Enhancing the Green Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate: Carboxylation of Glycerol with CO2 Catalyzed by Metal Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Cerium Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The reaction of glycerol with CO2 to produce glycerol carbonate was performed successfully in the presence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported by a metal-organic framework (MOF) constructed from mixed carboxylate (terephthalic acid and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid). The most efficient were two AuNPs@MOF catalysts prepared from pre-synthesized MOF impregnated with Au3+ salt and subsequently reduced to AuNPs using H2 (catalyst 4%Au(H2)@MOF1) or reduced with NaBH4 (catalyst 4%Au@PEI-MOF1). Compared to existing catalysts, AuNPs@MOFs require simple preparation and operate under mild and sustainable conditions, i.e., a much lower temperature and the lowest CO2 overpressure ever reported, with MgCO3 having been found to be the optimal dehydrating agent. Although the yield of the process is still not competitive with previously developed systems, the most promising advantage is the highest TOF (78 h-1) ever reported for this reaction. The optimal parameters observed for AuNPs were also tested on AgNPs and CuNPs with promising results, suggesting their great potential for industrial application. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, ICP-MS, XPS, and porosity measurements, confirming that AuNPs are present in low concentration, uniformly distributed, and confined to the cavities of the MOF.

Expression profile of mRNAs and miRNAs related to mitogen-activated kinases in HaCaT cell culture treated with lipopolysaccharide a and adalimumab.

Studies indicate that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) exhibit activation and overexpression within psoriatic lesions. This study aimed to investigate alterations in the expression patterns of genes encoding MAPKs and microRNA (miRNA) molecules that potentially regulate their expression in human adult low-calcium high-temperature (HaCaT) keratinocytes when exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide A (LPS) and adalimumab. HaCaT cells underwent treatment with 1 µg/mL LPS for 8 hours, followed by treatment with 8 µg/mL adalimumab for 2, 8, or 24 hours. Untreated cells served as controls. The molecular analysis involved microarray, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses. Changes in the expression profile of seven mRNAs: dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), dual specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3), dual specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4), mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (MAP2K2), and MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2, also known as MK2) in cell culture exposed to LPS or LPS and the drug compared to the control. It was noted that miR-34a may potentially regulate the activity of DUSP1, DUSP3, and DUSP4, while miR-1275 is implicated in regulating MAPK9 expression. Additionally, miR-382 and miR-3188 are potential regulators of DUSP4 levels, and miR-200-5p is involved in regulating MAPKAPK2 and MAP3K2 levels. Thus, the analysis showed that these mRNA molecules and the proteins and miRNAs they encode appear to be useful molecular markers for monitoring the efficacy of adalimumab therapy.

Gene expression profile of mitogen-activated kinases and microRNAs controlling their expression in HaCaT cell culture treated with lipopolysaccharide A and cyclosporine A.

Studies indicate that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are activated and overexpressed in psoriatic lesions. The aim of the study was to assess changes in the expression pattern of genes encoding MAPKs and microRNA (miRNA) molecules potentially regulating their expression in human adult low-calcium high-temperature (HaCaT) keratinocytes exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide A (LPS) and cyclosporine A (CsA). HaCaT cells were treated with 1 µg/mL LPS for 8 h, followed by treatment with 100 ng/mL cyclosporine A for 2, 8, or 24 h. Untreated cells served as controls. The molecular analysis consists of microarray, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses. The statistical analysis of the obtained results was performed using Transcriptome Analysis Console and STATISTICA 13.5 PL with the statistical significance threshold of p < 0.05. Changes in the expression profile of six mRNAs: dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), dual-specificity phosphatase 4 (DUSP4), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (MAP2K2), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MAP2K7), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 9 (MAPK9) in cell culture exposed to LPS or LPS and the drug compared to the control. We observed that under the LPS and cyclosporine treatment, the expression o/ miR-34a, miR-1275, miR-3188, and miR-382 changed significantly (p < 0.05). We demonstrated a potential relationship between DUSP1 and miR-34a; DUSP4 and miR-34a, miR-382, and miR-3188; MAPK9 and miR-1275, MAP2K7 and mir-200-5p; MAP3K2 and mir-200-5p, which may be the subject of further research in the context of psoriasis.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome and Microbial Dysbiosis in Common Skin Diseases.

