Development of clobetasol-loaded biodegradable nanoparticles as an endodontic intracanal medicament.

AIM: The aim of current study is the development and optimization of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) to be used in the field of Endodontics as intracanal medication in cases of avulsed teeth with extended extra-oral time, utilizing PLGA polymers loaded with the anti-inflammatory drug clobetasol propionate (CP). METHODOLOGY: CP-loaded nanoparticles (CP-NPs) were prepared using the solvent displacement method. CP release profile from CP-NPs was assessed for 48 h against free CP. Using extracted human teeth, the degree of infiltration inside the dentinal tubules was studied for both CP-NPs and CP. The anti-inflammatory capacity of CP-NPs was evaluated in vitro measuring their response and reaction against inflammatory cells, in particular against macrophages. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the cytokine release of IL-1ß and TNF-α. RESULTS: Optimized CP-NPs displayed an average size below 200 nm and a monomodal population. Additionally, spherical morphology and non-aggregation of CP-NPs were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Interaction studies showed that CP was encapsulated inside the NPs and no covalent bonds were formed. Moreover, CP-NPs exhibited a prolonged and steady release with only 21% of the encapsulated CP released after 48 h. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, it was observed that CP-NPs were able to display enhanced penetration into the dentinal tubules. Neither the release of TNF-α nor IL-1ß increased in CP-NPs compared to the LPS control, displaying results similar and even less than the TCP after 48 h. Moreover, IL-1ß release in LPS-stimulated cells, decreased when macrophages were treated with CP-NPs. CONCLUSIONS: In the present work, CP-NPs were prepared, optimized and characterized displaying significant increase in the degree of infiltration inside the dentinal tubules against CP and were able to significantly reduce TNF-α release. Therefore, CP-NPs constitute a promising therapy for the treatment of avulsed teeth with extended extra-oral time.

Extensive colitis associated with ixekizumab.

We present the clinical case of a 56-year-old former smoker female, with a family history of maternal ulcerative colitis and personal history of ankylosing spondylitis treated with Ixekizumab for 3 months, who was admitted for fever, left iliac fossa pain and diarrhea without pathological products of 2 weeks of evolution. Abdominopelvic computed tomography scan identified pancolitis. Complete colonoscopy revealed continuous involvement of the proximal colon (right and transverse colon presented deep ulcerations and mucosal friability) with preservation of the terminal ileum. After many complementary tests and according to the clinical context, the diagnosis of extensive colitis associated with IL-17 inhibitor was established.

Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma of the pancreas.

We present the clinical case of a 21-year-old male with abdominal pain in the left hypochondrium radiating to the ipsilateral lumbar area and a weight loss of 2kg over a month, secondary to a large palpable intra-abdominal mass in the examination. TAC revealed a large solid mass with necrotic-cystic component which depended of the pancreas, infiltrated the spleen, enveloped the celiac trunk and affected to the splenic vases. Inmunohistochemical and molecular study confirmed the diagnosis extraosseus Ewing sarcoma (EES).

Hydrogel of Thyme-Oil-PLGA Nanoparticles Designed for Skin Inflammation Treatment.

Thyme oil (THO) possesses excellent antibacterial and antioxidant properties which are suitable for skin inflammatory disorders such as acne vulgaris. However, THO is insoluble in water and its components are highly volatile. Therefore, these drawbacks may be overcome by its encapsulation in biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles (THO-NPs) that had been functionalized using several strategies. Moreover, cell viability was studied in HaCat cells, confirming their safety. In order to assess therapeutic efficacy against acne, bacterial reduction capacity and antioxidant properties were assessed. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory and wound-healing abilities of THO-NPs were also confirmed. Additionally, ex vivo antioxidant assessment was carried out using pig skin, demonstrating the suitable antioxidant properties of THO-NPs. Moreover, THO and THO-NPs were dispersed in a gelling system, and stability, rheological properties, and extensibility were assessed. Finally, the biomechanical properties of THO-hydrogel and THO-NP-hydrogel were studied in human volunteers, confirming the suitable activity for the treatment of acne. As a conclusion, THO has been encapsulated into PLGA NPs, and in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assessments had been carried out, demonstrating excellent properties for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.

Calcium hydroxide-loaded nanoparticles dispersed in thermosensitive gel as a novel intracanal medicament.

