The aging analysis of natural rubber-Copaifera oblongifolia extract membranes.

Natural rubber (NR), derived from Hevea brasiliensis, has properties for biomedical applications. Several studies indicate that these properties can be amplified when we associate another bioproduct. However, there are no studies of aging aspects of this biomaterial regarding changes in functionality, structure and composition. The objective was to evaluate the aging process of natural rubber membranes - copaiba (NRC) subjected to controlled conditions of time, light and presence of oxygen. The NRC was prepared and stored in the presence or absence of light and vacuum, for periods of 30, 60 and 90 days. Subsequently, the membranes were characterized through the techniques of wettability, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, scanning microscopy and antioxidant activity. The wettability analysis, showed that NRC membranes both in the zero time and in the aging time were hydrophilic. Through thermogravimetric analysis and differential exploratory analysis the membranes remained thermally stable. The scanning electronic microscopy, indicated no morphological alterations during the observed period. After 90 days, the packaged membranes showed satisfactory antioxidant activity. Our results suggest that the membranes were resistant to the storage period, since they maintained their chemical, thermal, morphological and antioxidant characteristics. Hence, it corroborates to use of membranes as a possible curative for biomedical applications.

Inflammasome genetic variants are associated with tuberculosis, HIV-1 infection, and TB/HIV-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome outcomes.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and AIDS are the leading causes of infectious diseases death worldwide. Here, we investigated the relationship between from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NLRP3, CARD8, AIM2, CASP-1, IFI16, and IL-1ß inflammasome genes, as well as the profiles of secreted proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1ß, IL-18, IL-33, and IL-6) with the TB clinical profiles, TB-HIV coinfection, and IRIS onset. Methods: The individuals were divided into four groups: TB-HIV group (n=88; 11 of them with IRIS), HIV-1 group (n=20), TB group (n=24) and healthy volunteers (HC) group (n=10), and were followed up at INI/FIOCRUZ and HGNI (Rio de Janeiro/Brazil) from 2006 to 2016. Real-time PCR was used to determine the genotypes of the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs), and ELISA was used to measure the plasma cytokine levels. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to perform risk estimations. Results: A higher risk for extrapulmonary TB was associated with the TT genotype (aOR=6.76; P=0.026) in the NLRP3 rs4612666 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and the C-C-T-G-C haplotype (aOR=4.99; P= 0.017) in the NLRP3 variants. This same Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) was associated with lower risk against extrapulmonary TB when the carrier allele C (aOR=0.15; P=0.021) was present. Among those with HIV-1 infections, a higher risk for TB onset was associated with the GA genotype (aOR=5.5; P=0.044) in the IL1-ß rs1143634 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP). In contrast, lower risk against TB onset was associated with the A-G haplotype (aOR=0.17; P= 0.026) in the CARD8 variants. Higher IL-6 and IL-33 levels were observed in individuals with TB. A higher risk for IRIS onset was associated with CD8 counts ≤ 500 cells/mm3 (aOR=12.32; P=0.010), the presence of extrapulmonary TB (aOR=6.6; P=0.038), and the CT genotype (aOR=61.06; P=0.026) or carrier allele T (aOR=61.06; P=0.026) in the AIM2 rs2276405 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), whereas lower risk against IRIS onset was associated with the AT genotype (aOR=0.02; P=0.033) or carrier allele T (aOR=0.02; P=0.029) in the CARD8 rs2043211 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) and the T-G haplotype (aOR=0.07; P= 0.033) in the CARD8 variants. No other significant associations were observed. Conclusions: Our results depict the involvement of genetic polymorphisms of crucial innate immunity genes and proinflammatory cytokines in the clinical outcomes related to TB-HIV coinfection.

NATURAL RUBBER - PROPOLIS MEMBRANE IMPROVES WOUND HEALING IN SECOND-DEGREE BURNING MODEL.

Our aim was to evaluate effects of natural rubber membrane (NR) associated with aqueous propolis extract (P) on the wound healing in rats burn model. The membranes were characterized for wettability and pore presence after the membrane preparation by casting the liquid solution in Petri dishes, at different temperatures (27 and 60 °C). Male Wistar rats were divided into treatment groups (n = 5 per group: control without treatment, silver sulfadiazine, NR, NRP) initiated immediately after second-degree burn and maintained during 10 days. The NRP membranes presented hydrophilic and porous characteristics. Macroscopic analysis from lesions showed that all groups presented crust formation. At the end of the experiment, the lesions treated with NRP membranes prepared at 60 °C had a higher regression percentage indicating a faster wound healing. The biopsies showed that the treatment with the NRP membranes induced a wound healing with collagen production, angiogenesis, reepithelization, and a small number of inflammatory cells, characterized by the crust detachment and the epithelium formation. In conclusion, NRP membranes are promising as a dressing for the burns treatment since were able to accelerate the healing process and tissue repair without the curative switch.