Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic condition characterized by glucose intolerance, which manifests or is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. Hyperglycemia associated with GDM can induce a systemic and local inflammatory environment, directly affecting the maternal–fetal interface, particularly the placenta. The placenta, in turn, plays a central role in immune modulation and can alter cytokine and immune cell expression in response to metabolic stress. This study aimed to evaluate levels of inflammatory cytokines and the profiles of type 1 (M1) and type 2 (M2) macrophages in placentas from pregnant women with GDM. Forty placental samples were analyzed and divided into two groups: pregnant women with GDM (n = 20) and normoglycemic pregnant women (n = 20). The villous and extravillous portions were separated and analyzed for cytokine levels by flow cytometry and for macrophage immunophenotyping. The results showed a significant increase in IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12P70 levels in the placentas of mothers with GDM, whereas IL-1β and TNF-α were reduced in the extravillous portion of this group. In addition, a higher percentage of CD14+ cells and M2 macrophages was observed, especially in the villous portion of the placentas of pregnant women with GDM. These findings suggest that gestational hyperglycemia modulates the placental immune response, altering cytokine levels and macrophage polarization patterns. GDM influences the placental immunological microenvironment, which can contribute to alterations in placental function and increased risks to fetal development. The data underscore the placenta’s role as an immunoregulatory organ and highlight the need for greater attention to inflammation associated with GDM in maternal and child health.

Human colostrum and milk contain diverse cells and soluble components that have the potential to act against tumors. In breast cancer, macrophages play a significant role in immune infiltration and contribute to the progression and spread of tumors. However, studies suggest that these cells can be reprogrammed to act as an antitumor immune response. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of melatonin and its receptors, MT₁ (melatonin receptor 1) and MT₂ (melatonin receptor 2), in colostrum and assess the differentiation and polarization of the colostrum macrophages modulated by melatonin in the presence of breast tumor cells. Colostrum samples were collected from 116 mothers and tested for their melatonin and receptor levels. The colostrum cells were treated with or without melatonin and then cultured for 24 h in the presence or absence of breast tumor cells. The results showed that melatonin treatment increased the expression of MT₁ and MT₂ in the colostrum cells. Furthermore, melatonin treatment increased the percentage of M1 macrophages and decreased the percentage of M2 macrophages. When the colostrum macrophages were cocultured with breast tumor cells, melatonin reduced the percentage of both macrophage phenotypes and the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 8 (IL-8). These data suggest that melatonin can regulate the inflammatory process via M1 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and, simultaneously, the progression of M2 macrophages that favor tumorigenesis.

Serotonin and interleukin 10 (IL-10) may play a role in gestational diabetes mellitus. Hyperglycemic environment, the detrusor musculature of the bladder and pelvic floor muscles may become damaged, leading to urination problems and urine viscosity in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence. Urine and blood samples were collected from pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. The serotonin concentration and cytokine IL-10 levels were evaluated in plasma and urine. In the total blood and urine, the viscosity was evaluated in the presence and absence of exogenous serotonin and IL-10. The plasma serotonin levels decreased, while the urine serotonin levels increased in the normoglycemic incontinent (NG-I), hyperglycemic continent (GDM-C), and hyperglycemic incontinent (GDM-I) groups. The IL-10 in the plasma decreased in the GDM-I group and was higher in the urine in the NG-I and GDM-I groups. The blood viscosity was higher, independently of urinary incontinence, in the GDM groups. The serotonin increased the blood viscosity from women with GDM-C and urine in the NG-I, GDM-C, and GDM-I groups. Blood and urine in the presence of IL-10 showed a similar viscosity in all groups studied. Also, no difference was observed in the viscosity in either the blood or urine when in the presence of serotonin and IL-10. These findings suggest that serotonin and IL-10 have the potential to reduce blood viscosity in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and specific urinary incontinence, maintaining values similar to those in normoglycemic women’s blood.

Background: The pathogenesis of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) integrated with pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PSUI) may be related to immunological and hormonal factors. Inflammatory cytokines influence the function and regulation of the urinary tract, and changes in melatonin concentration are a predisposing factor for smooth muscle dysfunction and cystometric changes. Objective: This study examines the influence of melatonin, MT1 and MT2 receptors, and inflammatory cytokines in the blood and urine of pregnant women with GDM and PSUI. Methods: Two hundred sixty-nine pregnant women were approached during the diagnostic investigation of GDM and answered a specifically structured questionnaire about the involuntary loss of urine. According to these criteria, mothers were divided into four groups: continent normoglycemic (NG-C), incontinent normoglycemic (NG-I), continent GDM (GDM-C), and incontinent GDM (GDM-UI). Blood and urine samples were collected to determine the levels of melatonin, melatonin sulfate, melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2), and inflammatory cytokines. Results: Blood level of melatonin and IL-10 was lower, but MT1, MT2, IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α were higher in GDM-UI compared with the NG-C group. The melatonin sulfate level was lower in the urine of the GDM-UI group compared with the NG-C group. Conclusions: Maternal hyperglycemia associated with urinary incontinence generates an inflammatory environment characterized by reduced melatonin and IL-10 and increased IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α in the blood of mothers with GDM with UI. This environmental condition may be involved in the pathogenesis of these pathologies.

O uso crescente e antibióticos e quimioterápicos com atividade antimicrobiana propiciou condições para a disseminação de microrganismos resistentes, constituindo ameaça à saúde pública e ambiental, além de criar ambiente favorável para a seleção de linhagens com resistência a múltiplos antimicrobianos. Desde que os cursos hídricos recebem parte do impacto das atividades humanas, a água pode vir a constituir importante reservatório desses microrganismos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a presença de grupos microbianos resistentes em pontos da bacia do Baixo Tietê e no reservatório da usina hidrelétrica de Ilha Solteira. Os locais de coletas das amostras representam áreas de grande utilização para atividades econômicas, recreacionais e de abastecimento. Em cada um dos três pontos de amostragem foram colhidas amostras no período de estiagem e chuvoso. A presença da ordem Enterobacterales, gêneros Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus e Enterococcus foi avaliada em meios seletivos e não seletivos. Isolados foram submetidos a testes de susceptibilidade pelo método de diluição da droga em ágar, empregando-se o ágar Mueller Hinton e um inóculo de 105 UFC. Os resultados foram submetidos ao teste Qui-quadrado e o teste de correlações de Spearman A presença de microrganismos multirresistentes foi observada na quase totalidade das amostras dos 3 pontos de coleta. Os microrganismos alvo se mostraram mais frequentes nas amostras coletadas no período de maior pluviosidade. Os resultados observados confirmam que a água dos corpos hídricos pode atuar como reservatório de microrganismos resistentes a antimicrobianos, principalmente nas regiões que recebem maior volume de efluentes urbanos.

Ciência Brasileira: Múltiplos olhares - Nutrição, Biologia, Biomedicina e Meio Ambiente (978-85-5722-655-5) - Resistência Ao Metronidazol Entre Anaeróbios Obtidos De Amostras De Água “In Natura” E De Espécimes Clínicos Bucais.