RESUMO
Women have always played an important role in the development of toxicology all over the world. Specifically in Brazil, toxicology has had greater female representation than other countries, but women's participation at high hierarchical levels is low. Although more than 62% of the members of the Brazilian Society of Toxicology are women, only 7 out of the 22 presidents have been women throughout its 48 years of existence. This article aims to celebrate women in the field of toxicology in Brazil, based on interviews with five of these scientists who have changed the field of toxicology in Brazil as we know it today, each in their specific sub-areas. These women are: Dr. Ester de Camargo Fonseca Moraes, Dr. Silvia Berlanga de Moraes Barros, Dr. Alice Aparecida da Matta Chasin, Dr. Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro, and Dr. Tania Marcourakis. They are not only pioneers but they are also examples of admirable persistence in fighting the adversities presented to them. They broke the glass ceiling and opened doors for future generations of women in science. We hope that this article helps inspire women in their careers in toxicology.
Assuntos
Toxicologia , Brasil , Feminino , Humanos , Toxicologia/tendênciasRESUMO
Women have always played an important role in the development of toxicology all over the world. Specifically in Brazil, toxicology has had greater female representation than other countries, but women's participation at high hierarchical levels is low. Although more than 62% of the members of the Brazilian Society of Toxicology are women, only 7 out of the 22 presidents have been women throughout its 48 years of existence. This article aims to celebrate women in the field of toxicology in Brazil, based on interviews with five of these scientists who have changed the field of toxicology in Brazil as we know it today, each in their specific sub-areas. These women are: Dr. Ester de Camargo Fonseca Moraes, Dr. Silvia Berlanga de Moraes Barros, Dr. Alice Aparecida da Matta Chasin, Dr. Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro, and Dr. Tania Marcourakis. They are not only pioneers but they are also examples of admirable persistence in fighting the adversities presented to them. They broke the glass ceiling and opened doors for future generations of women in science. We hope that this article helps inspire women in their careers in toxicology.
Assuntos
Humanos , Feminino , Toxicologia/tendências , BrasilRESUMO
Current strategies for brain diseases are mostly symptomatic and noncurative. Nanotechnology has the potential to facilitate the transport of drugs across the blood-brain barrier and to enhance their pharmacokinetic profile. However, to reach clinical application, an understanding of nanoneurotoxicity in terms of oxidative stress and inflammation is required. Emerging evidence has also shown that nanoparticles have the ability to alter autophagy, which can induce inflammation and oxidative stress, or vice versa. These effects may increase neurodegenerative processes damage, but on the other hand, they may have benefits for brain cancer therapies. In this review, we emphasize how nanomaterials may induce neurotoxic effects focusing on neurodegeneration, and how these effects could be exploited toward brain cancer treatment.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamento farmacológico , Nanocápsulas/administração & dosagem , Nanocápsulas/efeitos adversos , Doenças Neurodegenerativas/induzido quimicamente , Doenças Neurodegenerativas/prevenção & controle , Animais , Desenho de Fármacos , Humanos , Nanomedicina/tendências , Medição de Risco , Toxicologia/tendênciasRESUMO
It has long been recognized that snake venom serine proteinases (SVSPs) affect various physiological functions including blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, blood pressure and platelet aggregation. Therefore, SVSPs have been used as refined tools to study molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of key factors that control hemostasis and as therapeutic agents in various thrombotic and hemostatic conditions. The aim of this review is to highlight the state of our knowledge on the advances made in SVSP research since the 18th century. It includes the personal accounts of some distinguished scientists that addressed specific problems and contributed to advance the field.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Répteis/química , Serina Proteases/química , Venenos de Serpentes/enzimologia , Animais , Batroxobina/química , Batroxobina/genética , Batroxobina/farmacologia , Coagulação Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Cristalografia por Raios X , Mamíferos/sangue , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Protrombina/química , Proteínas de Répteis/genética , Proteínas de Répteis/farmacologia , Análise de Sequência de Proteína , Serina Proteases/genética , Serina Proteases/isolamento & purificação , Serina Proteases/farmacologia , Toxicologia/tendênciasRESUMO
In Africa, snakebites and scorpion stings have long been oppressive for indigenous peoples, frightening for foreign travelers and confusing for medical personnel... In many tropical countries, studies were performed to assess the importance and management of envenomations. Since the 18th century, many works have addressed Indian venomous snakes and treatment of their bites (1, 2). In Brazil, studies began in the late 19th century (3). In Africa, apart from some systematic zoological studies in the early or mid 20th century, sustained research commenced mainly after the end of the colonial era (4-8). However to date, the incidence and mortality in Africa remain poorly known, limiting the organization of management and prediction of therapeutic needs (9). The development of research on venomous animals, venoms and envenomation truly started in North Africa in the 1960s, followed in sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1970s. The number of published studies increased significantly over the past decade, particularly with regard to sub-Saharan Africa. Considering the publications indexed in major bibliographic databases either printed (Bulletin de l'Institut Pasteur since 1903, Tropical Diseases Bulletin since 1912, Bulletin Signalétique du CNRS since 1940) or online (Pascal since 1971, Medline since 1972), the number of publications, excluding books, increased almost fivefold compared to the 1970s showing the emergence of the first African teams involved in research toxinology (Figure 1). However, publishing articles is highly dependent on congresses which are opportunities to present works completed by researchers and explain why the level of publications is so irregular from one year to the next... In addition, it should be emphasized that the clinical and epidemiological studies represent more than two thirds of published works.(AU)
Assuntos
Mordeduras de Serpentes , Toxicologia/tendências , Estudos EpidemiológicosRESUMO
Toxinology in Brazil developed specially during the 19th and 20th centuries. A very brief description of the main contributions made by pioneer toxinologists is presented here in an attempt to give an idea of the evolution of toxinology in our country, from its first steps until the XVI World Congress of the International Society on Toxinology, held in Recife, Brazil in March of 2009.