Superabsorbent crosslinked carboxymethyl cellulose-PEG hydrogels for potential wound dressing applications.

This study focused on the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of environmentally friendly hydrogel membranes based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for wound dressing and skin repair substitutes. These new CMC hydrogels were prepared with two degrees of functionalization (DS=0.77 and 1.

Eco-friendly and biocompatible cross-linked carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels as adsorbents for the removal of organic dye pollutants for environmental applications.

In this study, new eco-friendly hydrogel adsorbents were synthesized based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC, degree of substitution [DS] = 0.7) chemically cross-linked with citric acid (CA) using a green process in aqueous solution and applied for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB). Spectroscopic analyses demonstrated the mechanism of cross-linking through the reaction of hydroxyl functional groups from CMC with CA.

Composition-Tunable Optical Properties of Zn CdS Quantum Dot-Carboxymethylcellulose Conjugates: Towards One-Pot Green Synthesis of Multifunctional Nanoplatforms for Biomedical and Environmental Applications.

Quantum dots (QDs) are colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals with unique properties that can be engineered by controlling the nanoparticle size and chemical composition by doping and alloying strategies. However, due to their potential toxicity, augmenting their biocompatibility is yet a challenge for expanding to several biomedical and environmentally friendly applications. Thus, the main goal of this study was to develop composition-tunable and biocompatible Zn Cd S QDs using carboxymethylcellulose polysaccharide as direct capping ligand via green colloidal aqueous route at neutral pH and at room temperature for potential biomedical and environmental applications.

Carboxymethylcellulose/ZnCdS fluorescent quantum dot nanoconjugates for cancer cell bioimaging.

In this study, it is reported the use of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCel) as a multifunctional biocompatible polysaccharide for the direct synthesis of fluorescent alloyed-ZnCdS quantum dot (QD) nanoconjugates via aqueous "green" process at room temperature. The nanoconjugates were extensively characterized by spectroscopical (NMR, FTIR, UV-vis, PL) and morphological techniques (DLS, TEM) for accessing their structural and physicochemical properties associated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for surface and interface analysis. The results proved the hypothesis of formation of core-shell nanostructures composed by the semiconductor ZnCdS QD core and the organic biocompatible ligand CMCel shell.

Adsorption of arsenic from water and its recovery as a highly active photocatalyst.

The contamination of water with arsenic has aroused concern around the world due to its toxic effects. Thus, the development of low-cost technologies for treating water contaminated with toxic metals is highly advisable. Adsorption is an attractive technology for purification of contaminated water, but it only transfers the contaminant from water to the solid adsorbent, which provokes another problem related to solid residue disposal.

A hole inversion layer at the BiVO4/Bi4V2O11 interface produces a high tunable photovoltage for water splitting.

The conversion of solar energy into hydrogen fuel by splitting water into photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) is an appealing strategy to store energy and minimize the extensive use of fossil fuels. The key requirement for efficient water splitting is producing a large band bending (photovoltage) at the semiconductor to improve the separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. Therefore, an attractive method consists in creating internal electrical fields inside the PEC to render more favorable band bending for water splitting.

Carboxymethyl chitosan functionalization of Bi2S3 quantum dots: Towards eco-friendly fluorescent core-shell nanoprobes.

Designed bioengineered nanocomposites are emerging as a novel class of hybrid materials composed of natural aminopolysaccharides and inorganic semiconductors for biomedical and environmental applications. In this study, it is reported for the first time the synthesis and characterization of water-soluble Bi2S3 quantum dots (QDs) functionalized with O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC) as capping ligands. UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to characterize these nanohybrids.

MgO:Li,Ce,Sm as a high-sensitivity material for Optically Stimulated Luminescence dosimetry.

The goal of this work was to investigate the relevant dosimetric and luminescent properties of MgO:Li3%,Ce0.03%,Sm0.03%, a newly-developed, high sensitivity Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) material of low effective atomic number (Zeff = 10.

Pattern of alcohol consumption and associated factors among adolescents students of public schools in an inner city in Brazil.

Objective: To identify issues related to alcohol consumption among students from an inner city in Southeastern Brazil.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 638 students from 13 to 17 years old, of which 355 (55.6%) were girls, were randomly selected in 13/40 (32.

A fast and environment-friendly method for determination of chemical oxygen demand by using the heterogeneous Fenton-like process (H2O2/Fe(3-x)Co(x)O4 nanoparticles) as an oxidant.

An easy, fast and environment-friendly method for COD determination in water is proposed. The procedure is based on the oxidation of organic matter by the H2O2/Fe(3-x)Co(x)O4 system. The Fe(3-x)Co(x)O4 nanoparticles activate the H2O2 molecule to produce hydroxyl radicals, which are highly reactive for oxidizing organic matter in an aqueous medium.

Recurrence of acute myeloid leukemia in cryptorchid testis: case report.

