Rise and fall of the myth of the good pathogen in evolutionary biology and medicine.

The history of the conception of evolution of virulence is well known. However, in this period following the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be useful to recap such a current topic. In public debate, it has often been heard that COVID-19 was destined to evolve into a less virulent form because it would be in the virus's interest to coexist with the human population.

Presence of polyketide synthases and nonribosomal peptide synthetase in culturable bacteria associated with Aplysina fulva and Aplysina caissara (Porifera).

Culture-dependent and -independent studies have provided access to symbiont genes and the functions they play for host sponges. Thus, this work investigates the diversity, presence of genes of pharmacological interest, biological activities and metabolome of the bacteria isolated from the sponges Aplysina caissara and Aplysina fulva collected on the southwestern Atlantic Coast. The genes for Polyketide Synthases types I and II and Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases were screened in more than 200 bacterial strains obtained, from which around 40% were putatively novel.

A simple phenomenological account for the metal-induced crystallization of amorphous Ge and Si films.

When combined with certain metal species, films of amorphous Ge or Si can have their typical crystallization temperatures decreased, by a factor of three or four, down to ~ 200 °C. The phenomenon is called metal-induced crystallization (MIC) and, since its first observation in the late 1960's, shows a great technological potential in producing (poly-)crystalline films of Ge or Si onto low-melting point substrates under reduced energy conditions. From the scientific point of view, the microscopic mechanisms behind the MIC phenomenon (still) represents a scientific challenge, where most of the proposed models are invariably influenced by the samples details giving the impression that they only apply to very specific metal-semiconductor combinations and/or circumstances.

Versatility of the myocutaneous pectoralis major flap in oncology reconstruction: A literature review and practical application.

Pectoralis major muscle flaps are considered versatile and allow large reconstructions of anatomical defects within a single surgical procedure. Considered a "workhorse" due to these characteristics, the pectoralis major muscle is an excellent option for surgical reconstruction. Several uses of this flap are described in the literature, such as protection of the jugulocarotid system after cervical lymph node dissection, oral, cervical, breast, diaphragmatic, hypopharyngeal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal reconstructions.

Evaluation of the effects of the Zika Virus-Immunoglobulin G complex on murine microglial cells.

After the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Brazil, ZIKV infections were linked to damage to the central nervous system (CNS) and congenital anomalies. Due to the virus's ability to cross the placenta and reach brain tissue, its effects become severe, leading to Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) and resulting in neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and secretion of neurotoxic factors. The presence of ZIKV triggers an inadequate fetal immune response, as the fetus only has the protection of maternal antibodies of the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) class, which are the only antibodies capable of crossing the placenta.

Influence of Zika virus on the cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, apoptosis and inflammatory markers of glioblastoma cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most common types of brain tumor in adults. Despite the availability of treatments for this disease, GBM remains one of the most lethal and difficult types of tumors to treat, and thus, a majority of patients die within 2 years of diagnosis. Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV) inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, particularly in developing neuronal cells, and thus could potentially be considered an alternative for GBM treatment.

Chemopreventive and immunomodulatory effects of phenolic-rich extract of Commiphora leptophloeos against inflammatory bowel disease: Preclinical evidence.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Commiphora leptophloeos (Mart.) J.B.

Augusto Bonome and his revolutionary studies on leprosy in the early 20th century.

Background: Augusto Bonome (1857-1922), professor at the University of Padua until 1922, was involved in a study about a particular kind of pulmonary leprosy, being the first to testify the lepromatous alterations also in the deepest parts of the respiratory tract, even though the same Gerhard Hansen (1841-1912) had denied the possibility that lungs could host Mycobacterium leprae.

Objectives: It is necessary to reevaluate the research done by Bonome to also demonstrate how it can still be relevant today in further comprehension of leprosy.

Methods: Bonome's advances in leprosy studies are testified by some specimens from the Morgagni Museum of Pathological Anatomy of the University of Padua.

Cardiocentrism in ancient medicines.

History of cardiology starts scientifically in 1628, when William Harvey (1578-1657) published his revolutionary book , where he described "general" circulation, movements and functions of heart, heart valves, veins and arteries [1]. Consequently, all theories and practices of ancient medicines were reduced to superstitions. Historians relegated pre-Harveian cardiology to roughs notes, preventing a proper historical evaluation of many centuries of conceptions and practices.

Path toward Sustainability in Wastewater Management in Brazil.

Developing countries have not carried out the adequate management of wastewater and are a long way off meeting the sustainability goal of universal access to safely managed sanitation services by 2030. This article discusses sustainability in wastewater management and conducts a narrative literature review to analyze four stages on the path toward sustainability: (1) the prevention of or reduction in pollution at the source; (2) wastewater collection and treatment; (3) using wastewater as an alternative source of water; and (4) the recovery of useful by-products. It also provides an overview of wastewater management in Brazil and shows the advantages of using wastewater to produce biofuel in a country in which 48.

Application of feature-based molecular networking and MassQL for the MS/MS fragmentation study of depsipeptides.

The Feature-based Molecular Networking (FBMN) is a well-known approach for mapping and identifying structures and analogues. However, in the absence of prior knowledge about the molecular class, assessing specific fragments and clusters requires time-consuming manual validation. This study demonstrates that combining FBMN and Mass Spec Query Language (MassQL) is an effective strategy for accelerating the decoding mass fragmentation pathways and identifying molecules with comparable fragmentation patterns, such as beauvericin and its analogues.

Eugenia sonderiana O. Berg leaves: Phytochemical characterization, evaluation of in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic effects, and structure-activity correlation.

