Bio-Inspired Metal-Organic Frameworks in the Pharmaceutical World: A Brief Review

One of the great challenges in the pharmaceutical industry is the search for more efficient and cost-effective ways to store and deliver existing drugs. Bio-inspired metal-organic frameworks (BioMOFs) are groundbreaking materials that have recently been explored for drug storage, delivery and controlled release as well as for applications in imaging and sensing for therapeutic and diagnostic. This review presents a brief overview on these materials, and by alluding to a few reported examples, it intends to clearly show the extremely important role that BioMOFs have been playing in the pharmaceutical field

Mechanochemistry in Portugal—A Step towards Sustainable Chemical Synthesis

LA/P/0140/2020 DL 57/2016 Norma transitória.In Portugal, publications with mechanochemical methods date back to 2009, with the report on mechanochemical strategies for the synthesis of metallopharmaceuticals. Since then, mechanochemical applications have grown in Portugal, spanning several fields, mainly crystal engineering and supramolecular chemistry, catalysis, and organic and inorganic chemistry. The area with the most increased development is the synthesis of multicomponent crystal forms, with several groups synthesizing solvates, salts, and cocrystals in which the main objective was to improve physical properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients. Recently, non-crystalline materials, such as ionic liquids and amorphous solid dispersions, have also been studied using mechanochemical methods. An area that is in expansion is the use of mechanochemical synthesis of bioinspired metal-organic frameworks with an emphasis in antibiotic coordination frameworks. The use of mechanochemistry for catalysis and organic and inorganic synthesis has also grown due to the synthetic advantages, ease of synthesis, scalability, sustainability, and, in the majority of cases, the superior properties of the synthesized materials. It can be easily concluded that mechanochemistry is expanding in Portugal in diverse research areas.publishersversionpublishe

A UTILIZAÇÃO DA TEORIA DA ATIVIDADE COMO FRAMEWORK PARA A PESQUISA E O DESENVOLVIMENTO EM TECNOLOGIA EDUCACIONAL

Activity theory can be used as a framework for analyzing any human activity mediated by an artifact, including learning activities mediated by educational technologies. However, the authors who proposed the theory have not presented methods or procedures for its application, so each research has to structure yours own way of using it. To contribute to this problem, the objective of this work was to identify and analyze how the theory is applied in works in the field of educational technology and propose suggestions of procedures to be used in future researches. A bibliometric research followed by a qualitative analysis of works in this area was used as research strategy. The results indicate that the activity theory is already applied in the field of educational technology as an analysis tool. The advantages of its application consist in providing a holistic view of the social and complex context in which technologies are inserted, as well as the identification of the interrelationships and contradictions between the various actors (subjects and community) and the other elements of the activity (mediating artefacts, division of labor and rules and customs). Although the theory originally proposed does not present a standardized protocol of how the framework should be applied, the qualitative analysis was able to identify in the analyzed works a general common line of its use. This general line was synthesized in the form of an application model of the activity theory framework presented at the end of this article.A teoria da atividade pode ser utilizada como um framework para análise de qualquer atividade humana mediada por um artefato, incluindo atividades de ensino mediadas por tecnologias educacionais. Porém, os autores envolvidos na proposição da teoria não apresentam métodos ou procedimentos práticos para a sua aplicação, cabendo a cada pesquisa estruturar uma forma de utilizá-la. Para contribuir com a resolução dessa lacuna, o objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e analisar como a teoria vendo sendo aplicada em pesquisas no campo da tecnologia educacional e propor – a partir deste levantamento – sugestões de procedimentos para serem utilizados em pesquisas futuras. Para isso, utilizou-se como estratégia de investigação uma pesquisa bibliométrica seguida por uma análise qualitativa de trabalhos nesta área. Os resultados apontaram que a teoria da atividade já é aplicada no campo da tecnologia educacional como ferramenta de análise. As vantagens de sua aplicação consistem no fornecimento de uma visão holística do contexto social e complexo no qual as tecnologias se inserem, além da identificação das inter-relações e contradições entre os diversos atores (sujeitos e comunidade) e os demais elementos da atividade (artefatos mediadores, divisão do trabalho e regras e costumes). Apesar da teoria proposta originalmente não apresentar um protocolo padronizado de como o framework deve ser aplicado, a análise qualitativa conseguiu identificar nos trabalhos analisados uma linha geral comum de sua utilização. Essa linha geral foi sintetizada na forma de um modelo de aplicação do framework da teoria da atividade apresentado ao final do artigo

