Development of optimized standardized extracts of Echinodorus macrophyllus for arthritis management.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Echinodorus macrophyllus is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Brazil to treat rheumatic diseases. It is listed as a priority species for the development of herbal preparations for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antiedematogenic properties of extracts and fractions from this species, but these preparations were neither standardized nor optimized for anti-arthritis effects.

Effect on neutrophil migration and antimicrobial functions by the Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors tolebrutinib, evobrutinib and fenebrutinib.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative, autoimmune disease that is still incurable. Nowadays, a variety of new drugs are being developed to prevent excessive inflammation and halt neurodegeneration. Among these are the inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK).

Anti-RBD IgG antibodies from endemic coronaviruses do not protect against the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection among exposed uninfected individuals.

Background: The Coronaviridae family comprises seven viruses known to infect humans, classified into alphacoronaviruses (HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63) and betacoronaviruses (HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-HKU1), which are considered endemic. Additionally, it includes SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome), and the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 induces severe respiratory complications, particularly in the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and those with underlying diseases.

Is There a Relationship Between Birth Quartile and Vertical Jump Performance Among Young Male Elite Volleyball Athletes?

Vertical jump is an important skill that influences volleyball performance. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between vertical jump performance and birth quartile of Brazilian male youth volleyball players. We calculated chi-square goodness-of-fit tests to compare the athletes' birthdate distributions in quarters of their birth years (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to player age categories (U17, U18, U19, and U21).

Does Relative Age Effect Exist in Paralympic Sport? A Study With Brazilian Paralympic Swimmers.

A Relative Age Effect (RAE), by which young athletes with birthdates early in a calendar year have experienced a team selection advantage that persists throughout their careers, has been found to be prevalent in many sports. However, this phenomenon has not been investigated in the Paralympic sports context. Thus, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of RAE among male and female Brazilian Paralympic swimmers.

Age-related accumulation of B-1 cell progenitors in mice reflects changes in miR15a/16-1 expression and radioresistance capacity.

Hyperproliferative diseases such as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are potentially related to some disturbance in the apoptosis pathway, specifically in B-1a cells (CD5). Accumulation of B-1a cells in lymphoid organs, bone marrow or periphery is observed in some leukemia experimental murine models along aging. It is known that aging also increases the healthy B-1 cell population.

Ouratea spectabilis and its Biflavanone Ouratein D Exert Potent Anti-inflammatory Activity in MSU Crystal-induced Gout in Mice.

Gouty arthritis (GA) is an inflammatory arthritis triggered by the deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals, causing pain, inflammation, and joint damage. Several drugs are currently employed to manage acute flares of GA, but they either have limited effectiveness or induce severe adverse reactions. is traditionally used in Brazil to treat gastric ulcers and rheumatism.

The Therapeutic Effect of Phosphopeptide P140 Attenuates Inflammation Induced by Uric Acid Crystals in Gout Arthritis Mouse Model.

Gout is a painful form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of peptide P140 on the inflammatory responses in crystal-induced mouse models of gout and cell models including MSU-treated human cells. Injection of MSU crystals into the knee joint of mice induced neutrophil influx and inflammatory hypernociception.

Prevalence of the Relative Age Effect in Elite Brazilian Volleyball: An Analysis Based on Gender, the Playing Position, and Performance Indicators.

Athletes born closer to an arbitrary cut-off date are more likely to reach an elite level in sport, which is supported by a phenomenon called the relative age effect (RAE). It is important to determine whether this phenomenon is present in a sport to minimize this selection bias. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RAE in elite volleyball athletes, considering the influence of gender, the playing position (Setter, Middle, Libero, Opposite, and Outside Hitter) and the performance level (attack points, aces, and block points).

Potent anti-inflammatory activity of the lectin-like domain of TNF in joints.

In view of the crucial role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in joint destruction, TNF inhibitors, including neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies and soluble TNF receptor constructs, are commonly used therapeutics for the treatment of arthropathies like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, not all patients achieve remission; moreover, there is a risk of increased susceptibility to infection with these agents. Spatially distinct from its receptor binding sites, TNF harbors a lectin-like domain, which exerts unique functions that can be mimicked by the 17 residue solnatide peptide.

The oldest unvaccinated Covid-19 survivors in South America.

Background: Although older adults are at a high risk of severe or critical Covid-19, there are many cases of unvaccinated centenarians who had a silent infection or recovered from mild or moderate Covid-19. We studied three Brazilian supercentenarians, older than 110 years, who survived Covid-19 in 2020 before being vaccinated.

Results: Despite their advanced age, humoral immune response analysis showed that these individuals displayed robust levels of IgG and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-CoV-2.

The role of T-cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: From immunity to immunotherapy.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) encompass a group of complex entities of tumours affecting the aerodigestive upper tract. The main risk factors are strongly related to tobacco and alcohol consumption, but also HPV infection is often associated. Surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are the standard treatments, though the 5-year overall survival is less than 50%.

The Relative Age Effect in Male and Female Brazilian Elite Volleyball Athletes of Varied Competitive Levels.

Volleyball is a popular sport in Brazil, and the relative age effect (RAE) is known to occur within it; but less is known of how RAE relates to elite Brazilian volleyball players' age, sex, and competitive levels. We aimed to investigate RAE prevalence with data from two seasons of play among players in the Superliga A (2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons), and Superliga B (2021 and 2022 seasons) made available from the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV), the club's official website, or direct consultation with the CBV. After removing duplicate data, we grouped these 1,063 athletes by their dates of birth, sex, and competition level (Superliga A or B).

