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Background: Chagas disease (ChD) is endemic in many parts of the world and can be transmitted through organ transplantation or reactivated by immunosuppression. Organs from infected donors are occasionally used for transplantation, and the best way of managing the recipients remains a subject of debate., Methods: We present a single-center cohort study describing a 10-year experience of kidney transplantation in patients at risk of donor-derived ChD and or reactivation. Patients received prophylactic treatment with Benznidazole and were monitored for transmission or reactivation. Monitoring included assessing direct parasitemia, serology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)., Results: Fifty-seven kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) were enrolled in the study. Forty-four patients (77.2%) were at risk of primary ChD infection, nine patients (15.8%) were at risk of disease reactivation, and four patients (7.0%) were at risk of both. All patients received Benznidazole prophylaxis, starting on the first day after transplantation. Parasitemia was assessed in 51 patients (89.5%), serology also in 51 patients (89.5%), and PCR in 40 patients (70.2%). None of the patients exhibited clinically or laboratory-detectable signs of disease. A single patient experienced a significant side effect, a cutaneous rash with intense pruritus. At 1-year post-transplantation, the patient and graft survival rates were 96.5% and 93%, respectively., Conclusion: In this study, no donor-derived or reactivation of Trypanosoma cruzi infection occurred in KTRs receiving Benznidazole prophylaxis., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The purpose of this study was to develop tea tree oil (TTO)-loaded chitosan-poly(ε-caprolactone) core-shell nanocapsules (NC-TTO-Ch) aiming the topical acne treatment. TTO was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nanocapsules were characterized regarding mean particle size (Z-average), polydispersity index (PdI), zeta potential (ZP), pH, entrapment efficiency (EE), morphology by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and anti-Cutibacterium acnes activity. The main constituents of TTO were terpinen-4-ol (37.11 %), γ-terpinene (16.32 %), α-terpinene (8.19 %), ρ-cimene (6.56 %), and α-terpineol (6.07 %). NC-TTO-Ch presented Z-average of 268.0 ± 3.8 nm and monodisperse size distribution (PdI < 0.3). After coating the nanocapsules with chitosan, we observed an inversion in ZP to a positive value (+31.0 ± 1.8 mV). This finding may indicate the presence of chitosan on the nanocapsules' surface, which was corroborated by the AFM images. In addition, NC-TTO-Ch showed a slightly acidic pH (∼5.0), compatible with topical application. The EE, based on Terpinen-4-ol concentration, was approximately 95 %. This data suggests the nanocapsules' ability to reduce the TTO volatilization. Furthermore, NC-TTO-Ch showed significant anti-C. acnes activity, with a 4× reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration, compared to TTO and a decrease in C. acnes cell viability, with an increase in the percentage of dead cells (17 %) compared to growth control (6.6 %) and TTO (9.7 %). Therefore, chitosan-poly(ε-caprolactone) core-shell nanocapsules are a promising tool for TTO delivery, aiming at the activity against C. acnes for the topical acne treatment., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) has been incorporated in the United States to improve the kidney transplant allocation system., Objectives: To evaluate deceased kidney donors' profile using KDPI and compare to the previous United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) definition of expanded criteria donors (ECD) and assess the KDPI applicability to predict five-year graft survival and renal function in our sample., Methods: Retrospective cohort of 589 kidney transplants from deceased donors performed from January 2009 to May 2013 with follow-up until May 2018., Results: In 589 kidney transplants, 36.6% of donors were classified as ECD and 28.8% had KDPI ≥ 85%. Mean KDPI was 63.1 (95%CI: 60.8-65.3). There was an overlap of standard and ECD in KDPI between 60 and 95 and a significantly lower death-censored graft survival in KDPI ≥ 85% (78.6%); KDPI 0-20: 89.8%, KDPI 21-59: 91.6%, and KDPI 60-84: 83.0%; p = 0.006. The AUC-ROC was 0.577 (95%CI: 0.514-0.641; p = 0.027). Renal function at 5 years was significantly lower according to the incremental KDPI (p < 0.002). KDPI (HR 1.011; 95%CI 1.001-1.020; p = 0.008), donor-specific antibodies (HR 2.77; 95%CI 1.69-4.54; p < 0.001), acute rejection episode (HR 1.73; 95%CI 1.04-2.86; p = 0.034) were independent and significant risk factors for death-censored graft loss at 5 years., Conclusion: In our study, 36.6% were classified as ECD and 28.8% had KDPI ≥ 85%. KDPI score showed a moderate power to predict graft survival at 5 years. Renal function was significantly lower in patients with higher KDPI.

