Biomass of the macrophyte remedies and detoxifies Cd(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous solution.

Aquatic plants are considered to be important remedial agents in aquatic environments contaminated by metals. The Salvinia biloba macrophyte was evaluated in relation to its removal kinetics, adsorption capacity, and toxicology, aiming at its application in the removal of Cd+2 and Pb+2 ions from aqueous solutions. A batch-type system was used, in which the plants were cultivated in microcosms containing nutritive solution and metallic ions, stored in a controlled environment (pH, temperature, and luminosity). The removal kinetics consisted in the analysis of efficiency, varying the concentrations of the metals, and time of cultivation of plants in solution. To describe the process, adsorption isotherms were constructed with the equilibrium data, which were later adjusted to Langmuir and Freundlich models. The toxicological trial was performed by sub-acute exposure test of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode to phytoremediated solutions. The results highlight the remedial effect of the plant in solutions contaminated with both metals. The kinetic study demonstrated that the plant responds differently to metals, and physical-chemical and biological processes can be attributed to the removal of metals from the solution by the plant. The equilibrium time obtained was 48 h for both metals, and the adsorption capacity was higher for Cd2+. The toxicological evaluation indicates that there was a reduction in toxicity after the remediation of the solutions by S. biloba, for all times and concentrations evaluated. Salvinia biloba was efficient for the removal of Cd2+ and Pb2+ metals from aqueous solution. The plant is a low-cost metal biosorbent and can be considered promising for phytoremediation strategies in liquid effluents and water bodies.

Disfunções do trato urinário inferior em pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Disfunciones del tracto urinario inferior en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

RESUMO Introdução: A Disfunção do Trato Urinário Inferior (DTUI) é uma complicação do Diabetes Mellitus (DM) e embora cause impacto negativo na qualidade de vida, não é contemplada nos programas de atenção a essa população. Objetivo: Levantar a ocorrência de DTUI em uma população com DM Tipo 2e avaliar sua associação com a história clínica. Método: Estudo transversal. Entrevista com 60 pacientes de um centro privado de DM por meio de instrumento contendo dados sociodemográficos, clínicos e sintomas de armazenamento e esvaziamento vesical apresentados nos últimos 30 dias. Análise estatística por meio do programa computacional IBM SPSS Statistics, v20.0. Resultados: Amostra predominantemente aposentada com alta escolaridade, bom padrão alimentar e intestinal, sedentária, obesa ou em sobrepeso, com taxas de hemoglobina glicada elevadas. Do total, 25% apresentavam incontinência urinária aos esforços, 60% pelo menos um sintoma de bexiga hiperativa, 41,7% pelo menos um sintoma de esvaziamento vesical incompleto, 70,1% pelo menos um sintoma de DTUI. Foi encontrada associação entre os sintomas urinários e o tempo de diagnóstico de DM. Conclusão: A população com DM tipo 2 apresenta alta ocorrência de DTUI, com predominância de sintomas de bexiga hiperativa, associada ao tempo de diagnóstico de DM.

RESUMEN Introducción: la Disfunción del Tracto Urinario Inferior (DTUI) es una complicación de la Diabetes Mellitus (DM) y aunque cause impacto negativo en la calidad de vida, no es contemplada en los programas de atención a esa población. Objetivo: obtener la incidencia de DTUI en una población con DM Tipo 2 y evaluar su asociación con la historia clínica. Método: estudio transversal. Entrevista con 60 pacientes de un centro privado de DM a través de un instrumento que contiene datos sociodemográficos, clínicos y síntomas de almacenamiento y vaciado vesical presentados en los últimos 30 días. Análisis estadístico por medio del programa computacional IBM SPSS Statistics, v20.0. Resultados: muestra predominantemente jubilada con alta escolaridad, buen patrón alimentario e intestinal, sedentaria, obesa o en sobrepeso, con niveles de hemoglobina glicosilada elevados. Del total, el 25% presentaba incontinencia urinaria a los esfuerzos, el 60% por lo menos un síntoma de vejiga hiperactiva, el 41,7% por lo menos un síntoma de vaciado vesical incompleto, el 70,1% por lo menos un síntoma de DTUI. Se encontró asociación entre los síntomas urinarios y el tiempo de diagnóstico de DM. Conclusión: la población con DM tipo 2 presenta alta incidencia de DTUI, con predominancia de síntomas de vejiga hiperactiva, asociada al tiempo de diagnóstico de DM.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms(LUTS) are a complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and although it negatively impactsthe quality of life, it is not considered in care programs for this population. Objective: To survey the occurrence of LUTS in a population with Type 2 DM and assess its association with clinical history. Method: Cross-sectional study. Interview with 60 patients from a private DM clinic using a tool with sociodemographic and clinical data and symptoms of bladder storage and voiding in the last 30 days. Statistical analysis was performed using the computer program IBM SPSS Statistics, v20.0. Results: Most of the participants were retired with high education, good dietary, and intestinal pattern, sedentary, obese, or overweight, with high glycated hemoglobin rates. Of the total, 25% had stress urinary incontinence, 60% had at least one symptom of overactive bladder, 41.7% had at least one symptom of incomplete bladder voiding, 70.1% had at least one LUTsymptom. An association was found between urinary symptoms and time since DM diagnosis. Conclusion: The population with type 2 DM has a high occurrence of LUTS, with a predominance of symptoms of overactive bladder, associated with the time of DM diagnosis.