Dermatoses are an increasingly common problem, particularly in developed countries. The causes of this phenomenon include genetic factors and environmental elements. More and more scientific reports suggest that the gut microbiome, more specifically its dysbiosis, also plays an important role in the induction and progression of diseases, including dermatological diseases. The gut microbiome is recognised as the largest endocrine organ, and has a key function in maintaining human homeostasis. In this review, the authors will take a close look at the link between the gut-skin axis and the pathogenesis of dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, alopecia areata, and acne. The authors will also focus on the role of probiotics in remodelling the microbiome and the alleviation of dermatoses.

How far can the self be extended? Automatic attention capture is triggered not only by the self-face.

The preferential processing of self-related information is thought to be driven by its high level of familiarity. However, some behavioral studies have shown that people may exhibit a preference for initially unfamiliar stimuli that have been associated with themselves arbitrarily. One of the key questions that needs to be addressed concerns the role of early attention in the prioritization of newly acquired information associated with the self. Another question is whether both highly familiar as well as new information referring to a subjectively significant person (i.e. close-other) benefits from preferential attentional processing. We aimed to tackle both questions by investigating the neural mechanisms involved in processing extremely familiar stimuli, like one's own face or the face of a close-other, as well as stimuli (abstract shapes) that were newly linked to each person. We used a dot-probe paradigm that allowed us to investigate the early stages of attentional prioritization. Our analysis of the N2pc component unveiled that attention was automatically captured by the self-face, a shape associated with oneself, and the face of the close person. However, a shape associated with the close-other did not elicit the same attentional response, as the N2pc was absent. Thus, both the self-face and information referring to the extended self (self-assigned shape, close-other's face) benefit from preferential early and automatic attentional processing.

Dynamically Tunable Assemblies of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles Stabilized with Liquid Crystal-like Ligands in Organic Thin Films.

The process of arranging magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into long-range structures that can be dynamically and reversibly controlled is challenging, although interesting for emerging spintronic applications. Here, we report composites of MNPs in excess of LC-like ligands as promising materials for MNP-based technologies. The organic part ensures the assembly of MNP into long-range ordered phases as well as precise and temperature-reversible control over the arrangement. The dynamic changes are fully reversible, which we confirm using X-ray diffraction (XRD). This methodology allows for the precise control of the nanomaterial's structure in a thin film at different temperatures, translating to variable unit cell parameters. The composition of the materials (XPS, TGA), their structure (XRD), and magnetic properties (SQUID) were performed. Overall, this study confirms that LC-like materials provide the ability to dynamically control the magnetic nanoparticles in thin films, particularly the reversible control of their self-organization.

Mobile Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Future Application in Precision Agriculture-A Case Study.

In precision agriculture, the estimation of soil parameters via sensors and the creation of nutrient maps are a prerequisite for farmers to take targeted measures such as spatially resolved fertilization. In this work, 68 soil samples uniformly distributed over a field near Bonn are investigated using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). These investigations include the determination of the total contents of macro- and micronutrients as well as further soil parameters such as soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM) content, and soil texture. The applied LIBS instruments are a handheld and a platform spectrometer, which potentially allows for the single-point measurement and scanning of whole fields, respectively. Their results are compared with a high-resolution lab spectrometer. The prediction of soil parameters was based on multivariate methods. Different feature selection methods and regression methods like PLS, PCR, SVM, Lasso, and Gaussian processes were tested and compared. While good predictions were obtained for Ca, Mg, P, Mn, Cu, and silt content, excellent predictions were obtained for K, Fe, and clay content. The comparison of the three different spectrometers showed that although the lab spectrometer gives the best results, measurements with both field spectrometers also yield good results. This allows for a method transfer to the in-field measurements.

Tuneable Plasmonic Resonances Of A Dynamic Thin Film Of Ultrasmall Nanocrystals Modified In the Anti-Galvanic Reduction Process.

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (NPs) have revolutionized nanotechnology as they are an excellent starting substrate for the synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid materials with photonic or energy conversion applications, often with a responsive nature. However, ultrasmall NPs do not sustain plasmonic resonances, preventing their use in plasmon-related applications. In the presented work, we show a method of chemical modification of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles in order to fabricate dynamically controlled plasmonic thin films. For this purpose, we used the Anti-Galvanic Reduction process (AGR) to modify the surface of small gold nanoparticles, inducing plasmonic properties without notable size increases. Au@Ag NPs are then modified with liquid crystal-like organic ligands. The obtained NPs can assemble into densely packed films with long-range order and temperature-dependent structural properties. Namely, we detect two, fully reversible phase transitions between the hexagonal and cubic symmetries. The combination of AGR and organic surface modifications enabled us to demonstrate the possibility of managing plasmonic properties in the thin film of ~2 nm diameter metallic NPs.

Gold Nanoparticles Inhibit Extravasation of Canine Osteosarcoma Cells in the Ex Ovo Chicken Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model.

Canine osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive bone tumor with high metastatic potential and poor prognosis, mainly due to metastatic disease. Nanomedicine-based agents can be used to improve both primary and metastatic tumor treatment. Recently, gold nanoparticles were shown to inhibit different stages of the metastatic cascade in various human cancers. Here, we assessed the potential inhibitory effect of the glutathione-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-GSH NPs) on canine OS cells extravasation, utilizing the ex ovo chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. The calculation of cells extravasation rates was performed using wide-field fluorescent microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy and Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy revealed Au-GSH NPs absorption by OS cells. We demonstrated that Au-GSH NPs are non-toxic and significantly inhibit canine OS cells extravasation rates, regardless of their aggressiveness phenotype. The results indicate that Au-GSH NPs can act as a possible anti metastatic agent for OS treatment. Furthermore, the implemented CAM model may be used as a valuable preclinical platform in veterinary medicine, such as testing anti-metastatic agents.

Light-Responsive Supramolecular Nanotubes-Based Chiral Plasmonic Assemblies.

We describe the fabrication of dual-responsive (thermo/light) chiral plasmonic films. The idea is based on using photoswitchable achiral liquid crystal (LCs) forming chiral nanotubes for templating helical assemblies of Au NPs. Circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) confirms chiroptical properties coming from the arrangement of organic and inorganic components, with up to 0.2 dissymmetry factor (g-factor). Upon exposure to UV light, organic molecules isomerize, resulting in controlled melting of organic nanotubes and/or inorganic nanohelices. The process can be reversed using visible light and further modified by varying the temperature, offering a control of chiroptical response of the composite material. These properties can play a key role in the future development of chiral plasmonics, metamaterials, and optoelectronic devices.

Achiral Nanoparticle-Enhanced Chiral Twist and Thermal Stability of Blue Phase Liquid Crystals.

Blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) are chiral mesophases with 3D order, which makes them a promising template for doping nanoparticles (NPs), yielding tunable nanomaterials attractive for microlasers and numerous microsensor applications. However, doping NPs to BPLCs causes BP lattice extension, which translates to elongation of operating wavelengths of light reflection. Here, it is demonstrated that small (2.4 nm diameter) achiral gold (Au) NPs decorated with designed LC-like ligands can enhance the chiral twist of BPLCs (i.e., reduce cell size of the single BP unit up to ∼14% and ∼7% for BPI and BPII, respectively), translating to a blue-shift of Bragg reflection. Doping NPs also significantly increases the thermal stability of BPs from 5.5 °C (for undoped BPLC) up to 22.8 °C (for doped BPLC). In line with our expectations, both effects are saturated, and their magnitude depends on the concentration of investigated nanodopants as well the BP phase type. Our research highlights the critical role of functionalization of Au NPs on the phase sequence of BPLCs. We show that inappropriate selection of surface ligands can destabilize BPs. Our BPLC and Au NPs are photochemically stable and exhibit great miscibility, preventing NP aggregation in the BPLC matrix over the long term. We believe that our findings will improve the fabrication of advanced nanomaterials into 3D periodic soft photonic structures.

