Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res. [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Revealing potential signaling pathways and hub genes related to monocytes in sepsis survivors and non-survivors based on single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data.
Liu Y, Liu N
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124448 · Full text
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction with a high incidence rate and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate monocyte-related signaling pathways and hub genes in sepsis survivors and non-survivors. S...
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction with a high incidence rate and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate monocyte-related signaling pathways and hub genes in sepsis survivors and non-survivors. Sepsis-related data were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Cell annotation and cell communication analysis were performed to identify signaling pathways and ligand-receptor pairs related to monocytes. Immune cell infiltration, functional annotation, differential expression, and correlation analysis were performed to screen for hub genes associated with monocytes. In addition, survival analysis, transcription factors, and drug prediction were also performed on the hub genes. Compared with sepsis survivors, monocytes decreased in sepsis non-survivors. Cell communication results showed that monocytes were also the main signal transmitters and receivers in both the sepsis survivor and the sepsis non-survivor groups. A total of 25 signaling pathways related to monocytes were identified, such as MIF, ANNEXIN, GALECTIN, THBS, ITGB2, CCL, MHC-I, MHC-II, CD23, ICAM, and SEMA4. Subsequently, 6 hub genes (CCR1, CD4, CD47, ITGAX, LILRB1, and PLXNB2) associated with monocytes were identified. Univariate Cox analysis showed that CD4, ITGAX, LILRB1, PLXNB2, and age were associated with the prognosis of sepsis. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that ITGAX and age might be independent prognostic factors for sepsis. ITGAX and CD4 are associated with transcription factors SPI1 and MYB, respectively. Moreover, drug prediction results showed that tregalizumab was an agonist of CD4. This study revealed the monocyte-associated signaling pathways and hub genes, which may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of sepsis survivors and non-survivors.
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori cagA virulence factor and validation of serological tests in a population from Northeastern Brazil.
Freitas AC, Santana-Santos IA, Lima IS … +12 more , Queiroz-Santos-Trindade DK, Sandes LF, Correia TML, Almeida DB, Lescano-Lescano MA, Santana LC, Figueiredo CA, Silva HS, Lima LC, Melo FF, Silva TMD, Marques CR
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124447 · Full text
Helicobacter pylori is an infectious agent linked to significant gastric pathologies, which makes it a public health concern. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is widely used for epidemiological studies and f...
Helicobacter pylori is an infectious agent linked to significant gastric pathologies, which makes it a public health concern. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is widely used for epidemiological studies and for investigating virulence factors like the cagA gene. Due to the varying antigenic profiles of bacterial strains across different populations, the local validation of serological tests is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of two commercial serological tests - the MyBiosource HP-CagA-IgG ELISA kit and the Sunlong Human IgG (CagA-IgG) ELISA kit - in detecting the cagA virulence factor and to assess its prevalence in bacterial isolates from a population in the southwest region of Bahia. A total of 88 individuals were enrolled, and 34 tested positive for the cagA factor via real-time PCR. After establishing customized cutoff points, the MyBiosource kit demonstrated a sensitivity of 55.88%, specificity of 50%, and accuracy of 52.22%, while the Sunlong kit showed a sensitivity of 70.59%, specificity of 60%, and accuracy of 64.29%. Despite these results, neither test met satisfactory performance standards, with sensitivity below 75% and specificity ranging from 50 to 60%. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 56.8%, with a cagA prevalence of 68% among positive cases. Further investigations using additional commercial tests are recommended to enhance diagnostic outcomes for this population.
Treatment with omega-3-rich fish oil enhances host defense and reduces intestinal colonization by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli.
Câmara TAV, Vila Nova BG, Costa MCC … +6 more , Ares ARS, Andrade-Silva M, Silva ISCD, Assunção RG, Sousa JCS, Abreu AG
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124446 · Full text
Escherichia coli is a common intestinal microorganism that can cause a variety of diseases in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of fish oil rich in omega-3 against intestin...
