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Food fortification with micronutrients was initially justified in developed countries by a lack of availability of micronutrients in staple crops, mainly due to soil exhaustion. However, in Sub-Saharan arable lands, soil fatigue is not predominant, and communities consume mostly home-grown, organic, non-processed crops. Sub-Saharan food systems are nevertheless deeply entwined with food insecurity, driver of illnesses. Family production can promote subsistence, food stability, and self-sufficiency, the main SSA setback being the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of dietary variety, contributing to malnutrition. Poverty reduction and women's education are significant strategies for reducing child and adolescent undernourishment. Fortification of foods consumed daily by individuals makes sense and can minimize, if not entirely, eliminate deficiencies. Compulsory mass fortification of foods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with single micronutrients is, however, controversial since they work in synergy among each other and with the food matrix, for optimal absorption and metabolism. Since the causes of malnutrition are many, caused by diverse, unequal, and unjust food distribution, interrelated with political, social, cultural, or economic factors, education status of the population, season and climatic changes, and effectiveness of nutrition programs, just food fortification cannot solve the composite of all these elements. Further, compulsory fortification is excessive, unproductive, and likely harmful to human health, while many challenges remain in assessing the quality of available premixes. Furthermore, aiming at dietary diversification is the best approach of increasing trace element intake from commonly accessible and easily available food sources.
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Water pollution is a major environmental challenge. Due to the inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatment plants in degrading many organic complex compounds, these recalcitrant pollutants end up in rivers, lakes, oceans and other bodies of water, affecting the environment and human health. Semiconductor photocatalysis is considered an efficient complement to conventional methods, and the use of various nanomaterials for this purpose has been widely explored, with a particular focus on improving their activity under visible light. This work focuses on developing magnetic and photoactive zinc/magnesium mixed ferrites (Zn0.5Mg0.5Fe2O4) by sol-gel and solvothermal synthesis methods, which are two of the most important and efficient methods used for the synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles. The nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by the sol-gel method exhibited an average size of 14.7 nm, while those synthesized by the solvothermal method had an average size of 17.4 nm. Both types possessed a predominantly cubic structure and demonstrated superparamagnetic behavior, reaching a magnetization saturation value of 60.2 emu g-1. Due to the high recombination rate of electrons/holes, which is an intrinsic feature of ferrites, surface functionalization with silver was carried out to enhance charge separation. The results demonstrated a strong influence of adsorption and of the deposition of silver. Several optimization steps were performed during synthesis, allowing us to create efficient catalysts, as proved by the almost full removal of the dye malachite green attaining 95.0% (at a rate constant of 0.091 min-1) and 87.6% (at a rate constant of 0.017 min-1) using NPs obtained by the sol-gel and solvothermal methods, respectively. Adsorption in the dark accounted for 89.2% of the dye removal for nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel and 82.8% for the ones obtained by the solvothermal method. These results make mixed zinc/magnesium ferrites highly promising for potential industrial application in effluent photoremediation using visible light.
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This work reports on the design, development, and characterization of novel magneto-plasmonic elastic liposomes (MPELs) of DPPC:SP80 (85:15) containing Mg0.75Ca0.25Fe2O4 nanoparticles coupled with gold nanorods, for topical application of photothermal therapy (PTT). Both magnetic and plasmonic components were characterized regarding their structural, morphological, magnetic and photothermal properties. The magnetic nanoparticles display a cubic shape and a size (major axis) of 37 ± 3 nm, while the longitudinal and transverse sizes of the nanorods are 46 ± 7 nm and 12 ± 1.6 nm, respectively. A new methodology was employed to couple the magnetic and plasmonic nanostructures, using cysteine as bridge. The potential for photothermia was evaluated for the magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanorods and the coupled magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles, which demonstrated a maximum temperature variation of 28.9 °C, 33.6 °C and 37.2 °C, respectively, during a 30 min NIR-laser irradiation of 1 mg/mL dispersions. Using fluorescence anisotropy studies, a phase transition temperature (Tm) of 35 °C was estimated for MPELs, which ensures an enhanced fluidity crucial for effective crossing of the skin layers. The photothermal potential of this novel nanostructure corresponds to a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 616.9 W/g and a maximum temperature increase of 33.5 °C. These findings point to the development of thermoelastic nanocarriers with suitable features to act as photothermal hyperthermia agents.
