Alternative Therapeutic Approach for Cartilage Repair

The cartilage is a flexible tissue, which supports the adjacent soft tissues. The damages that cause degenerative articular diseases are marked by the increase of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and IL-17, which cause intense inflammatory process and release of metalloproteinases and disintegrin enzymes that lead to cartilage degradation. The Curcuma longa possesses bioactive compounds designated as curcuminoids that display therapeutic potential in several pathologies. Curcumin is one of these compounds that may exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumor effects. It may promote decrease of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, COX-2, and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, curcumin inhibits the activity of several kinases related to the degradation of the cartilage, including tyrosine kinase, p21-activated kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, protein kinase C, the activator protein 1 pathway, and NF-κB leading to the suppression of the production of metalloproteinases and inflammatory cytokines. Curcumin has also been related to the stimulation of the production of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan by chondrocytes. Studies have shown that this compound may alleviate joint pain and crepitation, reduce the use of other drugs for pain relief, stimulate the production of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan resulting in a protective and anti-inflammatory action of cartilage and bones, and improve the quality of life of the patients

Use of growth hormone in region 19p13.3 microduplication syndrome in girl with central early puberty: a clinical case report

Chromosomal mutations involving 19p13.3 have been described as pathogenic. clinical and phenotypic features can include, in most cases, psychomotor development delay, microcephaly, typical facial appearance, hand and foot anomalies, umbilical hernia, hypotonia, and low percentage of lean mass. The main types of mutation found on this chromosome are deletion or duplication. Short stature is often the cause of medical demand and the use of exogenous GH for patients with this syndrome is not beneficial. This article reports the case of a 5-year-old girl who sought medical help due to short stature and was diagnosed with this syndrome. Furthermore, this case study may contribute to the dissemination in the medical community about the association of this genetic mutation with the child's clinical condition, warning about this syndrome, and the possibility of the occurrence of early puberty. This study was analyzed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) according to a substantiated opinion number 4.765.113

Efeitos do chá de orégano (Origanum vulgare) no perfil bioquímico de ratos Wistar = Effects of oregano (Origanum vulgare) tea on the biochemical profile of Wistar rats

Objetivos: Avaliar os efeitos do chá (infusão) de orégano sobre o perfil bioquímico e peso corporal de ratos Wistar. Métodos: Foram utilizados para o experimento 20 ratos Wistar machos divididos em dois grupos de 10 animais em cada: um grupo tratado, que durante 30 dias recebeu como única ingesta hídrica uma infusão de folhas de orégano (chá de orégano), e um grupo controle, que durante o mesmo período recebeu água pura. Todos os animais tiveram livre acesso ao mesmo tipo de ração e o líquido (água ou chá de orégano) foi ofertado ad libitum. Foram realizadas pesagens semanais, registrando os pesos corporais dos animais no 1º, 8º, 15º, 23º e 30º dias. No 30º dia do experimento os animais foram anestesiados e sacrificados com pentobarbital sódico. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue a fim de determinar colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, triglicerídeos, glicemia, proteína C reativa, creatinina, aspartato aminotransferase e alanina aminotransferase. Resultados: Os animais que receberam o chá de orégano tiveram uma glicemia menor (135,20±22,09) quando comparados ao grupo controle (152,00±16,51) (p<0,05). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos nos níveis de colesterol total, triglicerídeos e HDL-colesterol, nem no ganho de peso médio ou no percentual de ganho de peso. Conclusões: O estudo dos efeitos do chá de orégano em ratos sugere que essa planta pode ter efeitos benéficos na manutenção da glicemia. Propõe-se que mais estudos clínicos sejam realizados com diferentes concentrações e períodos de temp

Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Neuroprotective, Metabolic, and Hepatoprotective Effects for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

There is a growing trend among consumers to seek out natural foods and products with natural ingredients. This shift in consumer preferences had a direct impact on both food and pharmaceutical industries, leading to a focus of scientific research and commercial efforts to meet these new demands. The aim of this work is to review recent available scientific data on foods of interest, such as the artichoke, gooseberry, and polygonoideae plants, as well as olive oil and red raspberries. Interestingly, the urgency of solutions to the climate change emergency has brought new attention to by-products of grapevine bunch stem and cane, which have been found to contain bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. There is a pressing need for a faster process of translating scientific knowledge from the laboratory to real-world applications, especially in the face of the increasing societal burden associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), environmental crises, the post-pandemic world, and ongoing violent conflicts around the world

Use of cereal bars with quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa W.) to reduce risk factors related to cardiovascular diseases

Quinoa is considered a pseudocereal with proteins of high biological value, carbohydrates of low glycemic index, phytosteroids, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids that bring benefits to the human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of quinoa on the biochemical and anthropometric profile and blood pressure in humans, parameters for measuring risk of cardiovascular diseases. Twenty-two 18 to 45-year-old students were treated daily for 30 days with quinoa in the form of a cereal bar. Blood samples were collected before and after 30 days of treatment to determine glycemic and biochemical profile of the group. The results indicated that quinoa had beneficial effects on part of the population studied since the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-c showed reduction. It can be concluded that the use of quinoa in diet can be considered beneficial in the prevention and treatment of risk factors related to cardiovascular diseases that are among the leading causes of death in today's globalized world. However, further studies are needed to prove the benefits observed

Perspectives in veterinary medicine on the use of cannabinoids as complementary palliative therapy for pain in cancer patients

ABSTRACT: Pain in the cancer patient is an important clinical manifestation that results in low life expectancy and poor prognosis. Pain may be related to tumor type, invasion of adjacent tissues, metastasis, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with variable response to analgesic therapy. Many studies have called attention due to their potential therapeutic effect in the modulation of pain and inflammation. Cannabinoid derivatives are chemical compounds obtained from Cannabis that act on specific receptors.Several commercial products have already been approved in Europe and the USA for use in human patients. The present study aimed to review articles on the use of cannabinoids in the control of pain contributing to the well-being and quality of life in cancer patients undergoing palliative care. Although, there are few reports in the veterinary medical literature on the use of cannabinoids in the control of pain in dogs, it is believed that such patients can benefit from this therapeutic modality