Characterisation of the Interaction among Oil-In-Water Nanocapsules and Mucin

Mucins are glycoproteins present in all mucosal surfaces and in secretions such as saliva. Mucins are involved in the mucoadhesion of nanodevices carrying bioactive molecules to their target sites in vivo. Oil-in-water nanocapsules (NCs) have been synthesised for carrying N,N′-(di-m-methylphenyl)urea (DMTU), a quorum-sensing inhibitor, to the oral cavity. DMTU-loaded NCs constitute an alternative for the treatment of plaque (bacterial biofilm). In this work, the stability of the NCs after their interaction with mucin is analysed. Mucin type III from Sigma-Aldrich has been used as the mucin model. Mucin and NCs were characterised by the multi-detection asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation technique (AF4). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential analyses were carried out to characterise the interaction between mucin and NCs. According to the results, loading DMTU changes the conformation of the NC. It was also found that the synergistic interaction between mucin and NCs was favoured within a specific range of the mucin:NC ratio within the first 24 h. Studies on the release of DMTU in vitro and the microbial activity of such NCs are ongoing in our lab

Interaction Between Chitosan and Mucin: Fundamentals and Applications

The term chitosan (CS) refers to a family of aminopolysaccharides derived from chitin. Among other properties, CS is nontoxic, mucoadhesive and can be used for load and transport drugs. Given these and other physicochemical and biological properties, CS is an optimal biopolymer for the development of transmucosal drug delivery systems, as well as for the treatment of pathologies related to mucosal dysfunctions. Mucins are glycoprotein macromolecules that are the major components of mucus overlaying epithelia. CS interacts with mucin and adsorbs on and changes the rheology of mucus. However, CS and mucins denote families of polymers/macromolecules with highly variable chemical structure, properties, and behavior. To date, their interactions at the molecular level have not been completely unraveled. Also, the properties of complexes composed of CS and mucin vary as a function of the sources and preparation of the polymers. As a consequence, the mucoadhesion and drug delivery properties of such complexes vary as well. The breadth of this review is on the molecular interactions between CS and mucin. In particular, in vitro and ex vivo characterization methods to investigate both the interactions at play during the formation of CS-mucin complexes, and the advances on the use of CS for transmucosal drug delivery are addressed

Aptamer–Target–Gold Nanoparticle Conjugates for the Quantification of Fumonisin B1

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin classified as group 2B hazard, is of high importance due to its abundance and occurrence in varied crops. Conventional methods for detection are sensitive and selective; however, they also convey disadvantages such as long assay times, expensive equipment and instrumentation, complex procedures, sample pretreatment and unfeasibility for on-site analysis. Therefore, there is a need for quick, simple and affordable quantification methods. On that note, aptamers (ssDNA) are a good alternative for designing specific and sensitive biosensing techniques. In this work, the assessment of the performance of two aptamers (40 and 96 nt) on the colorimetric quantification of FB1 was determined by conducting an aptamer–target incubation step, followed by the addition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and NaCl. Although MgCl2 and Tris-HCl were, respectively, essential for aptamer 96 and 40 nt, the latter was not specific for FB1. Alternatively, the formation of Aptamer (96 nt)–FB1–AuNP conjugates in MgCl2 exhibited stabilization to NaCl-induced aggregation at increasing FB1 concentrations. The application of asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) allowed their size separation and characterization by a multidetection system (UV-VIS, MALS and DLS online), with a reduction in the limit of detection from 0.002 µg/mL to 56 fg/mL

Diastereoselective and enantioselective preparation of nor-mevaldic acid surrogates through desymmetrisation methodology. Enantioselective synthesis of (+) and (-) nor-mevalonic lactones

Solvent-free desymmetrisation of a meso-dialdehyde with chiral alcohols, led to preparation of 4- silyloxy-6-alkyloxytetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one derivatives with a 96% de. This methodology, which yields the corresponding methyl nor-mevaldates with 99% ee, has been applied to the enantioselective synthesis of the ( )-(R) and (þ)-(S) nor-mevalonic acid lactones

Enfermos crónicos domiciliarios: valoración integral físico-cognitiva y caídas durante 3 años de seguimiento

ObjectiveTo assess the physical and cognitive capacity of chronically ill homebound patients, and the falls they suffered during three years of monitoring.DesignDescriptive, longitudinal study.Setting«Raval Nord» Health District, Barcelona.Patients and other participantsAll the 243 homebound chronic patients registered in the home care programme in May 1996 (67% women, average age 84).Measurements and main resultsAfter three years 16% had gone into an old people's home, 9% had moved house and 38% had died. The probability of not continuing in the programme after three years monitoring was related to less autonomy, presence of comorbidity, and worse cognitive capacity (p < 0.05). Of the 90 patients (37%) who remained active in May 1999, 41% showed disorders on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), with a significant relationship to greater age, less autonomy and the presence of comorbidity. Numerous alterations in analysis (21.6%) and linked illnesses (18.9%) were found in the patients with cognitive deterioration. 42% of the patients active in May'99 had fallen during the monitoring period. 10% of the falls involved fractures. The number of falls was higher when there was visual-auditory loss, consumption of psychiatric drugs or absence of use of orthopaedic aids. There was also a greater probability of falls in patients who only had a part-time carer (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIt is important to assess the autonomy, cognitive capacity and comorbidity of homebound chronic patients when monitoring them. Likewise, cognitive disorders and falls must be properly weighed, as they are common in this class of patient

Chemoselective and stereoselective lithium carbenoid mediated cyclopropanation of acyclic allylic alcohols

The reaction of geraniol with different lithium carbenoids generated from n-BuLi and the corresponding dihaloalkane has been evaluated. The reaction occurs in a chemo and stereoselective manner, which is consistent with a directing effect from the oxygen of the allylic moiety. Furthermore, a set of polyenes containing allylic hydroxyl or ether groups were chemoselectively and stereoselectively converted into the corresponding gem-dimethylcyclopropanes in one single step in moderate to good yields mediated by a lithium carbenoid generated in situ by the reaction of n-BuLi and 2,2-dibromopropane

Enfermos crónicos domiciliarios y consumo de psicofármacos

ObjetivoValorar el consumo de psicofármacos en los pacientes crónicos domiciliarios.DiseñoEstudio longitudinal, descriptivo.EmplazamientoÁrea Básica de Salud Raval Nord de Barcelona.Pacientes u otros participantesTodos los 243 enfermos crónicos domiciliarios registrados en el programa de atención domiciliaria en mayo de 1996. A los 3 años un 16% ha ingresado en una residencia, un 9% se ha trasladado de domicilio, un 38% ha fallecido y un 37% permanecía activo.Mediciones y resultados principalesDe los 90 pacientes que seguían activos, un 40% había consumido algún psicofármaco en mayo de 1999. El 8% de los pacientes que refirió consumir psicofármacos lo hacía por automedicación. El grupo farmacológico más consumido entre los psicofármacos era las benzodiazepinas, en un 64%. El consumo de psicofármacos fue superior en el sexo femenino (45%) y en las personas que vivían solas o en estado de viudedad (50%). El porcentaje de pacientes con consumo de psicofármacos fue superior cuando había peor grado de autonomía según el índice de Katz (67%), déficit cognitivo en el Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) de Pfeiffer (62%) y ante la presencia de comorbilidad (56%) (p < 0,01).ConclusionesExiste un elevado consumo de psicofármacos en los pacientes crónicos domiciliarios, especialmente cuando hay deterioro físico-cognitivo y presencia de comorbilidad.ObjectiveTo assess the consumption of psychiatric drugs by chronic homebound patients.DesignDescriptive, longitudinal study.SettingRaval Nord Health District, Barcelona.Patients and other participantsAll 243 chronically ill homebound patients registered on the home care programme in May 1996. After three years 16% had gone into a home, 9% had moved residence, 38% had died, and 37% remained active.Measurements and main resultsOf the 90 patients still active, 40% took some psychiatric drug in May 1999. 8% of the patients who said they had taken psychiatric drugs did so by self-medication. The most commonly consumed pharmocological group of the psychiatric drugs were benzodiazepines at 64%. Women took more psychiatric drugs (45%), as did persons living alone or who had been bereaved (50%). The proportion of patients taking psychiatric drugs was greater when there was worse autonomy according to the Katz index (67%), a cognitive deficit on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) of Pfeiffer (62%), and in the presence of comorbidity (56%) (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThere is high consumption of psychiatric drugs by chronic homebound patients, especially when there is physical-cognitive deterioration and presence of comorbidity

Coffee Consumption and All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality in an Adult Mediterranean Population

We assessed the association between usual coffee consumption and all-cause, cardiovascular (CV), and cancer mortality in an adult population in Spain, taking into account both the amount and type of coffee consumed. We used baseline data on coffee consumption and other personal variables, and the number of deaths during an 18-year follow-up period, for 1567 participants aged 20 years and older from the Valencia Nutrition Study in Spain. Total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During the 18-year follow-up period, 317 died; 115 due to CV disease and 82 due to cancer. Compared with no-consumption, the consumption of 1 cup per day and >1 cup per day of coffee was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, HR = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.56–0.97) and HR 0.56 (95% CI: 0.41–0.77), respectively. A lower cancer mortality was observed among drinkers of more than 1 cup per day compared with nondrinkers, HR 0.41 (95% CI 0.20–0.86). Regarding the type of coffee, only the overall consumption of caffeinated coffee was associated with lower all-cause mortality at 12 and 18 years of follow-up, HR = 0.66 (95% CI:0.46–0.94) and HR = 0.59 (95% CI: 0.44–0.79), respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests that the moderate consumption of coffee, particularly caffeinated coffee (range 1–6.5 cups per day), is associated with a lower all-cause and cancer mortality after a long follow-up period. No significant association was found between coffee consumption and CVD mortality

Olive oil consumption and all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality in an adult mediterranean population in Spain

Objective: We assessed the association between usual olive oil consumption (OOC) and all-cause, cardiovascular (CVD) and cancer mortality in an adult population in Spain. Materials and methods: OOC was evaluated at baseline in 1,567 participants aged 20 years and older from the Valencia Nutrition Study in Spain using validated food frequency questionnaires. During an 18-year follow-up period, 317 died, 115 due to CVD and 82 due to cancer. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: After adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors, the OOC was associated with a lower risk of all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality. Compared to the less than once per month consumption, the consumption of up to one tablespoon per day was associated with a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.68-1.22) and the consumption of 2 or more tablespoons with a 31% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.69; 95%CI: 0.50–0.93; p-trend = 0.011). The consumption of 2 or more tablespoons per day was also associated with lower risk of mortality for CVD (HR: 0.54; 95%CI: 0.32–0.91; p-trend = 0.018) and cancer (HR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.26–0.94; p-trend = 0.019). Conclusion: Higher olive oil consumption was associated with lower long-term risk of all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality in an adult Mediterranean population. The maximum benefit was observed for the consumption of two or more tablespoons per day. Copyright © 2022 Torres-Collado, García-de la Hera, Lopes, Compañ-Gabucio, Oncina-Cánovas, Notario-Barandiaran, González-Palacios and Vioque.The VNS study was supported by a grant from the Dirección General de Salud Pública, Generalitat Valenciana 1994 and the Fondo Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS 00/0985). This study has also received support from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III FEDER funds (FIS PI13/00654), CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), CB06/02/0013 and ISABIAL