Composite films are an alternative in the replacement of synthetic polymers. These films can be prepared from polysaccharides and used to store various drugs to be applied in different areas. In addition, aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) is an ethylene inhibitor that prolongs shelf life of food. For this reason, this research aimed to take advantage of the brown algae Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia trabeculata to extract sodium alginate and produce films composed of sodium alginate/kappa-carrageenan/iota-carrageenan, which were plasticized with glycerol and polyethylene glycol 400 and loaded with aminoethoxyvinylglycine. The extracted sodium alginate was characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), size exclusion chromatography coupled with multi-angle light scattering (SEC-MALS), thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD); and the composite films were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TG/DTG, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the drug release kinetics were investigated using Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic models. The extracted alginates obtained were of low molecular weight, and the films showed desirable properties for AVG release. Furthermore, drug release profiles revealed that AVG release is governed by Fick’s Law, and this is favored at low temperatures. In summary, sodium alginate allows the preparation of composite films, which can replace synthetic polymers to be used in the loading and releasing of drugs.

Abstract Introduction Hyperglycemia occurs in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) due to chemotherapeutic agents and may be stress-induced. Given the potential impact of hyperglycemia on the clinical outcomes of ALL patients, we sought to determine the association of hyperglycemia with the development of infectious complications. Methods This is a retrospective cohort involving adult Filipino ALL patients admitted at a tertiary referral center. Patients were stratified according to blood glucose levels and infections were classified into microbiologically and clinically defined infections. Logistic regression was performed to determine whether hyperglycemia was associated with the development of infectious complications. Results Of the 174 patients admitted for ALL, only 76 patients (44%) underwent blood glucose monitoring and were thus included in this study. Hyperglycemia was observed in 64 patients (84.21%). Infectious complications were seen in 56 patients (73.68%), of whom 37 patients (48.68%) had microbiologically defined infections and 19 (25%) had clinically defined infections. The respiratory tract was the most common site of infection and gram-negative bacteria were the predominant isolates. Hyperglycemia significantly increased the likelihood of infectious complications, particularly at blood glucose levels ≥ 200 mg/dL. Conclusion Hyperglycemia is associated with an increased likelihood of infectious complications in Filipino ALL patients. With sepsis being one of the main causes of mortality in this population, our study provides compelling evidence for us to consider routine blood glucose monitoring in order to manage and potentially decrease the occurrence of infections in these patients.

Abstract The object of this study can be found among the various ornamental rocks used in historic buildings in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is a degraded Leptinito Gneiss that makes up one of the support columns of the kitchen of the Mosteiro de São Bento (Monastery of Saint Benedict) in Rio de Janeiro. The main aim of the present study is to identify the causes of the high degree of degradation of said column. Non-destructive tests were performed, and laboratory evaluation of the disintegrated fragments may help restore and conserve this column in the future. Results obtained from the tests performed on the altered column were compared to those obtained from another column in the monastery, also built in Leptinito, which is more intact and is a sound Leptinito Gneiss. The results showed that degradation of the column is caused by the crystallization of salts (halite) inside the rock, which is reducing its mechanical strength and causing an imminent risk of collapse.

Resumen Objetivo: determinar los factores relacionados con la gestación, parto y puerperio que influyen en el abandono de la lactancia materna (LM) en los primeros 12 meses de vida. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo con una muestra de 131 mujeres y sus recién nacidos, atendidos/as en el Hospital de Verín (Ourense) entre Enero de 2014 y Abril de 2018. Se analizaron variables como edad materna, procedencia (urbana/rural), complicaciones obstétricas, hábitos tóxicos, tipo de parto, alimentación del recién nacido (lactancia materna, mixta o artificial) así como el peso, talla y percentil al nacimiento, a los 3, 6 y 12 meses de vida. Fue considerado estadísticamente significativo un p-valor <0,05. Conclusiones: las cifras de prevalencia de LM tras los primeros 180 días y hasta el año muestran valores que doblan (40.5%) los descritos en nuestra área geográfica (20%). El consumo de tabaco, el residir en el ámbito rural, el uso de episiotomía así como el sexo del recién nacido y la presencia de complicaciones se han relacionado con la reducción de las tasas de LM. Los resultados obtenidos pueden ser útiles para diseñar estrategias orientadas a un correcto apoyo y asesoramiento de la lactancia materna.

