Dextrin-Based Nanohydrogels for Rokitamycin Prolonged Topical Delivery

Macrolides are widely used antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity. The development of drug carriers to deliver this type of antibiotics has attracted much research. The present study aims at developing new swellable dextrin-based nanohydrogels for the topical delivery of rokitamycin, as model macrolide. Rokitamycin is a synthetic analogous of macrolides with advantageous characteristics as far as bacterial uptake and post-antibiotic effect are concerned. It is also indicated for the treatment of severe infections caused by Acanthamoeba and for topical infections. The nanohydrogels have been prepared from two types of cross-linked polymers obtained by using β-cyclodextrin or Linecaps(®) was provided by the Roquette Italia SPA (Cassano Spinola, Al, Italy) as building blocks. The cross-linked polymers have been then formulated into aqueous nanosuspensions refined and tuned to achieve the incorporation of the drug. Cross-linked β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and Linecaps(®) (LC) polymers formed dextrin-based nanohydrogels with high swelling degree and mucoadhesion capability. Rokitamycin was loaded into the nanohydrogels displaying an average size around 200 nm with negative surface charge. In vitro kinetic profiles of free and loaded drug in nanohydrogels were compared at two pH levels. Interestingly, a sustained and controlled release was obtained at skin pH level due to the high degree of swelling and a pH responsiveness possibly. The results collected suggest that these nanohydrogels are promising for the delivery of rokitamycin and may pave the way for the topical delivery of other macrolide antibiotics

Effects of therapeutic touch on biochemical and mood indicators in women

Previous research has shown therapeutic touch (TT) to be effective in reducing anxiety and discomfort and promoting relaxation. The present investigation experimentally evaluated the effects of TT on biochemical indicators and moods in a sample of 41 healthy female volunteers. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group who received TT or to a control group who did not receive TT. Pretest and posttest urine samples were collected, and personality and mood inventories were administered across three consecutive monthly sessions. Results indicated that mood disturbance in the experimental group decreased significantly over the course of the three sessions, while the control group increased in mood disturbance over time. Specifically, experimental group participants showed significant reductions in tension, confusion, and anxiety and a significant increase in vigor across sessions. Analyses of the biochemical data indicated that TT produced a significant decrease in levels of nitric oxide in the experimental group by the third TT session. The results of the present investigation have important implications for reducing symptom distress in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Sialochemical analysis in polytraumatized patients in intensive care units

The profiles of polytraumatized patients in intensive care units were characterized. Serum and salivary markers were compared with normality between Classes I and II of APACHE II and between periods of hospitalization; these results were correlated. This was a prospective study on saliva charts and collection (n = 70). Profile: male, 27 years old, blunt traumas and collisions. Serum parameters with normality: decrease in pH, creatinine at admission to Class I, and at 48 and 72 hours in both classes; K+ at 48 h in Class II; Ca+ on admission in both classes and at 72 h in Class I. Increase in urea at 72 h in Class II, glucose at all times and in all classes, and Ca+ at 48 h in both classes. Class II had high Na+ at 48 and 72 h compared to Class I. In Class I, creatinine reduction occurred in 48 h and 72 h compared to admission and an increase of Ca+ at 48 h with admission. In Class II, pH and Na+ increased at 48 h and 72 h compared to admission. K+ decreased from admission to 48 h and increased from 48 h to 72 h. Urea increased from 48 to 72 hours. Creatinine decreased from admission to 48 and 72 hours. Ca+ increased from admission to 48 hours and decreased from 48 to 72 hours. There was an increase in the saliva levels in both classes and times in relation to normality. There was an increase in urea at admission, glucose at 72 h, and Ca+ at 48 h in Class II compared with Class I. Class I urea increased from admission to 48 h and Ca+ decreased from admission to 48 h. Class II urea decreased from 48 h to 72 h. Strong or very strong positive correlation was identified between blood and creatinine saliva at all times and regular and negative Ca+ at 72 h. This study provides evidence that salivary and serum biomarkers can be used together to monitor the evolution of the clinical symptoms of ICU patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents: comparison of two versions of the Brazilian Ministry of Health scoring system

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance between two versions of the scoring system (2011 and 2019), recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in children and adolescents. A retrospective descriptive study was performed to assess the medical records of children and adolescents with PTB, in TB units from Brazilian cities located in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Parana States, from January 1st, 2004, to December 1st, 2018. Patients aged 0 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of PTB were included. The comparison between the two scoring systems showed a moderate concordance according to the κ coefficient value = 0.625. Fourteen patients showed a reduction in the TB score, going from 30 points in the 2011, to 25 points or less in the 2019 one. Seventy one percent of these 14 patients had radiological changes suggestive of PTB and 86% had tuberculin skin tests greater than 10 mm. The study concluded that a moderate agreement was observed between the 2011 and 2019 scoring systems, with an increase in the number of patients scoring 25 points or less in 2019, which can eventually hinder the diagnosis of PTB

