A neutrophil elastase-generated mature form of IL-33 is a potent regulator of endothelial cell activation and proliferative retinopathy.

Human interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a 270 amino acid protein that belongs to the IL-1 cytokine family and plays an important role in various inflammatory disorders. Neutrophil proteases (Cathepsin G and Elastase) and mast cell proteases (tryptase and chymase) regulate the activity of IL-33 by processing full-length IL-33 into its mature form. There is little evidence on the role of these mature forms of IL-33 in retinal endothelial cell signaling and pathological retinal angiogenesis.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BMI in youth living with HIV.

Background: Many youth saw a rise in body mass index and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with virtual schooling and a lack of physical exercise options due to lockdown orders. However, the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic on body mass index in HIV-infected youth on anti-viral therapy has not been studied.

Objective: This study examined COVID-19's impact on body mass index in 157 behaviorally acquired and 39 perinatally acquired youth living with HIV.

In Silico Comparative Analysis of Ivermectin and Nirmatrelvir Inhibitors Interacting with the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease.

Exploring therapeutic options is crucial in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Nirmatrelvir, which is a potent inhibitor that targets the SARS-CoV-2 M, shows promise as an antiviral treatment. Additionally, Ivermectin, which is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug, has demonstrated effectiveness against the virus in laboratory settings.

Antidepressant effect of PT-31, an α₂-adrenoceptor agonist, on lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behavior in mice.

Increasing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic factors play a key role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). In addition, the attenuation of inflammatory response has been considered a putative mechanism for MDD treatment. PT-31 is an imidazolidine derivative and a putative α₂-adrenoceptor agonist that has previously demonstrated antinociceptive activity.

Hidden hemorrhage: A case of idiopathic omental hemorrhage causing spontaneous hemoperitoneum.

Idiopathic omental hemorrhage (IOH) is a rare and underexplored entity in current medical literature. Most patients are male, aged 20-65 years, presenting with abdominal pain. Like most presentations of active intra-abdominal bleeding, recognition, stabilization, and definitive management are key.

The role of AdhE on ethanol tolerance and production in Clostridium thermocellum.

Many anaerobic microorganisms use the bifunctional aldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme, AdhE, to produce ethanol. One such organism is Clostridium thermocellum, which is of interest for cellulosic biofuel production. In the course of engineering this organism for improved ethanol tolerance and production, we observed that AdhE was a frequent target of mutations.

Effect of ripening time on the content of bioactive peptides and fatty acids profile of Artisanal Coalho cheese.

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of ripening on the physicochemical, microbiological aspects, and fatty acid profile of Artisanal Coalho Cheeses and to detect if there are peptides with bioactive potential in their composition. Artisanal Coalho Cheese samples were kindly provided by a dairy farm located in Brazil in the Rio Grande do Norte state. A completely randomized design was adopted, with four maturation periods (0, 30, 45, and 60 days).

Role of cell wall polysaccharides in water distribution during seed imbibition of Hymenaea courbaril L.

Seed water imbibition is critical to seedling establishment in tropical forests. The seeds of the neotropical tree Hymenaea courbaril have no oil reserves and have been used as a model to study storage cell wall polysaccharide (xyloglucan - XyG) mobilization. We studied pathways of water imbibition in Hymenaea seeds.

Streamlining heterologous expression of top carbonic anhydrases in Escherichia coli: bioinformatic and experimental approaches.

Background: Carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes facilitate the reversible hydration of CO to bicarbonate ions and protons. Identifying efficient and robust CAs and expressing them in model host cells, such as Escherichia coli, enables more efficient engineering of these enzymes for industrial CO capture. However, expression of CAs in E.

Therapeutic potential of hydantoin and thiohydantoin compounds against Schistosoma mansoni: An integrated in vitro, DNA, ultrastructural, and ADMET in silico approach.

The study aimed to conduct in vitro biological assessments of hydantoin and thiohydantoin compounds against mature Schistosoma mansoni worms, evaluate their cytotoxic effects and predict their pharmacokinetic parameters using computational methods. The compounds showed low in vitro cytotoxicity and were not considered hemolytic. Antiparasitic activity against adult S.

The Effect of an mHealth Self-Monitoring Intervention (MI-BP) on Blood Pressure Among Black Individuals With Uncontrolled Hypertension: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Hypertension is one of the most important cardiovascular disease risk factors and affects >100 million American adults. Hypertension-related health inequities are abundant in Black communities as Black individuals are more likely to use the emergency department (ED) for chronic disease-related ambulatory care, which is strongly linked to lower blood pressure (BP) control, diminished awareness of hypertension, and adverse cardiovascular events. To reduce hypertension-related health disparities, we developed MI-BP, a culturally tailored multibehavior mobile health intervention that targeted behaviors of BP self-monitoring, physical activity, sodium intake, and medication adherence in Black individuals with uncontrolled hypertension recruited from ED and community-based settings.

Rapid Molecular Diagnosis of Sporotrichosis Directly from Biological Samples from a Reference Center in Brazil.

The gold standard diagnosis of sporotrichosis is the isolation of sp. in culture media, but this is a time-consuming test that is susceptible to contamination and can be affected by the fungal load. Molecular methods such as nested PCR are gaining more ground in the management of several infections as they are tools for the rapid and accurate identification of microorganisms from pure cultures or directly from biological samples.

Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase Gene Associated with Loss of Bone Mass Density and Alendronate Treatment Failure in Patients with Primary Osteoporosis.

