Production of Blended Poly(acrylonitrile): Poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrene sulfonate) Electrospun Fibers for Neural Applications.

This study describes, for the first time, the successful incorporation of poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) in Poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) fibers. While electroconductive PEDOT:PSS is extremely challenging to electrospun into fibers. Therefore, PAN, a polymer easy to electrospun, was chosen as a carrier due to its biocompatibility and tunable chemical stability when cross-linked, particularly using strong acids. PAN:PEDOT:PSS blends, prepared from PEDOT:PSS Clevios PH1000, were electrospun into fibers (PH1000) with a diameter of 515 ± 120 nm, which after being thermally annealed (PH1000 24H) and treated with heated sulfuric acid (PH1000 H2SO4), resulted in fibers with diameters of 437 ± 109 and 940 ± 210 nm, respectively. The fibers obtained over the stepwise process were characterized through infra-red/Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The final fiber meshes showed enhanced electroconductivity (3.2 × 10-3 S cm-1, four-points-assay). Fiber meshes biocompatibility was evaluated using fibroblasts and neural stem cells (NSCs) following, respectively, the ISO10993 guidelines and standard adhesion/proliferation assay. NSCs cultured on PH1000 H2SO4 fibers presented normal morphology and high proliferation rates (0.37 day-1 vs. 0.16 day-1 for culture plate), indicating high biocompatibility for NSCs. Still, the low initial NSC adhesion of 7% calls for improving seeding methodologies. PAN:PEDOT:PSS fibers, here successful produced for the first time, have potential applications in neural tissue engineering and soft electronics.

Effects of Non-Conventional Sterilisation Methods on PBO-Reinforced PVA Hydrogels for Cartilage Replacement.

Articular cartilage (AC) degradation is a recurrent pathology that affects millions of people worldwide. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have been widely explored for AC replacement. However, their mechanical performance is generally inadequate, and these materials need to be reinforced. Moreover, to be used in a clinical setting, such materials must undergo effective sterilisation. In this work, a PVA hydrogel reinforced with poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) nanofibres was submitted to three non-conventional sterilisation methods: microwave (MW), high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), and plasma (PM), in order to evaluate their impact on the properties of the material. Sterilisation was achieved in all cases. Properties such as water content and hydrophilicity were not affected. FTIR analysis indicated some changes in crystallinity and/or crosslinking in all cases. MW was revealed to be the most suitable method, since, unlike to PM and HHP, it led to a general improvement of the materials' properties: increasing the hardness, stiffness (both in tensile and compression), and shear modulus, and also leading to a decrease in the coefficient of friction against porcine cartilage. Furthermore, the samples remained non-irritant and non-cytotoxic. Moreover, this method allows terminal sterilisation in a short time (3 min) and using accessible equipment.

Tuberculose pulmonar causada pelo uso de infliximab em paciente com Doença de Crohn / Pulmonary tuberculosis caused by the use of infliximab in a patient with Crohn's Disease

A doença de Crohn é uma patologia caracterizada pela inflamação transmural do trato gastrointestinal, compondo o espectro das doenças inflamatórias intestinais. Nos casos mais graves, dispõe de tratamento com uso de agentes biológicos e imunomoduladores que podem à reativação ou exacerbação de doenças infecciosas preexistentes. Este relato de caso trata de uma paciente do sexo feminino de 24 anos, diagnosticada com Doença de Crohn há 10 anos, evoluindo com necessidade de tratamento com infliximab e, após período de menos de 1 ano, apresentou odinofagia progressiva, dor abdominal e diarreia, além de perda ponderal, sudorese noturna e febre diária. Tomografia computadorizada de tórax evidenciou árvore em brotamento, sendo confirmado diagnóstico de tuberculose pulmonar pelo Teste Rápido Molecular no escarro e provável tuberculose laríngea e intestinal.

Crohn's disease is a pathology characterized by transmural inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, comprising the spectrum of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. In the most severe cases, treatment using biological agents and immunomodulators may be available, which can lead to the reactivation or exacerbation of preexisting infectious diseases. This case report is about a 24-year-old female patient, diagnosed with Crohn's disease 10 years ago, evolving in need of treatment with Infliximab and, after a period of less than 1 year, she presented progressive odynophagia, abdominal pain and diarrhea, in addition to weight loss, night sweats and daily fever. Chest computer tomography showed a tree in bud, and the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was confirmed by the Rapid Molecular Test in the sputum and probable laryngeal and intestinal tuberculosis.

Análise da incidência de dengue em pacientes notificados em Montes Claros entre 2017 e 2019 / Analysis of the incidence of dengue in patients reported in Montes Claros between 2017 and 2019 / Análisis de la incidencia de dengue en pacientes notificados en Montes Claros entre 2017 y 2019

Objetivo: analisar a incidência de casos notificados de dengue em Montes Claros. Método: estudo descritivo, exploratório, documental, retrospectivo, transversal, quantitativo, realizado no SINAN online da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. A amostra foi constituída por 10.879 pacientes notificados entre 2017 e 2019. O tratamento dos dados se deu por epidemiologia descritiva simples. Resultados: a incidência de casos em 2017 foi baixa, quando comparada aos anos subseqüentes. Em 2018, o aumento percentual em relação a 2017 foi de 362,3%. Em 2019, houve um aumento exponencial na incidência, de modo a atingir 912,8% em relação a 2018 e 4.592,3% em relação a 2017. Ainda, houve aumento dos casos confirmados laboratorialmente como positivos em 2019 (3,8%). Conclusão: a incidência de casos notificados para a doença da dengue mostrou-se alta em 2019 e progressivo com o tempo. O aumento sintomático dos casos mostrou-se bem altos, devendo-se intensificar o acompanhamento desses pacientes.(AU)

Objective: to analyze the incidence of reported cases of dengue in Montes Claros. Method: descriptive, exploratory, documentary, retrospective, transversal study, quantitative, carried out at SINAN online of the Municipal Health Secretariat. The sample consisted of 10,879 patients notified between 2017 and 2019. The data treatment was done by simple descriptive epidemiology. Results: the incidence of cases in 2017 was low when compared to subsequent years. In 2018, the percentage increase compared to 2017 was 362.3%. In 2019, there was an exponential increase in the incidence, to reach 912.8% in relation to 2018 and 4,592.3% in relation to 2017. In addition, there was an increase in laboratory confirmed cases as positive in 2019 (3.8%). Conclusion: the incidence of reported cases of dengue disease was high in 2019 and progressive over time. The symptomatic increase of cases was very high, and the follow-up of these patients should be intensified. (AU)

Objetivo: analizar la incidencia de los casos reportados de dengue en Montes Claros. Método: estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, documental, retrospectivo, transversal, cuantitativo, realizado en el SINAN en línea de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud. La muestra estaba formada por 10.879 pacientes notificados entre 2017 y 2019. El tratamiento de los datos fue mediante epidemiología descriptiva simple. Resultados: la incidencia de casos en 2017 fue baja en comparación con los años siguientes. En 2018, el incremento porcentual respecto a 2017 fue del 362,3%. En 2019 se ha producido un aumento exponencial de la incidencia, de forma que se ha alcanzado el 912,8% respecto a 2018 y el 4.592,3% respecto a 2017. Además, hubo un aumento en el número de casos confirmados en los laboratorios como positivos en 2019 (3,8%). Conclusión: la incidencia de los casos reportados de la enfermedad del dengue fue alta en 2019 y progresiva en el tiempo. El aumento sintomático de los casos fue muy elevado, por lo que se debe intensificar el seguimiento de estos pacientes.(AU)