Developing zebrafish experimental animal models relevant to schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating, lifelong psychiatric disorder affecting approximately 1% of global population. The pathobiology of schizophrenia remains poorly understood, necessitating further translational research in this field. Experimental (animal) models are becoming indispensable for studying schizophrenia-related phenotypes and pro/antipsychotic drugs.

Antibacterial activity, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of corn starch films containing orange essential oil.

The incorporation of antimicrobial compounds into natural polymers can promote increased shelf life and ensure food safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity, morphological, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of corn starch films containing orange (Citrus sinensis var. Valencia) essential oil (OEO).

The usefulness of melatonin in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Disorders of the female reproductive system, including those associated with hormone regulation, fertility rate and fetal health, are issues of great concern worldwide. More recently, melatonin supplementation has been suggested as a therapeutic approach in gynecological practice. In both animal models and in women, melatonin supplementation suggests a therapeutic and preventative potential, effects attributed mainly to its antioxidant properties and action as hormone modulator.

Bioethanol from Spirulina platensis biomass and the use of residuals to produce biomethane: An energy efficient approach.

This study aimed to produce bioethanol using Spirulina platensis biomass and the use of saccharification and fermentation wastes of bioethanol production to produce biomethane. The potential for energy generation in each technological route was quantified. Both, the enzymatic hydrolysis of the microalgae polysaccharides and the fermentation process, presented efficiencies above 80%.

Sex differences in behavior and neuropharmacology of zebrafish.

Sex is an important variable in biomedical research. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly utilized as a powerful new model organism in translational neuroscience and pharmacology. Mounting evidence indicates important sex differences in zebrafish behavioral and neuropharmacological responses.

Prevalence of Solid Neoplasms Diagnosed Between the Years of 2011 to 2016 and Oncologically Treated at the University Hospital of Santa Maria.

Background: Cancer is a public health problem, especially in developing countries. In order to establish effective measures for the cancer control, there is a need for quality information, thus enabling a better understanding of the disease and its determinants, formulation of causal hypotheses, evaluation of the technological advances applied to prevention and treatment as well as the effectiveness of health care. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of solid neoplasms diagnosed between the years 2011 to 2016 and treated at the Oncology Department of the University Hospital of Santa Maria and the existing oncological context.

Modeling gut-brain interactions in zebrafish.

Mounting clinical and experimental evidence suggests the gut-brain interplay as a novel important paradigm in translational neuroscience, including the critical role for gut microbiota in modulating brain development and behavior, as well as neuroimmune and neuroendocrine responses. Animal models are an indispensable tool in studying the central nervous system (CNS) disorders and their mechanisms. Recently, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a powerful new model organism in neuroscience, including studying the gut-brain axis.

Defenses Against ROS in Crops and Weeds: The Effects of Interference and Herbicides.

The antioxidant defense system acts to maintain the equilibrium between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the elimination of toxic levels of ROS in plants. Overproduction and accumulation of ROS results in metabolic disorders and can lead to the oxidative destruction of the cell. Several stress factors cause ROS overproduction and trigger oxidative stress in crops and weeds.

Effect of supporting substrate on the failure behavior of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network material.

Statement Of Problem: Restorative materials are cemented on different types of substrates, such as dentin, metal, and glass-fiber posts with composite resin cores.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the failure behavior after cycling fatigue of a polymer-infiltrated ceramic network material (PICN; VITA ENAMIC) cemented on different supporting substrates.

Material And Methods: PICN plates (N=80) were obtained from computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD-CAM) blocks and cemented with a resin cement to 4 different supporting substrates (n=20): (1) human dentin (PICNDen); (2) dentin analog (PICNDenAn); (3) nickel-chromium alloy (PICNNiCr); and (4) composite resin plus fiberglass post (PICNRc).

Taurine modulates the stress response in zebrafish.

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is used as an emergent model organism to investigate the behavioral and physiological responses to stress. The anxiolytic-like effects of taurine in zebrafish support the existence of different mechanisms of action, which can play a role in preventing stress-related disorders (i.e.

Opioid Neurobiology, Neurogenetics and Neuropharmacology in Zebrafish.

Despite the high prevalence of medicinal use and abuse of opioids, their neurobiology and mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Experimental (animal) models are critical for improving our understanding of opioid effects in vivo. As zebrafish (Danio rerio) are increasingly utilized as a powerful model organism in neuroscience research, mounting evidence suggests these fish as a useful tool to study opioid neurobiology.