Escherichia coli is a common intestinal microorganism that can cause a variety of diseases in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of fish oil rich in omega-3 against intestinal infection caused by enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were determined, along with toxicity assays using HT-29 intestinal cells and Tenebrio molitor larvae. Swiss mice infected with EAEC 042 were used to assess the in vivo therapeutic potential of fish oil. Histological analyses of the liver, kidney, and colon were conducted to identify tissue alterations such as inflammation and necrosis. Fish oil exhibited a bacteriostatic effect on E. coli and was non-toxic to HT-29 cells at concentrations up to 50 mg/mL. It also enhanced survival in treated larvae. In infected mice, bacterial colony counts were significantly lower in the fish oil-treated group. Histological evaluation showed reduced inflammatory infiltrates in the liver and colon, and no progression of hepatic hydropic degeneration was observed in treated animals, unlike in the untreated infected group. These findings indicated that fish oil rich in omega-3 possesses antimicrobial activity against E. coli, is non-toxic to both cells and animal models, and effectively reduces intestinal infection and associated tissue damage in mice. This suggests its potential as a supportive therapeutic agent for infections caused by pathogenic E. coli.
A new epoxy for plastination: feasibility and applicability analysis of the conservation of biological tissues.
Monteiro YF, Patrício EA, Campos LESB … +3 more , Soares K, Nogueira BV, Bittencourt AS
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124445 · Full text
Plastination is a technique for preserving biological tissues, in which body fluids are replaced by a curable polymer. Epoxy resin is used for 2-5 mm sections of anatomical segments, with the German-made Biodur® E12 bein...
Plastination is a technique for preserving biological tissues, in which body fluids are replaced by a curable polymer. Epoxy resin is used for 2-5 mm sections of anatomical segments, with the German-made Biodur® E12 being the best known and most widely used resin. A few alternative epoxies can be used in the technique, but research should be developed to identify options that are cheaper and less bureaucratic to acquire. This study aimed to find, adapt, and apply an alternative epoxy resin formulation and its curing system for the plastination process as a potential substitute for Biodur® E12. The methodology was divided into the search of a resin for national commercialization in Brazil, the development of the final formulation, the testing of its use in plastination, and the evaluation of the resin and final specimens. From market research, E48 epoxy (brand not disclosed) was selected, and its formulation was changed with the addition of a plasticizer for use in impregnation. A total of 150 Wistar rat cross-sections were plastinated with the control polymer (E12) and with the developed test resin (E48). Based on the positive results of the shrinkage analysis (no statistical difference) and confocal and stereoscopic microscopy, it was concluded that the modified E48 is a great alternative to E12.
Antiresorptive effect of a semisynthetic triterpene from Combretum leprosum Mart. on dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis in rats.
Garcez LR, Goes P, Cavalcante JLT … +16 more , Costa SAD, Ribeiro WLC, Pereira KMA, Costa FWG, Silva PGB, Carvalho FSR, Silva-Filho CJA, Capistrano ALO, Rauner M, Thiele S, Barbosa FG, Mafezoli J, Chaves HV, Leitão RFC, Vasconcelos RF, Bezerra MM
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124444 · Full text
Chronic use of glucocorticoids is one of the most common causes of osteoporosis. Triterpenes have a positive effect on bone metabolism, which encourages research into the anti-resorptive properties of these natural compo...
Chronic use of glucocorticoids is one of the most common causes of osteoporosis. Triterpenes have a positive effect on bone metabolism, which encourages research into the anti-resorptive properties of these natural compounds. In this study, the anti-resorptive effect of the semisynthetic compound 3β,6β,16β-tripropionyloxylup-20(29)-ene (CL-P2), obtained from the natural lupane-type triterpene 3β,6β,16β-trihydroxylup-20(29)-ene (CL-1) isolated from Combretum leprosum Mart., was investigated in a glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) model in rats. GIO was induced by dexamethasone (7 mg/kg, im; 1×/week, 65 days). On the 36th day, treatment was started (gavage) with CL-P2 (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg; 30 days). After this time interval, the rats were euthanized and the femurs and lumbar vertebrae were collected for analysis by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), quantity and type of collagen (Picrosirius Red), micro-Raman spectrometry, and histomorphometric analysis using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The organs were collected for toxicity analysis (HE). CL-P2 increased trabecular volume, number of trabeculae and bone mineral density as evidenced by micro-CT analysis in the third lumbar vertebra (L3), as well as the amount of total collagen and type I collagen in L2. In the analysis of the femurs, CL-P2 promoted an increase in the number of osteoblasts and osteocytes and a reduction in the number of osteoclasts, as well as change in the mineral composition of these bones, suggested by the increase in the carbonate-to-phosphate ratio (CTPR) identified by micro-Raman spectrometry. Histopathological analysis of the organs revealed the pre-clinical safety of CL-P2. CL-P2 had bone-protective benefits and may be a biotechnologically viable product as a supplemental therapy for GIO.
