Deposition of Dopamine and Polyethyleneimine on Polymeric Membranes: Improvement of Performance of Ultrafiltration Process

Ingrid R. Marques,Guilherme Zin,Lidia T. Prando,Cristiana C. Bretanha,Mariane C. Proner,Elisandra Rigo,Katia Rezzadori,Cristiane da Costa,Marco Di Luccio 한국고분자학회 2020 Macromolecular Research Vol.28 No.12

Modification of the characteristics of polymeric membranes is regarded as an alternative to control the flux decline caused by the concentration polarization and the fouling in ultrafiltration (UF). This work investigated the use of dopamine (DA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) to hydrophilize the surface and to improve the performance of a 50 kDa polyethersulfone UF membrane. The hydraulic permeance of membranes was investigated for the membranes modified using a DA solution with its concentration fixed at 2 mg·mL-1 and a PEI solution with its concentration varying from 0 to 16 mg·mL-1. The membrane modified in a 16 mg·mL-1 solution of PEI presented the uppermost hydraulic permeance (33 L·h-1·m-2). This membrane and two other controls (unmodified and modified membranes with a 2 mg·mL-1 solution of DA) were further characterized for surface chemistry using Fourier transform infrared by attenuated reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and X-ray excited photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) charge (zeta potential), morphology (field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and optical interferometry), water mass gain, and performance in bovine serum albumin (BSA) UF. XPS showed an increase in the nitrogen content and a decrease in the sulfur content indicating the membrane modification. Membrane modification with DA/PEI caused an increase in hydrophilicity, which could reduce the interaction of BSA with the membrane surface. The flux of protein solutions was improved by 400%, and there was a complete recovery of the water flux after chemical cleaning of the modified membrane.

Effect of Euterpe oleracea Mart. Seeds Extract on Chronic Ischemic Renal Injury in Renovascular Hypertensive Rats

Cristiane Aguiar da Costa,Dayane Teixeira Ognibene,Viviane Silva Cristino Cordeiro,Graziele Freitas de Bem,Izabelle Barcellos Santos,Ricardo Andrade Soares,Letı´cia L. de Melo Cunha,Lenize C. R.M. Car 한국식품영양과학회 2017 Journal of medicinal food Vol.20 No.10

Previously, we have demonstrated that the seeds of Euterpe oleracia Mart. (açaí) are rich in polyphenols with antihypertensive and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the renal protective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the seeds of açaí (ASE) fruits in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertension. Young male Wistar rats were used to obtain 2K1C and sham groups. Animals received ASE (200 mg/(kg·day) in drinking water) or vehicle for 40 days. We evaluated serum and urinary parameters, renal structural changes, and oxidative status. The increase in systolic blood pressure of the 2K1C group was accompanied by a decrease in left kidney volume and number of glomeruli, as well as an increase in glomerular volume and collagen deposition. ASE prevented the alterations of these parameters, except the reduced kidney volume. Serum levels of urea and creatinine and urinary protein excretion were increased in the 2K1C group and treatment with ASE improved all these functional parameters. The increased oxidative damage in the 2K1C group, assessed by lipid and protein oxidation, was prevented by ASE. The nitrite content and both expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase-1, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) were lower in the 2K1C group and restored by ASE. ASE substantially reduced renal injury and prevented renal dysfunction in 2K1C rats probably through its antihypertensive and antioxidant effects, providing a natural resource for treatment and prevention of renovascular hypertension-related abnormalities.

Vitis vinifera L. Grape Skin Extract Prevents Development of Hypertension and Altered Lipid Profile in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Role of Oxidative Stress.

Giselle Franca da Costa,Dayane Teixeira Ognibene,Cristiane Aguiar da Costa,Michelle Teixeira Teixeira,Viviane da Silva Cristino Cord,Graziele Freitas de Bem,Anibal Sanchez Moura,Angela de Castro Resen 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.25 No.1

This study investigated the protective effect of a Vitis vinifera L. grape skin extract (ACH09) on blood pressure, lipid profile, and oxidative status in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels, as well as oxidative damage and antioxidant activity in the plasma and kidney, were evaluated in four experimental groups: control Wistar rats (W-C) and SHR-C that received water, and Wistar rats and SHR treated with ACH09 (200 mg/kg/d) in drinking water for 12 weeks (W-ACH09 and SHR-ACH09, respectively). SBP increased in the SHR group compared with the W groups and the treatment with ACH09 prevented the development of hypertension. Plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels increased in SHR compared with W-C rats; these changes prevented by treatment with ACH09. Glucose levels did not differ between the groups. The SHR group had increased oxidative damage in plasma, as expressed by 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and this prevented by ACH09. Levels of TBARS in the kidneys were lower in the SHR-ACH09 group than in the SHR-C group. Further, ACH09 increased the superoxide dismutase activity in both the plasma and kidneys of both SHR and Wistar rats. These results suggest that ACH09 is protective against disruption of blood pressures, oxidant status, and lipid profile in SHR, and provide important evidence on the benefits of ACH09 on hypertension and associated cardiovascular complications.

