How could nanobiotechnology improve treatment outcomes of anti-TNF-α therapy in infammatory bowel disease? Current knowledge, future directions

Despite significant advances in therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in recent years, there is still a big room for improvement. In particular, biological treatment can induce not only clinical remission but also mucosal healing of the gastrointestinal tract. Among these therapeutic molecules, anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNF-$\alpha$) antibodies were the first to revolutionize treatment algorithms in IBD. However, due to the parenteral route of administration and systemic mode of action, TNF-$\alpha$ blockers are characterised by high rates of immunogenicity-related loss of response and serious adverse events. Moreover, intravenous or subcutaneous therapy is not considered patient-friendly and requires occasional, direct contact with healthcare centres. To overcome these limitations, several attempts have been made to design oral pharmaceutical formulations of these molecules. It is hypothesized that oral anti-TNF-$\alpha$ antibodies therapy can directly provide a targeted and potent anti-inflammatory effect in the inflamed gastrointestinal tissues without significant systemic exposure, improving long-term treatment outcomes and safety. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge and future perspectives regarding different approaches made towards entering a new era of oral anti-TNF-$\alpha$ therapy, namely, the tailoring of biocompatible nanoparticles with anti-TNF-$\alpha$ antibodies for site-specific targeting to IBD. In particular, we discuss the latest concepts applying the achievements of nanotechnology-based drug design in this area.Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT), European Funds (PRODUCER/COMPETE)—project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-fnanced by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020. The study was also supported by the National Science Centre within the MINIATURA 4 for a single research activity (Grant No. 2020/04/X/ST5/00789) and by the START 2021 Program of the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) granted to Aleksandra Zielińska.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cancer nanopharmaceuticals: physicochemical characterization and in vitro/in vivo applications

Physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and biopharmaceutical characterization tools play a key role in the assessment of nanopharmaceuticals potential imaging analysis and for site-specific delivery of anti-cancers to neoplastic cells/tissues. If diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches are combined in one single nanoparticle, a new platform called nanotheragnostics is generated. Several analytical technologies allow us to characterize nanopharmaceuticals and nanoparticles and their properties so that they can be properly used in cancer therapy. This paper describes the role of multifunctional nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and treatment, describing how nanotheragnostics can be useful in modern chemotherapy, and finally, the challenges associated with the commercialization of nanoparticles for cancer therapy.This research was funded by The National Centre for Research and Development (Grant Number INNOMED/I/11/NCBR/2014) from the Innovative Economy Operational Programme founds, in the framework of the European Regional Development Fund, by the Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences by the internal grant for the implementation of a single scientific activity, and by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT), European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE)-project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genotoxicity assessment of metal-based nanocomposites applied in drug delivery

Nanocomposites as drug delivery systems (e.g., metal nanoparticles) are being exploited for several applications in the biomedical field, from therapeutics to diagnostics. Green nanocomposites stand for nanoparticles of biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic profiles. When using metal nanoparticles for drug delivery, the question of how hazardous these virus-sized particles can be is posed, due to their nanometer size range with enhanced reactivity compared to their respective bulk counterparts. These structures exhibit a high risk of being internalized by cells and interacting with the genetic material, with the possibility of inducing DNA damage. The Comet Assay, or Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE), stands out for its capacity to detect DNA strand breaks in eukaryotic cells. It has huge potential in the genotoxicity assessment of nanoparticles and respective cells interactions. In this review, the Comet assay is described, discussing several examples of its application in the genotoxicity evaluation of nanoparticles commonly administered in a set of routes (oral, skin, inhaled, ocular and parenteral administration). In the nanoparticles boom era, where guidelines for their evaluation are still very limited, it is urgent to ensure their safety, alongside their quality and efficacy. Comet assay or SCGE can be considered an essential tool and a reliable source to achieve a better nanotoxicology assessment of metal nanoparticles used in drug delivery.This work was funded by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCTES), through the projects UIDB/04469/2020 (CEB strategic fund) and UIDB/04033/2020 (CITAB), co-funded by European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE) and FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020. The work was also supported by the National Science Centre within the MINIATURA 4 for single research activity (grant No: 2020/04/X/ST5/00789) and by the START 2021 Program of the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) granted to Dr. Aleksandra Zielińskainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Badania wstępne nad wpływem niskoenergetycznej diety warzywno-owocowej na redukcję masy ciała osób po czterdziestym roku życia

