Green Alternatives in Treatment of Liver Diseases: the Challenges of Traditional Medicine and Green Nanomedicine.

Over the last decade, liver diseases have become a global problem, with approximately two million deaths per year. The high increase in the mortality rate of these diseases is mostly related to the limitations in the understanding of the evolutionary clinical cases of liver diseases, the low delivery of drugs in the liver, the non-specific administration of drugs, and the side effects generated at the systemic level by conventional therapeutic agents. Today it is common knowledge that phytochemicals have a high curative potential, even in the prevention and/or reversibility of liver disorders; however, even using these green molecules, researchers continue to deal with the same challenges implemented with conventional therapeutic agents, which limits the pharmacological potential of these friendly molecules. On the other hand, the latest advances in nanotechnology have proven that the use of nanocarriers as a delivery system for green active ingredients, as well as conventional ones, increases the pharmacological potential of these active ingredients due to their physicochemical characteristics (size, Zeta potential, etc.,) moldable depending on the therapeutic objective; in addition to the above, it should be noted that in recent years, nanoparticles have been developed for the specific delivery of drugs towards a specific target (stellar cells, hepatocytes, Kupffer cells), depending on the clinical state of the disease in the patient. The present review addresses the challenges of traditional medicine and green nanomedicine as alternatives in the treatment of liver diseases.

Development of a Portland Cement-Based Material with Agave salmiana Leaves Bioaggregate.

Depending on the morphology of the natural fibers, they can be used as reinforcement to improve flexural strength in cement-based composites or as aggregates to improve thermal conductivity properties. In this last aspect, hemp, coconut, flax, sunflower, and corn fibers have been used extensively, and further study is expected into different bioaggregates that allow diversifying of the raw materials. The objective of the research was to develop plant-based concretes with a matrix based on Portland cement and an aggregate of Agave salmiana (AS) leaves, obtained from the residues of the tequila industry that have no current purpose, as a total replacement for the calcareous aggregates commonly used in the manufacturing of mortars and whose extraction is associated with high levels of pollution, to improve their thermal properties and reduce the energy demand for air conditioning in homes. Characterization tests were carried out on the raw materials and the vegetal aggregate was processed to improve its compatibility with the cement paste through four different treatments: (a) freezing (T/C), (b) hornification (T/H), (c) sodium hydroxide (T/NaOH), and (d) solid paraffin (T/P). The effect of the treatments on the physical properties of the resulting composite was evaluated by studying the vegetal concrete under thermal conductivity, bulk density, and compressive strength tests with a volumetric ratio between the vegetal aggregate and the cement paste of 0.36 and a water/cement ratio of 0.35. The hornification treatment showed a 15.2% decrease in the water absorption capacity of the aggregate, resulting in a composite with a thermal conductivity of 0.49 W/mK and a compressive strength of 8.66 MPa, which allows its utilization as a construction material to produce prefabricated blocks.

Chemsex Practices in PrEP: Beyond Addiction and Risk Toward a Healthy Sex Life-Baseline Experiences from a Hospital-Based PrEP Program in Barcelona, Spain.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a biomedical intervention that has demonstrated efficacy in HIV prevention in individuals at high-risk, among them chemsex users. Out of 190 PrEP users followed at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona until October 2020, 89% reported drug use, and 63% disclosed that they had engaged in chemsex practices, initiated in 64% of cases within the past year. Twenty-one percent used 3 or more drugs simultaneously, being GHB/GBL, nitrites, sildenafil, and methamphetamine the most prevalent combination. Eight percent reported slamming. Forty-one percent described having had negative experiences and 8% did not remember the last time they had sober sex. Methamphetamine, mephedrone, GHB/GBL, and having had open relationships, group sex, double penetration, and fisting were significantly more prevalent. Forty-nine percent admitted being worried about chemsex use, and 18% said they needed help. A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach is mandatory to enable the attainment of a healthy approach to one's sex life.

RESUMEN: La PrEP es una intervención biomédica eficaz en la prevención del VIH en personas con alto riesgo, entre ellas las personas que practican chemsex. De los 190 usuarios de PrEP seguidos en el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona hasta octubre de 2020, el 89% refirió utilizar drogas y el 63% en contexto de chemsex, iniciando el consumo el 64% durante el último año. El 21% refería policonsumo, siendo GHB/GBL, nitritos, sildenafilo y metanfetamina la combinación más prevalente. El 8% reportó slamming. El 41% describió haber tenido experiencias negativas y el 8% no recordaba la última vez que tuvo sexo sobrio. Metanfetamina, mefedrona, GHB/GBL y haber tenido relaciones abiertas, sexo en grupo, doble penetración y fisting fueron significativamente más frecuentes. El 49% refirió estar preocupado por la práctica de chemsex y el 18% necesitar ayuda. Un abordaje integral e interdisciplinar mejoraría el acompañamiento global de la sexualidad en estas personas.

Human intestinal spirochetosis, a sexually transmissible infection? Review of six cases from two sexually transmitted infection centres in Barcelona.

Human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) is a possible cause of chronic diarrhoea and affects mainly men who have sex with men (MSM) and people living with HIV. Diagnosis is based on colon biopsy, where spirochetes can be observed on the luminal surface, especially with the Warthin-Starry stain or similar silver stains. We conducted a retrospective descriptive study of all HIS cases diagnosed in two sexually transmitted infections (STI) centres in Barcelona from 2009 until 2018. The medical histories were reviewed to gather epidemiological, clinical, and diagnostic variables. Six patients were diagnosed with HIS. All the individuals were MSM, with a median age of 31.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 29.5;49.25) and half of them were living with HIV. Five patients reported condomless anal intercourse and 4 patients had practised oro-anal sex previously. Concomitantly, two of them had rectal gonorrhoea, one had rectal Chlamydia trachomatis and none of them had syphilis. The predominant clinical symptom was diarrhoea (5 patients). All cases were diagnosed by a Warthin-Starry stain on a colon biopsy specimen, and mild inflammatory changes were found in 5 cases. Five patients were treated with metronidazole and one with benzathine penicillin G. Treatment was successful in all the patients. HIS should be considered in patients with chronic diarrhoea who report risky sexual practices and/or concomitant STI. HIS may also be sexually transmitted according to the context.

Conocimientos de los adolescentes sobre infecciones de transmisión sexual: necesidad de intervenciones eficaces / Knowledge of adolescents about sexually transmitted infections: The need for effective interventions

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Hypoglycemic Activity of Tilia americana, Borago officinalis, Chenopodium nuttalliae, and Piper sanctum on Wistar Rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered the epidemic of the 21st century. Traditional medicine uses plants to treat DM; many of these have hypoglycemic effects in both animal models and diabetic patients. Our objective was to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of Tilia americana, Borago officinalis, Chenopodium nuttalliae, and Piper sanctum on diabetic rats. The methanolic extracts of the plants under study were obtained by Soxhlet extraction. Toxicity was evaluated on Artemia salina; the antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH technique. Hypoglycemic capacity at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg was tested on Wistar rats with diabetes induced by alloxan (120 mg/kg). The toxicity on A. salina was null for the extracts of B. officinalis and P. sanctum, moderate for T. americana, and highly toxic for C. nuttalliae. The relevant extract of T. americana var. mexicana showed antioxidant activity. Three plants of the studied plants showed hypoglycemic activity: Tilia Americana (p = 0.0142), Borago officinalis (p = 0.0112), and Piper sanctum (p = 0.0078); P. sanctum was the one that showed the greatest reduction in glucose levels at a lower dose.

Evaluación pre-post intervención de los conocimientos de infecciones de transmisión sexual en adolescentes / Evaluation before and after the intervention on the knowledge by adolescents about sexually transmitted infections

Objetivo: evaluar el impacto de una intervención acerca de los conocimientos relacionados con las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) y los servicios sanitarios disponibles en adolescentes escolarizados en el barrio del Raval Nord (Barcelona). Método: estudio cuasi-experimental pre-post intervención en adolescentes mayores de 14 años escolarizados en 3º y 4º de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y 1º y 2º de Bachillerato de tres centros. Variables: sociodemográficas, conductas de riesgo (11 ítems con respuesta escala Likert 0-10), uso de preservativo, inicio de relaciones sexuales, consumo de alcohol y otras drogas, conocimiento de servicios sanitarios y de las ITS. Intervención con tres unidades didácticas: conductas de riesgo y formas de contagio; síntomas, conocimiento y tratamiento de las ITS; uso de servicios sanitarios.Tratamiento y análisis de los datos: Chi cuadrado y U de Mann Whitney para analisis bivariante con variables sociodemográficas. Se calcularon intervalos de confianza al 95% de seguridad (IC95%). Resultados: se estudiaron 211 adolescentes, 56,8% mujeres, media de edad: 15,4 años. El 79,6% procedía de fuera de Europa. El 30,3% había iniciado relaciones sexuales y el 32,4% utilizaba siempre preservativo. El 61,9% no asoció nunca alcohol ni otras drogas en la relación. El VIH es la ITS más conocida (59,8%). Los hombres tienen una percepción de riesgo menor que las mujeres. Post-intervención la percepción de riesgo global aumenta, así como el conocimiento de los servicios sanitarios y de las ITS. Conclusiones: existe déficit de conocimientos de los adolescentes acerca de las ITS. Los conocimientos sobre las ITS, la percepción de riesgo y los recursos sanitarios mejoraron tras la intervención

Objective: to evaluate the impact of an intervention on the knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the healthcare services available among adolescents attending school in the Raval Nord neighborhood (Barcelona). Method: a quasi-experimental study before and after the intervention in adolescents >14-year-old attending 3rd and 4th term of Secondary School and 1st and 2nd term of High School in three centres. Variables: sociodemographical, risk behaviours (11 items with answer through the 0-10 Likert Scale), use of condoms, initiation of sexual relationships, use of alcohol and other drugs, knowledge of healthcare services and of STIs. An intervention with three educational units: risk behaviours and ways of infection; symptoms, knowledge and treatment of STIs; use of healthcare services. Data treatment and analysis: Chi Square and Mann Whitney's U for bivariate analysis with sociodemographical variables. Confidence intervals were calculated at 95% safety (CI95%). Results: the study included 211 adolescents: 56.8% were female, with 15.4 years as mean age. Of these, 79.6% came from outside Europe, 30.3% had initiated sexual relationships, and 32.4% always used condoms; 61.0% of them never associated alcohol or other drugs with their relationship. HIV was the most widely known STI (59.8%). Men had a lower perception of risk than women. After the intervention, there was an increase in their overall perception of risk, as well as in their knowledge of healthcare services and STIs. Conclusions: there is lack of knowledge among adolescents about STIs. After the intervention, there was an improvement in their knowledge of STIs and healthcare services, as well as in their perception of risk