A comparative analysis of depressive-like behavior: Exploring sex-related differences and insights.

Profiling the variability related to the estrous cycle is essential for assessing depressive-like behavior and screening drugs. This study compares circulating plasma corticosterone levels [CORT] and behavioral alterations in mice exposed to sucrose preference, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests (SPT, FST, and TST, respectively). While SPT exposure did not significantly alter [CORT], FST and TST showed notable changes. Mice in the TST exhibited increased movement and decreased immobility time compared to FST, suggesting a lower likelihood of depressive-like behavior in male mice. Notably, during the proestrus phase, female mice displayed the highest tendency for depressive-like behavior and elevated [CORT], but similar response to antidepressants (imipramine and fluoxetine). The inherent stress of the FST and TST tasks appears to influence [CORT] as well as depressant and antidepressant effects. These comparisons provide valuable insights for further behavioral phenotyping, model sensitivity assessment, and deepen our neurobiological understanding of depression in the context of drug screening.

Socio-environmental and parasitological aspects of waste pickers in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The increase in the generation of Solid Urban Waste causes social, environmental problems and damages to the population's health. Professionals who work in the collection of recyclable waste are exposed to risks of contamination either by toxic elements or pathogenic organisms. The objective of the work was to estimate the types and prevalence of intestinal parasites inwaste pickers. A field research was carried out from December 2017 to April 2018 with the voluntary participation of 26 waste pickers belonging to three associations in the municipality of Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil (CAAE: nº 79937817.7.0000.8122). In addition to the application a socio-environmental questionnaire, each volunteer provided a stool sample for laboratory testing the parasitological examination. Of the 26 survey participants, four (15.4%) had a positive result and were infected by the parasites Giardia lamblia, Entamoebacoliand Iodamoeba butschlii. Among the main factors that can contribute to the infection these waste pickersare the ingestion of untreated water for consumption in addition to reduced access to Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) during waste management. One way to control the presence of parasites would be through health and environmental education actions, periodic parasitological examinations and permanent use of PPE.

Impact of dose and surface features on plasmatic and liver concentrations of biodegradable polymeric nanocapsules.

The effect of polymeric nanocapsule dose on plasmatic and liver concentrations 20min after intravenous administration in mice was evaluated. Nanocapsules were prepared with different polymers, namely, poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA), polyethylene glycol-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA-PEG), and PLA with chitosan (PLA-Cs) and compared with a nanoemulsion. These formulations were labelled with a phthalocyanine dye for fluorescent detection. The nanostructures had narrow size distributions upon separation by asymmetric flow field flow fractionation with static and dynamic light scattering detection, with average hydrodynamic diameters in the 130-300nm range, negative zeta potentials, except PLA-Cs nanocapsules, which had a positive zeta potential. Flow cytometry revealed uptake mostly by monocytes and neutrophils in mice and human blood. PLA nanocapsules and the nanoemulsion showed dose-dependent plasma concentrations, where the percentage of plasmatic fluorescence increased with increasing administered dose. In contrast, PLA-PEG nanocapsules led to a dose-independent plasmatic profile. PLA-Cs nanocapsules showed the lowest plasmatic and liver levels of fluorescence at all administered doses and significant intravenous toxicity in mice. This work demonstrates the importance of considering the nanocarrier dose when evaluating pharmacokinetic and biodistribution data and emphasizes the role of surface features in determining the plasmatic and liver concentrations of a poorly soluble lipophilic encapsulated compound.