Relationship of health literacy and adherence to oral anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation: a cross‐sectional study

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) has increased substantially due to the aging population and prevalence rise of atrial fibrillation (AF). Medication...     

Morphological and morphometric study of cercariae and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni (SLM strain) isolated from infected mice

In northeastern Brazil, the schistosomiasis is historically endemic and considered as a public health problem. The Schistosoma mansoni São Lourenço da Mata (SLM—PE, Brazil) strain was used in several paper already published; however, morphological and morphometric studies about this strain was never done. In this work, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used in morphological and morphometric analysis of cercariae and adult worms. Cercariae were obtained from Biomphalaria glabrata snails and adult worms from mice, both infected by the S. mansoni SLM strain, fixed and prepared for SEM. The results showed that cercariae of S. mansoni measures 254.9 μm of length. The bodies are covered by spines, with a ventral sucker, an oral sucker with sensory receivers, and a pair of penetration glands in the head. The area of tail and body and the distance between suckers were 3,011.77, 1,530.32, and 42.9 μm, respectively. Adult worms of S. mansoni were divided into three main regions: the anterior, medial, and posterior, besides the gynecophoral canal in males. The measure of adult worms of S. mansoni was 4 mm males and 5 mm females. The anterior region length of the male was 470 μm and of the female 271 μm. All the parameters were assayed in ten samples. The morphometric values found in the SLM strain were smaller than other S. mansoni strains described in the literature as well as other helminths. This is the first morphological and morphometric study with the SLM strain of S. mansoni being extremely important for improving control strategies and life quality of the local population.     

Delayed-type Necrosis after Soft-tissue Augmentation with Hyaluronic Acid

The growing use of dermal fillers, specifically the use of hyaluronic acid, can be explained by their effectiveness and versatility as well as their favorable safety profiles. Nevertheless, early and late complications with varying levels of severity may occur. The incidence of complications is low and the majority of adverse events are mild (edema, erythema, and local ecchymosis) and of limited duration. However, more severe events, such as ischemia and necrosis, may occur. The symptoms of ischemia can occur immediately after the injection or several hours after the procedure. Here, the authors report three cases of necrosis after hyaluronic acid injection with the first symptoms presenting only several hours after the procedure. The patients were treated immediately after the diagnosis. The aim of this review is to communicate the possibility of the delayed-type presentation of necrosis, present the signs and symptoms that lead to early diagnosis, and review the treatment possibilities of this severe complication.Dermal fillers have been injected with increasing frequency over the past three decades for soft-tissue augmentation by volume expansion in the management of the aging face. In 2012, there were about two million procedures using dermal fillers, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, five percent more than in 2011 and 205 percent more than in 2000, second only to botulinum toxin type A. These minimally invasive and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were the two most commonly performed in this range of time studied.1,2The growing use of dermal fillers, specifically the use of hyaluronic acid (HA), can be explained by their effectiveness and versatility as well as their favorable safety profiles. Nevertheless, early and late complications with varying levels of severity may occur. The incidence of complications is low and the majority of adverse events are mild (edema, erythema, and local ecchymosis) and of limited duration. However, more severe events, such as ischemia and necrosis, may occur.Injection necrosis is a rare, but important, complication associated with dermal fillers. Necrosis can be attributed to one of two factors—an interruption of vascular supply due to compression or frank obstruction of vessels by direct injection of the material into a vessel itself. The glabella is the injection site commonly believed to be at greater risk for necrosis, but it can also occur at the nasolabial fold.3 Risk factors for intravascular injection include site of application (deep injection of filler products at or near the site of named vessels), volume applied (larger amounts of product can cause a proportionally greater degree of arterial obstruction), and previous scarring (deep tissue scars may stabilize and fix arteries in place, making them easier to penetrate with small sharp needles).4The initial presentation of vascular events may include pain and discomfort disproportionate to what is typically experienced following filler treatments and clinical findings, including blanching, livedo pattern, or violaceous discoloration.4 Although many cases report this immediate post-injection presentation as the typical background seen in a necrosis event, there are few reports with the first symptom presenting only hours after augmentation. See Figures 1 through ​through3,3, where the authors present three cases of vascular compromise after soft-tissue augmentation with delayed-type presentation. Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFigures 2Aand 2B.Case 2: Necrosis and secondary infection 48 hours after the HA injection (a). Discrete scars in the affected area after treatment (b). Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFigures 1Aand 1B.Case 1: Edema, erythema, and progressive violaceous reticulated patch, livedoid area were observed on the left cheek 36 hours after the injection (a). Complete healing five days after hyaluronidase application and nine days after the HA injection (b). Open in a separate windowOpen in a separate windowFigures 3Aand 3B.Case 3: Necrosis and secondary infection 48 hours after the HA injection (a). Erythema, hipercromia, and discreet scars in the affected area after treatment (b).     

