Evaluation of the Biocompatibility and Osteogenic Properties of Metal Oxide Coatings Applied by Magnetron Sputtering as Potential Biofunctional Surface Modifications for Orthopedic Implants.

Biomaterials with adequate properties to direct a biological response are essential for orthopedic and dental implants. The surface properties are responsible for the biological response; thus, coatings with biologically relevant properties such as osteoinduction are exciting options to tailor the surface of different bulk materials. Metal oxide coatings such as TiO2, ZrO2, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 have been suggested as promising for orthopedic and dental implants. However, a comparative study among them is still missing to select the most promising for bone-growth-related applications. In this work, using magnetron sputtering, TiO2, ZrO2, Ta2O5, and Nb2O5 thin films were deposited on Si (100) substrates. The coatings were characterized by Optical Profilometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Water Contact Angle measurements, and Surface Free Energy calculations. The cell adhesion, viability, proliferation, and differentiation toward the osteoblastic phenotype of mesenchymal stem cells plated on the coatings were measured to define the biological response. Results confirmed that all coatings were biocompatible. However, a more significant number of cells and proliferative cells were observed on Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 compared to TiO2 and ZrO2. Nevertheless, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 seemed to induce cell differentiation toward the osteoblastic phenotype in a longer cell culture time than TiO2 and ZrO2.

Degradation Behavior and Mechanical Integrity of a Mg-0.7Zn-0.6Ca (wt.%) Alloy: Effect of Grain Sizes and Crystallographic Texture.

The microstructural characteristics of biodegradable Mg alloys determine their performance and appropriateness for orthopedic fixation applications. In this work, the effect of the annealing treatment of a Mg-0.7Zn-0.6Ca (ZX11) alloy on the mechanical integrity, corrosive behavior, and biocompatibility-osteoinduction was studied considering two annealing temperatures, 350 and 450 °C. The microstructure showed a recrystallized structure, with a lower number of precipitates, grain size, and stronger basal texture for the ZX11-350 condition than the ZX11-450. The characteristics mentioned above induce a higher long-term degradation rate for the ZX11-450 than the ZX11-350 on days 7th and 15th of immersion. In consequence, the mechanical integrity changes within this period. The increased degradation rate of the ZX11-450 condition reduces 40% the elongation at failure, in contrast with the 16% reduction for the ZX11-350 condition. After that period, the mechanical integrity remained unchanged. No cytotoxic effects were observed for both treatments and significant differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into the osteoblast phenotype was observed.

Characterization and use in neutralization assays of avian influenza codon-optimized H5 and H7 retroviral pseudotypes.

Influenza is a relevant problem for public and animal health, with a significant economic impact. In recent years, outbreaks of avian influenza virus have resulted in devastating losses in the poultry industry worldwide, and although its transmission to humans is very rare, there is always a potential risk for an even more severe outbreak. Currently, vaccination is considered the most effective tool for the control and prevention of influenza infections in both humans and animals. The maintenance of animal welfare and the successful implementation of animal health programs depend on the timely administration of vaccines, which must comply with quality specifications indicated by health authorities; for example, the capability to ensure a minimum antibody titer. The production of viral antigens used in these tests can pose a biosafety risk, and some viral strains can be difficult to grow. Therefore, new biotechnological alternatives are required to overcome these disadvantages. In this study, we produced pseudotypes carrying H5 and H7 hemagglutinins from lowly and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. These pseudotypes were used in neutralization assays to detect neutralizing antibodies in avian sera, which were confirmed positive by inhibition of the hemagglutination test. Our results showed that the pseudotype neutralization assay is a viable alternative for the detection of neutralizing antibodies, by demonstrating subtype specificity and requiring reduced biosafety requirements. Therefore, it represents a versatile platform that can facilitate technology transfer protocols between laboratories, and an immediate application in serological tools for quality control of veterinary vaccines against avian influenza.

Dermatitis herpetiforme como manifestación extraintestinal gluten inducida en la enfermedad celíaca: estudio retrospectivo de pacientes que se asisten en el Hospital de Clínicas Dr. Manuel Quintela / Dermatitis herpetiformis as a gluten induced extraintestinal manifestation in coeliac disease: retrospective study of patients assisted at "Dr. Manuel Quintela" University Hospital / Dermatite herpetiforme como manifestação extraintestinal induzida por glúten na doença celíaca: estudo retrospectivo de pacientes atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas "Dr. Manuel Quintela"

Resumen: Introducción: la dermatitis herpetiforme (DH) es una enfermedad cutánea inflamatoria que cursa en empujes y remisiones. Es una manifestación extraintestinal de la enfermedad celíaca (EC), de la que puede ser la primera manifestación clínica(1). La enfermedad celíaca es una enfermedad sistémica autoinmune, asociada con enteropatía, desencadenada por la ingesta de gluten en individuos genéticamente predispuestos(2-4). Se ha demostrado una asociación con el HLA DQ2 y HLA DQ8 en ambas enfermedades(5). Objetivo: mostrar las características de los pacientes con DH y EC que se asisten en las policlínicas de dermatología y gastroenterología del Hospital Universitario Dr. Manuel Quintela. Metodología: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional, retrospectivo y longitudinal de una serie de casos. Criterios de inclusión: pacientes asistidos en servicios de dermatología y gastroenterología del Hospital de Clínicas, con diagnóstico de DH confirmado con histopatología y/o inmunofluorescencia directa; desde julio de 2000 a junio de 2018 inclusive. Quedaron excluidos aquellos pacientes en los que no se pudo acceder al estudio histopatológico de piel. Resultados: incluimos un total de 15 pacientes, 9 de sexo masculino y 6 de sexo femenino. La edad media al diagnóstico de DH fue de 49 años. 4 pacientes recibieron tratamiento con dapsona, con rápida respuesta de la dermatosis, sin efectos adversos graves. En 13 pacientes la DH fue el síntoma guía para el diagnóstico de EC. 5 pacientes con EC asintomática, 6 con síntomas clásicos, 4 con síntomas no clásicos.

