Abstract Thermal stability and phase separation of a film on a substrate can be controlled at the interface level by changing the compatibility between both components, which is based on molecular interactions. Thus, in this study chitosan was used as a coating agent due to its superior film-forming properties and multiple molecular interactions with bone. In particular, two types of bone substrates were considered to study the bio-adhesion phenomena: cancellous and cortical bones. Firstly, chitosan/bone samples were prepared by controllable dip-coating method under fixed conditions, and subsequently an experimental investigation was utilized to analyze the interfacial compatibility and interaction between chitosan with the two bone substrates. As a result, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data revealed a strong interaction between the chitosan molecules and bones. Meanwhile, by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and microhardness analysis a moderate interfacial compatibility was exhibited. Furthermore, analyses by X-ray diffraction were used to identify the spatial arrangement of chitosan structure on bone, which was increased as a result of an increase in acidity of chitosan solution.

Abstract Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on the earth that can be obtained from numerous resources, such as plants, bacteria and algae. Due to its nanostructured organization and unique properties; this polymer has been used to prepare different types of nanomaterials. Among the various cellulose-based nanomaterials, cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) have attracted the researchers' interest due to the highly ordered crystalline regions, which has been added as reinforcing material in polymer composites. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the miscibility of two polymers: CNW on poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) by molecular simulation and FTIR studies. Thus, molecular mechanics force-field simulations were performed by COMPASS. On the other hand, for the experimental work, CNW were prepared from wood cellulose by using an acid hydrolysis while the PBA was synthesized by solution polymerization. CNW/PBA composite was obtained by incorporating 0.1 and 0.5 wt% of CNW into a PBA solution. The molecular simulation confirmed the existence of intermolecular interactions between cellulose and PBA molecules. This is because the PBA and cellulose presented some free functional groups, such as C=O and OH, which were able to produce intermolecular interactions. According to this, for cellulose/PBA there was intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions and Van der Waals forces. FTIR results were agree with the simulation results, because CNW/PBA composite showed the associations between C=O and OH groups.

Antecedentes: El Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico es la práctica profesional donde el farmacéutico asume la responsabilidad de la medicación del paciente con el objetivo de obtener resultados clínicos positivos. Los métodos actuales para realizar Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico se han centrado principalmente en pacientes ambulatorios. Objetivos: Proponer y validar una metodología de Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico para paciente hospitalizado. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática mediante la búsqueda exhaustiva en bases de datos de estudios publicados en inglés o español durante el periodo 1998-2008. La búsqueda se concentró en estudios que utilizaron metodologías de Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico en las cuales se identificara, previniera y resolviera problemas de la medicación de un paciente hospitalizado. Los principales términos utilizados para llevar a cabo la búsqueda fueron identificados en consulta con expertos clínicos e incluyó: métodos o metodologías, Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico, seguimiento farmacoterapéutico en pacientes hospitalizados, problemas relacionados con medicamentos y validación de metodologías. Se realizó una comparación de las mismas, para establecer las ventajas y desventajas y la factibilidad de su aplicación en el entorno hospitalario. Para validarla se adelantó un estudio descriptivo en 32 pacientes, de manera aleatoria, con características distintas, que fueron seguidos de manera independiente por dos farmacéuticos para evaluar la reproducibilidad del proceso. Resultados: Las metodologías de Cipolle y Strand, Pharmaceutical Care Practice: the Clinician's Guide, Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs, el método Dader y el programa IASER, fueron seleccionadas. Se identificó y se resolvió 79 resultados negativos a la medicación (RNM), de necesidad (46,6%), efectividad (24,5%) y seguridad (28,9%). El grado de acuerdo entre investigadores en la identificación y resolución de RNMs se cuantificó con el coeficiente de concordancia kappa encontrando alto acuerdo (90% CI). La prueba Fisher relacionó características del paciente y cantidad de RNMs detectados. El tiempo de seguimiento, número de medicamentos, días de estancia y hospitalizaciones previas, tienen mayor relación. Conclusiones: La metodología diseñada permite identificar, prevenir y resolver RNMs, mostrando además ser reproducible y tener un alto grado de concordancia entre las aplicaciones.

Background: Pharmacotherapy follow-up is a practice in which the pharmacist assumes responsibility for the patient's drug-related Problems. Its goal is to achieve positive clinical outcomes. Methods to perform pharmacotherapy follow-up have centered principally on ambulatory patients. Objective: The purpose of this study is to propose and validate a methodology for inpatient pharmacotherapy follow-up. Methods: A systematic review was performed. This consisted in a comprehensive search of databases containing studies published in English or Spanish during 1998 - 2008, and that sought to improve the transfer of accurate information about Pharmacotherapy follow-up in inpatients. The key terms used to conduct the search were identified in consultation with clinical experts and included: Pharmacotherapy follow-up methods, pharmacotherapy follow-up, drug therapy problems, and validation. A comparative table was elaborated to differentiate and evaluate the advantages of each of the proposed methodologies. The information gathered allowed to propose a sequence of general steps for inpatient Pharmacotherapy follow-up. To validate the methodology, a descriptive study was carried out with 32 randomly selected patients and was independently followed up by two pharmacists to assess the reproducibility of the process. Results: Pharmaceutical Care Practice: The Clinician's Guide, proposed by Cipolle & Strand. Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs, the DÁDER method, and the IASER program, were selected. 79 drug therapy problems (DTPs) were identified and resolved, where errors in necessity of medication had the highest incidence (46.6%), followed by effectiveness (24.5%) and safety (28.9%). The degree of agreement among researchers in the identification and resolution of DTPs was quantified using the kappa coefficient, showing a high concordance (90% CI). The Fisher's exact test determined that DTPs are related to the duration of the follow up, number of medications, length of the stay and previous hospitalizations. Conclusions: The methodology allows identifying, preventing and resolving DTPs. It proved to be reproducible and have a high degree of concordance between applications.

Prevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies was studied in a poor community of Bogotá, Colombia. Two-hundred-sevem patients, from both sexes and all age groups, were studied. Positive Elisa titers were found in 47.5% of the population, a high prevalence compared with reports from developed countries. T. canis ova were positive in 43.6% of fecal samples from dog puppies. An endemic pattern of the disease is described: socioeconomic status, weathers, pollution, poor hygiene and a significant population of infected dogs. Neither the physical examination nor Elisa titers could detect any case of T. canis disease.