Expression of TNFR1, VEGFA, CD147 and MCT1 as early biomarkers of diabetes complications and the impact of aging on this profile.

Hyperglycemia leads to microvascular lesions in various tissues. In diabetic nephropathy-DN, alterations in usual markers reflect an already installed disease. The study of new biomarkers for the early detection of diabetic complications can bring new prevention perspectives. Rats were divided into diabetic adult-DMA-or elderly-DME and control sham adult-CSA-or control sham elderly-CSE. Blood and urine samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Bulbar region, cardiac, hepatic and renal tissues were collected for target gene expression studies. As result, DMA showed decreased TNFR1, MCT1 and CD147 expression in the bulbar region, TNFR1 in the heart, VEGFA and CD147 in the kidney and TNFR1 in blood. Positive correlations were found between TNFR1 and MCT1 in the bulbar region and HbA1c and plasma creatinine, respectively. DME showed positive correlation in the bulbar region between TNFR1 and glycemia, in addition to negative correlations between CD147 in the heart versus glycemia and urea. We concluded that the initial hyperglycemic stimulus already promotes changes in the expression of genes involved in the inflammatory and metabolic pathways, and aging alters this profile. These changes prior to the onset of diseases such as DN, show that they have potential for early biomarkers studies.

Metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with BRCA2 mutation and longstanding disease control on olaparib, developing triple negative breast adenocarcinoma with additional BRCA2 reversion mutation: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The BRCA2 gene is a well-known tumor suppressor gene implicated in breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA1/2 mutations can be sensitive to poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors such as olaparib. However, some of these patients develop resistance to this treatment and an essential factor contributing to acquired insensitivity is the occurrence of reversion mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 65-year-old Brazilian female patient who had previously been diagnosed with metastatic lung carcinoma carrying a BRCA2 mutation that had extended to the central nervous system. Following disease progression, olaparib was administered, resulting in a stabilizing effect on her condition for ~ 30 months. During a routine follow-up, a new triple-negative breast tumor was found. Genetic testing revealed the presence of two distinct BRCA2 gene mutations in the breast tumor. The original mutation (p.Val220Ilefs4) led to a frameshift, culminating in the production of a truncated and non-functional BRCA2 protein; the second mutation, K437fs22, rectified the reading frame of exon 11. Consequently, Rad51 could properly bind to BRCA2-an essential protein crucial for DNA repair. This restoration resulted in a functional BRCA2 protein, effectively elucidating the clinical resistance observed in the new breast tumor in this case. CONCLUSIONS: This case report highlights the clinical significance of comprehensive next-generation sequencing analyses for lung adenocarcinomas, both at diagnosis and upon progression. Such analyses enable informed decisions regarding targeted therapies and facilitate a deeper comprehension of resistance mechanisms.

Preclinical Effects Of Melatonin On The Development Of Ehrlich's Tumor: A Biochemical, Cognitive, And Molecular Approach.

BACKGROUND: It has already been shown that melatonin is an antitumoral molecule that affects malignant cells via some mechanisms. The benefit played by this hormone on cancer is due to its antioxidant effects. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the preclinical effects of melatonin in mice with the Ehrlich ascites tumor. METHODS: Twenty Balb/ c male mice with Ehrlich tumor were treated with different melatonin doses. Their inflammatory and oxidative stress were accessed by gene expression. Hepatotoxicity and hematological parameters were also evaluated through biochemical analyses. Animal welfare was analysed weekly from the categories guided by the NC3Rs. RESULTS: Gene expression analyses have shown that only Tnfα and Sod1 were expressed in all groups studied. Only the M-3 group showed increased Tnfα expression compared to the control. All groups treated with melatonin showed decreased Sod1 expression compared to the control. No signs of hepatotoxicity were caused by any of the melatonin doses used in the treatment. CONCLUSION: In animals with Ehrlich´s tumor treated with melatonin, a decrease in oxidative stress, an amelioration in welfare and in cognitive tasks could be observed, even if the treatment has not reduced the size of the tumor itself. In parallel with the already patented use of melatonin in the treatment of sleep disorders or chronic kidney disease, our results propose its use to improve the general well-being of breast cancer patients.

Use of Saliva to Assess the Adherence to Treatment with Oral Hypoglycemic Agents in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is made by demonstrating the hypoglycemic condition, which involves the determination of plasma glucose, and the follow-up of hypoglycemic treatment is performed by assessing the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the saliva as an alternative sample in assessing the adherence to treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. METHODS: We selected 68 patients with T2DM, who were subjected to venous blood and saliva collection, in addition to answering a standardized questionnaire on adherence to hypoglycemic treatment. Laboratory tests performed on saliva, whole blood, serum or plasma included assessment of glycemia, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin. RESULTS: It was concluded that 82% of the patients adhered to hypoglycemic treatment based on glycated hemoglobin concentration (cut-off value of 7.0%). Comparing the groups that adhered to hypoglycemic treatment and those that did not adhere, statistical differences (P<0.05) were observed in the glucose, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin use (insulin therapy) parameters. Plasma glucose and urea serum concentration showed positive correlations when compared to saliva samples. Regarding the questionnaire, it was found that 35% of the patients presented positive screening for belief barriers and 83% positive score for recall barriers, and the positive screening correlated with glycated hemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Data have shown that it is possible to use saliva as an alternative sample to the laboratory assessment of hypoglycemic treatment adherence in T2DM patients.

Quantification of Vitamin D at Different Levels of Clinical Worsening of COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Vitamin D is the name given to a group of lipid-soluble steroidal substances of physiological importance in the body, especially in bone metabolism. The active form of vitamin D is believed to have immunomodulatory effects on immune system cells, especially T lymphocytes, as well as on the production and action of several cytokines and on the expression of potent antimicrobial peptides in epithelial cells that line the respiratory tract, playing an important role in protecting the lung from infections. The aim of this study was to assess vitamin D levels in patients with COVID-19 in healthcare service and to verify that these levels are adequate to protect the progression of this infection. METHODS: The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the serum concentration of vitamin D in 300 patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19, treated at Basic Health Units (BHUs) and at the Hospital Complex in the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo. RESULTS: 294 patients were included, 195 (66%) of which tested positive for COVID-19 and 99 (34%) negative for COVID-19. Among the patients in the positive group, 163 patients were in the mild group (84%); 22 patients in the moderate group (11%); 8 patients in the severe group (4%), and 2 patients in the deceased group (1%). CONCLUSION: For the patients in this study, no association was observed for the protective factor of vitamin D against COVID-19 infection, and its role in controlling the clinical staging of the disease was not verified.

COVID-19 compromises iron homeostasis: Transferrin as a target of investigation.

IMPORTANCE: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous metabolic alterations have been observed in individuals with this disease. It is known that SARS-CoV-2 can mimic the action of hepcidin, altering intracellular iron metabolism, but gaps remain in the understanding of possible outcomes in other pathways involved in the iron cycle. OBJECTIVE: To profile iron, ferritin and hepcidin levels and transferrin receptor gene expression in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between June 2020 and September 2020. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study that evaluated iron metabolism markers in 427 participants, 218 with COVID-19 and 209 without the disease. EXPOSURES: The primary exposure was positive diagnose to COVID-19 in general population of Santo André and São Bernardo cities. The positive and negative diagnose were determinate through RT-qPCR. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Devido a evidências de alterações do ciclo do ferro em pacientes diagnosticados com COVID-19 e devido a corregulação entre hepcidina e receptor de transferrina, uma análise da expressão gênica deste último, poderia trazer insights sobre o estado de ferro celular. A hipótese foi confirmada, mostrando aumento da expressão de receptor de transferrina concomitante com redução do nível de hepcidina circulante. RESULTS: Serum iron presented lower values in individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, whereas serum ferritin presented much higher values in infected patients. Elderly subjects had lower serum iron levels and higher ferritin levels, and men with COVID-19 had higher ferritin values than women. Serum hepcidin was lower in the COVID-19 patient group and transferrin receptor gene expression was higher in the infected patient group compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: COVID-19 causes changes in several iron cycle pathways, with iron and ferritin levels being markers that reflect the state and evolution of infection, as well as the prognosis of the disease. The increased expression of the transferrin receptor gene suggests increased iron internalization and the mimicry of hepcidin action by SARS-CoV-2, reduces iron export via ferroportin, which would explain the low circulating levels of iron by intracellular trapping.

