Assessment of the In Vivo Release and Biocompatibility of Novel Vesicles Containing Zinc in Rats.

This paper is focused on the in vivo release and biocompatibility evaluation in rats of some novel systems entrapping zinc chloride in lipid vesicles. The particles were prepared by zinc chloride immobilization inside lipid vesicles made using phosphatidylcholine, stabilized with 0.5% chitosan solution, and dialyzed for 10 h to achieve a neutral pH. The submicrometric systems were physico-chemically characterized. White Wistar rats, assigned into four groups of six animals each, were treated orally with a single dose, as follows: Group I (control): deionized water 0.3 mL/100 g body weight; Group II (Zn): 2 mg/kg body weight (kbw) zinc chloride; Group III (LV-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles; Group IV (LVC-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles stabilized with chitosan. Haematological, biochemical, and immune parameters were assessed after 24 h and 7 days, and then liver fragments were collected for histopathological examination. The use of zinc submicrometric particles-especially those stabilized with chitosan-showed a delayed zinc release in rats. No substantial changes to blood parameters, plasma biochemical tests, serum complement activity, or peripheral neutrophils phagocytic capacity were noted; moreover, the tested substances did not induce liver architectural disturbances. The obtained systems provided a delayed release of zinc, and showed good biocompatibility in rats.

Evaluation of Antinociceptive Effects of Chitosan-Coated Liposomes Entrapping the Selective Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist U50,488 in Mice.

Background and Objectives: The selective kappa opioid receptor agonist U50,488 was reported to have analgesic, cough suppressant, diuretic and other beneficial properties. The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of some original chitosan-coated liposomes entrapping U50,488 in somatic and visceral nociceptive sensitivity in mice. Materials and Methods: The influence on the somatic pain was assessed using a tail flick test by counting the tail reactivity to thermal noxious stimulation. The nociceptive visceral estimation was performed using the writhing test in order to evaluate the behavioral manifestations occurring as a reaction to the chemical noxious peritoneal irritation with 0.6% acetic acid (10 mL/kbw). The animals were treated orally, at the same time, with a single dose of: distilled water 0.1 mL/10 gbw; 50 mg/kbw U50,488; 50 mg/kbw U50,488 entrapped in chitosan-coated liposomes, according to the group they were randomly assigned. Results: The use of chitosan-coated liposomesas carriers for U50,488 induced antinociceptive effects that began to manifest after 2 h, andwere prolonged but with a lower intensity than those caused by the free selective kappa opioid in both tests. Conclusion: In this experimental model, the oral administration of nanovesicles containing the selective kappa opioid agonist U50,488 determined a prolonged analgesic outcome in the tail flick test, as well as in the writhing test.

First Trimester Ultrasound Detection of Fetal Central Nervous System Anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of the first-trimester ultrasound (US) features for the detection of central nervous system (CNS) anomalies. Methods/Methodology: This is a prospective one-center three-year study. Unselected singleton pregnant women were examined using an extended first-trimester anomaly scan (FTAS) that included the CNS assessment: the calvaria shape, the septum (falx cerebri), the aspect of the lateral ventricles, the presence of the third ventricle and aqueduct of Sylvius (AS) and the posterior brain morphometry: the fourth ventricle, namely intracranial translucency (IT), brain stem/brain stem-occipital bone ratio (BS/BSOB) and cisterna magna (CM). The spine and underlying skin were also evaluated. The cases were also followed during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and at delivery. FTAS efficiency to detect major CNS abnormalities was calculated. RESULTS: We detected 17 cases with CNS major abnormalities in a population of 1943 first-trimester (FT) fetuses, including spina bifida with myelomeningocele, exencephaly-anencephaly, holoprosencephaly, hydrocephaly, cephalocele and Dandy-Walker malformation. The CNS features in the abnormal group are presented. In the second trimester (ST), we further diagnosed cases of corpus callosum agenesis, cerebellar hypoplasia, vein of Galen aneurysm and fetal infection features (ventriculomegaly, intraventricular bands, intraventricular cyst and hyperechoic foci), all declared normal at the FTAS. During the third trimester (TT) scan we identified a massive fetal cerebral haemorrhage absent at previous investigations. We report a detection rate of 72.7% of fetal brain anomalies in the FT using the proposed CNS parameters. The sensitivity of the examination protocol was 72.7%, and the specificity was 100%. CONCLUSION: A detailed FT CNS scan is feasible and efficient. The majority of cases of major CNS abnormalities can be detected early in pregnancy. The visualization rates of the CNS parameters in the FT are great with short, if any, additional investigation time. FT cerebral disorders such as haemorrhage or infections were missed in the FT even when an extended evaluation protocol was used.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pulmonary Rehabilitation: From Novel Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches to Management of Post-Tuberculosis Sequelae.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a worldwide public health burden, as more than 1.3 million deaths are expected to be reported in 2021. Even though almost 20 million patients have completed specific anti-TB treatment and survived in 2020, little information is known regarding their pulmonary sequelae, quality of life, and their need to follow rehabilitation services as researchers shifted towards proper diagnosis and treatment rather than analyzing post-disease development. Understanding the underlying immunologic and pathogenic mechanisms during mycobacterial infection, which have been incompletely elucidated until now, and the development of novel anti-TB agents could lead to the proper application of rehabilitation care, as TB sequelae result from interaction between the host and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This review addresses the importance of host immune responses in TB and novel potential anti-TB drugs' mechanisms, as well as the assessment of risk factors for post-TB disease and usefulness of guidance and optimization of pulmonary rehabilitation. The use of rehabilitation programs for patients who successfully completed anti-tuberculotic treatment represents a potent multifaceted measure in preventing the increase of mortality rates, as researchers conclude that a patient with a TB diagnosis, even when properly completing pharmacotherapy, is threatened by a potential life loss of 4 years, in comparison to healthy individuals. Dissemination of pulmonary rehabilitation services and constant actualization of protocols could strengthen management of post-TB disease among under-resourced individuals.

