Financial distress model prediction using SVM +

Financial distress prediction is of great importance to all stakeholders in order to enable better decision-making in evaluating firms. In recent years, the rate of bankruptcy has risen and it is becoming harder to estimate as companies become more complex and the asymmetric information between banks and firms increases. Although a great variety of techniques have been applied along the years, no comprehensive method incorporating an holistic perspective had hitherto been considered. Recently, SVM+ a technique proposed by Vapnik [17] provides a formal way to incorporate privileged information onto the learning models improving generalization. By exploiting additional information to improve traditional inductive learning we propose a prediction model where data is naturally separated into several groups according to the size of the firm. Experimental results in the setting of a heterogeneous data set of French companies demonstrated that the proposed model showed superior performance in terms of prediction accuracy in bankruptcy prediction and misclassification cost.This work was partially supported by Fundacao da Ciencia e Tecnologia' under grant no.PTDC/GES/70168/2006

PLGA-corosolic acid implants for potential application in ocular neovascularization diseases

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature. Uncontrolled angiogenesis is associated with progression of several ocular pathologies, such as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Thus, the inhibition of this process consists in an interesting therapeutic target. Corosolic acid (CA) is a natural derivative of ursolic acid, found in many medicinal herbs and exhibits numerous biological properties, including the antiangiogenic activity. The present study reports the production of CA-loaded poly d,l-lactidecoglycolide acid (PLGA) devices by melt technique. HPLC-UV method was developed and validated to evaluate the uniformity and the release profile of the developed systems. The devices were also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and scanning electron morphology. It was studied the antiangiogenic activity of the CA-polymer system, using an in vivo model, the chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM). CA was dispersed uniformly in the polymer matrix and no chemical interaction between the components of the formulation was verified. The implants presented a sustained release of the drug, which was confirmed by the morphological study and demonstrated an antiangiogenic activity. Therefore, the developed delivery system is a promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of ocular diseases associated with neovascularization or others related to the angiogenic process

Projecto Integrado de Organização dos Arquivos Municipais do Distrito de Braga Uma Experiencia Regional

Projecto Integrado de Organização dos Arquivos Municipais do Distrito de Braga Uma Experiencia Regiona

Microemulsions as drug delivery systems for topical ocular administration

The conventional ophthalmic dosage forms are relatively simple: usually, water-soluble drugs are delivered in aqueous solution and water-insoluble drugs are prepared as suspensions or ointments. However, these delivery systems currently used present very low corneal bioavailability, systemic exposure because of nasolacrimal drainage and lack of efficiency in the posterior segment of ocular tissue. Recent research efforts have focused on the development of new ophthalmic drug delivery systems. As a result of these efforts, microemulsions are promising dosage forms for ocular use. These delivery systems are dispersions of water and oil that require surfactant and co-surfactant agents in order to stabilize the interfacial area. The microemulsions have a transparent appearance, thermodynamic stability and small droplet size of the dispersed fase (<1,0 mm), providing them with the capacity of being sterilized by filtration. Furthermore, these systems offer additional advantages that include: low viscosity, great ability as drug delivery vehicles, widened properties as absorption promoters and easiness of preparation, which do not require much energy and the use of special equipments. In this review, we present the technology and some preliminary studies of microemulsions in relation to ocular drug delivery systems.As formas farmacêuticas oftálmicas convencionais são relativamente simples: drogas solúveis em água são formuladas em solução aquosa e drogas pouco solúveis em suspensão ou pomada. Entretanto, essas formulações apresentam como inconvenientes baixa biodisponibilidade corneal, absorção sistêmica devida à drenagem nasolacrimal e reduzida eficácia no segmento posterior do olho. Assim, o desenvolvimento de novos sistemas de liberação de drogas de administração oftálmica tem sido um dos principais temas de pesquisa em tecnologia farmacêutica nos últimos anos. Entre as alternativas avaliadas, destacam-se principalmente as microemulsões. Estas formas farmacêuticas que são dispersões de água e óleo, estabilizadas por um emulsionante e por um co-emulsionante, transparentes, termodinamicamente estáveis, apresentam partículas de tamanho menor que 1,0 mm e, portanto, passíveis de serem esterilizadas por filtração. Além disso, as microemulsões apresentam baixa viscosidade, possuem grande capacidade para o transporte de drogas, demonstram comprovada propriedade promotora de absorção para as drogas veiculadas e são facilmente obtidas, sem a necessidade de utilização de equipamentos sofisticados e de componentes de custo proibitivo. O presente artigo objetiva revisão de literatura abordando o tema e os principais estudos relacionados com a utilização de microemulsões como sistemas de liberação de drogas oftálmicas.Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Faculdade de FarmáciaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Hospital das Clínicas Serviço de UveítesUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisUNIFESPSciEL

Development and validation of a High Performance Liquid Chromatographic method for determination of etoposide in biodegradable polymeric implants

A method using HPLC-UV was developed and validated for the determination of etoposide incorporated into polycaprolactone implants. The method was carried out in isocratic mode using a C18 column (250 x 4.6 mm; 5 µm), at 25 ºC, with acetonitrile and acetic acid 4% (70:30) as mobile phase, a flow rate of 2 mL/min, and UV detection at 285 nm. The method was linear (r² > 0.99) over the range of 5 to 65 µg/mL, precise (RSD < 5%), accurate (recovery of 98.7%), robust, selective regarding excipient of the sample, and had a quantitation limit equal to 1.76 µg/mL. The validated method can be successfully employed for routine quality control analyses

Is obesity a risk factor for carotid atherosclerotic disease?—opportunistic review

Obesity is a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. However, the influence of adipose tissue in carotid atherosclerosis is not completely understood. No systematic review/meta-analysis was previously performed to understand if obesity is a risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis. This paper aims to provide an opportunistic review of the association between obesity and carotid atherosclerosis and define the role of the different adipose tissue depots in the characteristics of carotid stenosis. The databases PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched on 15–27 April and 19 May 2021. A total of 1750 articles published between 1985 and 2019 were identified, 64 were preselected, and 38 papers (35,339 subjects) were included in the final review. The most frequent methods used to determine obesity were anthropometric measures. Carotid plaque was mostly characterized by ultrasound. Overall obesity and visceral fat were not associated with the presence of carotid plaque when evaluated separately. Waist-hip ratio, however, was a significant anthropometric measure associated with the prevalence of carotid plaques. As it reflected the ratio of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, the balance between these depots could impact the prevalence of carotid plaques.This work was supported by the Portuguese Society of Vascular Surgery. This work was developed under the scope of project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020

THE ROLE OF THE SKELETAL MUSCLE IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The role of visceral obesity in atherosclerosis is well recognized by the medical community. On the contrary, the importance of skeletal muscle is almost unknown. Muscle is nowadays understood as an endocrine organ producing myokines with direct action in several physiological and pathological pathways, including atherosclerosis. The myokines reduce the formation of neointima, expression of inflammatory mediators, the recruitment of inflammatory cells and the formation of foam cells. Epidemiological studies are demonstrating the association between reduced muscle mass and cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease. Low muscle mass is associated with an increased prevalence of coronary heart disease, aortic calcification, carotid atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media thickness, intracranial artery stenosis and endothelial dysfunction. In this way resistance training, which increases the muscle size and strength may have a key role in atherosclerosis while endurance training alone might not. The time and type of protein intake by older adults may be critical to the maintenance of muscle mass and to the increase survival. The objective of this paper was to perform a review about the published literature in the last 13 years about the role of skeletal muscle in atherosclerosis.

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD DETERMINATION OF ZIDOVUDINE ENCAPSULATED IN PCL NANOPARTICLES

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of encapsulation efficiency of zidovudine in nanoparticules. The method was carried out in isocratic mode using 0.040M sodium acetate: methanol: acetonitrile: glacial acetic acid (880:100:20:2) as mobile phase, a C8 column at 25ºC and UV detection at 240 nm. The method was linear (r2 ˃ 0.99) over the range of 25.0-150.0 μg/mL, precise (RSD ˂ 5%), accurate (recovery = 100.5%), robust and selective. The validated HPLC-UV method can be successfully applied to determine the rate of zidovudine in nanoparticules.A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of encapsulation efficiency of zidovudine in nanoparticules. The method was carried out in isocratic mode using 0.040M sodium acetate: methanol: acetonitrile: glacial acetic acid (880:100:20:2) as mobile phase, a C8 column at 25ºC and UV detection at 240 nm. The method was linear (r2 ˃ 0.99) over the range of 25.0-150.0 μg/mL, precise (RSD ˂ 5%), accurate (recovery = 100.5%), robust and selective. The validated HPLC-UV method can be successfully applied to determine the rate of zidovudine in nanoparticules

Exploring the diversity of visceral, subcutaneous and perivascular adipose tissue in a vascular surgery population

The prevalence of obesity has doubled, with a concomitant increase in cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of visceral, subcutaneous and peri-aortic adipose tissue determined with computed tomography (CT) scans and to correlate them with cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometric measures and medication. An observational and prospective study was conducted, and 177 subjects were included. Peri-aortic adipose tissue had the highest density, while the subcutaneous adipose tissue had the lowest. The density of subcutaneous adipose tissue differs from the density of visceral (p = 0.00) and peri-aortic adipose tissue (p = 0.00). Smokers/ex-smokers had a lower area (p = 0.00) and density (p = 0.02) of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that sex was a predictor of subcutaneous adipose tissue area (β = −0.27, t = −3.12, p = 0.00) but smoking habits were not. After controlling for sex, we found that the association between smokers/ex-smokers and area of subcutaneous adipose tissue was lost, but the association with density persisted. Patients with hypertension had a higher visceral adipose tissue area, and this relationship was maintained even after adjusting for gender. Peri-aortic adipose tissue is similar to visceral and distinct from subcutaneous adipose tissue. Cardiovascular risk factors have different influences in distinct adipose compartments.This work was developed under the scope of project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the Portugal Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and by national funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020. J.A. received a fellowship from Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), reference SFRH/BPD/116784/2016

Sarcopenia and atherosclerotic occlusive disease: how much we know and what we need to know about this association?

Purpose/Background: Sarcopenia (decrease of muscle mass and function) has been linked with atherosclerosis [1]. The EWGSOP2 updated consensus, uses low muscle strength as the primary indicator of sarcopenia [2]. It is acknowledged that strength is better than mass for predicting adverse outcomes [2]. Handgrip strength (HGS) is a simple assessment to estimate overall muscular strength [3]. and is associated with cardiovascular mortality [4]. Objective: Analyze the relationship between HGS and atherosclerotic disease (carotid artery disease + lower extremity artery disease). Methods: Prospective observation study was conducted from January to December 2019. The clinical and demographic data was recorded. Isometric HGS was measured with an adjustable handheld dynamometer (Jamar The higher value of each arm was used to classify the patient as sarcopenic or non-sarcopenic. Definition of sarcopenia: HGS <30 kgf in men and <20 kgf in women [5]. Results: 94 patients (aged 44–86 years) were analyzed: 64 sarcopenic and 30 non sarcopenic. Groups differed in the prevalence of diabetes and smoking status (Table 1). No differences were found in the carotid parameters analyzed (Table 1). There was, a difference in the prevalence of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in sarcopenic versus non-sarcopenic group (23.44% versus 6.67% p = 0.046). Importantly, binary logistic regression showed that diabetes (p = 0.014), and HGS (p = 0.027) have a significant effect on CLTI (Table 2). Conclusions: No relationship was found between sarcopenia (measured by HGS) and carotid atherosclerosis, differing from other authors [1,6]. In this study, sarcopenic had a higher incident of diabetes and CLTI. Sarcopenia and diabetes are reciprocally related and may share a similar pathogenetic pathway [7