Abstract Objective: to determine the factors related to pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium that influence the abandonment of breastfeeding in the first 12 months of life. Methodology: Descriptive, observational and retrospective study with a sample of 131 women and their newborns attended at the Hospital de Verín (Ourense) between January 2014 and April 2018. Variables such as maternal age, origin (urban/rural), obstetric complications, toxic habits, type of childbirth, newborn feeding (breastfeeding, mixed or artificial) as well as weight, height and percentile at birth, at 3, 6 and 12 months of life were analized. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Conclusions: breastfeeding prevalence figures after the first 180 days and up to the year show values that double (40.5%) those described in our geographic area (20%). Tobacco use, rural residence, the use of episiotomy as well as the sex of the newborn and the presence of complications have been linked to the reduction of breastfeeding rate. The results obtained can be useful in designing strategies for proper breastfeeding support and counselling.

Abstract Search for alternative methods for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis has been growing, and probiotics being among them. The most well-known probiotic microorganisms are lactobacilli, which are naturally present in the vaginal microenvironment. Cocoa fermentation is a source of lactic acid bacteria, with lactobacilli being the most prominent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antagonistic activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 6.2 a strain of lactobacilli isolated from cocoa fermentation, and its cell-free supernatant on Gardnerella vaginalis. It was shown that Lpb. plantarum 6.2 and its supernatant, used at three concentrations, i.e., 40, 20 and 10 mg/mL, have a strong antagonistic activity against G. vaginalis, with a probable action of proteinaceous bacteriocins; the activity was lost after heat treatment. The ability to exclude and displace G. vaginalis from the adhesion site to vaginal HMVII epithelial cells was also demonstrated by the lactobacilli and the supernatant, with the latter showing a bactericidal effect. Thus, the Lpb. plantarum 6.2 strain presents itself as a good probiotic with potential to be used not only as a therapeutic alternative for vaginosis but also as a complement to existing therapies.

OBJECTIVES: Strategic planning for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) care has dominated the agenda of medical services, which have been further restricted by the need for minimizing viral transmission. Risk is particularly relevant in relation to endoscopy procedures. This study aimed to describe a contingency plan for a tertiary academic cancer center, define a strategy to prioritize and postpone examinations, and evaluate the infection rate among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the endoscopy unit of the Cancer Institute of the State of São Paulo (ICESP). METHODS: We created a strategy to balance the risk of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and to mitigate the effects of postponing endoscopic procedures in oncological patients. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on all endoscopies between March and June 2020 compared with those during the same period in 2019 was carried out. All HCWs were interviewed to obtain clinical data and SARS-CoV-2 test results. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 outbreak, there was a reduction of 55% in endoscopy cases in total. Colonoscopy was the most affected modality. The total infection rate among all HCWs was 38%. None of the senior digestive endoscopists had COVID-19. However, all bronchoscopists had been infected. One of three fellows had a serological diagnosis of COVID-19. Two-thirds of all nurses were infected, whereas half of all technicians were infected. CONCLUSIONS: In this pandemic scenario, all endoscopy services must prioritize the procedures that will be performed. It was possible to maintain some endoscopic procedures, including those meant to provide nutritional access, tissue diagnosis, and endoscopic resection. Personal protective equipment (PPE) seems effective in preventing transmission of COVID-19 from patients to digestive endoscopists. These measures can be useful in planning, even for pandemics in the future.

The dependence of the photoinitiator concentration on the degree of conversion, mechanical properties and colour appearance of dental materials was studied. Alterations due to changes in the concentration of the photoinitiator were-undertaken. Test samples prepared by photopolymerizing BisGMA and TEGDMA in the presence of the photoinitiator camphorquinone (CQ) were prepared and submitted to mechanical analyses, i.e., compressive and diametral tensile strength and Barcol hardness tests and CIELAB colour analysis. The hardness and compressive tests showed a levelling off at concentrations around 0.5% and remained at those values up to 1.0%, whereas the DTS didn´t show any variation over that range of concentrations. The colour experiments showed dependence with the concentration of CQ in the photopolymerizing system due to its intense absorption in the yellow region. The results indicate that photopolymerization systems containing CQ/EDB as photoinitiator at concentrations between 0.5 and 1.0% present similar mechanical properties.

Hybrid-peptide hydrogel arrangements are a promising alternative to obtaining biocompatible structures at the nanoscopic scale. In this work, a new class of hybrid hydrogels was obtained through the sol-gel process based on the reaction between an amyloid-like octapeptide sequence [RF]4 (where R = arginine and F = phenylalanine) covalently bonded with glycine-linked alkoxysilanes, and hybrid silylated polyethylene glycol (PEG). 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were used, resulting in synthesized precursor/intermediate molecules. The structure of hybrid hydrogel fibers was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), where the existence of two regions in the Guinier plot was observed, one being predominantly formed by polymer while the other one by peptide chains. The rheological measurements showed that viscoelastic parameters depend on both the amount of silane peptide in the hydrogel matrix and increased temperature. Also, the FTIR spectra indicated the coexistence of antiparallel and parallel β-sheet structure patterns into amyloid fibril hydrogels, which can be modulated by peptide-silane coupling in each formulation. The analyzed hydrogels showed thixotropic and shear-thinning rheology at physiological pH, leaving open the opportunity to topical drug delivery system applications in the future.

