DOES LISTENING TO LIVE MUSIC DURING HEMODIALYSIS SESIONS AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE?

Serrano, M.; Garcia-Testal, A.; Rico-Salvador, I.; Carrascosa López, C.; Ortiz Ramón, R.; Villalon Coca, J.; Royo-Maicas, P.... (2021). DOES LISTENING TO LIVE MUSIC DURING HEMODIALYSIS SESIONS AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE?. Oxford University Press. 458-458. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/177492S45845

Polymerisation‐induced self‐assembly of graft copolymers

We report the polymerisation-induced self-assembly of poly(lauryl methacrylate)-graft-poly(benzyl methacrylate) copolymers during reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) grafting from polymerisation in a backbone-selective solvent. Electron microscopy images suggest the phase separation of grafts to result in a network of spherical particles, due to the ability of the branched architecture to freeze chain entanglements and to bridge core domains. Small-angle X-ray scattering data suggest the architecture promotes the formation of multicore micelles, the core morphology of which transitions from spheres to worms, vesicles, and inverted micelles with increasing volume fraction of the grafts. A time-resolved SAXS study is presented to illustrate the formation of the inverted phase during a polymerisation. The grafted architecture gives access to unusual morphologies and provides exciting new handles for controlling the polymer structure and material properties

Combining SNAPs with antibiotics shows enhanced synergistic efficacy against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilms

Abstract Biofilm infections are associated with a high mortality risk for patients. Antibiotics perform poorly against biofilm communities, so high doses and prolonged treatments are often used in clinical settings. We investigated the pairwise interactions of two synthetic nano-engineered antimicrobial polymers (SNAPs). The g-D50 copolymer was synergistic with penicillin and silver sulfadiazine against planktonic Staphylococcus aureus USA300 in synthetic wound fluid. Furthermore, the combination of g-D50 and silver sulfadiazine showed a potent synergistic antibiofilm activity against S. aureus USA300 using in vitro and ex vivo wound biofilm models. The a-T50 copolymer was synergistic with colistin against planktonic Pseudomonas aeruginosa in synthetic cystic fibrosis medium, and this pair showed a potent synergistic antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa in an ex vivo cystic fibrosis lung model. SNAPs thus have the potential for increased antibiofilm performance in combination with certain antibiotics to shorten prolonged treatments and reduce dosages against biofilm infection

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity in host-mimicking media and in vivo toxicity of antimicrobial polymers as functional mimics of AMPs

Activity tests for synthetic antimicrobial compounds are often limited to the minimal inhibitory concentration assay using standard media and bacterial strains. In this study, a family of acrylamide copolymers that act as synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides were synthesized and shown to have a disruptive effect on bacterial membranes and structural integrity through microscopy techniques and membrane polarization experiments. The polymers were tested for their antimicrobial properties using media that mimic clinically relevant conditions. Additionally, their activity was compared in two different strains of the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We showed that the medium composition can have an important influence on the polymer activity as there was a considerable reduction in minimal inhibitory concentrations against S. aureus grown in synthetic wound fluid (SWF), and against P. aeruginosa grown in synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum media (SCFM), compared to the concentrations in standard testing media. In contrast, we observed a complete loss of activity against P. aeruginosa in the serum-containing SWF. Finally, we made use of an emerging invertebrate in vivo model, using Galleria mellonella larvae, to assess toxicity of the polymeric antimicrobials, showing a good correlation with cell line toxicity measurements and demonstrating its potential in the evaluation of novel antimicrobial materials

Estudio de intervención para comprobar el efecto de la música clásica en directo durante hemodiálisis sobre la calidad de vida de pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica

[EN] Introduction and objective Music has been closely linked to medicine since ancient times, and has brought numerous benefits to the health of patients. Patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD) generally have a health-related quality of life (HRQL) lower than the reference values of the general population. The objective of the present study is to verify if the intervention of classical music live and ¿in situ¿ during the treatment of HD has effects on the HRQL of the patients. Materials and methods A prospective, group-randomized intervention study of 4 weeks¿ duration was carried out in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing HD. Descriptive variables are included for data analysis: age, sex, months in treatment, Kt/V, hemoglobin and albumin. Result variable: HRQL, measured with the Kidney Disease health questionnaire Quality of Life (KDQOL-SF) before and after the musical intervention. Results 90 patients participated in 2 groups, the intervention group and the control group. The analysis of the results shows that the intervention group improved their quality of life compared to the initial measurement. The difference between the pre and post time of the intervention group with respect to the control group increased the mean score (pm) in all the scales significantly, except in the Work situation, Sexual function and Social support scales. The most important results were given on the Symptoms/problems scale with an increase of 15.78 (P < .001) pm; in scale Effects of kidney disease with an increase of 14.96 (P < .001) pm; in scale Burden of kidney disease with an increase of 16.36 (P < .001) pm; on the Dream scale with an increase of 14.78 (P < .001) pm; on the Vitality scale with an increase of 25.46 (P < .001) pm; on the Emotional well-being scale with an increase of 29.57 (P < .001) pm; on the Pain scale with an increase of 41.92 (P < .001) pm and on the General Health scale with an increase of 23.39 (P < .001) pm.[ES] Introducción y objetivo La música ha estado estrechamente unida a la medicina desde la antigüedad, y ha aportado numerosos beneficios a la salud de los pacientes. El paciente con enfermedad renal crónica en tratamiento de hemodiálisis (HD), generalmente, presenta una calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) inferior a los valores de referencia de la población general. El objetivo del presente estudio es verificar si la intervención de música clásica en directo e in situ¿ durante el tratamiento de HD tiene efectos sobre la CVRS de los pacientes. Materiales y métodos Se realizó un estudio de intervención, prospectivo y aleatorizado por grupos, en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en tratamiento con HD. Durante 4 semanas un grupo de pacientes recibía la intervención con música clásica en directo 30 o 40 min durante las sesiones de HD, mientras el grupo control realizaba el tratamiento habitual. Variables descriptivas: edad, sexo, meses en tratamiento, Kt/V, hemoglobina y albúmina. Variable resultado: CVRS, se midió con el cuestionario de salud Kidney Diseasse Quality of life (KDQOL-SF) antes y después de la intervención musical. Resultados Participaron 90 pacientes distribuidos en 2 grupos, el grupo intervención y el grupo control. El análisis de los resultados muestra que el grupo con intervención mejoró su calidad de vida respecto a la medición inicial. La diferencia entre el momento pre- y post- del grupo intervención respecto al grupo control aumentó la puntuación media (pm) en todas las escalas de forma significativa, excepto en las escalas Situación laboral, Función sexual y Apoyo social. Los resultados más importantes se dieron en escala Síntomas/problemas con un aumento de 15,78 (p < 0,001) pm; en escala Efectos enfermedad renal con un aumento de 14,96 (p < 0,001) pm; en escala Carga enfermedad renal con un aumento de 16,36 (p < 0,001) pm; en escala Sueño con un aumento de 14,78 (p < 0,001) pm; en escala Vitalidad con un aumento de 25,46 (p < 0,001) pm; en escala Bienestar emocional con un aumento de 29,57 (p < 0,001) pm; en escala Dolor con un aumento de 41,92 (p < 0,001) pm y en escala Salud General con un aumento de 23,39 (p < 0,001) pm. Conclusión La intervención con música en directo durante el proceso de tratamiento de HD mejora la CVRS autopercibida en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica.Serrano Soliva, M.; Rico Salvador, I.; Garcia Testal, A.; Carrascosa López, C.; Ortiz Ramón, R.; Villalón Coca, J.; García Maset, R. (2022). Estudio de intervención para comprobar el efecto de la música clásica en directo durante hemodiálisis sobre la calidad de vida de pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. Nefrología. 42(5):559-567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nefro.2021.07.01955956742

Mechanism of action of oxazoline‐based antimicrobial polymers against staphylococcus aureus : in vivo antimicrobial activity evaluation

Antimicrobial‐resistant pathogens have reached alarming levels, becoming one of the most pressing global health issues. Hence, new treatments are necessary for the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Synthetic nanoengineered antimicrobial polymers (SNAPs) have emerged as a promising alternative to antimicrobial peptides, overcoming some of their limitations while keeping their key features. Herein, a library of amphiphilic oxazoline‐based SNAPs using cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) is designed. Amphipathic compounds with 70% cationic content exhibit the highest activity against clinically relevant Staphylococcus aureus isolates, maintaining good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of action of the lead compounds against S. aureus is assessed using various microscopy techniques, indicating cell membrane disruption, while the cell wall remains unaffected. Furthermore, a potential interaction of the compounds with bacterial DNA is shown, with possible implications on bacterial division. Finally, one of the compounds exhibits high efficacy in vivo in an insect infection model