Engineering polymeric nanosystems against oral diseases

Nanotechnology and nanoparticles (NPs) are at the forefront of modern research, par-ticularly in the case of healthcare therapeutic applications. Polymeric NPs, specifically, hold high promise for these purposes, including towards oral diseases. Careful optimisation of the production of polymeric NPs, however, is required to generate a product which can be easily translated from a laboratory environment to the actual clinical usage. Indeed, considerations such as biocompati-bility, biodistribution, and biodegradability are paramount. Moreover, a pre-clinical assessment in adequate in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo model is also required. Last but not least, considerations for the scale-up are also important, together with an appropriate clinical testing pathway. This review aims to eviscerate the above topics, sourcing at examples from the recent literature to put in context the current most burdening oral diseases and the most promising polymeric NPs which would be suitable against them

Emissão de metano entérico e consumo alimentar residual em bovinos Nelore.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a emissão diária de metano entérico em bovinos Nelore com um ano de idade, previamente avaliados para o consumo alimentar residual (CAR). Foram avaliados 118 animais, machos e fêmeas, nascidos em 2010, provenientes do Centro APTA Bovinos de Corte-IZ/SP. O CAR foi estimado como o resíduo da equação de regressão do consumo de matéria seca (CMS) sobre o peso metabólico e o ganho médio diário (GMD) em teste pós-desmama de 110 dias de duração. Os animais foram classificados por CAR em três grupos: alto CAR (n= 36), médio CAR (n= 42) e baixo CAR (n= 40), levando-se em conta o desvio-padrão da média do CAR de cada sexo. Uma amostra representativa de 46 animais das classes alto e baixo CAR foi usada para avaliar a emissão diária de metano (CH4) por meio da metodologia do gás traçador hexafluoreto de enxofre com 7 dias consecutivos de coleta. Durante a coleta de metano o CMS foi também obtido. Apesar da diferença do CMS dos animais das duas classes de CAR, não houve diferença significativa na CH4. Quando a CH4 foi expressa em relação ao GMD, houve diferença significativa entre os animais mais e menos eficientes. Os animais mais eficientes (baixo CAR) emitem menos CH4 por kg de ganho de peso que os animais menos eficientes (alto CAR)

New Cases of Universality Theorem for Gravitational Theories

The "Universality Theorem" for gravity shows that f(R) theories (in their metric-affine formulation) in vacuum are dynamically equivalent to vacuum Einstein equations with suitable cosmological constants. This holds true for a generic (i.e. except sporadic degenerate cases) analytic function f(R) and standard gravity without cosmological constant is reproduced if f is the identity function (i.e. f(R)=R). The theorem is here extended introducing in dimension 4 a 1-parameter family of invariants R' inspired by the Barbero-Immirzi formulation of GR (which in the Euclidean sector includes also selfdual formulation). It will be proven that f(R') theories so defined are dynamically equivalent to the corresponding metric-affine f(R) theory. In particular for the function f(R)=R the standard equivalence between GR and Holst Lagrangian is obtained.Comment: 10 pages, few typos correcte

Scavenging Capacity of Marine Carotenoids against Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in a Membrane-Mimicking System

