ABSTRACT Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) involves the association of a photosensitizing agent with a light source with the goal of causing apoptosis or microbial lysing. The use of compounds with natural active principles is gaining prominence throughout the world. Several studies from groups that are linked to the development of innovations in the pharmaceutical market have used natural dyes, such as curcumin, the efficacy of which has been demonstrated in aPDT trials. Difficulties related to physicochemical stability, solubility and cell penetration are some of the challenges associated with this field. The present work aimed to prepare, investigate the characteristics and improve the photodynamic activity of PLGA-based nanoparticles loaded with curcumin for use in aPDT therapy. Using the simple technique of emulsion during the evaporation of a solvent, the particles were built, characterized and tested against microorganisms with importance for medicine and dentistry. The results revealed that the particles were able to protect the curcumin against degradation and eliminate some microorganism species at nanomolar concentrations.

Introduction Thermography is a surface thermal radiation measurement technique whose application has been expanding in the healthcare field. The unhealed wound is a serious public health problem because it intervenes in the quality of life of patients and may cause emotional and psychological losses. The wound temperature can provide quantitative data that allow for the healing process to be monitored. The aim of this study was to verify whether thermography can be used as a method to evaluate the healing of pressure ulcers. Methods Eight participants with sacral pressure ulcers were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: A (control) and B (experimental). Both groups received standard treatment for a period of four weeks, which consisted of a daily cleaning of the pressure ulcers with physiological saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) followed by an alginate hydrogel dressing. The group B received light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy in addition to standard treatment, three times a week, yielding a total of 12 sessions. Photographs and thermograms of each pressure ulcer were obtained in all sessions in both groups. Results Pressure ulcers treated with LED phototherapy were healed. The pressure ulcer area of group B decreased over the 12 treatment sessions, whereas the pressure ulcer area of group A increased. The ulcer temperature of group B was higher than that of group A during the treatment (temperature difference up to 7.6%). Discussion The present study suggests a relationship between the temperature and area of pressure ulcers and proposes thermography as an adjunctive method for the evaluation of healing processes.

Several studies demonstrate the benefits of low-power light therapy on wound healing. However, the use of LED as a therapeutic resource remains controversial. There are questions regarding the equality or not of biological effects promoted by LED and LASER. One objective of this review was to determine the biological effects that support the use of LED on wound healing. Another objective was to identify LED´s parameters for the treatment of wounds. The biological effects and parameters of LED will be compared to those of LASER. Literature was obtained from online databases such as Medline, PubMed, Science Direct and Scielo. The search was restricted to studies published in English and Portuguese from 1992 to 2012. Sixty-eight studies in vitro and in animals were analyzed. LED and LASER promote similar biological effects, such as decrease of inflammatory cells, increased fibroblast proliferation, stimulation of angiogenesis, granulation tissue formation and increased synthesis of collagen. The irradiation parameters are also similar between LED and LASER. The biological effects are dependent on irradiation parameters, mainly wavelength and dose. This review elucidates the importance of defining parameters for the use of light devices.

As mastites estão entre as principais causas de prejuízo para produtores de leite. Em casos graves de hiperqueratose, o canal do teto pode se tornar uma barreira mais fácil para que as bactérias penetrem na glândula mamária. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar um dispositivo fotobiomodulador de LED para tratamento e prevenção de hiperqueratose de teto e prevenção da mastite subclínica em um rebanho de leite com alta prevalência de hiperqueratose (35,3% de casos graves). Foram utilizadas 60 primíparas para o experimento de prevenção e 30 vacas com hiperqueratose para o experimento terapêutico. Em ambos os experimentos, metade dos animais foram tratados com o dispositivo fotobiomodulador três vezes por semana, durante 6 semanas. Os outros animais foram os controles. Imagens fotográficas digitalizadas foram realizadas na avaliação inicial e, semanalmente, por 6 semanas consecutivas. Nas primíparas, novas avaliações foram realizadas entre 6 e 7 meses de lactação. Para avaliação da mastite subclínica, contagem de células somáticas (CCS) foram feitas mensalmente. No experimento preventivo, o diâmetro externo das lesões permaneceu constante nos tetos do grupo tratado, enquanto houve aumento no grupo controle. No experimento terapêutico não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre as variáveis de hiperqueratose. Contudo, o grupo tratado apresentou menor incidência de mastites subclínicas (CCS < 250 células/mL) por lactação do que o grupo controle (P<0,05). Em conclusão, o tratamento não foi efetivo em prevenir o desenvolvimento ou reduzir lesões instaladas de hiperqueratose de teto. Contudo, o uso protótipo se mostrou útil e promissor como adjuvante na prevenção do aumento de tamanho das lesões de hiperqueratose de teto em primíparas e como forma de reduzir incidência de mastite subclínicas em vacas leiteiras já acometidas.

