Potentialities of LL37 for Wound Healing Applications: Study of Its Activity in Synergy with Biodegradable Composites Made of PVA and CA

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process that results from the interaction between cytokines, growth factors, blood components and the extracellular matrix. Conventional dressings made of natural or synthetic materials have only the ability to manage the wound and protect it from repeated trauma. With the advancement of technology, wound dressings have evolved and are now capable of intervening in the healing process by targeting specific features of the wound, aside from protecting the wounded site. In this work, bioactive dressings capable of promoting healing and fighting infection in chronic wounds were explored. Various antimicrobial biomolecules were examined in light of their pathogen fighting skills and immunoregulatory potentialities. Dressing production processes were also investigated. Biodegradable composite dressings made of poly(vinyl alcohol), polycaprolactone, chitosan and cellulose blends were our main focus. The goal was to evaluate the synergistic effect of biomolecules and biodegradable polymeric dressings, considering the local and systemic treatment demands of chronic wounds.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), FEDER funds by means of Competitive Factors Operational Program (POCI) for funding the projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028074 and UID/CTM/00264/201

A roadmap for lifting restrictive measures for COVID-19

After more than one year of the pandemic, we now know that no single preventive measure affords fully effective control of virus transmission. Therefore, it is vital to combine different approaches to quickly identify the cases, trace their contacts, constantly reduce the risk of transmission, promptly respond to outbreaks or community transmission and monitor the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. The updated Strategic Framework presented sets out tools that were used to restore, in a phased approach, normality to life in Portugal on 11 March 2021. Immediate short-term government responses are needed to save lives and livelihoods. However, the crisis could also provide valuable lessons for longer-term resilience of systems that support well-being over time, such as social connections and social capital, opening up new ways of working and living, and reinforcing the capacity of public services and social safety nets to react in times of crisis. Should COVID-19 move to being an endemic or seasonal disease such as influenza, the lessons learned from the response to the pandemic will be helpful in successful containing and preventing new waves of COVID-19.The authors would like to thank S Marques and B Monteiro for the table design and formatting. AA holds a PhD Grant (Ref. 2020.09390.BD), co-funded by the FCT and the Fundo Social Europeu (FSE) Program

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: a Nationwide Portuguese Clinical Epidemiological Study

Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare disorder in which astrocyte damage and/or demyelination often cause severe neurological deficits. Objective: To identify Portuguese patients with NMOSD and assess their epidemiological/clinical characteristics. Methods: This was a nationwide multicenter study. Twenty-four Portuguese adult and 3 neuropediatric centers following NMOSD patients were included. Results: A total of 180 patients met the 2015 Wingerchuk NMOSD criteria, 77 were AQP4-antibody positive (Abs+), 67 MOG-Abs+, and 36 seronegative. Point prevalence on December 31, 2018 was 1.71/100,000 for NMOSD, 0.71/100,000 for AQP4-Abs+, 0.65/100,000 for MOG-Abs+, and 0.35/100,000 for seronegative NMOSD. A total of 44 new NMOSD cases were identified during the two-year study period (11 AQP4-Abs+, 27 MOG-Abs+, and 6 seronegative). The annual incidence rate in that period was 0.21/100,000 person-years for NMOSD, 0.05/100,000 for AQP4-Abs+, 0.13/100,000 for MOG-Abs+, and 0.03/100,000 for seronegative NMOSD. AQP4-Abs+ predominated in females and was associated with autoimmune disorders. Frequently presented with myelitis. Area postrema syndrome was exclusive of this subtype, and associated with higher morbidity/mortality than other forms of NMOSD. MOG-Ab+ more often presented with optic neuritis, required less immunosuppression, and had better outcome. Conclusion: Epidemiological/clinical NMOSD profiles in the Portuguese population are similar to other European countries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acesso a Tratamento Endovascular para Acidente Vascular Cerebral Isquémico em Portugal