A series of 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives (NQA-NQF) was synthesized by alternative methods (ultrasonication and microwave irradiation), with yields ranging from 40 to 71%, and without the need of further recrystallization. Each compound was evaluated against four Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and five Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae positive β-lactamase) bacteria strains. The NQF was the most active amino-naphthoquinone derivative with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.2 µg mL-1 against K. pneumoniae positive β-lactamase (a common intestinal bacteria which can cause life-threatening infections). On the other hand, NQA and NQC showed good activity as a potential antibiotic for the bacteria strains assayed, except for K. pneumoniae. In addition, the affinity of these three most active compounds (NQA, NQC, and NQF) for human serum albumin (HSA) was evaluated employing multiple spectroscopic techniques (steady-state, time-resolved, and synchronous fluorescence, as well as circular dichroism), combined with theoretical calculations (molecular docking). The interaction HSA:2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinones occurs spontaneously and moderately inside the subdomain IIA (Sudlow’s site I) via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces.

Silver (AgNPs) and gold (AuNPs) nanoparticles in aqueous solution were generated and stabilized using the 10-oxo-10H-dibenzene thiopyran-3-4-dicarboximide chitosan (TXICh) macrophotoinitiator. The photoinitiator and the nanoparticles in aqueous solution were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pure TXICh in aqueous solution forms self-assembled particles with diameter around 30 nm. AgNPs were prepared using TXICh in the presence and absence of triethanolamine (TEOH). During irradiation, a broad band in the range of 410-415 nm was observed, corresponding to the plasmon absorption, indicating the AgNPs formation. TEM images revealed that the AgNPs had spherical shape in the absence and presence of TEOH. The synthesis of AgNPs in the presence of TEOH occurred rapidly (maximum conversion reached after 15 min), whereas in its absence 4 hours were required. The AgNPs prepared with TXICh/TEOH presented smaller and more uniform nanoparticles size. AuNPs were also prepared using TXICh as photoinitiator/stabilizer system. These nanoparticles showed an intense surface plasmon band at 530 nm and the TEM images revealed spherical particles of around 4 nm. These studies indicate that TXICh can act not only as a photoinitiator, but also as a stabilizer in the AgNPs and AuNPs formation.

Abstract In this work, vapor - liquid (VLE) equilibrium for the binary system carbon dioxide (1) + coumarin (2) at high pressures was measured by a static synthetic method using a variable-volume view cell. Experimental data were obtained in the temperature range of 318 - 338 K and pressures up to 20 MPa. Coumarin molar fraction ranged from 3.0x10-3 to 6.0x10-3. Coumarin melting point reduction at high pressures was observed. The experimental results were modeled using the Peng-Robinson (PR) equation of state with van der Waals quadratic mixing rules (vdW - QMRs), providing a good representation of the experimental phase equilibrium data. Critical properties and the acentric factor were estimated using the Constantinou and Gani method, which showed to be satisfactory on the quality of data correlation. Results indicate coumarin solubility increases with increasing phase transition pressure at a given temperature.

Ferulic acid (FERH) is known to exert leishmanicidal action against Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. In this study, the ferulate anion (FER–) was intercalated into a layered double hydroxide (LDH) for FER– delivery during an antileishmania in vitro test. The LDH-FER– intercalation compound was prepared by coprecipitation and was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry, UV-Vis, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy analyses. Leishmania (L.) amazonensisin vitro assays were conducted to assess the LDH-FER– potential. LDH-FER– was found to promote a dose-dependent reduction of L. (L.) amazonensis amastigotes (intracellular form, half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 1.78 µg mL-1) without exerting a deleterious effect on the host macrophages (medium cytotoxic concentration (CC50) = 212.61 µg mL-1 and selectivity index = 119.4). LDH-FER– was found to be an effective inhibitor of the amastigote form of L. (L.) amazonensis, suggesting that LDH-FER– was able to deliver FER– inside the parasitophorous vacuoles where the pH is more acidic.

