Registry of Percutaneous Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale in the Secondary Prevention of Stroke.

Background: The foramen ovale remains patent in about 25% of the adult population. In adult life, thrombi form in the venous circulation and can cross the interatrial septum and trigger an ischemic stroke - called paradoxical embolism. The treatment can be performed through percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO), but still rarely performed in Brazil because it is not available in the public health care.

A 30-Year-Old Woman With Arthralgia, Progressive Dyspnea, and a Syncope Episode.

A 30-year-old White woman with presumed rheumatoid arthritis accompanied by CT scan evidence of eosinophilic pneumonitis was referred to the ED by her rheumatologist for an investigation of the progression of dyspnea. Approximately 6 months before, the patient reported experiencing diffuse interphalangeal arthralgias (both proximal and distal) that affected the wrists, knees, and feet. These symptoms were accompanied by Modified Medical Research Council scale grade 2 dyspnea.

Evaluation of oral supplementation of free and nanoencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil on immunological, biochemical and antioxidants parameters and gut microbiota in weaned piglets.

Early weaning is an important stressor that impairs the piglet´s health, and essential oils appear as promising candidates to improve it instead of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of free and nanoencapsulated Minthostachys verticillata essential oil (EO and NEO, respectively) on immunological, biochemical and antioxidants parameters as well as on gut microbiota in weaned piglets. EO was extracted by hydrodistillation and nanoencapsulation was performed by high-energy method using Tween 80 and Span 60 as surfactants.

Nanofiber mats functionalized with Mentha piperita essential oil stabilized in a chitosan-based emulsion designed via an electrospinning technique.

A nanostructured device based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with a cross-linked chitosan (CH) emulsion, soy lecithin, and peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita) was designed for topical applications using an electrospinning instrument coupled to a rotary drum collector. Different suspensions were obtained by varying the PVA to emulsion ratio (PVA:Em) 87.5:12.

Hybrid materials based on chitosan functionalized with green synthesized copper nanoparticles: Physico-chemical and antimicrobial analysis.

Recently, the development of materials with antimicrobial properties has become a challenge under scrutiny. The incorporation of copper nanoparticles (NpCu) into a chitosan matrix appears to represent a viable strategy to contain the particles and prevent their oxidation. Regarding the physical properties, the nanocomposite films (CHCu) showed a decrease in the elongation at break (5 %) and an increase in the tensile strength of 10 % concerning chitosan films (control).

Estimation of pulmonary artery systolic pressure in hemodialysis patients and its association with cardiorespiratory fitness and pulmonary function.

Purpose: To evaluate the estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) through transthoracic echocardiography in hemodialysis (HD) patients and associate it with cardiorespiratory fitness and pulmonary function.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of HD patients that performed evaluations of cardiac function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and pulmonary function, through transthoracic echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise test, spirometry, and manovacuometry, respectively. All patients underwent the evaluations on a non-dialysis day.

Electrospun nanofibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan-based emulsions functionalized with cabreuva essential oil.

Among the essential oils (EOs), the cabreuva essential oil extracted from the wood of Myrocarpus fastigiatus, is a promising compound for potential applications in the field of pharmaceuticals and food packaging. To overcome the low solubility of cabreuva EO and to protect it, a two-step process, emulsion formation compound by chitosan, SDS, and PVA, and subsequent ionic crosslinking with sodium citrate, was proposed. The formulation containing 0.

Nanocomposite bilayers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan functionalized with gallic acid.

The development of active bilayer systems is a novel strategy for the application of active packaging to maintain or prolong the shelf-life of food products. A bilayer system was assembled in situ into a thermocompression unit through a two-step procedure. One of the layers was obtained by a casting process and consisted of a chitosan-based nanocomposite functionalized with gallic acid (GA); the other was shaped by the spreading of polyvinyl alcohol solution on the nanocomposite.

Chitosan-based nanocomposite matrices: Development and characterization.

Chitosan-based nanocomposites have a significant industrial impact related to the possibility to design and create new materials and structures. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) can be extracted from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by controlled acid hydrolysis with HSO. This work was focused on: to study the microstructure of CNC isolated from MCC after different hydrolysis times; to develop nanocomposites chitosan-based films; to characterize their structural and thermo-mechanical properties; to analyze the spectral differences among samples by means of ATR-FTIR in combination with principal component analysis (PCA) and square partial minimums model (PLS).

Microstructural Behaviors of Matrices Based on Polylactic Acid and Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Individual films of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and polylactic acid (PLA) and their blends were developed by solvent casting. PHA was obtained from activated sludges from a wastewater-treatment system at a laboratory scale. This work focused on analyzing the microstructural properties and thermal behaviors of individual films of PHA and PLA as well as those of their blends.

Assembly of chitosan support matrix with gallic acid-functionalized nanoparticles.

The incorporation of gallic acid (GA) in a direct way or into nanoparticles included in chitosan edible films appears as a suitable approach to increase its preservation upon adverse conditions. The addition of nanoparticles to chitosan-based matrices resulted in improvements in their solubility, swelling, and mechanical properties. It is worth noting that by means of the nanoencapsulation, the release process can be modulated in relation to the delivery of GA included directly in the matrix, releasing the agent at a lower rate for a longer time.

Design of chitosan-based nanoparticles functionalized with gallic acid.

Active nanoparticles based on chitosan could be applied as a support for the modulation of gallic acid delivery. In this sense, these nanostructures could be employed in different fields such as food, packaging, and pharmaceutical areas. The design parameters of chitosan-based nanoparticles functionalized with gallic acid (GA) were optimized through RSM by means of the analysis of zeta potential (ZP) and percentage encapsulation efficiency (PEE).

Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in a Cohort of Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study.

Background: Due to the heterogeneity of cystic fibrosis (CF), the longer survival observed in cohorts of adult subjects, and inter-population variations, there is a clear need to seek further information about clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in different cohorts of subjects with CF. Our objectives were to evaluate clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in a cohort of adult subjects with CF after a 7-y follow-up period and investigate longitudinal changes in clinical scores, spirometry, 6-min walk test performance, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure as assessed by Doppler echocardiography.

Methods: A cohort of clinically stable subjects (≥16 y old) who were enrolled in an adult CF program in 2004-2005 underwent clinical evaluation.

Changes induced by UV radiation in the presence of sodium benzoate in films formulated with polyvinyl alcohol and carboxymethyl cellulose.

This work was focused on: i) developing single and blend films based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) studying their properties, ii) analyzing the interactions between CMC and PVOH and their modifications UV-induced in the presence of sodium benzoate (SB), and iii) evaluating the antimicrobial capacity of blend films containing SB with and without UV treatment. Once the blend films with SB were exposed to UV radiation, they exhibited lower moisture content as well as a greater elongation at break and rougher surfaces compared to those without treatment. Considering oxygen barrier properties, the low values obtained would allow their application as packaging with selective oxygen permeability.

Edible methylcellulose-based films containing fructo-oligosaccharides as vehicles for lactic acid bacteria.

The goal of this work was to investigate the physicochemical properties of methylcellulose (MC) based films as stabilizers of two strains of lactobacilli: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CIDCA 333 and Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 83114. The incorporation of 3% w/v fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) into the MC film formulation improved the viability of L.

Stability of methylcellulose-based films after being subjected to different conservation and processing temperatures.

Methylcellulose films with and without sorbitol addition were developed. The major objective of this study was to attempt insights into the stability of the methylcellulose-based film properties after having been subjected to freezing, storage or a combination of both procedures. The importance of the sorbitol concentration and process temperature was also to be elucidated.

Heat treatment to modify the structural and physical properties of chitosan-based films.

This work was focused on studying the changes undergone by heat-treated chitosan films with and without tannic acid addition by monitoring both microstructure and physical properties. Once the films were submitted to different heat treatments, they exhibited higher barrier properties as well as lower water uptake, solubility, and moisture content. These results were also confirmed through X-ray patterns, which changed from the hydrated to the anhydrous conformation, sharper FTIR peaks specifically associated with water, and shift of T(g) toward higher temperatures determined by DMA.

Plasticized methylcellulose coating for reducing oil uptake in potato chips.

Background: As a result of consumers' health concerns and the trend towards healthier and low-fat food products, research has been undertaken to reduce the amount of fat absorbed in fried foods. This work focused on studying the efficacy of sorbitol and glycerol as plasticizers of methylcellulose coatings used to reduce oil uptake during the frying process of potato chips

Results: Changes in color, mechanical properties, water activity and lipid oxidation during storage were monitored. Also, an explanation regarding the different performances between both methylcellulose coatings with and without plasticizer was attained and techniques from the field of packaging films such as dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied to analyze the behavior of coatings submitted to the frying operation.

Sleep findings and predictors of sleep desaturation in adult cystic fibrosis patients.

Purpose: Questions remain about the polysomnographic findings and the predictors for sleep desaturation in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Our study aimed to evaluate sleep parameters in a sample of adult CF patients comparing them with healthy controls and to determine the best predictors of sleep desaturation in CF patients with awake resting peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) ≥90%.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, with data collected prospectively, 51 clinically stable adult CF patients (mean age 25.

NT-proBNP levels in systemic sclerosis: association with clinical and laboratory abnormalities.

Objective: To identify factors related to NT-proBNP levels in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Design And Methods: NT-proBNP was measured in 119 patients with SSc and 20 controls. Patients with transtricuspid gradient (TG) > or =36 mm Hg or > or =31 mmHg plus dyspnea were considered to have suspected systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH).

Semiquantitative echocardiographic evaluation of intrapulmonary vascular dilatations: correlation with evaluation of shunt levels and pulmonary function parameters.

Objective: To correlate semiquantitative evaluation of intrapulmonary vascular dilatations (IPVD) with quantitative evaluation of shunt levels, as well as to describe clinical and pulmonary function findings in a sample of liver disease patients with IPVD.

Methods: Patients presenting transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) positivity for IPVD underwent clinical evaluation, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary shunt quantification (scintigraphy with technetium-99m-labeled albumin macroaggregates and blood gas analysis after pure oxygen breathing).

Results: A total of 28 liver cirrhosis patients were studied (mean age, 47.

[Chronic bacterial infection and echocardiographic parameters indicative of pulmonary hypertension in patients with cystic fibrosis].

Objectives: To examine the relationship between chronic bacterial infection and pulmonary hypertension, using Doppler echocardiography, in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study involving CF patients (>16 years of age) admitted to a program for adults with the disease. The study included 40 patients with a mean age of 23.

TCRBV20S1 and TCRBV3S1 gene segment polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To compare the frequencies of variants of TCRBV20S1 and TCRBV3S1 gene segments in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and in controls. The null allele (allele 2) of TCRBV20S1 is associated with reduced levels of Vbeta20+ T-cells in the peripheral blood, while allele 1 of TCRBV3S1 is related to a low frequency of Vbeta3.1+ T-cells.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension evaluated by Doppler echocardiography in a population of adolescent and adult patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), to compare clinical characteristics, radiographic scores, pulmonary function, and echocardiographic parameters in patients with and without PH, and to correlate echocardiographic findings with clinical characteristics, radiographic scores, and pulmonary function.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study involving clinically stable patients (aged 16 or older) enrolled in an adult CF program. The patients were submitted to clinical evaluation, Doppler echocardiography, pulmonary function tests, and chest X-rays.