Food products in two cosmetic formulations: determination of the stability and toxicity

The cosmetic market is extending to millions of consumers worldwide and its industry is worth tens of billions of US$ [ ]. The competitive environment and the demands made by the consumers pushed the manufactures to develop new types of cosmetic products and to use new ingredients, such as bee products, to produce formulations with higher quality and efficacy. The aim of this work was to develop two cosmetic formulations for topical application that combine bee products and essential oils from medicinal plants, as well it was to extract and analyse the essential oils of an edible wild mushrooms Clitocybe odora (Buli.) P. Kumm, grown in vitro, to understand the potential of it, as a source of bioactive compounds usable in cosmetics. The effect of two different bee products (hydroalcoholic exti-act of propolis and two honeys of Lavandula ssp. with different geographic provenance) and essential oils from two different species (Thymus Zygis L. subsp. Zygis and Mentha pulegium L.) was tested. For that purpose, several preparations were elaborated to witch one essential oil and a bee product were added. For each type of formulation, one preparation with essential oils but without a bee product was also prepared. In relation to the bee products, the Lavandula spp. honey was used in the proportion of l :50 (v/m) and l :20 (v/m); the hydroalcoholic extract of propolis, using ethanol, was add in a concentration of5% (m/v). The concentration of essential oil used was 7. 86x10^g/g (e. o./ emulsion). Additionally was also tested the toxicity of the two essential oils and the Clitocybe odora volatiles, through the LD50 determination, using Artemia Salina L.. To determine the effect of the bee products in the formulations stabilization were made physicochemical tests and stabilization tests. Was not verified alterations m the relative density of the samples, in the pH or in a vibration test made placing the samples 10 seconds in the vortex. When the samples were place during l 5 days in a daylight lamp, was observed, by comparing with samples just with essential oil in the same conditions, that all the samples with propolis extract changed the colour and the odour. The effect of the bee products in the viscosity of the formulations was also tested. When using a lower spindle rotation velocity, the use of the honey from the North of Portugal and of the propolis extract increased the viscosity of the emulsions. Both the two essential oils tested as the in vitro Clitocybe odora volatiles show to have a LD50<0,1 mg/ml.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development and determination of the stability of cosmetic formulation with incorporation of natural products

Nowadays, natural products are gaining increased popularity as cosmetic ingredients due to their active properties and the different roles they can play in a single cosmetic formula, acting as active ingredients (moisturizers), fragrance (perfumes), excipients (surfactants) and additives (preservatives). The aim of this study is to formulate and subsequently evaluate the stability of an anti-aging gel based on natural product namely, bee pollen, which is used as pigment and active compound due to its intresting properties and essential oil from two varieties of thymus, Portuguese species Thymus zygis zygis and Tunisian species Thymus capitatus applied as natural preservative. The formulations selected were submitted to accelerated stability studies using various physical-chemical parameters such as pH, density, viscosity, themic analysis (freeze and thaw cycles),thermic stress, organoleptic characteristics (odor, color and aspect), UV spectrophotometric analysis, centrifuge test, tests of vibration, texture, spreading resistance and also through light test. The formulation was also evaluated for its resistance and activity against skin microorganisms such as: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia coli. The acute toxicity of the compound incorporated in the base formulation is determined through the evaluation of Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) mobility. The microbiological stability of the formulations is also evaluated through agar diffusion assays using cultures of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas ssp, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans. Regarding to the tests were done; centrifuge test and vibration test, there is no evidence of phase separation, which means that the formulation maintains its stability. For pH test, the formulations showed a suitable pH for body skin and no evidence of phase separation. The others tests are being evaluated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Usefulness of genetic characterization of narcolepsy and hypersomnia on phenotype definition: a study in Portuguese patients

The determination of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genotype is widely used to confirm the diagnosis of narcolepsy with or without cataplexy. The HLA genotyping is reliable, easy to perform and reassures the clinician. It is also less invasive than other methodologies and is in accordance with the autoimmune hypothesis for the origin of narcolepsy. AIM. To assess the usefulness of genetic markers (HLA) in the differential diagnosis between different sleep disorders and their relevance in the context of our population

Female preponderance in genetic generalized epilepsies

Introduction: Epilepsy is more prevalent in men but Genetic Generalized Epilepsies (GGE) seem to be more common in women. A predominant maternal inheritance has been previously described in GGE. Our objective was to determine sex and inheritance patterns in a GGE population compared to mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLEHS). Methods: We performed a prospective observational study including adult GGE and MTLEHS patients followed up at a tertiary epilepsy center from January 2016 to December 2019. Patients' familial history was obtained by a detailed questionnaire. Clinical and demographic data was retrieved from clinical notes. Results: A cohort of 641 patients, 403 with GGE and 238 with MTLEHS, was analyzed. GGE was more common in women than MTLEHS (58.8% vs 44.5%, OR=1.63, p = 0.004). Compared to MTLEHS patients, more GGE patients had familial history of epilepsy (45.4% vs 25.2%; p<0.001). The GGE group had a higher percentage of female relatives with epilepsy (55% vs 37%; p = 0.006). The prevalence of maternal inheritance was not different between GGE and MTLEHS groups (62.9% vs 57.7%; p = 0.596). Photosensitivity was more common in females than in males (44.7% vs 34.3%, p = 0.036). Conclusion: There is a female preponderance in GGE when compared to MTLEHS, as both GGE patients and their affected relatives are more frequently women. The prevalence of maternal inheritance was not higher in GGE than in MTLEHS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Desenvolvimento e determinação da estabilidade de uma formulação cosmética anti-idade com incorporação de pólen