Neuropharmacology, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics of aggression: The zebrafish model.

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly utilized as a powerful new model organism in neurobehavioral research. Aggression is a common symptom of many CNS disorders, has some genetic determinants and can be modulated pharmacologically in humans and animal model species. Mounting evidence suggests zebrafish as a useful tool to study neurobiology of aggression, and its pharmacological and genetic regulation.

The evolutionarily conserved role of melatonin in CNS disorders and behavioral regulation: Translational lessons from zebrafish.

Melatonin is an important hormone regulating circadian rhythm, neuroprotection and neuroimmune processes. However, its exact physiological roles in brain mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we summarize the mounting evidence implicating melatonin in brain disorders and behavior, based on clinical and experimental studies in-vivo.

Zebrafish models of diabetes-related CNS pathogenesis.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disorder that affects multiple organ systems. DM also affects brain processes, contributing to various CNS disorders, including depression, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease. Despite active research in humans, rodent models and in-vitro systems, the pathogenetic link between DM and brain disorders remains poorly understood.

Understanding zebrafish aggressive behavior.

Aggression is a common agonistic behavior affecting social life and well-being of humans and animals. However, the underlying mechanisms of aggression remain poorly understood. For decades, studies of aggression have mostly focused on laboratory rodents.

Legal aspects of zebrafish neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology research.

Despite the growing emphasis on translational neuropharmacology and drug discovery research, the legality underlying these fields are seldom considered. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an increasingly utilized model organism in neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology. As the acceptance of zebrafish in biomedicine continues to grow, the legal aspects of their applications remain outpaced by this exponential growth.

Effects of lidocaine on adult zebrafish behavior and brain acetylcholinesterase following peripheral and systemic administration.

Lidocaine is a voltage-gated Na channel blocker, commonly used as a fast-acting local and general anesthetic. Lidocaine also has central action, affecting behavior both clinically and in animal models. Adult zebrafish are rapidly becoming a critical novel model organism in translational neuroscience research.

Zebrafish models for personalized psychiatry: Insights from individual, strain and sex differences, and modeling gene x environment interactions.

Currently becoming widely recognized, personalized psychiatry focuses on unique physiological and genetic profiles of patients to best tailor their therapy. However, the role of individual differences, as well as genetic and environmental factors, in human psychiatric disorders remains poorly understood. Animal experimental models are a valuable tool to improve our understanding of disease pathophysiology and its molecular mechanisms.

Oral Lesions found in a Dental School in Southern Brazil.

Objective: This study aimed to perform an epidemiological survey of the cases of oral lesions diagnosed in a Brazilian dental school.

Materials And Methods: An epidemiological survey was carried out at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Passo Fundo (FOUPF), Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between March 2015 and June 2017, characterizing the patients in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity. A total of 3,200 records were evaluated, from which 716 presented information on oral lesions diagnosed and treated at the clinics of the FOUPF.

Zebrafish models of epigenetic regulation of CNS functions.

Epigenetic regulation has become a key focus of neuroscience and biopsychiatry, implicating DNA methylation, histone modification and other epigenetic mechanisms in various CNS disorders. Animal (experimental) models are a useful tool for epigenetic studies. Although most such research has been performed in rodents, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly emerging as a new promising model organism in neuroscience.

Impact of acid hydrolysis and esterification process in rice and potato starch properties.

The modification of the starches aims to change the properties of these polymers making them more suitable for specific applications. Therefore, the objective of this study was to modify potato and rice starch using the hydrolysis process with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the esterification process with citric acid (CA), both acids at different concentrations and reaction time. To verify if the modifications were effective, the physicochemical changes (solubility, swelling power, gel strength and amylose content), thermal, morphological and pasting properties were evaluated.

Understanding the Role of Environmental Enrichment in Zebrafish Neurobehavioral Models.

Environmental stimuli are critical in preclinical research that utilizes laboratory animals to model human brain disorders. The main goal of environmental enrichment (EE) is to provide laboratory animals with better choice of activity and greater control over social and spatial stressors. Thus, in addition to being a useful experimental tool, EE becomes an important strategy for increasing the validity and reproducibility of preclinical data.