanoemulsion (10GNE) in order to increase the stability and solubility of the compound.

Characterization and trypanocidal activity of a β-lapachone-containing drug carrier.

The treatment of Chagas disease (CD), a neglected parasitic condition caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is still based on only two drugs, nifurtimox (Nif) and benznidazole (Bz), both of which have limited efficacy in the late chronic phase and induce severe side effects. This scenario justifies the continuous search for alternative drugs, and in this context, the natural naphthoquinone β-lapachone (β-Lap) and its derivatives have demonstrated important trypanocidal activities. Unfortunately, the decrease in trypanocidal activity in the blood, high toxicity to mammalian cells and low water solubility of β-Lap limit its systemic administration and, consequently, clinical applications.

Rhamnolipid-Based Liposomes as Promising Nano-Carriers for Enhancing the Antibacterial Activity of Peptides Derived from Bacterial Toxin-Antitoxin Systems.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance poses substantial risks to human health. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents, including alternative compounds, such as peptides derived from bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. ParELC3 is a synthetic peptide derived from the ParE toxin reported to be a good inhibitor of bacterial topoisomerases and is therefore a potential antibacterial agent.

Hydroalcoholic Extract of Myrcia bella Loaded into a Microemulsion System: A Study of Antifungal and Mutagenic Potential.

is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of diabetes, hemorrhages, and hypertension in Brazilian folk medicine. Considering that plant extracts are attractive sources of new drugs, the aim of the present study was to verify the influence of incorporating 70% hydroalcoholic of leaves in nanostructured lipid systems on the mutagenic and antifungal activities of the extract. In this work, we evaluated the antifungal potential of loaded on the microemulsion against sp for minimum inhibitory concentration, using the microdilution technique.

Exploiting solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers for drug delivery against cutaneous fungal infections.

Several types of cutaneous fungal infections can affect the population worldwide, such as dermatophytosis, cutaneous candidiasis, onychomycosis, and sporotrichosis. However, oral treatments have pronounced adverse effects, making the topical route an alternative to avoid this disadvantage. On the other hand, currently available pharmaceutical forms designed for topical application, such as gels and creams, do not demonstrate effective retention of biomolecules in the upper layers of the skin.

Sarcopenia as an early complication of patients with head and neck cancer with dysphagia.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between dysphagia and sarcopenia in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study, sample by convenience, including men with HNC during their initial oncologic evaluation. Patients answered questionnaires (demographic data, lifestyle habits, disease characteristics and the Short International Physical Activity Questionnaire).