Mastitis consistis one of the main problems of milk production, mainly due to the production losses and the rising cost of milk. In case of severe hyperkeratosis, the teat canal can become an easier barrier for the bacteria to penetrate. The objeSctive of this study was to assess a phototherapy device construct with LED light for prevention and treatment of teat hyperkeratosis in a dairy cattle herd with high prevalence (35.3% of severe cases). 60 primiparous cows were used in the preventive experiment and 30 cows with hyperkeratosis were used in the therapeutic experiment. In both experiments, half of the cows started to be treated in early lactation using the phototherapy device three times per week for 6 weeks. The other cows were the controls. Hyperkeratosis was assessed by scoring and by morphometric analyses of teat images that were taken at baseline and then weekly for 6 consecutive weeks. In the preventive experiment, more images were taken later, between 6 and 7 months of the first lactation. Somatic cell counts (SCC) were performed monthly. In the preventive experiment, the outer diameter of the teat lesions remained constant in the treated group, whereas cows of the control group showed a significant increase at the end of lactation. In the therapeutic groups, no statistical differences for teat hyperkeratosis variables were seen between groups. However, the incidence of subclinical mastitis (SCC > 250 cells/mL) during lactation was lower in the treated group (P<0.05). In conclusion the phototherapy protocol did not prevent the development in primiparous or ameliorate previous hyperkeratosis lesions in cows. However, the prototype was considered useful as an adjunct in preventing the increase in the size of teat hyperkeratosis lesions and also as a way to reduce subclinical mastitis incidence in affected dairy cows.

FUNDAMENTOS: Trichophyton rubrum é o agente mais comum das micoses superficiais de pele e unhas causando infecções de longa duração e altas taxas de recidiva. As desvantagens do tratamento atual envolvem medicações tópicas as quais não são capazes de alcançar o leito ungueal em concentrações terapêuticas, antifúngicos sistêmicos que não erradicam o fungo antes das unhas serem renovadas, efeitos colaterais graves e seleção de isolados fúngicos resistentes. A terapia fotodinâmica tem sido uma alternativa promissora aos tratamentos convencionais. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo avaliou a eficácia, in vitro, de azul de orto-toluidina irradiado por diodo emissor de luz na redução da viabilidade de T. rubrum. MÉTODOS: O inóculo fúngico foi preparado e exposto a diferentes concentrações de azul de orto-toluidina e densidades de energia do diodo emissor de luz, para avaliar a sensibilidade de T. rubrum e o efeito fungicida, após terapia fotodinâmica. Além disso, os perfis da área e volume das suspensões fúngicas irradiados também foram investigados. RESULTADOS: Uma pequena redução, in vitro, de células fúngicas foi observada após a exposição a 100 mM azul de orto-toluidina irradiados por diodo emissor de luz a 18 J/cm². Efeito fungicida ocorreu após irradiação 25 µM orto-toluidina por diodo emissor de luz com densidade de energia de 72 J/cm². A análise mostrou que a área e o volume irradiados pelo diodo emissor de luz foram 52,2 mm² e 413,70 mm³, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados permitiram concluir que a terapia fotodinâmica com diodo emissor de luz, nas condições experimentais é uma abordagem alternativa para inibir, in vitro, T. rubrum e pode ser um tratamento promissor para as dermatofitoses causadas por este fungo.

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton rubrum is the most common agent of superficial mycosis of the skin and nails causing long lasting infections and high recurrence rates. Current treatment drawbacks involve topical medications not being able to reach the nail bed at therapeutic concentrations, systemic antifungal drugs failing to eradicate the fungus before the nails are renewed, severe side effects and selection of resistant fungal isolates. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been a promising alternative to conventional treatments. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the in vitro effectiveness of toluidine blue O (TBO) irradiated by Light emitting diode (LED) in the reduction of T. rubrum viability. METHODS: The fungal inoculums' was prepared and exposed to different TBO concentrations and energy densities of Light emitting diode for evaluate the T. rubrum sensibility to PDT and production effect fungicidal after photodynamic treatment. In addition, the profiles of the area and volume of the irradiated fungal suspensions were also investigated. RESULTS: A small reduction, in vitro, of fungal cells was observed after exposition to 100 µM toluidine blue O irradiated by 18 J/cm² Light emitting diode. Fungicidal effect occurred after 25 µM toluidine blue O irradiation by Light emitting diode with energy density of 72 J/cm². The analysis showed that the area and volume irradiated by the Light emitting diode were 52.2 mm² and 413.70 mm³, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results allowed to conclude that Photodynamic therapy using Light emitting diode under these experimental conditions is a possible alternative approach to inhibit in vitro T. rubrum and may be a promising new treatment for dermatophytosis caused by this fungus.

