230 results match your criteria: "Federal University of Alfenas-Unifal-MG[Affiliation]"

Purpose: Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression, contributing to proliferation, chemoresistance, and cell motility by regulating microtubule architecture. Despite its upregulation in melanoma tissues and cell lines, the specific biological roles of HDAC6 in melanoma are not well understood. This study aims to explore the functional effects and underlying mechanisms of WT161, a selective HDAC6 inhibitor, in melanoma cell lines.

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"Suffering is only intolerable when nobody cares"… is it?

Palliat Support Care

January 2025

Interdisciplinary Center for Studies in Palliative Care, School of Nursing, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Brazil.

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Innovative applications of cobalt tungstate nanoparticles (CoWO NPs) are directly linked to their increased production and consumption, which can consequently increase their release into aquatic ecosystems and the exposure of organisms. Microalgae are autotrophic organisms that contribute directly to global primary productivity and provide oxygen for maintaining many organisms on Earth. In this paper, we assessed the toxicity of CoWO NPs when in contact with the freshwater microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata (Chlorophyceae).

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Histone Deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is an intriguing therapeutic target in cancer re-search, distinguished as the only HDAC family member predominantly located in the cyto-plasm. HDAC6 features two catalytic domains and a unique ubiquitin-binding domain, which sets it apart from other HDACs. Beyond its role in histone deacetylation, HDAC6 targets vari-ous nonhistone substrates, such as α-tubulin, cortactin, Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), and Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1).

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Tailoring magnesium-doped coatings for improving surface and biological properties of titanium-based dental implants.

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces

February 2025

Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo 13414-903, Brazil. Electronic address:

Physicochemical modifications of biomaterials have been proposed to overcome bone integration impairment and microbial infections. The magnesium (Mg) incorporation on dental implant surfaces has shown positive results in bone-to-implant contact and in the reduction of microbial colonization. Here, we explored the potential of using different Mg precursors to synthesize coatings via plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on commercially pure titanium (cpTi), aiming to optimize the surface and biological properties.

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Objective: Herein, we investigate the potential analgesic effect of a newly synthesized chalcone-derived apocynin in a neurogenic pain model.

Methods: Molecular docking was used to foretell the apocynin binding features and dynamics with the TRPV1 channel, and the activity was tested in vitro, using transfected HEK 293T cells with the rat TRPV1 receptor. The analgesic effect of apocynin was investigated using a capsaicin-induced pain model.

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Multifunctional materials, such as restricted access molecularly imprinted polymers covered with bovine serum albumin (RAMIP-BSA), are effective alternatives for sample preparation techniques. This material selectively adsorbs analytes while excluding macromolecules, enhancing the analysis's efficiency. Among analytical techniques, ESI-MS/MS (Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry) has successfully identified and quantified various molecules, including trace-level drugs.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored how iron tetracarboxyphthalocyanine (FeTcPc) affects the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and its role in treating experimental periodontitis.
  • In lab tests, FeTcPc significantly decreased TNF-α levels and blocked inflammation-related bone loss in mice with induced periodontitis, suggesting its effectiveness as a treatment.
  • Additionally, FeTcPc showed no acute toxicity in the tested larvae, indicating its potential safety for therapeutic use in inflammatory bone disorders.
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Introduction: Chronic stress is a condition characterized by prolonged stimulation, leading to mental and physical weakness. It can have detrimental effects on individuals' mental health and cognitive function, potentially causing various health issues. This article explores the potential of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), in managing chronic stress and improving sleep quality.

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Conjugation of the naturally occurring product piplartine (PPT, 1), which is a potent cytotoxic compound and ROS inducer, with a diphenyl sulfonyl-substituted furoxan moiety (namely, 3,4-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxide), an important type of NO donor, an ether linker of different chain lengths is described, characterized and screened for the anticancer potential. The cytotoxicity of the new hybrids was evaluated on a panel of human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, PC3 and OVCAR-3) and two non-cancer human cells (MCF10A and PNT2). In general, the synthesized hybrids were more cytotoxic and selective compared to their furoxan precursors 4-6 and PPT in the above cancer cells.

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In the present study, we investigated whether curcumin administration would interfere with the main renal features of l-NAME-induced hypertension model. For this purpose, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to evaluate renal indicators of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression/activity. Hypertension was induced by l-NAME (70 mg/kg/day), and Wistar rats from both control and hypertensive groups were treated with curcumin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day; gavage) or vehicle for 14 days.

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A novel approach to triazole fungicides risk characterization: Bridging human biomonitoring and computational toxicology.

Sci Total Environ

November 2024

Laboratory of Toxicant and Drug Analyses, Department of clinical and toxicological analysis, Federal University of Alfenas - Unifal-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address:

Brazil stands as the world's leading coffee producer, where the extensive use of pesticides is economically critical yet poses health and environmental risks due to their non-selective mechanisms of action. Specifically, triazole fungicides are widely used in agriculture to manage fungal diseases and are known to disrupt mammalian CYP450 and liver microsomal enzymes. This research establishes a framework for risk characterization of human exposure to triazole fungicides by internal-dose biomonitoring, biochemical marker measurements, and integration of high-throughput screening (HTS) data via computational toxicology workflows from the Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE).