Biocompatibility and Pharmacological Effects of Innovative Systems for Prolonged Drug Release Containing Dexketoprofen in Rats.

The present study reports on the in vivo biocompatibility investigation and evaluation of the effects of liposomes containing dexketoprofen in somatic sensitivity in rats. METHOD: The liposomes were prepared by entrapping dexketoprofen in vesicular systems stabilized with chitosan. The in vivo biocompatibility was evaluated after oral administration in white Wistar rats: Group I (DW): distilled water 0.3 mL/100 g body weight; Group II (DEX): dexketoprofen 10 mg/kg body weight (kbw); Group III (nano-DEX): liposomes containing dexketoprofen 10 mg/kbw. Blood samples were collected from caudal lateral vein one day and seven days after the substance administration, to assess the eventual hematological, biochemical, and immunological changes. The investigation of somatic pain reactivity was performed using the hot plate test, to count the latency time response evoked by the thermal paws' noxious stimulation. RESULTS: Original liposomes entrapping dexketoprofen, with mean size of 680 nm and good stability, were designed. Laboratory analysis indicated no substantial variances between the three treated groups. The treatment with liposomes containing dexketoprofen resulted in a prolongation of the latency time response, statistically significant in the interval between 90 min and 10 h, in the hot plate test. CONCLUSIONS: The use of liposomes with dexketoprofen proved a good in vivo biocompatibility in rats and prolonged analgesic effects in the hot plate test.

The Importance of the Correlation between the Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Endometrium and Histopathological Findings in Patients with Endometrial Hyperplasia and Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate how ultrasonographic evaluation of endometrium and histopathological findings are correlated in a group of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: I have studied 106 premenopausal and postmenopausal women who underwent endometrial biopsy based on results of transvaginal ultrasonography. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 52.29±8.14 years. Postmenopausal status <10 years was common in 20 patients (18.86%), postmenopausal status >10 years was common in 21 patients (19.81%), and premenopausal status in 65 patients (61.32%). Transvaginal sonography reported EH in 97 cases (91.50%) and EH was confirmed by pathology in 88 cases (83.01%). CONCLUSION: Endometrial thickness was correlated with histopathological diagnosis much better in postmenopausal women.

Corpuscular Haemolytic Anaemias - Lepore Haemoglobinopathy.

Haemoglobinopathies are hereditary conditions in which the fundamental lesion affects the synthesis rate or the structure of the globin in normal hemoglobin. The synthesis of the polypeptide chains in globin is genetically coded. Clinically, haemoglobinopathies manifest most commonly in the form of hemolytic anemia and, more rarely, cyanosis and polyglobulia. They differ from "acquired haemoglobinopathies", such as methemoglobinemia, in which hemoglobin is usually compromised due to the action of toxic substances. The clinical aspects are in close relationship to the nature and level of the structural anomaly of the Hb molecule. The heterozygous form of the Lepore syndrome is hematologically characterized by a similar pattern to minor ß-thalassemia and electrophoretically by abnormal Hb D fractions at a rate of 5-10% and a decreased percentage of HbA. In homozygous forms, Lepore Hb represents 10-20% on electrophoresis, the rest consisting of HbF; HbA and HbA2 are completely absent. From a clinical point of view, Hb Lepore heterozygotes are similar to those with minor ß - thalassemia.

The contribution of laboratory investigations in diagnosis of congenital infections.

Congenital diseases are an important indicator of the degree of development of primary health care, because primary prevention is paramount in diagnosing and diminishing the number of those types of cases. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted chronic infectious disease and with an evolution, often unpredictable. Primary prevention aims to prevent infection of the fetus, while secondary prevention aims for a reduction in the severity of sequels already installed.