Minimally invasive autopsy as a useful tool for RNA extraction in molecular pathology of lung diseases.
Batah SS, Fabro AT
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124443 · Full text
Minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) is used to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical outcome of diseases. One of its many advantages is the lower risk of contamination in case of infectious diseases and...
Minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) is used to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical outcome of diseases. One of its many advantages is the lower risk of contamination in case of infectious diseases and the quick tissue collection procedure compared to conventional autopsies, which reduces cold ischemia time. Here we investigated the potential role of MIA for molecular pathology studies by comparing RNA yield and quality after RNA extraction from frozen lung tissue samples collected from different methods: MIA, lobectomy, and transbronchial biopsy (TBB). Our results revealed that RNA yield was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the TBB group compared to the lobectomy and MIA groups. However, 93% of MIA samples were non-degraded, showing similar results to TBB, where all had a DV200≥70%. Therefore, MIA proves to be a novel tool for molecular pulmonary pathology in diagnostic and/or research settings.
Antibiofilm activity of silver nanoparticles against Candida sp. isolated from the oral cavity.
Barbaresco MJ, Silva JSSCD, Souza Neto FN … +2 more , Guilherme LR, Naves PLF
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124442 · Full text
Candida biofilm is difficult to control due to the poor penetration and unspecificity of antifungal drugs against the microorganisms associated with this structure. Nanoparticles have been investigated for their antimicr...
Candida biofilm is difficult to control due to the poor penetration and unspecificity of antifungal drugs against the microorganisms associated with this structure. Nanoparticles have been investigated for their antimicrobial potential. In this context, the present study evaluated the antibiofilm activity of silver nanoparticle colloids (AgNPs) against candida isolated from the oral cavity. AgNPs were prepared in two different ethanolic syntheses - without and with ammonium hydroxide: AgNP-1 and AgNP-2, respectively. AgNPs were characterized by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption electron spectroscopy, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Subsequently, they were evaluated against biofilm formation by clinical isolates of Candida albicans and Candida krusei by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), and minimum biofilm formation inhibitory concentration (MBIC50). AgNPs inhibited biofilm formation of tested C. albicans and C. krusei and showed antibiofilm activity at subinhibitory concentrations against all yeasts. AgNP-1 inhibited biofilm formation at concentrations between 7.55 and 60.46 µg/mL and AgNP-2 between 7.71 and 30.80 µg/mL. The characterization of AgNP showed that AgNP-1 and AgNP-2 differ mainly in size and dispersion, with AgNP-2 being monodisperse, indicating that these characteristics could be related to the activity against the formation of C. albicans and C. krusei biofilm, and the silver nanoparticles may represent innovative and complementary alternatives to the available antifungal arsenal.
Fatty acid profile and effect of Plukenetia volubilis L. (sacha inchi) oil on lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet.
Mendoza-Almeida T, Ramírez-Roca EG, Suárez-Cunza S
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124441 · Full text
Sacha inchi oil (SIO) is characterized by its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), metabolites with beneficial properties on health. The objective was to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) profile of wild SIO a...
Sacha inchi oil (SIO) is characterized by its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), metabolites with beneficial properties on health. The objective was to evaluate the fatty acid (FA) profile of wild SIO and its effect on biochemical parameters of lipid metabolism under a high-fat diet. Twenty-four albino rats were grouped into groups I, II, III, and IV, which ingested ad libitum the following diets: conventional diet without supplementation (CDOS), conventional diet supplemented with SIO (CDWS), hyperlipidic diet without supplementation (HDOS), and hyperlipidic diet supplemented with SIO (HDWS) for 6 weeks. The FA content of SIO was assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The lipid profile was analyzed by the enzymatic-spectrophotometric method, and cytokines and lipid mediator levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Α-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) constitute 82% of this oil. Two-way ANOVA showed interaction effects between diet and supplement on interleukin (IL)-10 levels, and SIO-supplemented diet significantly decreased triglycerides (TG), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and the TG/HDL-C ratio levels. Wild SIO is high in ALA and LA. SIO supplementation reduced TG, VLDL-C, and the TG/HDL-C ratio, modulated IL-10, and slightly improved leptin, resolvin-D1 (RvD1), and IL-6 levels.
