69 research outputs found
APRIL: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, Phase Ib/IIa clinical study of ApTOLL for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke
In the reperfusion era, a new paradigm of treating patients with endovascular treatment (EVT) and neuroprotective drugs is emerging as a promising therapeutic option for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In this context, ApTOLL, a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist with proven neuroprotective effect in preclinical models of stroke and a very good pharmacokinetic and safety profile in healthy volunteers, is a promising first-in-class aptamer with the potential to address this huge unmet need. This protocol establishes the clinical trial procedures to conduct a Phase Ib/IIa clinical study (APRIL) to assess ApTOLL tolerability, safety, pharmacokinetics, and biological effect in patients with AIS who are eligible for EVT. This will be a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase Ib/IIa clinical study to evaluate the administration of ApTOLL together with EVT in patients with AIS. The study population will be composed of men and non-pregnant women with confirmed AIS with a <6h window from symptoms onset to ApTOLL/placebo administration. The trial is currently being conducted and is divided into two parts: Phase Ib and Phase IIa. In Phase Ib, 32 patients will be allocated to four dose ascending levels to select, based on safety criteria, the best two doses to be administered in the following Phase IIa in which 119 patients will be randomized to three arms of treatment (dose A, dose B, and placebo).Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Análisis de la relevancia y factibilidad de indicadores de calidad en las unidades de nutrición
Introducción: La evaluación de la calidad en las actividades
sanitarias exige la elección de unos indicadores
acordes con los resultados que queremos medir. De todos
los posibles, debemos priorizar aquellos que nos permitan
obtener la información más relevante sin sobrecargar el
trabajo habitual de nuestras Unidades.
Objetivo: Conocer la opinión de los socios de SENPE
respecto a la relevancia y la viabilidad del uso de una
selección de indicadores de calidad para su aplicación en
nutrición clínica.
Métodos: Encuesta remitida mediante correo electrónico
a los socios de SENPE solicitando a los mismos su
opinión sobre 12 indicadores de calidad, valorándose
cada uno en cuanto a su relevancia y factibilidad de la
aplicación en su medio.
Resultados: Contestaron 40 encuestados de 40 centros
diferentes de 12 comunidades autónomas. En general, los
indicadores fueron considerados más relevantes que factibles.
Los indicadores mejor puntuados fueron: “identificación
en las bolsas de nutrición artificial”, “posición
semi-incorporada del paciente con nutrición enteral por
sonda nasogástrica” y “protocolos clínicos básicos”. Considerando
los indicadores por grupos (de estructura, proceso
o resultado) los mejor valorados fueron: “identificación
del paciente en las bolsas de nutrición artificial”
(estructura), “posición semi-incorporada” y “protocolos
clínicos básicos” (proceso), y “cumplimiento del objetivo
calórico” (resultado).
Conclusión: Los resultados de la encuesta permiten
seleccionar indicadores prioritarios para su aplicación en
las Unidades de NutriciónIntroduction: The quality assessment in health activities
requires the choice of indicators in line with the
results we want to measure. Of all possible, we should prioritize
those that allow us to obtain the most relevant
information without overloading the regular work of our
units.
Objective: To determine the opinion of the members of
SENPE regarding the relevance and feasibility of using a
selection of quality indicators designed for use in clinical
nutrition.
Methods: E-mail survey sent to members of SENPE
asking them their views on 12 quality indicators, evaluating
each in terms of their relevance and feasibility of
implementation in their environment.
Results: 40 respondents answered from 40 centers in 12
different regions. In general, the indicators were considered
more relevant than feasible. The indicators best
rated were: “identification in artificial nutrition bags,
“semi-recumbent position in patient with nasogastric
tube feeding” and “basic clinical protocols”. Considering
the type of indicator: “patient identification in the bags of
artificial nutrition (structure),” a semi-incorporated
“and” basic clinical protocols (process), and “fulfillment
of the caloric goal” (result).
Conclusion: The results of the survey can make a selection
of indicators that could be considered for first-line
introduction in a Nutrition Uni
New risks and trends in the safety and health of women at work
In 2009 and 2010, the Agency commissioned an update to its previous research on gender issues at
work (EU-OSHA, 2003), which found that inequality both within and outside the workplace can have
an effect on the health and safety of women at work. This report provides that update and the first
figures on the effects of the recent economic downturn on women at work. It aims to fulfil the task
outlined by the European strategy on health and safety at work (EC, 2002) for EU-OSHA’s European
Risk Observatory: ‘examining the specific challenges in terms of health and safety posed by the more
extensive integration of women in the labour market’.
Gender inequalities in the workplace and work–life balance issues have become increasingly
important as the employment rates of women have continued to grow in all Member States. Although
in 2012 58.6 % of working age women (in the EU-27) were in employment and women filled 59 % of
all newly created jobs in 2009(1
), the extent to which women contribute economically still seems to be
underestimated. At its start, women were affected less than men by the recent economic crisis, as the
first jobs to be lost were mostly in the male-dominated construction and manufacturing industries.
However, between 2008 and 2012, European gender differences in employment fell by an average of
7.6 to 6.3 percentage points, mainly because male employment rates fell more than those of women,
which have returned to the 2007 level. A modern organisation of work, a knowledge economy,
competitiveness and more and better jobs are central to the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy and the EU’s
2020 Strategy. Women are essential to the workforce in terms of providing an active and sustainable
source of labour, and in June 2010 the European Council set a new, ambitious target aiming to raise
the employment rate for women and men aged 20–64 to 75 % by 2020, partly through the greater
participation of young people, older workers and low-skilled workers and the better integration of legal
migrants. However, although employment rates for women are rising, much remains to be done,
especially for older and younger women, to reach this goal and at the same time ensure decent work
for all.
The issue of occupational safety and health (OSH) for women who work in the European Union (EU)
is central to an understanding of the working environment. Previous research has shown that
women’s OSH has to be improved. Research from the European Commission illustrates that, even by
1995, women accounted for close to or above half of all cases of work-associated ill health, including
allergies (45 %), infectious illnesses (61 %), neurological complaints (55 %) and hepatic and
dermatological complaints (48 %). The situation has not improved. Further, for ‘women’s jobs’, such
as those in the health and social services, retail and hospitality sectors, there is a stagnation in
accident rates in some countries; women are more likely to be bullied and harassed, subjected to
sexual harassment and have to use poorly fitting personal protective equipment that is not usually
sized for a smaller frame.
The aims of this review are to:
Provide a statistical overview of the trends in employment and integration of women in the labour
market, and explore how they impact on their occupational safety and health.
Identify and highlight the main issues and trends in employment characteristics, working
conditions, hazard exposure and work-related accidents and health problems for women at work
and explore more in-depth selected issues not addressed thoroughly before, such as combined
exposures, informal work and the rehabilitation of women into work.
Identify emerging issues for OSH research and the prevention of occupational diseases and
accidents affecting women at work.
This focus on OSH benefits not only women but also men who work, and thus reinforces the
considerable potential to be gained by improved workplaces.
A summary of the findings and trends and a more detailed list of suggestions is included in every
chapter of this report and in the conclusions
Propagating Quantum Microwaves: Towards Applications in Communication and Sensing
The field of propagating quantum microwaves has started to receive
considerable attention in the past few years. Motivated at first by the lack of
an efficient microwave-to-optical platform that could solve the issue of secure
communication between remote superconducting chips, current efforts are
starting to reach other areas, from quantum communications to sensing. Here, we
attempt at giving a state-of-the-art view of the two, pointing at some of the
technical and theoretical challenges we need to address, and while providing
some novel ideas and directions for future research. Hence, the goal of this
paper is to provide a bigger picture, and -- we hope -- to inspire new ideas in
quantum communications and sensing: from open-air microwave quantum key
distribution to direct detection of dark matter, we expect that the recent
efforts and results in quantum microwaves will soon attract a wider audience,
not only in the academic community, but also in an industrial environment
Physical characterisation of an alginate/lysozyme nano-laminate coating and its evaluation on ‘coalho’ cheese shelf life
This work aimed at the characterisation of a nanolaminate
coating produced by the layer-by-layer methodology
and its evaluation on the preservation of ‘Coalho’ cheese.
Initially, five alternate layers of alginate and lysozyme were
assembled in an aminolysed/charged polyethylene terephthalate
(A/C PET) and physically characterised by UV/VIS
spectroscopy, contact angle, water vapour (WVTR) and oxygen
(OTR) transmission rates and scanning electron microscopy.
Afterwards, the same methodology was used to
apply the nano-laminate coating in ‘Coalho’ cheese and its
shelf life was evaluated during 20 days in terms of mass
loss, pH, lipid peroxidation, titratable acidity and microbial
count. UV/VIS spectroscopy and contact angle analyses
confirmed the layers’ deposition and the successful assembly
of nano-laminate coating on A/C PET surface. The coating
presented WVTR and OTR values of 1.03×10−3 and 1.28×
10−4 g m−2 s−1, respectively. After 20 days, coated cheese
showed lower values of mass loss, pH, lipidic peroxidation,
microorganisms’ proliferation and higher titratable acidity in
comparison with uncoated cheese. These results suggest that
gas barrier and antibacterial properties of alginate/lysozyme
nanocoating can be used to extend the shelf life of ‘Coalho’
cheese.The author Bartolomeu G. de S. Medeiros is recipient of a scholarship from Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES-Brazil). The author Marthyna P. Souza is recipient of a scholarship from Fundacao de Amparo a Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE, Brazil) and was recipient of a scholarship from Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES/PDEE-Brazil). The authors Ana C. Pinheiro, Ana I. Bourbon and Miguel A. Cerqueira are recipients of a fellowship (SFRH/BD/48120/2008, SFRH/BD/73178/2010 and SFRH/BPD/72753/2010, respectively), supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, POPH-QREN and FSE (FCT, Portugal). Maria G. Carneiro-da-Cunha express is gratitude to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) for research grant. The present work was supported by CAPES/PROCAD/NF/1415/2007. The support of EU Cost Action FA0904 is gratefully acknowledged
Biocomposite films based on κ-carrageenan/locust bean gum blends and clays : physical and antimicrobial properties
The aims of this work were to evaluate the physical and antimicrobial properties of biodegradable films composed of mixtures of κ-carrageenan (κ-car) and locust bean gum (LBG) when organically modified clay Cloisite 30B (C30B) was dispersed in the biopolymer matrix. Film-forming solutions were prepared by adding C30B (ranging from 0 to 16 wt.%) into the κ-car/LBG solution (40/60 wt.%) with 0.3 % (w/v) of glycerol. Barrier properties (water vapour permeability, P vapour; CO2 and O2 permeabilities), mechanical properties (tensile strength, TS, and elongation-at-break, EB) and thermal stability of the resulting films were determined and related with the incorporation of C30B. Also, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was done in order to investigate the effect of C30B in film structure. Antimicrobial effects of these films against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica were also evaluated. The increase of clay concentration causes a decrease of P vapour (from 5.34 × 10−11 to 3.19 × 10−11 g (m s Pa)−1) and an increase of the CO2 permeability (from 2.26 × 10−14 to 2.91 × 10−14 g (m s Pa)−1) and did not changed significantly the O2 permeability for films with 0 and 16 wt.% C30B, respectively. Films with 16 wt.% clay exhibited the highest values of TS (33.82 MPa) and EB (29.82 %). XRD patterns of the films indicated that a degree of exfoliation is attained depending on clay concentration. κ-car/LBG–C30B films exhibited an inhibitory effect only against L. monocytogenes. κ-car/LBG–C30B composite films are a promising alternative to synthetic films in order to improve the shelf life and safety of food products.J. T. Martins, A. I. Bourbon, A. C. Pinheiro and M. A. Cerqueira gratefully acknowledge the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for their fellowships (SFRH/BD/32566/2006, SFRH/BD/73178/2010, SFRH/BD/48120/2008 and SFRH/BPD/72753/2010, respectively), and B. W. S. Souza acknowledges the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES, Brazil)
Layer-by-layer technique to developing functional nanolaminate films with antifungal activity
The layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition method was used to build up alternating layers (five) of different polyelectrolyte solutions (alginate, zein-carvacrol nanocapsules, chitosan and chitosan-carvacrol emulsions) on an aminolysed/charged polyethylene terephthalate (A/C PET) film. These nanolaminated films were characterised by contact angle measurements and through the determination of water vapour (WVTR) and oxygen (O2TR) transmission rates. The effect of active nanolaminated films against the Alternaria sp. and Rhizopus stolonifer was also evaluated. This procedure allowed developing optically transparent nanolaminated films with tuneable water vapour and gas properties and antifungal activity. The water and oxygen transmission rate values for the multilayer films were lower than those previously reported for the neat alginate or chitosan films. The presence of carvacrol and zein nanocapsules significantly decreased the water transmission rate (up to 40 %) of the nanolaminated films. However, the O2TR behaved differently and was only improved (up to 45 %) when carvacrol was encapsulated, i.e. nanolaminated films prepared by alternating alginate with nanocapsules of zein-carvacrol layers showed better oxygen barrier properties than those prepared as an emulsion of chitosan and carvacrol. These films containing zein-carvacrol nanocapsules also showed the highest antifungal activity (30 %), which did not significantly differ from those obtained with the highest amount of carvacrol, probably due to the controlled release of the active agent (carvacrol) from the zein-carvacrol nanocapsules. Thus, this work shows that nanolaminated films prepared with alternating layers of alginate and zein-carvacrol nanocapsules can be considered to improve the shelf-life of foodstuffs.The authors acknowledge financial support from
FP7 IP project BECOBIOCAP^. M. J. Fabra is recipients of a Juan de la
Cierva contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and
Competitivity. Maria L. Flores-López thanks Mexican Science and Technology
Council (CONACyT, Mexico) for PhD fellowship support
(CONACyT Grant Number 215499/310847). The author Miguel A.
Cerqueira is a recipient of a fellowship (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) supported
by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, POPH-QREN and FSE
(FCT, Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/
BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-
01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project BBioInd - Biotechnology and
Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes,^ REF.
NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa
Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2–O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER.
The support of EU Cost Action FA0904 is gratefully acknowledged
Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry:Workshop Summary
This document presents a summary of the 2023 Terrestrial Very-Long-Baseline Atom Interferometry Workshop hosted by CERN. The workshop brought together experts from around the world to discuss the exciting developments in large-scale atom interferometer (AI) prototypes and their potential for detecting ultralight dark matter and gravitational waves. The primary objective of the workshop was to lay the groundwork for an international TVLBAI proto-collaboration. This collaboration aims to unite researchers from different institutions to strategize and secure funding for terrestrial large-scale AI projects. The ultimate goal is to create a roadmap detailing the design and technology choices for one or more km-scale detectors, which will be operational in the mid-2030s. The key sections of this report present the physics case and technical challenges, together with a comprehensive overview of the discussions at the workshop together with the main conclusions
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