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BACKGROUND: Patients with critical illness often survive the intensive care unit (ICU) at a cost of prolonged length of stay (LOS) and slow recovery. This chronic critically ill disease may lead to long-term poor outcomes, especially in older or frail patients. OBJECTIVES: The main goal of this study was to address the characteristics and outcomes of patients with prolonged ICU LOS. Mainly, short- and long-term admissions were compared to identify risk factors for persistent critical illness and to characterise the impact on ICU, hospital, and long-term mortality. METHODS: Subanalysis of a retrospective, multicentric, observational study addressing the 2-year outcome of patients admitted to Portuguese ICUs (the Cimba study). Patients were segregated according to an ICU LOS of ≥14 days. RESULTS: Data from 37 118 patients were analysed, featuring a median ICU LOS of 4 days (percentile: 25-75 2-9), and a mortality of 16.1% in the ICU, 24.0% in the hospital, and 38.7% after 2 years. A total of 5334 patients (14.4%) had an ICU LOS of ≥14 days (corresponding to 48.9% of all ICU patients/days). Patients with prolonged LOS were more often younger (52.8% vs 46.4%, were ≤65 years of age , p < 0.001), although more severe (Simplified Acute Physiology Score II: 49.1 ± 16.9 vs 41.8 ± 19.5, p < 0.001), and had higher ICU and hospital mortality (18.3% vs 15.7%, and 31.2 vs 22.8%, respectively). Prolonged ICU LOS was linked to an increased risk of dying during the 2-year follow-up (adjusted Cox proportional hazard: 1.65, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Prolonged LOS is associated with a long-term impact on patient prognosis. More careful planning of care should incorporate these data.
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Enfermedad Crítica , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Tiempo de Internación , Humanos , Tiempo de Internación/estadística & datos numéricos , Masculino , Femenino , Enfermedad Crítica/mortalidad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Anciano , Portugal/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Factores de Riesgo , Factores de Edad , Anciano de 80 o más AñosRESUMEN
In recent decades, the global demographic landscape has undergone a discernible shift that has been characterised by a progressive increase in the proportion of elderly individuals, indicative of an enduring global inclination toward extended lifespans. The aging process, accompanied by physiological changes and dietary patterns, contributes to detrimental deviations in micronutrient consumption. This vulnerable aging population faces heightened risks, including dental caries, due to structural and functional modifications resulting from insufficient nutritional sustenance. Factors such as physiological changes, inadequate nutrition, and the prevalence of multiple chronic pathologies leading to polypharmacy contribute to the challenge of maintaining an optimal nutritional status. This scenario increases the likelihood of drug interactions, both between medications and with nutrients and the microbiome, triggering complications such as dental decay and other pathologies. Since the drug industry is evolving and new types of food, supplements, and nutrients are being designed, there is a need for further research on the mechanisms by which drugs interfere with certain nutrients that affect homeostasis, exemplified by the prevalence of caries in the mouths of older adults. Infectious diseases, among them dental caries, exert serious impacts on the health and overall quality of life of the elderly demographic. This comprehensive review endeavours to elucidate the intricate interplay among drugs, nutrients, the microbiome, and the oral cavity environment, with the overarching objective of mitigating the potential hazards posed to both the general health and dental well-being of older adults. By scrutinising and optimising these multifaceted interactions, this examination aims to proactively minimise the susceptibility of the elderly population to a spectrum of health-related issues and the consequences associated with dental decay.
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Caries Dental , Calidad de Vida , Humanos , Anciano , Caries Dental/epidemiología , Suplementos Dietéticos , Interacciones Alimento-Droga , NutrientesRESUMEN
Background: Lecturers face a large wide of occupational stressors. If the prolonged stress and the symptomatology associated with the working conditions to which lecturers were exposed were already a concern before the pandemic, the pandemic may have exacerbated this psychosocial vulnerability. Burnout is a psychological syndrome that develops in response to chronic work stress. This study aims to describe burnout amongst lecturers working in Portugal and to analyse potential determinants of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using an online questionnaire distributed via social networks. The survey collected sociodemographic and sleep patterns data in addition to applying the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (personal, work- and student-related burnout), the Resilience Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results: The sample included 331 lecturers from 35 different colleges and faculties. Three significant models explained personal (R2 = 54%), work- (R2 = 47%) and student- (R2 = 19%) related burnout. Lower levels of resilience and higher levels of depression and stress were significantly associated with personal and work-related burnout. Changes in sleep patterns were additionally associated with both personal and work-related burnout. Conclusion: Higher education institutions must recognize the impact of the work environment and organizational culture on faculty mental health and take proactive measures to improve this environment. These institutions can implement support strategies such as educational technology training, professional development programmes, emotional support resources, and workload flexibility. Implementing measures to enhance lecturers' resilience and overall life satisfaction could potentially help mitigate burnout and improve the well-being of educators, ultimately contributing to the overall quality of education.
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Nanotechnology has provided a new insight into cancer treatment by enabling the development of nanocarriers for the encapsulation, transport, and controlled release of antitumor drugs at the target site. Among these nanocarriers, magnetic nanosystems have gained prominence. This work presents the design, development, and characterization of magnetoliposomes (MLs), wherein superparamagnetic nanoparticles are coupled to the lipid surface. For this purpose, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)-functionalized Ca0.25Mg0.75Fe2O4 superparamagnetic nanoparticles were prepared for the first time. The magnetic nanoparticles demonstrated a cubic shape with an average size of 13.36 nm. Furthermore, their potential for photothermal hyperthermia was evaluated using 4 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL, and 1 mg/mL concentrations of NPs@DMSA, which demonstrated a maximum temperature variation of 20.4 °C, 11.4 °C, and 7.3 °C, respectively, during a 30 min NIR-laser irradiation. Subsequently, these nanoparticles were coupled to the lipid surface of DPPC/DSPC/CHEMS and DPPC/DSPC/CHEMS/DSPE-PEG-based MLs using a new synthesis methodology, exhibiting average sizes of 153 ± 8 nm and 136 ± 2 nm, respectively. Doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated with high efficiency, achieving 96% ± 2% encapsulation in non-PEGylated MLs and 98.0% ± 0.6% in stealth MLs. Finally, drug release assays of the DOX-loaded DPPC/DSPC/CHEMS MLs were performed under different conditions of temperature (37 °C and 42 °C) and pH (5.5 and 7.4), simulating physiological and therapeutic conditions. The results revealed a higher release rate at 42 °C and acidic pH. Release rates significantly increased when introducing the stimulus of laser-induced photothermal hyperthermia at 808 nm (1 W/cm2) for 5 min. After 48 h of testing, at pH 5.5, 67.5% ± 0.5% of DOX was released, while at pH 7.4, only a modest release of 27.0% ± 0.1% was achieved. The results demonstrate the potential of the MLs developed in this work to the controlled release of DOX under NIR-laser stimulation and acidic environments and to maintain a sustained and reduced release profile in physiological environments with pH 7.4.
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Higher education is a context that requires students to develop academic, social and institutional tasks. As a result of this complex and multidimensional process, students tend to experience greater stress, anxiety and depression, making it crucial for students to mobilize a set of essential personal, social and instrumental resources, for a more positive adaptation to the academic context. Self-compassion is an adaptative emotion-regulation strategy and may help students to better adjust to academic issues. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of self-compassion as a mediator in the relationship between anxiety and depression, as well as stress and depression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire distributed through social media. Stress and anxiety were found to be positively related to depression scores and negatively related to self-compassion. A bootstrapped mediation model confirmed the existence of a significant positive partial mediation effect exerted by self-compassion on the relationship between stress and depression (b = 0.12, 95% CI [0.05, 0.18]). The analysis also showed a significant positive partial mediation effect exerted by self-compassion in the relationship between anxiety and depression (b = 0.13, 95% CI [0.08, 0.18]). Conclusions: Self-compassion might partially mediate the relationship between stress and depression and between anxiety and depression. Findings underscore self-compassion as a potentially protective factor against negative psychological symptoms.
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Bovine lactoferrin (bLf) is a milk-derived protein that exhibits potent broad-spectrum antifungal activity against multiple fungi. bLf is susceptible to degradation, while some of its properties depend on the tertiary structure. So, the encapsulation of bLf in stimuli-responsive therapeutic formulations provides an added value to enhance its biological activities. Plasmonic magnetoliposomes (PMLs) arise as promising nanocarriers for dual hyperthermia (magneto-photothermia) and local chemotherapy, since the combination of magnetic and gold nanoparticles (NPs) in a single nanosystem (multifunctional liposomes) enables the targeting and controlled release of loaded drugs. In this work, plasmonic magnetoliposomes (PMLs) containing manganese ferrite nanoparticles (28 nm size) and gold nanoparticles (5-7.5 nm size), functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid or octadecanethiol, were prepared and loaded with bLf. The NPs' optical, magnetic and structural properties were measured via UV/vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy, SQUID and TEM, respectively. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) was calculated to assess the capabilities for magnetic and photothermal hyperthermia. Finally, the antifungal potential of bLf-loaded PMLs and their mechanism of internalization were assessed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by counting the colony forming units and using fluorescence microscopy. The results demonstrate that PMLs are mainly internalized through an energy- and temperature-dependent endocytic process, though the contribution of a diffusion component cannot be discarded. Most notably, only bLf-loaded plasmonic magnetoliposomes display cytotoxicity with an efficiency similar to free bLf, attesting their promising potential for bLf delivery in the context of antifungal therapeutic interventions.
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INTRODUCTION: COVID-19-associated coagulopathy includes systemic and endothelial inflammation with coagulation dysregulation related to immunothrombosis. The aim of this study was to characterize this complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. METHODS: An open-label, prospective observational study conducted in patients with COVID-19 moderate to severe acute respiratory failure admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). Coagulation testing, including thromboelastometry, biochemical analysis and clinical variables, were collected at prespecified time points during the 30 days of ICU stay. RESULTS: The study included 145 patients, 73.8% male, with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range - IQR 55 - 74). The most prevalent comorbidities were arterial hypertension (63.4%), obesity (44.1%) and diabetes (22.1%). Simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II) was on average 43.5 (11 - 105) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) at admission was 7.5 (0 - 14). During ICU stay, 66.9% of patients underwent invasive mechanical ventilation and 18.4% extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support; thrombotic and hemorrhagic events occurred in 22.1% and 15.1% of the patients respectively; anticoagulation with heparin was present in 99.2% of patients since early ICU stay. Death occurred in 35% of patients. Longitudinal studies revealed changes in almost all coagulation tests during the ICU stay. SOFA score, lymphocyte counts, some biochemical, inflammatory and coagulation parameters, including hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis seen in thromboelastometry, differed significantly (p < 0.05), between ICU admission and discharge. Hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis persisted throughout ICU hospitalization, showing higher incidence and severity in non-survivors. CONCLUSION: COVID-19-associated coagulopathy is characterized by hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis from ICU admission, and persisted throughout the clinical course in severe COVID-19. These changes were more pronounced in patients with higher disease burden and in non-survivors.
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Trastornos de la Coagulación Sanguínea , COVID-19 , Trombofilia , Humanos , Masculino , Anciano , Femenino , COVID-19/complicaciones , Tromboelastografía , SARS-CoV-2 , Estudios Prospectivos , Trastornos de la Coagulación Sanguínea/etiología , Trombofilia/etiología , Unidades de Cuidados IntensivosRESUMEN
Late diagnosis and systemic toxicity associated with conventional treatments make oncological therapy significantly difficult. In this context, nanomedicine emerges as a new approach in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this work, pH-sensitive solid magnetoliposomes (SMLs) were developed for controlled release of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). Shape anisotropic magnetic nanoparticles of magnesium ferrite with partial substitution by calcium (Mg0.75Ca0.25Fe2O4) were synthesized, with and without calcination, and their structural, morphological and magnetic properties were investigated. Their superparamagnetic properties were evaluated and heating capabilities proven, either by exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) (magnetic hyperthermia) or by irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light (photothermia). The Mg0.75Ca0.25Fe2O4 calcined nanoparticles were selected to integrate the SMLs, surrounded by a lipid bilayer of DOPE:Ch:CHEMS (45:45:10). DOX was encapsulated in the nanosystems with an efficiency above 98%. DOX release assays showed a much more efficient release of the drug at pH = 5 compared to the release kinetics at physiological pH. By subjecting tumor cells to DOX-loaded SMLs, cell viability was significantly reduced, confirming that they can release the encapsulated drug. These results point to the development of efficient pH-sensitive nanocarriers, suitable for a synergistic action in cancer therapy with magnetic targeting, stimulus-controlled drug delivery and dual hyperthermia (magnetic and plasmonic) therapy.
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BACKGROUND: The past years have witnessed dramatic changes in the population admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Older and sicker patients are now commonly treated in this setting due to the newly available sophisticated life support. However, the short- and long-term benefit of this strategy is scarcely studied. METHODS: The Critically Ill patients' mortality by age: Long-Term follow-up (CIMbA-LT) was a multicentric, nationwide, retrospective, observational study addressing short- and long-term prognosis of patients admitted to Portuguese multipurpose ICUs, during 4 years, according to their age and disease severity. Patients were followed for two years after ICU admission. The standardized hospital mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated according to the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and the follow-up risk, for patients discharged alive from the hospital, according to official demographic national data for age and gender. Survival curves were plotted according to age group. RESULTS: We included 37.118 patients, including 15.8% over 80 years old. The mean SAPS II score was 42.8 ± 19.4. The ICU all-cause mortality was 16.1% and 76% of all patients survive until hospital discharge. The SAPS II score overestimated hospital mortality [SMR at hospital discharge 0.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.76] but accurately predicted one-year all-cause mortality [1-year SMR 1.01; (95% CI 0.98-1.08)]. Survival curves showed a peak in mortality, during the first 30 days, followed by a much slower survival decline thereafter. Older patients had higher short- and long-term mortality and their hospital SMR was also slightly higher (0.76 vs. 0.69). Patients discharged alive from the hospital had a 1-year relative mortality risk of 6.3; [95% CI 5.8-6.7]. This increased risk was higher for younger patients [21.1; (95% CI 15.1-39.6) vs. 2.4; (95% CI 2.2-2.7) for older patients]. CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill patients' mortality peaked in the first 30 days after ICU admission. Older critically ill patients had higher all-cause mortality, including a higher hospital SMR. A long-term increased relative mortality risk was noted in patients discharged alive from the hospital, but this was more noticeable in younger patients.
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A recently synthesized new eugenol derivative, ethyl 4-(2-methoxy-4-(oxiran-2-ylmethyl)phenoxy)butanoate, with a high insecticidal activity against Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda) insect cells, was encapsulated in the liposomal formulations of egg-phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (Egg-PC:Ch) 70:30 and 100% dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG), aiming at the future application as insecticides. Compound-loaded DOPG liposomes have sizes of 274 ± 12 nm, while Egg-PC:Ch liposomes exhibit smaller hydrodynamic diameters (69.5 ± 7 nm), high encapsulation efficiency (88.8 ± 2.7%), higher stability, and a more efficient compound release, thus, they were chosen for assays in Sf9 insect cells. The compound elicited a loss of cell viability up to 80% after 72 h of incubation. Relevantly, nanoencapsulation maintained the toxicity of the compound toward insect cells while lowering the toxicity toward human cells, thus showing the selectivity of the system. Structure-based inverted virtual screening was used to predict the most likely targets and molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations were used to demonstrate that this molecule can form a stable complex with insect odorant binding proteins and/or acetylcholinesterase. The results are promising for the future application of compound-loaded nanoliposome formulations as crop insecticides.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced mental health professionals to adapt quickly. The pandemic has created multiple new tasks for the psychologist. In addition to the various stressors closely linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, psychologists were forced to make their services more flexible. Teleworking was a way of continuing to work. Objective: This study aimed to identify the impact of working pattern on the levels of burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on an online questionnaire applied to eighty-three Portuguese psychologists. Data were collected from May 9 to June 8, 2020, a period comprising the declaration of a national calamity and then state of emergency, and the subsequent ease of lockdown measures. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory Scale and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale were used. Univariate multiple linear regression models were estimated for each mental health outcome. Results: Significant differences were found between psychologists working in the workplace and in teleworking at the personal burnout, work-related burnout, client-related burnout, depression, and stress. In multiple linear regression, teleworking, not working, and being unmarried was significantly associated with higher levels of depression. Teleworking was significantly associated with higher stress scores and client-related and work burnout. Conclusions: This exceptional time of sudden, mandatory, and high-intensity teleworking, required rapid adaptation, giving rise to new stressors that might have been responsible for burnout levels in psychologists.
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Agotamiento Profesional , COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiología , Pandemias , Teletrabajo , Depresión/epidemiología , Depresión/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles , Agotamiento Profesional/epidemiología , Agotamiento Profesional/psicología , Ansiedad/epidemiología , Ansiedad/psicologíaRESUMEN
Healthy ageing has become one of the most significant challenges in a society with an increasing life expectancy. Older adults have a greater prevalence of chronic disease, with the need for multiple medications to appropriately control these issues. In addition to their health concerns, ageing individuals are prone to loneliness, dependence, and economic issues, which may affect their quality of life. Governments and health professionals worldwide have developed various strategies to promote active and healthy ageing to improve the quality of life of older adults. Pharmacists are highly qualified health professionals, easily accessible to the population, thus playing a pivotal role in medication management. Their proximity to the patient puts them in a unique position to provide education and training to improve therapeutic adherence and identify medication-related problems. This paper aims to address the importance of Portuguese community pharmacists in the medication management of older adults, emphasising their intervention in health promotion, patient education, medication-related problems, deprescription, dose administration aids, and medication review and reconciliation. We also discuss home delivery services and medication management in long-term care facilities.
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Background: Falls are a major public health issue, given their prevalence and social impact. Older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCF) are at greater risk of injury resulting from a fall due to multiple factors, such as nutritional, functional/cognitive impairment, postural instability, polypharmacy, and the presence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Medication management in LTCF is complex and often sub-optimal and might be crucial for falls. Pharmacist intervention is important, since they have a unique knowledge of medication. However, studies mapping the impact of pharmaceutical activities in Portuguese LTC settings are scarce. Objective: This study aims to assess the characteristics of older adult fallers living in LTFCs and examine the relationship between falling and several factors in this population. We also intend to explore the prevalence of PIMs and their relationship with the occurrence of falls. Methods: The study was conducted in two long-term care facilities for elderly people, in the central region of Portugal. We included patients aged 65 and older with no reduced mobility or physical weakness and with the ability to understand spoken and written Portuguese. The following information was assessed: sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, polypharmacy, fear of falling, functional, nutritional and cognitive status. PIMs were evaluated according to the Beers criteria (2019). Results: A total of 69 institutionalised older adults, 45 women and 24 men, with a mean age of 83.14 ± 8.87 years were included. The prevalence of falls was 21.74% Out of these, 46.67% (n=7) fell once, 13.33% (n=2) fell twice, and 40% (n=6) fell 3 or more times. Fallers were mainly women, had lower levels of education, were well nourished, had moderate to severe levels of dependence, and displayed moderate cognitive impairment. (AU)
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Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Accidentes por Caídas , Farmacéuticos , Estudios Transversales , Portugal , Lista de Medicamentos Potencialmente Inapropiados , PolifarmaciaRESUMEN
Multicore magnetic nanoparticles of manganese ferrite were prepared using carboxymethyl dextran as an agglutinating compound or by an innovative method using melamine as a cross-coupling agent. The nanoparticles prepared using melamine exhibited a flower-shape structure, a saturation magnetization of 6.16 emu/g and good capabilities for magnetic hyperthermia, with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.14 W/g. Magnetoliposome-like structures containing the multicore nanoparticles were prepared, and their bilayer structure was confirmed by FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) assays. The nanosystems exhibited sizes in the range of 250-400 nm and a low polydispersity index. A new antitumor thienopyridine derivative, 7-[4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine, active against HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung carcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines, was loaded in these nanocarriers, obtaining a high encapsulation efficiency of 98 ± 2.6%. The results indicate that the new magnetoliposomes can be suitable for dual cancer therapy (combined magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy).
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The development of stimuli-sensitive drug delivery systems is a very attractive area of current research in cancer therapy. The deep knowledge on the microenvironment of tumors has supported the progress of nanosystems' ability for controlled and local fusion as well as drug release. Temperature and pH are two of the most promising triggers in the development of sensitive formulations to improve the efficacy of anticancer agents. Herein, magnetic liposomes with fusogenic sensitivity to pH and temperature were developed aiming at dual cancer therapy (by chemotherapy and magnetic hyperthermia). Magnetic nanoparticles of mixed calcium/manganese ferrite were synthesized by co-precipitation with citrate and by sol-gel method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy in transmission mode (STEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The citrate-stabilized nanoparticles showed a small-sized population (around 8 nm, determined by XRD) and suitable magnetic properties, with a low coercivity and high saturation magnetization (~54 emu/g). The nanoparticles were incorporated into liposomes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesteryl hemisuccinate (DPPC:CHEMS) and of the same components with a PEGylated lipid (DPPC:CHEMS:DSPE-PEG), resulting in magnetoliposomes with sizes around 100 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) measurements were performed to investigate the pH-sensitivity of the magnetoliposomes' fusogenic ability. Two new antitumor thienopyridine derivatives were efficiently encapsulated in the magnetic liposomes and the drug delivery capability of the loaded nanosystems was evaluated, under different pH and temperature conditions.
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This study investigated the ecotoxicological effects of differently sized (4-6 µm and 20-25 µm) low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics (MPs), with and without adsorbed benzo-a-pyrene (BaP), in clam Scrobicularia plana. Biomarkers of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase-SOD; catalase-CAT), biotransformation (glutathione-S-transferases-GST), oxidative damage (lipid peroxidation-LPO) and neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase-AChE) were analysed in gills and digestive glands at different time intervals for a total of 14 days of exposure. In order to have a better impact perspective of these contaminants, an integrated biomarker response index (IBR) and Health Index were applied. Biomarker alterations are apparently more related to smaller sized (4-6 µm) MPs in gills and to virgin LDPE MPs in the digestive gland according to IBR results, while the digestive gland was more affected by these MPs according to the health index.