Metabolic and Regulatory Pathways Involved in the Anticancer Activity of Perillyl Alcohol: A Scoping Review of In Vitro Studies.

Background/objectives: Perillyl alcohol (POH), a plant-derived compound, has demonstrated anti-tumor activity across various human cancers. Understanding the regulatory pathways through which POH exerts its effects is crucial for identifying new therapeutic opportunities and exploring potential drug repositioning strategies. Therefore, this scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the metabolic and regulatory pathways involved in the anticancer effects of POH, based on in vitro evidence.

Investigating the Biological Efficacy of Albumin-Enriched Platelet-Rich Fibrin (Alb-PRF): A Study on Cytokine Dynamics and Osteoblast Behavior.

The development of effective biomaterials for tissue regeneration has led to the exploration of blood derivatives such as leucocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF). A novel variant, Albumin-Enriched Platelet-Rich Fibrin (Alb-PRF), has been introduced to improve structural stability and bioactivity, making it a promising candidate for bone regeneration. This study aimed to evaluate Alb-PRF's capacity for cytokine and growth factor release, along with its effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of human osteoblasts in vitro.

Effects of Propolis Supplementation on Gut Microbiota and Uremic Toxin Profiles of Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Propolis possesses many bioactive compounds that could modulate the gut microbiota and reduce the production of uremic toxins in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis (HD). This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effects of propolis on the gut microbiota profile and uremic toxin plasma levels in HD patients. These are secondary analyses from a previous double-blind, randomized clinical study, with 42 patients divided into two groups: the placebo and propolis group received 400 mg of green propolis extract/day for eight weeks.

Zika virus vertical transmission induces neuroinflammation and synapse impairment in brain cells derived from children born with Congenital Zika Syndrome.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was first reported in 2015 in Brazil as causing microcephaly and other developmental abnormalities in newborns, leading to the identification of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Viral infections have been considered an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders outcome, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Moreover, not only the infection per se, but maternal immune system activation during pregnancy, has been linked to fetal neurodevelopmental disorders.

A three-dimensional cell culture approach to investigate cytotoxic effects and production of inflammatory mediators by epoxy resin-based and calcium silicate-based endodontic sealer.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the cytocompatibility of epoxy resin-based AH Plus Jet (Dentsply De Trey, Konstanz, Germany), Sealer Plus (MK Life, Porto Alegre, Brazil), calcium silicate-based Bio-C Sealer (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil), Sealer Plus BC (MK Life) and AH Plus BC (Dentsply) through a tridimensional (3D) culture model of human osteoblast-like cells.

Methods: Spheroids of MG-63 cells were produced and exposed to fresh root canal sealers extracts by 24 h, and the cytotoxicity was assessed by the Lactate Dehydrogenase assay (LDH). The distribution of dead cells within the microtissue was assessed by fluorescence microscopy, and morphological effects were investigated by histological analysis.

Zika virus infection impairs synaptogenesis, induces neuroinflammation, and could be an environmental risk factor for autism spectrum disorder outcome.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was first associated with Central Nervous System (CNS) infections in Brazil in 2015, correlated with an increased number of newborns with microcephaly, which ended up characterizing the Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Here, we investigated the impact of ZIKV infection on the functionality of iPSC-derived astrocytes. Besides, we extrapolated our findings to a Brazilian cohort of 136 CZS children and validated our results using a mouse model.

Approaches of marine compounds and relevant immune mediators in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Opportunities and challenges.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social skills, language, communication, and behavioral skills, significantly impacting the individual's quality of life. Recently, numerous works have centered on the connections between the immune and central nervous systems and the influence of neuroinflammation on autism symptomatology. Marine natural products are considered as important alternative sources of different types of compounds, including polysaccharides, polyphenols, sterols, carotenoids, terpenoids and, alkaloids.

A Novel Approach to Increase Glial Cell Populations in Brain Microphysiological Systems.

Brain microphysiological systems (bMPS) recapitulate human brain cellular architecture and functionality more closely than traditional monolayer cultures and have become increasingly relevant for the study of neurological function in health and disease. Existing 3D brain models vary in reflecting the relative populations of different cell types present in the human brain. Most models consist mainly of neurons, while glial cells represent a smaller portion of the cell populations.

Clinical and Biochemical Evaluation of the Use of Alb-PRF versus L-PRF in Mandibular Third Molar Extractions: A Split-Mouth Randomized Clinical Trial.

Bone tissue engineering seeks biomaterials that enable cell migration, angiogenesis, matrix deposition, and tissue regeneration. Blood concentrates like platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) offer a cost-effective source of cells and growth factors to enhance healing. The present study aimed to evaluate heated serum albumin with liquid PRF (Alb-PRF) and L-PRF clinically and biochemically after placement in dental sockets following mandibular third molar extraction.

A novel approach to increase glial cell populations in brain microphysiological systems.

Brain microphysiological systems (bMPS), which recapitulate human brain cellular architecture and functionality more closely than traditional monolayer cultures, have become a practical, non-invasive, and increasingly relevant platform for the study of neurological function in health and disease. These models include 3D spheroids and organoids as well as organ-on-chip models. Currently, however, existing 3D brain models vary in reflecting the relative populations of the different cell types present in the human brain.

Pro-Inflammatory Profile of Children Exposed to Maternal Chikungunya Virus Infection during the Intrauterine Period: A One-Year Follow-Up Study.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) vertical transmission occurs due to maternal viremia in the prepartum. Clinical presentation in neonates can be varied; however, the consequences of intrauterine exposure on the immune response are unclear. Thus, we aimed to analyze inflammatory alterations in children exposed to maternal CHIKV infection.

The influence of methodology on the comparison of cytotoxicity of total-etch and self-etch adhesive systems.

Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the in vitro cytocompatibility of two etch-and-rinse (Adper Scothbond, Optibond) and two self-etch (Clearfill SE Bond and Single Bond Universal) dental adhesives through a dentin-barrier model with human pulp fibroblasts.

Methods: Human fibroblasts were placed on a plastic device containing 500μm human dentin discs treated with each adhesive or without treatment (control). Other groups were directly exposed to media conditioned with adhesive samples according to ISO 10993-5:2009.

"Sticky Bone" Preparation Device: A Pilot Study on the Release of Cytokines and Growth Factors.

Sticky bone, a growth factor-enriched bone graft matrix, is a promising autologous material for bone tissue regeneration. However, its production is strongly dependent on manual handling steps. In this sense, a new device was developed to simplify the confection of the sticky bone, named Sticky Bone Preparation Device (SBPD).

Critically Ill Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients Exhibit Hyperactive Cytokine Responses Associated With Effector Exhausted Senescent T Cells in Acute Infection.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can progress to severe pneumonia with respiratory failure and is aggravated by the deregulation of the immune system causing an excessive inflammation including the cytokine storm.

Methods: In this study, we report that severe acutely infected patients have high levels of both type-1 and type-2 cytokines.

Results: Our results show abnormal cytokine levels upon T-cell stimulation, in a nonpolarized profile.

Kopsanone inhibits proliferation and migration of invasive colon cancer cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death globally. In spite of the increasing knowledge on molecular characteristics of different cancer types including CRC, there is limitation in the development of an effective treatment. The present study aimed to verify the antitumor effect of kopsanone, an indole alkaloid.

Successful DAA therapy for chronic hepatitis C reduces HLA-DR on monocytes and circulating immune mediators: A long-term follow-up study.

Introduction: After DAA treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection, peripheral monocyte subsets from patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) reduced compared to healthy control. Improvement in inflammatory parameters and liver stiffness has been observed. However, little is known about the long-term impact of DAA treatment on peripheral monocyte subsets and immune mediators levels.

Resistant starch supplementation attenuates inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a pilot study.

Purpose: In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, dysbiosis is associated with inflammation and cardiovascular risk, so many nutritional strategies are being studied to reduce these complications. Resistant starch (RS) can be considered a prebiotic that promotes many benefits, including modulation of gut microbiota which is linked to immune-modulatory effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RS supplementation on proinflammatory cytokines in CKD patients on hemodialysis (HD).

