Application of a capsaicin rinse in the treatment of burning mouth syndrome.

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a new topical capsaicin presentation as an oral rinse in improving the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). Study design: A prospective, double-blind, cross-over study was made of 30 patients with BMS. There were 7 dropouts; the final study series thus comprised 23 individuals. The patients were randomized to two groups: (A) capsaicin rinse (0.02%) or (B) placebo rinse, administered during one week. After a one-week washout period,the patients were then assigned to the opposite group. Burning discomfort was scored using a visual analog scale(VAS): in the morning before starting the treatment, in the afternoon on the first day of treatment, and at the end of the week of treatment in the morning and in the afternoon. The same scoring sequence was again applied one week later with the opposite rinse. Results: The mean patient age was 72.65 ± 12.10 years, and the duration of BMS was 5.43 ± 3.23 years on average. Significant differences in VAS score were recorded in the capsaicin group between baseline in the morning (AM1)or afternoon (AA1) and the end of the week of treatment (AA7)(p=0.003 and p=0.002, respectively). Conclusion: The topical application of capsaicin may be useful in treating the discomfort of BMS, but has some limitations

Burning mouth syndrome : correlation of treatment to clinical variables of the disease

Objective: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a complex disorder with a still uncertain etiopathogenesis. A number of treatments have been used in application to BMS, though without clearly successful results. The present study compares the improvement in BMS obtained as a result of different treatment modalities in relation to the clinical characteristics of the patients. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was made of 115 patients with BMS (109 females and 6 males) subjected to different treatments with a view to improving the symptoms. The clinical variables examined included the duration of the disorder, the location of the burning sensation, its daily variations and relationship with meals. The parameters were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) applied at baseline and again after two weeks of treatment. Results: The mean patient age was 70±11.41 years, and the mean duration of the syndrome was 7.16±2.63 years. The tongue was the most frequently affected location. Anxiolytic treatment afforded the best results (p<0.001), and the patients with the shortest duration of disease showed the best improvement with treatment (p=0.005). Conclusion: The greatest treatment efficacy corresponded to anxiolytic drugs, and treatment was more effective when introduced early after the diagnosis of BMS. © Medicina Oral S. L

Ellas, ellos y su móvil: Uso, abuso (¿y dependencia?) del teléfono móvil en la adolescencia

El móvil tiene una serie de atributos que lo hacen singularmente atractivo a los adolescentes: autonomía respecto de los padres, optimización de la comunicación con las amistades, o ampliación y mantenimiento de las relaciones interpersonales. Como teléfono no solamente es un instrumento para hablar en la distancia, que es lo que etimológicamente significa, sino que dispone de un amplio elenco de funciones relacionadas con las innovaciones tecnológicas que son extraordinariamente atractivas para los jóvenes. Esta multifuncionalidad, añadido al hecho de la significación que adquiere para los adolescentes puede explicar no sólo la fascinación que provoca en ellos, sino el hecho de que chicas y chicos utilicen el móvil de distinta manera, y puede que con diferente frecuencia.Se realizó una encuesta con 2.486 adolescentes, entre 12 y 18 años, en la que se analizaron los principales parámetros de uso del móvil. Los objetivos principales fueron tanto la descripción del patrón de uso habitual del móvil por parte de los adolescentes, como el análisis de las diferencias de género en algunos aspectos esenciales, tales como el consumo, actitudes hacia el móvil, o funciones que se llevan a cabo, obteniéndose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre mujeres y hombres en los principales parámetros del uso del móvil, funciones y actitudes hacia el mismo. Se comentan los resultados y se discuten las implicaciones

Caracterización y variabilidad genética del virus de amarillamiento de la papa y virus T de la papa mediante secuenciación del ARN de interferencia

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autorEstudia la organización genómica y la variabilidad genética del virus del amarillamiento de la papa y del virus T de la papa mediante secuenciación del ARN de interferencia. Para ello, se utilizaron accesiones de papa y yacón de la colección del banco de germoplasma del Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP). El virus del amarillamiento de la papa (PYV) presentó del 86 % al 95 % de identidad de secuencia de aminoácidos y nucleótidos con ilarvirus de Fragaria chiloensis latent virus (FCILV), respectivamente. Los análisis filogenéticos de dominios conservados de los aislamientos de PYV procedentes de Perú y Ecuador, el aislado de Smallanthus sonchifolius “yacón” y el FCILV indicaron que pertenecen al género Ilarvirus, familia Bromoviridae. Sin embargo, las diferencias en las secuencias y el rango de hospederos sugieren que los aislados pueden separarse en subgrupos o cepas. El virus T de la papa (PVT) ha sido reportado en Perú y Bolivia, también infecta ulluco, oca y mashua pero aún no se han determinado los síntomas. Los análisis filogenéticos de cepas de Perú, Chile y Bolivia respaldan la relación del PVT con la familia Betaflexiviridae pero difieren en el género. Presenta el primer reporte de la secuencia completa del genoma de PYV, a la vez brinda información molecular y filogenética para determinar el género de PVT.Tesi