Investigation of liver diseases using liver Doppler ultrasound in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.
Shintaku DN, Lopes MA, Beraldo RF … +7 more , Oliveira ECS, Herrerias GSP, Oliveira ACB, Baima JP, Barbosa WF, Silva GF, Sassaki LY
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124440 · Full text
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic inflammation, which may be associated with hepatic and biliary manifestations such as non-alcoh...
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is characterized by chronic inflammation, which may be associated with hepatic and biliary manifestations such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the high risk of hepatic manifestations among patients with IBD, few studies in Brazil have assessed the frequency of these diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the prevalence of liver disease by ultrasound in patients with IBD. This was a single-center, cross-sectional study that included patients with IBD who were followed up at an outpatient clinic. The clinical and sociodemographic data, disease activity, biochemical test results, and Doppler liver ultrasonography results were assessed. Descriptive and association tests were used for statistical analyses. A total of 138 patients were included: 64.49% females, mean age 45.55±14.17 years, and body mass index of 26.92±5.07 kg/m2. In total, 63 (45.65%) patients had CD and 75 (54.35%) had UC. Most patients were in either clinical (58.39%) or endoscopic remission (52.55%). Liver ultrasound revealed NAFLD in 58 patients (42.03%), which was classified as mild (36.21%), moderate (46.55%), or severe (17.24%). Seven patients had choledocholithiasis and three had chronic liver disease. Liver disease was associated with changes in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hematocrit, hemoglobin, and fasting glucose levels. Liver disease is frequent in IBD patients, with NAFLD being the most prevalent. Screening for liver disease in patients with IBD is recommended for early detection and immediate treatment of the alterations, in order to prevent complications and progression to cirrhosis.
Twice-a-day exercise increases acute MCT1 gene expression in skeletal muscle but does not change the lactate curve after 3 weeks of training in adult men.
Arcoverde-Mello AP, Andrade-Souza VA, Learsi SK … +9 more , Tomazini F, Ataide-Silva T, Kuang J, Bertuzzi R, Leandro CG, Bishop DJ, Lima-Silva AE, Ghiarone T, Silva KAS
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41124439 · Full text
We have previously demonstrated that different modalities of endurance exercise combined with lower muscle glycogen content elicit several physiological and molecular benefits in men. In this study, we hypothesized that...
We have previously demonstrated that different modalities of endurance exercise combined with lower muscle glycogen content elicit several physiological and molecular benefits in men. In this study, we hypothesized that these exercise strategies modulate monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) and plasma lactate. We investigated MCT1 and MCT4 gene expression after two forms of exercise (i.e., once daily and twice-a-day) under low carbohydrate (CHO) availability (Acute - Study 1) and whether three weeks under once daily or twice-a-day training differentially affected plasma lactate during exercise (Chronic - Study 2). In Study 1, five participants performed a high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) 2 h (twice-a-day) or 15 h (once daily) after exercise and diet manipulations to reduce endogenous CHO stores or without previous CHO manipulation (Control). Muscle biopsies were collected before, right after, and 3 h after HIIE. In Study 2, plasma lactate was measured during a graded exercise test before and after three weeks of once-daily (n=7) or twice-a-day training (n=7). MCT1 gene expression increased from before to after and 3-h post-HIIE only in the twice-a-day exercise (P<0.05). MCT4 gene expression was unaltered in all conditions (P>0.05). The plasma lactate curve shifted to the right in both training approaches, without differences in lactate slope reduction between once-daily (-0.49±0.58 mmol·L-1·min-1) and twice-a-day (-0.46±0.73 mmol·L-1·min-1) exercise. In conclusion, twice-a-day training increased acute MCT1 gene expression but did not result in chronic changes in plasma lactate response during exercise.
Design of a lateral flow assay targeting the conserved NIID_2019-nCoV_N gene region for molecular viral diagnosis.
Derin DÇ, Gültekin E
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41092196 · Full text
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains a significant threat to global public health. Therefore, rapid and accurate detection of the virus continues to be of critical importance. Among the speci...
