Search

Mare endometrosis is a major reproductive problem associated with low fertility and is characterized by persistent inflammation, TGFβ-1 signaling, and consequently, extracellular matrix deposition, which compromises endometrial glands. Mesenchymal stem cell-based products (MSCs), such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), have gained attention due to the regulatory effects exerted by their miRNA cargo. Here, we evaluated the impact of preconditioning equine adipose mesenchymal stem cells with TGFβ-1 for short or long periods on the anti-fibrotic properties of secreted extracellular vesicles. MSCs were isolated from six healthy horses and exposed to TGFβ-1 for 4, 24, and 0 h. The expression of anti-fibrotic and pro-fibrotic miRNAs and mRNAs in treated cells and miRNAs in the cargo of secreted extracellular vesicles was measured. The resulting EVs were added for 48 h to endometrial stromal cells previously induced to a fibrotic status. The expression of anti-fibrotic and pro-fibrotic genes and miRNAs was evaluated in said cells using qPCR and next-generation sequencing. Preconditioning MSCs with TGFβ-1 for 4 h enriched the anti-fibrotic miRNAs (mir29c, mir145, and mir200) in cells and EVs. Conversely, preconditioning the cells for 24 h leads to a pro-fibrotic phenotype overexpressing mir192 and mir433. This finding might have implications for developing an EV-based protocol to treat endometrial fibrosis in mares.

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents an important health challenge, despite being preventable and manageable thanks to up-to-date recommendations. In Italy, the pharmaceutical care of COPD patients is still ill-timed and inaccurate. This study aimed to describe the treatment of COPD patients in Italy and possible switches following an exacerbation. Methods This observational retrospective analysis of Italian administrative healthcare data from the Fondazione Ricerca e Salute (ReS) database identified patients aged ≥ 45 years with COPD in 2019 and 2020. At least 6 years of look-back period and absence of concomitant asthma were required. COPD patients were categorized by treatment (SI–single/MI–multiple inhalers, TT–triple therapy, DT–dual therapy, other respiratory treatments, untreated) at index date (first dispensation during accrual period). Occurrence of moderate/severe exacerbation during one-year preceding index date and treatments during one-year preceding the exacerbation (possible switch) were evaluated. Results From ~ 4.7 million beneficiaries of the Italian National Health Service in 2019 and 2020, respectively, 105,828 and 103,729 (43 and 41 × 1,000 inhabitants aged ≥ 45 years) were identified as having COPD. Of 2019/2020 patients: 3.4%/5.2% received SI-TT, 20.7%/17.5% MI-TT, 35.9%/38.1% DT, 33.0%/33.1% other treatments, and 7.0%/6.0% were untreated. Males were prevalent and median age was > 73 years for all groups. Of 2019/2020 cohorts, heart failure and coronary artery disease affected 24/20%, 18/17%, and 11%/16% patients with SI-TT, MI-TT, DT, and other treatments, respectively. A previous moderate/severe exacerbation (2019/2020 patients) occurred to 60.5%/56.6%, 39.9%/37.4%, 30.8%/29.2% and 31.9%/29.7% patients treated with SI-TT, MI-TT, DT, and other treatments, respectively. Of 2019/2020 patients experiencing moderate/severe exacerbation: 6.0%/7.0% receiving DT, 5.1%/7.0% receiving other treatments and 4.5%/10.0% untreated, switched to SI-TT; 23.7%/16.9% receiving DT, 21.4%/17.7% receiving other treatments and 15.4%/12.0% untreated, switched to MI-TT. Conclusions COPD patients receiving TT were older and had more comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases, than patients receiving DT or other treatments. The limited number of patients switching after exacerbation suggests that many COPD patients may be inappropriately treated. Ensuring early and adequate treatment, combination of in-hospital and outpatient management, and integration of specialist and primary care is pivotal for the appropriate clinical management of COPD patients.

Abstract The identification of acute cardioprotective strategies against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury that can be applied in the catheterization room is currently an unmet clinical need and several interventions evaluated in the past at the pre-clinical level have failed in translation. Autonomic imbalance, sustained by an abnormal afferent signalling, is a key component of I/R injury. Accordingly, there is a strong rationale for neuromodulation strategies, aimed at reducing sympathetic activity and/or increasing vagal tone, in this setting. In this review we focus on cervical vagal nerve stimulation (cVNS) and on transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS); the latest has the potential to overcome several of the issues of invasive cVNS, including the possibility of being used in an acute setting, while retaining its beneficial effects. First, we discuss the pathophysiology of I/R injury, that is mostly a consequence of the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Second, we describe the functional anatomy of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and the most relevant principles of bioelectronic medicine applied to electrical vagal modulation, with a particular focus on taVNS. Then, we provide a detailed and comprehensive summary of the most relevant pre-clinical studies of invasive and non-invasive VNS that support its strong cardioprotective effect whenever there is an acute or chronic cardiac injury and specifically in the setting of myocardial I/R injury. The potential benefit in the emerging field of post cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) is also mentioned. Indeed, electrical cVNS has a strong anti-adrenergic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenic effect; most of the involved molecular pathways were already directly confirmed to take place at the cardiac level for taVNS. Pre-clinical data clearly show that the sooner VNS is applied, the better the outcome, with the possibility of a marked infarct size reduction and almost complete left ventricular reverse remodelling when VNS is applied immediately before and during reperfusion. Finally, we describe in detail the limited but very promising clinical experience of taVNS in I/R injury available so far.

