Federal University of Piaui

Magnesium-based biomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for bone regeneration due to their biodegradability and favorable mechanical properties. This study investigated the effects of Magnesium alloys without (Mg1) and with (Mg2) calcium phosphate coating on osteoblast viability and activation. The physical structure of the alloys was analyzed by surface characterization, mechanical testing, and biodegradation assays. Biological performance was evaluated through MTT and MTS assays for cell viability and proliferation, quantification of alkaline phosphatase activity at 24 h, 7, and 15 days, and mineralization by Von Kossa staining, after 21 days. Cell morphology and apoptosis were assessed using fluorescence microscopy and immunostaining for caspase 3 and 9, while protein expression of BMP-2, OPG, and RANK-L was also investigated by immunostaining. The results demonstrated a significant increase in viable cells in both Mg1 and Mg2 groups after 24 and 48 h. Enhanced mineralization and a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity were observed in the Mg2 group. Both Mg1 and Mg2 groups exhibited a similar reduction in caspases 3 and 9 expression, indicating cell survival despite morphological changes. Furthermore, osteoblasts cultured on both alloys showed greater expression of BMP-2 and OPG, compared to the DMEM group. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of calcium phosphate-coated magnesium alloy as a novel approach for bone restoration in the future.

Cancer has been correlated with psychiatrical disorders, and incidence of depression is about 3-fold higher in oncological patients. However, there is no validated animal models currently describing sarcoma-associated depression. Herein, we evaluated a preclinical way for estimating behavioral depression-like parameters in Sarcoma-180180180-transplanted mice and investigated the therapeutic efficacy of current clinical antidepressants. Firstly, S-180-bearing Swiss were evaluated using behavioral tests between days 10-11 after S-180 transplantation: open field (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark box (LDB), tail suspension (TST), forced swim (FST), and sucrose preference (SPT). Next, studies investigated effects of amitriptyline (AMI, oral), fluoxetine (FLU, oral), or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, i.p.) at 10 or 20 mg/kg/day (alone or in combination) on behavior and oxidative/nitrosative profile of subacute-treated mice. No significant differences (p> 0.05) were observed about locomotor and exploratory activity (OFT, EPM, LDB). Meanwhile, S-180-bearing mice showed increase of immobility time (TST) and reduced sucrose preference in comparison with healthy animals (p< 0.05), typical features of depressive phenotype without alterations in anxiety-related parameters. These findings were associated with oxidative stress (malondialdehyde increasing) and antioxidant markers (superoxide dismutase decreasing/increasing) in the prefrontal cortex and/or hippocampus (p< 0.05). Such biochemical changes and depressive phenotype were partly attenuated by amitriptyline and fluoxetine 10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days, but co-treatment with 5-FU did not show additional improvements. This physiopathological study represent a promising discovery highlighting the potential of non-clinical protocols to understand mesenchymal tumor-related depression and to develop new pharmacological tools against the multivariate spectrum of cancer-related diseases.

Plants host dynamic microbiomes that are critical for stress resilience and productivity. Emerging evidence suggests that 'microbiome memory' enables plants to retain beneficial microbes via epigenetic mechanisms and vertical transmission. Understanding how 'microbiome memory' forms, persists, and influences plant adaptation is crucial for advancing resilient crop systems and sustainable agriculture.