Scaffold- and serum-free hypertrophic cartilage tissue engineering as an alternative approach for bone repair.

Human adipose stem/stromal cell (ASC) spheroids were used as a serum-free in vitro model to recapitulate the molecular events and extracellular matrix organization that orchestrate a hypertrophic cartilage phenotype. Induced-ASC spheroids (ø = 450 µm) showed high cell viability throughout the period of culture. The expression of collagen type X alpha 1 chain (COLXA1) and matrix metallopeptidase 13 (MMP-13) was upregulated at week 2 in induced-ASC spheroids compared with week 5 (P < .

Suitability of 3D human brain spheroid models to distinguish toxic effects of gold and poly-lactic acid nanoparticles to assess biocompatibility for brain drug delivery.

Background: The blood brain barrier (BBB) is the bottleneck of brain-targeted drug development. Due to their physico-chemical properties, nanoparticles (NP) can cross the BBB and accumulate in different areas of the central nervous system (CNS), thus are potential tools to carry drugs and treat brain disorders. In vitro systems and animal models have demonstrated that some NP types promote neurotoxic effects such as neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the CNS.

Advances and potential application of gold nanoparticles in nanomedicine.

Nanomedicine is an emerging research area which has brought new possibilities and promising applications in image, diagnosis, and treatment. Nanoparticles (NPs) for medicinal purposes can be made of several material types such as silica, carbon, different polymers, and metals as silver, copper, titanium, and gold. Gold NPs (AuNPs) are the most studied and used, mostly due to their characteristics including simple preparation, controllable size and distribution, biocompatibility, good acceptance of surface modifications, and specific surface plasmon resonance (SPR).

Zika Virus Impairs Neurogenesis and Synaptogenesis Pathways in Human Neural Stem Cells and Neurons.

Growing evidences have associated Zika virus (ZIKV) infection with congenital malformations, including microcephaly. Nonetheless, signaling mechanisms that promote the disease outcome are far from being understood, affecting the development of suitable therapeutics. In this study, we applied shotgun mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics combined with cell biology approaches to characterize altered molecular pathways on human neuroprogenitor cells (NPC) and neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells infected by ZIKV-BR strain, obtained from the 2015 Brazilian outbreak.

Restoring Inflammatory Mediator Balance after Sofosbuvir-Induced Viral Clearance in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

This study aimed at analyzing circulating levels of inflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection undergoing therapy with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) and correlating these immune biomarkers with liver disease status. We studied 88 Brazilian monoinfected chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon- (IFN-) free sofosbuvir-based regimens for 12 or 24 weeks, followed-up before therapy initiation and three months after the end of treatment. Liver disease was determined by transient elastography, in addition to APRI and FIB-4 indexes.

Does the association of blood-derived growth factors to nanostructured carbonated hydroxyapatite contributes to the maxillary sinus floor elevation? A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The combination of calcium phosphate with blood-derived growth factors (BDGF) has been widely used in bone regeneration procedures although its benefits are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not BDGF improves the efficacy of a modified carbonated calcium phosphate biomaterial in sinus floor augmentation.

Material And Methods: Ten patients underwent 20 sinus floor augmentation procedures using nanostructured carbonated hydroxyapatite (cHA) microspheres alone or associated with BDGF in a randomized controlled clinical trial.

The in vitro release of cytokines and growth factors from fibrin membranes produced through horizontal centrifugation.

Platelet-rich fibrin membranes are biomaterials widely used for therapeutic purposes, and canonically produced through the processing of peripheral blood with fixed-angle rotor centrifuges. In this work, we evaluate the in vitro stability and release of cytokines and growth factors when these biomaterials are produced with a horizontal swing-out clinical centrifuge. Membranes produced from the blood of 14 donors were morphologically evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy, and their stability was assessed by photographic recording after incubation in culture medium for up to 28 days.

The environmental yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens produces capsular and secreted polysaccharides with similar pathogenic properties to those of C. neoformans.

Invasive fungal infections, including cryptococcosis, are a growing threat to immunocompromised patients. Although Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the main agents of human cryptococcosis, opportunistic infections by environmental species, such as C. liquefaciens, have been observed recently.