Stability of di-butyl-dichalcogenide-capped gold nanoparticles: experimental data and theoretical insights

Metals capped with organochalcogenides have attracted considerable interest due to their practical applications, which include catalysis, sensing, and biosensing, due to their optical, magnetic, electrochemical, adhesive, lubrication, and antibacterial properties. There are numerous reports of metals capped with organothiol molecules; however, there are few studies on metals capped with organoselenium or organotellurium. Thus, there is a gap to be filled regarding the properties of organochalcogenide systems which can be improved by replacing sulfur with selenium or tellurium. In the last decade, there has been significant development in the synthesis of selenium and tellurium compounds; however, it is difficult to find commercial applications of these compounds because there are few studies showing the feasibility of their synthesis and their advantages compared to organothiol compounds. Stability against oxidation by molecular oxygen under ambient conditions is one of the properties which can be improved by choosing the correct organochalcogenide; this can confer important advantages for many more suitable applications. This paper reports the successful synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles functionalized with organochalcogenide molecules (dibutyl-disulfide, dibutyl-diselenide and dibutyl-ditelluride) and evaluates the oxidation stability of the organochalcogenides. Spherical gold nanoparticles with diameters of 24 nm were capped with organochalcogenides and were investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to show the improved stability of organoselenium compared with organothiol and organotellurium. The results suggest that the organoselenium is a promising candidate to replace organothiol because of its enhanced stability towards oxidation by molecular oxygen under ambient conditions and its slow oxidation rate. The observed difference in the oxidation processes, as discussed, is also in agreement with theoretical calculations.

This study presents the improved stability against oxidation by molecular oxygen under ambient conditions of organoselenium compared with organothiol, and organotellurium.     

Evidences of endocytosis via caveolae following blood–brain barrier breakdown by Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom

Spider venoms contain neurotoxic peptides aimed at paralyzing prey or for defense against predators; that is why they represent valuable tools for studies in neuroscience field. The present study aimed at identifying the process of internalization that occurs during the increased trafficking of vesicles caused by Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom (PNV)-induced blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown. Herein, we found that caveolin-1α is up-regulated in the cerebellar capillaries and Purkinje neurons of PNV-administered P14 (neonate) and 8- to 10-week-old (adult) rats. The white matter and granular layers were regions where caveolin-1α showed major upregulation. The variable age played a role in this effect. Caveolin-1 is the central protein that controls caveolae formation. Caveolar-specialized cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane sub-domains are involved in endocytosis, transcytosis, mechano-sensing, synapse formation and stabilization, signal transduction, intercellular communication, apoptosis, and various signaling events, including those related to calcium handling. PNV is extremely rich in neurotoxic peptides that affect glutamate handling and interferes with ion channels physiology. We suggest that the PNV-induced BBB opening is associated with a high expression of caveolae frame-forming caveolin-1α, and therefore in the process of internalization and enhanced transcytosis. Caveolin-1α up-regulation in Purkinje neurons could be related to a way of neurons to preserve, restore, and enhance function following PNV-induced excitotoxicity. The findings disclose interesting perspectives for further molecular studies of the interaction between PNV and caveolar specialized membrane domains. It proves PNV to be excellent tool for studies of transcytosis, the most common form of BBB-enhanced permeability.     

Evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of extracts of Sonchus oleraceus L. in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Sonchus oleraceus L. has been used to relieve pain in Brazilian folk medicine.

Aim of the study

Sonchus oleraceus L. has been used to relieve pain in Brazilian folk medicine. This study was conducted to establish the antinociceptive properties of hydroethanolic and dichloromethane extracts from aerial parts of Sonchus oleraceus in mice using chemical and thermal models of nociception.

Materials and methods

The formalin, hot plate, and tail immersion tests as well as acetic acid-induced writhing were used to investigate the antinociceptive activity in mice.

Results

Given orally, the extracts at test doses of 30–300 mg/kg, produced significant inhibitions on chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid and subplantar formalin since decreased the number of writhing episodes and the time licking. Treatment with the extracts in the same doses produced a significant increase of the reaction time in tail immersion and in the hot plate test. The extracts administered at 300 mg/kg, p.o. had a stronger antinociceptive effect than indomethacin (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and morphine (10 mg/kg, p.o.).

Conclusion

The extracts of Sonchus oleraceus markedly demonstrated antinociceptive action in mice, which supports previous claims of its traditional use.     

Antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 messenger RNA fail to treat experimental tuberculosis

In the last several years, the use of dendritic cells has been studied as a therapeutic strategy against tumors. Dendritic cells can be pulsed with peptides or full-length protein, or they can be transfected with DNA or RNA. However, comparative studies suggest that transfecting dendritic cells with messenger RNA (mRNA) is superior to other antigen-loading techniques in generating immunocompetent dendritic cells. In the present study, we evaluated a new therapeutic strategy to fight tuberculosis using dendritic cells and macrophages transfected with Hsp65 mRNA. First, we demonstrated that antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 mRNA exhibit a higher level of expression of co-stimulatory molecules, suggesting that Hsp65 mRNA has immunostimulatory properties. We also demonstrated that spleen cells obtained from animals immunized with mock and Hsp65 mRNA-transfected dendritic cells were able to generate a mixed Th1/Th2 response with production not only of IFN-γ but also of IL-5 and IL-10. In contrast, cells recovered from mice immunized with Hsp65 mRNA-transfected macrophages were able to produce only IL-5. When mice were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and treated with antigen-presenting cells transfected with Hsp65 mRNA (therapeutic immunization), we did not detect any decrease in the lung bacterial load or any preservation of the lung parenchyma, indicating the inability of transfected cells to confer curative effects against tuberculosis. In spite of the lack of therapeutic efficacy, this study reports for the first time the use of antigen-presenting cells transfected with mRNA in experimental tuberculosis.