Nanomedicines for Pulmonary Drug Delivery: Overcoming Barriers in the Treatment of Respiratory Infections and Lung Cancer.

The pulmonary route for drug administration has garnered a great deal of attention in therapeutics for treating respiratory disorders. It allows for the delivery of drugs directly to the lungs and, consequently, the maintenance of high concentrations at the action site and a reduction in systemic adverse effects compared to other routes, such as oral or intravenous. Nevertheless, the pulmonary administration of drugs is challenging, as the respiratory system tries to eliminate inhaled particles, being the main responsible mucociliary escalator.

Application of the teaching games for understanding model to improve decision-making in sport learning: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Issues related to sport teaching at different educational stages is a subject of wide interest. Teaching Games for Understanding has been established as the most effective way to teach students the elements related to the field of sport. The objectives of this study were (a) to examine the impact of the Teaching Games for Understanding model on decision-making in sports education and (b) to compare the effect of the interventions analysed according to educational stage.

In-hospital and delayed mortality in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding on antithrombotic treatment: effects of withdrawal and resuming.

Background: Antithrombotic drugs pose a dual challenge to acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, with associated risks of bleeding complications and thromboembolic events upon withdrawal. We aimed to determine the impact of antithrombotic medications on in-hospital and delayed outcomes and whether suspension and resumption influenced delayed mortality.

Methods: This study was a prospective registry analysis of patients between 2013-2021.

Analysis of Physical Activity on Mental Hyperactivity, Sleep Quality, and Bodily Pain in Higher Education Students-A Structural Equation Model.

The university population is at a vital stage of human development for acquiring an active lifestyle. Following this lifestyle will bring benefits in adulthood. This study seeks to analyse the relationship between physical activity and bodily pain, mental hyperactivity, and sleep quality as a function of the intensity of physical activity.

Decreased Systemic Monocyte Colony Protein-1 (MCP-1) Levels and Reduced sCD14 Levels in Curcumin-Treated Patients with Moderate Anxiety: A Pilot Study.

Psychosocial stress may alter cortisol and/or affect the normal functioning of the immune system. Curcuminoids can promote beneficial effects in neuropsychiatric diseases. We evaluated whether curcumin supplementation for 15 consecutive days (1800 mg/day) would decrease systemic MCP-1, sCD14, and TNF alpha levels in patients with moderate anxiety ( = 81).

Pneumatosis coli, a rare cause of chronic abdominal pain.

Pneumatosis coli is a rare entity, characterised by the formation of intramural air cysts in the colonic wall. Diagnosis can be made by CT and colonoscopy, which may suggest this aetiology. We present the case of a 51-year-old patient who consulted for abdominal pain and diarrhoea and underwent colonoscopy with findings of multiple lesions between 5-10 mm with polypoid morphology and submucosal appearance in the transverse colon and splenic angle.

Development and validation of a mental hyperactivity questionnaire for the evaluation of chronic stress in higher education.

Background: Examination and understanding of neural hyperactivity are some of the greatest scientific challenges faced in the present day. For this reason, the present study aimed to examine this phenomenon in the context of higher education.

Method: Likewise, this work will enable an instrument to be created to appropriately and reliably estimate neural hyperactivity associated with chronic stress in university students undertaking a Physiotherapy degree.

Editorial for Special Issue 'Engineering and Characterisation of Novel Nanomedicine Formulations'.

Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology to achieve innovations in healthcare and involves the engineering of systems at the nanoscale (particle size < 1000 nm) with the aim of improving drug delivery [...

Risk factors for massive gastrointestinal bleeding occurrence and mortality: A prospective single-center study.

Background: Massive gastrointestinal bleeding is a life-threatening condition without a well-established definition. We aimed to analyze the characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of patients with massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Methods: Our study analyzed a prospective registry of patients admitted between 2013 and 2020 with variceal and non-variceal causes.

Impact of an Evidence-Based Prioritization System and Electronic Consultation in Early Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer.

(1) Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of cancer. Timely diagnosis is critical, with even minor delays impacting prognosis. Primary care providers face obstacles in accessing specialist care.

Microwave Resonators for Wearable Sensors Design: A Systematic Review.

The field of flexible electronics is undergoing an exponential evolution due to the demand of the industry for wearable devices, wireless communication devices and networks, healthcare sensing devices and the technology around the Internet of Things (IoT) framework. E-tex tiles are attracting attention from within the healthcare areas, amongst others, for providing the possibility of developing continuous patient monitoring solutions and customized devices to accommodate each patient's specific needs. This review paper summarizes multiple approaches investigated in the literature for wearable/flexible resonators working as antenna-based systems, sensors and filters with special attention paid to the integration to flexible materials, especially textiles.

Co-Delivery of a High Dose of Amphotericin B and Itraconazole by Means of a Dry Powder Inhaler Formulation for the Treatment of Severe Fungal Pulmonary Infections.

Over the past few decades, there has been a considerable rise in the incidence and prevalence of pulmonary fungal infections, creating a global health problem due to a lack of antifungal therapies specifically designed for pulmonary administration. Amphotericin B (AmB) and itraconazole (ITR) are two antifungal drugs with different mechanisms of action that have been widely employed in antimycotic therapy. In this work, microparticles containing a high dose of AmB and ITR (20, 30, and 40% total antifungal drug loading) were engineered for use in dry powder inhalers (DPIs) with an aim to improve the pharmacological effect, thereby enhancing the existing off-label choices for pulmonary administration.

Synergistic Combination of Antimicrobial Peptides and Cationic Polyitaconates in Multifunctional PLA Fibers.

Combining different antimicrobial agents has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance efficacy and address resistance evolution. In this study, we investigated the synergistic antimicrobial effect of a cationic biobased polymer and the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) temporin L, with the goal of developing multifunctional electrospun fibers for potential biomedical applications, particularly in wound dressing. A clickable polymer with pendent alkyne groups was synthesized by using a biobased itaconic acid building block.

Textile Antenna Sensor in SIW Technology for Liquid Characterization.

This study showcases the creation of an innovative textile antenna sensor that utilizes a resonant cavity for the purpose of liquid characterization. The cavity is based on circular substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology. A hole is created in the middle of the structure where a pipe is used to inject the liquid under test.

Wearable Sensors for Respiration Monitoring: A Review.

This paper provides an overview of flexible and wearable respiration sensors with emphasis on their significance in healthcare applications. The paper classifies these sensors based on their operating frequency distinguishing between high-frequency sensors, which operate above 10 MHz, and low-frequency sensors, which operate below this level. The operating principles of breathing sensors as well as the materials and fabrication techniques employed in their design are addressed.

A Smart Chair to Monitor Sitting Posture by Capacitive Textile Sensors.

In this paper, a smart office chair with movable textile sensors to monitor sitting position during the workday is presented. The system consists of a presence textile capacitive sensor with different levels of activation with a signal conditioning device. The proposed system was integrated into an office chair to detect postures that could provoke musculoskeletal disorders or discomfort.

Targeting lung macrophages for fungal and parasitic pulmonary infections with innovative amphotericin B dry powder inhalers.

The incidence of fungal pulmonary infections is known to be on the increase, and yet there is an alarming gap in terms of marketed antifungal therapies that are available for pulmonary administration. Amphotericin B (AmB) is a highly efficient broad-spectrum antifungal only marketed as an intravenous formulation. Based on the lack of effective antifungal and antiparasitic pulmonary treatments, the aim of this study was to develop a carbohydrate-based AmB dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation, prepared by spray drying.

3D Printing Technologies in Personalized Medicine, Nanomedicines, and Biopharmaceuticals.

3D printing technologies enable medicine customization adapted to patients' needs. There are several 3D printing techniques available, but majority of dosage forms and medical devices are printed using nozzle-based extrusion, laser-writing systems, and powder binder jetting. 3D printing has been demonstrated for a broad range of applications in development and targeting solid, semi-solid, and locally applied or implanted medicines.

Can amphotericin B and itraconazole be co-delivered orally? Tailoring oral fixed-dose combination coated granules for systemic mycoses.

The incidence and prevalence of invasive fungal infections have increased significantly over the last few years, leading to a global health problem due to the lack of effective treatments. Amphotericin B (AmB) and itraconazole (ITR) are two antifungal drugs with different mechanisms of action. In this work, AmB and ITR have been formulated within granules to elicit an enhanced pharmacological effect, while enhancing the oral bioavailability of AmB.

PLA and PBAT-Based Electrospun Fibers Functionalized with Antibacterial Bio-Based Polymers.

Antimicrobial fibers based on biodegradable polymers, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) are prepared by electrospinning. For this purpose, a biodegradable/bio-based polyitaconate containing azoles groups (PTTI) is incorporated at 10 wt.% into the electrospinning formulations.

Wireless Communication Platform Based on an Embroidered Antenna-Sensor for Real-Time Breathing Detection.

Wearable technology has been getting more attention for monitoring vital signs in various medical fields, particularly in breathing monitoring. To monitor respiratory patterns, there is a current set of challenges related to the lack of user comfort, reliability, and rigidity of the systems, as well as challenges related to processing data. Therefore, the need to develop user-friendly and reliable wireless approaches to address these problems is required.

Genetic profile in patients with complicated acute aortic syndrome: the GEN-AOR study.

Introduction And Objectives: Genetic testing is becoming increasingly important for diagnosis and personalized treatments in aortopathies. Here, we aimed to genetically diagnose a group of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) patients consecutively admitted to an intensive care unit and to explore the clinical usefulness of AAS-associated variants during treatment decision-making and family traceability.

Methods: We applied targeted next-generation sequencing, covering 42 aortic diseases genes in AAS patients with no signs consistent with syndromic conditions.