Pre-analytical processing protocol of breast biopsies affects multigene panel results.

The creation of multigene panels for prognostic and predictive purposes allows a more accurate indication of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer. In a previous study, we reproduced a multigene panel of 21 genes based on the commercial Oncotype-DX method. We submitted 183 embedded specimens obtained from breast surgery on patients with locoregional disease (stages I to III) between 2005 and 2010 performed at the Hospitals of the Medical School of the ABC Foundation. When we analysed the correlations between the score of the multigene panel and the progression-free interval (PFI) in all patients, we did not find a statistically significant association. However, when we selected only the 71 samples that had amplification of at least eight non-housekeeping genes, we observed that those with scores above the 75th percentile had a significantly lower PFI (p = .0054). Samples processed with nonbuffered formaldehyde were associated with a worse quality of extracted RNA (p = .004) and a significantly higher multigene panel score (p = .021). We conclude that variations in the pre-analytical processing of specimens destined for multigene panel amplification can significantly affect the results, with a potential impact on clinical management.

Alternative SARS-CoV-2 detection protocol from self-collected saliva for mass diagnosis and epidemiological studies in low-incoming regions.

Until mass vaccination befalls, control of the new betacoronavirus-associated severe acute respiratory syndrome pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) is based on decreasing virus circulation by social distancing and blocking transmission foci after diagnosis. Globally adopted SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic criteria embrace viral RNA detection by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) on nasopharynx secretions, which requires healthcare facilities and specialized personnel for sample collection. To develop an alternative protocol, hydrophilic cotton as the material and saliva as the source for biological sample collection in qRT-PCR/RT-endpoint-PCR SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic methods prepared with local consumables were evaluated using 99 archived nasopharynx samples previously diagnosed as positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 111 prospective saliva samples pared with nasopharynx samples from patients attending the local reference ABC Medical School diagnostic laboratory. The kappa agreement coefficient between the SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR and RT-endpoint-PCR was k = 0.97 (95 % CI 0.92-1.00) and k = 0.90 (95 % CI 0.81-0.99), respectively, on SARS-CoV-2-positive archived samples, with the initial qRT-PCR CT under 25. The agreement coefficient of the SARS-CoV-2 alternative saliva diagnostic protocol, when used to test the paired nasopharynx samples, was k = 0.79 (95 % CI 0.56-1,00). These data support that the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic assay based on self-collected saliva on cotton represents an alternative protocol for mass diagnosis and epidemiological studies in low-income regions.

Kidney Diseases: The Age of Molecular Markers.

Kidney diseases are conditions that increase the morbidity and mortality of those afflicted. Diagnosis of these conditions is based on parameters such as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measurement of serum and urinary creatinine levels and equations derived from these measurements (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350-357, 2015). However, serum creatinine as a marker for measuring renal dysfunction has its limitations since it is altered in several other physiological situations, such as in patients with muscle loss, after intense physical exercise or in people on a high protein diet (Riley, Powers, Welch. Res Q Exerc Sport 52(3):339-347, 1981; Juraschek, Appel, Anderson, Miller. Am J Kidney Dis 61(4):547-554, 2013). Besides the fact that serum creatinine is a marker that indicates glomerular damage, it is necessary the discovery of new biomarkers that reflect not only glomerular damage but also tubular impairment. Recent advances in Molecular Biology have led to the generation or identification of new biomarkers for kidney diseases such as: Acute Kidney Failure (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephritis or nephrotic syndrome. There are recent markers that have been used to aid in diagnosis and have been shown to be more sensitive and specific than classical markers, such as neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) or kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) (Wasung, Chawla, Madero. Clin Chim Acta 438:350-357, 2015; George, Gounden. Adv Clin Chem 88:91-119, 2019; Han, Bailly, Abichandani, Thadhani, Bonventre. Kidney Int 62(1):237-244, 2002; Fontanilla, Han. Expert Opin Med Diagn 5(2):161-173, 2011). However, early diagnostic biomarkers are still necessary to assist the intervention and monitor of the progression of these conditions.

