Background and Aim: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative joint disorder characterized by cartilage loss, sub­chondral bone remodeling, and chronic pain, and remains a leading cause of disability worldwide. Although radiographic imaging and behavioral testing are widely used in preclinical research, few studies have systematically examined their inter­dependence. This study aimed to radiologically characterize OA progression in rats induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) and to correlate structural alterations with functional and nociceptive outcomes, while exploring potential sex-specific differences and therapeutic responses to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Materials and Methods: Thirty-six Wistar rats (male and female) were divided into six experimental groups: Healthy controls, OA-induced untreated, and OA-induced meloxicam-treated. Over 28 days, animals underwent serial radiolog­ical assessments and validated behavioral tests, including weight-bearing, rotarod, and Von Frey assays. Statistical anal­yses employed analysis of variance with post hoc testing, ensuring methodological rigor with blinded evaluators and sex-stratified comparisons. Results: Radiographs revealed classical OA features, joint space narrowing, subchondral bone sclerosis, and osteophyte for­mation, with progressive severity across timepoints. NSAID-treated males demonstrated significant improvement in motor coordination and nociceptive thresholds on days 7 and 14 (p < 0.001), whereas females exhibited only modest or delayed responses despite more severe radiological deterioration. Importantly, structural joint damage did not consistently align with behavioral impairments, underscoring a dissociation between radiographic severity and clinical-like manifestations. Conclusion: This study provides an integrated evaluation of structural and functional outcomes in experimental OA, high­lighting a complex relationship between radiological changes and behavioral impairments. The findings emphasize the necessity of multimodal assessment strategies in preclinical OA models and reveal sex-specific differences in disease progres­sion and therapeutic response. These insights are crucial for refining translational strategies, advocating for sex-conscious approaches and combined structural-functional endpoints in OA research and drug development. Keywords: behavioral assessment, experimental rat model, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, osteoarthritis, radiological analysis, sex differences.

Background/Objective: This study evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of ambroxol in an experimental model of endometriosis. Methods: Ambroxol was administered at doses of 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg (Abx 10, Abx 50, and Abx 100) by daily gavage for 21 days. A medroxyprogesterone-treated group (Progesterone) was included as a positive control. Pain was assessed using validated behavioral tests, including the Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), the von Frey test, and the rotarod test. Additionally, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels and total leukocyte counts were measured in peritoneal lavage fluid. The volumetric reduction in endometriotic implants was evaluated by ultrasonography, while histopathological analysis characterized inflammatory infiltrate and epithelial layer integrity using a standardized scoring system. Results: All ambroxol doses reduced spontaneous pain manifestations throughout the treatment. The mechanical withdrawal threshold significantly increased from the second week onward, and motor quality improved over the course of the study. A significant reduction in IL-1β levels compared with the negative control (Control(−)) was observed on day 21. Abx 50 and Abx 100 significantly reduced implant volumes (48.2% and 56.2%, respectively) and promoted marked disruption of the endometriotic epithelial layer. When compared with Progesterone, higher doses—particularly 100 mg/kg—demonstrated comparable efficacy. Conclusions: Taken together, these pleiotropic effects support the potential for drug repurposing in endometriosis.

Background/Objectives: Ambroxol is a mucolytic agent widely used in the treatment of respiratory diseases; however, evidence in the literature indicates anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory properties, suggesting potential for therapeutic repositioning. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of ambroxol in an experimental model of osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Adult male Wistar rats underwent OA induction on day zero (D0) by sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) injection and were allocated into the following groups: Healthy, negative control (CTRL−), and groups treated with meloxicam (2 mg/kg) or ambroxol (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Treatments were administered orally (gavage) once daily for 28 days. Behavioral tests were performed, including rotarod, walkway gait analysis, weight-bearing, Von Frey, and Rat Grimace Scale assessments, along with radiographic and histopathological analyses and quantification of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10). Results: Ambroxol treatment improved nociceptive parameters and motor function, reduced radiographic and histopathological scores, and showed performance comparable to meloxicam in several tests. There was a marked reduction in IL-1β and IL-6 levels, while IL-10 levels were lower in ambroxol-treated groups, suggesting early control of the inflammatory response. Conclusions: The results indicate that ambroxol exhibits antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions and suggest a potential chondroprotective effect, reinforcing its viability as a candidate for therapeutic repositioning in osteoarthritis. Further studies are required to more precisely elucidate its mechanisms of action, define optimal dosing and treatment duration, and support translation to clinical models.

Dados recentes reportados pela literatura mostram que 45% dos óbitos globais por Doenças Crônicas Não Transmissíveis são atribuídos a doenças cardiovasculares (DCV), com as desordens isquêmicas cardíacas, sendo as principais causas de morte mundial. Estudos indicam uma possível relação entre o uso contínuo de probióticos e a saúde cardiovascular. Esta revisão integrativa examinou artigos originais sobre o uso de probióticos como prevenção para DIC. A pesquisa incluiu artigos publicados nas bases Medline/PubMed e Scielo entre 2012 e 2023, utilizando os Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS): “probiotic”, “cardioprotective”, “Lactobacillus sp” e “Bifidobacterium sp”. A busca na Clinicaltrials.gov não revelou estudos sobre probióticos e Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio (IAM). Também foram analisadas patentes relacionadas a probióticos nas bases INPI, Espacenet e WIPO, encontrando patentes para Lactobacillus plantarum (n=5) e Lactobacillus acidophilus (n=2). Ao todo, 27 estudos foram identificados, sendo 9 incluídos na revisão. Os resultados mostram um aumento nas pesquisas sobre probióticos e DCV, mas ainda há a necessidade de estudos clínicos mais robustos sobre a prevenção de eventos isquêmicos cardíacos e um limitado potencial biotecnológico nessa área.

Natural products, especially those derived from plants used in traditional medicine, are a significant source of novel therapeutics. Numerous plant-derived molecules have been extensively documented in scientific literature for their potential antineoplastic effects, acting through various mechanisms. This review highlights the most frequently cited antineoplastic compounds over the past 12 years: emodin, genistein, luteolin, parthenolide, quercetin, resveratrol, and betulinic acid. The aim is to provide an overview of these compounds, their plant origins, and their mechanisms of action. Studies were selected from the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases using the DeCS/MeSH descriptors relevant to the guiding question. All included studies evaluated the antitumor activity of these compounds through various experiments reported in the literature, demonstrating their efficacy against different cancer cell lines. The compounds exhibited cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activities, inhibited cell viability, proliferation, and migration, and reduced resistance to existing antineoplastic drugs. These findings illustrate the anticancer pharmacological potential of the compounds under investigation and highlight the necessity for further clinical studies on these molecules to facilitate their future application in cancer therapy.