Reduction of host cell mitochondrial activity as Mycobacterium leprae's strategy to evade host innate immunity.

Leprosy is a much-feared incapacitating infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae or M lepromatosis, annually affecting roughly 200,000 people worldwide. During host-pathogen interaction, M leprae subverts the immune response, leading to development of disease. Throughout the last few decades, the impact of energy metabolism on the control of intracellular pathogens and leukocytic differentiation has become more evident. Mitochondria play a key role in regulating newly-discovered immune signaling pathways by controlling redox metabolism and the flow of energy besides activating inflammasome, xenophagy, and apoptosis. Likewise, this organelle, whose origin is probably an alphaproteobacterium, directly controls the intracellular pathogens attempting to invade its niche, a feature conquered at the expense of billions of years of coevolution. In the present review, we discuss the role of reduced host cell mitochondrial activity during M leprae infection and the consequential fates of M leprae and host innate immunity. Conceivably, inhibition of mitochondrial energy metabolism emerges as an overlooked and novel mechanism developed by M leprae to evade xenophagy and the host immune response.

IL-10-induced STAT3/NF-κB crosstalk modulates pineal and extra-pineal melatonin synthesis.

Immune-pineal axis activation is part of the assembly of immune responses. Proinflammatory cytokines inhibit the pineal synthesis of melatonin while inducing it in macrophages by mechanisms dependent on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Cytokines activating the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), modulate melatonin synthesis in the pineal, bone marrow (BM), and spleen. The stimulatory effect of IFN-γ upon the pineal gland depends on STAT1/NF-κB interaction, but the mechanisms controlling IL-10 effects on melatonin synthesis remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the role of STAT3 and NF-κB activation by IL-10 upon the melatonin synthesis of rats' pineal gland, BM, spleen, and peritoneal cells. The results show that IL-10-induced interaction of (p)STAT3 with specific NF-κB dimmers leads to different cell effects. IL-10 increases the pineal's acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT), N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin content via nuclear translocation of NF-κB/STAT3. In BM, the nuclear translocation of STAT3/p65-NF-κB complexes increases ASMT expression and melatonin content. Increased pSTAT3/p65-NF-κB nuclear translocation in the spleen enhances phosphorylated serotonin N-acetyltransferase ((p)SNAT) expression and melatonin content. Conversely, in peritoneal cells, IL-10 leads to NF-κB p50/p50 inhibitory dimmer nuclear translocation, decreasing (p)SNAT expression and melatonin content. In conclusion, IL-10's effects on melatonin production depend on the NF-κB subunits interacting with (p)STAT3. Thus, variations of IL-10 levels and downstream pathways during immune responses might be critical regulatory factors adjusting pineal and extra-pineal synthesis of melatonin.

Digital planning and surveying for a rotational path removable partial denture: a case report.

Digital technology has been applied to the planning and manufacture of removable partial dentures (RPDs), reducing the complexity of RPD treatment as well as the number and duration of clinical and laboratory steps. However, there is a lack of information regarding digital planning and surveying for rotational path RPDs. This article presents a case report of a digital diagnostic wax-up and survey for a rotational path RPD performed with prosthetic design software. The virtual diagnostic closure tool made it possible during the case study stage to visualize the edentulous spaces and simulate the preparations necessary for the restoration of occlusal and esthetic harmony. The virtual survey determined the dual-axis path of insertion and removal for the rotational path RPD based on the 4 major influencing factors: guiding planes, retentive undercuts, interferences, and esthetics. In this case, digital planning and surveying for a rotational path RPD were an effective means of esthetic and biomechanical analysis and allowed for minimal preparation of the abutment teeth.

Phenolic glycolipid-1 of Mycobacterium leprae is involved in human Schwann cell line ST8814 neurotoxic phenotype.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae infection in Schwann cells. Axonopathy is considered a hallmark of leprosy neuropathy and is associated with the irreversible motor and sensory loss seen in infected patients. Although M. leprae is recognized to provoke Schwann cell dedifferentiation, the mechanisms involved in the contribution of this phenomenon to neural damage remain unclear. In the present work, we used live M. leprae to infect the immortalized human Schwann cell line ST8814. The neurotoxicity of infected Schwann cell-conditioned medium (SCCM) was then evaluated in a human neuroblastoma cell lineage and mouse neurons. ST8814 Schwann cells exposed to M. leprae affected neuronal viability by deviating glial 14 C-labeled lactate, important fuel of neuronal central metabolism, to de novo lipid synthesis. The phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1) is a specific M. leprae cell wall antigen proposed to mediate bacterial-Schwann cell interaction. Therefore, we assessed the role of the PGL-1 on Schwann cell phenotype by using transgenic M. bovis (BCG)-expressing the M. leprae PGL-1. We observed that BCG-PGL-1 was able to induce a phenotype similar to M. leprae, unlike the wild-type BCG strain. We next demonstrated that this Schwann cell neurotoxic phenotype, induced by M. leprae PGL-1, occurs through the protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. Interestingly, the pharmacological inhibition of Akt by triciribine significantly reduced free fatty acid content in the SCCM from M. leprae- and BCG-PGL-1-infected Schwann cells and, hence, preventing neuronal death. Overall, these findings provide novel evidence that both M. leprae and PGL-1, induce a toxic Schwann cell phenotype, by modifying the host lipid metabolism, resulting in profound implications for neuronal loss. We consider this metabolic rewiring a new molecular mechanism to be the basis of leprosy neuropathy.

STAT-3 signaling role in an experimental model of nephropathy induced by doxorubicin.

The focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the most frequent glomerulopathy in the world, being considered a significative public health problem worldwide. The disease is characterized by glomerular loss mainly due to inflammation process and collagen fibers deposition. STAT-3 is a transcription factor associated with cell differentiation, migration and proliferation and in renal cells it has been related with fibrosis, acting on the progression of the lesion. Considering this perspective, the present study evaluated the involvement of STAT-3 molecule in an experimental model of FSGS induced by Doxorubicin (DOX). DOX mimics primary FSGS by causing both glomerular and tubular lesions and the inhibition of the STAT3 pathway leads to a decrease in fibrosis and attenuation of kidney damage. We described here a novel FSGS experimental model in a strain of genetically heterogeneous mice which resembles the reality of FSGS patients. DOX-injected mice presented elevated indices of albuminuria and glycosuria, that were significantly reduced in animals treated with a STAT-3 inhibitor (STATTIC), in addition with a decrease of some inflammatory molecules. Moreover, we detected that SOCS-3 (a regulator of STAT family) was up-regulated only in STATTIC-treated mice. Finally, histopathological analyzes showed that DOX-treated group had a significant increase in a tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular necrosis, which were not identified in both control and STATTIC groups. Thus, our results indicate that STAT-3 pathway possess an important role in experimental FSGS induced by DOX and may be an important molecule to be further investigated.

Physical exercise as a modulator of the purinergic system in the control of sarcopenia in individuals with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.

The word sarcopenia derives from the Greek terms "sarx" for meat and "penia" for loss, thus being used to define reductions in muscle mass, muscle strength, and lower physical performance that compromise, mainly, the elderly population. Its high negative impact on patients' quality of life encourages the production and publication of new studies that seek to find methods to prevent and reverse cases of loss of muscle mass and strength. Furthermore, the high prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is closely related to its pathophysiology, which consists of a state of increased protein catabolism and decreased muscle tissue synthesis. Also considering the inflammatory nature of CKD and sarcopenia, the purinergic system has been an important target of studies, which seek to relate it to the two previous conditions. This system achieves anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting, through adenosine, pro-inflammatory factors such as interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO), as well as by releasing anti-inflammatory substances such as interleukin-10 (IL-10). Simultaneously, the purinergic system presents pro-inflammatory activity, signaled by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which occurs through the activation of T cells and the release of pro-inflammatory factors such as those mentioned above. Therefore, the ability of this system to act on inflammatory processes can promote positive and negative changes in the clinical aspect of patients with CKD and/or sarcopenia. Furthermore, it appears that there is a correlation between the practice of repeated physical exercise with the clinical improvement and in the quality of life of these patients, presenting a decrease in the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), NTPDase, and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, such as increases in IL-10 resulting from modulation of the purinergic system. In this way, the present article seeks to evaluate the effect of physical exercise as a modulator of the purinergic system in the control of sarcopenia in patients with CKD on hemodialysis, in order to trace a relationship that can bring benefits both for biological markers and for quality of life of these patients.

Biochar as a carbonaceous material to enhance soil quality in drylands ecosystems: A review.

Drylands are fragile environments that should be carefully managed to improve their quality and functions to achieve sustainable development. Their major problems involve low availability of nutrients and soil organic carbon content. Biochar effect on soil is a joint response of micro to nano sized biochar and soil characteristics. In this review, we attempt to carry out a critical analysis of biochar application to enhance dryland soil quality. Correlating the effects identified from its soil application, we explored the subjects that remains open in the literature. The relation of composition-structure-properties of biochar vary among pyrolysis parameters and biomass sources. Limitations in soil physical quality in drylands, such as low water-holding capacity, can be alleviated by applying biochar at a rate of 10 Mg ha-1 also resulting in beneficial effects on soil aggregation, improved soil porosity, and reduced bulk density. Biochar addition can contribute to the rehabilitation of saline soils, by releasing cations able to displaces sodium in the exchange complex. However, the recovery process of salt-affected soils might be accelerated by the association of biochar with another soil conditioners. This is a promising strategy especially considering the biochar alkalinity and variability in nutrients bioavailability to improve soil fertilization. Further, while higher biochar application rate (>20 Mg ha-1) might change soil C dynamics, a combination of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer can increase microbial biomass carbon in dryland systems. Other aspect of biochar soil application is the economic viability of scale-up production, which is mainly associate to pyrolysis process being biochar production the costliest stage. Nevertheless, the supplying of feedstock might also represent a great input on biochar final costs. Therefore, biochar-based technology is a big opportunity to improve fragile environments such as drylands, integrating sustainable technologies with regional development. Considering the specificity of application area, it might be a model of sustainable agricultural practices protecting the environment in a bioeconomic perspective.

Biomedical Approach of Nanotechnology and Biological Risks: A Mini-Review.

Nanotechnology has played a prominent role in biomedical engineering, offering innovative approaches to numerous treatments. Notable advances have been observed in the development of medical devices, contributing to the advancement of modern medicine. This article briefly discusses key applications of nanotechnology in tissue engineering, controlled drug release systems, biosensors and monitoring, and imaging and diagnosis. The particular emphasis on this theme will result in a better understanding, selection, and technical approach to nanomaterials for biomedical purposes, including biological risks, security, and biocompatibility criteria.

Integrative taxonomy for the traditional coccidians (Chromista: Miozoa: Eimeriidae) from island canaries (Aves: Passeriformes: Fringillidae): Worldwide distribution, morphological and molecular characterization, revaluations and establishment of junior synonyms.

Island canaries Serinus canaria (Linnaeus) are finches native to the North Atlantic Islands, however, they have a worldwide distribution in captivity due to their relevance as a pet bird. Coccidians are the most reported parasites of passerines worldwide, both in the wild and in captivity, being frequently associated with disease in passerines kept in rehabilitation centers and commercial breeders. This study aimed to identify coccidians from island canaries kept in captivity in Brazil. Three hundred and fifteen genomic DNA extracted from fecal samples of island canaries from different breeders from Southern and Southeastern Brazil were used to perform a nested PCR assay to amplify a partial fragment of the 28S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (28S) of Isospora spp. Microscopic screening and morphological identification of Isospora oocysts was performed in fecal samples corresponding to PCR positive DNA samples. Fecal samples have been formalin-stored for approximately four years. Positivity rate for both microscopy and PCR was 10.5% (33/315). Posteriorly, Isospora serini (Aragão, 1933) Box, 1975 and Isospora canaria Box, 1975 were morphologically identified from fresh fecal samples of island canaries maintained by a breeder in the State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, providing a genotypic characterization via sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and 28S genes. The 28S and COI sequences referring to the morphological identification of I. canaria was, respectively, 100% and 99% similar to sequences deposited as Isospora serinuse Yang, Brice, Elliot & Ryan, 2015 from island canaries kept in a rehabilitation center in Australia. The COI sequence referring to the morphological identification of I. serini was 100% similar to a sequence of an extraintestinal Isospora, corroborating this identification/sequencing since I. serini is the first isosporan with an extra-intestinal cycle demonstrated. The comparison of morphological and molecular data from I. canaria and I. serini from this study with published data of Isospora spp. from canaries worldwide, allowed the specific identification from preliminary generic identifications, correction of misidentifications, as well as the establishment of junior synonyms. Finally, this study provides morphological and molecular data that ensure the correct identification of the two Isospora spp. from island canaries in future studies worldwide.