A synthesis method was developed capable of obtaining pristine gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the lowest possible amount of auxiliary compounds. An aqueous solution of HAuCl4.3H2O was irradiated, in the absence of any stabilizing species, with the 532-nm radiation of a Nd:YAG laser. Spherical shaped AuNPs were produced by this method with sizes below 10 nm. The crystalline structures were stable for up to 28 days. A mechanism for this process is also proposed based on the initial cleavage of water molecules by the laser irradiation followed by the formation of hydrogen peroxide that reduces the gold species AuIII. The resulting species of these reactions (H2 and O2) were identified by mass spectrometry. This new method suggests that laser irradiation is a feasible alternative to produce ready-to-use AuNPs, for drug delivery, diagnostics or bio-imaging.

Abstract In the way to reduce costs in the poultry production, high densities of birds are adopted in the production systems. Such high densities can lead to an inappropriate environment, compromising the welfare and decreasing the animal performance. In this work we aimed to evaluate the effects of different densities on the productive yield, egg quality and immunological aspects of Japanese quails. It was used 816 Japanese quails, during egg production phase, in a random design, with four treatments (121.43 cm2/bird; 106.25 cm2/bird; 94.44 cm2/bird and 85.00 cm2/bird) with six repetitions each. Results indicate density did not interfere on egg quality and all treatments can be considered excellent, once the Haugh Unit was 88.03. Therefore, higher densities decline the yield, decreasing the eggs weight (10.35 g), the laying percentage (88%), egg mass (9.16 g) and the week average feed consumption (157.35 g). IgY values were higher at smaller cage density, suggesting birds in this condition presented better immunological condition, related to welfare and stress factors, all linked to immunoglobulins IgY.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o impacto de uma intervenção curricular sobre o conhecimento em asma dos adolescentes de um colégio público. Métodos Ensaio controlado e randomizado de uma intervenção curricular em asma, conduzido com adolescentes, asmáticos e não asmáticos, alocados em: grupo intervenção curricular em asma (GI) e grupo controle com currículo tradicional (GC). Foram inseridos no currículo tópicos relacionados à asma, tais como conceito, fatores desencadeantes, tratamento, sintomas, plano de ação e crenças em mitos populares sobre a doença, avaliados por meio de um questionário com escore de 0-20, expressos em média de acertos. Avaliou-se a apreensão do conhecimento 90 dias e 540 dias após o início da intervenção (baseline), aplicou-se o modelo linear misto para análise das associações. Resultados 181 estudantes participaram do estudo (GI = 101 e GC = 80). Os estudantes desconheciam a asma, como revelam os seus escores anteriores à intervenção (GI: x= 10,7±2,9 vs. GC: x= 11,5±2,7 acertos), seu tratamento (GI: x= 1,6±0,9 vs. GC: x= 1,6±0,8 acertos) e relataram crenças em mitos populares sobre a doença (GI: x=1,5±1,1 vs. GC: x=1,7±1,1 acertos). Após a intervenção, o GI apresentou maior conhecimento geral (GI: x= 15,5±3,1 acertos); sobre o tratamento (GI: x= 2,5±1,0 acertos) e duas vezes mais conhecimento no domínio "crenças em mitos populares sobre a doença" comparado com o GC. Maior probabilidade de alcançar conhecimento satisfatório sobre a asma foi observado no GI (RR = 3,5), com NNT = 2,0. Conclusão A inserção do tema asma no currículo é capaz de elevar o conhecimento sobre a doença em um subgrupo de estudantes.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the impact of a curricular intervention concerning the knowledge about asthma among adolescents from a public school. Methods This was a randomized, controlled trial study on a curricular intervention in asthma, carried out with asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents. The study participants were divided into a curricular intervention group for asthma (IG), and a control group with traditional curriculum (CG). Topics related to asthma were included in the curriculum, such as the disease concept, triggering factors, treatment, symptoms, action plan, and beliefs in popular myths about the disease. These topics were evaluated through a questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 20 points, expressed by the mean score. The acquisition of knowledge was evaluated 90 days and 540 days after the start of the intervention (baseline), by applying the mixed linear model for analysis of associations. Results 181 students participated in the study (IG = 101 and CG = 80). As shown by their scores before the intervention; the students were unaware about asthma (IG: x=10.7±2.9 vs. CG: x=11.5±2.7 points), its treatment (IG: x=1.6±0.9 vs. CG: x=1.6±0.8 points), and reported beliefs in popular myths about the disease (IG: x=1.5±1.1 vs. CG: x=1.7±1.1 points). After the intervention, the IG showed higher overall knowledge (GI: x=15.5±3.1 points), as well as knowledge about the treatment (GI: x=2.5±1.0 points), and two times more knowledge in the field "beliefs in popular myths about the disease" when compared to the CG. A greater probability of achieving satisfactory knowledge about asthma was noted in the IG (RR = 3.5), with NTT = 2.0. Conclusion The inclusion of the asthma topic in the curriculum improved knowledge about the disease in a subgroup of students.