Sistemas transportadores de fármacos basados en el polímero poly(e- caprolactona) para el tratamiento del cáncer

Chemotherapy agents have little or no specificity over cancer cells, resulting in low therapeutic concentrations at the tumor site (a consequence of a broad systemic distribution), and severe side effects. With the aim of avoiding cancer therapy failure, several approaches such as design of new anticancer drugs, chemical engineering of conventional drugs and development of drug delivery systems have been proposed. The objective is to enhance drug localization at the tumor region (by controlling its biodistribution profile) and, therefore, to increase the anti-tumor efficacy (even in multi-drug resistant tumors), while reducing systemic side effects. One of the most promising approaches to the problem is the development of drug nanocarriers based on the polymer poly(e-caprolactone). In this review we will focus our attention on these polymeric colloids, particularly on the most significant characteristics and formulation procedures, and on their use as nanoplatforms for the delivery of chemotherapy agents to the tumor site. Furthermore, the most recent in vitro and in vivo investigations on the subject are extensively reviewed

La educación para la salud en la adolescencia temprana para mejorar el afrontamiento de los cambios físicos y emocionales

La etapa de la adolescencia es conocida por conllevar gran cantidad de cambios, tanto físicos como emocionales, principalmente durante la adolescencia temprana, donde los jóvenes experimentan la mayor cantidad de transformaciones. Un acompañamiento apropiado por parte de profesionales en enfermería pediátrica es clave para reducir las dudas en esta etapa. Por lo anterior, este trabajo pretende analizar si en la adolescencia temprana la educación para la salud por parte de profesionales en enfermería pediátrica mejora el afrontamiento de los cambios. Para ello, se utilizará la metodología de investigación basada en la evidencia, la cual es un proceso estructurado que se centra en identificar la mejor evidencia disponible con el fin de aprovechar al máximo los conocimientos que se producen, en este caso, en la ciencia enfermera. Tras la búsqueda de la mejor evidencia científica disponible con respecto a la pregunta clínica “En la adolescencia temprana, ¿la educación para la salud por parte de enfermería pediátrica mejora el afrontamiento de los cambios físicos y emocionales?”. Se concluye que existe poca evidencia científica de alta calidad que corresponde propiamente al adolescente en la etapa temprana, específicamente adolescentes sanos que afronten su proceso de crecimiento normal, por lo que los hallazgos de la presente indagación sugieren la necesidad de realizar investigación primaria con esta población y de forma específica con la temática propia de la adolescencia temprana y su desarrollo.Abstract The adolescence stage is known for involving a large number of changes, both physical and emotional, mainly during early adolescence, where young people experience the greatest number of transformations. Proper accompaniment by pediatric nursing professionals is key to reducing stage issues. Therefore, this work aims to question whether in early adolescence health education given by professionals in pediatric nursing improves coping. To do this, the evidence-based research methodology will be used, which is a structured process that focuses on identifying the best available evidence in order to make the most of the knowledge produced, in this case, in nursing science. After searching for the best available scientific evidence regarding the clinical question "In early adolescence, does health education by pediatric nurses improve coping with physical and emotional changes?" It is concluded that there is very little good quality scientific evidence that responds properly to the adolescent in the early stage, specifically healthy adolescents who face their normal growth process, so the findings of the present investigation were reduced to few scientific productions.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Salud::Maestría Profesional en Enfermería con énfasis en Niñez y Adolescenci

Review of the “state of the art” and possibilities of the most significant approaches to the specific delivery of chemotherapy agents to tumor cells

Los principales problemas de la quimioterapia proceden esencialmente de la relativa falta de especificidad derivada de la extensa biodistribución de los agentes antitumorales y de los efectos secundarios generados por la acción inespecífica de éstos en tejidos y órganos sanos. La necesidad de encontrar tratamientos eficaces contra el cáncer ha hecho que se incrementen las líneas de investigación en esta materia. Una de las aproximaciones más prometedoras en este sentido es el desarrollo de sistemas coloidales biodegradables para el transporte de fármacos antitumorales. Gracias a éstos, se logra acumular específicamente la cantidad de fármaco administrada en el lugar de acción, logrando así un aumento significativo de la eficacia clínica, junto con una minimización de las reacciones adversas asociadas. En este trabajo, pretendemos analizar el estado actual en el diseño de coloides como transportadores de fármacos antitumorales, junto con la aplicación de las novedosas estrategias de transporte pasivo y activo de fármacos.The main problems related to chemotherapy mainly come from a relative lack of selectivity, that is associated to the extensive biodistribution of antitumor molecules, and to the severe side effects generated by the unspecific drug action on healthy tissues and organs. The need of finding out efficient treatments against cancer has led to an enhancement in the number of research lines in the field. In this way, one of the most promising approaches is the development of biodegradable colloids for the delivery of antitumor drugs. Thanks to them, it is possible to specifically concentrate the drug into the site of action. Therefore, a significant improvement of the chemotherapy effect is obtained along with a minimization of the related adverse side effects. In this review, we analyze the current “state of the art” in the development of colloidal systems for the efficient delivery of anticancer drugs. The possibilities of novel drug delivery strategies based on passive and active targeting mechanisms are also discussed