EGFL7 expression profile in IDH-wildtype glioblastomas is associated with poor patient outcome

Bruno Henrique Bressan da Costa,Aline Paixão Becker,Luciano Neder,Paola Gyuliane Gonçalves,Cristiane de Oliveira,Allan Dias Polverini,Clara Carlos Afonso,Gustavo Ramos Teixeira,Rui Manuel Reis,Lucas T 대한병리학회 2022 Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine Vol.56 No.4

Background: Despite the advances in glioblastoma (GBM) treatment, the average life span of patients is 14 months. Therefore, it is urgent to identity biomarkers of prognosis, treatment response, or development of novel treatment strategies. We previously described the association of high epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7) expression and unfavorable outcome of pilocytic astrocytoma patients. The present study aims to analyze the prognostic potential of EGFL7 in GBM isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype, using immunohistochemistry and in silico approaches.Methods: Spearman’s correlation analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA sequencing data was performed. The genes strongly correlated to EGFL7 expression were submitted to enrichment gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Additionally, EGFL7 expression was associated with patient overall survival. The expression of EGFL7 was analyzed through immunohistochemistry in 74 GBM IDH-wildtype patients’ samples, and was associated with clinicopathological data and overall survival.Results: In silico analysis found 78 genes strongly correlated to EGFL7 expression. These genes were enriched in 40 biological processes and eight KEGG pathways, including angiogenesis/vasculogenesis, cell adhesion, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase–Akt, Notch, and Rap1 signaling pathways. The immunostaining showed high EGFL7 expression in 39 cases (52.7%). High immunolabelling was significantly associated with low Karnofsky Performance Status and poor overall survival. Cox analysis showed that GBMs IDH-wildtype with high EGFL7 expression presented a higher risk of death compared to low expression (hazard ratio, 1.645; 95% confidence interval, 1.021 to 2.650; p = .041).Conclusions: This study gives insights regarding the genes that are correlated with EGFL7, as well as biological processes and signaling pathways, which should be further investigated in order to elucidate their role in glioblastoma biology.

Effect of Auriculotherapy on the Plasma Concentration of Biomarkers in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis

Rebeca Grac¸a Costa-Cavalcanti,Danu´bia da Cunha de Sa´-Caputo,Eloa´ Moreira-Marconi,Cristiane Ribeiro Ku¨ter,Samuel Branda˜o-Sobrinho-Neto,Laisa Liane Paineiras-Domingos,Marcia Cristina Moura-Fernand 사단법인약침학회 2018 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.11 No.4

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most frequent noncommunicable diseases with pain associated symptoms and affects the musculoskeletal system. Various forms of treatment can be indicated, and nonpharmacological treatment is also an available option for the management of KOA individuals. For instance, auriculotherapy (AT) is one possible procedure associated with the Traditional Chinese Medicine for dealing with KOA. It is believed that the concentration of certain biomarkers could be altered in individuals with KOA after AT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AT on plasma concentration of biomarkers in KOA individuals. This intervention is a controlled trial. Twentyone subjects were grouped in two groups and submitted to AT with the stimulation of the Shen Men, kidney, and knee points in the treatment group or different points in the control group, once a week for 5 weeks. Blood was collected before the beginning of protocols and a week after the last session. KolmogoroveSmirnov and Wilcoxon tests were performed, and a p 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Hematological parameters did not show any significant variation between the control group and treated group. Concerning the biochemical parameters, a significant reduction of direct bilirubin (from 43.31 Æ 22.10 to 21.21 Æ 5.30 mmol/L, p Z 0.003), aspartate aminotransferase (from 0.48 Æ 0.16 to 0.38 Æ 0.09 mKat/L, p Z 0.010), and triglycerides (from 7.04 Æ 2.90 to 5.45 Æ 2.57 mmol/L, p Z 0.008) in the treated group was obtained. In conclusion, the analysis of results suggests that AT might be a useful intervention for the management of KOA individuals.