Effect of ethanolic extracts from Piperaceae leaves on the reduction of skin necrosis and wound healing in an animal model of degloving injuries

Purpose: To assess the effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of three species of plants from the Piperaceae family on reducing necrosis and enhancing wound healing in an animal model of degloving injuries. Methods: The animals were divided into six groups, each consisting of six animals: sham, negative control, EEPA (Piper amalago ethanolic extract), EEPG (Piper glabratum ethanolic extract), EEPV (Piper vicosanum ethanolic extract), and positive control receiving hyperbaric oxygenation. The animals underwent surgery to induce excision wounds, and the extent of cutaneous necrosis was evaluated using graphic software, while wound healing was assessed through histopathology. Results: Skin necrosis percentage area was: sham group = 62.84% 6.38; negative control group = 63.03% 4.11; P. vicosanum = 40.80% 4.76 p < 0.05; P. glabratum 32.97% 4.01 p < 0.01; P. amalago = 32.40% 4.61 p < 0.01; hyperbaric oxygenation = 33.21% 4.29 p < 0.01. All treated groups showed higher collagen deposition and less intense, plus predominantly mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, suggesting improved healing process. Conclusions: The three tested extracts demonstrated efficacy in reducing the extent of cutaneous necrosis caused by degloving injuries and also showed evidence of improvement in the wound healing process.

Characterization and optimization of oil microcapsules from Attalea phalerata Mart. for the preservation of bioactive compounds

This study aimed microencapsulating Attalea phalerata Mart. oil, containing high carotenoid and phenolic compounds content, with Arabic gum and gelatin, using the complex coacervation method. The yield, efficiency, morphology of microcapsules and content of phenolic compounds, carotenoids and antioxidant activity in different processes conditions (concentration of the filling, temperature and agitation speed) were evaluated. The results showed 88% of yield, efficiency up to 70% and a characteristic size of microcapsules. The amount of carotenoids was high in crude oil (394.84 µg of carotenoids/g oil) and the microencapsulation tests showed amounts of 19.19 to 166.40 µg of carotenoids/g oil. The phenolic compounds in the crude oil were 20.73 mg GAE/g sample and the microencapsulation tests showed amounts of 3.17 to 15.16 mg GAE/g oil. The values of bioactive compounds influenced in the antioxidant activity though ABTS•+ method with values of 161.70 µM trolox/g oil to crude oil and 7.70 and 159.54 µM trolox/g oil for microcapsules tests.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 and lactoperoxidase genes in the lung of isogenic mice after ischemia/reperfusion injury in the small bowel

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the expression of the genes antioxidant glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and lactoperoxidase (Lpo) in the lung of mice subjected to intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IIR). Methods: Control group (CG) in which were subjected to anesthesia, laparotomy and observation for 120 minutes; an ischemia and reperfusion group (IRG) subjected to anesthesia, laparotomy, small bowel ischemia for 60 minutes and reperfusion for 60 minutes; and three groups treated with HBO during ischemia (HBOG + I), during reperfusion (HBOG + R) and during ischemia and reperfusion (HBOG + IR). Studied 84 genes of oxidative stress by the method (RT-qPCR). Genes with expression levels three times below or above the threshold cycle were considered significantly hypoexpressed or hyperexpressed, respectively (Student's t-test p<0.05). Results: Gpx4 and Lpo were hiperexpressed on IRG, showing a correlation with these genes with lung oxidative stress. Treated with HBO, there was a significant reduction on genic expression on HBOG+I. Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygenation showed to be associated with decreased expression of these antioxidant genes, suggesting a beneficial effect on the mechanism of pulmonary oxidative stress whenever applied during the ischemia.

In vivo chemotherapeutic insight of a novel isocoumarin (3-hexyl-5,7-dimethoxy-isochromen-1-one): Genotoxicity, cell death induction, leukometry and phagocytic evaluation

Abstract Chemotherapy is one of the major approaches for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, the development of new chemotherapy drugs is an important aspect of medicinal chemistry. Chemotherapeutic agents include isocoumarins, which are privileged structures with potential antitumoral activity. Herein, a new 3-substituted isocoumarin was synthesized from 2-iodo-3,5-dimethoxy-benzoic acid and oct-1-yne in a cross-coupling Sonogashira reaction followed by a copper iodide-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization as key step using MeOH/Et3N as the solvent system. The present study also evaluated the leukometry, phagocytic activity, genotoxic potential and cell death induction of three different doses (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) of this newly synthesized isocoumarin, alone and in combination with the commercial chemotherapeutic agents cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) and cisplatin (6 mg/kg) in male Swiss mice. The results suggest that the isocoumarin has genotoxicity and causes cell death. Noteworthy, this new compound can increase splenic phagocytosis and lymphocyte frequency, which are related to immunomodulatory activity. When combined with either cyclophosphamide or cisplatin, chemopreventive activity led to a reduction in the effects of both chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, the new isocoumarin is not a candidate for chemotherapeutic adjuvant in treatments using cyclophosphamide or cisplatin. Nevertheless, the compound itself is an important prototype for the development of new antitumor drugs.

A neurodevelopmental model for the origin of depression amongst people living with HIV: convergence ofsSocial and neuroimmunological mechanisms / Modelo neurodesenvolvimenti sta da origem da depressão entre as pessoas que vivem com o HIV: convergência de mecanismos sociais e neuroimunológicos

Depression is a major challenge facing people living with HIV (PLHIV), with prevalence rates ranging from 25-36%. Depression impacts negati vely upon adherence and response to combined anti retroviral therapy (CART) and thetransmission of HIV infection through increased sexually risky behavior. This article proposes a neurodevelopmental model of depression, which tries to integrate the interplay between psychosocial adversity and HIV related- sti gma, on one hand, and HIV associated neuroinfl ammation, on the other hand, in the eti ology of depressionamongst PLHIV. We conclude that PLHIV should be provided an individualized treatment program that develops strategies including personal empowerment for coping with, and overcoming, psychosocial adversity. Further, neurobiologicalstudies should be vigorously pursued tounderstand the neuroplasti c changes leading to depression in PLHIV and to identi fy biomarkers of depression to be employed for clinical diagnosis, treatment follow-up and investigational purposes

A depressão é um grande desafio para as pessoas que vivem com o HIV (PVHIV) com taxas de prevalência entre 25-36%. A depressão tem um impacto negativo sobre a aderência e a resposta à terapia antirretroviral (CART) e a transmissão da infecção pelo HIV, devido ao aumento do comportamento sexual de risco. Este artigo propõe um modelo neurodesenvolvimentista da depressão, que tenta integrar a interação entre adversidade psicossocial e estigma relacionado ao HIV, por um lado, e a neuroinflamação associada ao HIV, por outro, na etiologia da depressão entre as PVHIV. Nós concluímos que as PVHIV deveriam receber um programa de tratamento individualizado que desenvolvesse estratégias de empoderamento para o enfrentamento e a superação da adversidade psicossocial. Ademais, estudos neurobiológicos deveriamser vigorosamente incentivados, visando compreender as mudanças neuroplásticas que levam à depressão nas PVHIV e identificar biomarcadores de depressão, aplicáveis para fins de diagnóstico e de acompanhamento clínicos, assim como para fins de pesquisa