Complicaciones de la técnica anestésica mandibular Spix en la clínica odontológica de la Universidad Andrés Bello / Incidence of complications of mandibular anesthetic Spix techniques in the Andrés Bello University dental clinic

Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia de complicaciones de la técnica anestésica Spix en procedimientos odontológicos a pacientes atendidos en la clínica de la Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB). Material y Métodos: Se analizó a 37 pacientes que fueron atendidos por alumnos de cuarto y quinto año de la clínica odontológica, a los cuales se le realizó la técnica anestésica Spix para realizar el procedimiento odontológico. Se consignó mediante la observación la presencia de formación de hematomas intraorales en el sitio de punción, rotura de la aguja, cantidad de tubos de solución anestésica inyectados, presencia de dolor a la inyección de solución anestésico y la presencia o no de parálisis facial. Mediante la recolección de datos y posterior encuesta a los participantes se consignó la presencia de trismus al día siguiente de la atención y parestesia persistente al día siguiente de la atención. Resultados: De 37 pacientes estudiados que recibieron la técnica anestésica Spix, 6 presentaron hematoma intraoral (16,2%), ninguno reportó rotura de la aguja, 1 presentó parálisis facial (2,7%), 1 presentó parestesia persistente al día siguiente (2,7%), 12 presentaron trismus posterior a la inyección (32,4%). El rango de dolor reportado fue entre 1 y 4 según la escala EVA. Conclusión: Hay una baja incidencia de las complicaciones asociadas a la técnica anestésica Spix en la clínica odontológica de la UNAB, siendo el trismus la complicación más frecuente. Se necesita un mayor número de muestra para entender mejor esta realidad.

Objective: To determine the incidence of complications of the Spix anesthetic technique in the dental procedures of patients attended at the Andrés Bello University dental clinic. Material and Methods: 37 patients who were cared for by fourth- and fifth-year students from the dental clinic of the Andrés Bello University were analyzed, who underwent the Spix anesthetic technique to perform the dental procedure. The presence of intraoral hematoma formation at the puncture site, needle breakage, number of injected anesthesia tubes, presence of pain upon injection of anesthetic and the presence or not of facial paralysis were recorded. Through data collection and subsequent survey of the participants, the presence of trismus was recorded the day after care. Results. Of the 37 cases of patients studied who received the Spix anesthetic technique, 6 had intraoral hematoma (16.2%), no needle break was reported, 1 had facial paralysis (2.7%), 1 had persistent paresthesia at the next day (2.7%), 12 presented trismus after the injection (32.4%), the pain range was between 1 and 4 according to the VAS scale. Conclusion. There is a low incidence of complications associated with the Spix anesthetic technique in the Andrés Bello University dental clinic, trismus being the most frequent (32.4%). A larger sample number should be needed to better understand this reality.

Decontamination and disinfection of wastewater by photocatalysis under UV/visible light using nano-catalysts based on Ca-doped ZnO.

Nano-catalysts based on ZnO-Ca x% (with x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 mol % Ca2+) were synthesized with a bio-friendly adaptation of the sol-gel method using gelatin as template. These materials were characterized by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Micro-Raman, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 physisorption, photoacoustic absorption spectroscopy (PAS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The Raman results indicated that the signal, attributed to an E1(LO) mode at 580 cm-1, was characteristic of oxygen vacancies that decreased with the increased Ca2+ content in doped oxides. This agreed with the PL results, which showed that the green emission centered at 510 nm and attributable to structural defects in ZnO decreased for Ca-doped ZnO. Our oxides are constituted by nanoparticles with rod-like and spherical morphologies. All the nano-catalysts exhibited the band gap characteristics of semiconductor materials around 3.0 eV. ZnO-Ca 1.0% exhibited the best photocatalytic performance for degradation of Methyl Orange (MO) model dye, degrading about 82% after 240 min of UV-Vis irradiation at pH 7.0. The reaction mechanism was influenced by hydroxyl (OH) and superoxide (O2-) radicals and mainly by active holes (h+). This doped oxide also demonstrated efficiency in wastewater disinfection against heterotrophic bacteria and total coliforms, exhibiting a potential use as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment of hospital wastewater. Furthermore, our nanoparticles did not show significant cytotoxic effects on L929 fibroblast cells.