Atualmente, os produtos apicolas, como ê o caso do pólen, crescem em popularidade como ingredientes cosméticos devido às suas propriedades ativas e aos diferentes papéis que podem desempenhar numa fórmula cosmética, como hidratante, fragrância, excipiente (surfatante), conservante, etc. O pólen de abelha sendo rico em vários aminoácidos essenciais, como metionina, lisina, treonina, histidina, pode ser um nutriente essencial para a pele. Rico em lípidos, ácidos gordos livres essenciais, como o ácido linoleico, y-linolénico e araquídico. O pólen contém ainda minerais: potássio, cálcio, magnésio e fósforo. É fonte de vitaminas hidrossolúveis: vitamina C, vitaminas do complexo B, vitaminas lipossolúveis (vitamina E e p-caroteno) [1]. Vários estudos atribuem propriedades anti-microbianas e antioxidantes, tornando-o um potente suplemento anti-idade para a pele madura [2]. O objetivo deste trabalho foi formular e avaliar a estabilidade de um gel anti-idade baseado em produtos naturais: pólen de abelha (princípio ativo) e óleos essenciais de duas variedades de tomilho, espécie portuguesa Thymus zygis zygis e tunisina Thymus capitatus (conservante natural). A formulação cosmética foi avaliada relativamente ao seu comportamento de fluxo, estabilidade físico-química, atividade anti-microbiana, toxicidade aguda e irritabilidade ocular [3].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use of antibiotics and bacterial resistances: brief notes on its evolution

RESUMO - A resistência bacteriana aos antibióticos é atualmente um dos problemas de saúde pública mais relevantes a nível global, dado que apresenta consequências clínicas e económicas preocupantes, estando associada ao uso inadequado de antibióticos. Portugal é, no contexto europeu, um país com um elevado consumo de antibióticos, apesar de uma diminuição no consumo destes fármacos nos últimos anos. A resistência bacteriana tem crescido acentuadamente, sendo que as bactérias Gram-positivas mais resistentes aos antibióticos são da espécie Staphylococcus aureus e do género Enterococcus, ao passo que as bactérias Gram-negativas mais resistentes aos antibióticos são das espécies Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e da família Enterobacteriaceae.ABSTRACT - The bacterial resistance to antibiotics is actually one of the most relevant public health problems at global level, since it presents clinical and economic worrying consequences, and is associated with the inappropriate use of antibiotics. Portugal is, in the European context, a country with high antibiotic consumption, despite a decrease in the consumption of these drugs in the last years. The bacterial resistance to antibiotics has markedly increased being Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus the Gram-positive bacteria more resistant to antibiotics, whereas the Gram-negative bacteria more resistant to antibiotics belong to the Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa species and the Enterobacteriaceae family.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (MTLE) Drug-Refractoriness Is Associated With P2X7 Receptors Overexpression in the Human Hippocampus and Temporal Neocortex and May Be Predicted by Low Circulating Levels of miR-22

Objective: ATP-gated ionotropic P2X7 receptors (P2X7R) actively participate in epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Neocortical nerve terminals of patients with Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Hippocampal Sclerosis (MTLE-HS) express higher P2X7R amounts. Overexpression of P2X7R bolsters ATP signals during seizures resulting in glial cell activation, cytokines production, and GABAergic rundown with unrestrained glutamatergic excitation. In a mouse model of status epilepticus, increased expression of P2X7R has been associated with the down-modulation of the non-coding micro RNA, miR-22. MiR levels are stable in biological fluids and normally reflect remote tissue production making them ideal disease biomarkers. Here, we compared P2X7R and miR-22 expression in epileptic brains and in the serum of patients with MTLE-HS, respectively. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR was used to evaluate the expression of P2X7R in the hippocampus and anterior temporal lobe of 23 patients with MTLE-HS and 10 cadaveric controls. Confocal microscopy and Western blot analysis were performed to assess P2X7R protein amounts. MiR-22 expression was evaluated in cell-free sera of 40 MTLE-HS patients and 48 healthy controls. Results: Nerve terminals of the hippocampus and neocortical temporal lobe of MTLE-HS patients overexpress (p 3) anti-epileptic drug (AED) regimens. Conclusion: Data show that there is an inverse relationship between miR-22 serum levels and P2X7R expression in the hippocampus and neocortex of MTLE-HS patients, which implies that measuring serum miR-22 may be a clinical surrogate of P2X7R brain expression in the MTLE-HS. Moreover, the high area under the ROC curve (0.777; 95% CI 0.629-0.925; p = 0.001) suggests that low miR-22 serum levels may be a sensitive predictor of poor response to AEDs among MTLE-HS patients. Results also anticipate that targeting the miR-22/P2X7R axis may be a good strategy to develop newer AEDs.This research was partial funded by a BICE Tecnifar Grant. The work performed in PC-S’s Lab was partially supported by UP/Santander Totta and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, POCTI PTDC/SAU-PUB/28311/2017—EPIRaft grant and Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional—FEDER funding and COMPETE—MedInUP projects Pest-OE/SAU/UI215/2014, UID/BIM/4308/2016, UIDB/04308/2020 and UIDP/04308/2020). Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB) is funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) Portugal (grant numbers UIDB/00215/2020 and UIDP/00215/2020) and ITR—Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (LA/P/0064/2020). RM-F was in receipt of an FCT PhD studentship (SFRH/BD/137900/2018).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Congresso Internacional "A fúria de Aquiles: as faces da guerra": livro de resumos

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