Several medicinal plants have drawn the attention of researchers by its phytochemical composition regarding their potential for treating chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. In this context, plants of the Myrtaceae family popularly used in Brazil for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, including Eugenia sonderiana, have shown beneficial effects due to the presence of phenolic compounds and saponins in their chemical constitution. Thus, the present work aimed to perform the phytochemical characterization of the hydroethanolic extract of E.

Cytotoxic screening of plants from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has led to the identification of and as sources of antitumor compounds.

In the present study, we have evaluated the cytotoxic activity of 282 extracts from 72 native plant species of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. As a result, and leaves extracts showed cytotoxic activity against three tumour cell lines tested (B16F10, SW480 and Jurkat). After bioassay-guided fractionation, the bioactive fractions were submitted to the dereplication study High-performance Liquid Chromatography, connected to High-resolution Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS) analysis, combined with a Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) tool.

Subacute exposure to Roundup® changes steroidogenesis and gene expression of the glutathione-glutaredoxin system in rat ovaries: Implications for ovarian toxicity of this glyphosate-based herbicide.

Studies have indicated that glyphosate induces endocrine disruption and may adversely affect the male reproductive system. However, evidence of its effects on ovarian function is poorly understood so far, making further studies necessary on the mechanisms of the glyphosate toxicity in the female reproductive system. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a subacute exposure (28 days) to the glyphosate-based formulation Roundup® (1.

Understanding the Seasonal Effect of Metabolite Production in L. Leaves through a Concatenated MS- and NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach.

L. (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant that is part of the Brazilian biodiversity; this plant is popularly used for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. To better understand the chemical composition of in different seasons, we conducted a thorough study using LC-MS and NMR data analysis techniques.

Toxicity and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Phenolic-Rich Extract from (Cactaceae): A Preclinical Study on the Prevention of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Phenolic compounds have been scientifically recognized as beneficial to intestinal health. The cactus , used as anti-inflammatory in traditional medicine, is a rich source of these bioactive compounds. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile of extract and evaluate its acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect on 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS)-induced colitis in rats.

The neurotoxic mechanism of Jack Bean Urease in insects involves the interplay between octopaminergic and dopaminergic pathways.

In the last decades, the entomotoxicity of JBU and its derived peptides became an object of study, due mainly to the ubiquitous interaction of these compounds with different species of insects and their potential as natural insecticides. In this work, we investigated the neurotoxic effects of JBU in Nauphoeta cinerea cockroaches by dissecting pharmacologically the monoaminergic pathways involved. Selective pharmacological modulators for monoaminergic pathways in in vivo and ex vivo experimental models were employed.

Paleopathology of the skull of Santorio Santorio, father of modern clinical experimental physiology.

The University of Padua (Italy) preserves the skull of Santorio Santorio, father of the modern clinical experimental physiology. A recent study performed with modern anthropological methods and medical instruments (CT scan) revealed the presence of a lobular formation in the left temporal bone, with an irregular morphology, internal bone sequestrum, a well-defined non-continuous sclerosis and both internal and external thinning of the cranial plate. Three oval depressions observed in the cranial vault, edentulism and moderate osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint were also investigated.

The role of the University of Padua medical school in the study of conjoined twins between 18th and early 19th century.

The Medical School of Padua (Italy) contributed profoundly to the study of teratology. Many famous physicians and professors of medicine, such as Liceti, Vallisneri, Morgagni, and Malacarne, have studied and investigated these anomalies to better understand the causes and to find a potential explanation, often preserving the specimens for future studies. The present study highlights some historical cases of conjoined twins and a conjoined triplet preserved at the Morgagni Museum of Human Anatomy to show the development of medical theories in the teratological field between the 18th and early 19th century.

Conjoined twins and conjoined triplets: At the heart of the matter.

Conjoined triplets are among the rarest of human malformations, as are asymmetric or parasitic conjoined twins. Based on a very modest corpus of recent literature, we applied the embryonic disk model of conjoined twinning to 10 previously reported cases involving asymmetric anatomical multiplications to determine whether they concerned conjoined twins or conjoined triplets. In spite of their phenotypic similarities, we diagnosed four of these cases as conjoined twins and three of them as conjoined triplets.

The impact of COVID-19 measures on parent-reported restricted and repetitive behaviours in pre-school children with autism.

Background: COVID-19 restrictive measures have had a considerable impact on daily life routines, which may be especially challenging for families of children with autism. In pre-schoolers with autism, it is likely that the disruption of routines mainly impacts the presence of restrictive and repetitive behaviours (RRBs). Furthermore, influence of comorbid conditions, secondary behavioural difficulties and home environment characteristics on RRBs was explored.

AnemiaAR: a serious game to support teaching of haematology.

Serious games can be suitable tools for educational support in different areas of knowledge, such as Medicine. These applications, combined with technologies like mixed and augmented reality, provide a differentiated user experience that can keep or improve the interest and motivation of students and teachers during the teaching and learning process. In this context, this study aimed to present the development of AnemiaAR, a mixed reality serious game to support the teaching of haematology, helpful for students and professors in the visualisation and presentation of anaemia concepts.

Leukotriene B limits the effectiveness of fish oil in an animal model of asthma.

This study aimed to evaluate the levels of eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid (ARA) in the lungs of asthmatic rats supplemented with fish oil. The present data gives insight into the action of fish oil in asthma, related to its inability to modify the contractile capacity of tracheal smooth muscle reported previously in a model of asthma in rats. Male Wistar rats were supplemented daily with 1 g of fish oil/kg of body weight for 21 days.