Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer, and the need for advanced platforms to study this disease and to develop new treatments is rising. 3D bioprinted tumor models are emerging as advanced tools to tackle these needs, with the design of adequate bioinks being a fundamental step to address this challenging process. Thus, this work explores the synergy between two biobased nanofibers, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and lysozyme amyloid nanofibrils (LNFs), to create pectin nanocomposite hydrogel bioinks for the 3D bioprinting of A375 melanoma cell-laden living constructs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this paper is to show how temporal bone histopathology has been instrumental in adding knowledge about the origin of tinnitus in the cochlea and how it will still be useful for that purpose in the future. The papers published on this subject will be reviewed, and their contributions will be highlighted. The knowledge that is now part of the subject will be pointed out, and future research on this area will be pointed out.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF3D bioprinting is a versatile technique that allows the fabrication of living tissue analogs through the layer-by-layer deposition of cell-laden biomaterials, viz. bioinks. In this work, composite alginate hydrogel-based bioinks reinforced with curcumin-loaded particles of cellulose esters (CEpCUR) and laden with human keratinocytes (HaCaT) are developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecycling nutrients helps to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and contributes to alleviating the effects of global climate change. A recent trend in sugarcane cultivation is the application of concentrated vinasse (CV) combined with fertilizers into an organo-mineral formulation to improve logistics, reduce costs and foster the circular economy. However, the implications of the application of such organo-mineral formulation in sugarcane fields are unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of suitable bioinks is an important research topic in the field of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Herein, novel hydrogel-based bioinks composed of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and gellan gum (GG) in different NFC/GG mass proportions (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40) were developed and characterized. The increase in the content of GG, as well as its combination with NFC, enhanced their rheological properties, increasing both storage (G') and loss (G") moduli and the G' recovery capacity of the hydrogels (from 70.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, alginate nanocomposite hydrogel bioinks reinforced with lysozyme nanofibers (LNFs) were developed. Alginate-LNF (A-LNF) suspensions with different LNF contents (1, 5 and 10 wt.%) were prepared and pre-crosslinked with 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThree-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is an innovative technology in the biomedical field, allowing the fabrication of living constructs through an approach of layer-by-layer deposition of cell-laden inks, the so-called bioinks. An ideal bioink should possess proper mechanical, rheological, chemical, and biological characteristics to ensure high cell viability and the production of tissue constructs with dimensional stability and shape fidelity. Among the several types of bioinks, hydrogels are extremely appealing as they have many similarities with the extracellular matrix, providing a highly hydrated environment for cell proliferation and tunability in terms of mechanical and rheological properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEducating teenagers about nutrition and promoting active lifestyles is essential in reducing the long-term health risks and one idea to achieve this is by using mobile applications. Previous studies showed that the existing mobile applications have similar functionalities, such as intervention with questionnaires, and the use of gamification techniques to improve interactiveness. However, unlike our study, some studies are not validated and verified by healthcare professionals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobial infections are still among the major public health concerns since several yeasts and fungi, and other pathogenic microorganisms, are responsible for continuous growth of infections and drug resistance against bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance rate is fostering the need to develop new strategies against drug-resistant superbugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptide-based molecules of 5-100 amino acids in length, with potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBurn wounds are highly debilitating injuries, with significant morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. In association with the damage of the skin integrity, the risk of infection is increased, posing an obstacle to healing and potentially leading to sepsis. Another limitation against healing is associated with antibiotic resistance mainly due to the use of systemic antibiotics for the treatment of localized infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCien Saude Colet
October 2016
The present study aimed to present an overview of recent national and international research on the Zika virus (ZIKV), as well as to explore possible action plans focused on children, their families and the health teams involved.Therefore, the study proposes the implementation of tracking systems in order to identify, describe and characterize the potential correlates of prenatal exposure to ZIKV, divided into three lines of action: 1. Diagnostic and etiological evaluation as well as screening of developmental problems in children confirmed or suspected of prenatal ZIKV infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Physical activity programs are a powerful tool against several diseases including obesity and their comorbidities. Prader-Willi syndrome is the most common genetic disease associated with obesity, and brings with it behavioral and emotional problems that need complex management. Research into the effect of physical activity programs on Prader-Willi syndrome is limited and it is frequently argued that if a physical activity program is too complex, the participants are more likely to drop out.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEat Behav
April 2016
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder caused by the lack of expression of paternal alleles in the proximal region of the long arm of chromosome 15. Low inhibitory control and hyperphagia are two of the most severe neurobehavioral symptoms of the syndrome. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of nutritional training program with the use hypocaloric diet for weight control in a group of five children and adolescents with PWS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChildren and adolescents with ADHD present behaviors such as impulsiveness, inattention, and difficulties with personal organization that represent an overload for parents. Moreover, it also increases their level of stress and leads them to resort to inadequate educational strategies. The present study verifies associations between inadequate parenting practices and behavioral profiles of children and adolescents with ADHD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: There is evidence that patients suffering from chronic hepatic diseases, including chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, have a reduced health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the notification of test results for hepatitis B and hepatitis C on the quality of life of blood donors.