Aminodextran polymer-functionalized reactive magnetic emulsions for potential theranostic applications.

Aminodextran (AMD) polymer was prepared via chemical grafting of hexamethylenediamine on oxidized dextran. Magnetic latex particles were successfully obtained by adsorption of positively charged AMD on negatively charged submicron magnetic emulsion. The adsorbed amount was found to be ranged from 20 to 1280mg of AMD per gram of dried magnetic dispersion. The AMD-coated magnetic emulsions were characterized by positive zeta potential in the pH range from 3 to 9 compared to bare seed magnetic emulsion. All the samples showed to be superparamagnetic property, even after the adsorption of the polymer. The developed magnetic submicron particles exhibited good potential for in vivo biomedical diagnosis applications as demonstrated by their higher T2 contrast-ability compared to Gd in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hyperthermia.

Cellophane and filter paper as cellulosic support for silver nanoparticles and its thermal decomposition catalysis.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted great attention due to its optical, electrical and thermal properties. Cellulosic supports for these nanoparticles are of particular interest because of its availability, flexibility and biocompatibility. In this work, AgNPs were synthesized using two cellulosic materials, cellophane (CP) and filter paper (FP), as matrix support. Cellulosic materials were immersed in an aqueous solution of silver nitrate containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and then reduced with hydroxylamine. The obtained nanocomposites (CP-AgNPs and FP-AgNPs) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (DRX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). AgNPs of near 15nm anchored onto cellulosic surfaces were detected. The thermal properties of these materials were investigated through thermogravimetry (TG). Their kinetic of thermal decomposition was studied by the Vyasovkin method of dynamic isoconvertion, which indicated a catalytic effect of AgNPs in the cellulose thermal decomposition reaction.

Magnetic nanoparticles: In vivo cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Recently, significant research efforts have been devoted to the finding of efficient approaches in order to reduce the side effects of traditional cancer therapy and diagnosis. In this context, magnetic nanoparticles have attracted much attention because of their unique physical properties, magnetic susceptibility, biocompatibility, stability and many more relevant characteristics. Particularly, magnetic nanoparticles for in vivo biomedical applications need to fulfill special criteria with respect to size, size distribution, surface charge, biodegradability or bio-eliminability and optionally bear well selected ligands for specific targeting. In this context, many routes have been developed to synthesize these materials, and tune their functionalities through intriguing techniques including functionalization, coating and encapsulation strategies. In this review article, the use of magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy and diagnosis is evaluated addressing potential applications in MRI, drug delivery, hyperthermia, theranostics and several other domains. In view of potential biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles, the review focuses on the most recent progress made with respect to synthetic routes to produce magnetic nanoparticles and their salient accomplishments for in vivo cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Targeting cancer with nano-bullets: curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin on flying carpets.

It is becoming progressively more understandable that different phytochemicals isolated from edible plants interfere with specific stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer cells have evolved hallmark mechanisms to escape from death. Concordant with this approach, there is a disruption of spatiotemproal behaviour of signaling cascades in cancer cells, which can escape from apoptosis because of downregulation of tumor suppressor genes and over- expression of oncogenes. Genomic instability, intra-tumor heterogeneity, cellular plasticity and metastasizing potential of cancer cells all are related to molecular alterations. Data obtained through in vitro studies has convincingly revealed that curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin are promising anticancer agents. Their efficacy has been tested in tumor xenografted mice and considerable experimental findings have stimulated researchers to further improve the bioavailability of these nutraceuticals. We partition this review into different sections with emphasis on how bioavailability of curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin has improved using different nanotechnology approaches.

Levan as a new additive for colon-specific films: a new approach in the use of exopolysaccharides in time-dependent free films (Aminoalkyl Methacrylate Copolymer RS).