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Ciprofibrate (CIP) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) classified as class II on the basis of biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS), what indicates that it has low solubility in aqueous solvents. The use of API salts has attracted attention due to their improvements in solubility, tolerability, higher rate and extent of absorption, and faster onset of the therapeutic effect. In this work, a new crystalline CIP monohydrated calcium salt (Ca(CIP).

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Nitric oxide-signalling affects panic-like defensive behaviour and defensive antinociception neuromodulation in the prelimbic cerebral cortex.

Brain Res

December 2024

Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Neuropsychobiology, Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School of the University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil; Institute of Neuroscience and Behaviour (INeC) Ophidiarium, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-901, Brazil. Electronic address:

Rationale: The prelimbic division (PrL) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a key structure in panic.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in defensive behaviour and antinociception.

Methods: Either Nω-propyl-L-arginine (NPLA) or Carboxy-PTIO was microinjected in the PrL cortex, followed by hypothalamic treatment with bicuculline.

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Objectives: To investigate artefacts produced by different orthodontic brackets and wires in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.

Materials And Methods: Two dental arches were made using extracted human teeth and plaster. Three pairs of acetate plates containing different brackets - metallic, ceramic, and self-ligating ceramic with NiTi clip - along with a control plate (i.

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The presence of impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and drug products represents a risk to patients' health. Such substances are related to diverse side effects and may have mutagenic potential. That's why it is necessary to establish acceptable limits for these by-products, to minimize the risk associated with medicinal therapy.

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Introduction: Chronic anxiety is a statemarked by sustained activation of the masseter muscle, manifesting in both mental and physical strain. This prolonged tension can significantly impact mental wellbeing and cognitive abilities, posing a risk for a range of health complications. This double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the impact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) on masseter muscle activity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and anxiety levels in university students with elevated anxiety.

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The stingless bee Frieseomelitta varia Lepeletier 1836 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an essential pollinator in natural and agricultural ecosystems in the Neotropical region. However, these bees may be exposed to pesticides during foraging, which can affect both individuals and their colonies. One example comes from the use of pyraclostrobin (a fungicide) and thiamethoxam (an insecticide) for pest control in pepper crops, which F.

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A sustainable and innovative method to determine parabens in body creams for exposure and risk assessment.

Regul Toxicol Pharmacol

August 2024

Laboratory of Toxicants and Drugs Analysis - LATF, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas - Unifal-MG, Gabriel Monteiro da Silva St. 700, 37130-000, Alfenas, MG, Brazil. Electronic address:

Methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP), and butylparaben (BuP) are among the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics, drugs, and foods. These compounds have been associated with toxic effects due to the overuse of products with parabens in their formulation. The toxicity of parabens may be correlated to endocrine disruption, owing to their ability to mimic the actions of estradiol.

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The Croton genus (Euphorbiaceae) is recognized as a promising source for identifying bioactive compounds with antiproliferative activity. However, knowledge on the chemical composition and activity of Croton floribundus, Croton echinocarpus, and Croton zehntneri is limited. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative activity of these species on cells derived from tumoral breast, lung, and melanoma cells, and primary fibroblasts derived from human skin.

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Low-level LASER therapy accelerates fungal lesions cicatrization by increasing the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines.

Photochem Photobiol Sci

July 2024

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas UNIFAL-MG, Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva, 700, Centro, Alfenas, MG, 37130-001, Brazil.

Article Synopsis
  • - Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a serious fungal infection that requires long-term antifungal treatment; this study explored low-level LASER therapy (LLLT) as a potential complementary treatment to enhance recovery.
  • - The research involved infecting mice with P. brasiliensis and applying LLLT on alternate days, which resulted in a reduction of cell influx at the infection site while increasing the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines that help fight the fungus.
  • - The findings indicated that LLLT improved healing by decreasing the number of viable fungi and increasing fibrocytes, suggesting that it may benefit PCM patients as an additional treatment option.
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Studies reported that continuous application of glyphosate can cause disturbance in aquatic/terrestrial environments. As such, the objective of this study is to discuss the risk of exposure to the herbicide in drinking water and to assess the oxidative stress in the consumers rural populations of Casimiro de Abreu/ RJ and Paraguaçu/ MG, Brazil. For this, water samples (n=69) were analysed from the home of volunteers, by FMOC derivatizing- LC-FLD method.

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Melanoma is a cancer type with high lethality, metastatic capacity, and limited therapeutic options. Different essential oils have been reported with antitumoral potential. Thus, the essential oil (EO) of the leaves of C.

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Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Brazilian honeys against oral microorganisms.

Design: Organic honeys (OH-1 to OH-8) were diluted (%-w/v) and sterilized by filtration. Antimicrobial activity was defined by determining MIC and CBM against oral Streptococcus.

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