Cellular automata approach to modeling self-organized periodic patterns in nanoparticle-doped liquid crystals.

Elementary cellular automata provide one of the simplest ways to generally describe the phenomena of pattern formation. However, they are considered too simple to be able to describe in detail the more complex phenomena occurring in real experimental systems. In this article, we demonstrate the an application of these methods to optical systems, providing an understanding of the mechanisms behind the formation of periodic patterns in nanoparticle-doped liquid crystals. Our extremely simplified model also explains the observed linear relationship between periodicity and system size.

COVID-19-Infections and Immunization of Inmates in Penitentiary Institutions in Poland in 2021.

Susceptibility to infection and the risk of a severe course of the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 among inmates are greater than in the general population. Therefore, it is extremely important to control infections in penitentiary institutions and to vaccinate as many inmates as possible. The objectives of the study are to present the number and percentage of inmates quarantined, infected with the SARS CoV-2 virus, and vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2021, and to describe the rules and organization of immunization. The information presented in the study was obtained from the Ministry of Justice in the form of access to public information. In 2021, 2065 cases of SARS CoV-2 infection were detected among inmates, and 5707 people were quarantined. The waves of infections among inmates in Poland ran parallel to those in the general population. Immunization of inmates began at the turn of February and March 2021. It took place in accordance with the provisions of the National COVID-19 Immunization Program. The program ensured equality of the inmates' population with the group to which individual inmates belong in the community. In 2021, nearly half of the inmates were covered by the full vaccination course. Inmates were vaccinated immediately after the vaccines were made available. There have been cases of refusals among inmates. There are no data that could determine the magnitude of the phenomenon and its exact causes.

Predicting a Time-Dependent Quantity Using Recursive Generative Query Network.

We propose here a novel neural architecture dedicated to the prediction of time series. It can be considered as an adaptation of the idea of (GQN) to the data which is of a sequence nature. The new approach, dubbed here as the (RGQN), allows for efficient prediction of time series. The predictor information (i.e. the independent variable) is one or more of the other time series which are in some relationship with the predicted sequence. Each time series is accompanied by additional meta-information reflecting its selected properties. This meta-information, together with the standard dynamic component, is provided simultaneously in (RNN). During the inference phase, meta-information becomes a query reflecting the expected properties of the predicted time series. The proposed idea is illustrated with use cases of strong practical relevance. In particular, we discuss the example of an industrial pipeline that transports liquid media. The trained RGQN model is applied to predict pressure signals, assuming that the training was carried out during routine operational conditions. The subsequent comparison of the prediction with the actual data gathered under extraordinary circumstances, e.g. during the leakage, leads to a specific residual distribution of the prediction. This information can be applied directly within the data-driven Leak Detection and Location framework. The RGQN approach can be applied not only to pressure time series but also in many other use cases where the quantity of sequence nature is accompanied by a meta-descriptor.

Osteoclast-mediated acidic hydrolysis of thermally gelled curdlan component of the bone scaffolds: Is it possible?

Many biomaterials for bone regeneration have recently been produced using thermally gelled curdlan (1,3-ß-d-glucan) as a binder for bioceramics. As the human organism does not produce enzymes having the ability to degrade curdlan, it is not clear what is the fate of curdlan gel after its implantation in the bone. To clarify this point, in this research osteoclasts were cultured on the curdlan gel to show its degradation by acidic hydrolysis. The studies clearly demonstrated microstructural (AFM and SEM imaging) and chemical changes (Raman spectroscopy) on the curdlan surface caused by osteoclast culture. Moreover, degradation test in a cell-free system using HCl solution (pH = 4.5), mimicking environment in the resorption lacuna, showed great weight loss of the sample, release of glucose, and chemical changes typical of curdlan degradation. Thus, the presented research for the first time provides a strong evidence of osteoclast-mediated acidic hydrolysis of thermally obtained curdlan gel.

Successful catheter ablation of a left posterolateral accessory bypass tract and periinterventional management in a patient with MELAS syndrome.

MELAS syndrome is defined as a combination of mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes resulting from mutations in mitochondrial DNA. All medical interventions in these patients appear challenging due to a high risk of lactate acidosis or anesthesiological complications. Of note, previous reports suggest that these patients have a higher incidence of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Here, a case of successful catheter ablation of a posteroseptal bypass tract using analgosedation in a patient with MELAS syndrome combined with WPW syndrome is presented.

Biocompatible curdlan-based biomaterials loaded with gentamicin and Zn-doped nano-hydroxyapatite as promising dressing materials for the treatment of infected wounds and prevention of surgical site infections.

A topical application of antibiotic-loaded wound dressings is recommended only for chronically infected wounds with poor vascularization. Thus, more often dressing materials loaded with antibacterial metal ions are produced. In turn, gentamicin sponges are commonly used to prevent surgical site infections. The aim of this study was to produce curdlan-based biomaterials enriched with gentamicin and zinc (Zn)-doped nano-hydroxyapatite to prevent wound and surgical site infections. Developed biomaterials were subjected to basic microstructural characterization, cytotoxicity test against human skin fibroblasts (BJ cell line), and comprehensive microbiological experiments using Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. To evaluate the in vivo healing capacity of the developed biomaterials, severely infected chronic wound in a veterinary patient was treated with the use of gentamicin-loaded dressing. Fabricated biomaterials were characterized by a highly porous microstructure with high plasma absorption capacity (approx. 7 mL/g for Zn-loaded biomaterial and 13 mL/g for gentamicin-enriched dressing) and optimal water vapor transmission rate (approx. 1700 g/m2/day). Due to the presence of bioceramics, material containing Zn showed slightly higher compressive strength (0.37 MPa) and Young's modulus (3.33 MPa) values compared to gentamicin-loaded biomaterial (0.12 MPa and 1.29 MPa, respectively). Gentamicin-enriched biomaterial showed burst release of the drug within the first 5 h, while, the zinc-loaded biomaterial exhibited a constant gradual release of the zinc ions. Conducted assays showed that developed biomaterials were non-toxic against human skin fibroblasts (cell viability in the range of 71-95 %) and revealed strong bactericidal activity (99.9 % reduction in the number of viable bacterial CFUs in direct contact test) against S. aureus. In the case of P. aeruginosa, only gentamicin-loaded biomaterial exhibited bactericidal effect. Additionally, biomaterials had the ability to uptake, lock in, and kill bacteria within their gel structure, enabling the cleansing of the wound bed at every dressing change. Finally, the treatment of severely infected wound in veterinary patient confirmed the effectiveness of gentamicin-loaded biomaterial. Biomaterial enriched with gentamicin possesses great potential to be used as a dressing material or sponge for the treatment of chronically infected wounds and surgical site infections. In turn, the zinc-loaded biomaterial may be used as a wound dressing to reduce and prevent microbial contamination.

Noncytotoxic zinc-doped nanohydroxyapatite-based bone scaffolds with strong bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and antibiofilm activity.