Does nebivolol have renoprotective action in patients with chronic kidney disease conditions? An integrative review.

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) is a chronic disease of multifactorial origin and one of the main risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pharmacological treatment of SAH involves five main classes of drugs, and Nebivolol (NEB) is one of those drugs, belonging to the class of third generation ß1-adrenoceptors selective blockers. NEB is composed of a racemic mixture of two enantiomers: d-nebivolol, which exerts antagonist effects on ß1-adrenoceptors, and l-nebivolol, a vascular ß3 receptor agonist. There are several studies that report different actions of NEB, not only for the treatment of SAH, but also as an antioxidant agent or even as a protector of renal damage. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the available evidence regarding the effects of NEB on kidney diseases, evaluating its possible renoprotective action.

Diagnostic potential of hypoxia-induced genes in liquid biopsies of breast cancer patients.

In tumor cells, higher expression of glucose transporter proteins (GLUT) and carbonic anhydrases (CAIX) genes is influenced by hypoxia-induced factors (HIF).Thus, we aimed to study the expression profile of these markers in sequential peripheral blood collections performed in breast cancer patients in order to verify their predictive potential in liquid biopsies. Gene expressions were analyzed by qPCR in tumor and blood samples from 125 patients and 25 healthy women. Differential expression was determined by the 2(-ΔCq) method. Expression of HIF-1α and GLUT1 in the blood of breast cancer patients is significantly higher (90-91 and 160-161 fold increased expression, respectively; p < 0.0001) than that found in healthy women. Their diagnostic power was confirmed by ROC curve. CAIX is also more expressed in breast cancer women blood, but its expression was detected only in a few samples. But none of these genes could be considered predictive markers. Therefore, evaluation of the expression of HIF-1α and GLUT1 in blood may be a useful laboratory tool to complement the diagnosis of breast cancer, in addition to being useful for follow-up of patients and of women with a family history of breast cancer.

Supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and aerobic exercise improve functioning, morphology, and redox balance in prostate obese rats.

The high-fat diet (HFD) stimulates an increase in lipids and can be prejudicial for harmful to prostatic morphogenesis. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action in some types of cancer. The combination of aerobic physical exercise and PUFA can be more effective and reduce the risk of death. The study evaluates the effects of aerobic physical exercise associated with omega-3 (fish and chia oils), on the ventral prostate of Wistar rats those fed with HFD. Here, we report that HFD modified the final body weight and the weight gain, decreased the expression of the androgen receptor and increased prostatic inflammation via TNF-α produced damage prostatic like intraepithelial neoplasia. The supplementation with fish oil decreases final body weight, reduced BCL-2 and inflammation compared to chia oil; aerobic physical exercise associated with fish oil reduced lipids circulant and prostatic, increased proteins pro-apoptotic expression and reduced IL-6 (p < 0.0001) and TNF-α potentiating the CAT (p = 0.03) and SOD-1 (p = 0.001) expression. Additionally, the chia oil increased the NRF-2 (p < 0.0001) and GSS (p = 0.4) genes. PUFAs reduced the damage caused by excessive high-fat diet in the prostate so that there is greater effectiveness in omega-3 intake, it is necessary to associate with aerobic physical exercise.

Effects of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Therapy in Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) stands out as one of the chronic diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Among the many complications of DM, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the causes of blindness in patients aged between 20 and 64 years. At least 90% of the new cases showed to have the retinal structure and function restored when proper treatment was provided. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the antiangiogenic bevacizumab in the treatment of DR according not only to the clinical laboratory parameters for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and capillary glycemia but also to the ophthalmological parameters for optical coherence tomography (OCT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 11 individuals were included and followed up for 12 months after 3 administrations of bevacizumab. RESULTS: Upon associating the ophthalmological and laboratory variables throughout the treatment, no significant alterations could be seen regarding the analyzed variables. However, it was observed that HbA1c values and the total leukocyte count negatively interfered with the treatment response. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that HbA1c values and the amount of leukocytes negatively interfere with the therapeutic response. Therefore, laboratory analyses of these parameters are recommended for diabetic patients undergoing the above-mentioned treatment.