A 23-year-old male with a history of bone marrow transplant for acute myeloid leukemia. He presented a large mass in the right inguinal region 5 years ago. Upon physical examination, right-sided cryptorchidism was observed.

[Alcohol consumption patterns among patients in primary health care and detection by health professionals].

This cross-sectional study investigated patterns of alcohol consumption among patients enrolled in the Family Health Program (FHP) in a city in Southeast Brazil, as well as the detection of such consumption by FHP professionals. A total of 932 adult patients were evaluated from November 2010 to November 2011. Of this total, 17.

Occupational exposures to body fluids and behaviors regarding their prevention and post-exposure among medical and nursing students at a Brazilian public university.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the frequencies and characteristics of occupational exposures among medical and nursing students at a Brazilian public university, in addition to their prevention and post-exposure behavior. During the second semester of 2010, a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was completed by 253/320 (79.1%) medical students of the clinical course and 149/200 (74.

Nutritional assessment in hepatic cirrhosis; clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and hematological parameters.

Introduction: Since malnutrition is common in patients with hepatic cirrhosis (HC) is necessary to investigate the interference of the pathophysiological changes of liver in the methods of diagnosis of the nutritional status.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of malnutrition among patients with HC outpatients, using different assessment methods of the nutritional state.

Methods: Nutritional state was determined by subjective global assessment (SGA); body mass index (BMI); percentage of ideal body weight (%BW); triceps skinfold thickness (%TST), mid-arm circumference (%MAC) and of the ideal mid-arm muscle circumference (%MAMC); serum albumin (ALB) and total lymphocyte count (TLC).

Adhesion molecules of detrusor muscle cells are influenced by a hypercholesterolemic diet or bladder outlet obstruction in a Wistar rat model.

Background: Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are essential for maintaining tissue integrity by regulating intercellular and cell to extracellular matrix interactions. Cadherins and catenins are CAMs that are located on the cell membrane and are important for adherens junction (AJ) function. This study aims to verify if hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) or bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) promotes structural bladder wall modifications specific to alterations in the expression of cadherins and catenins in detrusor muscle cells.

Activated carbon prepared from coffee pulp: potential adsorbent of organic contaminants in aqueous solution.

The processing of coffee beans generates large amounts of solid and liquid residues. The solid residues (pulp, husk and parchment) represent a serious environmental problem and do not have an adequate disposal mechanism. In this work, activated carbons (ACs) for adsorption of organic compounds were prepared from coffee pulp by controlled temperature at different pulp/Na2HPO4 ratios (4:1, 2:1, 5:4 and 1:1).

Correlation between beta1 integrin expression and prognosis in clinically localized prostate cancer.

Unlabelled: Integrins are transmembrane glycoprotein receptors that regulate cell-matrix interactions, thus functioning as sensors from the environment. They also act as cell adhesion molecules that are responsible for the maintenance of the normal epithelial phenotype. Some studies have reported a correlation between carcinogenesis and changes in integrin expression, especially β1 integrin, however its role in prostate cancer (PC) is unclear.

Controlling the morphology and pore size of mesostructured silica nanoparticles: the role of the iron oxidation state.

We demonstrate morphology and pore size dependence of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) synthesized via control of the iron oxidation state. In the absence of any Fe species, only spherical SNPs are produced, whereas in the presence of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ ions, SNPs with rod-like and nanosheet morphologies, respectively, are formed. The average pore size increases from 1.

A friendly environmental material: iron oxide dispersed over activated carbon from coffee husk for organic pollutants removal.

A friendly environmental material for organic contaminants removal was prepared in this work: small particles of iron oxide dispersed over activated carbon from coffee waste for Fenton-like application. The materials were characterized by means of XRD, N2 physisorption, Mössbauer spectroscopy and H2 pulse titration. The composites showed very good catalytic performances for methylene blue organic dye oxidation.

Magnetic composites based on metallic nickel and molybdenum carbide: a potential material for pollutants removal.

New magnetic composites based on metallic nickel and molybdenum carbide, Ni/Mo(2)C, have been produced via catalytic chemical vapor deposition from ethanol. Scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the CVD process occurs in a single step. This process involves the reduction of NiMo oxides at different temperatures (700, 800 and 900°C) with catalytic deposition of carbon from ethanol producing molybdenum carbide on Ni surface.

[Alcohol use pattern in pregnant women cared for in a public university hospital and associated risk factors].

Purpose: To determine the pattern of alcohol use before and during pregnancy and associated risk factors in puerperal women hospitalized in a public university hospital in Southeastern Brazil.

Methods: Between June and September 2009, 493 puerperae were consecutively evaluated. Those with cognitive impairment were excluded from the study.

Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and amitriptyline in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders: a pilot study.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and use of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Forty-seven women (mean age = 35.4 years old) with chronic TMD were enrolled in the study and divided into 4 groups: amitriptyline; amitriptyline and CBT; placebo and CBT; and placebo only (control).