AIM: Design, produce and assess the viability of a novel nanotechnological antibacterial thermo-sensible intracanal medicament This involves encapsulating calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 ) within polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) and dispersing them in a thermosensitive gel (Ca(OH)2 -NPs-gel). In addition, perform in vitro and ex vivo assessments to evaluate tissue irritation and penetration capacity into dentinal tubules in comparison to free Ca(OH)2 . METHODOLOGY: Reproducibility of Ca(OH)2-NPs was confirmed by obtaining the average size of the NPs, their polydispersity index, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency. Moreover, rheological studies of Ca(OH)2 -NPs-gel were carried out with a rheometer, studying the oscillatory stress sweep, the mean viscosity value, frequency and temperature sweeps. Tolerance was assessed using the membrane of an embryonated chicken egg. In vitro Ca(OH)2 release was studied by direct dialysis in an aqueous media monitoring the amount of Ca(OH)2 released. Six extracted human teeth were used to study the depth of penetration of fluorescently labelled Ca(OH)2 -NPs-gel into the dentinal tubules and significant differences against free Ca(OH)2 were calculated using one-way anova. RESULTS: Ca(OH)2 -NPs-gel demonstrated to be highly reproducible with an average size below 200 nm, a homogeneous NPs population, negative surface charge and high entrapment efficiency. The analysis of the thermosensitive gel allowed us to determine its rheological characteristics, showing that at 10°C gels owned a fluid-like behaviour meanwhile at 37°C they owned an elastic-like behaviour. Ca(OH)2 -NPs-gel showed a prolonged drug release and the depth of penetration inside the dentinal tubules increased in the most apical areas. In addition, it was found that this drug did not produce irritation when applied to tissues such as eggs' chorialantoidonic membrane. CONCLUSION: Calcium hydroxide-loaded PLGA NPs dispersed in a thermosensitive gel may constitute a suitable alternative as an intracanal antibacterial medicament.

Gel-Dispersed Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Loading Thymol Designed for Dermal Pathologies.

Purpose: Acne vulgaris is one of the most prevalent dermal disorders affecting skin health and appearance. To date, there is no effective cure for this pathology, and the majority of marketed formulations eliminate both healthy and pathological microbiota. Therefore, hereby we propose the encapsulation of an antimicrobial natural compound (thymol) loaded into lipid nanostructured systems to be topically used against acne. Methods: To address this issue, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) capable of encapsulating thymol, a natural compound used for the treatment of acne vulgaris, were developed either using ultrasonication probe or high-pressure homogenization and optimized using 22-star factorial design by analyzing the effect of NLC composition on their physicochemical parameters. These NLC were optimized using a design of experiments approach and were characterized using different physicochemical techniques. Moreover, short-term stability and cell viability using HaCat cells were assessed. Antimicrobial efficacy of the developed NLC was assessed in vitro and ex vivo. Results: NLC encapsulating thymol were developed and optimized and demonstrated a prolonged thymol release. The formulation was dispersed in gels and a screening of several gels was carried out by studying their rheological properties and their skin retention abilities. From them, carbomer demonstrated the capacity to be highly retained in skin tissues, specifically in the epidermis and dermis layers. Moreover, antimicrobial assays against healthy and pathological skin pathogens demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of thymol-loaded NLC gelling systems since NLC are more efficient in slowly reducing C. acnes viability, but they possess lower antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis, compared to free thymol. Conclusion: Thymol was successfully loaded into NLC and dispersed in gelling systems, demonstrating that it is a suitable candidate for topical administration against acne vulgaris by eradicating pathogenic bacteria while preserving the healthy skin microbiome.

Colloidal hydrogel systems of thymol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles designed for acne treatment.