Context: 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a prodrug used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors, including cancer of the oral mucosa. 5-ALA poorly penetrates oral tissues due to its high hydrophilicity, which impairs its local effects in PDT., Objectives: To examine whether α-bisabolol (α-Bis) influences the 5-ALA permeability in the porcine buccal mucosa, to an extent that improves its application in PDT (which requires low permeation and high retention in the buccal mucosa)., Methods: In vitro permeability studies with 5-ALA (1% and 10% w/w) associated with α-Bis (1% to 20% w/w) in propylene glycol were carried out at 4h and 24h using porcine buccal mucosa in a modified Franz cell system. The in vitro release profiles (0.5 to 48h) of the selected formulation and its respective control were determined using artificial membranes. Samples of buccal mucosa treated with the formulation were submitted to histopathological analysis, using a routine optical microscopy technique., Results: The association of 1% 5-ALA and 5% α-Bis provided the best results; after 4h of treatment with this formulation, the 5-ALA permeation was low and its retention in the mucosa was six-fold higher than that promoted by the control formulation (5-ALA alone). Histological analysis of the porcine buccal mucosa evidenced that 5% α-Bis altered the tissue morphology, which probably promoted 5-ALA retention. We concluded that 5% α-Bis is a potential adjuvant in formulations containing 5-ALA that could improve its retention after topical oral administration for the PDT treatment of cancer., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To design a novel model to study Cobalt-60 (Co-60)-induced radiation mucositis and to describe the pathways involved in its development., Materials and Methods: Hamsters' cheeks were treated with Co-60 radiation (10, 20, 30 or 35 Gy). Three days later, oral mucosa scarification was performed with a needle. The animals were euthanized at day 13 (D + 13) after irradiation. Gross and microscopic alterations were evaluated by a new score system that we developed. Also, neutrophil infiltration, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite were assessed in oral mucosa. We also tried to establish the roles of TNF-α and IL-1β and iNOS in our model using pharmacological approaches with pentoxiphylline (PTX) and aminoguanidine (AMG), respectively., Results: We found that a single administration of 35 Gy of Co-60, followed by mechanical scratches 3 days later, induced oral mucositis in hamsters. Animals with mucositis lost weight and had a survival median of 13 days, the time at which peak inflammation occurs. We noticed increased levels of NO, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-1β and a reduced concentration of IL-10. PTX partially prevented the mucositis phenotype by reducing the levels of inflammatory mediators and iNOS expression. Additionally, AMG, a selective inhibitor of iNOS, reduced Co-60-induced oral mucositis through reducing NO production., Conclusion: We described a novel model of megavoltage radiation-induced oral mucositis in hamsters. TNF-α, IL-1β and NO seem to play a role in the pathophysiology of this model.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to develop a rat lung tumor model for anticancer drug testing., Methods: Sixty-two female Wistar rats weighing 208 +/- 20 g were anesthetized intraperitoneally with 2.5% tribromoethanol (1 ml/100 g live weight), tracheotomized and intubated with an ultrafine catheter for inoculation with Walker's tumor cells. In the first step of the experiment, a technique was established for intrabronchial implantation of 10(5) to 5 x 10(5) tumor cells, and the tumor take rate was determined. The second stage consisted of determining tumor volume, correlating findings from high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) with findings from necropsia and determining time of survival., Results: The tumor take rate was 94.7% for implants with 4 x 10(5) tumor cells, HRCT and necropsia findings matched closely (r=0.953; p<0.0001), the median time of survival was 11 days, and surgical mortality was 4.8%., Conclusion: The present rat lung tumor model was shown to be feasible: the take rate was high, surgical mortality was negligible and the procedure was simple to perform and easily reproduced. HRCT was found to be a highly accurate tool for tumor diagnosis, localization and measurement and may be recommended for monitoring tumor growth in this model.