Electrochemical Immunosensors Based on Zinc Oxide Nanorods for Detection of Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in Convalescent and Vaccinated Individuals.

Even after over 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, research on rapid, inexpensive, and accurate tests remains essential for controlling and avoiding the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 across the planet during a potential reappearance in future global waves or regional outbreaks. Assessment of serological responses for COVID-19 can be beneficial for population-level surveillance purposes, supporting the development of novel vaccines and evaluating the efficacy of different immunization programs. This can be especially relevant for broadly used inactivated whole virus vaccines, such as CoronaVac, which produced lower titers of neutralizing antibodies.

Modular Label-Free Electrochemical Biosensor Loading Nature-Inspired Peptide toward the Widespread Use of COVID-19 Antibody Tests.

Limitations of the recognition elements in terms of synthesis, cost, availability, and stability have impaired the translation of biosensors into practical use. Inspired by nature to mimic the molecular recognition of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 S protein antibody (Ab) by the S protein binding site, we synthesized the peptide sequence of Asn-Asn-Ala-Thr-Asn-COOH (abbreviated as PEP2003) to create COVID-19 screening label-free (LF) biosensors based on a carbon electrode, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PEP2003 is easily obtained by chemical synthesis, and it can be adsorbed on electrodes while maintaining its ability for Ab recognition, further leading to a sensitivity 3.

The Therapeutic Treatment with the GAG-Binding Chemokine Fragment CXCL9(74-103) Attenuates Neutrophilic Inflammation and Lung Dysfunction during Infection in Mice.

is an important pathogen associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Bacterial pneumonia is characterized by a harmful inflammatory response with a massive influx of neutrophils, production of cytokines and chemokines, and consequent tissue damage and dysfunction. Targeted therapies to block neutrophil migration to avoid tissue damage while keeping the antimicrobial properties of tissue remains a challenge in the field.

Peptide fragments of bradykinin show unexpected biological activity not mediated by B or B receptors.

Background And Purpose: Bradykinin (BK-(1-9)) is an endogenous nonapeptide involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes. Peptide fragments of bradykinin are believed to be biologically inactive. We have now tested the two major peptide fragments of bradykinin in human and animals.

Increase of CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ cells impairs in vitro human microbicidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis during latent and acute pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, modulating host responses while neutralizing excessive inflammation. However, their impact on regulating host protective immunity is not completely understood. Here, we demonstrate that Treg cells abrogate the in vitro microbicidal activity against Mtb.

Therapeutic potential of the FPR2/ALX agonist AT-01-KG in the resolution of articular inflammation.

The resolution of inflammation is a dynamic process, characterized by the biosynthesis of pro-resolving mediators, including the lipid Lipoxin A4 (LXA). LXA acts on the N-formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX) to mediate anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving effects. In order to exploit the therapeutic potential of endogenous LXA in the context of inflammation we have recently developed synthetic LXA mimetics (sLXms) including a dimethyl-imidazole-containing FPR2/ALX agonist designated AT-01-KG.

Host cell glutamine metabolism as a potential antiviral target.

A virus minimally contains a nucleic acid genome packaged by a protein coat. The genome and capsid together are known as the nucleocapsid, which has an envelope containing a lipid bilayer (mainly phospholipids) originating from host cell membranes. The viral envelope has transmembrane proteins that are usually glycoproteins.

Gold nanoparticles enhance fluorescence signals by flow cytometry at low antibody concentrations.

Flow cytometry is a universally applied technique in many biological and clinical assays to evaluate cells, bacteria, parasites, and particles at a micrometre scale. More advanced flow cytometers can detect small molecules down to the nanometre scale that may identify intracellular nanostructures. Advancements in the field of nanobiotechnology have led to techniques that allow the study of cellular behaviour after exposure to nanomaterials, particularly, metal nanoparticles.

Promastigotes or Extracellular Vesicles Modulate B-1 Cell Activation and Differentiation.

B-1 cells are considered an innate-like B cell population that participates in effective innate and adaptive responses to pathogens. B-1 cells produce immunoglobulins, cytokines, chemokines, migrate to inflammatory sites, and differentiate into mononuclear phagocyte-like cells. Murine B-1 cells phagocytosed and and participate in immunity against .

Shortened derivatives from native antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I: and biological activity assessment.

In the continuing search for novel antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides are promising molecules, due to different mechanisms of action compared to classic antibiotics and to their selectivity for interaction with microorganism cells rather than with mammalian cells. Previously, our research group has isolated the antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I from the venom of the spider . Here, we proposed to synthesize three novel shortened derivatives from LyeTx I (LyeTx I mn; LyeTx I mnΔK; LyeTx I mnΔKAc) and to evaluate their toxicity and biological activity as potential antimicrobial agents.

Physiological and Performance Impacts After Field Supramaximal High-Intensity Interval Training With Different Work-Recovery Duration.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has numerous external load control variables. The management of these variables makes the physiological responses and performance presented by athletes also modify. The present study aimed to assess the activity of CK and LDH enzymes, performance and metabolic responses caused by two HIIT protocols above the maximum in male recreational runners.