Thymol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (TH-NPs) were incorporated into different semi-solid formulations using variable gelling agents (carbomer, polysaccharide and poloxamer). The formulations were physicochemically characterized in terms of size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. Moreover, stability studies were performed by analyzing the backscattering profile showing that the gels were able to increase the nanoparticles stability at 4 °C. Moreover, rheological properties showed that all gels were able to increase the viscosity of TH-NPs with the carbomer gels showing the highest values. Moreover, the observation of carbomer dispersed TH-NPs under electron microscopical techniques showed 3D nanometric cross-linked filaments with the NPs found embedded in the threads. In addition, cytotoxicity studies showed that keratinocyte cells in contact with the formulations obtained cell viability values higher than 70 %. Furthermore, antimicrobial efficacy was assessed against C. acnes and S. epidermidis showing that the formulations eliminated the pathogenic C. acnes but preserved the resident S. epidermidis which contributes towards a healthy skin microbiota. Finally, biomechanical properties of TH-NPs dispersed in carbomer gels in contact with healthy human skin were studied showing that they did not alter skin properties and were able to reduce sebum which is increased in acne vulgaris. As a conclusion, TH-NPs dispersed in semi-solid formulations and, especially in carbomer gels, may constitute a suitable solution for the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Dysphagia secondary to neuroendocrine carcinoma: a rare esophageal tumor.

We present two clinical cases, a 68-year-old male and a 55-year-old female, who are being studied for progressive solid food dysphagia. The initial gastroscopy revealed a polypoid lesion in the first case and a partially stenosing lesion in the second case. Both lesions were located in the mid-esophagus and presented a normal mucosa. Histological diagnosis confirmed an esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of large cell and small cell types, respectively.

Semi-solid functionalized nanostructured lipid carriers loading thymol for skin disorders.

Acne constitutes one of the most prevalent skin disorder affecting both skin and mental health of patients. However, no cure has been developed so far. In this area, Thymol constitutes a potential candidate since it is able to restore the healthy microbiota of the skin. However, its permeation properties cause its fast elimination and, to avoid this problem, thymol has been loaded into nanostructured lipid carriers (TH-NLCs). Moreover, to increase the suitability of these systems for skin applications, several surface functionalization strategies of TH-NLCs had been assessed. Among the different molecules, phosphatidylcholine-TH-NLCs demonstrated to be safe as well as to provide high antioxidant activity in cellular studies. Therefore, to administer these systems to the skin, functionalized TH-NLCs were dispersed into a carbomer gel developing semi-solid formulations. Rheological properties, porosity and extensibility of TH dispersed in carbomer as well as phosphatidylcholine-TH-NLCs were assessed demonstrating suitable properties for dermal applications. Moreover, both formulations were applied in healthy volunteers demonstrating that gel-phosphatidylcholine-TH-NLCs were able to increase in skin hydration, decrease water loss and reduce skin sebum. Therefore, gel-phosphatidylcholine-TH-NLCs proved to be a suitable system for skin pathologies linked with high sebum generation, loss of hydration and high oxidation, such as acne vulgaris.

Permeation Protection by Waterproofing Mucosal Membranes.

The permeability of the oral or nasal mucosa is higher than that of the skin. Mucosa permeability depends mainly on the thickness and keratinization degree of the tissues. Their permeability barrier is conditioned by the presence of certain lipids. This work has the main aim of reinforcing the barrier effect of oral mucosa with a series of formulations to reduce permeation. Transmembrane water loss of different formulations was evaluated, and three of them were selected to be tested on the sublingual mucosa permeation of drugs. Caffeine, ibuprofen, dexamethasone, and ivermectin were applied on porcine skin, mucosa, and modified mucosa in order to compare the effectiveness of the formulations. A similar permeation profile was obtained in the different membranes: caffeine > ibuprofen~dexamethasone > ivermectin. The most efficient formulation was a liposomal formulation composed of lipids that are present in the skin stratum corneum. Impermeability provided by this formulation was notable mainly for the low-molecular-weight compounds, decreasing their permeability coefficient by between 40 and 80%. The reinforcement of the barrier function of mucosa provides a reduction or prevention of the permeation of different actives, which could be extrapolated to toxic compounds such as viruses, contaminants, toxins, etc.

Acute Abdomen Secondary to Ileal Diverticulum: A Case Report.

Small-bowel diverticulosis is rare. We report the case of a male with an acute abdomen secondary to an ileal diverticulum. A 46-year-old male complained of progressive abdominal pain over 24 hours of evolution in the left flank. On physical examination, we found abdominal pain in the left flank and mesogastrium, tenderness, and signs of peritonitis. The simple abdominal CT showed a heterogeneous tubular image in the small bowel. We performed a diagnostic laparoscopy and found a normal cecal appendix. There was no free abdominal fluid or adhesions, and the colon was without diverticula. We found a single diverticulum of 4 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter in the small intestine and therefore converted the procedure to a laparotomy. We performed a bowel resection including the diverticulum and intestinal anastomosis. The patient reported remission of symptoms after surgery.