Introduction: Since the publication of endovascular treatment trials and European Stroke Guidelines, Portugal has re-organized stroke healthcare. The nine centers performing endovascular treatment are not equally distributed within the country, which may lead to differential access to endovascular treatment. Our main aim was to perform a descriptive analysis of the main treatment metrics regarding endovascular treatment in mainland Portugal and its administrative districts. Material and methods: A retrospective national multicentric cohort study was conducted, including all ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular treatment in mainland Portugal over two years (July 2015 to June 2017). All endovascular treatment centers contributed to an anonymized database. Demographic, stroke-related and procedure-related variables were collected. Crude endovascular treatment rates were calculated per 100 000 inhabitants for mainland Portugal, and each district and endovascular treatment standardized ratios (indirect age-sex standardization) were also calculated. Patient time metrics were computed as the median time between stroke onset, first-door, and puncture. Results: A total of 1625 endovascular treatment procedures were registered. The endovascular treatment rate was 8.27/100 000 inhabitants/year. We found regional heterogeneity in endovascular treatment rates (1.58 to 16.53/100 000/year), with higher rates in districts closer to endovascular treatment centers. When analyzed by district, the median time from stroke onset to puncture ranged from 212 to 432 minutes, reflecting regional heterogeneity. Discussion: Overall endovascular treatment rates and procedural times in Portugal are comparable to other international registries. We found geographic heterogeneity, with lower endovascular treatment rates and longer onset-to-puncture time in southern and inner regions. Conclusion: The overall national rate of EVT in the first two years after the organization of EVT-capable centers is one of the highest among European countries, however, significant regional disparities were documented. Moreover, stroke-onset-to-first-door times and in-hospital procedural times in the EVT centers were comparable to those reported in the randomized controlled trials performed in high-volume tertiary hospitals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Wear and corrosion interactions on titanium in oral environment : literature review

The oral cavity is a complex environment where corrosive substances from dietary, human saliva, and oral biofilms may accumulate in retentive areas of dental implant systems and prostheses promoting corrosion at their surfaces. Additionally, during mastication, micromovements may occur between prosthetic joints causing a relative motion between contacting surfaces, leading to wear. Both processes (wear and corrosion) result in a bio-tribocorrosion system once that occurs in contact with biological tissues and fluids. This review paper is focused on the aspects related to the corrosion and wear behavior of titanium-based structures in the oral environment. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of the oral environment is focused on the harmful effect that acidic substances and biofilms, formed in human saliva, may have on titanium surfaces. In fact, a progressive degradation of titanium by wear and corrosion (tribocorrosion) mechanisms can take place affecting the performance of titanium-based implant and prostheses. Also, the formation of wear debris and metallic ions due to the tribocorrosion phenomena can become toxic for human tissues. This review gathers knowledge from areas like materials sciences, microbiology, and dentistry contributing to a better understanding of bio-tribocorrosion processes in the oral environment.(undefined

PVA/CA based electrospun nanofibers: influence of processing parameters in the fiber diameter

Recently, the electrospinning technique has been explored as a natural and synthetic polymer processing tool due to its versatility and potential to generate complex structures at a nanoscale. In this work, non-woven nanofibrous mats were electrospun, with a structure resembling the extracellular matrix, for prospective biomedical uses. Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose acetate (CA) based electrospun nanofibrous meshes were prepared at different ratios 100/0, 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30 and characterized in terms of fiber diameter. The process was kept as green as possible by resorting to a combination of acetic acid and distilled water as solvents. Optimal conditions for PVA/CA processing were established at 29 kV, feeding rate of 0.8 mL/h and distance between needle and collector of 17 cm. These allowed for the most uniform fibers with the smallest diameters to be produced.Authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), FEDER funds by means of Portugal 2020 Competitive Factors Operational Program (POCI) and the Portuguese Government (OE) for funding the project PEPTEX with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028074. Authors also acknowledge project UID/CTM/00264/2019 of Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES