Properties, Extraction Methods, and Delivery Systems for Curcumin as a Natural Source of Beneficial Health Effects.

This review discusses the impact of curcumin-an aromatic phytoextract from the turmeric () rhizome-as an effective therapeutic agent. Despite all of the beneficial health properties ensured by curcumin application, its pharmacological efficacy is compromised in vivo due to poor aqueous solubility, high metabolism, and rapid excretion that may result in poor systemic bioavailability. To overcome these problems, novel nanosystems have been proposed to enhance its bioavailability and bioactivity by reducing the particle size, the modification of surfaces, and the encapsulation efficiency of curcumin with different nanocarriers.

Nanotoxicology and Nanosafety: Safety-By-Design and Testing at a Glance.

This review offers a systematic discussion about nanotoxicology and nanosafety associated with nanomaterials during manufacture and further biomedical applications. A detailed introduction on nanomaterials and their most frequently uses, followed by the critical risk aspects related to regulatory uses and commercialization, is provided. Moreover, the impact of nanotoxicology in research over the last decades is discussed, together with the currently available toxicological methods in cell cultures (in vitro) and in living organisms (in vivo).

Experimental model for removal of snake venom via hemoperfusion in rats.

Objective: To examine the efficiency of hemoperfusion in removing South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus terrificus) venom from rats compared with neutralization by antivenom.

Design: An exploratory experimental investigation in rats involving the injection of snake venom with or without subsequent hemoperfusion or antivenom administration.

Setting: Basic animal research laboratory in a private university.

The emerging role of metallic nanoparticles in food.

Nanotechnology is widely used in biomedical applications, engineering sciences, and food technology. The application of nanocompounds play a pivotal role in food protection, preservation, and increasing its shelf life. The changing lifestyle, use of pesticides, and biological and/or chemical contaminants present in food directly affect its quality.

Alternative Cutaneous Substitutes Based on Poly(l--d,l-lactic acid--trimethylene carbonate) with Raddi Extract Designed for Skin Healing.

The search for new therapies and drugs that act as topical agents to relieve pain and control the inflammatory processes in burns always attracted interest in clinical trials. As an alternative to synthetic drugs, natural extracts are useful in the development of new strategies and formulations for improving the quality of life. The aim of this study was to develop a wound dressing using poly(l--d,l-lactic acid--trimethylene carbonate) (PLDLA-TMC) containing Raddi (S.

Praziquantel-Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Produced by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction: Physicochemical Characterization, Release Profile, and Cytotoxicity.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) can be produced by various methods, but most of them are difficult to scale up. Supercritical fluid (SCF) is an important tool to produce micro/nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution and high encapsulation efficiency. The aim of this work was to produce cetyl palmitate SLNs using SCF to be loaded with praziquantel (PZQ) as an insoluble model drug.

Propensity Score Methods in Health Technology Assessment: Principles, Extended Applications, and Recent Advances.

Randomized clinical trials (RCT) are accepted as the gold-standard approaches to measure effects of intervention or treatment on outcomes. They are also the designs of choice for health technology assessment (HTA). Randomization ensures comparability, in both measured and unmeasured pretreatment characteristics, of individuals assigned to treatment and control or comparator.

Effect of Polysaccharide Sources on the Physicochemical Properties of Bromelain-Chitosan Nanoparticles.

Bromelain, a set of proteolytic enzymes potential pharmaceutical applications, was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles to enhance enzyme stability, and the effect of different chitosan sources was evaluated. Chitosan types (i.e.

Administrative Data Linkage in Brazil: Potentials for Health Technology Assessment.

Health technology assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of the properties and impacts of health technologies and interventions. In this article, we presented a discussion of HTA and its evolution in Brazil, as well as a description of secondary data sources available in Brazil with potential applications to generate evidence for HTA and policy decisions. Furthermore, we highlighted record linkage, ongoing record linkage initiatives in Brazil, and the main linkage tools developed and/or used in Brazilian data.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles employing Trichoderma harzianum with enzymatic stimulation for the control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles employing fungi offers advantages, including the formation of a capping from fungal biomolecules, which provides stability and can contribute to biological activity. In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Trichoderma harzianum cultivated with (AgNP-TS) and without enzymatic stimulation (AgNP-T) by the cell wall of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The nanoparticles were evaluated for the control of S.

Flavonoid-Enriched Plant-Extract-Loaded Emulsion: A Novel Phytocosmetic Sunscreen Formulation with Antioxidant Properties.

The aim of this study was to develop a phytocosmetic sunscreen emulsion with antioxidant effect, containing a blend of flavonoid-enriched plant extracts. In vitro sun protection factor, antioxidant activity skin irritation, photostability, cutaneous permeation, and retention of flavonoids were evaluated. Thermodynamically stable emulsions were obtained and tested for sensorial analysis after loading the blend of extracts.

