Morphological variations on vital systems in a conjoined twin

Conjoined twins (CTs), popularly referred to as Siamese twins, are a rare anomaly due to monochorionic and monoamniotic twin pregnancies. Dicephalus dibrachius dipus, a type of parapagus conjoined twin which is characterized by possessing two arms, two legs, a single trunk and two heads, epidemiologically, is an even rarer occurrence of CTs. In this article, a rare, well-preserved anatomical specimen of a dicephalus dibrachius dipus conjoined twin is presented. This study was conducted in a specimen which is part of the collection of the Embryology Museum of the institution by donation and approved by the Research Ethics Committee (REC). The female conjoined twins were born at full-term by cesarean section in the 1970s and died hours after birth. A thorough anatomical description was made through observational analysis, computed tomography and 3D reconstructed images. Major abnormalities were observed in the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems. The internal anatomy exhibited a heart with three atria, two ventricles, two aortic arches, two pulmonary arteries, one innominate venous trunk and a respiratory system with two tracheas and four lungs. No other report was similar to our three atria heart description. This article provides a thorough anatomical description of all systems, which is valuable information for further studies on CTs.

Evaluation of the healing properties of Garcinia brasiliensis extracts in a cutaneous wound model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Wound healing is a complex process that can leave pathological scars, especially in case of infections from opportunistic microorganisms. In this context, herbal medicines open up great possibilities for investigation. One of the species of interest native to Brazil is Garcinia brasiliensis ("bacupari"). Traditionally known for treating wounds and ulcers, G. brasiliensis presents anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobials properties. But, its wound healing profile in experimental models, in order to validate its efficacy, is still litle studied.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate, in an infected cutanous wound model, the potential of formulations incorporated with G. brasiliensis leaves extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Crude extract (CE), Ethyl Acetate Fraction (EAF) and Hexanic Fraction (HF) were submitted to phytochemical assays, high performance thin layer chromatography (HTPLC) and cytotoxicity studies. CE and EAF were also tested for microbicidal properties and incorporated in cream and gel formulations at 10% concentration. After stability testing, the gel formulations with CE or EAF at 10% were selected and applied to skin wounds infected or not with Staphylococcus aureus in Wistar rats. The healing potenttial of the extracts was verified by the expression of the protein Annexin A1 (AnxA1), related to the processes of inflammation and antifibrotic function, the cells immunostaining for Gasdermin-D (GSDM-D), a marker of pyroptotic cell death, and the dosage of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 inflammatory mediators.

RESULTS

Phytochemical studies indicated the presence of compounds of pharmacological interest, including Catechin, Quercetin and Berberine in addition to low cytotoxicity of CE and EAF at 10%. After the 6-day topical treatments, CE and EAF gel formulations demonstrated to control the pruritus formation process. The treatments decreased AnxA1 expression and the amount of cells immunostained for GSDM-D, and increased the expression of MCP-1 in infected wounds.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, the results show important anti-inflammatory profile and skin healing potential of CE and EAF from G. brasiliensis leaves, even in infected lesions, with therapeutic perspectives.

Annexin A1 Mimetic Peptide and Piperlongumine: Anti-Inflammatory Profiles in Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis

Uveitis is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide, and therapeutic alternatives are worthy of study. We investigated the effects of piperlongumine (PL) and/or annexin A1 (AnxA1) mimetic peptide Ac2-26 on endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). Rats were inoculated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and intraperitoneally treated with Ac2-26 (200 µg), PL (200 and 400 µg), or Ac2-26 + PL after 15 min. Then, 24 h after LPS inoculation, leukocytes in aqueous humor, mononuclear cells, AnxA1, formyl peptide receptor (fpr)1, fpr2, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were evaluated in the ocular tissues, along with inflammatory mediators in the blood and macerated supernatant. Decreased leukocyte influx, levels of inflammatory mediators, and COX-2 expression confirmed the anti-inflammatory actions of the peptide and pointed to the protective effects of PL at higher dosage. However, when PL and Ac2-26 were administered in combination, the inflammatory potential was lost. AnxA1 expression was elevated among groups treated with PL or Ac2-26 + PL but reduced after treatment with Ac2-26. Fpr2 expression was increased only in untreated EIU and Ac2-26 groups. The interaction between Ac2-26 and PL negatively affected the anti-inflammatory action of Ac2-26 or PL. We emphasize that the anti-inflammatory effects of PL can be used as a therapeutic strategy to protect against uveitis.