Linking multivariate statistical methods and water quality indices to evaluate the natural and anthropogenic geochemical processes controlling the water quality of a tropical watershed.

The improvement of water management requires monitoring techniques that accurately evaluate water quality status and detect the effects of land use changes on water chemistry. This study aimed to evaluate how multivariate statistical methods and water quality indices can be applied together to evaluate the processes controlling water chemical composition and the overall water quality status of a tropical watershed. Thirty-four water samples were collected in the Formoso River basin, located on the border of the Amazon Forest. Water parameters were measured in situ using a multiparameter and in the lab using spectroscopic and volumetric techniques. The water quality dataset was interpreted through principal component analysis, multivariate linear regression, and water quality indices. Statistical methods allowed us to identify the sources and geochemical processes controlling water quality chemistry, which were carbonate dissolution, runoff/erosion, nutrient input due to anthropogenic activities, and redox reactions in flooded zones. They were also used to create linear functions to evaluate the effects of land use changes on the geochemical processes controlling water chemistry. Conversely, the water quality indices provide information about the overall condition of the water. The Weight-Arithmetic Quality Index correctly evaluates water suitability for its multiple uses, according to the Brazilian guidelines. Conversely, the Ontario Water Quality Index is not suitable to evaluate the water quality of tropical rivers, since the usual higher water temperature and the low oxygen contents associated with tropical environments result in biased water quality evaluations by this index.

Influence of exercise and vitamin D on the immune system against Covid-19: an integrative review of current literature.

Respiratory infections of viral origin have become the leading cause of infectious diseases in the world. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has challenged the entire global health system, since Covid-19 has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The immune response to the virus depends on factors such as age, genetics, nutritional status, physical status, as well as environmental factors. Despite scientific advances, so far, there is still no specific therapy for the disease. Thus, this study aims to analyze the contribution of physical exercise and maintenance and/or supplementation of vitamin D to the strengthening of the immune system against viral infections, among them, Covid-19. Regular practice of moderate-intensity physical activity is responsible for promoting a reduction in the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1ß), as well as triggering the increase in the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). In addition, hypovitaminosis D predisposes to the development of chronic diseases and infections. Therefore, in patients affected by Covid-19, the maintenance of vitamin D levels contributes significantly to the 0prevention of the cytokine storm. Thus, the association between maintaining vitamin D levels and performing moderate-intensity physical exercise is responsible for strengthening the immune system and, therefore, triggering a defense mechanism against infections by intracellular microorganisms, in which SARS -CoV-2.

Role of inflammation and oxidative stress in tissue damage associated with cystic fibrosis: CAPE as a future therapeutic strategy.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, responsible for the synthesis of the CFTR protein, a chloride channel. The gene has approximately 2000 known mutations and all of them affect in some degree the protein function, which makes the pathophysiological manifestations to be multisystemic, mainly affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and reproductive tracts. Currently, the treatment of the disease is restricted to controlling symptoms and, more recently, a group of drugs that act directly on the defective protein, known as CFTR modulators, was developed. However, their high cost and difficult access mean that their use is still very restricted. It is important to search for safe and low-cost alternative therapies for CF and, in this context, natural compounds and, mainly, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) appear as promising strategies to assist in the treatment of the disease. CAPE is a compound derived from propolis extracts that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, covering important aspects of the pathophysiology of CF, which points to the possible benefit of its use in the disease treatment. To date, no studies have effectively tested CAPE for CF and, therefore, we intend with this review to elucidate the role of inflammation and oxidative stress for tissue damage seen in CF, associating them with CAPE actions and its pharmacologically active derivatives. In this way, we offer a theoretical basis for conducting preclinical and clinical studies relating the use of this molecule to CF.

An evaluation of the capacitive behavior of supercapacitors as a function of the radius of cations using simulations with a constant potential method.

We report on the atomistic molecular dynamics, applying the constant potential method to determine the structural and electrostatic interactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface of electrochemical supercapacitors as a function of the cation radius (Cs+, Rb+, K+, Na+, Li+). We find that the electrical double layer is susceptible to the size, hydration layer volume, and cations' mobility and analyzed them. Besides, the transient potential shows an increase in magnitude and length as a function of the monocation size, i.e., Cs+ > Rb+ > K+ > Na+ > Li+. On the other hand, the charge distribution along the electrode surface is less uniform for large monocations. Nonetheless, the difference is not observed as a function of the radius of the cation for the integral capacitance. Our results are comparable to studies that employed the fixed charge method for treating such systems.

Application crude multienzyme extract from Aspergillus niger as a pretreatment for the extraction of essential oil from Croton argyrophyllus leaves.

Leaves of Croton argyrophyllus contain essential oil with promising active components for the development of drugs and botanical insecticides. In this study, we evaluated the enzymatic pretreatment process to increase the extraction of essential oil from fresh and dried leaves of C. argyrophyllus. Pretreatment was carried out using a crude multienzymatic extract obtained via solid-state fermentation of forage palm by Aspergillus niger, and the extraction was performed by hydrodistillation. A Doehlert matrix was used to optimize the enzymatic pretreatment variables temperature and enzymatic extract. The effect of pretreatment time was also investigated. At optimum experimental conditions, 41.34°C, 140 min, and 130.73 mL of enzyme in 369.27 mL of water, the essential oil yield from fresh leaves subjected to enzymatic pretreatment increased by 9.35% and that from dry leaves by 6.77%. Based on chromatographic analysis (GC-MS), no compound was degraded in the extraction process. Micromorphological analysis confirmed the rupture of the glandular trichomes, favoring essential oil release. Therefore, enzymatic pretreatment associated with hydrodistillation increased the essential oil yield and is a promising application to obtain essential oil for therapeutic purposes without altering its composition.

New Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa F03, a Fungal Endophyte Isolated from Paepalanthus planifolius.

As part of our continuing efforts to discover new bioactive compounds from endophytic fungal sources, we have investigated the extract of the Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa F03 strain. The study led to the isolation of four new 3-methyl-isoquinoline alkaloids (1:  - 4: ) and four known polyketides (5:  - 8: ). The structures of compounds 1:  - 4: were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and HRMS analysis. The absolute configuration of 4: was determined by comparison of its experimental electronic circular dichroism spectrum with calculated data. Compounds 1:  - 4: exhibited antifungal activity with minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 6.25 - 50 µg/mL against six Candida species but they did not present any cytotoxic activity against the human tumor cell lines A549 (lung), MCF-7 (breast), and HepG2 (hepatocellular). In addition, compound 4: exhibited antiplasmodial activity in the low micromolar range (IC50 = 4 µM).

Pancreatic Insufficiency in a Child with p.Gly542* and c.2657+5G>A Heterozygote CFTR: A Case Report.

Cystic fibrosis is a monogenic and autosomal recessive disease. It is caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator gene responsible for encoding the CFTR protein. Involvement of the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems is the main clinical manifestation. In this case, we report a heterozygous CFTR patient harboring class I (p.Gly542*) and class V (c.2657+5G>A) mutations. The importance of this case report lies in the clinical features because the patient, aged 3 years, presented with early exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which can be considered atypical, as most individuals with this genotype are pancreatic sufficient or develop pancreatic insufficiency later in life. This report aims at presenting the tests requested that contributed to the patient's diagnosis, as well as at understanding the association between these mutations and their phenotypic presentation. Interpretation of the genotype-phenotype relationship represents a challenge, as genetic analysis alone is not sufficient to clearly predict severity of the disease. This is because the significant phenotypic heterogeneity existing among patients with the same genotype may exert socioeconomic and sociocultural influences, or by the action of CFTR modifiers, such as environmental and modifying genes, which can alter the protein's function and exert an impact on the individual's phenotype.

Venom Profiling of the Insular Species Bothrops alcatraz: Characterization of Proteome, Glycoproteome, and N-Terminome Using Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates.

Bothrops alcatraz, a species endemic to Alcatrazes Islands, is regarded as critically endangered due to its small area of occurrence and the declining quality of its habitat. We recently reported the identification of N-glycans attached to toxins of Bothrops species, showing similar compositions in venoms of the B. jararaca complex (B. jararaca, B. insularis, and B. alcatraz). Here, we characterized B. alcatraz venom using electrophoretic, proteomic, and glycoproteomic approaches. Electrophoresis showed that B. alcatraz venom differs from B. jararaca and B. insularis; however, N-glycan removal revealed similarities between them, indicating that the occupation of N-glycosylation sites contributes to interspecies variability in the B. jararaca complex. Metalloproteinase was the major toxin class identified in the B. alcatraz venom proteome followed by serine proteinase and C-type lectin, and overall, the adult B. alcatraz venom resembles that of B. jararaca juvenile specimens. The comparative glycoproteomic analysis of B. alcatraz venom with B. jararaca and B. insularis indicated that there may be differences in the utilization of N-glycosylation motifs among their different toxin classes. Furthermore, we prospected for the first time the N-terminome of a snake venom using the terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS) approach and report the presence of ∼30% of N-termini corresponding to truncated toxin forms and ∼37% N-terminal sequences blocked by pyroglutamic acid in B. alcatraz venom. These findings underscore a low correlation between venom gland transcriptomes and proteomes and support the view that post-translational processes play a major role in shaping venom phenotypes.

Hyperinflammation and airway surface liquid dehydration in cystic fibrosis: purinergic system as therapeutic target.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: The exacerbate inflammatory response contributes to the progressive loss of lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease that affects the osmotic balance of mucus and mucociliary clearance, resulting in a microenvironment that favors infection and inflammation. The purinergic system, an extracellular signaling pathway characterized by nucleotides, enzymes and receptors, may have a protective role in the disease, through its action in airway surface liquid (ASL) and anti-inflammatory response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To make up this review, studies covering topics of CF, inflammation, ASL and purinergic system were selected from the main medical databases, such as Pubmed and ScienceDirect. CONCLUSION: We propose several ways to modulate the purinergic system as a potential therapy for CF, like inhibition of P2X7, activation of P2Y2, A2A and A2B receptors and blocking of adenosine deaminase. Among them, we postulate that the most suitable strategy is to block the action of adenosine deaminase, which culminates in the increase of Ado levels that presents anti-inflammatory actions and improves mucociliary clearance. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain the physiological levels of ATP to control the hydration of ASL. These therapies could correct the main mechanisms that contribute to the progression of CF.

Targeting the purinergic pathway in breast cancer and its therapeutic applications.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cause of death among women, representing a global public health problem. Here, we aimed to discuss the correlation between the purinergic system and BC, recognizing therapeutic targets. For this, we analyzed the interaction of extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides with the purinergic receptors P1 and P2, as well as the influence of ectonucleotidase enzymes (CD39 and CD73) on tumor progression. A comprehensive bibliographic search was carried out. The relevant articles for this review were found in the PubMed, Scielo, Lilacs, and ScienceDirect databases. It was observed that among the P1 receptors, the A1, A2A, and A2B receptors are involved in the proliferation and invasion of BC, while the A3 receptor is related to the inhibition of tumor growth. Among the P2 receptors, the P2X7 has a dual function. When activated for a short time, it promotes metastasis, but when activated for long periods, it is related to BC cell death. P2Y2 and P2Y6 receptors are related to BC proliferation and invasiveness. Also, the high expression of CD39 and CD73 in BC is strongly related to a worse prognosis. The receptors and ectonucleotidases involved with BC become possible therapeutic targets. Several purinergic pathways have been found to be involved in BC cell survival and progression. In this review, in addition to analyzing the pathways involved, we reviewed the therapeutic interventions already studied for BC related to the purinergic system, as well as to other possible therapeutic targets.

Salt-in-water and water-in-salt electrolytes: the effects of the asymmetry in cation and anion valence on their properties.

We investigated the structural, dynamic, energetic, and electrostatic properties of electrolytes based on the ion pairs LiCl and Li2SO4. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were used to simulate these aqueous electrolytic solutions at two different concentrations 2 M (normal) and 21 M (superconcentrated, WiSE). The effects of the valence asymmetry of the Li2SO4 electrolyte were also discussed for both salt concentrations. Our results differ in the physical aspect of pure electrolytes, showing the drastic effect of high concentration, in particular on the viscosity, which is dramatically increased in WiSE. This is a consequence of their reduced ionic mobility and has a direct effect on ionic conductivity. Also, our results for graphene-based supercapacitors, as indicated by some experimental work, do not indicate any better performance of WiSEs over normal electrolytes. In fact, the differences in the total capacitance, due to the concentration of ions, presented by both electrolytes are negligible. The valence asymmetry can be clearly observed in some properties but for most of them its effects could not be quantified or isolated.