Dually Active Apigenin-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Cancer Treatment.

Purpose: Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide affecting more than 19 million people. Traditional cancer therapies have many adverse effects and often result in unsatisfactory outcomes. Natural flavones, such as apigenin (APG), have demonstrated excellent antitumoral properties. However, they have a low aqueous solubility. To overcome this drawback, APG can be encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Therefore, we developed dual NLC encapsulating APG (APG-NLC) with a lipid matrix containing rosehip oil, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Methods: Optimisation, physicochemical characterisation, biopharmaceutical behaviour, and therapeutic efficacy of this novel nanostructured system were assessed. Results: APG-NLC were optimized obtaining an average particle size below 200 nm, a surface charge of -20 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency over 99%. The APG-NLC released APG in a sustained manner, and the results showed that the formulation was stable for more than 10 months. In vitro studies showed that APG-NLC possess significant antiangiogenic activity in ovo and selective antiproliferative activity in several cancer cell lines without exhibiting toxicity in healthy cells. Conclusion: APG-NLC containing rosehip oil were optimised. They exhibit suitable physicochemical parameters, storage stability for more than 10 months, and prolonged APG release. Moreover, APG-NLC were internalised inside tumour cells, showing the capacity to cause cytotoxicity in cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.

Novel strategies enhancing endodontic disinfection: Antibacterial biodegradable calcium hydroxide nanoparticles in an ex vivo model.

Due to the high failure rates associated to endodontic disinfection, this study aimed to investigate the antibacterial properties of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with Ca(OH)2 for endodontic disinfection procedures. Ca(OH)2 NPs production and physicochemical characterization were carried out as well as multiple antibacterial tests using three bacterial strains and an ex vivo model of endodontic infection with extracted human teeth. Agar diffusion test and broth dilution determined the inhibition growth zones (n = 5) and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, n = 5), respectively. Cell viability was assessed using Live/Dead staining with confocal microscopy (n = 5). Data was analysed using ANOVA followed by post-hoc analysis. After 24 h of incubation, Ca(OH)2 NPs demonstrated a MIC of 10 µg/mL for Porphyromonas gingivalis (p < 0.001) and Enterococcus faecalis and 5 µg/mL for Fusobacterium nucleatum (p < 0.001). Although the agar diffusion test did not exhibit any inhibition area for Ca(OH)2 nor for Ca(OH)2 NPs, this was probably due to the buffering effect of the agar medium. However, the antibacterial capacity was confirmed in an ex vivo model, where instrumentalized teeth were infected with Enterococcus Faecalis and treated after 28 days of culture. A significant reduction in bacterial metabolic activity was confirmed for Ca(OH)2 NPs (40 % reduction with a single dose) and confirmed by Live/Dead staining. In conclusion, Ca(OH)2-loaded PLGA NPs present promising antibacterial efficacy for endodontic disinfection procedures.

Riluzole-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Hyperproliferative Skin Diseases.

Nanocarriers, and especially nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), represent one of the most effective systems for topical drug administration. NLCs are biodegradable, biocompatible and provide a prolonged drug release. The glutamate release inhibitor Riluzole (RLZ) is a drug currently used for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with anti-proliferative effects potentially beneficial for diseases with excessive cell turnover. However, RLZ possesses low water solubility and high light-sensibility. We present here optimized NLCs loaded with RLZ (RLZ-NLCs) as a potential topical treatment. RLZ-NLCs were prepared by the hot-pressure homogenization method using active essential oils as liquid lipids, and optimized using the design of experiments approach. RLZ-NLCs were developed obtaining optimal properties for dermal application (mean size below 200 nm, negative surface charge and high RLZ entrapment efficacy). In vitro release study demonstrates that RLZ-NLCs allow the successful delivery of RLZ in a sustained manner. Moreover, RLZ-NLCs are not angiogenic and are able to inhibit keratinocyte cell proliferation. Hence, a NLCs delivery system loading RLZ in combination with natural essential oils constitutes a promising strategy against keratinocyte hyperproliferative conditions.