Pseudohipópio pós-injeção intravítrea de triancinolona: relato de casos

Report on the development of pseudohypopyon immediately after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC). Two phakic patients presenting with a transient pseudohypopyon after having been treated with intravitreal triamcinolone. One had a clinically significant macular edema with cystoid component (CSME with CMS) and the other, active Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) with serous retinal detachment of the macula. One eye from each patient developed a pseudohypopyon with crystal deposits adherent to the corneal endothelium. In one case it appeared right after the injection and disappeared spontaneously in 24 hours. In the other patient it appeared on day 3 and disappeared also spontaneously within 2 days. The pseudohypopyon is an important sign that can be observed after intravitreal injection of TAAC, in phakic patients, with spontaneous resolution and without complication. The pseudohypopyon caused by the deposition of TAAC in the anterior chamber immediately after its injection into the vitreous should be differentiated from other forms of hypopyon associated with this type of treatment.Descrição de dois casos de pacientes submetidos à injeção intravítrea de acetonida de triancinolona (AT), que desenvolveram pseudo-hipópio transitório. Um paciente apresentava edema macular diabético clinicamente significativo com componente cistóide e o outro, com descolamento seroso de retina agudo com Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, e ambos desenvolveram pseudo-hipópio com presença de depósitos de cristais no endotélio corneano; em um caso o pseudo-hipópio desapareceu espontaneamente em 24 horas, no outro caso o pseudo-hipópio teve duração de 2 dias. O pseudo-hipópio é importante sinal que pode ser observado após injeção intravítrea de AT, em pacientes fácicos, apresentando resolução espontânea sem complicações. Este pseudo-hipópio causado por depósitos de cristais de AT deve ser considerado diagnóstico diferencial para hipópio infeccioso associado a este tipo de tratamento.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Oftalmologia Setor de Uveítes e AIDSUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de OftalmologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Oftalmologia Setor de Uveítes e AIDSUNIFESP, Depto. de OftalmologiaSciEL

Antiarrhythmic effect of ischemic preconditioning during low-flow ischemia: The role of bradykinin and sarcolemmal versus mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channels

Abstract. : Short episodes of ischemia (ischemic preconditioning) protect the heart against ventricular arrhythmias during zero-flow ischemia and reperfusion. However, in clinics, many episodes of ischemia present a residual flow (low-flow ischemia). Here we examined whether ischemic preconditioning protects against ventricular arrhythmias during and after a low-flow ischemia and, if so, by what mechanism(s). Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 60 min of low-flow ischemia (12% residual coronary flow) followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning was induced by two cycles of 5 min of zero-flow ischemia followed by 5 and 15 min of reperfusion, respectively. Arrhythmias were evaluated as numbers of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) as well as incidences of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular .brillation (VF) during low-flow ischemia and reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced the number of VPBs and the incidence of VT and of VF during low-flow ischemia. This antiarrhythmic effect of preconditioning was abolished by HOE 140 (100 nM), a bradykinin B2 receptor blocker. Similar to preconditioning, exogenous bradykinin (10 nM) reduced the number of VPBs and the incidence of VT and of VF during low-flow ischemia. Furthermore, the antiarrhythmic effects of both ischemic preconditioning and bradykinin were abolished by glibenclamide (1 µM), a non-specific blocker of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels. Finally, the antiarrhythmic effects of both ischemic preconditioning and bradykinin were abolished by HMR 1098 (10 µM), a sarcolemmal KATP channel blocker but not by 5-hydroxydecanoate (100 µM), a mitochondrial KATP channel blocker. In conclusion, ischemic preconditioning protects against ventricular arrhythmias induced by low-flow ischemia, and this protection involves activation of bradykinin B2 receptors and subsequent opening of sarcolemmal but not of mitochondrial KATP channel

