Seaweed polysaccharide-based hydrogels used for the regeneration of articular cartilage

This manuscript provides an overview of the in vitro and in vivo studies reported in the literature focusing on seaweed polysaccharides based hydrogels that have been proposed for applications in regenerative medicine, particularly, in the field of cartilage tissue engineering. For a better understanding of the main requisites for these specific applications, the main aspects of the native cartilage structure, as well as recognized diseases that affect this tissue are briefly described. Current available treatments are also presented to emphasize the need for alternative techniques. The following part of this review is centered on the description of the general characteristics of algae polysaccharides, as well as relevant properties required for designing hydrogels for cartilage tissue engineering purposes. An in-depth overview of the most well known seaweed polysaccharide, namely agarose, alginate, carrageenan and ulvan biopolymeric gels, that have been proposed for engineering cartilage is also provided. Finally, this review describes and summarizes the translational aspect for the clinical application of alternative systems emphasizing the importance of cryopreservation and the commercial products currently available for cartilage treatment.Authors report no declarations of interest. Authors thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the PhD fellowship of Elena G. Popa (SFRH/BD/64070/2009) and research project (MIT/ECE/0047/2009). The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no REGPOT-CT2012-316331-POLARIS

Perfil de morbidade e de mortalidade de pacientes idosos hospitalizados Morbidity and mortality profile of hospitalized elderly patients

Os objetivos deste estudo são analisar o perfil de morbi-mortalidade em idosos hospitalizados em dois hospitais universitários e dois não universitários, da Área de planejamento 2.2 da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, no ano de 1999, comparando as taxas de mortalidade hospitalar, ajustando para diferenças no perfil. Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde (SIH/SUS). O modelo logístico foi ajustado incluindo as variáveis idade e diagnóstico primário, utilizado para calcular as taxas de mortalidade hospitalar ajustadas. As internações hospitalares em idosos (n = 7.584) representaram 29,3% do total de 25.928 internações realizadas nessas unidades. Catarata senil (7,8%) foi a causa mais freqüente, seguida de hiperplasia de próstata (4,7%), insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (2,9%) e bloqueio atrioventricular total (2,8%). Os hospitais não universitários apresentaram taxas de mortalidade hospitalar maiores do que as dos hospitais universitários, mesmo depois do ajuste para diferenças no perfil de casos em relação à idade e diagnóstico principal. O uso dos bancos de dados do SIH/SUS e da metodologia de ajuste de risco representam uma alternativa para avaliações exploratórias de resultados de cuidados de saúde.<br>The objectives of this study were to analyze the morbidity and mortality profile in elderly patients hospitalized in two teaching and two non-teaching hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Municipal Planning Area 2.2) in 1999, and to compare in-hospital mortality rates adjusted for differences in profile. Data were obtained from the National Hospital Database of the Unified National Health System (SIH/SUS). The logistic model included the variables age and primary diagnosis to calculate risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality rates. Hospital admissions of elderly patients (n = 7,584) represented 29.3% of a total of 25,928 hospitalizations that took place in these units. Senile cataract (7.8%) was the most frequent cause of hospitalization, followed by prostate hyperplasia (4.7%), congestive heart failure (2.9%), and complete atrioventricular block (2.8%). Non-teaching hospitals presented in-hospital mortality rates higher than teaching hospitals even after adjusting for case profile differences with regard to age and primary diagnosis. The use of SIH/SUS databases and the risk adjustment methodology represent an alternative for exploratory analysis of healthcare outcomes