Incorporation of 45S5 bioglass via sol-gel in ß-TCP scaffolds: Bioactivity and antimicrobial activity evaluation.

In this work, ß-TCP (ß-tricalcium phosphate) bioresorbable scaffolds were prepared by the gel casting method. Then, they were impregnated with a 45S5 bioglass sol gel solution to improve biocompatibility and promote bioactivity and antimicrobial activity. The ß-TCP scaffolds had an apparent porosity of 72%, and after the incorporation of the bioglass, this porosity was maintained. The elements of the bioglass were incorporated into ß-TCP matrix and there was a partial transformation from the ß-TCP phase to the α-TCP (α-tricalcium phosphate) phase, besides the formation of bioactive calcium and sodium­calcium silicates. The scaffolds ß-TCP with 45S5 bioglass incorporated (ß-TCP/45S5) did not show a reduction in their values of mechanical strength and Weibull modulus, despite the partial transformation to the α-TCP phase. Bioactivity, cell viability, and antimicrobial activity improved significantly for the ß-TCP/45S5 scaffold comparing to the scaffold without the bioglass. The mineralization of carbonated hydroxyapatite was verified in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF). The cell viability, evaluated by the reduction of 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide - MTT in MG63 cells, increased by 178%, and ß-TCP/45S5 scaffold also enhanced cell activity and osteoblast differentiation observed by means of total protein contend and alkaline phosphatase activity, respectively. The formation of growth inhibition zones was also observed in the disk diffusion assay for three tested microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. To conclude, the vacuum impregnation method in 45S5 bioglass sol gel solution was effective in penetrating all the interconnected macroporosity of the scaffolds and covering the surface of the struts, which improved their biological properties in vitro, bioactivity and antibacterial activity, without reducing mechanical strength and porosity values. Thus, the ß-TCP/45S5 scaffolds are shown as potential candidates for use in tissue engineering, mainly in bone tissue regeneration and recovery.

IL-33 targeting attenuates intestinal mucositis and enhances effective tumor chemotherapy in mice.

Intestinal damage and severe diarrhea are serious side effects of cancer chemotherapy and constrain the usage of most such therapies. Here we show that interleukin-33 (IL-33) mediates the severe intestinal mucositis in mice treated with irinotecan (CPT-11), a commonly used cancer chemotherapeutic agent. Systemic CPT-11 administration led to severe mucosal damage, diarrhea, and body weight loss concomitant with the induction of IL-33 in the small intestine (SI). This mucositis was markedly reduced in mice deficient in the IL-33R (ST2(-/-)). Moreover, recombinant IL-33 exacerbated the CPT-11-induced mucositis, whereas IL-33 blockade with anti-IL-33 antibody or soluble ST2 markedly attenuated the disease. CPT-11 treatment increased neutrophil accumulation in the SI and adhesion to mesenteric veins. Supernatants from SI explants treated with CPT-11 enhanced transmigration of neutrophils in vitro in an IL-33-, CXCL1/2-, and CXCR2-dependent manner. Importantly, IL-33 blockade reduced mucositis and enabled prolonged CPT-11 treatment of ectopic CT26 colon carcinoma, leading to a beneficial outcome of the chemotherapy. These results suggest that inhibition of the IL-33/ST2 pathway may represent a novel approach to limit mucositis and thus improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

[Prevalence of fecal incontinence in diabetic patients: epidemiological study of patients assisted as outpatients at the Clinical Hospital of the Medical School at the University of São Paulo]. / Prevalência da incontinência anal no diabético: estudo epidemiológico com base na população atendida em regime ambulatorial no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo.

The object of this research was to establish the prevalence of fecal incontinence in those diabetics attended as outpatients at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Individual verbal interviewing was the an adopted method. The classification of diabetes mellitus of World Health Organization was employed (1985). Data was aggregated relative sex, age, color, type of diabetes mellitus, fecal incontinence, duration of diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, intestinal habits (normal, constipation and diarrhea), urgency to evacuate, sensation of incomplete evacuation, urinary incontinence, vaginal deliveries and its characteristics. The study involved 258 diabetics, 167 of female sex having an average age of 56.2 years (17 to 78 years of age) and 91 of the male sex having average age of 55.8 years (10 to 74 years of age). With relation to color, 57% were white, 28.7% mullato, 11.2% black and 3.1% yellow. Fecal incontinence was prevalent in 18.6% of the cases studied. It occurred also in types I and II diabetics with predominance in the male sex. It also occurred in diabetics having an average history of 10.8 years to onset of illness. Peripheral neuropathy was observed in 8.5% of the diabetics investigated however no association was observed between the peripheral neuropathy and fecal incontinence. Constipation occurred in 29.5% of the patients and diarrhea in 21.3%. Incomplete evacuation was apparent in 15.1% of diabetics and urgency to evacuate in 12.8%. A relationship was identified between fecal incontinence with diarrhea and incomplete evacuation in the group investigated. Total vaginal deliveries was 458 with 70 episiotomies and 25 by forceps. There was no statistical evidence of association between the average number of vaginal deliveries, episiotomies and forceps in diabetics demonstrating or not demonstrating fecal incontinence. Urinary incontinence was more prevalent that fecal incontinence. No relationship was determined between urinary and fecal incontinence for the purpose of the present study.