RNase R Controls Membrane Fatty Acid Composition in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Previous studies on RNase R have highlighted significant effects of this ribonuclease in several processes of Streptococcus pneumoniae biology. In this work we have studied the global impact of RNase R by comparing the transcriptional landscape of a deleted RNase R mutant to that of the wild-type strain, and this led us investigate specific targets affected by RNase R. RNA-Seq showed that RNase R deletion affects transcripts from several different biological processes. Of particular interest, elimination of RNase R results in overexpression of most of the genes encoding the components of type II fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS-II) cluster. We demonstrate that RNase R governs the turnover of most of genes from this pathway, affecting the outcome of the whole FAS-II cluster, and leading to an unbalanced membrane fatty acid composition. Our results show that the membrane of the deleted strain contains a higher proportion of unsaturated and long-chained fatty acids than the wild type strain. This leads to a higher fluidity of the Arnr mutant membrane, which is probably related with the increased sensitivity to detergent observed in this strain. We demonstrate that RNase R expression is induced in cells challenged with H2O2, which is suggestive of a role for this ribonuclease on the regulation of membrane homeostasis under oxidative stress. Reprogramming of membrane fluidity is an adaptative cell response crucial for bacterial survival in constantly changing environmental conditions. The fact that RNase R controls the expression of several essential genes to the fatty acid synthesis unveils a new important function of this enzyme.This research was funded by national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—I. P., Project MOSTMICRO-ITQB with refs UIDB/04612/2020 and UIDP/04612/2020, and Project EXPL/BIA-MOL/1244/2021. S.D. and V.P. were financed by FCT contracts according to DL57/2016, respectively SFRH/BPD/84080/2012) and (SFRH/BPD/87188/2012). C.B. had a contract under the FCT project PTDC/BIA BQM/28479/2017.N

FORMAÇÃO DOCENTE NA APAE: DESENVOLVIMENTO DE MATERIAIS PEDAGÓGICOS SOBRE VIDA DIÁRIA

O cenário da Covid-19 impactou a área educacional, fazendo a comunidade acadêmica entender quais impactos foram esses. Isso é possível via relatos de experiências e reflexões de seus episódios. Diante disso, esse trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a vivência de um educador especial em formação no desenvolvimento de materiais pedagógicos que auxiliassem estudantes com deficiência no processo de aquisição de sua autonomia. O delineamento descritivo e de cunho qualitativo proporciona descrever, cientificamente, um estágio de um futuro educador especial, realizado em uma APAE. Com base em dez materiais desenvolvidos durante essa vivência e o modo e contexto em que eles foram confeccionados, destacamos: a) A formação de professores contendo o tema Vida Diária impactou ao propagar conceitos inicias sobre autonomia, mesmo que, para fazer isso, ocorreram desafios devido o modelo remoto; b) Ter contato com o aluno, em quaisquer modelos de ensino, é essencial para o desenvolvimento de materiais pedagógicos e; c) É preciso colaboração entre estagiários e docentes-supervisoras não só para fazer materiais, mas para mediar a aplicação destes. Como considerações, trazemos que o paradigma de ensejos e tensões educacionais brasileiras pode macular a área do desenvolvimento de materiais. Para tal, é essencial lançar mão de conhecimentos sobre as identidades, as multiplicidades e as ações que compõem o processo educacional de estudantes com deficiências

Perception of municipal health managers regarding environmental health: Cerrado Araguaia Tocantins intermunicipal health consortium

As iniciativas dos consórcios intermunicipais de saúde (CIS), ainda pouco exploradas no Brasil, favorecem estratégias de descentralização na direção de objetivos gerais do SUS para a regionalização e a hierarquização da oferta de serviços. São inovações do setor público para uma melhor gestão, prover serviços especializados e maior densidade tecnológica à população, sendo que a ação conjunta entre os municípios pode viabilizar ganhos ambientais e econômicos na provisão desses serviços públicos. O estudo prospectivo teve como objetivo analisar a percepção e as ações dos gestores municipais que compõem o consórcio intermunicipal Cerrado Araguaia Tocantins quanto aos problemas de saúde ambiental da região Norte do estado. Foram analisadas entrevistas semiestruturadas de 46 gestores, mediante técnica do discurso do sujeito coletivo proposta por Lefèvre e Lefèvre, que revelaram uma concepção ampla no sentido de reconhecimento de saúde ambiental: a existência de problemas ambientais locais que afetam diretamente a população. Entretanto, não se percebe a interação do governo em planejamento de ações político-administrativas de saúde ambiental. Faz-se necessário que os diferentes sujeitos envolvidos, incluindo os que atuam no consórcio pesquisado, tenham clareza da sua participação de maneira ativa, e que as estruturas organizacionais possam subsidiar as estratégias intersetoriais necessárias para responder às demandas dos problemas atuais da saúde, incluindo os problemas ambientais.The initiatives of health consortiums (CIS), still little explored in Brazil, promote decentralization strategies toward overall goals of SUS for regionalization and the hierarchy of the offered services. These are innovations in the public sector to improve its management, provide specialized services and increase technological density for population, because the joint action between the municipalities may bring environmental and economic gains for these public services. The prospective study aimed to analyze the perception and actions of municipal managers that compose the intermunicipal Cerrado Araguaia Tocantins consortium, with regard to environmental health problems in the northern region of the state. Semi- structured interviews of 46 managers were analyzed through the discourse of the collective subject proposed by Lefèvre and Lefèvre, which revealed a broad view towards recognition of environmental health: the existence of local environmental problems that directly affect the population. However, there is no known interaction from the government on planning political and administrative actions of environmental health. The different parts involved in this subject, including those who work in the researched consortium, need to have a clear view of their participation in an active way, and that the organizational structures may support needed intersectoral strategies to meet the demands of today's health problems, including environmental problems

Turning waste cooking oils into biofuels - valorization technologies: a review

In search of a more sustainable society, humanity has been looking to reduce the environmental impacts caused by its various activities. The energy sector corresponds to one of the most impactful activities since most energies produced come from fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, which are finite resources. Moreover, their inherent processes to convert energy into electricity emit various pollutants, which are responsible for global warming, eutrophication, and acidification of soil and marine environments. Biofuels are one of the alternatives to fossil fuels, and the raw material used for their production includes vegetable oils, wood and agricultural waste, municipal waste, and waste cooking oils (WCOs). The conventional route for WCO valorization is the production of biodiesel, which, as all recovery technologies, presents advantages and disadvantages that must be explored from a technical and economic perspective. Despite its successful use in the production of biodiesel, it should be noticed that there are other approaches to use WCO. Among them, thermochemical technologies can be applied to produce alternative fuels through cracking or hydrocracking, pyrolysis, and gasification processes. For each technology, the best conditions were identified, and finally, projects and companies that work with this type of technology and use WCO were identified.This work was co-financed by the FITEC—Fund for Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy, Interface Program, within the scope of the project CVR—Base Funding

Abordagem Multidisciplinar Da Isquemia Mesentérica Aguda – Um Caso De Sucesso

 Introduction: Acute Mesenteric Ischemia (AMI) is a surgical emergency that results from interruption of mesenteric vascular flow. With a multifactorial etiology, it is often associated with embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Late diagnosis and patient co-morbidities usually lead to high surgical morbidity and mortality rates. Case Report: We describe a case of a 57-year-old man, admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with acute abdominal pain and vomiting. After clinical examination and computerized tomography (CT) scan imaging the subject was diagnosed with mesenteric ischemia. The patient underwent emergent surgery, with a multidisciplinary approach including general surgery and vascular surgery teams. Conclusion: Early diagnosis associated with adequate resuscitation was essential in the patient’s prognosis. Introdução: A isquemia mesentérica aguda (IMA) é uma emergência cirúrgica que resulta da interrupção do fluxo vascular mesentérico. Com uma etiologia multifatorial, está frequentemente associada à oclusão embólica da artéria mesentérica superior (AMS). O diagnóstico tardio e as comorbilidades do paciente geralmente levam a altas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade cirúrgica. Relato de Caso: Descrevemos o caso de um homem de 57 anos, admitido no Serviço de Urgência (SU) com dor abdominal aguda e vómitos. Após exame clínico e tomografia computorizada (TC), foi diagnosticada isquemia mesentérica. O paciente foi submetido a cirurgia de emergência, com uma abordagem multidisciplinar que incluiu equipas de cirurgia geral e cirurgia vascular. Conclusão: O diagnóstico precoce associado a uma ressuscitação adequada foram essenciais para o prognóstico do paciente