Antiaging effects of a skin care formulation containing nanoencapsulated antioxidants: A clinical, in vitro, and ex vivo study.

BACKGROUND: The development of effective cosmetic products for the reduction of the signs of skin aging is a complex process which requires an optimized combination of ingredients and specialized systems to deliver the actives to the skin layers. AIM: To evaluate the tolerance and antiaging clinical efficacy of a cosmetic formulation containing a blend of nanoencapsulated antioxidants: ascorbyl palmitate, resveratrol, tocopherol, caffeine, carnosine, and niacinamide. METHODS: Clinical efficacy was determined by subjective and instrumental analyses of collagen synthesis by fluorescence spectroscopy, by three-dimensional imaging analysis of suborbital edema, and by analysis of skin hydration and sebum content by biophysical techniques-Corneometer® and Sebumeter®. RESULTS: The studied formulation was safe and effective for the improvement of skin appearance by increasing collagen synthesis and skin moisturizing and by reducing facial blemishes, swelling, and oiliness. A preclinical exploratory approach using an experimental model of human cell and skin cultures agreed with the observed antiaging effects, identifying mechanisms related to the containment of oxidative stress, reduction of melanin production, increased synthesis of type I procollagen, and regulation of the epidermal cohesion protein filaggrin. CONCLUSIONS: The skin benefits obtained resulted from the combination of the ingredients in the formulation and the nanoencapsulation-based delivery system, which favors the solubility, safety, efficacy, and bioavailability of the preparation to the skin.

Sleep duration and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents: Longitudinal analysis from the LabMed study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate longitudinal associations between sleep duration and cardiorespiratory fitness, in adolescents. METHODS: Sleep duration was self-reported and cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by the 20 m shuttle run test, both at baseline and follow-up (2-year follow-up). Participants were 734 Northern Portuguese adolescents (349 girls), aged 14.6 ± 1.8 years, from the LabMed study. RESULTS: Significant decreases were found between baseline and follow-up for sleep duration, whereas for cardiorespiratory fitness there was an increase. Adolescents with short sleep duration at baseline had lower cardiorespiratory fitness at follow-up, comparing to those meeting the sleep guidelines (odds ratio [OR] = 0.506, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.326-0.785; p = .002 for whole week; OR = 0.597, 95% CI: 0.407-0.875; p = .008 for weekdays). Girls who were short sleepers at baseline had lower odds of having a healthy cardiorespiratory fitness at follow-up, comparing to those meeting the sleep guidelines (OR = 0.311, 95% CI: 0.158-0.613; p < .001 for whole week; OR = 0.469, 95% CI: 0.262-0.838; p = .011 for weekdays). No significant associations between sleep duration and cardiorespiratory fitness were found for boys. DISCUSSION: There was a significant longitudinal association between short sleep duration and lower cardiorespiratory fitness levels, particularly in girls. Future interventions targeting adolescents' sleep duration should acknowledge behavioral differences between genders, as well as different behaviors adopted by boys ang girls, specifically on weekends.

Vascular Myelopathies.

There are many vascular disorders that can affect the spinal cord, and their prevalence and etiology are highly influenced by age, sex, and risk factors. This article reviews the embryology and anatomy of the spinal cord, as well as several vascular conditions, describing their clinical and imaging presentation, emphasizing the different imaging modalities' contributions to increasing specificity and better defining the most appropriate therapy strategy for improving the patient's prognosis.

"Bunch of acai berries sign": a new radiological sign in patients with CNS involvement in Chagas disease.

Chagas disease is an infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite endemic in Latin America. Acute involvement of the CNS by Chagas has been considered rare, but presumed reactivation of chronic disease in immunosuppressed patients has been the subject of recent reports. Our objective is to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of four patients with Chagas disease and CNS involvement, and the patients had to have available MRI and a diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. The imaging findings were similar, highlighting the presence of focal cerebral lesions with hypointensity on T2-WI, and these lesions assume a "bunch of acai berries appearance", a fruit involved in the transmission of T. cruzi. The post Gd T1-WI shows punctate enhancement. Knowledge of this pattern may be crucial to recognize this disease in immunocompromised patients from endemic areas.

Imaging features of neurosyphilis.

Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum. Although its incidence has declined after the widespread availability of penicillin, it has recently re-emerged, especially in men who have sex with men and in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The neurological manifestations of syphilis, generally known as neurosyphilis, may appear at any time during the infection, including the initial years after the primary infection. Neurosyphilis can be asymptomatic, only with cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities, or symptomatic, characterized by several different clinical syndromes, such as meningitis, gumma, meningovascular, brain parenchyma involvement, meningomyelitis, tabes dorsalis, and peripheral nervous system involvement. However, these syndromes may simulate several other diseases, making the diagnosis often a challenge. In addition, syphilis can also be vertically transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, leading to neurological manifestations. Neuroimaging is essential to demonstrate abnormal brain or spinal cord findings in patients with neurosyphilis, aiding in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of these patients. This article aims to review the imaging features of neurosyphilis, including the early and late stages of the infection.

