Characterization of knowledge and consumption of acetylsalicylic acid in users of community pharmacies

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is one of the drugs most used by the Portuguese population for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antiplatelet effect. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the knowledge and the consumption pattern of ASA in users of community pharmacies of three locations in the district of Porto. The investigation was achieved by application of a questionnaire to 390 users of community pharmacies of three locations in the district of Porto (Lousada, Paços de Ferreira e Porto). The dosage of ASA most known and consumed was of 500mg (28.2 and 53%, respectively). Individuals considered having a level of knowledge "Reasonable" about this substance (47.8%). As regards the frequency of use, the most reported by respondents was once per year (48.3%), and time-consuming 1 to 3 days (37.8%). A considerable percentage of respondents indicating that ASA was prescribed by the doctor (36.4%) and on his own initiative (36.4%). The main reasons of use of AAS are flu (41.2%), pain head (40%) and fever (10.7%), have been noted adverse effects in 4.1% of consumers. It was found that the level of knowledge is higher in middle age (40-60 years) (p = 0.220) and in individuals with qualifications of 6-9th year. The present study denotes the existence of gaps of consistent, coherent and updated information about ASA drug

New insights for therapeutic recombinant human miRNAs heterologous production: Rhodovolum sulfidophilum vs Escherichia coli

RNA interference-based technologies have emerged as an attractive and effective therapeutic option with potential application in diverse human diseases. These tools rely on the development of efficient strategies to obtain homogeneous non-coding RNA samples with adequate integrity and purity, thus avoiding non-targeted gene-silencing and related side-effects that impair their application onto pre-clinical practice. These RNAs have been preferentially obtained by in vitro transcription using DNA templates or via chemical synthesis. As an alternative to overcome the limitations presented by these methods, in vivo recombinant production of RNA biomolecules has become the focus in RNA synthesis research. Therefore, using pre-miR-29b as a model, here it is evaluated the time-course profile of Escherichia coli and Rhodovolum sulfidophilum microfactories to produce this microRNA. As the presence of major host contaminants arising from the biosynthesis process may have important implications in the subsequent downstream processing, it is also evaluated the production of genomic DNA and host total proteins. Considering the rapidly growing interest on these innovative biopharmaceuticals, novel, more cost-effective, simple and easily scaled-up technologies are highly desirable. As microRNA recombinant expression fulfills those requirements, it may take the leading edge in the methodologies currently available to obtain microRNAs for clinical or structural studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigation of the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cymbopogon martini on S. aureus and E. coli biofilms

Biofilms are sessile communities of microbial cells embedded in an exopolymeric secreted matrix that can adhere both to abiotic and living surfaces, serving as a permanent source of contamination. Essential oils (EOs) have different characteristics depending on the plant due to a large number of compounds (eugenol, citral, carvacrol, among others). It has been noticed that EOs have promising antibacterial activity that can be explored as an effective alternative to control biofilms. The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Cymbopogon martini against pre-established single biofilms developed by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Biofilms were developed in 96-well microtiter plates for 24 h at 37 ºC, in an orbital shaker at 120 rpm, being afterwards submitted to EOs aggression for 15, 30 e 60 minutes. The essential oil were dissolved in DMSO (2.0 %) and saline water (0.85 %) with tween 80 (0.5 %) in order to obtain final concentrations of 0,12, 0,48, 0,96 and 1,92 %. Biofilms were characterized, before and after EO treatment, by total biomass, through crystal violet (CV), and number of cultivable bacterial cells, expressed as Log CFU per cm2. The C. martini essential oil did not have any effective antimicrobial action against S. aureus biofilms, since there was no significant reduction of the biofilm cultivable cells and biomass. Conversely, this essential oil showed a promising antimicrobial activity against E.coli biofilms as it was observed a significant reduction of the cultivable biofilm-growing cells, in general, for all the concentrations tested and exposure time periods. Similarly to S.aureus biofilms, the C. martinii essential oil was not effective in reducing the biomass of E. coli. From the data, it can be concluded that under the conditions tested, the C. martinii essential oil was more effective in the inhibition of the bacterial cells entrapped in E. coli biofilms than in the removal of biofilm mass. This inability to remove biofilm s from surfaces can be a drawback since the viable cells remaining within the biofilms after EOs treatment are protected by the exopolysaccharides matrix, allowing its multiplication. To overcome this situation, it would be interesting to assess the anti-biofilm potential of the C. martinii essential oil, as well as its synergistic activity with an antimicrobial agent with biofilm disrupting properties

PET and optical imaging of caveolin-1 in gastric tumors

Previous studies have suggested tumoral caveolin-1 (CAV1) as a predictive biomarker for the response to anti-HER2 antibody drug therapies in gastric tumors. In this study, radiolabeled and fluorescently labeled anti-CAV1 antibodies were developed and tested as an immunoPET or optical imaging agent to detect CAV1 in HER2-positive/CAV1-high NCIN87 gastric tumors. The expression of CAV1 receptors in NCIN87 gastric tumors and nontumor murine organs was determined by Western blot. Binding assays were performed to validate the anti-CAV1 antibody specificity for CAV1-expressing NCIN87 cancer cells. Subcutaneous and orthotopic NCIN87 xenografts were used for PET imaging an