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Carotenoid intake has been associated with the decrease of the incidence of some chronic diseases by minimizing the in vivo oxidative damages induced by reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). The carotenoids are well-known singlet oxygen quenchers; however, their capacity to scavenge other reactive species, such as peroxyl radical (ROO center dot), hydroxyl radical (HO center dot), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and anion peroxynitrite (ONOO-), still needs to be more extensively studied, especially using membrane-mimicking systems, such as liposomes. Moreover, the identification of carotenoids possessing high antioxidant capacity can lead to new alternatives of drugs or nutritional supplements for prophylaxis or therapy of pathological conditions related to oxidative damages, such as cardiovascular diseases. The capacity to scavenge ROO center dot, HO center dot, HOCl and ONOO- of seven carotenoids found in marine organisms was determined in liposomes based on the fluorescence loss of a fluorescent lipid (C-11-BODIPY581/591) due to its oxidation by these reactive species. The carotenoid-bearing hydroxyl groups were generally more potent ROS scavengers than the carotenes, whilst beta-carotene was the most efficient ONOO- scavenger. The role of astaxanthin as an antioxidant should be highlighted, since it was a more potent scavenger of ROO center dot, HOCl and ONOO- than alpha-tocopherol.10817841798Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Correlação da emissão diária de metano entérico e características de crescimento e eficiência alimentar de bovinos Nelore.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as correlações entre a emissão diária de metano entérico (CH4) e características de crescimento e eficiência alimentar em bovinos Nelore com um ano de idade, previamente avaliados para o consumo alimentar residual (CAR). Foram testados 118 bovinos (56 fêmeas e 62 machos) nascidos em 2010, pertencentes à 30a progênie do rebanho Nelore Tradicional, provenientes do Centro APTA Bovinos de Corte-IZ/SP. O CAR foi estimado como o resíduo da equação de regressão do consumo de matéria seca sobre o peso metabólico e o ganho médio diário em teste pós-desmama de 107 e 112 dias de duração, para machos e fêmeas, respectivamente. Após o teste de desempenho, 46 animais (23 machos e 23 fêmeas) representativos das classes de alto CAR (>média + 0,5 DP; n= 23) e baixo CAR (<média ? 0,5 DP; n= 23), foram utilizados para estimar CH4 por meio da metodologia do gás traçador hexafluoreto de enxofre (SF6) com 7 dias Consecutivos de coleta. A emissão diária de metano está diretamente relacionada ao ganho médio diário e ao consumo de matéria seca. Não há evidências que a emissão diária de metano desses animais tenha relação com o consumo alimentar residual e a conversão alimentar

Opioids Switching with Transdermal Systems in Chronic Cancer Pain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Due to tolerance development and adverse side effects, chronic pain patients frequently need to be switched to alternative opioid therapy</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To assess the efficacy and tolerability of an alternative transdermally applied (TDS) opioid in patients with chronic cancer pain receiving insufficient analgesia using their present treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 32 patients received alternative opioid therapy, 16 were switched from buprenorphine to fentanyl and 16 were switched from fentanyl to buprenorphine. The dosage used was 50% of that indicated in equipotency conversion tables. Pain relief was assessed at weekly intervals for the next 3 weeks</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pain relief as assessed by VAS, PPI, and PRI significantly improved (p < 0.0001) in all patients at all 3 follow up visits. After 3 weeks of treatment, the reduction in the mean VAS, PPI, and PRI scores in the fentanyl and buprenorphine groups was 68, 77, 74, and 69, 79, and 62%, respectively. Over the same time period the use of oral morphine as rescue medication was reduced from 27.5 ± 20.5 (mean ± SD) to 3.75 ± 8.06, and 33.8 ± 18.9 to 3.75 ± 10.9 mg/day in the fentanyl and buprenorphine groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in either pain relief or rescue medication use between the two patient groups The number of patient with adverse events fell during the study. After the third week of the treatment the number of patients with constipation was reduced from 11 to 5, and 10 to 4 patients in the fentanyl and buprenorphine groups, respectively. There was a similar reduction in the incidence of nausea and vomiting. No sedation was seen in any patient after one week of treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Opioid switching at 50% of the calculated equianalgesic dose produced a significant reduction in pain levels and rescue medication. The incidence of side effects decreased and no new side effects were noted. Further studies are required to provide individualized treatment for patients according to their different types of cancer.</p

Assessment of penconazole exposure in winegrowers using urinary biomarkers

Penconazole (PEN) is a fungicide used in agriculture. The aim of this work was to evaluate the exposure to PEN in vineyard workers focusing on urinary biomarkers. Twenty-two agricultural workers were involved in the study; they were investigated during PEN applications and re-entry work, performed for 1-4 consecutive working days, for a total of 42 mixing and applications and 12 re-entries. Potential and actual dermal exposure, including hand exposure, were measured using pads and hand washes. Urine samples were collected starting before the first application, continuing during the work shift, and ending 48\u202fh after the last shift. The determination of PEN in dermal samples and PEN metabolites in urine was performed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Dermal potential body exposure and actual total exposure showed median levels ranging from 18 to 3356\ub5g and from 21 to 111\u202f\ub5g, respectively. Urinary monohydroxyl-derivative PEN-OH was the most abundant metabolite; its excretion rate peaked within 24\u202fh after the work shift. In this period, median concentrations of PEN-OH and the carboxyl-derivative PEN-COOH ranged from 15.6 to 27.6\u202f\ub5g/L and from 2.5 to 10.2\u202f\ub5g/L, respectively. The concentration of PEN-OH during the work shift, in the 24\u202fh after and in the 25-48\u202fh after the work shift were correlated with actual body and total dermal exposure (Pearson's r from 0.279 to 0.562). Our results suggest that PEN-OH in the 24\u202fh post-exposure urine is a promising candidate for biomonitoring PEN exposure in agricultural workers