Aminobisphosphonates (NBPs) are the first-choice medication for osteoporosis (OP); NBP treatment aims at increasing bone mineral density (BMD) by inhibiting the activity of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS) enzyme in osteoclasts. Despite its efficacy, inadequate response to the drug and side effects have been reported. The A allele of the rs2297480 (A > C) SNP, found in the regulatory region of the gene, is associated with reduced gene transcription.

Multigenerational effects of alcohol: A behavioral study in three zebrafish populations.

Fetal alcohol exposure can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral impairments. Although zebrafish have been used as a reliable model to study FASD, little is known about the ontogeny of this disorder and population differences in subsequent generations not directly exposed to alcohol. In this study, we evaluated the behavioral outcomes of zebrafish populations AB, Outbred (OB), and Tubingen (TU), offspring of parents exposed to alcohol during embryonic development.

Hypothalamic sex-specific metabolic shift by canagliflozin during aging.

The hypothalamus undergoes significant changes with aging and plays crucial roles in age-related metabolic alterations. Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are anti-diabetic agents that promote glucose excretion, and metabolic homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that a SGLT2i, Canagliflozin (Cana), can extend the median survival of genetically heterogeneous UM-HET3 male mice and improve central metabolic control via increases in hypothalamic insulin responsiveness in aged males, as well as reduced age-associated hypothalamic inflammation.

(-)-Fenchone Prevents Cysteamine-Induced Duodenal Ulcers and Accelerates Healing Promoting Re-Epithelialization of Gastric Ulcers in Rats via Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Mechanisms.

Background: (-)-Fenchone is a naturally occurring monoterpene found in the essential oils of Mill., L., and Molina.

De-risking Pretreatment of Microalgae To Produce Fuels and Chemical Co-products.

Conversion of microalgae to renewable fuels and chemical co-products by pretreating and fractionation holds promise as an algal biorefinery concept, but a better understanding of the pretreatment performance as a function of algae strain and composition is necessary to de-risk algae conversion operations. Similarly, there are few examples of algae pretreatment at scales larger than the bench scale. This work aims to de-risk algal biorefinery operations by evaluating the pretreatment performance across nine different microalgae samples and five different pretreatment methods at small (5 mL) scale and further de-risk the operation by scaling pretreatment for one species to the 80 L scale.

Alternative flours from pulp melons ( L.): Seasonality influence on physical, chemical, technological parameters, and utilization in bakery product.

Fresh vegetables have high water content and low acidity, so drying can extend shelf life, allowing the obtaining of alternative flours for the development of new products. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the melon harvest and off-season on the chemical composition of melon (Cantaloupe, Charentais e Honey Dew) flours and the potential application in products. The flours were evaluated for granulometry, morphology, centesimal composition, lipid and mineral content, total phenolic compound (TPC), antioxidant activity, and technological properties.

Anti-Obesity Therapeutic Targets Studied In Silico and In Vivo: A Systematic Review.

In the age of information technology and the additional computational search tools and software available, this systematic review aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for obesity, evaluated in silico and subsequently validated in vivo. The systematic review was initially guided by the research question "What therapeutic targets have been used in in silico analysis for the treatment of obesity?" and structured based on the acronym PECo (P, problem; E, exposure; Co, context). The systematic review protocol was formulated and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022353808) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items Checklist for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P), and the PRISMA was followed for the systematic review.

Extracellular Vesicles for Childhood Cancer Liquid Biopsy.

Liquid biopsy involves the utilization of minimally invasive or noninvasive techniques to detect biomarkers in biofluids for disease diagnosis, monitoring, or guiding treatments. This approach is promising for the early diagnosis of childhood cancer, especially for brain tumors, where tissue biopsies are more challenging and cause late detection. Extracellular vesicles offer several characteristics that make them ideal resources for childhood cancer liquid biopsy.

Understanding yeast shells: structure, properties and applications.

Background And Purpose: The employment of yeasts for biomedical purposes has become increasingly frequent for the delivery of prophylactic and therapeutic products. Its structural components, such as β-glucans, mannan, and chitin, can be explored as immunostimulators that show safety and low toxicity. Besides, this system minimizes antigen degradation after administration, facilitating the delivery to the target cells.

Understanding desiccation tolerance and sex-specific responses in Bryum argenteum: insights from phenological phases and physiological analyses.

Background And Aims: Desiccation tolerance (DT) is crucial for survival in arid environments, where organisms develop strategies in reproduction, maintenance and defence to cope with water scarcity. Therefore, investigating the relationship between reproduction and DT is essential to understand the ecology and adaptive strategies of species. This study explores the connection between the development of male and female gametangia in the moss Bryum argenteum and the decrease in DT during the progression of phenological phases in gametangia and protonema.

Decoding Tumor Angiogenesis for Therapeutic Advancements: Mechanistic Insights.

Tumor angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels within the tumor microenvironment, is considered a hallmark of cancer progression and represents a crucial target for therapeutic intervention. The tumor microenvironment is characterized by a complex interplay between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors, regulating the vascularization necessary for tumor growth and metastasis. The study of angiogenesis involves a spectrum of techniques, spanning from biomarker assessment to advanced imaging modalities.

Binding Evolution of the Dengue Virus Envelope Against DC-SIGN: A Combined Approach of Phylogenetics and Molecular Dynamics Analyses Over 30 Years of Dengue Virus in Brazil.

The Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH), derived from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass", postulates that organisms must continually adapt in response to each other to maintain relative fitness. Within the context of host-pathogen interactions, the RQH implies an evolutionary arms race, wherein viruses evolve to exploit hosts and hosts evolve to resist viral invasion. This study delves into the dynamics of the RQH in the context of virus-cell interactions, specifically focusing on virus receptors and cell receptors.