Magnetic carbon composites as recycling electron shuttles on anaerobic biotransformations

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017[Excerpt] The unique properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP), such as high surface area, magnetic, sorption and catalytic characteristics, make them very versatile for many applications in different areas including environmental remediation, as catalysts, adsorbents, immobilising agents for microorganisms and enzymes, and as supports for biofilm growth and water disinfectants. In order to improve their stability and to introduce additional surface properties and functionalities, MNP can be coated with carbon materials (CM) due to their chemical stability, biocompatibility and possibility of tailoring their textural and surface chemical properties for specific applications [1]. We have previously proved that various CM, including activated carbon, carbon xerogels and carbon nanotubes (CNT), can be used as redox mediators (RM) in anaerobic biotransformation, accelerating the electron transfer and, consequently, the reduction rates of organic compounds [1,2]. The combination of CM with MNP offers the possibility of creating magnetic carbon composites with synergistic properties: the adsorptive and catalytic properties of both and the magnetic character of MNP, improving the material performance and rendering it easier to be retained and recovered, by applying a magnetic field. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of essential oils on the planktonic of S. aureus and E. coli cells

The essential oils of aromatic plants and their components have a wide range of applications in ethno-medicine, preservation, food flavoring and fragrances and in the perfume industries. Some essential oils derived from plants have revealed promising antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, including antibiotic resistant species. The aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial effect of essential oils of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cymbopogon martini against planktonic Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli growth. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was checked by bacterial growth, at 37 ºC and 120 rpm, in the presence of increasing concentrations of each essential oil for 24 h. Essential oils were dissolved in DMSO (2.0 %) and saline water (0.85 %) with tween 80 (0.5 %) in order to obtain final concentrations of 0.06 %, 0.09 % and 0.12%, for E. coli, and 0.09 %, 0, 12 %, 0.36 % and 0.48 %, for S. aureus. Bacterial planktonic growth over time was followed by the quantification of the number of viable through cultivation of aliquots in TSA. Data showed that E. coli was more sensitive to the action of both essential oils, since complete planktonic growth inhibition was attained with a concentration of 0.09 % of the essential oil of C. zeylanicum oil and 0.06 % of the essential oil of C. Martini. Conversely, S. aureus was less sensitive to the antimicrobial action of the essential oils. C. zeylanicum essential oil inhibited S. aureus growth only at concentrations of 0.36 % and 0.48 %, after 4 and 2 hours of growth. However, unexpectedly after 24 hours those S. aureus cells recovered gradually their planktonic growth. The data pointed out that it is crucial to check the bacterial behavior in the presence of antimicrobial products in different concentrations and over time due to the possible development of bacterial tolerance towards the mechanisms of action of those products. In fact, antimicrobials may have a positive effect in the early hours of application, as demonstrated by some results of this experiment. However, for longer times, the inhibitory effect of antimicrobials can be reverted by bacteria making ineffective their use as disinfectants in food industries. Addiotionally, the continuous exposure of bacteria to antimicrobials can influence the process of microbial resistance de development and increase. These preliminary results demonstrated the possibility of using essential oils of C. zeylanicum and C. martini against two bacteria that are responsible for foodborne illnesses at low concentrations but only for slightly prolonged periods of exposure

Spherical and rod shaped mesoporous nanosilicas for cancer- targeted and photosensitizers delivery in photodynamic therapy

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have attracted much attention in many biomedical applications. One of the fields in which smart functional nanosystems have found wide application is cancer treatment. Here, we present new silica nanoparticle-based systems which have been explored as efficient vehicles to transport and deliver photosensitizers (PSs) into tumor tissues during photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this work, we report the preparation, characterization, and in vitro studies of distinct shaped MSNPs grafted with S-glycoside porphyrins (Pors). The ensuing nanomaterials were fully characterized, and their properties as third-generation PSs for PDT against two bladder cancer cell lines, HT-1376 and UM-UC-3, were examined. The best uptake results were obtained for MSNP-PS2, while MSNP-PS1 showed the lowest cellular uptake among the nanocarriers tested, but revealed the best phototoxicity in both cancer cells. Overall, the phototoxicity was higher with MSNPs than with mesoporous silica nanorods (MSNRs) and higher uptake and phototoxicity were consistently observed in UM-UC-3 rather than in HT-1376 cancer cellpublishe