Brief COPE Short Version (Mini-COPE): A Proposal of Item and Factorial Reduction in Mexican Population.

The factorial reduction of Brief COPE has not been successfully replicated by independent studies, and few have been performed in Spanish-speaking populations; therefore, the objective of this study was to perform a factorial reduction of the instrument in a large sample of the Mexican population and perform a convergent and divergent validity of the factors obtained. We distributed a questionnaire via social networks with sociodemographic and psychological variables, including the Brief COPE and the scales of the CPSS, GAD-7, and CES-D to measure stress, anxiety, and depression. A total of 1283 persons were included, most of whom (64.8%) were women and had a bachelor's degree (55.2%). After performing the exploratory factorial analysis, we did not find a model with an adequate fit and a reduced number of factors; therefore, we decided to reduce the number of items according to the most representative ones of adaptive, maladaptive, and emotional coping strategies. The resulting model with three factors showed good fit parameters and good internal consistency of the factors. In addition, the nature and naming of the factors were confirmed by convergent and divergent validity, with significant negative correlations between factor 1 (active/adaptive) and stress, depression, and anxiety, significant positive correlations between factor 2 (avoidant/maladaptive) and these three variables, and no significant correlation between factor 3 (emotional/neutral) and stress or depression. This shortened version of the brief COPE (Mini-COPE) is a good option to evaluate adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies in Spanish-speaking populations.

Psychotropic consumption before and during COVID-19 in Asturias, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Spain as multiple other countries has been experiencing an increasing and sustained trend in the use of psychotropic medications since the mid 90s. Recent studies show public health measures implemented to control SARS-Cov2, such as mobility restrictions and the shutdown of nonessential activities increased mental suffering, even contributing to a higher number of anxiety, depression and insomnia disorders that could lead to an increase in the consumption of psychotropics. The aims were: 1) Evaluate the temporal trend in psychotropic consumption by pharmacological subgroup, sex, and age group 2) Estimate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the use of psychotropic drugs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study, retrieving all prescriptions of anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives, and antidepressants dispensed in pharmacies of Asturias (Northern Spain) for Primary Care patients for the period 2018-2021. We presented the data expressed in Daily Defined Doses (DDDs) for 1000 persons/day (DHD). To estimate changes in DHDs by year and age group we conducted two multiple linear regressions (one for males and one for females) for every pharmacological subgroup studied. Changes were considered statistically significant when the regression coefficient was p < 0.05. We used the Software R 4.1.0. RESULTS: For the studied period, the highest DHDs are for antidepressants, although all of the subgroups experienced an increase in consumption rates. Women consumed more psychotropic drugs than men. In 2021, 372 out of every 1000 women were taking daily 1 DDD of these drugs versus 184 out of every 1000 men. Consumption rates for all psychotropic drugs progressively increases with age. Conversely, the biggest increases in consumption were among the youngest age groups (0-14 and 15-29 years) for women, while for men there is more variability. The regression models suggest an upward trend in psychotropic consumption during all the period, especially remarkable from 2020, for both genders and all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: - The consumption of psychotropic drugs has gradually increased over the last 4 years, with a significant boost starting in 2020 for both sexes, matching the start of the SARS-COV2 pandemic and the implementation of strict Public Health measures to contain it. - The increase observed on children and adolescents is a matter of concern.

Relationship between Sports Practice, Physical and Mental Health and Anxiety-Depressive Symptomatology in the Spanish Prison Population.

The objective of this study was to evaluate, in a group of Galician inmates, if there were variations in the levels of physical and mental health and anxiety-depressive symptomatology, depending on the sports' practice performed. The relationship between these constructs was also investigated. The sample was composed of 509 people deprived of liberty in prisons in the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain. A quantitative methodology was used, with the questionnaire as an information collection instrument, Student's t-tests, Pearson's correlation analysis and a stepwise regression analysis were carried out. The results indicated that those who performed physical activity during their stay in prison had higher levels of physical and mental health, as well as lower indicators of anxiety-depressive symptoms. People who did not practice sports showed a decrease in their perceived health levels when compared to those perceived in their pre-prison stage. A negative association was shown between perceived health levels and anxiety-depressive symptomatology. Perceived physical health, alone, explained 35% of the variance in perceived mental health. These results add to knowledge about the relationships between perceived health, anxiety-depressive symptoms and sports practice in the group of people deprived of liberty, highlighting the importance of promoting physical activity in penitentiary institutions.

