Raimundo Campos Palheta Junior

O PIC/Ebserh e o PIT/Ebserh vêm se consolidando como estratégias essenciais para a valorização de projetos de pesquisa, desenvolvimento e inovação, proporcionando o aperfeiçoamento pessoal, profissional e o pensamento crítico dos graduandos, sob a orientação de pesquisadores experientes em suas áreas de atuação dentro dos HUFs. A contínua evolução desses programas demonstra o compromisso da Rede Ebserh com a excelência acadêmica e assistencial, fortalecendo a integração entre ensino, pesquisa, inovação e cuidado em saúde. Há inúmeros desafios ao desenvolvimento do PIC/Ebserh e o PIT/Ebserh para que sejam atendidas as particularidades, vocações, e demandas assistenciais, sociais e econômicas diante de um país continental como o Brasil. Portanto, é dever dos gestores contribuírem com a reflexões construtivas para continuidade destes Programas, e propor alternativas factíveis para otimização dos investimentos à Ciência e Tecnologia aplicada a melhoria da assistência à saúde e qualidade de vida da população. Nesse sentido, compartilhar essa experiência com a comunidade científica por meio da Revista de Ensino, Ciências e Inovação em Saúde do HU-UNIVASF é uma oportunidade de valorizar conquistas, estimular novos debates e inspirar a ampliação de políticas que assegurem a continuidade e o fortalecimento da ciência e tecnologia no contexto hospitalar brasileiro.

We suggest a cardiogastric reflex with the participation of neuroendocrine mediators, which contributes to regulating liquid balance in the animal’s body. Atrial natriuretic peptide and oxytocin are substances recognized for participating in diuresis and regulating the transit of liquids in the gastrointestinal tract in situations of cardiac volume overload, as was simulated with atrial stretching in the present experimental model.

The flavonoid kaempferol has attracted research attention as a potential adjuvant during chemotherapy. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of kaempferol against ovarian damage in cisplatin-treated mice. Two groups of mice received saline solution (intraperitoneal injection [i.p.]; control) or a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.). Moreover, two other mice groups were pretreated with kaempferol (1 or 10 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) 30 min before of the cisplatin administration. Thereafter, their ovaries were harvested and subjected to histological (follicular morphology and activation) and fluorescence (reactive oxygen species [ROS] production, glutathione [GSH] concentration, and mitochondrial activity) analyses. Compared with cisplatin treatment alone, pretreatment with 1 mg/kg kaempferol maintained normal follicular morphology, reduced ROS production and mitochondrial damage, and enhanced GSH concentration. However, pretreatment with 10 mg/kg kaempferol did not prevent cisplatin-induced damage. The rate of primordial follicle activation was greater in mice pretreated with 1 mg/kg kaempferol than in the other treatment groups. In conclusion, pretreatment with 1 mg/kg kaempferol prevents cisplatin-induced ovarian damage and stimulates primordial follicle activation in mice.

This study characterized the expression of melatonin receptor type 1 (MT₁) protein in sheep ovaries, evaluated melatonin effects on primordial follicle survival and development after in vitro culture of ovarian tissue and verified the possible involvement of the phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase/protein kinase B/forkhead box O3a (PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a) pathway in the melatonin actions. Ovine ovarian fragments were cultured in α‐modified minimum essential medium alone (α‐MEM⁺) or supplemented with 100, 500, or 1000 pg/ml melatonin for 7 days. PI3K inhibition was performed through pretreatment of ovarian fragments with LY294002. Thereafter, immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the expression of cleaved caspase‐3, Akt, phosphorylated‐Akt, and phosphorylated‐FOXO3a (p‐FOXO3a). The immunohistochemical localization of the MT₁ receptor protein was documented in sheep preantral and antral follicles. After in vitro culture, 100 pg/ml melatonin showed higher follicular survival and activation than α‐MEM⁺ and other melatonin concentrations. After PI3K inhibition, there was an increase in cleaved caspase‐3‐positive follicles, and a decrease in the primordial follicle activation, Akt phosphorylation, and nuclear exclusion of p‐FOXO3a. In conclusion, MT₁ receptor protein is present in the sheep ovary. Furthermore, 100 pg/ml melatonin maintains survival and stimulates activation of primordial follicles through the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway after in vitro culture of sheep ovarian tissue.

This study evaluated the protective effect of melatonin before cyclophosphamide administration on ovarian function and its potential mechanism in a mouse model. Two studies were performed. In the first, mice were pretreated with melatonin (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) once daily for 3 days, followed by injection with a single dose of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) 30 min after the last melatonin injection. The second study analyzed whether melatonin type 1 and/or 2 receptors mediate the effects of melatonin on the ovary through administration of non-selective MT₁/MT₂ antagonist (luzindole) or selective MT₂ antagonist (4-PPDOT) before the treatment with melatonin plus cyclophosphamide. After treatment groups, the ovaries were harvested and destined to histology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence analyses. Lastly, we examined the p-PTEN, p-Akt, and p-FOXO3a participation in the protective effect of melatonin in cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian damage. Results demonstrated that pretreatment with 20 mg/kg melatonin before cyclophosphamide administration showed more morphologically normal follicles, attenuated primordial follicle loss, decreased growing follicle atresia and mitochondrial damage, and increased GSH concentrations. Furthermore, treatment with luzindole blocked the protective effects of melatonin against the damage caused by cyclophosphamide. Additionally, pretreatment with 20 mg/kg melatonin regulated the PTEN/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway components after cyclophosphamide treatment. In conclusion, pretreatment with 20 mg/kg melatonin prevented primordial follicle loss and reduced apoptosis and oxidative damage in the mouse ovary during experimental chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide. Furthermore, the MT₁ receptor and PTEN/Akt/FOXO3a proteins mediated these cytoprotective effects.

Bothropic venoms cause intense local damage, pain, edema, and myonecrosis. Cocos nucifera is the naturally most widespread fruit plant on Earth, and both the fruit and the plant have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of several inflammatory disorders. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of virgin coconut oil that was obtained from C. nucifera on paw lesions that were induced by venom from the Bothrops jararacussu snake in mice. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine the chemical profile of virgin coconut oil. The analysis of the main components showed that saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were prominent components of the oil. Virgin coconut oil at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg reduced local edema that was induced by B. jararacussu venom. The 200-mg dose of virgin coconut oil prevented edema that was induced by histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin. However, virgin coconut oil did not prevent edema that was induced by substance P or prostaglandin E₂. Virgin coconut oil also reduced peritoneal leukocyte infiltration that was induced by carrageenan and also decreased B. jararacussu venom-induced mechanical hypernociception of the paw. Virgin coconut oil exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on paw injury that was induced by B. jararacussu venom in mice, most likely by inhibiting leukocyte migration and reducing the action of the same inflammatory agents. The analgesic activity of virgin coconut oil appears to depend on opioid receptors.