Comparison of extraction methods for kahweol and cafestol analysis in roasted coffee

Não InformadoKahweol and cafestol, diterpenes from the unsaponifiable fraction of coffee, present known effects on human health such as anticarcinogenic and hipercholesterolemic activities. There are discrepancies regarding the levels reported for these compounds in roasted coffee, probably due to the extraction processes. Therefore, four sample preparation methods were studied: direct hot saponification (DHS), direct cold saponification (DCS); and Bligh and Dyer (BD) or Soxhlet (SO) extraction followed by saponification. The levels of diterpenes and their dehydro derivatives obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and the chromatographic profiles of roasted coffee, obtained by these four methods, were compared. DHS was more efficient for extraction, showing better separation of chromatographic peaks and levels of 930.2 (± 36.8), 113.2 (± 4.7), 568.6 (± 16.6) and 87.1 (± 3.7) mg 100 g-1 for kahweol, dehydrokahweol, cafestol and dehydrocafestol, respectively. The DHS extract presented a diterpene content (kahweol and cafestol) 15% superior to that of DCS and up to 88% superior than using SO and BD methods.Kahweol and cafestol, diterpenes from the unsaponifiable fraction of coffee, present known effects on human health such as anticarcinogenic and hipercholesterolemic activities. There are discrepancies regarding the levels reported for these compounds in roasted coffee, probably due to the extraction processes. Therefore, four sample preparation methods were studied: direct hot saponification (DHS), direct cold saponification (DCS)and Bligh and Dyer (BD) or Soxhlet (SO) extraction followed by saponification. The levels of diterpenes and their dehydro derivatives obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and the chromatographic profiles of roasted coffee, obtained by these four methods, were compared. DHS was more efficient for extraction, showing better separation of chromatographic peaks and levels of 930.2 (± 36.8), 113.2 (± 4.7), 568.6 (± 16.6) and 87.1 (± 3.7) mg 100 g-1 for kahweol, dehydrokahweol, cafestol and dehydrocafestol, respectively. The DHS extract presented a diterpene content (kahweol and cafestol) 15% superior to that of DCS and up to 88% superior than using SO and BD methods.Kahweol and cafestol, diterpenes from the unsaponifiable fraction of coffee, present known effects on human health such as anticarcinogenic and hipercholesterolemic activities. There are discrepancies regarding the levels reported for these compounds in roasted coffee, probably due to the extraction processes. Therefore, four sample preparation methods were studied: direct hot saponification (DHS), direct cold saponification (DCS)and Bligh and Dyer (BD) or Soxhlet (SO) extraction followed by saponification. The levels of diterpenes and their dehydro derivatives obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and the chromatographic profiles of roasted coffee, obtained by these four methods, were compared. DHS was more efficient for extraction, showing better separation of chromatographic peaks and levels of 930.2 (± 36.8), 113.2 (± 4.7), 568.6 (± 16.6) and 87.1 (± 3.7) mg 100 g-1 for kahweol, dehydrokahweol, cafestol and dehydrocafestol, respectively. The DHS extract presented a diterpene content (kahweol and cafestol) 15% superior to that of DCS and up to 88% superior than using SO and BD methods.243492492499Não InformadoNão InformadoCaveol e cafestol, diterpenos da fração lipídica do café, têm efeitos conhecidos na saúde humana, como atividade anticarcinogênica e hipercolesterolêmica. Existem divergências quanto às concentrações desses compostos reportadas para café torrado, provavelmente devido aos processos de extração empregados. Assim, quatro métodos de preparo de amostra foram estudados: saponificação direta a quente (SDQ), saponificação direta a frio (SDF)e extração por Bligh e Dyer (BD) ou soxhlet (SO) seguida de saponificação. Teores dos diterpenos e seus dehidroderivados obtidos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência acoplada a detector de arranjo de diodos e espectrometria de massa (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) e perfis cromatográficos de café torrado, obtidos pelos quatro métodos, foram comparados. SDQ foi mais eficiente quanto à extração, mostrando melhor separação dos picos cromatográficos e teores de 930,2 (± 36,8), 113,2 (± 4,7), 568,6 (± 16,6) e 87,1 (± 3,7) mg 100 g-1 para caveol, dehidrocaveol, cafestol e dehidrocafestol, respectivamente. O extrato SDQ apresentou teores de diterpenos (caveol e cafestol) 15% superiores àqueles obtidos por SDF e até 88% maiores que pelos métodos SO e BD.Kahweol and cafestol, diterpenes from the unsaponifiable fraction of coffee, present known effects on human health such as anticarcinogenic and hipercholesterolemic activities. There are discrepancies regarding the levels reported for these compounds in roasted coffee, probably due to the extraction processes. Therefore, four sample preparation methods were studied: direct hot saponification (DHS), direct cold saponification (DCS)and Bligh and Dyer (BD) or Soxhlet (SO) extraction followed by saponification. The levels of diterpenes and their dehydro derivatives obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and the chromatographic profiles of roasted coffee, obtained by these four methods, were compared. DHS was more efficient for extraction, showing better separation of chromatographic peaks and levels of 930.2 (± 36.8), 113.2 (± 4.7), 568.6 (± 16.6) and 87.1 (± 3.7) mg 100 g-1 for kahweol, dehydrokahweol, cafestol and dehydrocafestol, respectively. The DHS extract presented a diterpene content (kahweol and cafestol) 15% superior to that of DCS and up to 88% superior than using SO and BD methods.Caveol e cafestol, diterpenos da fração lipídica do café, têm efeitos conhecidos na saúde humana, como atividade anticarcinogênica e hipercolesterolêmica. Existem divergências quanto às concentrações desses compostos reportadas para café torrado, provavelmente devido aos processos de extração empregados. Assim, quatro métodos de preparo de amostra foram estudados: saponificação direta a quente (SDQ), saponificação direta a frio (SDF)e extração por Bligh e Dyer (BD) ou soxhlet (SO) seguida de saponificação. Teores dos diterpenos e seus dehidroderivados obtidos por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência acoplada a detector de arranjo de diodos e espectrometria de massa (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) e perfis cromatográficos de café torrado, obtidos pelos quatro métodos, foram comparados. SDQ foi mais eficiente quanto à extração, mostrando melhor separação dos picos cromatográficos e teores de 930,2 (± 36,8), 113,2 (± 4,7), 568,6 (± 16,6) e 87,1 (± 3,7) mg 100 g-1 para caveol, dehidrocaveol, cafestol e dehidrocafestol, respectivamente. O extrato SDQ apresentou teores de diterpenos (caveol e cafestol) 15% superiores àqueles obtidos por SDF e até 88% maiores que pelos métodos SO e BD.Kahweol and cafestol, diterpenes from the unsaponifiable fraction of coffee, present known effects on human health such as anticarcinogenic and hipercholesterolemic activities. There are discrepancies regarding the levels reported for these compounds in roasted coffee, probably due to the extraction processes. Therefore, four sample preparation methods were studied: direct hot saponification (DHS), direct cold saponification (DCS)and Bligh and Dyer (BD) or Soxhlet (SO) extraction followed by saponification. The levels of diterpenes and their dehydro derivatives obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and the chromatographic profiles of roasted coffee, obtained by these four methods, were compared. DHS was more efficient for extraction, showing better separation of chromatographic peaks and levels of 930.2 (± 36.8), 113.2 (± 4.7), 568.6 (± 16.6) and 87.1 (± 3.7) mg 100 g-1 for kahweol, dehydrokahweol, cafestol and dehydrocafestol, respectively. The DHS extract presented a diterpene content (kahweol and cafestol) 15% superior to that of DCS and up to 88% superior than using SO and BD methods