The belated US FDA approval of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist istradefylline for treatment of Parkinson’s disease

Purinergic Signalling - After more than two decades of preclinical and clinical studies, on August 27, 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist...     

In situ cell differentiation monitoring of Catharanthus roseus suspension culture processes by NIR spectroscopy

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Plant suspension culture is attracting interest as a promising platform to produce biological medicines due to the absence of virus, prions or DNA related to...     

Response of four species of Sonoran Desert trees to buffel grass removal treatments

Plant Ecology - Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an African grass used as forage for livestock that is also invasive. Several methods have been evaluated to remove invasive buffel grass, but...     

The copulatory apparatus of the marine gastropod Haminella solitaria (Heterobranchia: Cephalaspidea) and its phylogenetic relevance

The hermaphroditic marine snail species Haminella solitaria was formerly included in the genus Haminoea, but it was recently assigned to the genus Haminella. The copulatory apparatus in H. solitaria was investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy to obtain additional information about this apparatus in cephalaspidean gastropods and to evaluate the taxonomic relevance of its morphofunctional features in the framework of a new phylogenetic tree of the family Haminoeidae. The copulatory apparatus in H. solitaria consisted of the atrium with a muscular wall and papilla, a seminal duct, and a single‐lobed prostate. Epithelial and subepithelial secretory cells were detected in the proximal and middle region of the atrium wall, and a third type of secretory cell occurred in the distal region of the muscular papilla. The seminal duct was lined by ciliated cells and its muscular wall included some vacuolar cells. The prostate in H. solitaria consisted of lateral pouches surrounding a large central lumen that was filled with spermatozoa. A single type of secretory cell intermingled with ciliated cells formed the epithelium of the prostate. A histological comparison between the copulatory apparatus in H. solitaria and Haminoea navicula revealed substantial differences that support the placement of these two species in different genera, as established by recent molecular studies.     

Aerobic training prevents cardiometabolic changes triggered by myocardial infarction in ovariectomized rats

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of aerobic training (AT) on autonomic, cardiometabolic, ubiquitin‐proteasome activity, and inflammatory changes evoked by myocardial infarction (MI) in ovariectomized rats. Female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups: sedentary + sham (SS), sedentary + MI (SI), AT + sham surgery (TS), AT + MI (TI). AT was performed on a treadmill for 8 weeks before MI. Infarcted rats previously subjected to AT presented improved physical capacity, increased interleukin‐10, and decreased pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Metabolomic analysis identified and quantified 62 metabolites, 9 were considered significant by the Vip Score. SS, SI, and TS groups presented distinct metabolic profiles; however, TI could not be distinguished from the SS group. MI dramatically increased levels of dimethylamine, and AT prevented this response. Our findings suggest that AT may be useful in preventing the negative changes in functional, inflammatory, and metabolic parameters related to MI in ovariectomized rats.     

Bacillus Toyonensis BCT-7112T Spores as Parenteral Adjuvant of BoHV-5 Vaccine in a Murine Model

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Bacterial spores of the genus Bacillus are being evaluated as adjuvant molecules capable of improving the immune response to vaccines. In this study, we...     

Whole-body vibration mediates mechanical hypersensitivity through Aβ-fiber and C-fiber thermal sensation in a chronic pain model

Whole-body vibration (WBV), which is widely used as a type of exercise, involves the use of vibratory stimuli and it is used for rehabilitation and sports performance programmes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of WBV treatment in a chronic pain model after 10 WBV sessions. An animal model (chronic pain) was applied in 60 male Wistar rats (±180 g, 12 weeks old) and the animals were treated with low intensity exercise (treadmill), WBV (vibrating platform), and a combined treatment involving both. The controls on the platform were set to a frequency of 42 Hz with 2 mm peak-to-peak displacement, g ≈ 7, in a spiral mode. Before and after the vibration exposure, sensitivity was determined. Aβ-fibers-mediated mechanical sensitivity thresholds (touch-pressure) were measured using a pressure meter. C-fibers-mediated thermal perception thresholds (hot pain) were measured with a hot plate. After each session, WBV influenced the discharge of skin touch-pressure receptors, reducing mechanical sensitivity in the WBV groups (P < 0.05). Comparing the conditions “before vs. after”, thermal perception thresholds (hot pain) started to decrease significantly after the third WBV session (P < 0.05). WBV decreases mechanical hyperalgesia after all sessions and thermal sensitivity after the third session with the use of WBV.     

Resveratrol effects in bladder cancer: A mini review

Bladder cancer has a high incidence worldwide and is the most common genitourinary cancer. The treatment of bladder cancer involves surgery and chemotherapy; however high failure rates and toxicity are observed. In this context, the search of new drugs aiming a more effective treatment is extremely necessary. Natural products are an important source of compounds with antiproliferative effects. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring plant polyphenol whose anticancer activity has been demonstrated in different types of cancer. This review summarizes the in vitro and in vivo studies using models of bladder cancer treated with resveratrol and discusses its different mechanisms of action.