Modulation of the endogenous Annexin A1 in a cigarette smoke cessation model: Potential therapeutic target in reversing the damage caused by smoking?

BACKGROUND

Smoking cessation may help in the reversal of inflammation and damage caused by smoking. The endogenous annexin A1 (AnxA1) protein has anti-inflammatory effects which instigates the understanding of its role in the attenuation of inflammatory processes caused by smoking.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Wistar rats were exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks. After the exposure period, one of the groups remained other 8 weeks in the absence of smoke. Animals not exposed to smoke were used as control. Blood, trachea and lungs were obtained for histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses.

RESULTS

Loss of cilia of the tracheal lining epithelium was found by smoke exposure, but smoking cessation led to recovery of the tracheal epithelium. Similarly, chronically exposed-to-smoke animals showed increased lymphocytes and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage and higher levels of glucose and gamma-GT in their blood. Reduction of lymphocytes, glucose and gamma-GT occurred after smoking cessation. In addition, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and MCP-1 levels were elevated by smoke exposure. Smoking cessation significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 but increased the IL-10 concentration. Numerous mast cells and macrophages were observed in the lung of chronically exposed-to-smoke animals with reduction by smoking cigarette abstinence. AnxA1 increased expression and concomitant NF-κB reduction were found in the smoking cessation group.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that cigarette abstinence promoted partial recovery of the inflammatory process. The attenuation of the inflammatory profile may be associated with the overexpression of AnxA1 protein.

Expression of the Annexin A1 and its correlation with matrix metalloproteinases and the receptor for formylated peptide-2 in diffuse astrocytic tumors

Astrocytomas represent the majority of cerebral gliomas. Studies show that the anti-inflammatory protein Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) is associated with the tumor invasion process and that its actions can be mediated by the receptor for formylated peptides (FPR). Therefore, we evaluated the expression of ANXA1, the receptor FPR2 and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in brain astrocytomas. Detection of proteins was performed in sections of diffuse astrocytomas (grade II), anaplastic astrocytomas (grade III) and glioblastomas (GBM, grade IV) and quantifications were made by densitometry. Our analyses showed increased expression of ANXA1 in astrocytomas of all grades, but especially in GBM. The expression of FPR2 is similar to that found for ANXA1, being higher in GBM. Immunostaining for MMPs is also stronger as the degree of malignancy increases, especially with respect to MMP-9. The positive correlation between ANXA1/FPR2 and ANXA1/MMP-9 was observed in all tumors studied. The data indicate the possible action of ANXA1 and FPR2 on the development and progression of astrocytomas, related to increased expression of MMP-9. Thereby, ANXA1 and FPR2 are involved in the biology and malignancy of diffuse astrocytic tumors.

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana e citotoxicidade hemolítica em diferentes extratos vegetais