Skeletal involvement in Gaucher disease: extent of bone disease, splenic volume, and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations among the extent of bone involvement, splenic volume, and quality of life in patients with Gaucher disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study of 18 patients with Gaucher disease who underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging of both femurs and the lumbar spine. Semiquantitative analyses were performed on the basis of the bone marrow burden (BMB) score. We looked for linear relationships among the variables splenic volume, quality of life score, and BMB score. RESULTS: We identified a linear relationship between the BMB scores and splenic volume. The quality of life score showed no statistically significant relationship with splenic volume or the BMB score. CONCLUSION: The linear relationship between the BMB score and the splenic volume indicates that the extent of bone disease is greater in individuals with splenomegaly. No correlation was found between the BMB and quality of life scores, illustrating the insidious and silent progression of Gaucher disease.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a correlação entre a extensão do envolvimento ósseo, o volume esplênico e a qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Gaucher. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, prospectivo e transversal de 18 pacientes com doença de Gaucher submetidos a ressonância magnética de 3-T de ambos os fêmures e da coluna lombar. Análise semiquantitativa foi feita utilizando o escore bone marrow burden (BMB). Correlação linear foi estudada para as variáveis volume esplênico, qualidade de vida e escore BMB. RESULTADOS: Uma correlação linear entre os escores BMB e volume esplênico foi demonstrada. Em relação ao índice de qualidade de vida, não foi observada correlação estatisticamente significante nem com o volume esplênico e nem com o escore BMB. CONCLUSÃO: Nosso estudo demonstrou uma correlação linear entre o escore BMB e o volume esplênico, correspondendo a maior extensão de doença óssea em indivíduos com maior esplenomegalia. Nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre o escore BMB e a qualidade de vida, indicando a natureza insidiosa e a progressão silenciosa da doença de Gaucher.

Skeletal involvement in Gaucher disease: extent of bone disease, splenic volume, and quality of life / Envolvimento ósseo na doença de Gaucher: extensão do acometimento ósseo, volume esplênico e qualidade de vida

Abstract Objective: To investigate the correlations among the extent of bone involvement, splenic volume, and quality of life in patients with Gaucher disease. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study of 18 patients with Gaucher disease who underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging of both femurs and the lumbar spine. Semiquantitative analyses were performed on the basis of the bone marrow burden (BMB) score. We looked for linear relationships among the variables splenic volume, quality of life score, and BMB score. Results: We identified a linear relationship between the BMB scores and splenic volume. The quality of life score showed no statistically significant relationship with splenic volume or the BMB score. Conclusion: The linear relationship between the BMB score and the splenic volume indicates that the extent of bone disease is greater in individuals with splenomegaly. No correlation was found between the BMB and quality of life scores, illustrating the insidious and silent progression of Gaucher disease.

Resumo Objetivo: Investigar a correlação entre a extensão do envolvimento ósseo, o volume esplênico e a qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Gaucher. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo descritivo, prospectivo e transversal de 18 pacientes com doença de Gaucher submetidos a ressonância magnética de 3-T de ambos os fêmures e da coluna lombar. Análise semiquantitativa foi feita utilizando o escore bone marrow burden (BMB). Correlação linear foi estudada para as variáveis volume esplênico, qualidade de vida e escore BMB. Resultados: Uma correlação linear entre os escores BMB e volume esplênico foi demonstrada. Em relação ao índice de qualidade de vida, não foi observada correlação estatisticamente significante nem com o volume esplênico e nem com o escore BMB. Conclusão: Nosso estudo demonstrou uma correlação linear entre o escore BMB e o volume esplênico, correspondendo a maior extensão de doença óssea em indivíduos com maior esplenomegalia. Nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre o escore BMB e a qualidade de vida, indicando a natureza insidiosa e a progressão silenciosa da doença de Gaucher.

Sleep and health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence on the associations between the sleep duration or sleep quality and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in children and adolescents aged 6-19 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- analyses (PRISMA) and was registered with the international prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO network. Three databases (PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Science Direct) were searched until October 2019 for scientific articles concerning sleep duration, sleep quality and physical fitness. RESULTS: Six articles, including 5797 participants, from 11 different countries, were included in the current systematic review. CONCLUSION: Longer periods of sleep and better sleep quality were associated with higher levels of physical fitness.