Tumor glomico intraóseo: Caso clínico

El tumor glómico es una neoplasia que se puede encontrar por toda la superficie corporal, estando localizados la gran mayoría de ellos en las extremidades superiores, especialmente en el lecho ungueal o en los pulpejos de los dedos, siendo poco frecuente encontrar tumores gnómicos intraóseos. Se presenta el caso de una paciente diagnosticada y tratada, mediante escisión quirúrgica, de una tumorización en la falange distal del 4º dedo de la mano derecha, que 30 años después, presenta una recidiva siendo diagnosticada anatomopatológicamente de tumor gnómico intraóseo.Glomus tumor is a neoplasm distributed widely over the surface of the body. The great majority of glomus tumour is located in the upper extremity, especially in the nail bed or the tip of a digit. It is unusual to find intra-osseous glomus tumours. The case of a female who suffered a right fourth finger distal phalangeal tumour excision is described. Thirty years later the patient shows a recurrence that was microscopically diagnosed as intra-osseous glomus tumour

Nanocellulose-based antifungal nanocomposites against the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans

The design of functional materials capable of fighting fungal infections is of paramount importance given the intricate problem of multidrug-resistant pathogenic fungi. Herein, nanocomposites consisting of cross-linked poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) were prepared, characterized and tested towards the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans. The BNC three-dimensional network enabled the in-situ polymerization of the non-toxic and bioactive quaternary-ammonium monomer, which originated transparent nanocomposites containing 10 and 40 wt.% of cross-linked PMETAC. Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibit UV-A and UV-B blocking properties, high water-uptake capacity, thermal stability up to 200 °C, good viscoelastic (storage modulus > 1.7 GPa) and mechanical (Young's modulus ≥2.4 GPa) properties and are non-cytotoxic to human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). The fungal inactivation reached a 4.4 ± 0.14-log CFU reduction for the nanocomposite containing only 10 wt.% of cross-linked PMETAC. Hence, these bioactive and non-cytotoxic materials can constitute potentially effective systems for the treatment of C. albicans infections.publishe

A compendium of current developments on polysaccharide and protein-based microneedles

Microneedles (MNs), i.e. minimally invasive three-dimensional microstructures that penetrate the stratum corneum inducing relatively little or no pain, have been studied as appealing therapeutic vehicles for transdermal drug delivery. Over the last years, the fabrication of MNs using biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and proteins, has sparked the imagination of scientists due to their recognized biocompatibility, biodegradability, ease of fabrication and sustainable character. Owing to their wide range of functional groups, polysaccharides and proteins enable the design and preparation of materials with tunable properties and functionalities. Therefore, these biopolymer-based MNs take a revolutionary step offering great potential not only in drug administration, but also in sensing and response to physiological stimuli. In this review, a critical and comprehensive overview of the polysaccharides and proteins employed in the design and engineering of MNs will be given. The strategies adopted for their preparation, their advantages and disadvantages will be also detailed. In addition, the potential and challenges of using these matrices to deliver drugs, vaccines and other molecules will be discussed. Finally, this appraisal ends with a perspective on the possibilities and challenges in research and development of polysaccharide and protein MNs, envisioning the future advances and clinical translation of these platforms as the next generation of drug delivery systems.publishe

The role of ionic liquids in the pharmaceutical field: an overview of relevant applications

Solubility, bioavailability, permeation, polymorphism, and stability concerns associated to solid-state pharmaceuticals demand for effective solutions. To overcome some of these drawbacks, ionic liquids (ILs) have been investigated as solvents, reagents, and anti-solvents in the synthesis and crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), as solvents, co-solvents and emulsifiers in drug formulations, as pharmaceuticals (API-ILs) aiming liquid therapeutics, and in the development and/or improvement of drug-delivery-based systems. The present review focuses on the use of ILs in the pharmaceutical field, covering their multiple applications from pharmaceutical synthesis to drug delivery. The most relevant research conducted up to date is presented and discussed, together with a critical analysis of the most significant IL-based strategies in order to improve the performance of therapeutics and drug delivery systems.publishe