Electrochemical biosensors in pharmaceutical analysis

Given the increasing demand for practical and low-cost analytical techniques, biosensors have attracted attention for use in the quality analysis of drugs, medicines, and other analytes of interest in the pharmaceutical area. Biosensors allow quantification not only of the active component in pharmaceutical formulations, but also the analysis of degradation products and metabolites in biological fluids. Thus, this article presents a brief review of biosensor use in pharmaceutical analysis, focusing on enzymatic electrochemical sensors.Em virtude do aumento da demanda por técnicas analíticas simples e de baixo custo, os biossensores têm atraído a atenção para a análise de fármacos, medicamentos e outros analitos de interesse em controle de qualidade de medicamentos. Os biossensores permitem a quantificação não somente de princípio ativo em formulações farmacêuticas, mas também de produtos de degradação e metabólitos em fluídos biológicos, bem como análise de amostras de interesse clínico e industrial, além de possibilitar a determinação de enantiômeros. Desta forma, este artigo objetiva fazer uma breve revisão a respeito do emprego de biossensores em análise farmacêutica, com ênfase em sensores eletroquímicos enzimáticos

Articulação interinstitucional na área da saúde: UFPR eSecretaria Municipal da Saúde de Colombo

The Interinstitutional Articulation Health Program, carried out in Colombo municipality (Paraná State– Brazil), aims at promoting the building of joint proposals that provide institutions with reciprocal feedback, leading to and legitimating changes in the process of health promotion and care delivery. Therefore, it hasbeen developed in three Health Units focusing on adult and elder health, child health and oral care. Thisarticle describes the activities carried out along 2007. In the light of an educational outlook, group dynamics,games, lectures and act-outs were performed with hypertensive patients and children’s mothers on oral care.Activities and albums categorized by topics were developed in order to orientate chronic disease care, itstreatment and prevention of complications. At school, health monitoring and health promotion activities weredeveloped in which problems such as verminosis and vaccine delay were detected; in this stage, parents andteachers’ opinions were collected in order to contribute to the elaboration of a municipal protocol on childhealth care. Thus, the project tries to add the recognition of family needs in order to modify health practicedelivered by the services and foster family autonomy on health promotion, considering indispensable toreassure the strengthening potential, at local level, as a resistance setting for the deleterious processes whichstem from cultural and economical subordination.El Programa Articulación Interinstitucional en Área de la Salud desarrollado en municipio de Colombotiene el objetivo de promover la construcción de propuestas conjuntas que posibiliten a la instituciones unaretroalimentación recíproca, induciendo y legitimando cambios en el proceso de promoción a la salud yasistencia. Para eso, actua en tres Unidades de Salud con foco en la salud del adulto y del anciano, del niñoy de la salud bucal. Este artículo describe las actividades realizadas durante el año de 2007. En la perspectivaeducativa, fueron realizadas dinámicas de grupo, juegos, palestras y dramatizaciones con hipertensos ymadres de niños en la atención bucal. Fueron desarrollados juegos para orientación cuanto a los cuidadosen relación a la enfermedad crónica, su tratamiento y prevención de complicaciones y elaborados álbumesseriados con los temas. También fueron desarrolladas, en la escuela, acciones de vigilancia a la salud ypromoción de la salud, en la cual se han detectado problemas de verminose, retraso vacunal, entre otros;en esta etapa, se ha recogido la opinión de los padres y profesores para contribuir en la elaboración delprotocolo municipal de atención a la salud del niño. Así, el proyecto intenta contribuir en el reconocimientode las necesidades de las familias con el objetivo de cambiar las prácticas de salud desarrolladas en losservicios, y elevar la autonomía de las familias para promoción de la salud, considerando imprescindiblereiterar el potencial de fortalecimiento del nivel local en cuanto espacio de resistencia a los procesos destructivosoriundos de subordinación cultural y económica.O Programa Articulação Interinstitucional na Área da Saúde é desenvolvido no município de Colombo e tem o objetivo de promover a construção de propostas conjuntas que possibilitem às instituições uma retroalimentação recíproca, induzindo e legitimando mudanças no processo de promoção à saúde e assistência. Para tanto, atua em três Unidades de Saúde com foco na saúde do adulto e idoso, da criança e da saúde bucal. Este artigo descreve as atividades realizadas durante o ano de 2007. Na perspectiva educativa são realizadas dinâmicas de grupo, jogos, palestras e dramatizações com hipertensos e mães de crianças na atenção bucal. Foram desenvolvidos jogos para orientação quanto aos cuidados em relação à doença crônica, seu tratamento e prevenção de complicações e elaborados álbuns seriados com os temas. Foram desenvolvidas na escola ações de vigilância à saúde e promoção da saúde, nas quais foram detectados problemas de verminose, atraso vacinal, entre outros; nesta etapa captamos a opinião dos pais e professores para contribuir na elaboração do protocolo municipal de atenção à saúde da criança. Assim, o projeto intenta contribuir no reconhecimento das necessidades das famílias para modificar as práticas de saúde desenvolvidas nos serviços, e aumentar a autonomia das famílias para promoção da saúde, considerando imprescindível reiterar o potencial de fortalecimento do nível local enquanto espaço de resistência aos processos destrutivos decorrentes da subordinação cultural e econômica

Polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene are associated with the plasma levels of MBL and the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in severe COVID-19

IntroductionMannose-binding lectin (MBL) promotes opsonization, favoring phagocytosis and activation of the complement system in response to different microorganisms, and may influence the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines. This study investigated the association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with the plasma levels of MBL and inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19.MethodsBlood samples from 385 individuals (208 with acute COVID-19 and 117 post-COVID-19) were subjected to real-time PCR genotyping. Plasma measurements of MBL and cytokines were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry, respectively.ResultsThe frequencies of the polymorphic MBL2 genotype (OO) and allele (O) were higher in patients with severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). The polymorphic genotypes (AO and OO) were associated with lower MBL levels (p< 0.05). IL-6 and TNF-α were higher in patients with low MBL and severe COVID-19 (p< 0.05). No association of polymorphisms, MBL levels, or cytokine levels with long COVID was observed.DiscussionThe results suggest that, besides MBL2 polymorphisms promoting a reduction in MBL levels and therefore in its function, they may also contribute to the development of a more intense inflammatory process responsible for the severity of COVID-19

DEFINING, REPORTING, AND MONITORING NEAR-FALLS IN OLDER ADULTS: A SCOPING REVIEW PROTOCOL

INTRODUCTION: In addition to traditional risk factors for falls (e.g., reduced muscle strength, polypharmacy, and poor vision), researchers have been investigating whether other factors, such as near-falls, can be identified to allow early intervention and prevention. A near-fall can be defined as a slip, trip, or loss of balance that would result in a fall if adequate recovery mechanisms were not activated. Despite the increasing interest in near-falls, there is no consensus about the definition, reporting methods, and contributing factors. OBJECTIVE: To identify how near-falls among older adults have been defined, reported, and monitored in the scientific literature. METHODS: Indexed literature published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese will be considered and retrieved from 10 databases, until August 31st, 2020. Two authors will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts against the eligibility criteria, and disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. This review will consider studies with different designs that have included older adults (aged 60 years and over), recruited participants from different settings, and had an explicit definition and/or reporting of near-falls. A customized form will be used to extract data from the included studies. The results will be presented in tabular form, accompanied by a narrative summary. This protocol is registered at https://osf.io/txnv4. EXPECTED RESULTS AND RELEVANCE: Depending on the results, a conceptual framework for nearfall reporting, contributing factors, and a possible prodrome of falls will also be presented. It is expected that the present study will help professionals identify and manage near-falls in different settings

Structural and Thermal Characteristics of Buriti Tree Gum (<i>Mauritia flexuosa</i>)