Adverse Events in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis Receiving Long-Term Biological Agents in a Real-Life Setting.

Biological agents used for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with serious adverse effects (SAEs). Although several biologics have demonstrated good efficacy and tolerability in short-term trials, treatment guidelines recommend them as third line therapies due to a relative lack of long-term safety data. To determine the frequency and severity of adverse effects associated with the long-term use of biologics in the treatment of PsA and RA, and possible risk factors for such events in a real-life setting.

Paraquat and Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

This investigation aimed to conduct a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis to determine whether exposure to the herbicide paraquat was associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Observational studies that enrolled adults exposed to paraquat with PD as the outcome of interest were searched in the PubMed, Embase, LILACS, TOXNET, and Web of Science databases up to May 2019. Two authors independently selected relevant studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality.

Missed opportunities in the way medical schools evaluate the ethical domain in clerkship rotations.

Background: Several lines of evidence indicate that medical schools have been failing to adequately nurture empathy and the ethical dimension in their graduates, the lack of which may play a central role in the genesis of medical errors, itself a major source of avoidable deaths, incapacity and wasted resources. It has been widely proposed that medical schools should adopt evaluation strategies as a means to promote a culture of respectful relationships. However, it is not clear if evaluation strategies in medical schools have addressed key domains related to that aim, such as ethics, through the perspective of their students.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in the Management of Open Fractures: A Systematic Survey of Current Practice and Recommendations.

Background: Evidence with regard to antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with open fractures of the extremities is limited. We therefore conducted a systematic survey addressing current practice and recommendations.

Methods: We included publications from January 2007 to June 2017.

Acute kidney injury caused by the intraperitoneal injection of venom in rats.

We examined the ability of venom (12.5 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally (i.p.

Management of severe pain after dermal contact with caterpillars (erucism): a prospective case series.

Context: Erucism, envenomation caused by dermal contact with larval forms of moths, may result in intense local pain, mainly after contact with puss caterpillars (family Megalopygidae).

Objective: To evaluate the response to different treatments for controlling severe pain in a case series of erucism in Campinas, southeastern Brazil.

Patients And Methods: Prospective cohort study.

Activity of silver nanoparticles on prokaryotic cells and Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.

Nanoparticle-conjugated venom-toxins of venomous animals and its therapeutic efficacy against emerging or neglecting diseases is a promising strategy. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs ∼50 nm, 0.081 mg mL) were studied against the neuromuscular blockade, myotoxic effects induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom (60 µg mL) and also against prokaryotic cells.

New pharmacological insights of .

leaves are popularly used against snakebites in Brazil. The hydroethanolic extract from aerial parts of (HEGg) was assayed against the neurotoxicity and myotoxicity induced by venom. A traditional myographic technique was applied for neurotoxicity and the resulting muscles were treated routinely by light microscopy analysis for myotoxicity.

Effects of spinal manipulation and myofascial techniques on heart rate variability: A systematic review.

Background: The analysis of heart rate variability is important to the investigation of stimuli from the autonomic nervous system. Osteopathy is a form of treatment that can influence this system in healthy individuals as well as those with a disorder or disease.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the literature regarding the effect of spinal manipulation and myofascial techniques on heart rate variability.

Pharmacological Properties of (Vochysiaceae) Extract to Neutralize the Neuromuscular Blockade Induced by Bothropstoxin-I (Lys49 Phospholipase A) Myotoxin.

Bothrops snakes are responsible for more than 70 % of snakebites every year in Brazil and their venoms cause severe local and systemic damages. The pharmacological properties of medicinal plants have been widely investigated in order to discover new alternative treatments for different classes of diseases including neglected tropical diseases as envenomation by snakebites. In this work, we have investigated the ability of Vochysia haenkeana stem barks extract (VhE) to neutralize the neuromuscular effects caused by Bothropstoxin-I (BthTX-I), the major phospholipase A (PLA) myotoxin from B.

Safety and efficacy of hydroxyapatite scaffold in the prevention of jaw osteonecrosis in vivo.

Two scaffolds of chitosan/sodium alginate/hydroxyapatite (Ch/NaAlg/Hap) 1:1:0.2 and 1:1:0.6 were evaluated in the prevention of bisphosphonate-induced jaw osteonecrosis.

Association of Silver Nanoparticles and Curcumin Solid Dispersion: Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties.

The last century, more precisely after 1945, was marked by major advances in the treatment of infectious diseases which promoted a decrease in mortality and morbidity. Despite these advances, currently the development of antimicrobial resistance has been growing drastically and therefore there is a pressing need to search for new compounds. Silver nanoparticles (AgNps) have been demonstrating good antimicrobial activity against different bacteria, viruses, and fungi.