Este trabalho determina as relações entre os ângulos das articulações interfalangeanas e metacarpo-falangeanas para os dedos indicador, médio, anular e mínimo da mão humana durante alguns movimentos de pinça com o objetivo de desenvolver uma prótese multifuncional de mão com movimentos antropomórficos. Uma das grandes dificuldades encontradas para o desenvolvimento destas relações é o fato da mão apresentar um elevado número de graus de liberdade, dificultando a análise dos dados. Utiliza-se um sistema de captura de imagem em apenas um plano para analisar o movimento. Determinam-se as relações para os movimentos de flexão e extensão dos dedos, desprezando adução e abdução durante a realização destas pinças.

This works presents the relation for the angles of interphalanges and metacharpo-phalange joints for the index, middle, ring and little finger of human hand. These angles are determinated during a grasp movement. These relations will be used to develop a hand prosthesis with anthropomorphic movements. The main difficult found in this work was the highest numbers of degrees of freedom from the human hand. A methodology was developed to find these angles. This methodology analyzed the movement in 2-D space, and use only one digital camera and a computer. This methodology could be used for determinate these relations for prosthesis because the abduction/adduction movements was almost never applied in this kind of mechanism.

Visando fazer o controle da força de preensão de uma órtese de mão, foi desenvolvido um circuito eletrônico que usa como feedback a corrente elétrica do atuador, um motor de corrente contínua. Verificando-se a ocorrência da sobre-corrente no atuador este é desativado. Essa sobre-corrente é ajustada de acordo com a força de preensão desejada. Experimentos realizados determinaram a força no tendão artificial e conseqüentemente o torque. Como resultado, foi obtido o controle da força de preensão de acordo com uma regulagem no circuito eletrônico. Este trabalho possibilitará maior segurança do usuário e controle do equipamento.

Planning to make the hold force control of one hand' s orthosis, an electronic circuit was developed using the actuator electric current (direct-current motor) as feedback. Verifying the occurrence of over currente in the actuator, it is disactivated. This over chain is regulated in accordance with grip force desired. Carried through experiments the force in the artificial tendons was determined and consequently the torque. As result, the grip force control was gotten in accordance with a regulation in the electronic circuit. This work makes possible greater security for the user and equipment' s control.

Flow diagnosis using non-invasive techniques such laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) is an important tool to improve the design of artificial heart valves. In the present study, an experimental protocol to obtain flow velocity field and colour coded maps of turbulent eddies dimensions using LDA measurements in a 25 mm bovine pericardium bio prosthesis valve is reported. A transparent Plexiglas chamber was specially designed to allow optical access to the flow passing through the valve. Experiments were conducted for non-pulsate flow (to study the valve performance in the peak flow) for the aorta Reynolds number ranging from 3300 to 6800. LDA interrogation volume visited five thousand and one hundred points along the flow (2500 points upstream and 2600 points downstream) for each Reynolds number. Post-processing methodology was employed to obtain haemolytic potential colour-coded maps, which were related to turbulent quantities. It was observed that haemolytic regions tend to move downstream the valve when the flow rate is increased.

Hemolytic profile of an artificial device chronically implanted in the cardiovascular system may represent the difference between the success and failure in its long-term performance. Last decades have witnessed efforts on the development of methods capable of predicting red blood cell damage in artificial organs. However, all of them have had limited success to predict hemolysis. The primary cause of this problem is that such models do not take into consideration structures of turbulent flow. The present paper demonstrates that microscopic measurable occurrences of the turbulent flow may be linked to red blood cell trauma. This study suggests that if the smallest turbulent eddies dimension is under 10 m m hemolysis is not dependent on the exposure time and the red blood cells damage depends only on the dissipation of the turbulent energy in the erythrocyte membrane. The analysis reported here opens the possibility of mapping the flow field in artificial assist devices based on the smallest eddy length scales. This is a promising new trend and should be considered in the designing requirements of the next generations of artificial organs.