Enhancement in corneal permeability of riboflavin using cyclodextrin derivates complexes as a previous step to transepithelial cross-linking

Corneal cross-linking has been described as an effective treatment to slow the progression of keratoconus. The standard protocol entails corneal epithelial removal to allow the diffusion of riboflavin into the stroma. Although, de-epithelization can generate risks or complications that transepithelial cross-linking tries to solve or avoid. Different formulations were developed after verifying that hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and sulfobuthylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD) in a 20% concentration, increased the solubility of practically insoluble in water drugs such as riboflavin from 0.12 mg/mL to 0.35 mg/mL and 0.29 mg/mL respectively. These values were higher when chitosan and arginine were added to the formulation, showing solubility of 0.78 mg/mL when HPβCD concentration was not modified. Ex vivo corneal permeability was measured after having kept in contact bovine corneas with intact epithelium for 5 h with the 0.1 mg/mL riboflavin solution, the formulations developed and a reproduced nanoemulsion from another work. Riboflavin’s permeability was increased when cyclodextrins, chitosan, and arginine were part of the formulations, compared to the control drug solution. The best permeability coefficient was reached when riboflavin was combined with 40% (w/v) HPβCD, 0.5% (w/w) arginine, and 0.5% (w/w) chitosan. After having carried out toxicity studies as bovine corneal opacity and permeability (BCOP) and Heńs Egg Test - Chorioallantoic Membrane Test (HET-CAM) it was verified that both, the active ingredients and the excipients of the different formulations were not harmful without generating irritation, loss of transparency or corneal permeability alterations. The results show the great potential of the ocular developed solution for their use in transepithelial cross-linking for keratoconus treatmentS

A symbolic-numeric dynamic geometry environment for the computation of equidistant curves

A web-based system that determines point/curve and curve/curve bisectors in a dynamic geometry system in a completely automatic way is presented. The system consists of an interactive drawing canvas where the bisector is displayed together with the initial point/curve elements. Algebraic methods are used to provide the equation of an algebraic variety containing the bisector. A numeric approach is followed to provide the graph of the semi-algebraic subset corresponding to the true bisector. It is based on the free dynamic geometry system GeoGebra and the open source computer algebra system Sage.Ministerio de Economía y Competitivida

Análise das preferências de interação social na educação física dos alunos galegos de acordo com a idade, nível de ensino e gênero

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las preferencias de interacción social del alumnado de Educación Primaria y Educación Secundaria en educación física en función de la edad, etapa educativa y género. La muestra estuvo constituida por 597 estudiantes de entre 9 y 16 años, de los cuales 256 eran de Primaria y 341 de Secundaria; 301 niños (50.4%) y 295 niñas (49.6%). Se realizó una recogida de datos a través de la Escala Graupera/Ruiz de preferencias de interacción social en Educación Física (GR-SIPPEL). Los resultados obtenidos mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el factor de etapa educativa en cooperatividad (p < .001), competitividad (p < .001), individualismo (p < .001) y afiliación (p < .001). En cuanto al género, se han encontrado diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre niños y niñas en competitividad (p < .001), individualismo (p < .001) y afiliación (p = .031) siendo más alta en niños que en niñas. Los escolares muestran una mayor preferencia por la cooperación y afiliación en Educación Primaria siendo mayores en las niñas y por la competición y el individualismo en Educación Secundaria siendo mayores en los niñosThe aim of this research was determining social interaction preferences of Primary and Secondary Education students in physical education according to educational stage, age and gender. The sample consisted of a total of 597 students from 9 to 16 years old, of whom 256 were Primary Education and 341 of Secondary Education; 301 were boys (50.4%) and 295 were girls (49.6%). The data collection was conducted through to the Graupera/Ruiz scale of social interaction preferences in Physical Education (GR-SIPPEL). The results obtained showed significant statistical differences in the stage factor in cooperativity (p < .001), competitiveness (p < .001), individualism (p < .001) and affiliation (p < .001). Regarding gender, there were statistically significant differences between boys and girls in competitiveness (p < .001) in individualism (p < .001) and in affiliation (p = .031) being higher in boys than girls. Schoolchildren have a greater preference for cooperation and affiliation in Primary Education, being higher in girls and for competition and individualism in Secondary Education, being higher in boys.O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as preferências de interação social do aluno de Educação Primária e Educação Secundária em educação física de acordo com a idade, nível de ensino e gênero. A amostra esteve constituída por 597 estudantes de 9 a 16 anos, dos quais 256 foram de educação primária e 341 do ensino secundário; 301 meninos (50.4%) e 296 meninas (49.6%). Os dados foram coletados através da Escala Graupera/Ruiz de preferências de interação social na Educação Física (GR-SIPPEL). Os resultados obtidos mostraram diferenças estatísticas significativas no fator cooperatividade (p < .001), competitividade (p < .001), individualismo (p < .001) e afiliação (p < .001). Em relação a género, encontraram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre meninos e meninas em competitividade (p <.001), individualismo (p < .001) e afiliação (p =.031) sendo mais alta em meninos que em meninas. Os alunos mostram uma maior preferência pela cooperação e afiliação em Educação Primária sendo maiores nas meninas e pela competição e o individualismo em Educação Secundária sendo maiores nos meninos.S