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains a significant threat to global public health. Therefore, rapid and accurate detection of the virus continues to be of critical importance. Among the specific gene regions of SARS-CoV-2, the Nucleocapsid (N) protein gene is one of the most frequently targeted for viral identification, with NIID_2019-nCOV_N being a notable example. While reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard for diagnosis, alternative molecular detection methods are still limited. In this study, a lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed for the detection of a conserved gene region within NIID_2019-nCOV_N. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were employed to enable visual detection, and the assay was designed based on nucleic acid hybridization principles. Two different membrane types (M17 and M12), three oligonucleotide probe concentrations (2, 4, and 8 µM) conjugated to AuNPs, and the assay's limit of detection (LOD) were evaluated. The target sequence from NIID_2019-nCOV_N was successfully detected by the naked eye within 5-6 min. No significant differences in performance were observed between the two membrane types across all probe concentrations, and the LOD was determined to be 1 pM. Consequently, the nucleic acid-based lateral flow assay (NABLFA) designed in this study, which targets a specific conserved base sequence, demonstrated high potential for rapid and sensitive molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, this approach may be adapted for the identification of emerging viral variants or future outbreaks.
Volumetric analysis of the damage and response of non-invasive brain stimulation in patients with spatial neglect after stroke: a subgroup analysis of the ELETRON trial.
Januzzi MA, Luvizutto GJ, Miranda LA … +7 more , Silva TRD, Winckler FC, Bazan SGZ, Edwards TGS, Pontes-Neto OM, Bazan R, Betting LE
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059797 · Full text
This study aimed to analyze the compromised cortical and subcortical brain structures and quantify the volume of ischemic lesions in patients with hemispatial neglect after stroke treated with transcranial direct current...
This study aimed to analyze the compromised cortical and subcortical brain structures and quantify the volume of ischemic lesions in patients with hemispatial neglect after stroke treated with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the ELETRON Trial. Computed tomography (CT) images of 23 patients who underwent anodal tDCS (A-tDCS), cathodal tDCS (C-tDCS), or placebo (sham-tDCS) were included. Lesion mapping based on high-resolution volumetric CT images was performed using an automated anatomical labeling atlas. The proportion of damage in each region and brain damage between groups were compared using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. The behavioral inattention test (BIT-C) score was significantly higher in the C-tDCS group than in sham-tDCS group (P=0.03). Gray matter analysis revealed that lesion extension in the A-tDCS group was 325.580 mm3, in C-tDCS was 231.700 mm3, and in the sham-tDCS was 241.574 mm3. The lesion extension in the white matter was 37.076 mm3 in the A-tDCS group, 22.258 mm3 in the C-tDCS group, and 40.556 mm3 in the sham-tDCS, all centered on the superior longitudinal fasciculus. Overall, the A-tDCS group presented with a larger lesion area in the gray matter than the C-tDCS group (P=0.046). The C-tDCS group showed a smaller proportion of areas with white matter damage than the A-tDCS (P=0.011) and S-tDCS (P=0.002) groups. Hemispatial neglect was significantly improved after C-tDCS; however, the extent of gray and white matter damage was smaller for this group.
Comparison of two treatments for dry eye disease after corneal refractive surgery.
Ma Y, Yang Y
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059796 · Full text
There are no international or Chinese guidelines for the management of dry eye disease that develops after corneal refractive surgery. Sodium hyaluronate is the first-line therapy for dry eye diseases but is not sufficie...
There are no international or Chinese guidelines for the management of dry eye disease that develops after corneal refractive surgery. Sodium hyaluronate is the first-line therapy for dry eye diseases but is not sufficient to treat severe conditions. This study aimed to compare three-month outcomes following treatment of dry eyes after corneal refractive surgery with 3% diquafosol against those with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate. In a retrospective study, 118 patients were treated with 3% diquafosol sodium six times/day (DQS cohort, n=118 eyes) and 184 patients were treated with 0.1% sodium hyaluronate four times/day (SH cohort, n=184 eyes) for three months. Before treatments (BT), the ocular surface damage score was between 5 and 9 per eye, the ocular surface disease index was between 64 and 70% per eye, and the subjective symptom questionnaire score was between 13 and 19 per eye. Wet length of Schirmer's I strip test, ocular surface damage score, ocular surface disease index, and subjective symptom questionnaire scores improved in both cohorts after 3 months of treatments (AT) compared to BT conditions (P<0.01 for all comparisons). However, improvement was greater in the DQS cohort than in the SH cohort in the AT condition (P<0.01 for all comparisons). Blurred vision, ocular discomfort, and foreign body sensations were observed in a few cases. Dry eye disease is a common complication after corneal refractive surgery, and there is a lack of international guidelines addressing its management. Three percent diquafosol showed superior improvement of dry eye parameters post-refractive surgery than 0.1% sodium hyaluronate.
