https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/5162 2026-04-23T04:49:01Z 2026-04-23T04:49:01Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/48636 2026-04-17T06:24:20Z 2026-03-10T00:00:00Z

Title: Uso dos genes Bmp4, Egr3 e Hsp70 como possíveis marcadores de toxicidade embrionária Abstract: Animal models remain relevant in scientific research because they allow the integrated investigation of physiological and pathological processes. Their use must be based on ethical and scientific criteria, considering the suitability of the model to the study objectives. Therefore, research should encourage the adoption of alternative methods, such as the use of embryos, which contribute to reducing the number of animals used, enable less invasive experimental approaches, and, whenever feasible, promote the partial or total replacement of animal use, in accordance with the principles of the 3 R’s (Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement). In this study, 33 Mus musculus embryos at the two-cell stage were exposed in vitro to the herbicides Pendimethalin and Prowl®H2O, with the aim of evaluating morphological alterations up to the blastocyst stage through in house and Gardner’s classification, based on the degree of blastocyst expansion and the quality of the inner cell mass (ICM) and the trophectoderm (TE), as well as changes in the expression of the genes Bmp4, Egr3, and Hsp70 using the RT-qPCR technique. Morphological analysis revealed developmental delay, cellular fragmentation, and cytoplasmic vacuolization, with more pronounced effects observed in the group exposed to Prowl®H2O. Molecular analysis demonstrated a significant increase in Bmp4 expression in the group treated with Prowl®H2O, while Egr3 and Hsp70 showed higher expression in embryos exposed to Pendimethalin, suggesting the activation of cellular stress pathways and dysregulation of developmental processes. These results indicate that both the isolated active ingredient and the commercial formulation can induce early morphological and molecular alterations, highlighting the importance of the integrated evaluation of morphological and molecular parameters in toxicity studies.

2026-03-10T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/48632 2026-04-11T06:31:32Z 2026-03-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Memorial Descritivo: Renata Graciele Zanon

2026-03-27T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/48621 2026-04-10T06:18:04Z 2026-04-06T00:00:00Z

Title: Própolis Brasileira Frente a Patógenos Associados às Infecções Neonatais: Abordagem Antibacteriana e Antiviral Abstract: Neonatal infections represent a major global public health challenge due to high morbidity and mortality, particularly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). In this context, bacteria associated with sepsis and biofilm formation, opportunistic yeasts, and viruses such as Zika virus (ZIKV), which causes congenital infections and neurological alterations, stand out as clinically relevant pathogens. Accordingly, this study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anti–quorum sensing, and antiviral activities of the hydroethanolic extract of Brazilian red propolis (BRP) and the hydromethanolic extract of Caatinga green propolis (BGP-C) against microorganisms associated with neonatal infections. The strains evaluated included Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228 and ATCC 14990), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 6305), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 13813), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19015), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212 and ATCC 51299), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 15313), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ATCC 43069), Escherichia coli (ATCC BAA-198), Enterobacter cloacae (clinical isolate IAL 124), Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), and Zika virus (ZIKV), clinical isolate PE243. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Antibiofilm activity was analyzed by determining the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration required to inhibit 50% of biofilm formation (MBIC₅₀) and the concentration that inhibited 50% of biofilm metabolic activity (IC₅₀). Morphological alterations and membrane integrity were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by staining with 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and propidium iodide (PI). Interference with quorum sensing systems was investigated using the biosensor strain Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. Antiviral activity was evaluated in Vero E6 cells and, additionally, in human trophoblast BeWo cells. Both extracts exhibited activity against Gram-positive bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 6.25 to 400 µg/mL, highlighting Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae (6.25 µg/mL) and Listeria monocytogenes (50 µg/mL), whereas no antibacterial activity was observed against Gram-negative species. For Candida albicans, both extracts exhibited MIC and MFC values of 200 µg/mL. BRP and BGP-C reduced biofilm biomass and metabolic activity, with evidence of impaired cellular integrity and no detectable interference with AHL-dependent quorum sensing. In antiviral assays, BRP and BGP-C reduced ZIKV infectivity by approximately 34% and 40%, respectively, under non-cytotoxic conditions, with dose-dependent antiviral activity observed in BeWo cells. Overall, these findings indicate that BRP and, particularly, BGP-C represent biologically relevant natural sources with in vitro activity against pathogens associated with neonatal infections.

2026-04-06T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/48607 2026-04-07T06:20:10Z 2026-03-11T00:00:00Z

Title: O papel da histona desacetilase 2 em carcinoma de células escamosas oral Abstract: Evidence shows that epigenetic alterations, including histone modifications, play a decisive role in tumor development and progression, influencing the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Histone acetylation is one of the main epigenetic modifications, it is regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), and directly affects chromatin structure and gene transcription. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (CCEO) is one of the main types of head and neck cancer and represents an important public health problem and epigenetic modifications are important events during its carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Therefore, the present study evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) in 85 samples from patients with OSCC registered at the Laboratório de Patologia Bucal of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia from 2006 to 2013, segregated in samples from patients without cervical lymph node metastases (PNM, n = 39) when compared to metastatic cases (PM, n = 46) compared with 17 samples of normal oral mucosa (MN), with tissue microarray technique. The results showed that the percentage of nuclear area marked by the enzyme was significantly higher in samples from patients PNM compared to PM. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated adequate discriminatory capacity between PNM and PM using this enzyme as a parameter, although there was no difference in the comparative analysis between CCEO and MN samples. In addition, higher HDAC2 expression was observed in early stages and in samples ≤ 4 cm. The results found in this study suggest that decreased HDAC2 expression may be an important event for the occurrence of metastasis in SCC and, thus, considered a potential prognostic biomarker.

2026-03-11T00:00:00Z