O papel da espiritualidade no enfrentamento da doença de Alzheimer / The role of spirituality in dealing with Alzheimer's disease

Objetivo: Analisar a literatura científica mais recente acerca do benefício da espiritualidade dentro do contexto do enfrentamento da doença de Alzheimer. Métodos: Revisão bibliográfica realizada por meio da busca nos bancos de dados PubMed/MEDLINE® e Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa. Foram utilizados, para a pesquisa, os seguintes descritores: "espiritualidade", "Alzheimer" e "envelhecimento". A busca abrangeu publicações do período entre 2007 e 2017. Resultados: Foram encontrados 1.430 artigos, tendo sido selecionados 89 deles pela leitura exploratória dos títulos. Destes, por meio da leitura dos resumos, foram selecionados 20, que se enquadravam nos critérios de inclusão. Conclusão: A espiritualidade corroborou de forma eficaz o enfrentamento da doença de Alzheimer, mas há necessidade de se explorar melhor essa relação, visto que o arsenal de informações literárias se encontra aquém do esperado. Deve haver uma melhor aplicabilidade das questões espirituais na prática médica, não só na doença de Alzheimer, mas como também nas comorbidades em geral. (AU)

Objective: To analyze the latest scientific literature based on the benefit of spirituality within the context of Alzheimer disease. Methods: This is a bibliographic review carried out through Pubmed/Medline®, and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases, in Portuguese and English. The following descriptors were used: "Spirituality", "Alzheimer" and "Aging". A total of 1430 articles were found through the period of 2007 and 2017, with 89 articles being selected for exploratory reading of the titles. By reading the abstracts, 20 articles met the inclusion criterias. Conclusion: Spirituality impacts effectively in coping Alzheimer disease. However, further studies should be carried out to clarify the relation between spitiruality and Alzheimer disease due to the lack of literature. It is necessary to better apply spiritual issues in medical practice, not only in Alzheimer disease but also in others comorbidities. (AU)

Surgical casuistic in dogs at a Veterinary Hospital - Piauí State Federal University / Casuística cirúrgica em cães de um Hospital Veterinário - Universidade Federal do Piauí

The objective of this report was to record surgical procedures performed in 241 dogs in a teaching veterinary hospital. There were 40 elective surgical procedures (16.6%) and 201 therapeutic surgical procedures (83.4%). The most frequent procedure was ovariohysterectomy (OH), 65% (26/40) and 24.38% (49/201), respectively, for elective and therapeutic surgical procedures. Among therapeutic surgical procedures were registered fracture reduction (16.91%, 34/201), mastectomies (13.93%, 28/201), drainage of the otohematoma (12.94%; 26/201) and ophthalmic surgical procedures (5.47%, 11/201). The high percentage of therapeutic surgical procedures conducted demonstrates the complexity of the cases attended daily in a teaching veterinary hospital.(AU)

O presente relato tem o objetivo de registrar procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados em 241 cães em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário. Foram realizados 40 procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos (16,6%) e 201 procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos (83,4%). Em ambos os casos, o procedimento mais frequente foi ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH), 65% (26/40) e 24,38% (49/201) respectivamente para procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos e terapêuticos. Entre os procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos foram registradas redução de fraturas (16,91%; 34/201), mastectomias (13,93%; 28/201), drenagem de otohematomas (12,94%; 26/201) e procedimentos cirúrgicos oftálmicos (5,47%; 11/201). A alta porcentagem de procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos demonstra a complexidade dos casos atendidos diariamente em um Hospital Escola.(AU)

Optimization of a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method followed by UHPLC analysis for fluoxetine quantification in environmental water resources.

Fluoxetine is the most prescribed drug for treatment of depression. Recently, its presence in aquatic environment has been receiving a growing interest as several studies assessed its effects on aquatic fauna. Therefore, it's important to have an analytical method capable of monitoring these compounds at low concentrations. In this study, a new method was developed based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction to preconcentrate fluoxetine in a small volume of water sample (6 mL) before chromatographic analysis using ultra high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Effect of composition and volume of extracting mixture, sample pH, vortexing time and salt addition were evaluated. Optimization of extraction conditions lead to an enrichment factor of 61 ± 18. After extraction optimization, recovery percentages of fluoxetine spiked into different water matrices between 83-110% were obtained. For the optimized method, the calibration curve was obtained in the range of 160-2500 ng/L with a limit of detection of 98.9 ng/L and a limit of quantification of 329.8 ng/L.

Imaging paracoccidioidomycosis: A pictorial review from head to toe.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease characterized primarily by pulmonary involvement and potential dissemination to other organs, mainly mucosa and skin; however, it can affect any organ in the body. Although difficult to diagnose purely based on imaging, imaging is important for diagnosis, follow-up, and assessment of disease-related complications. We provide a comprehensive review of the most notable imaging findings of paracoccidioidomycosis.