Crosstalk between Autophagy and Apoptosis in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Objective: To describe the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis and the possible signaling pathways involved in degenerative lumbar intervertebral disc. Summary of Background Data: Autophagy and apoptosis are regulatory cellular mechanisms that determine many pathologies, including degenerative intervertebral disc disease. The interactions between these events in the damage or protection of intervertebral disc cells and in cellular homeostasis remain controversial. Methods: The sample size was twenty patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery for symptomatic disc herniation or spondylolisthesis. Intervertebral discs were classified by magnetic resonance as Pfirrmann grade IV and grade V. Six patients were operated on two levels, resulting in twenty-six intervertebral discs that were submitted to immunohistochemistry to verify the protein expression of autophagy and apoptosis markers. Results: The autophagic markers had greater protein expression in the human intervertebral disc (Pfirrmann Grades IV and V). Under these conditions, autophagy and apoptosis showed a negative correlation. Regarding apoptosis, caspase 8 presented the highest protein expression, which allows inferring the preference for the extrinsic pathway in cell death. Conclusions: Autophagy had the greatest protein expression negative profile compared to apoptosis. Caspase 8 had the highest protein expression in apoptosis.

Towards on the Mediators in Collagen Replacement: Effect of the Active Molecules into a Polymeric Biomaterial

Modulating healing factors could avoid or minimize some possible pathological processes in collagen deposition. The present study was aimed to evaluated the role of active biomolecules such as PDGF-BB and PRP loaded or not into polymeric biomaterial to seek potential mediators in types I and III collagen deposition and epithelization. The healing phases were investigated by using an in vivo full-thickness wound rat model. At zero, 3rd, 7th and 14th days after the experimental model, the size of the wound areas was photographed. The nanofibrous materials were biocompatible and did not cause any local adverse reaction and/or inflammation. On day 14 the wounds had healed almost 100% with better signs of healing, however there was no obvious difference in the wound contraction rates. At the end of 14 days, samples from the center of the lesion were collected when histological features and immunopositivity for collagen I and III expressions were assessed. There was no significant difference in the epithelization among the groups. Wounds treated with PRP and with PA-6/SOMA plus PDGF-BB had significantly lower amounts of type III collagen. The amounts of type I collagen did not have a statistically different deposition among the experimental groups. The association of PDGF-BB with PA-6/SOMA emerges as an alternative for topical application to unfavorable anatomical sites, suggesting that these associations may have a positive modulation on the process of accelerated healing remodeling.

Physical activity and emotions in a period of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Social distancing(SD)to prevent SARS-CoV-2(COVID-19)transmission reduced practices of physical activities(PA)and changed emotional conditions,but the relationship between PA and the emotions has to be further studied.This study aimed to analyze PA and the intensity of basic emotions during a period of social distancing in the State of S~ao Paulo,Brazil.Data collection was performed using the snowball system and an online survey with questions about the minimum weekly frequency of 30-min moderate and/or vigorous activities(MVPA),intensity of basic emotions,and sociodemographic profile.A total of 704 volunteers participated;mean age 38.113.4 years,67.9%female,82.0%insufficiently practiced MVPA,and 37.9%of the group reported no weekly PA.Anxiety/fear was the emotion with the highest intensity in the study period.A significant association was observed between PA and intensity of happiness(rho=0.125;p<0.01)and a negative association between PA practice and intensity of anxiety/fear(rho=-0.090;p<0.05),sadness(rho=-0.134;p<0.01),and anger(rho?0.109;p<0.01).Also,an association was observed between anxiety/fear and social isolation(rho=0.082;p<0.05).These results suggest that public policies offering PA programs and psychological care are required to improve the quality of life of the population.