Associations between serum uric acid levels and hypotension after general anesthesia induction in hypertensive patients.
Zhang Y, Wan J, Nie G
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059795 · Full text
Postinduction hypotension (PIH), a common complication of general anesthesia, occurs more frequently in hypertensive patients. This hypotensive state may induce hypoxia in vital organs, potentially progressing to organ d...
Postinduction hypotension (PIH), a common complication of general anesthesia, occurs more frequently in hypertensive patients. This hypotensive state may induce hypoxia in vital organs, potentially progressing to organ dysfunction or even death. In this prospective cohort study, the primary outcome was incidence of PIH. The preanesthesia baseline parameters included demographic characteristics (age, sex, and body mass index [BMI]) and laboratory biomarkers (serum uric acid, hemoglobin, and lipoprotein levels). Noninvasive blood pressure was systematically monitored at five time points: preinduction (T0), postinduction (T1), immediately postintubation (T2), 5 min postintubation (T3), and 10 min postintubation (T4). This study involved 271 hypertensive patients with a median age (interquartile range) of 56.0 (17.0) years. The cohort comprised 134 males (49.4%) with a mean BMI of 23.8±2.94 kg/m2. PIH occurred in 165 patients (60.8%) following general anesthesia. Univariate logistic regression revealed potential associations between PIH and serum uric acid levels, advanced age, elevated baseline systolic blood pressure, grade 3 hypertension, fasting duration, and ASA class III status. Multivariate logistic regression suggested that serum uric acid may exert a protective effect, whereas grade 3 hypertension, age, and baseline systolic blood pressure emerged as risk modulators. Notably, a composite model incorporating age, baseline systolic blood pressure, hypertension severity, and serum uric acid level demonstrated enhanced predictive capacity (AUC=0.863 vs 0.712 for serum uric acid level alone, both P<0.01). Serum uric acid level demonstrated a moderate inverse correlation with PIH, whereas grade 3 hypertension, age, and baseline systolic blood pressure emerged as potential risk factors for PIH occurrence.
Salvia miltiorrhiza: insights on the protective effect and mechanism of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Lan Q, Chen L, Chen MT … +7 more , Wan ZX, Peng T, Mazhar M, Liu P, Luo G, Jiang Y, Liu MN
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059794 · Full text
Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), a common secondary complication of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), leads to significant psychological and physiological distress in patients. Pathophysiological reactions in...
Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), a common secondary complication of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), leads to significant psychological and physiological distress in patients. Pathophysiological reactions including inflammatory response, oxidative stress injury, platelet aggregation, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and programmed cell death are involved in the pathogenesis of MIRI. Prolonged use of conventional therapies (e.g., NSAIDs, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and antiplatelet agents) may exacerbate cardiovascular damage due to adverse effects. Thus, identifying complementary and alternative therapies with better efficacy and safety profile is imperative. Unlike single-target pharmacological approaches, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge exhibits pleiotropic effects by modulating multiple pathways, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular function. This review summarizes the protective mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza against MIRI, highlighting its potential as a translational therapy for MIRI and guiding future preclinical studies.
Eugenol inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation via upregulating ATF3.
Gu PP, Xu L, Kadierjiang P … +7 more , Shen X, Liu J, Li Y, Zeng L, Lai HM, Zhang H, Tao J
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059793 · Full text
The global prevalence of overweight status and obesity has increased considerably. Obesity is the common pathological basis of numerous diseases and a crucial triggering factor for diabetes. This study aimed to investiga...
The global prevalence of overweight status and obesity has increased considerably. Obesity is the common pathological basis of numerous diseases and a crucial triggering factor for diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in the adipogenic process of adipocytes and the related compounds of Chinese medicine potentially targeting ATF3. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in high-fat diet (HFD) or overweight patients were identified by analyzing Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data profiles GSE112999, GSE112740, and GSE48964. qRT-PCR and western blot were conducted to detect the expression levels of related genes. Oil-red O staining was conducted to detect lipid droplet formation within 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Compounds that interacted with ATF3 were screened through the pharmacological database and analysis platform of the traditional Chinese medicine system. Furthermore, the eugenol effect on ATF3 expression was evaluated. ATF3 expression was increased in the adipose tissues of HFD mice and in clinically obese patients. Knock down of ATF3 promoted adipocyte lipid droplet formation, upregulated the protein levels of adipocyte markers (Fabp4 and PPARγ), elevated intracellular triglyceride (TG) levels, and activated the AKT signaling pathway. Eugenol effectively promoted ATF3 expression and inhibited adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. ATF3 expression was found to be elevated within the adipose tissues of overweight patients, whereas ATF3 knockdown promoted adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, ATF3 overexpression or supplementation with eugenol may be a potential method for overcoming obesity.
Impact of gestational stress on bone and body composition in Wistar rats after lactation.
Martins MAC, Monnerat JAS, Teixeira GF … +10 more , Lucchetti BB, Mentzinger J, Velasco LL, Sodré FA, Silva EM, Rocha HNM, Nóbrega ACL, Rocha NG, Rocha GS, Medeiros RF
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059792 · Full text
This research aimed to evaluate the impact of stress at the end of the pregnancy on bone health and body composition of Wistar rats after the breastfeeding period. The 90-day pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 2 grou...
This research aimed to evaluate the impact of stress at the end of the pregnancy on bone health and body composition of Wistar rats after the breastfeeding period. The 90-day pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (n=7/group): the stress group (SG) and the control group (CG). The stress protocol was carried out over 8 days, with 4 different types of stressor stimuli during the third week of pregnancy. Serum corticosterone, osteoprotegerin (OPG), nuclear factor kappa beta ligand (RANKL), calcium, and phosphorus were measured by an ELISA kit and body composition by the carcass technique. Bone mineral density, content, and area were measured in the femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the maximum force, breaking force, and elastic modulus were measured using a flexural test with a load cell (50 kgf). Results with P<0.05 were considered significant and data are reported as means±SD. Corticosterone was higher in SG (P=0.04), showing the effectiveness of the protocol, but no differences were observed in OPG, RANKL, calcium, phosphorus, and body composition. SG had lower bone mineral density (P=0.01) and lower maximum strength (P=0.04). Stress during the gestational period promoted deleterious effects on maternal bone health after the lactation period, shown by the reduction of bone mineral density and maximum strength, affecting bone quality; no difference was found in body composition.
Antimelanoma potential of natural compounds derived from plants: a systematic review of in vivo studies of B16 melanoma and its sublines.
Gomes BS, Sousa JFM, Mendes RL
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059791 · Full text
Cutaneous melanoma, a lethal neoplasm originating from epidermal melanocytes, stands out for its resistance to conventional therapies and high metastatic rate. Given the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches, this s...
Cutaneous melanoma, a lethal neoplasm originating from epidermal melanocytes, stands out for its resistance to conventional therapies and high metastatic rate. Given the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches, this study focuses on the antitumor potential of natural compounds derived from plants, recognized as primary sources of antineoplastic chemotherapeutics. In this systematic review, we selected studies that evaluated the efficacy of such compounds in vivo, using the murine melanoma B16 model. The research was registered at the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols under the number INPLASY202490019 and conducted using the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Embase databases, following predefined eligibility criteria and standardized terms from the MeSH and DeCS databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Of the 361 identified studies, 33 were deemed eligible for analysis. Parameters such as routes of treatment administration and induction of melanoma, duration of treatment, and others were collected. The SYRCLE tool was used to identify methodological gaps, such as the absence or insufficient description of randomization and blinding. The results indicated that natural products, especially terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, quinones, fatty acids, and plant sterols, have considerable antimelanoma activity, with tumor inhibition above 70% and antimetastatic properties. These findings underscore the importance of investigating the potential of these plant compounds as antineoplastic agents and establishing standardized experimental protocols to increase the reliability of the results.
Correlation of changes in circulating levels of hypoxia-induced factor-1α, erythropoietin, and cell-free fetal hemoglobin with feto-maternal pregnancy outcomes.
Mohamed AA, Albahlol IA, Alzarea EA … +4 more , Alshaikh ABA, Edris FE, Abdel-Tawab MS, El-Metwally TH
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059790 · Full text
Pregnancy feto-maternal complications (PFMCs) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, with placental hypoxia as a key factor. Current methods for detecting fetal hypoxia are limited. This study aimed to eval...
Pregnancy feto-maternal complications (PFMCs) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality, with placental hypoxia as a key factor. Current methods for detecting fetal hypoxia are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the roles and biomarker potential of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, erythropoietin (EPO), and cell-free fetal hemoglobin (cf-HbF) in PFMCs. In a cross-sectional study, we quantitatively immunoassayed plasma levels of these biomarkers in 136 healthy pregnant women (age 29.618±5.19 years) and 118 women with complications (age 30.53±5.46 years) who had voluntarily consented and were enrolled sequentially and anonymously. Results indicated significantly higher biomarker levels in complicated pregnancies (P<0.001), with worsening trends for preeclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, abortion, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor with premature rupture of membranes. Only EPO levels showed pregnancy duration-dependent changes in healthy controls (encompassing 6 to 41 weeks; r=0.230, P=0.015). Strong correlations among the three biomarkers were found in both groups (r=0.402/P<0.001; r=0.724/P<0.001), with HIF-1α correlating with body mass index (BMI) in healthy controls (r=0.204/P=0.032). ROC analysis demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating between groups (P<0.001), with cf-HbF showing the highest performance (AUC=0.923), followed by HIF-1α (AUC=0.882) and EPO (AUC=0.826). In conclusion, HIF-1α, EPO, and cf-HbF were associated with PFMCs and showed promising potential as biomarkers for distinguishing healthy from complicated pregnancies, with cf-HbF being the most significant. Their high levels also pointed to hypoxic adaptation dysfunction and/or resistance, as a pathogenic culprit.
lncRNA ENSRNOT00000087717 mediated differentiation of satellite glial cells derived from dorsal root ganglion via AKT1.
Yang J, Zhang S, Weng X … +5 more , Li C, Shen L, Shang Y, Ma W, Li L
Braz J Med Biol Res · 2025 · PMID 41059789 · Full text
Satellite glial cells (SGCs) within the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) possess the potential for transdifferentiation. Our previous study (doi: 10.1007/s12257-019-0317-x) has identified lncRNA ENSRNOT00000087717 (lnc87717) a...
Satellite glial cells (SGCs) within the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) possess the potential for transdifferentiation. Our previous study (doi: 10.1007/s12257-019-0317-x) has identified lncRNA ENSRNOT00000087717 (lnc87717) and its target AKT1 as potential regulators in the differentiation process of DRG-SGCs. In this study, the cell morphology of SGCs was assessed using immunofluorescence cytochemistry during the differentiation following knockdown of lnc87717, as well as downregulation or upregulation AKT1. The subcellular localization of lnc87717 was visualized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The mRNA expression levels of lnc87717, AKT1, BDNF, TrkB, proBDNF, and p75NTR were assessed using qRT-PCR. For the in vivo study, 27 male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6-9 weeks were used to establish the sciatic nerve injury model. The number of apoptotic cells in DRGs was subsequently detected in the AKT1 inhibitor, activator, and control group after the administration of proBDNF antiserum. In vitro, following knockdown of lnc87717, there was a significant decrease in the expression levels of proBDNF, BDNF, TrkB, and p75NTR (P<0.05). Furthermore, the number of nestin-positive SGCs and the expression of lnc87717 and AKT1 were increased in the AKT1-activated group (P<0.05). In vivo, compared to the control group, the number of apoptotic cells in the DRG was increased in the AKT1-inhibited group. Additionally, the expressions of lnc87717 and AKT1 were significantly upregulated (P<0.05), whereas the expression levels of PI3K, NF-κB, and Bad were significantly downregulated (P<0.05) in DRGs following AKT1 up-regulation compared to those in the control group. The differentiation of DRG-SGCs is suggested to be mediated through the activation of AKT1, while lnc87717 downregulates AKT1.
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