Involvement of repair genes in oral cancer: A systematic review.

Among the types of cancers that may occur in the oral cavity, squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the mouth have a higher incidence and are associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Among steps from the beginning to the progression of the tumour, DNA Repair System is highlighted. The present study aims to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the expression of the repair genes hMSH2 and hMSH6 in patients with SCC in the mouth and oropharyngeal region. The search was performed in databases such as PubMed, Lilacs, and Scielo and included articles published in English from 1999 until 2015. The search in the above-mentioned databases initially yielded 15 scientific articles related to the proposed objective. After a detailed analysis of each of them, only 8 were included in the present review, precisely because they met the inclusion criteria determined in the method. All the reviewed works were unanimous in recognizing the veracity and complexity of the Genomic Repair System, also called Mismatch Repair System, confirming the participation of repair gene proteins (such as hMSH2 and hMSH6) in patients with oral cancer and even of lesions that are susceptible to malignization. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Worldwide, there are an estimated 300 thousand new cases of oral cancer per year. Studies have shown a greater risk in individuals who are smokers and alcohol consumers in developing mouth cancer. Many steps are observed from the beginning to the progression of the tumour, highlighted among them is the moment in which genetic, and epigenetic alterations will interfere in the functioning of the DNA Repair System. This work presents a survey of current knowledge about the involvement of repair genes, especially those of the MutSα system, in the development and progression of oral cancer.

Role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α as a potential biomarker for renal diseases-A systematic review.

Renal cells need oxygen for homeostasis; it is known for adjusting cellular functioning and the energy obtainment have a broad relationship with cellular respiration, through the O2 bioavailability. O2 homeostasis regulation in the kidney is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). HIF is divided into three α isoforms, represented by HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and HIF-3α in addition to three paralogs of HIF-1ß; these are involved in some metabolic processes, as well as in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Renal biopsy analyses of patients and experimental animal models aim to understand the relationship between HIF and protection against developing renal diseases or the induction of their onset, being thus this molecule can be considered a potential biomarker of renal disease. We carried out a systematic review to which we included studies on HIF-1α and renal disease in the last 5 years (2013-2018) in researches with humans and/or animal model through searches in three databases: LILACS, PubMed, and SciELO by two researchers. We obtained 22 articles that discussed the relationship with HIF as inductor or protector against renal disease and no relation between HIF and renal. We observed controversies remain regarding the relation between of HIF with renal diseases; this may be related to the different intracellular pathways mediated by HIF-1α, thereby determining differentiated cellular responses.

Application of the Z-scan technique for the detection of CFCDNA (cell-free circulating DNA) and urine DNA (uDNA) in patients with bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with BC have a higher amount of cell-free circulating DNA (CFCDNA) in the blood and urine than healthy people. We aimed to verify if the Z-Scan method could analyze the concentrations of uDNA (urinary) and pDNA (plasma) in relation to the time of collection during treatment for patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: Peripheral blood and urine samples were obtained from 30 patients with BC at the time of diagnosis, 45, 90 and 180 days after initiating treatment; 5 µL of k-DNA (k = u or p) was added in 250 µL a solution of 1:1000 Ethidium Bromide dye (EtBr) in water. Continum laser Nd:YVO4, wavelength λ = 532 nm was used. Samples of uDNA and pDNA in water were submitted to the laser with an incident power of 84.5 mW and an exposure time of 30 ms. RESULTS: There was a different concentration of pDNA and uDNA during the treatment of patients using both optical techniques. However, the reaction rate of pDNA and uDNA was similar with spectrophotometry, whereas the z-scan technique presented different values. CONCLUSION: Z-scan technique has potential for use in the differentiation of pDNA and uDNA concentrations, which are distinct in patients with BC and healthy people.