SARS-CoV-2 and other main pathogenic microorganisms in the environment: situation in Galicia and Spain

In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, and mostly taking a broad perspective, it is clearly relevant to study environmental factors that could affect eventual future outbreaks due to coronaviruses and/or other pathogenic microorganisms. In view of that, the authors of this manuscript review the situation of SARS-CoV-2 and other main pathogenic microorganisms in the environment, focusing on Galicia and Spain. Overall, in addition to showing local data, it is put in evidence that, summed to all efforts being carried out to treat/control this and any other eventual future epidemic diseases, both at local and global levels, a deep attention should be paid to ecological/environmental aspects that have effects on the planet, its ecosystems and their relations/associations with the probability of spreading of eventual future pandemicsThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of science, innovation and universities [grant numbers RTI2018-099574-B-C21 and RTI2018-099574-B-C22]. It also received funds from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (FEDER in Spain), being a complement to the previous grants, without additional grant numberS

Panoramic and tomographic implant studies : role in the diagnosis of sinus disorders

Objective: To study the presence of sinus disorders and their diagnosis based on clinical and radiographic findings, correlating their presence with tomography tests and panoramic radiography. Study design: We conducted a retrospective study on 152 patients who were seeking implant treatment, thereby allowing us to evaluate 42 patients who had abnormal sinuses. The patients underwent an evaluation of their medical history as well a clinical examination, panoramic radiography and tomographic study. Results: The average age of the patient was 59.8 years old, and 54.76% of the group were males and 45.23% were females. Prior respiratory disorders were present in 52.38% of the patients, and 57.3% of the group presented dental disorders. In assessing the type of wound, we observed that 73.21% were mucosal hyperplasia and 26.78% were mucous cysts. Of the 56 sinuses affected, only 28.57% were diagnosed using panoramic radiography. Conclusions: Panoramic radiography has limitations in the diagnosis of sinus disorders; computerized tomography (CT) remains the most effective diagnostic test

Low-cost materials to face soil and water pollution

In this mini-review, the authors comment on selected papers focused on the use of low-cost materials to prevent/remediate environmental pollution (specifically, soil and water pollution). The authors have selected publications corresponding to the years 2021 and 2022, using the searching tools Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar to find basic data about the papers, the countries where the researches were carried out, number of citations, and other details indicative of the relevance of the works. Overall, the field of research is receiving growing attention and efforts, providing useful data on classical and new low-cost materials, both raw and modified by means of low-cost procedures, which constitute a clearly interesting alternative to face environmental pollution currently and for the futureS

Clinical effect of diode laser on peri-implant tissues during non-surgical peri-implant mucositis therapy : randomized controlled clinical study

The aim of this study is to evaluate the response to the non-surgical treatment of peri-implant mucositis using the diode laser as an adjuvant therapy in patients with implant-supported restorations, in terms of clinical variables, with respect to those patients in whom conventional non-surgical therapy is used. Randomized controlled clinical trial with simple blind 3 months follow-up. Two groups of patients were established, the non-surgical mechanical debridement of the affected implants was performed in the control group (n = 34) and the diode laser therapy was also performed in the test group (n = 34). The implant was considered the study subject; the variables considered were plaque index, bleeding on probing depth, depth of probing and recession of the peri-implant mucosa. The t-Student test was used to establish the intergroup statistical differences and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to measures intragroup differences over time. In the revaluation at 6 weeks, we observed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between the variables of plaque index and depth of probing between both groups. The test group obtained an average of 0.248 ± 0.3155 in plaque index and 0.833 ± 0.374mm in the depth of probing compared to the results obtained in the control group that was 0.558 ± 0.526 and 1,137 ± 0.222mm respectively. In the 3-month reevaluation, was also obtained great statistical significance between both groups for bleeding on probing (p<0.001), with values of 0.568 ± 0.282 for the control group and 0.480 ± 0.336 for the test group. The use of diode laser as an adjunctive therapy to the conventional treatment of peri-implant mucositis showed promising results, being more effective reducing the inflammation of the peri-implant tissue, positioning itself as a valuable tool for the treatment of peri-implant pathologies