Extracción e preprocesamento de opinións sobre o sector enoturístico na provincia de Ourense

A análise das opinións ou dos comentarios que o usuariado fai na rede é unha práctica que está en pleno auxe entre as empresas e as institucións debido ás repercusións que as valoracións expresadas poden ter sobre os produtos ou os servizos que ofertan, pero tamén porque está recibindo moita atención por parte da comunidade científica polo amplo abano de aplicacións nas que está sendo empregada. Analizar de forma manual o impacto xerado polos comentarios sobre unha empresa, produto ou sector consome moito tempo e esforzo, polo que se desenvolveron numerosas técnicas de extracción automatizada do contido das páxinas web, que normalmente se presenta de forma desestruturada, así como numerosas técnicas de preprocesamento que facilitan a súa análise posterior. Neste senso, o presente traballo ten o obxectivo de empregar a técnica de web scraping, co fin de extraer a información e os comentarios dispoñibles nas webs das adegas das catro denominacións de orixe (DO) da provincia de Ourense (DO do Ribeiro, DO de Valdeorras, DO de Monterrei e DO da Ribeira Sacra). Con posterioridade, a partir dos comentarios obtidos, levarase a cabo un proceso de análise de sentimentos, co obxectivo de achegar máis información ao estudo estatístico seguinte dos datos recuperados da web e poder obter así unha valoración dixital sobre o sector enoturístico da provincia que axude a tomar decisións futuras

Development and Characterization of a Tacrolimus/Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Eye Drop

Uveitis is a vision inflammatory disorder with a high prevalence in developing countries. Currently, marketed treatments remain limited and reformulation is usually performed to obtain a tacrolimus eye drop as a therapeutic alternative in corticosteroid-refractory eye disease. The aim of this work was to develop a mucoadhesive, non-toxic and stable topical ophthalmic formulation that can be safely prepared in hospital pharmacy departments. Four different ophthalmic formulations were prepared based on the tacrolimus/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) inclusion complexes’ formation. Phase solubility diagrams, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and molecular modeling studies showed the formation of 1:1 and 1:2 tacrolimus/HPβCD inclusion complexes, being possible to obtain a 0.02% (w/v) tacrolimus concentration by using 40% (w/v) HPβCD aqueous solutions. Formulations also showed good ophthalmic properties in terms of pH, osmolality and safety. Stability studies proved these formulations to be stable for at least 3 months in refrigeration. Ex vivo bioadhesion and in vivo ocular permanence showed good mucoadhesive properties with higher ocular permanence compared to the reference pharmacy compounding used in clinical settings (t1/2 of 86.2 min for the eyedrop elaborated with 40% (w/v) HPβCD and Liquifilm® versus 46.3 min for the reference formulation). Thus, these novel eye drops present high potential as a safe alternative for uveitis treatment, as well as a versatile composition to include new drugs intended for topical ophthalmic administrationThis research was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (RTI2018-099597-B-100), the ISCIII (PI17/00940, RETICS Oftared, RD16/0008/0003 and RD12/0034/0017) and by Xunta de Galicia, grant numbers GPC2013/015 and GRC2017/015S

Modifiable risk factors associated with prediabetes in men and women: A cross-sectional analysis of the cohort study in primary health care on the evolution of patients with prediabetes

Background: Prediabetes is a high-risk state for diabetes development, but little is known about the factors associated with this state. The aim of the study was to identify modifiable risk factors associated with the presence of prediabetes in men and women. Methods: Cohort Study in Primary Health Care on the Evolution of Patients with Prediabetes (PREDAPS-Study) is a prospective study on a cohort of 1184 subjects with prediabetes and another cohort of 838 subjects without glucose metabolism disorders. It is being conducted by 125 general practitioners in Spain. Data for this analysis were collected during the baseline stage in 2012. The modifiable risk factors included were: smoking habit, alcohol consumption, low physical activity, inadequate diet, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity. To assess independent association between each factor and prediabetes, odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: Abdominal obesity, low plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), and hypertension were independently associated with the presence of prediabetes in both men and women. After adjusting for all factors, the respective ORs (95% Confidence Intervals) were 1.98 (1.41-2.79), 1.88 (1.23-2.88) and 1.86 (1.39-2.51) for men, and 1.89 (1.36-2.62), 1.58 (1.12-2.23) and 1.44 (1.07-1.92) for women. Also, general obesity was a risk factor in both sexes but did not reach statistical significance among men, after adjusting for all factors. Risky alcohol consumption was a risk factor for prediabetes in men, OR 1.49 (1.00-2.24). Conclusions: Obesity, low HDL-cholesterol levels, and hypertension were modifiable risk factors independently related to the presence of prediabetes in both sexes. The magnitudes of the associations were stronger for men than women. Abdominal obesity in both men and women displayed the strongest association with prediabetes. The findings suggest that there are some differences between men and women, which should be taken into account when implementing specific recommendations to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in adult population

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality

Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain : Large-Scale Epidemiological Study

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD-Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)-during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100,000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31-56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery

Correction : Chaparro et al. Incidence, Clinical Characteristics and Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Spain: Large-Scale Epidemiological Study. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 2885

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]