Time-dependent films, augmented with prebiotics, offer potential strategy for colon-specific controlled drug release. In this study, we produced films containing levan (L) and Aminoalkyl Methacrylate Copolymer RS (ER). Free films of ER combined with levan were produced by the casting process and characterized by the mobility of the polymeric matrix, hydration, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA). The results of this study suggest that the exopolysaccharide levan can be used in combination with ER for colon specific materials. No evidence of incompatibilities between the levan and the synthetic polymer were detected, and levan improved the mobility of the polymeric matrix and the hydrophilicity of the system. Levan may have positively altered the density of the polymeric matrix, as visualized by thermal characterization. The endothermic decomposition peak was shifted with increasing amounts of levan. This new barrier polymer utilized a combination of time-dependent enzymatic mechanisms and can be considered promising for use in the coating of solid oral drugs for specific release.

Optimization of maghemite-loaded PLGA nanospheres for biomedical applications.

Magnetic nanoparticles have been proposed as interesting tools for biomedical purposes. One of their promising utilization is the MRI in which magnetic substances like maghemite are used in a nanometric size and encapsulated within locally biodegradable nanoparticles. In this work, maghemite has been obtained by a modified sol-gel method and encapsulated in polymer-based nanospheres. The nanospheres have been prepared by single emulsion evaporation method. The different parameters influencing the size, polydispersity index and zeta potential surface of nanospheres were investigated. The size of nanospheres was found to increase as the concentration of PLGA increases, but lower sizes were obtained for 3 min of sonication time and surfactant concentration of 1%. Zeta potential response of magnetic nanospheres towards pH variation was similar to that of maghemite-free nanospheres confirming the encapsulation of maghemite within PLGA nanospheres. The maghemite entrapment efficiency and maghemite content for nanospheres are 12% and 0.59% w/w respectively.

Levan in the developing of new colon-specific polymer material: evaluation of the permeability, moisture and thermal analyses in free films of Eudragit® FS 30 D / Levana no desenvolvimento de novo material polimérico cólon-específico: avaliação da permeabilidade, intumescimento e análises térmicas de filmes isolados de Eudragit® FS 30 D

Levan was used as agent in the synthesis of new colon-specific polymeric matrix together with Eudragit® FS 30 D. Eudragit® FS 30 D films incorporated with levan were made by casting process and characterized to: water vapour transmission, sweeling index, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric. The levan increased the films permeability (p < 0.001) however did not influenced in the sweeling index of the formulations (p > 0.05). The thermal analyses of the films indicated a glass transition temperature approximate at 47°C and thermal decomposition at 400°C. The results indicated that there is potential for using such site-specificity blend as pharmaceutical coating material.

Levana foi utilizada na síntese de novo material polimérico cólon-específico conjuntamente com o Eudragit® FS 30 D. Filmes de Eudragit® FS 30 D aditivados de levana foram feitos pelo método de "casting process" e caracterizados quanto à transmissão de vapor de água, índice de intumescimento, calorimetria diferencial de varredura e termogravimetria. A levana aumentou a permeabilidade dos filmes (p < 0,001), entretanto não influenciou no índice de intumescimento das formulações (p > 0,05). As análises térmicas dos filmes indicaram uma temperatura de transição vítrea aproximada de 47°C e temperatura de decomposição de 400°C. Os resultados indicaram que há potencial de uso desta nova blenda sítio-específica como material de revestimento farmacêutico.

Antimicrobial, mechanical, and barrier properties of cassava starch-chitosan films incorporated with oregano essential oil.

The physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of starch-chitosan films incorporated with oregano essential oil (OEO) have been investigated. The antimicrobial effects of starch-chitosan-OEO films against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus were determined by the disk inhibition zone method. The film mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and thermograms (TGA) were also determined. Films added with OEO effectively inhibited the four microorganisms tested and demonstrated improved barrier properties. The presence of OEO in starch-chitosan films led to the formation of more flexible films. Chitosan was not effective against the tested organisms, but it decreased film rigidity and WVP. TGA analysis demonstrated that the addition of chitosan and OEO did not affect the thermal stability of the films.