Introdução: A busca por novos agentes terapêuticos tem incentivado as pesquisas com plantas medicinais, pois muitas delas podemapresentar propriedade antimicrobiana e conhecer o potencial citotóxico dos extratos é fundamental para garantir a segurançadurante o uso. Objetivo: Avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana e a citotoxicidade hemolítica de Arctium lappa (bardana), Equisetumarvense (cavalinha), Mikania glomerata (guaco), Morus nigra (amora) e Plantago major (tanchagem), amplamente consumidospela população na forma de chás medicinais. Material e Métodos: Os extratos etanólicos fora preparados a 20% por percolação.Na avaliação antimicrobiana foi utilizada a técnica de difusão em disco, empregando as bactérias Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter sp, Enterococcus sp eSalmonella sp. O ensaio de citotoxicidade baseou-se na exposição dos extratos a 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% e 100% em suspensão dehemácias a 37ºC por 30 minutos, seguido de centrifugação e visualização do grau de hemólise. Resultados: Todos os extratosapresentaram inibição de crescimento microbiano, principalmente sobre Acinetobacter sp (amora), Enterococcus sp (amorae cavalinha), K. pneumoniae (amora, bardana e guaco), P. aeruginosa (cavalinha, tanchagem, bardana e guaco) e Salmonellasp (amora e bardana). No ensaio de citotoxicidade, o grau de hemólise foi classificado como baixo para tanchagem e bardana(5%) e médio para cavalinha, guaco e amora (25%) nas concentrações testadas. Conclusão: Os resultados mostram o potencialantimicrobiano dos extratos de amora, bardana, cavalinha, guaco e tanchagem contra bactérias Gram negativas e a baixacitotoxicidade hemolítica confirma a segurança no uso dos mesmos como agentes terapêuticos.

Heterogeneity of mast cells and expression of Annexin A1 protein in a second degree burn model with silver sulfadiazine treatment

Mast cells (MCs) participate in all stages of skin healing and one of their mediators is the Annexin A1 protein (AnxA1), linked to inflammation, proliferation, migration and apoptosis processes, but not studied in thermal burns yet. Therefore, our objectives were to evaluate the behavior of MCs and AnxA1 in a second degree burn model, treated or not with silver sulfadiazine 1% (SDP 1%) and associated to macrophages quantification and cytokines dosages. MCs counts showed few cells in the early stages of repair but increased MCs in the final phases in the untreated group. The normal skin presented numerous tryptase-positive MCs that were reduced after burning in all analyzed periods. Differently, few chymase-positive MCs were observed in the early stages of healing, however, increased chymase-positive MCs were found at the final phase in the untreated group. MCs also showed high immunoreactivity for AnxA1 on day 3 in both groups. In the tissue there was a strong protein expression in the early stages of healing, but in the final phases only in the SDP treated animals. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and MCP-1 levels and macrophages quantification were increased in inflammation and reepithelialization phases. Reduced IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 levels and numerous macrophages occurred in the treated animals during tissue repair. Our results indicate modulation in the profile of MCs and AnxA1expression during healing by the treatment with SDP 1%, pointing them as targets for therapeutic interventions on skin burns.

Ganho de força e função em idosos por treino isométrico com e sem resposta visual

INTRODUÇÃO: A remediação das alterações fisiológicas que sofrem os idosos é um problema com o qual a saúde pública se defronta com frequência. A premência deste trabalho está em minimizar essa remediação e as alterações que ela propicia no âmbito músculo-esquelético, por meio de um trabalho físico condicionante, que busca aumentar a qualidade de vida dessa população.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do treinamento físico sob duas ópticas de comando terapêutico, com e sem resposta visual por unidade de pressão, bem como seus possíveis benefícios quanto ao ganho de torque muscular, inerente à funcionalidade citada no questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36, avaliando assim a influência do treinamento físico.MÉTODOS: A avaliação foi realizada por meio de um questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36 e do teste de levantar e sentar, além da aferição da força por meio do esfigmomanômetro modificado (EM). O individuo foi submetido a duas sessões semanais de exercícios durante um mês, com o protocolo de treinamento que constou de três séries de 10 repetições na cadeira flexora e extensora para ambos os joelhos de maneira isométrica. Os dados foram estatisticamente analisados pela análise de variância e desvio padrão (p < 0,05) e correlação de Pearson (p < 0,05).RESULTADOS: Notou-se melhora no quadro geral dos idosos, sendo que houve aumento estatisticamente significante no estado geral de saúde, redução da limitação por aspectos físicos, redução da dor e no aumento da capacidade funcional, bem como um incremento da força de flexão e extensão, que teve reflexo positivo no teste funcional.CONCLUSÃO: Houve correlação extremamente válida entre o ganho de força em flexão com o teste de sentar e levantar, com o qual, apesar de ganho menor comparado ao ganho de força em extensão, estabeleceu-se correlação com o ganho funcional, independentemente da resposta visual ao exercício.