Summary: Introduction: dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is an inflammatory cutaneous disease comprising relapses and remissions. It is an extraintestinal manifestation of coeliac disease, which can even be its first clinical manifestation. Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune systemic disease, associated with enteropathy, that is induced by the intake of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. In both diseases an association between HLA DQ2 and HLA DQ8 has been proved. Objective: to present the characteristics of patients with Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and Coeliac disease (CD) who are assisted in the dermatology and gastroenterology polyclinics at the "Dr. Manuel Quintela" University Hospital. Methodology: descriptive, observational, retrospective and longitudinal study of a series of cases. Inclusion criteria: patients assisted at the dermatology and gastroenterology services of the University Hospital, with a diagnosis of Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) confirmed by histopathology and/or direct immunofluorescence (DIF), from July, 200 to June 2018 inclusive. Patients whose skin histopathological exam could not be accessed were excluded from the study. Results: 15 patients were included, 9 male and 6 female. Average age upon diagnosis of DH is 49 years old. 4 patients were treated with dapsona, evidencing a fast response to dermatosis, and no severe adverse effects. In 13 patients, DH was the guiding symptom to diagnose coeliac disease. However, 5 patients had asymptomatic CD, 6 presented classical symptoms and 4 non-classical symptoms.

Resumo: Introdução: a dermatite herpetiforme (DH) é uma doença inflamatória da pele que ocorre em impulsos e remissões. É uma manifestação extra-intestinal da doença celíaca (DC), da qual pode ser a primeira manifestação clínica. A doença celíaca é uma doença autoimune sistêmica associada à enteropatia, desencadeada pela ingestão de glúten em indivíduos geneticamente predispostos. Uma associação com HLA DQ2 e HLA DQ8 foi demonstrado em ambas as doenças. Objetivo: mostrar as características dos pacientes com HD e DC atendidos nas policlínicas dermatológicas e gastroenterológicas do "Dr. Manuel Quintela". Metodologia: foi realizado um estudo descritivo, observacional, retrospectivo e longitudinal de uma série de casos. Critérios de inclusão: pacientes atendidos nos serviços de dermatologia e gastroenterologia do Hospital de Clínicas, com diagnóstico de HD confirmado pela histopatologia e / ou imunofluorescência direta; de julho de 2000 a junho de 2018 inclusive. Foram excluídos os pacientes em que não foi possível acessar o estudo histopatológico da pele. Resultados: incluímos um N total de 15 pacientes, 9 homens e 6 mulheres. A idade média no diagnóstico de DH é de 49 anos. 4 pacientes receberam tratamento com dapsona, com resposta rápida da dermatose, sem efeitos adversos graves. Em 13 pacientes, a DH foi o sintoma norteador para o diagnóstico de DC. 5 pacientes com DC assintomática, 6 com sintomas clássicos, 4 com sintomas não clássicos.

Epidermólisis ampollar: a propósito de un caso clínico / Epydermolisis bullosa, one clinical case / Epidermólise bolhosa, um caso clínico

Resumen: Las epidermólisis bullosas constituyen un grupo de genodermatosis infrecuentes caracterizadas por fragilidad cutánea y por la formación de ampollas o erosiones luego de traumas mínimos. Presentamos el caso clínico de una lactante de 15 días de vida a quien se le realizó diagnóstico de epidermólisis bullosa simple en base a la presentación clínica y a la microscopía electrónica. Con buena evolución. El interés del caso es mostrar una patología poco frecuente, destacando la importancia del correcto manejo desde el nacimiento y el abordaje multidisciplinario, ya que es una enfermedad con alto impacto en la calidad de vida.

Summary: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of infrequent genodermatoses characterized by cutaneous fragility and blisters or erosions after minor skin trauma. This paper presents the case of a 15-day-old breastfed infant diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex (EBS), it was based on clinical manifestations and electron microscopy evidence and had a subsequent favourable evolution. The case illustrates an infrequent disease and demonstrates the relevance of providing appropriate treatment immediately after childbirth, as well as the value of a multidisciplinary approach to the disease, since it has a high impact on the patients' quality of life.

Resumo: Epidermólise bolhosa (EB) é um grupo de genodermatoses infrequentes caracterizadas por fragilidade cutânea e bolhas ou erosões após pequenos traumas cutâneos. Este paper apresenta o caso de uma criança amamentada com 15 dias de idade, diagnosticada com Epidermólise Bolhosa Simplex (EBS). O estudo esteve baseado em manifestações clínicas e evidências de microscopia eletrônica e teve uma evolução favorável subsequente. O caso ilustra uma doença infrequente e demonstra a importância de proporcionar tratamento adequado imediatamente após o parto, bem como o valor de uma abordagem multidisciplinar da doença, uma vez que tem alto impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes.