Activity of daptomycin- and vancomycin-loaded poly-epsilon-caprolactone microparticles against mature staphylococcal biofilms.

The aim of the present study was to develop novel daptomycin-loaded poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) microparticles with enhanced antibiofilm activity against mature biofilms of clinically relevant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis. Daptomycin was encapsulated into PCL microparticles by a double emulsion-solvent evaporation method. For comparison purposes, formulations containing vancomycin were also prepared.

Negeviruses found in multiple species of mosquitoes from southern Portugal: Isolation, genetic diversity, and replication in insect cell culture.

In this report, an RT-PCR approach based on the use of degenerate primers allowed the identification of negeviruses in four different species of mosquitoes (Ochlerotatus caspius, Culex pipiens, Cx. theileri and Cx. univittatus) collected in southern Portugal.

Novel doped calcium phosphate-PMMA bone cement composites as levofloxacin delivery systems.

Antibiotic-loaded acrylic bone cements (ALABCs) are well-established and cost-effective materials to control the occurrence of bone and joint infections. However, the inexistence of alternative antibiotics other than those already commercially available and the poor ability to bind to bone tissue hampering its biological function are still major drawbacks of ALABCs clinical application. The concept of this research work is to develop a novel bone cement (BC) drug delivery system composed by Mg- and Sr-doped calcium phosphate (CaP) particles as drug carriers loaded into a lactose-modified acrylic BC, which, to the best of our knowledge, has never been reported.

Approaches to tuberculosis mucosal vaccine development using nanoparticles and microparticles: a review.

Next-generation vaccines for tuberculosis should be designed to prevent the infection and to achieve sterile eradication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mucosal vaccination is a needle-free vaccine strategy that provides protective immunity against pathogenic bacteria and viruses in both mucosal and systemic compartments, being a promising alternative to current tuberculosis vaccines. Micro and nanoparticles have shown great potential as delivery systems for mucosal vaccines.

First molecular identification of mosquito vectors of Dirofilaria immitis in continental Portugal.

Background: Canine dirofilariasis due to Dirofilaria immitis is known to be endemic in continental Portugal. However, information about the transmitting mosquito species is still scarce, with only Culex theileri identified to date, albeit with L1-2, through dissection. This study was carried out to investigate the potential vectors of Dirofilaria spp.

Sensory abnormalities and masticatory function after microvascular decompression or balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia compared with carbamazepine and healthy controls.

Object: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (iTN) is a neurological condition treated with pharmacotherapy or neurosurgery. There is a lack of comparative papers regarding the outcomes of neurosurgery in patients with iTN. The objective of this study was to investigate sensory thresholds and masticatory function in 78 patients with iTN who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) or balloon compression (BC), and compare these treatments with carbamazepine and 30 untreated healthy controls.

Key-properties outlook of a levofloxacin-loaded acrylic bone cement with improved antibiotic delivery.

Antibiotic-loaded acrylic bone cements (ALABCs) are widely used to decrease the occurrence of bone infections in cemented arthroplasties and actually being considered as a more cost-effective procedure when compared to cementless implants. However, ALABCs have a major drawback, which is the incomplete release of the antibiotics and, as a result, pathogens that commonly are responsible for those infections are becoming resistant. Consequently, it is of most relevance to find new antibacterial agents to load into BC with an effective mechanism against those microorganisms.

Improvement of the antibacterial activity of daptomycin-loaded polymeric microparticles by Eudragit RL 100: an assessment by isothermal microcalorimetry.

The aim of the present study was to develop novel daptomycin-loaded acrylic microparticles with improved release profiles and antibacterial activity against two clinically relevant methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MSSA and MRSA, respectively). Daptomycin was encapsulated into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and PMMA-Eudragit RL 100 (EUD) microparticles by a double emulsion-solvent evaporation method. For comparison purposes similar formulations were prepared with vancomycin.

Chia flour supplementation reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chia supplementation (Salvia hispanica L.) on blood pressure (BP) and its associated cardiometabolic factors in treated and untreated hypertensive individuals. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: the hypertensive-drug treated (CHIA-MD, n = 10), hypertensive untreated (CHIA-NM, n = 9) and placebo (PLA-MD, n = 7) groups.

Relevance to home blood pressure monitoring protocol of blood pressure measurements taken before first- morning micturition and in the afternoon.

Background: The importance of measuring blood pressure before morning micturition and in the afternoon, while working, is yet to be established in relation to the accuracy of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM).

Objective: To compare two HBPM protocols, considering 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (wakefulness ABPM) as gold-standard and measurements taken before morning micturition (BM) and in the afternoon (AM), for the best diagnosis of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), and their association with prognostic markers.

Methods: After undergoing 24-hour wakefulness ABPM, 158 participants (84 women) were randomized for 3- or 5-day HBPM.

An equation for the prediction of oxygen consumption in a Brazilian population.