Genetic Competence Drives Genome Diversity in Bacillus subtilis

This deposit is composed by the main article plus the supplementary materials of the publication.Prokaryote genomes are the result of a dynamic flux of genes, with increases achieved via horizontal gene transfer and reductions occurring through gene loss. The ecological and selective forces that drive this genomic flexibility vary across species. Bacillus subtilis is a naturally competent bacterium that occupies various environments, including plant-associated, soil, and marine niches, and the gut of both invertebrates and vertebrates. Here, we quantify the genomic diversity of B. subtilis and infer the genome dynamics that explain the high genetic and phenotypic diversity observed. Phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses of 42 B. subtilis genomes uncover a remarkable genome diversity that translates into a core genome of 1,659 genes and an asymptotic pangenome growth rate of 57 new genes per new genome added. This diversity is due to a large proportion of low-frequency genes that are acquired from closely related species. We find no gene-loss bias among wild isolates, which explains why the cloud genome, 43% of the species pangenome, represents only a small proportion of each genome. We show that B. subtilis can acquire xenologous copies of core genes that propagate laterally among strains within a niche. While not excluding the contributions of other mechanisms, our results strongly suggest a process of gene acquisition that is largely driven by competence, where the long-term maintenance of acquired genes depends on local and global fitness effects. This competence-driven genomic diversity provides B. subtilis with its generalist character, enabling it to occupy a wide range of ecological niches and cycle through them.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia grants: (PTDC/EBB-BIO/119006/2010, PEst-OE/EQB/LA0004/2011, SFRH/BPD/89907/2012, SFRH/BD/29397/06); FEDER grant: (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007660).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exopolysaccharide production by the marine bacterium Alteromonas macleodii Mo169 using fruit pulp waste as the sole carbon source

project LA/P/0140/202019 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy – i4HB. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)A sugar-rich apple pulp waste generated from fruit processing for juice production was used as the sole carbon source for the cultivation of Alteromonas macleodii Mo169, a marine bacterium known for its EPS-secreting ability. The strain efficiently utilized the glucose and fructose present in the apple pulp waste, reaching biomass and EPS production of 9.20 ± 0.61 and 3.51 ± 0.08 g L−1, respectively, in 24-hour bioreactor cultivation. Two high molecular weight (Mw) fractions (1.7 ± 0.0 and 0.74 ± 0.0 MDa) were detected in the sample recovered from the cell-free supernatant by dialysis. The compositional analysis revealed the presence of glucose (31.1 ± 0.2 mol%), arabinose (23.9 ± 0.1 mol%), mannose (17.3 ± 0.1 mol%), glucosamine (10.3 ± 0.5 mol%), galactose (8.7 ± 0.0 mol%) and galacturonic acid (8.7 ± 0.0 mol%), as well as a high content in sulphate (6.0 ± 0.5 wt%). Given the presence of a high Mw polysaccharide in the apple pulp waste, probably pectin, a fraction of the detected sugar monomers might be attributed to that polymer, which was recovered together with A. macleodii Mo169 EPS. Concomitant with EPS synthesis, there was a viscosity build-up in the cultivation broth, which developed a shear-thinning fluid behaviour not observed in the initial medium. Therefore, this study demonstrates that apple pulp waste can be efficiently converted into a novel polysaccharide by A. macleodii Mo169 in a sustainable bioprocess. Moreover, the EPS sugar and acyl composition, together with its good thickening capacity, render the biopolymer of interest for use in several applications.publishersversionpublishe

In vitro blood flow and cell-free layer in hyperbolic microchannels: visualizations and measurments

Red blood cells (RBCs) in microchannels has tendency to undergo axial migration due to the parabolic velocity profile, which results in a high shear stress around wall that forces the RBC to move towards the centre induced by the tank treading motion of the RBC membrane. As a result there is a formation of a cell free layer (CFL) with extremely low concentration of cells. Based on this phenomenon, several works have proposed microfluidic designs to separate the suspending physiological fluid from whole in vitro blood. This study aims to characterize the CFL in hyperbolic-shaped microchannels to separate RBCs from plasma. For this purpose, we have investigated the effect of hyperbolic contractions on the CFL by using not only different Hencky strains but also varying the series of contractions. The results show that the hyperbolic contractions with a Hencky strain of 3 and higher, substantially increase the CFL downstream of the contraction region in contrast with the microchannels with a Hencky strain of 2, where the effect is insignificant. Although, the highest CFL thickness occur at microchannels with a Hencky strain of 3.6 and 4.2 the experiments have also shown that cells blockage are more likely to occur at this kind of microchannels. Hence, the most appropriate hyperbolic-shaped microchannels to separate RBCs from plasma is the one with a Hencky strain of 3.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by PTDC/SAU-ENB/116929/2010 and EXPL/EMS-SIS/2215/2013 from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), COMPETE, QREN and European Union (FEDER). R.O. Rodrigues, D. Pinho and P. C. Sousa acknowledge the scholarships SFRH/BD/97658/2013, SFRH/BD/89077/2012 and SFRH/BPD/75258/2010, respectively, all attributed by FCT