Development of bone scaffolds that are nontoxic to eukaryotic cells, while revealing bactericidal activity still remains a huge challenge for the scientific community. It should be noted that only bacteriostatic (the ability of the biomaterial to inhibit the growth of bacteria) and bactericidal (the ability to kill >99.9 % bacteria) activities have clinical importance. Unfortunately, many material scientists are confused with the microbiological definition of antibacterial action and consider biomaterials causing reduction in colony-forming units (CFUs) by 50-80 % as promising antibacterial implants. The aim of this study was to synthesize three variants of Zn-doped hydroxyapatite (HA) nanopowder, which were characterized by different content of Zn2+ and served as a powder phase for the production of novel macroporous chitosan/agarose/nanoHA biomaterials with high antibacterial activity. Within this study, it was proven that the scaffold with a low zinc content (doping level 0.03 mol for 1 mol of HA; 0.2 wt%) revealed the gradual and slow release of the Zn2+ ions, preventing against accumulation of high and toxic concentration of therapeutic agents and providing prolonged antibacterial activity. Moreover, developed biomaterial was nontoxic to human osteoblasts and showed anti-biofilm properties, bactericidal activity (> 99.9 % of bacteria killed) against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (98.5 % of bacteria killed), and also bacteriostatic activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, the developed Zn-doped HA-based bone scaffold has excellent antibacterial properties without toxicity against eukaryotic cells, being a promising biomaterial for biomedical applications to repair bone defects and prevent post-surgery infections.

Impact of tumor size and location on endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A recursive partitioning analysis.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines provide weak recommendations to treat small (<2 cm) non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors with low Ki-67 proliferation index either by resection or clinical follow-up. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the minimal size of pNET, which allows EUS-guided biopsy with high enough diagnostic accuracy for stratification. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, bicentric analysis of patients who had undergone EUS-guided pNET sampling in two tertiary care Endoscopy Units in Germany and Poland. Using a recursive partitioning of the tree-aided model, we aimed to stratify the probability of successful EUS-guided biopsy of pNET lesions according to their size and location. RESULTS: In our pNET cohort, successful histological confirmation of a pNET diagnosis was achieved in 59/69 (85.5%) cases at the initial EUS-guided biopsy. In 41 patients with a pNET size less than 18.5 mm, the EUS-guided first biopsy was successful in 90.2%. In 16 of these patients with smaller lesions, EUS-guided sampling was 100% in very small (less than 11 mm) and extremely small lesions (less than 8 mm). The biopsy success rate was 100% in tail lesions in the size range between ≥5.95 and <8.1 mm but only 33.3% independent of the investigator in pancreatic head or body, with an error rate of 11.2% CONCLUSION: Using a recursive partitioning of the tree-aided stratification model, we demonstrate for the first time that in balancing risks and benefits, very small pNETs (<1 cm) in the tail of the pancreas should be sampled under EUS-guidance.

Analgesic Treatment and the Patients' Opinion on the Hospital Emergency Department.

Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze whether a patient's opinion is related to the effect of analgesic treatment. Methods: The study was conducted using a survey questionnaire among adult patients admitted to the hospital emergency department in March 2021. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was used to assess pain. Patients were asked to rate the intensity of pain during their stay in the emergency department in three situations: (1) at admission; (2) during the stay; and (3) upon discharge. The relationships between qualitative variables were assessed by the chi-squared test. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: There was no statistical dependence between the patient's opinion about the medical institution and results of the effectiveness of analgesic treatments (p = 0.056). The highest percentage of patients satisfied with the received treatment were those who did not feel pain during ED discharge (94.12%), and the lowest were those who complained of severe pain during ED discharge (63.91%). The average mark for the functioning and organization of the emergency department was 7.44 (±2.04). Only 54 patients (29.83%) had taken pain medication before deciding to visit ED. Conclusions: No statistical dependency between the effect of the analgesic treatment and the patient's opinion has been observed. The majority of patients with pain discomfort visit emergency departments without looking for consultation in other locations or without taking analgesics. In the considered institution, patients were satisfied with the analgesic treatment, staff performance, and with the organization of the department.