http://bdtd.uftm.edu.br/handle/tede/433 2026-09-21T17:53:32Z http://bdtd.uftm.edu.br/handle/123456789/2123 Título: Avaliação das alterações renais induzidas por álcool e tabaco em modelos experimentais e biópsias humanas Abstract: Alcohol consumption and smoking are important risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying renal injury resulting from isolated or combined exposure remain incompletely understood. This study investigated, from a translational perspective, the effects of alcohol and cigarette smoke on renal function and structure by integrating an experimental model with human clinicopathological data. This was a quantitative, exploratory, and analytical study with an experimental and epidemiological design. A total of 197 human renal biopsies from the biobank of the Kidney Research Center (CePRim) were analyzed, correlating histopathological findings with exposure profiles and associated comorbidities. In parallel, female Wistar rats were allocated to Control, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Alcohol + Tobacco groups (n = 12/group) and underwent biochemical, functional, histological, and renal cytokine assessments. In the experimental model, combined exposure resulted in lower body weight gain, reduced serum urea (p < 0.001), and increased plasma AST (p < 0.0001), in addition to reduced creatinine clearance in all exposed groups (p < 0.0001), increased 24-hour proteinuria, and tubulointerstitial alterations, including mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, tubular atrophy, and early fibrotic remodeling. In the clinical assessment, systemic arterial hypertension showed a high prevalence in the combined-exposure group (71.4%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that alcohol consumption and smoking were not independent predictors of advanced structural renal injury; however, alcohol consumption was independently associated with greater severity of mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in females (OR = 4.98; p = 0.028). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM), in turn, were the main determinants of tubular atrophy (OR = 2.08 and OR = 3.02, respectively) and interstitial fibrosis (OR = 2.04 and OR = 2.66, respectively), while hypertension was also associated with reduced creatinine clearance (OR = 2.53). In conclusion, alcohol and tobacco may act as renal sensitizing factors, promoting early inflammatory and tubulointerstitial alterations, whereas the consolidation of structural and functional renal damage appears to be predominantly associated with the coexistence of metabolic and hemodynamic comorbidities, particularly hypertension and DM. Tipo: Dissertação 2026-08-03T00:00:00Z http://bdtd.uftm.edu.br/handle/123456789/2121 Título: Fosfogesso induz alterações comportamentais em peixe-zebra (Danio rerio) Abstract: The increase in global demand for food has driven the use of fertilizers, resulting in the large-scale generation of phosphogypsum, an industrial byproduct often stored outdoors and with the potential to impact ecosystems. Despite growing environmental concerns associated with this waste, studies investigating its neurobehavioral effects are still scarce, especially regarding locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, and social interaction. This study looked at the effects of phosphogypsum on the physical-chemical parameters of water and the behavioral responses of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) after subacute exposure (7 to 10 days) and prolonged exposure (28 to 31 days) to phosphogypsum. The animals were exposed to three concentrations of phosphogypsum (0.025, 0.1, and 0.4 g/L), in addition to a control group. Novel tank, light/dark, and social preference tests were conducted to assess locomotion, anxiety-like behavior, and social interaction, respectively. The procedures and behavioral analyses were conducted blind to group allocation. The addition of phosphogypsum changed the water characteristics in a concentration-dependent way, causing at 0.4 g/L a 9% decrease in pH, a 171% increase in conductivity, a 412.5% increase in hardness, and a 16.9% increase in turbidity. Regarding behavior, subacute exposure led to anxiety-like behavior in the light/dark test, and in the social preference test, a reduced preference for the interaction zone at 0.4 g/L. On the other hand, prolonged exposure resulted in increased locomotor activity at the highest concentration and reduced anxiety-like behavior at the lowest concentration (0.025 g/L) in the novel tank test. The results show that phosphogypsum causes physico-chemical changes in the aquatic environment and triggers neurobehavioral responses depending on the concentration and exposure time, highlighting the sensitivity of zebrafish for assessing the ecotoxicological effects of this waste. These findings emphasize the need for strategies for monitoring, management, and environmentally proper disposal of this waste. Tipo: Dissertação 2026-07-21T00:00:00Z http://bdtd.uftm.edu.br/handle/123456789/2103 Título: Novo protocolo de maturação de células dendríticas: linfócitos T e fatores de transcrição em metástases pulmonares de modelo experimental de carcinoma mamário Abstract: Lung metastasis is a major contributor to mortality in breast cancer patients, accounting for more than 90% of disease-related deaths. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in the activation of T lymphocytes against tumours, and their plasticity is modulated by stimuli received during maturation and by the tumour microenvironment. This makes DC-based immunotherapy a promising approach in the treatment of breast cancer and its complications, such as lung metastases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an alternative DC maturation protocol for immunotherapy using IL-12 and RANTES stimuli on tumour volume, reduction of lung metastases, lymphocyte infiltration and the prevalence of helper lymphocyte activation profiles. The biological effects of treatment with 4T1 in BALB/c mice with mammary carcinoma were demonstrated primarily by the reduction of lung metastases, quantified by the haematoxylin and eosin technique. Analysis of lung metastatic areas showed a significant reduction in the group treated with the alternative protocol (GP2) with an average of 1203.33 μm² compared to the tumour group (81052.5 μm²), with a p-value <0.0001 between the comparisons. Flow cytometric analysis of T lymphocyte infiltration in the tumour showed that the alternative protocol significantly increased the amount of helper lymphocytes, with a mean of 32.37 (MFI) compared to the GT (21.50) and GP1 (21.78) groups, with p-values <0.0001. Quantification of the transcription factors T-bet, GATA3, FOXP3 and RORγt in the tumour microenvironment showed that this protocol promotes a more profound modulation of the Th1 and Th17 pathways. Evaluation of cytotoxic and helper T lymphocytes in the lung showed that both treatments were effective in reducing inflammation-associated T cell infiltration. However, the animals treated with the alternative protocol showed a slight advantage in the reduction of transcription factors related to inflammation and immune regulation, such as T-bet, GATA3, FOXP3 and RORγt. Thus, the study highlights the importance of DCs in the induction of anti-tumour immune responses and suggests that the alternative protocol may be an effective strategy for modulating the immune response, thereby contributing to limiting the progression of lung metastases in breast cancer. Tipo: Dissertação 2025-02-18T00:00:00Z http://bdtd.uftm.edu.br/handle/123456789/2088 Título: Os efeitos da equoterapia na marcha, equilíbrio, força e atividade elétrica dos músculos tibial anterior e gastrocnêmio bilaterais em idosos Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Studies indicate that around 20% of the elderly population experience falls annually, which compromises their independence and increases functional limitations. This highlights the need for therapeutic programs that promote muscle strength and balance in this population. Equine-assisted therapy, by using the horse as a therapeutic resource, offers biopsychosocial benefits similar to those of aerobic and resistance exercises, helping to reduce the deleterious effects of aging. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of equine-assisted therapy on variables such as gait, balance, strength, and lower limb muscle activity in healthy elderly women, assessed before the first session, after the 8th, and after the 16th. METHODOLOGY: The study included 9 healthy women, divided into an Experimental Group (n = 5, mean age 69.2 ± 5.4 years) and a Control Group (n = 4, mean age 67.5 ± 10.1 years). Variables related to gait and balance were assessed using the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), static and dynamic balance was evaluated through the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), muscle strength was measured using dorsal dynamometry, and lower limb muscle electrical activity was recorded by electromyography. RESULTS: The DGI did not show statistically significant differences, while the Berg Balance Scale revealed improved scores in the Experimental Group at the 2nd (p=0.031) and 3rd (p=0.021) assessments. Dynamometry did not identify differences between groups, but electromyography showed increased activation of the medial gastrocnemius muscles on both right and left sides during dynamic phases, especially at the thirtieth minute. CONCLUSION: The Berg Scale showed benefits in the balance of the Experimental Group over time, while electromyographic analysis revealed greater activation of the gastrocnemius muscles during dynamic phases, suggesting that equine-assisted therapy contributes to improvements in stability and muscle activation in elderly individuals. Tipo: Dissertação 2025-07-15T00:00:00Z