Access and adequacy of antenatal care in a city in Brazil during two phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To compare access and suitability of antenatal care between years 2020 and 2022 among postpartum individuals at a Hospital in Florianopolis, and evaluate factors associated with antenatal suitability.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and quantitative study carried out in 2022. Collected data were compared with the database of a previous similar study carried out in the same setting in 2020.

Dopamine and Citicoline-Co-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Multifunctional Nanomedicines for Parkinson's Disease Treatment by Intranasal Administration.

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of the nanosystems constituted by dopamine (DA) and the antioxidant Citicoline (CIT) co-loaded in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for intranasal administration in the treatment of Parkinson disease (PD). Such nanosystems, denoted as DA-CIT-SLNs, were designed according to the concept of multifunctional nanomedicine where multiple biological roles are combined into a single nanocarrier and prepared by the melt emulsification method employing the self-emulsifying Gelucire 50/13 as lipid matrix. The resulting DA-CIT-SLNs were characterized regarding particle size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency, morphology, and physical stability.

Slightly viscous dispersions of mucoadhesive polymers as vehicles for nasal administration of dopamine and grape seed extract-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.

With the aim to find an alternative vehicle to the most used thermosensitive hydrogels for efficient nanotechnology-based nose-to-brain delivery approach for Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment, in this work we evaluated the Dopamine (DA) and the antioxidant grape seed-derived pro-anthocyanidins (Grape Seed Extract, GSE) co-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) put in slight viscous dispersions (SVDs). These SVDs were prepared by dispersion in water at low concentrations of mucoadhesive polymers to which SLN pellets were added. For the purpose, we investigated two polymeric blends, namely Poloxamer/Carbopol (PF-127/Carb) and oxidized alginate/Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (AlgOX/HPMC).

Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety, depression and burnout in gynecology and obstetrics residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression and burnout in residents of Gynecology and Obstetrics during COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and its associated factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving all regions of Brazil, through the application of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) instrument. Multivariate analysis was performed after adjusting the Poisson model.

Dopamine- and Grape-Seed-Extract-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Interaction Studies between Particles and Differentiated SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, primarily associated with dopaminergic neuron depletion in the Substantia Nigra. Current treatment focuses on compensating for dopamine (DA) deficiency, but the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses challenges for effective drug delivery. Using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, we investigated the co-administration of DA and the antioxidant Grape Seed Extract (GSE) to study the cytobiocompability, the cytoprotection against the neurotoxin Rotenone, and their antioxidant effects.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Dopamine and Grape Seed Extract: Freeze-Drying with Cryoprotection as a Formulation Strategy to Achieve Nasal Powders.

(1) Background: DA-Gelucire 50/13-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) administering the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and the antioxidant grape-seed-derived proanthocyanidins (grape seed extract, GSE) have been prepared by us in view of a possible application for Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. To develop powders constituted by such SLNs for nasal administration, herein, two different agents, namely sucrose and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD), were evaluated as cryoprotectants. (2) Methods: SLNs were prepared following the melt homogenization method, and their physicochemical features were investigated by Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).

Prophylactic Salpingo-Oophorectomy and Survival After BRCA1/2 Breast Cancer Resection.

Importance: Few studies have investigated whether prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy (PSO) for patients with previously resected breast cancer who carry pathogenic germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 variants is associated with a reduced risk of cancer-specific death.

Objective: To assess the association of PSO and prophylactic mastectomy (PM) with prognosis after quadrantectomy or mastectomy as primary treatment for patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study was performed in a single-institution, tertiary referral center.

Carboxymethyl chitosan dopamine conjugates: Synthesis and evaluation for intranasal anti Parkinson therapy.

With respect to the Parkinson's disease (PD), herein, we aimed at synthetizing and characterizing two novel macromolecular conjugates where dopamine (DA) was linked to N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan or O-carboxymethyl chitosan, being both conjugates obtained from an organic solvent free synthetic procedure. They were characterized by FT-IR, H NMR spectroscopies, whereas thermal analysis (including Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis) revealed good stability of the two conjugates after exposure at temperatures close to 300 °C. Release studies in simulated nasal fluid elucidated that a faster release occurred since O-carboxymethyl chitosan-DA conjugate maybe due to the less steric hindrance exerted by the polymeric moiety.

Organs-on-chips technologies - A guide from disease models to opportunities for drug development.

Current in-vitro 2D cultures and animal models present severe limitations in recapitulating human physiopathology with striking discrepancies in estimating drug efficacy and side effects when compared to human trials. For these reasons, microphysiological systems, organ-on-chip and multiorgans microdevices attracted considerable attention as novel tools for high-throughput and high-content research to achieve an improved understanding of diseases and to accelerate the drug development process towards more precise and eventually personalized standards. This review takes the form of a guide on this fast-growing field, providing useful introduction to major themes and indications for further readings.

Combined Dopamine and Grape Seed Extract-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Nasal Mucosa Permeation, and Uptake by Olfactory Ensheathing Cells and Neuronal SH-SY5Y Cells.

We have already formulated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in which the combination of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and the antioxidant grape-seed-derived proanthocyanidins (grape seed extract, GSE) was supposed to be favorable for Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. In fact, GSE supply would reduce the PD-related oxidative stress in a synergic effect with DA. Herein, two different methods of DA/GSE loading were studied, namely, coadministration in the aqueous phase of DA and GSE, and the other approach consisting of a physical adsorption of GSE onto preformed DA containing SLNs.

Lupus anticoagulant laboratory diagnosis by applying the 2020 ISTH-SSC guidelines.

Background: The ISTH-SSC guidelines for lupus anticoagulant (LA) testing recommend using in-house determined cut-off values, pooled normal plasma (PNP) for ratio normalization, and a ratio for the mixing test interpretation. They strongly support the mixing step role in the diagnostic process.

Objectives: To investigate and compare the LA testing results and interpretations obtained following the ISTH-SSC guidelines or the available alternatives.

Psychosocial factors associated with workability after surgery in cancer survivors: An explorative study.

This study aimed to evaluate the work ability and its associated factors in patients with glioma (II, III) and breast cancer after 6 (T0) and 12 (T1) months from surgery. A total of 99 patients were evaluated with self-reported questionnaires at T0 and T1. Correlation and Mann-Whitney tests were used to investigate the association between work ability and sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors.

Oxidized Alginate Dopamine Conjugate: A Study to Gain Insight into Cell/Particle Interactions.

: We had previously synthetized a macromolecular prodrug consisting of oxidized Alginate and dopamine (AlgOx-Da) for a potential application in Parkinson disease (PD). : In the present work, we aimed at gaining an insight into the interactions occurring between AlgOx-Da and SH-SY5Y neuronal cell lines in view of further studies oriented towards PD treatment. With the scope of ascertaining changes in the external and internal structure of the cells, multiple methodologies were adopted.

Reproducing a decision-making network in a virtual visual discrimination task.

We reproduced a decision-making network model using the neural simulator software neural simulation tool (NEST), and we embedded the spiking neural network in a virtual robotic agent performing a simulated behavioral task. The present work builds upon the concept of replicability in neuroscience, preserving most of the computational properties in the initial model although employing a different software tool. The proposed implementation successfully obtains equivalent results from the original study, reproducing the salient features of the neural processes underlying a binary decision.

Mucopenetration study of solid lipid nanoparticles containing magneto sensitive iron oxide.

In most chronic respiratory diseases, excessive viscous airway secretions oppose a formidable permeation barrier to drug delivery systems (DDSs), with a limit to their therapeutic efficacy for the targeting epithelium. Since mucopenetration of DDSs with slippery technology (i.e.

Analytical performance of a new immunoturbidimetric D-dimer assay and comparison with available assays.

Background: The routine D-dimer quantification to exclude venous thromboembolism has led to the development of many assays, the usefulness of which depends on their reliability and performance.

Objective: We evaluated the analytical performances of the immunoturbidimetric Yumizen G DDi 2 assay (HORIBA Medical, Montpellier, France) performed on the Yumizen G800 analyzer and compared it with other available D-dimer assays.

Methods: Within-run and between-run imprecision were evaluated using low- and high-level quality-control plasma samples.

Novel Nanoparticles Based on ,-Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Dopamine Amide Conjugate for Nose-to-Brain Delivery.

A widely investigated approach to bypass the blood brain barrier is represented by the intranasal delivery of therapeutic agents exploiting the olfactory or trigeminal connections nose-brain. As for Parkinson's disease (PD), characterized by dopaminergic midbrain neurons degeneration, currently there is no disease modifying therapy. Although several bio-nanomaterials have been evaluated for encapsulation of neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) or dopaminergic drugs in order to restore the DA content in parkinsonian patients, the premature leakage of the therapeutic agent limits this approach.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Administering Antioxidant Grape Seed-Derived Polyphenol Compounds: A Potential Application in Aquaculture.

The supply of nutrients, such as antioxidant agents, to fish cells still represents a challenge in aquaculture. In this context, we investigated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) composed of a combination of Gelucire 50/13 and Precirol ATO5 to administer a grape seed extract (GSE) mixture containing several antioxidant compounds. The combination of the two lipids for the SLN formation resulted in colloids exhibiting mean particle sizes in the range 139-283 nm and zeta potential values in the range +25.