Sex Differences in Mental Status and Coping Strategies among Adult Mexican Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

We performed a cross-sectional study in order to determine the association between stress coping strategies and stress, depression, and anxiety, in which the Mexican population was invited to answer these variables by an electronic questionnaire. A total of 1283 people were included, of which 64.8% were women. Women presented higher levels of stress, depression, and anxiety than men; likewise, women showed a higher frequency of some maladaptive coping strategies (behavioral disengagement and denial) and lower levels of some adaptive ones (active coping and planning); additionally, maladaptive coping strategies were positively correlated with stress and depression in both sexes: self-blame, behavioral disengagement, denial, substance use, and self-distraction. Likewise, there were negative correlations between stress and depression and the adaptive strategies: planning, active coping, acceptance, and positive reframing. For women, religion presented negative correlations with stress, depression, and anxiety, and humor showed low positive correlations with stress, anxiety, and depression. In conclusion, most adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies are common in both sexes with the exception of religion, which seems to be adaptive in women and neutral in men, and humor, which seems to be adaptive in men and maladaptive in women. In addition, emotional and instrumental support seem to be neutral in both sexes.

Antileishmanial Activity and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Malachra alceifolia Jacq. Fractions against Leishmania mexicana Amastigotes.

Malachra alceifolia Jacq. (family Malvaceae), known as "malva," is a medicinal plant used as a traditional therapy in many regions of America, Africa and Asia. Traditionally, this plant is used in the form of extracts, powder and paste by populations for treating fever, stomachache, inflammation, and parasites. However, the ethnopharmacological validation of M. alceifolia has been scarcely researched. This study showed that the chloroform fraction (MA-IC) and subfraction (MA-24F) of the leaves of M. alceifolia exhibited a potential antileishmanial activity against axenic amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana pifanoi (MHOM/VE/60/Ltrod) and had high and moderate cytotoxic effects on the viability and morphology of macrophages RAW 264.7. This study reports, for the first time, possible terpenoid metabolites and derivatives present in M. alceifolia with activity against some biosynthetic pathways in L. mexicana amastigotes. The compounds from the subfractions MA-24F were highly active and were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and by a molecular docking study in L. mexicana target protein. This study demonstrates the potential modes of interaction and the theoretical affinity energy of the metabolites episwertenol, α-amyrin and methyl commate A, which are present in the active fraction MA-24F, at allosteric sites of the pyruvate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase, aldolase, phosphoglucose isomerase, transketolase, arginase and cysteine peptidases A, target proteins in some vital biosynthetic pathways were responsible for the survival of L. mexicana. Some phytoconstituents of M. alceifolia can be used for the search for potential new drugs and molecular targets for treating leishmaniases and infectious diseases. Furthermore, contributions to research and the validation and conservation of traditional knowledge of medicinal plants are needed globally.

Use of antibiotics in Paediatric Primary Health Care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Consumption of antibiotics is high in Spain, primarily in children. Excessive use of then contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of our study is to analyse the evolution of antibiotic consumption at the Primary Health Care in the paediatric population of Asturias, Spain, from 2014 to 2021, and to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on it. METHODS: Retrospective and observational study using data about antibacterial agents for systemic use dispensed for official prescriptions to children under 14 years in Primary Care. Antibiotic consumption is expressed as defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). RESULTS: The antibiotic consumption rate dropped from 13.9 DID in 2014 to 4.0 in 2021 (ß=-1,42, p=0,002), with and inflection point in 2019. From 2019 to 2020 antibiotic use dropped by 47.1%. Antibiotic consumption remained very low from April 2020 to September 2021, and then moderately increased from October 2021. Prevalence of antibiotic use dropped from 39.9% in 2014 to 17.5% in 2021 (ß=-3,64, p=0,006). Relative consumption of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid decreased, while those of amoxiciline and third-generation cephalosporins increased. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric antibiotic consumption collapsed in Asturias in 2020, coinciding with COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring of antimicrobial usage indicators will allow to check if these changes are sustained over time.