Self-reported psychological development in cosmetic breast surgery patients

Cosmetic breast surgery is the only therapeutic alternative for psychological and physical complications associated with micromasty, breast ptosis, and macromasty. We analyzed the effects of 2 variables, time, and type of cosmetic breast surgery, on anxiety symptomatology and quality of life. Following a mixed 3x4 design, 3 groups of women with breast augmentation (n=63), mastopexy (n=42), and breast reduction (n=30) were selected and evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey at 4 different times, the preoperative stage, and at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperative. Pearson’s chi square, Welch’s U, Games-Howell tests, mixed analysis of variance, and Cohen’s d and w for effect size were calculated. Results relating to anxiety (state and trait) showed that the time factor was significant (P<0.001) with differences between the preoperative stage (higher anxiety levels) and the 3 postoperative stages: at 1 month (P<0.001), 6 months (P<0.001), and 12 months (P<0.001). In quality of life, type of surgery and time factors were found to have interactive effects on vitality (P=0.044) and role-emotional (P=0.023) dimensions. Compared to the other 2 groups, women who had undergone mastopexy felt worse (vitality) at 1 month since surgery than in the other stages, and better at 6 months since surgery (role-emotional). In the rest of the dimensions, and focusing on the most relevant effect sizes, the type of surgery made a difference in the physical functioning (P=0.005) and role-physical (P=0.020) dimensions, where women who had had breast reduction felt worse than those who had had augmentation. Time also resulted in differences in the physical functioning (P<0.001), role-physical (P<0.001), and bodily pain (P<0.001) dimensions, where women felt worse at 1 month since surgery than during the rest of the stages, as well as in the social functioning dimension (P<0.001) at 1 month, compared to 6 months postoperative. We conclude that in the long term, women who have cosmetic breast surgery recover their physical and psychological well-bein

CA15.3 Serum Concentrations in Older Women with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinomas of the Breast

Breast cancer is currently becoming a disease of the elderly. We have studied the relation between CA 15.3 serum concentrations and clinical-pathological parameters in 69 women with IDC aged over 70 years (76.3 ± 4.2; range: 71–88; median 76). A group of 205 women with the same tumor but aged <70 years (62.8 ± 4.0; range: 55–70; median 63) was also considered for comparison. Tumor size, axillary lymph node involvement, distant metastasis and histological grade were taken account. Serum CA 15.3 was determined by luminescence assay. CA 15.3 serum concentrations ranged between 6 and 85 U/mL (median 22.9 U/mL), and were higher only in patients with greater (qualitative and quantitative; p: 0.041) tumor size. Our results show that in women with IDCs, and aged over 70 years, serum CA 15.3 serum concentrations are associated exclusively with a greater tumor size, being these findings different to those described in women with the same subtype of tumor considered as a whole or with lower age.This work was supported by grant PI11/01806 from ISCIII (Spain)S

Nanotechnological Approaches to Therapeutic Delivery Using Elastin-Like Recombinamers

Producción CientíficaThis Review discusses the use of elastin-like polymers and their recombinant version, elastin-like recombinamers, in drug-delivery systems. These macromolecules exhibit a number of interesting properties that are rarely found together in any other family of materials, especially extremely high biocompatibility, high bioactivity and functionality, complex yet fully controlled composition, and stimuli responsiveness. Appropriate design of these molecules opens up a broad range of different possibilities for their use in new therapeutic platforms. The first of these described herein is the use of ELRs in single-molecule devices as therapeutic entities in their own right. Subsequently, we describe how the self-assembly properties of these materials can be exploited to create nanocarriers and, eventually, microcarriers that are able to temporally and spatially control and direct the release of their drug load. Intracellular drug-delivery devices and nanocarriers for treating cancer are among the uses described in that section. Finally, the use of ELRs as base materials for implantable drug depots, in the form of hydrogels, is discussed.Ministerio de Industria, Economía y Competitividad (proyectos PRI-PIBAR-2011–1403, MAT2012–38043, MAT2013–42473-R y MAT2013–41723-R)Junta de Castilla y León (programa de apoyo a proyectos de investigación – Ref. VA152A12, VA155A12 y VA313U14)CIBER-BBN, y la Junta de Castilla y León y el Instituto de Salud Carlos III mediante el "Centro en Red de Medicina Regenerativa y Terapia Celular de Castilla y León