Methods: Over a 29-month period, this study assessed the quality of life of 105 blood donors with positive serological screening tests for hepatitis B and hepatitis C and donors who presented false-positive test results.
Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol
February 2014
Unlabelled: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is impaired in chronic viral hepatitis and a direct role of the virus, although suggested, has not been demonstrated. Our aim was to evaluate HRQOL at blood donation before knowledge of the diagnosis of both hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) so as to elucidate this matter.
Methods: Prospectively, 67 sequential patients, 35 with HCV and 32 with HBV, and 67 matched controls were administered the generic Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire.
The Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) for school-age children includes three instruments for assessing emotional and/or behavioral problems: Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), completed by parents, Youth Self-Report (YSR), completed by adolescents and Teacher's Report Form (TRF), completed by teachers. This review article gives detailed information on the development of these forms in the United States and Brazil, describing the main changes to the items, scales and score cut-off points in original versions between 1991 and 2001, as well as the process involved in the translation, back-translation and cultural adaptation of the original questionnaires to develop the current official Brazilian versions of the CBCL, YSR and TRF. The utility of these tools for research and clinical practice is highlighted, mentioning epidemiological studies and evaluation of interventions conducted in Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Children with atypical development often present behavior problems that impair their psychosocial adaptation.
Objective: To describe the cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI-01), as well as preliminary indicators of instrument reliability and validity.
Methods: The process involved translation, back-translation, and cultural adaptation of the instrument.
Objective: To measure the airway obstruction caused by adenoid hypertrophy in the sitting and recumbent positions in search of hypothesized differences.
Methods: Forty eight children between the ages of 2 and 12 years who sought the department of otorhinolaryngology spontaneously complaining of snoring and/or nasal obstruction. Children could be either male or female and belong to any social or racial group.
Objective: This systematic review sought to conduct a general analysis of the Brazilian scientific output on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) published between 2002 and 2009.
Methods: A literature search was conducted in the scientific databases PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS and in the CAPES portal, using keywords such as "autism" and "pervasive developmental disorders".
Results: A total of 93 articles were identified, most of which were authored by researchers from Southeast Brazil and affiliated with public universities.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis
February 2011
This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of coronaviruses (CoVs) in captive birds placed inside a zoological park in Brazil. The role of captive birds in the epidemiology of CoVs in the tropics is poorly understood. A total of 25 (n=25) different species were tested for viral RNA using individual fecal samples collected from healthy birds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Disability in a child affects not only the child's life but also the family's life. The aim of our study is to verify the quality of life (QOL) of mothers of disabled children with cerebral palsy (CP) with epilepsy compared with non-epilepsy children evaluated in a Brazilian center.
Methods: Thirty mothers of disabled children participated in the study.
Background: Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) is a genetic disorder caused by the deletion of multiples genes of long arm of chromosome 7 (region 7q11-23), which causes behavioral and intellectual disability. For the effectiveness of educational inclusion of these children, multidisciplinary approaches are needed to guide teachers and parents.
Aim: to describe the behavioral, cognitive and language profiles and to identify autistic behavior in a group of children and adolescents with WBS.
Neonatal status epilepticus (SE) disrupts prefrontal cortex and thalamus, brain regions related to social play. Juvenile play was evaluated using the "intruder-resident" paradigm following SE in 9-day-old Wistar pups of both genders. Quite interestingly, we demonstrated for the first time that neonatal SE produces social impairment in male rats, reduces locomotor activity in both genders and enhances self-grooming in female.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe fact that adolescents are compelled to work can usually be explained as caused by financial needs of their families. The objectives of this study are to characterize the content and the structure of the social representation of adolescence work, by working and non working adolescents, 14 to 18 years old; compare the representations in both groups, and to evaluate if the hypotheses of the central core of representation are confirmed by other technique of social representations analysis. The sample included 724 high school students of a public school of São Paulo city.
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