A polysaccharide was isolated from the exudate of a buriti tree trunk (Mauritia flexuosa). The molecular structure, thermal stability, morphology, crystallinity, and elemental composition of the product were investigated through spectroscopic techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR 1H and 13C), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS); thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition to NMR molecular modeling studies, were performed to confirm the 1H and 13C chemical shifts to Gal and Xyl conformers. Buriti tree gum (BG) is an arabinogalactan, containing Rha, Ara, Xyl, and Gal, and degrades almost completely (98.5%) at 550 °C and has a maximum degradation peak at 291.97 °C, with a mass loss of 56.33%. In the temperature range of 255–290 °C, the energy involved in the BG degradation process was approximately 17 J/g. DSC indicated a glass transition temperature of 27.2 °C for BG, which had an irregular and heterogeneous morphology, with smooth or crumbling scaly regions, demonstrating the amorphous nature of BG that was confirmed by the XRD standard. EDS revealed the presence of carbon and oxygen, as well as calcium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, chlorine, and potassium, in the BG composition

Thrombophilia and immune-related genetic markers in long COVID

Secretary of Science, Technology and Higher, Professional and Technological Education of the State of Pará (SECTET #09/2021), Amazon Foundation for Research Support (FAPESPA)—#006/2020 and #060/2020, The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ)—#401235/2020-3.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Clinical Analysis. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Clinical Analysis. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisa Básica da Malária. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil / State University of Pará. Center for Biological and Health Sciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.State University of Pará. Center for Biological and Health Sciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Virology. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Laboratory of Genetics of Complex Diseases. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Graduate Program in Clinical Analysis. Belém, PA, Brazil.Aiming to evaluate the role of ten functional polymorphisms in long COVID, involved in major inflammatory, immune response and thrombophilia pathways, a cross-sectional sample composed of 199 long COVID (LC) patients and a cohort composed of 79 COVID-19 patients whose follow-up by over six months did not reveal any evidence of long COVID (NLC) were investigated to detect genetic susceptibility to long COVID. Ten functional polymorphisms located in thrombophilia-related and immune response genes were genotyped by real time PCR. In terms of clinical outcomes, LC patients presented higher prevalence of heart disease as preexistent comorbidity. In general, the proportions of symptoms in acute phase of the disease were higher among LC patients. The genotype AA of the interferon gamma (IFNG) gene was observed in higher frequency among LC patients (60%; p = 0.033). Moreover, the genotype CC of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was also more frequent among LC patients (49%; p = 0.045). Additionally, the frequencies of LC symptoms were higher among carriers of IFNG genotypes AA than among non-AA genotypes (Z = 5.08; p < 0.0001). Two polymorphisms were associated with LC in both inflammatory and thrombophilia pathways, thus reinforcing their role in LC. The higher frequencies of acute phase symptoms among LC and higher frequency of underlying comorbidities might suggest that acute disease severity and the triggering of preexisting condition may play a role in LC development

Association of polymorphisms of IL-6 pathway genes (IL6, IL6R and IL6ST) with COVID-19 severity in an amazonian population

Amazon Foundation for Research Support (FAPESPA)—#005/2020; The Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ)—#401235/2020-3.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil.Hospital Adventista de Belém. Belém, PA, Brazil.Hospital Adventista de Belém, Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Imunologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Imunologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Imunologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Pesquisas Básicas em Malária. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Agentes Infecciosos e Parasitários. Belém, PA, Brazil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Virologia. Belém, PA, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Laboratório de Genética de Doenças Complexas. Belém, PA, Brazil.Interleukin-6 has been recognized as a major role player in COVID-19 severity, being an important regulator of the cytokine storm. Hence, the evaluation of the influence of polymorphisms in key genes of the IL-6 pathway, namely IL6, IL6R, and IL6ST, may provide valuable prognostic/predictive markers for COVID-19. The present cross-sectional study genotyped three SNPs (rs1800795, rs2228145, and rs7730934) at IL6. IL6R and IL6ST genes, respectively, in 227 COVID-19 patients (132 hospitalized and 95 non-hospitalized). Genotype frequencies were compared between these groups. As a control group, published data on gene and genotype frequencies were gathered from published studies before the pandemic started. Our major results point to an association of the IL6 C allele with COVID-19 severity. Moreover, IL-6 plasmatic levels were higher among IL6 CC genotype carriers. Additionally, the frequency of symptoms was higher at IL6 CC and IL6R CC genotypes. In conclusion, the data suggest an important role of IL6 C allele and IL6R CC genotype on COVID-19 severity, in agreement with indirect evidence from the literature about the association of these genotypes with mortality rates, pneumonia, and heightening of protein plasmatic levels pro-inflammatory driven effects