Risk factors for plantar foot ulcer recurrence in patients with diabetes - A prospective pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) with established recurrence risk factors evaluating patients from United States or Europe. There are scarce studies in developing countries about these risks. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with DFU recurrence in a Brazilian prospective cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients with healed DFU followed from January 2014 to June 2017 in Curitiba, Brazil. Periodic home visits from a specialist nurse in DFU were performed during the period of the study to evaluate recurrence of ulcer. The presence of risk factors in the group of patients that developed an ulcer in the follow-up period was compared with the presence of these factors in the group of patients without recurrence. At enrollment, 35 subjects presented a previous ulcer distal with complete healing to follow-up. RESULTS: From 35 patients, 15 were male (43%) and the mean age was of 65.8 ± 10.9 years (48-85 year). Most patients were married with a low income (

Assessment of the Cu(II) and Pb(II) removal efficiency of aqueous solutions by the dry biomass Aguapé: kinetics of adsorption.

Plant-based materials are promising adsorbents for treating liquid effluents. This study describes the kinetic and equilibrium parameters that best represent the copper(II) and lead(II) removal process by Eichhornia crassipes (Aguapé) dry biomass from aqueous solution, using a batch adsorption system. The plants were washed, dried, and reduced to small particles. The adsorption kinetics were assessed by varying the metal concentrations in 5, 10, and 20 mg L-1 and a control treatment (without metals) with a mixture contact time of between 5 and 720 min. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Kinetic assay revealed fast adsorption: kinetic equilibrium was attained within 2 h with a removal efficiency of ~ 60%. The results demonstrated a fast recovery cycle of metals using the biosorbent. The biomass of E. crassipes is low cost with potential for use as a biosorbent to remove metals from solutions.

Cicatrização de úlceras por pressão com extrato Plenusdermax® de Calendula officinalis L / Cicatrización de úlceras por presión con extracto de Plenusdermax® Calendula officinalis L / Pressure ulcer healing with Plenusdermax® Calendula officinalis L extract

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os benefícios terapêuticos do extrato de bioativos de Calendula officinalis Plenusdermax® na cicatrização de úlceras de pressão. Métodos: estudo observacional de coorte realizado com quarenta e um pacientes com diagnóstico de úlcera por pressão com tamanho da ferida estável por mais de três meses. Os pacientes foram avaliados quinzenalmente durante 30 semanas, em relação a redução da área da lesão, controle de infecção, tipos de tecido e exsudato e microbiologia das úlceras. Resultados: a proporção de pacientes que cicatrizaram completamente após 15 e 30 semanas de tratamento foi 63% e 88%, respectivamente, sendo que a média de tempo de cicatrização foi de 12,5 ± 7,8 semanas. Não foram observados eventos adversos durante o tratamento. Conclusão: os resultados do estudo indicam que Plenusdermax® de bioativos de C. officinalis é um tratamento seguro que promove a cicatrização de úlceras de pressão.

RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar los beneficios terapéuticos del extracto bioactivo de Calendula officinalis Plenusdermax® en la cicatrización de úlceras por presión. Método: estudio observacional de cohorte con cuarenta y un pacientes con diagnóstico de úlceras por presión con un tamaño de herida estable durante más de tres meses. Se evaluó a los pacientes durante 30 semanas cada dos semanas, incluyendo reducción del área de lesión, control de infecciones, tipos de tejidos y secreciones y microbiología de las úlceras. Resultados: la proporción de pacientes con cicatrización completa después de 15 y 30 semanas de tratamiento fue de 63% y 88%, respectivamente, y el promedio de todos los tiempos de cicatrización fue de 12.5±7.8 semanas. No se observaron eventos adversos durante el tratamiento. Conclusión: los resultados del estudio indican que Plenusdermax® con bioactivos de C. officinalis es un tratamiento seguro que promueve la cicatrización de úlceras por presión.

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of the bioactive extracts of Plenusdermax®Calendula officinalis for pressure ulcer healing. Method: an observational cohort study, including 41 patients with a diagnosis of pressure ulcer that was stable in size for more than three months. Patients were evaluated every two weeks, over 30 weeks, for: reduction of the wound area, infection control, types of tissue and exudate, and ulcer microbiology. Results: the proportions of patients who were completely healed after 15 and 30 weeks of treatment were 63% and 88%, respectively, and the mean healing time was 12.5±7.8 weeks. No adverse events were observed during treatment. Conclusion: the results of the study indicate that bioactive C. officinalis Plenusdermax® is a safe treatment that promotes healing of pressure ulcers.

A Prospective, Descriptive Study to Assess the Clinical Benefits of Using Calendula officinalis Hydroglycolic Extract for the Topical Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) have a significant impact on patient quality of life. A prospective, descriptive pilot study was conducted between May 2012 and December 2013 through the dermatology outpatient unit in a Brazilian hospital to evaluate the clinical benefits of using Calendula officinalis hydroglycolic extract in the treatment of DFUs. Patients diagnosed with a stable neuropathic ulcer of >3 months' duration; ranging in size from 0.5-40 cm(2); without osteomyelitis, gangrene, bone exposure, cancer, or deep tissue infection; ages 18-90 years; with adequate glycemic control and no history of an allergy to C. officinalis were enrolled. Patients provided demographic and diabetes-related information and were evaluated biweekly for 30 weeks or until healing (ie, full epithelialization with no wound drainage). DFUs were measured and clinically examined for microbiological flora and presence of odor, tissue type (eg, granulation, fibrin sloth, necrosis), exudate, and retraction rate using planimetry images. Patients' blood tests and neuropathic pain assessment (the latter by clinician-directed questionnaire) were performed at baseline and the end of treatment; pain also was assessed during dressing changes using a 10-point rating scale. Patients' ulcers were treated twice daily with C. officinalis hydroglycolic extract spray solution and covered with saline-moistened, sterile, nonadherent gauze and bandages followed by foot offloading with adequate protective footwear. Patients received their first treatment in the clinic then performed care at home. From a potential population of 109 patients, 25 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of the remaining 84 participants enrolled, 43 withdrew before study completion; cited reasons included lost to follow-up (16), medical judgment (2), failure to attend >3 scheduled visits (17), protocol violation (5), and death (3). Forty-one (41) - 17 women, average age 62 years (range 44-82 years), average glycemic level 153 mg/dL (range 82-395 mg/dL), most (34) with Wagner type 1 ulcers--completed the study. The proportions of patients who achieved complete wound closure after 11, 20, and 30 weeks of treatment was 54%, 68%, and 78%, respectively; mean healing time was 15.5 ± 6.7 weeks. When individual weekly healing rates (the percentage reduction in wound area per week) were corrected for variability in initial DFU area, the values were nearly 6-fold higher for complete wound closure (7.8% ± 3.6%) than for incomplete wound closure (1.4% ± 0.7%) (Student t-test; P = 0.001). After 30 weeks of treatment, the number of colonized wounds decreased from 29 at baseline to 5, and the number of odorous wounds decreased from 19 to 1. Ulcer bed planimetry data showed a significant reduction in the amount of exudate, fibrin slough, and necrotic tissue after the treatment with C. officinalis hydroglycolic extract (χ(2) test; P = 0.001). No adverse events were observed during treatment. The study findings suggest C. officinalis extract is safe and has a beneficial effect on DFU healing. Randomized, controlled studies using C. officinalis hydroglycolic extract are warranted to confirm its safety and establish its clinical efficacy and effectiveness for the topical treatment of DFUs.

Island technique for prominent ears: an update of the Ivo Pitanguy clinic experience.

BACKGROUND: Prominent ears are a relatively common and instantly-recognizable condition. Numerous studies have reported psychological distress, emotional trauma, and behavioral problems associated with this deformity in childhood. The multitude of approaches clearly indicates the lack of a definitive technique to correct this issue in all patients. OBJECTIVES: The authors describe the "island technique," originated by the senior author (IP), which involves dissecting a cartilaginous island to reconstruct the antihelix and the triangular fossa and correct the conchascaphal angle. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients (n = 111) who underwent otoplasty with the island technique at the senior author's private clinic between July 1990 and July 2008. Patients who underwent treatment with a modified island technique or any other approach were excluded. Charts were examined for patient history and demographics, etiology, concurrent procedures, and complications. RESULTS: Eighty patients were female (72%); 31 were male (28%). The average age was 28.2 years (range, five to 65). The most common etiology was a combination of overdeveloped concha and an underdeveloped antihelical fold (n = 76, 69%). Other facial aesthetic procedures were simultaneously performed in 54 patients (49%). Early complications occurred in two patients (1.8%), including hematoma and wound dehiscence. Late complications were observed in 12 patients (10.8%). All complications were addressed without consequence to the surgical outcome. No recurrence was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The island technique is an effective, simple, and reliable surgical option to correct prominent ears. Its greatest advantages are the absence of recurrence and the minimal incidence of complications.