Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Disease: Integrative Review.

Immunotherapy, especially monoclonal antibodies, has shown efficacy in modulating the inflammatory response and controlling lipidic pathways, offering new approaches for treating atherosclerotic disease. This article reviews the scientific evidence on the use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in treating atherosclerotic disease. An integrative review was carried out using the protocol Whittemore and Knafl framework and the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for systematic reviews.

Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stem cell therapy for ulcers in patients with critical limb ischemia.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) can develop into critical limb ischemia (CLI), which is characterized by resting pain at rest, ulcerations, or gangrene, with a high risk of amputation. The optimum course of treatment at this point is arterial revascularization, although this has a significant financial cost and is not always feasible or successful in reducing pain, healing ulcers, or preventing amputations. In situations where traditional alternatives for treating PAD have been exhausted, recent developments in cell therapy may offer a viable substitute.

Nebulized enriched heparin improves respiratory parameters in patients with COVID-19: a phase I/II randomized and triple-blind clinical trial.

To evaluate the safety and the potential antiviral treatment of inhaled enriched heparin in patients with COVID-19. The specific objectives were to investigate the anticoagulation profile, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, and respiratory evolution of inhaled enriched heparin. We conducted a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled Phase I/II clinical trial in hospitalized adults with COVID-19 receiving inhalation of enriched heparin or saline (placebo) every 4 h for 7 days.

Biocellulose-based hydrogel dressing as a strategy for the management of chronic arterial wounds.

Purpose: To evaluate using a biocellulose-based hydrogel as an adjuvant in the healing process of arterial ulcers.

Methods: A prospective single group quasi-experimental study was carried out with chronic lower limb arterial ulcer patients. These patients received biocellulose-based hydrogel dressings and outpatient guidance on dressing and periodic reassessments.

Deciphering Key microRNA Regulated Pathways in Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessels: Implications for Vascular Scaffold Production.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression associated with cell differentiation, proliferation, adhesion, and important biological functions such as inflammation. miRNAs play roles associated with the pathogenesis of chronic degenerative disorders including cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the influence of miRNAs and their target genes can effectively streamline the identification of key biologically active pathways that are important in the development of vascular grafts through the tissue engineering of blood vessels.

Quantitative analysis validation for sclerotherapy treatment of lower limb telangiectasias.

Background: The evaluation of sclerotherapy efficacy for lower limb telangiectasias, which is the standard treatment for such condition, is commonly assisted by scores based on before and after pictures. This method is marked by its subjectivity, which impairs the precision of studies on the subject, making it unfeasible to evaluate and compare different interventions. We hypothesize that a quantitative method for evaluating the effectiveness of sclerotherapy for lower limb telangiectasias may present more reproducible results.

Evaluation of Biointegration and Inflammatory Response to Blood Vessels Produced by Tissue Engineering-Experimental Model in Rabbits.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the main cause of mortality in the western population and requires surgical intervention with the use of vascular substitutes, such as autologous veins or Dacron or PTFE prostheses. When this is not possible, it progresses to limb amputation. For cases where there is no autologous vascular substitute, tissue engineering with the production of neovessels may be a promising option.

Urinary Bladder Patch Made with Decellularized Vein Scaffold Seeded with Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Model in Rabbits.

Background: To evaluate tissue regeneration of the urinary bladder after the implantation of a decellularized vein sown with autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) on luminal surfaces.

Methods: New Zealand rabbits ( = 10) were distributed in two groups: Group Bioscaffold alone (G1)-decellularized vena cava (1 cm) was implanted, and Group Bioscaffold plus ACSs (G2)-decellularized vena cava (1 cm) containing ASCs were implanted. ASCs were expanded, characterized, and maintained for one week in culture with a decellularized vein scaffold.

Nebulized enriched heparin to treat no critical patients with Sars-Cov-2: Triple-blind clinical trial.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral respiratory disease that spreads rapidly, reaching pandemic status, causing the collapse of numerous health systems, and a strong economic and social impact. The treatment so far has not been well established and there are several clinical trials testing known drugs that have antiviral activity, due to the urgency that the global situation imposes. Drugs with specific mechanisms of action can take years to be discovered, while vaccines may also take a long time to be widely distributed while new virus variants emerge.

Quantification of adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells spread on decellularized vein scaffold.

Purpose: To evaluate methods that improve adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) population in decellularized biological venous scaffold for tissue engineering in blood vessels, a model in rabbits.

Methods: The ASC was expanded until the third passage. Inferior vena cava (IVC) was submitted to the decellularization process using 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or 2% sodium deoxycholate (SD) to compose 12 study groups (G): pure SD or SDS, exposed or not to 1% TritonX-100 (TX-100) and exposed or not to poly-l'lysine and laminin (PL).

Association between deep vein thrombosis and stent patency in symptomatic iliac vein compression syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The study intended to evaluate stent primary patency rates for patients with iliac vein obstruction related with iliac vein compression syndrome according to clinic presentation.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of studies that compared: unexposed patients with nonthrombotic iliac vein lesion (NIVL, group 1) vs exposed patients with iliac acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT, group 2); and NIVL (group 1) vs exposed patients with iliac vein obstruction and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS, group 3). The following databases were searched: EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO, and LILACS.