O objetivo do presente artigo é o de apresentar um estudo avaliativo que teve como objeto o Programa Esporte e Lazer da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), que integra sua Política de Assistência Estudantil. O estudo, em seus procedimentos metodológicos, utilizou a abordagem centrada nos participantes. Ademais, realizou-se estudo exploratório do campo, pesquisas bibliográfica e documental, objetivando o estabelecimento das dimensões, indicadores e padrões de julgamento. Concluiu-se que o programa avaliado favorece o acesso às atividades físicas, esportivas e de lazer pelo corpo discente da UFRJ, atendendo quanto aos fatores que envolvem seu funcionamento e às contribuições para o bem-estar e/ou para a melhoria da qualidade de vida de seus participantes. Entre as principais recomendações, constatou-se que o fortalecimento dos laços do programa com outros projetos e iniciativas da própria UFRJ que dialoguem com a atenção integral do corpo discente, pode suscitar melhorias mútuas.

O estudo que originou este trabalho ainda não foi concluído. Seu objetivo é o de avaliar a avaliação de desempenho individual instituída no contexto do RIOPREVIDÊNCIA com a finalidade de contribuir para o desenvolvimento da carreira de seus servidores públicos. A metodologia adotada é sustentada na abordagem avaliativa centrada nos participantes e na definição das categorias e padrões da avaliação do Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation. As análises a serem realizadas serão adaptadas dos 30 padrões do Joint Committee, considerando as características contextuais do RIOPREVIDÊNCIA. Ao seu final, procurar-se-á responder à questão avaliativa: Em que medida o processo de avaliação de desempenho individual do RIOPREVIDÊNCIA atende aos padrões de qualidade de programas disseminados pelo Joint Committee? Espera-se que as recomendações do estudo possuam a devida qualidade para que possam contribuir na tomada de decisões, para o aperfeiçoamento dos processos, que a Autarquia pública julgar pertinentes.

Pharmacotoxicology is one of the fields that in recent years is growing exponentially, further reaffirming its proven usefulness in the field of forensic sciences. An interesting goal in this field is to identify and quantify the cause of death. This review paper aims to represent a review of the literature in order to evaluate the state of the art regarding the research in the pharmacotoxicology field in cases of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), a frequent problem on several occasions, which can be derived from the use of fatal substances or in such concentrations causing sudden death.In this overview, the most frequently observed biomarkers for SCD were found to be ethanol, illicit drugs, antidepressants, and some common compounds like caffeine and Trenbolone. Concurrently, the most applied instrument configurations is represented by hyphenated liquid (or gas) chromatographic tools coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS or GC–MS) in order to reach the high accuracy and confidence levels in the confirmatory analyses, preceded by common sample preparation technique as solid-liquid extraction or liquid-liquid extraction. It was interesting to understand the approaches by which researchers have approached the topic, because on the one hand there are those who have been interested in the comparison between matrices (conventional and not) and on the other hand, who has researched metabolites in order to be able to trace the intake or not of a substance.In particular, this work want to highlight and evaluate, from a medical-legal point of view, which are the main biomarkers and physiological markers of forensic interest and the methods, and instrumental procedures most frequently used for their evaluation. The paper is organized considering the analytical methods divided by types of drugs/substances.

El objetivo del artículo fue identificar prácticas asociadas a la crianza reflexiva desde la experiencia de 31 padres y madres de la ciudad de Medellín - Colombia y su área metropolitana. La investigación realizada fue de corte fenomenológico, mediada por procesos interpretativos de los investigadores, las experiencias de padres y madres y los aportes teóricos e investigativos en el tema[1]. El estudio encontró que la reflexividad contribuye al desarrollo de procesos metareflexivos conducentes a resignificar experiencias en la crianza, en términos de calidad y bienestar; de este modo, prácticas como los encuentros dialógicos en familia permiten generar consciencia de sí mismo y de los otros, lo cual implica comprometer-se y responsabilizar-se en la tarea de ser padres y madres. Este estudio contribuye a la comprensión de la crianza consciente y/o reflexiva y las prácticas cotidianas de quienes la implementan. En sintonía, las prácticas reflexivas implican una postura que posibilite repensar, hacerse más consciente, reflexionar-se y desafiar-se constantemente como padre o madre; lo anterior, induce a procesos metareflexivos, que ayudan al cuidado de la salud mental y emocional de padres e hijos, al plantear la necesidad de retomar la propia historia para transformarla o evitar repetirla de manera inconsciente.