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is an increasingly important health problem in the developed countries, with the population of overweight individuals being continuously on the rise. The most common causes of overweight and obesity include improper dietary habits. Age-related metabolic rate changes require appropriate changes in diet. Higher-calorie foods should constitute a minor part of the overall diet. The predominant part should consist of products rich in trace elements, vitamins and dietary fiber. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of low-calorie fruit and vegetable diet in the reduction of body weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studies of the efficacy of the efficacy of low-calorie fruit and vegetable diet were carried out in the patients of the centers holiday and rehabilitation of the Polish Baltic Sea. The study population consisted of male and female patients  aged 43 to 78 years. The patients were fed with low-calorie food and vegetable diet for two weeks. The efficacy of the diet was assessed by means of basic anthropometric parameters (body height and body weight). Body weight was measured before and after the diet period. RESULTS: As shown by the results, the two-week low-calorie fruit and vegetable diet led to a reduction in body weight of all study patients by an average of 4.78 kg for women and 4.82 kg for men. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that further studies are needed on the possible long-term use of low-calorie fruit and vegetable diet for the reduction in body weight with simultaneous monitoring of body composition (water content, percentage content of fat and muscle mass).WSTĘP: Otyłość stanowi coraz większy problem zdrowotny w krajach rozwiniętych gospodarczo, a liczba osób z nadwagą cały czas wzrasta. Najczęstszą przyczyną nadwagi i otyłości są nieprawidłowe nawyki żywieniowe. Zmiana tempa przemiany materii wraz z wiekiem wymaga odpowiednich zmian w jadłospisie. Pokarmy o większej wartości energetycznej powinny stanowić mniejszość ogólnej ilości spożywanych posiłków i być zastępowane przez produkty obfitujące w mikro- i makroelementy, witaminy oraz błonnik pokarmowy. Celem pracy była ocena skuteczności stosowania niskoenergetycznej diety warzywno-owocowej w redukcji masy ciała. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Badania skuteczności niskoenergetycznej diety warzywno-owocowej przeprowadzono wśród kuracjuszy jednego z ośrodków wczasowo-rehabilitacyjnego nad Bałtykiem. Badaniem objęto zarówno kobiety, jak i mężczyzn w wieku 43–78 lat. Kuracjusze stosowali niskoenergetyczną dietę warzywno-owocową przez dwa tygodnie. Do oceny skuteczności zastosowanej diety wykorzystano podstawowe parametry antropometryczne (wysokość ciała i masę ciała). WYNIKI: Uzyskane wyniki wykazały, że zastosowanie dwutygodniowej niskoenergetycznej diety warzywno-owocowej doprowadziło do zmniejszenia masy ciała wśród wszystkich badanych kobiet i mężczyzn średnio o 4,78 kg w przypadku kobiet oraz 4,82 kg w przypadku mężczyzn. WNIOSKI: Uzyskane wyniki świadczą o konieczności prowadzenia dalszych badań nad możliwością stosowania niskoenergetycznej diety warzywno-owocowej w celu redukcji masy ciała w dłuższym okresie z równoległym analizowaniem zmian składu ciała (zawartości wody, udziału tkanki tłuszczowej)

Nutrition status and body composition of elderly patients as indications for dietary management

  WSTĘP: Zagrożenie nadwagą i otyłością wynika z nieprawidłowo zbilansowanego pożywienia oraz małej aktywności fizycznej. Powikłania wynikające z nadmiernej masy ciała negatywnie wpływają na stan zdrowia osób starszych. Celem niniejszej pracy jest prezentacja wstępnych wyników szero kich badań dotyczących identyfikacji przesłanek stosowania żywienia dietetycznego u osób starszych ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem stanu odżywienia i składu ciała. MATERIAŁ I METODY: Badania pr zeprowadzono wśród 44 kuracjuszy Instytutu Zdrowia Sofra w Mielnie-Unieściu. Wykonano pomiary wysokości, masy ciała oraz obwodu talii, wyliczono wskaźnik masy ciała Queteleta II — BMI (body mass index) oraz współczynnik talia–biodro. Za pomocą aparatu BioScan 920-2 dokonano analizy składu ciała. Do oceny zagrożenia sarkopenią wykorzystano wskaźnik SMI ( skeletal muscle index). Do oceny statystycznej otr zymanych wyników zastosowano test U Manna-Whitneya, przyjęto poziom istotności a = 0,05. WYNIKI: Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań wykazały, że wszyscy badani przekroczyli zalecane normy co do obwodu talii, 50% mężczyzn charakter yzowała się otyłością br zuszną i 50% pośladkowo-udową. Wszystkie kobiety charakteryzowały się otyłością brzuszną. Połowa mężczyzn charakteryzowała się nadwagą, a 50% otyłością pier wszego stopnia, 6% kobiet miało prawidłową masę ciała, 13% nadwagę, 20% otyłość pierwszego stopnia, 26,6% otyłość drugiego stopnia, a 33,3% otyłość tr zeciego stopnia. Udział tkanki tłuszczowej odnotowano wśród mężczyzn średnio na poziomie 28,51%, a kobiet 47,25%. Udział beztłuszczowej masy ciała odnotowano wśród mężczyzn średnio na poziomie 72,49%, a kobiet 52,27%. Masę mięśniową odnotowano wśród mężczyzn średnio na poziomie 32,78 k g, a kobiet 21,03 kg. Zagrożenie sarkopenią odnotowano wśród 50% mężczyzn i 80% kobiet. Prawidłową zawartość wody całkowitej odnotowano u 50% mężczyzn i u niespełna 6% kobiet. WNIOSKI: Wykazany poziom nadwagi i otyłości wśród badanych pacjentów (kuracjuszy) bezwzględnie kwalifikuje ich do zastosowani żywienia dietetycznego . Zidentyfikowany poziom zagrożenia sarkopenią sugeruje konieczność zastosowania treningu oporowego w celu zniwelowania jego negatywnych skutków. Wykazany stopień udziału wody całkowitej w organizmie sugeruje konieczność poprawy tego wskaźnika w celu wyeliminowania za grożenia odwodnienia. Należy prowadzić edukację zdrowotną pacjentów w zakresie racjonalnego odżywiania i aktywności fizycznej.    INTRODUCTION: The risk of over weight and obesity is due to imbalanced diet and inadequate physical activity. Complications resulting from excessive body weight have negat ive impact on the health of elderly patients. The objective of this ar ticle is to present preliminar y results of extensive studies aimed at identification of indications for dietary management in elderly patients with particular focus on the nutrition status and body composition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of 44 patients of the „Sofra” Health and Rehabilitation Centre in Mielno-Uniescie. Body height, weigh and waist circumference were measured and the body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Body composition analyses were made using a BioScan 920-2 apparatus. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was used to assess the risk of sarcopenia. Statistical analysis of results was carried out using Mann-Whitney’s U-test with the significance level of a = 0.05. RESULTS: Examinations showed that all the female and male patients exceeded the recommended normal values of waist circumference; 50% of males were characterized by central obesity while the other 50% of males were characterized by femoral-gluteal obesity. All female patients were characterized by central obesity. 50% of male patients were overweight while the other 50% had grade 1 obesity; 6% of females had normal body weight, 13% were overweight, 20% had grade 1 obesity, 26.6% had grade 2 obesity and 33.3% had grade 3 obesity. The average percentage fat tissue was at the level of 28.51% in males and 47.25% in females. The percentage fat free mass was at the level of 72.49% in males and 52.27% in females The average muscle mass was at the level of 32.78% in males and 21.03% in females. Risk of sarcopenia was identified in 50% of males and 80% of females. Normal total body water content was observed in 50% of males and less than 6% of females. CONCLUSIONS: The level of over weight and obesity definitely qualified the patients for dietar y management. The identified risk of sarcopenia suggested a necessity for resistance training to eliminate negative consequences of the disorder. The total body water content required to be improved so as to eliminate the risk of dehydration. Health education should be provided to patients with regard to rational nutrition and physical activity.

Lipodystrophy syndrome in HIV-infected patients -a cohort study in Lower Silesia, Poland

Abstract Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy syndrome (LS) is defined as a redistribution of adipose tissue, metabolic and endocrine abnormalities, resulting from combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Aim of this study was to evaluate LS in HIV-infected patients from Lower Silesia, Poland

Lipid nanocarriers for hyperproliferative skin diseases

Hyperproliferative skin diseases (HSD) are a group of diseases that include cancers, pre-cancerous lesions and diseases of unknown etiology that present different skin manifestations in terms of the degree and distribution of the injuries. Anti-proliferative agents used to treat these diseases are so diverse, including 5-aminolevulinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, methotrexate, paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin, realgar, and corticosteroids in general. These drugs usually have low aqueous solubility, which consequently decreases skin permeation. Thus, their incorporation in lipid nanocarriers has been proposed with the main objective to increase the effectiveness of topical treatment and reduce side effects. This manuscript aims to describe the advantages of using lipid nanoparticles and liposomes that can be used to load diversity of chemically different drugs for the treatment of HSD.This research was funded by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT), European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE)—project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020. The work is also supported by the National Science Centre within the MINIATURA 4 for a single research activity (grant no: 2020/04/X/ST5/00789) and by the START 2021 Program of the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) granted to Aleksandra Zielínskainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Lipid Nanocarriers for Hyperproliferative Skin Diseases

Hyperproliferative skin diseases (HSD) are a group of diseases that include cancers, pre-cancerous lesions and diseases of unknown etiology that present different skin manifestations in terms of the degree and distribution of the injuries. Anti-proliferative agents used to treat these diseases are so diverse, including 5-aminolevulinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, methotrexate, paclitaxel, podophyllotoxin, realgar, and corticosteroids in general. These drugs usually have low aqueous solubility, which consequently decreases skin permeation. Thus, their incorporation in lipid nanocarriers has been proposed with the main objective to increase the effectiveness of topical treatment and reduce side effects. This manuscript aims to describe the advantages of using lipid nanoparticles and liposomes that can be used to load diversity of chemically different drugs for the treatment of HSD. Keywords: lipid nanoparticles; liposomes; hyperproliferative skin diseases; antiproliferative drugs; skin cance