Early sedation and clinical outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients: a prospective multicenter cohort study

Introduction: Sedation overuse is frequent and possibly associated with poor outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, the association of early oversedation with clinical outcomes has not been thoroughly evaluated. the aim of this study was to assess the association of early sedation strategies with outcomes of critically ill adult patients under mechanical ventilation (MV).Methods: A secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort conducted in 45 Brazilian ICUs, including adult patients requiring ventilatory support and sedation in the first 48 hours of ICU admissions, was performed. Sedation depth was evaluated after 48 hours of MV. Multivariate analysis was used to identify variables associated with hospital mortality.Results: A total of 322 patients were evaluated. Overall, ICU and hospital mortality rates were 30.4% and 38.8%, respectively. Deep sedation was observed in 113 patients (35.1%). Longer duration of ventilatory support was observed (7 (4 to 10) versus 5 (3 to 9) days, P = 0.041) and more tracheostomies were performed in the deep sedation group (38.9% versus 22%, P=0.001) despite similar PaO2/FiO(2) ratios and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) severity. in a multivariate analysis, age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00 to 1.03), Charlson Comorbidity Index >2 (OR 2.06; 95% Cl, 1.44 to 2.94), Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 (SAPS 3) score (OR 1.02; Cl 95%, 1.00 to 1.04), severe ARDS (OR 1.44; Cl 95%, 1.09 to 1.91) and deep sedation (OR 2.36; Cl 9596, 1.31 to 4.25) were independently associated with increased hospital mortality.Conclusions: Early deep sedation is associated with adverse outcomes and constitutes an independent predictor of hospital mortality in mechanically ventilated patients.Research and Education Institute from Hospital Sirio-Libanes, São PauloD'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBrazilian Research in Intensive Care NetworkHosp Copa DOr, BR-22031010 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHosp Sirio Libanes, Res & Educ Inst, BR-01308060 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, ICU,Emergency Med Dept, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Sao Camilo Pompeia, ICU, BR-05022000 São Paulo, BrazilCEPETI, BR-82530200 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilHosp Canc I, Inst Nacl Canc, ICU, BR-20230130 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilPasteur Hosp, ICU, BR-20735040 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilIrmandade Santa Casa Misericordia Porto Alegre, RIPIMI, BR-90020090 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilVitoria Apart Hosp, ICU, BR-29161900 Serra, ES, BrazilHosp Mater Dei, ICU, BR-30140093 Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilHosp Santa Luzia, ICU, BR-70390902 Brasilia, DF, BrazilHosp Sao Luiz, ICU, BR-04544000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Anesthesiol Pain & Intens Care Dept, ICU, BR-04024900 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Sao Jose Criciuma, ICU, BR-88801250 Criciuma, BrazilUDI Hosp, ICU, BR-65076820 Sao Luis, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Univ Hosp, ICU, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, ICU,Surg Emergency Dept, BR-05403000 São Paulo, BrazilIDOR DOr Inst Res & Educ, BR-22281100 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInst Nacl Canc, Postgrad Program, BR-20230130 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Anesthesiol Pain & Intens Care Dept, ICU, BR-04024900 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Evaluation of the Quantitative and Qualitative Alterations in the Fatty Acid Contents of the Sebum of Patients with Inflammatory Acne during Treatment with Systemic Lymecycline and/or Oral Fatty Acid Supplementation

Background. Acne is a dermatosis that involves an altered sebum pattern. Objectives. (1) To evaluate if a treatment based on antibiotics (lymecycline) can alter fatty acids contents of the sebum of patients with acne; (2) to evaluate if oral supplementation of fatty acids can interfere with fatty acids contents of the sebum of patients with acne; (3) to evaluate if there is any interaction in fatty acids contents of the sebum of patients with acne when they use both antibiotics and oral supplementation of fatty acids. Methods. Forty-five male volunteers with inflammatory acne vulgaris were treated with 300 mg of lymecycline per day, with 540 mg of γ-linolenic acid, 1,200 mg of linoleic acid, and 510 mg of oleic acid per day, or with both regimens for 90 days. Every 30 days, a sample of sebum from the forehead was collected for fatty acids’ chromatographic analysis. Results. Twelve fatty acids studied exhibited some kind of pattern changes during the study: C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1n9c+C18:1n9t, C18:2n6t, C18:3n6, C18:3n3, C20:1, C22:0, and C24:0. Conclusions. The daily administration of lymecycline and/or specific fatty acids may slightly influence some fatty acids levels present in the sebum of patients with inflammatory acne vulgaris