Chemotherapy-induced fatigue is associated with changes in gene expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell fraction of patients with locoregional breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-induced fatigue (CIF) is a frequent symptom that impairs patient functioning and quality of life. We aimed to evaluate whether systemic chemotherapy can induce a specific gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of patients with locoregional breast cancer (LRBC) who develop CIF. METHODS: PBMNC were collected from 3 patients who developed CIF before and after their initial cycle of chemotherapy, and RNA-seq was performed in an Ion Torrent™ System. A total of 12.345 transcripts were sequenced, of which 26 were selected out of 71 that had significantly different expression before and after chemotherapy. The RNA-seq results were validated by RT-qPCR in a different group of 28 patients with LRBC who developed CIF after their first cycle of chemotherapy and in six patients who also received chemotherapy but did not develop CIF (controls). We assessed CIF according the BFI and Chalder Questionnaires. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in expression of DUSP18 and RHOBTB1 and decreased expression of NCAN and RAET1G in patients who developed CIF after chemotherapy. Control patients only exhibited a significant decrease in NCAN expression. CONCLUSION: CIF induces specific changes in gene expression in the PBMNC of LRBC patients. Some of these changes, such as downregulation of NCAN expression, may reflect direct effects of chemotherapy since they are also observed in the controls. Furthermore, CIF may involve downregulation of skeletal muscle genes (RHOBT1, DUSP18) and immune systems (RAETG1), whereas NCAN downregulation may underlie the adverse cognitive effects of chemotherapy.

Evaluation of breastfeeding self-efficacy of puerperal women in shared rooming units.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the perception of breastfeeding self-efficacy in puerperal women and to verify the association between Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Brazilian Version (BSES-VB) scores and sociodemographic and obstetric variables. The practice of breastfeeding is of extreme importance, not only because of its affective value but also because the nutritional composition of human milk is essential nutrients for the adequate growth and development of the newborn. DESIGN AND METHODS: This is a quantitative and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 100 puerperal women. The research instruments used were form with demographic, economic, obstetric and breastfeeding data and the BSES-VB. RESULTS: 40% of the mothers obtained scores compatible with average breastfeeding self-efficacy, 35% of them presented high efficacy and 25% low efficacy. There was no significant relationship between sociodemographic and obstetric variables with the BSES-VB mean scores in the puerperal period. In the association between some variables and items of the breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, it was observed that breastfeeding guidance in the prenatal period and marital status were statistically significant with the mean scores of each item on the scale. CONCLUSION: Only 35% of the puerperal women presented high breastfeeding efficacy. Breastfeeding guidance variables in prenatal care and marital status were statistically significant. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: the work of the professionals who work in the care of puerperal women becomes of great importance to provide information on the breastfeeding theme and determining the adherence to the practice of breastfeeding.

The effects of transcutaneous low-level laser therapy on the skin healing process: an experimental model.

We aim to evaluate the action of transcutaneous laser in the initial wound healing process. The use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has proven to be effective on inflammatory modulation and wound healing. The trial was performed on five groups of rats, through a dorsal incision. All groups received treatment on auricular artery. Groups 1 and 3 were treated with transcutaneous LLLT over a period of 15 min. Groups 2 and 4 received one and two inactive laser applications (placebo), respectively. Group 5 was the control one. Blood samples were collected 2 h after the last application of LLLT so that cytokine levels could be measured by ELISA. Tissue fragments were harvested for morphometric, histomorphometric, and RT-qPCR analyses. The morphometric analysis revealed a greater decrease in the wounded area in G1 when compared with G2, whereas in G3, the improvement in the area was greater when compared with G4. Finally, the histomorphometric analysis showed that G1 was the group closer to G5 in terms of collagen fiber count. G2 and G4 had higher amounts of collagen fibers than G5 while G3 had a lower quantity. The use of the transcutaneous LLLT in the current study influenced the wound healing process.

Matrix Metalloproteases as Biomarkers of Disease.

Matrix metalloprotease play a vital role in many cellular processes. Dysfunction in activity of these enzymes has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases. Factors that affect the balanced interaction between MMPs and their inhibitors, such as genetic mutations of extracellular matrix components or dysregulation of MMP expression, can lead to various diseases. Due to their essential role in ECM remodeling, MMPs have become targets of interest as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases associated with alterations of the ECM.