Background: The equations predicting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max or peak) presently in use in cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) softwares in Brazil have not been adequately validated. These equations are very important for the diagnostic capacity of this method.

Objective: Build and validate a Brazilian Equation (BE) for prediction of VO2peak in comparison to the equation cited by Jones (JE) and the Wasserman algorithm (WA).

Cell-type-specific transcriptional regulation of PIGM underpins the divergent hematologic phenotype in inherited GPl deficiency.

A rare point mutation in the core promoter -270GC-rich box of PIGM, a housekeeping gene, disrupts binding of the generic transcription factor (TF) Sp1 and causes inherited glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) deficiency (IGD). We show that whereas PIGM messenger RNA levels and surface GPI expression in IGD B cells are low, GPI expression is near normal in IGD erythroid cells. This divergent phenotype results from differential promoter chromatin accessibility and binding of Sp1.

Comparative analysis of family consent to tissue donation according to two different donation form structures.

Objective: To define donors' profile of an Organ and Tissue Procurement Center and compare the family consent for tissue donation before and after modification of the Donation Term.

Methods: A descriptive, documentary and quantitative study performed in an Organ and Tissue Procurement Center, analyzed 111 feasible donors' charts in the period from March 13 to September 13, 2010 (1st period), and from September 14, 2010 to March 14, 2011 (2nd period), based on the modification date.

Results: The mean age of donors was 45.

New thermoresistant polymorph from CO2 recrystallization of minocycline hydrochloride.

Purpose: To prepare and thoroughly characterize a new polymorph of the broad-spectrum antibiotic minocycline from its hydrochloride dehydrate salts.

Methods: The new minocycline hydrochloride polymorph was prepared by means of the antisolvent effect caused by carbon dioxide. Minocycline recrystallized as a red crystalline hydrochloride salt, starting from solutions or suspensions containing CO2 and ethanol under defined conditions of temperature, pressure and composition.

The suitability of EBC-Pb as a new biomarker to assess occupational exposure to lead.

Occupational exposure to lead (Pb) requires continuous surveillance to assure, as much as possible, safe and healthful working conditions. This study addresses the suitability of assessing Pb exposure in relevant workers using their exhaled breath condensate (EBC). This study enrolled workers of two different Pb processing industries characterized by moderate and high Pb exposure levels in the work environment, and a group of non-exposed individuals working in offices who served as baseline for Pb exposure.

A novel modified acrylic bone cement matrix. A step forward on antibiotic delivery against multiresistant bacteria responsible for prosthetic joint infections.

Currently the safe and responsible use of antibiotics is a world-wide concern as it promotes prevention of the increasing emergence of multiresistant bacterial strains. Considering that there is a noticeable decline of the available antibiotic pipeline able to combat emerging resistance in serious infection a major concern grows around the prosthetic joint infections once the available commercial antibiotic loaded polymethylmethacrylate bone cements (BC) are inadequate for local antibiotic treatment, especially against MRSA, the most commonly isolated and antibiotic-resistant pathogen in bone infections. In this paper a novel modified BC matrix loaded with minocycline is proposed.

Myocardial protection with prophylactic oral metoprolol during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: evaluation by troponin I.

Introduction: Biochemical markers of myocardial injury are frequently altered after cardiac surgery. So far there is no evidence whether oral beta-blockers may reduce myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To determine if oral administration of prophylactic metoprolol reduces the release of cardiac troponin I in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, not complicated by new Q waves.

Iatrogenic aortic pseudoaneurysm: a forgotten complication.

Pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta are a rare complication of cardiac surgery. However, the poor prognosis associated with this condition if untreated makes early diagnosis and treatment important. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who had undergone mitral valvuloplasty 12 days previously, who was admitted with a diagnosis of new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Treatment of acute erythroleukemia with Azacitidine: A case series.

Acute erythroleukemia (AEL) is a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often associated with a poor prognosis. It is more frequent in elderly patients, limiting the use aggressive therapies. Azacitidine is a hypomethylating agent with recognized efficacy in high risk myelodysplasia and AML in the elderly.

Passive and active strategies for transdermal delivery using co-encapsulating nanostructured lipid carriers: in vitro vs. in vivo studies.

This work aimed at designing a formulation based on nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for transdermal co-administration of olanzapine and simvastatin, using passive and active strategies in a combined in vitro/in vivo development approach. NLC were prepared by two distinct methods, namely solvent emulsification-evaporation (SE/E) and high pressure homogenization (HPH). HPH was selected on the basis of a better performance in terms of drug loading and in vitro permeation rate.

Clinical fractures of veneered zirconia single crowns.

Crowns made from an yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y-TZP) core with a porcelain veneer have shown high clinical failure rates. Manifestations of clinical failure in veneering ceramic ranges from a single chip to an extended fracture. Core failures are uncommon but usually are catastrophic.