Family Functioning in a Portuguese Sample of Adults during COVID-19: Does Hope Matter? / Funcionamiento familiar en una muestra portuguesa de adultos durante el COVID-19: ¿importa la esperanza?

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables and their contribution towards family functioning during the first wave of COVID-19 in Portugal. The COVID-19 pandemic was an overwhelming and stressful life event with social consequences that impacted family functioning and contributed to multilevel disruptions. The study used a cross-sectional design and included 110 participants (94 women), with a mean age of 35.71 (SD = 13.53). Participants answered self-report measures assessing family satisfaction, hope, psychological well-being, risk perception, and family functioning. Hope (pathways subscale) played a moderating role in the relationship between family satisfaction and family functioning. Family satisfaction and psychological well-being partially mediated the relationship between hope and family functioning. Clinical relevance and implications for further research are addressed. Intervention should focus on increasing psychological well-being and hope together with family satisfaction in order to promote family functioning. For those individuals struggling with COVID-19 issues, mental health interventions are paramount. (AU)

Este estudio ha tenido como objetivo explorar la relación entre las variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y psicológicas y el funcionamiento familiar en la primera oleada de COVID-19 en Portugal. La pandemia de COVID-19 fue una situación de vida abrumadora y estresante con consecuencias sociales que afectaron en el funcionamiento familiar. El estudio utilizó un diseño transversal e incluyó 110 participantes (94 mujeres), con una edad media de 35.71 años (SD = 13.53). Los participantes respondieron a medidas que evaluaban la satisfacción familiar, la esperanza, el bienestar psicológico, la percepción del riesgo y el funcionamiento familiar. La esperanza (subescala “caminos”) desempeñó un papel moderador en la relación entre la satisfacción familiar y el funcionamiento familiar. La satisfacción familiar y el bienestar psicológico mediaron parcialmente en la relación entre la esperanza y el funcionamiento familiar. Se abordan la importancia clínica y las implicaciones para futuras investigaciones. La intervención deberá centrarse en aumentar el bienestar psicológico y la esperanza junto con la satisfacción familiar para promover el funcionamiento familiar. Para los individuos que luchan con problemas de COVID-19 son primordiales las intervenciones de salud mental. (AU)

Quality of life in Female Users of Antiageing Cosmetic Products/Aesthetic Treatments.

BACKGROUND: Ageing is accompanied by physical changes, both at the physiological and appearance levels. The way people perceive these changes have important consequences on general health and quality of life (QoL). This study analysed the relationship between sociodemographic variables, psychological variables, use of antiageing cosmetic products/aesthetic treatments, and QoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 271 women, aged between 25 and 70 years, users of antiageing cosmetic products and/or aesthetic services. Participants were assessed on psychological morbidity (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), appearance schemes (Appearance Schemas Inventory - Revised), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), perfectionism (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), self-perceptions of ageing (Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire), and QoL (SF-12v2). RESULTS: Being older and having a higher household income was associated with better QoL. The use of facial firming products, hair colouring products, and sunscreen was also associated with better QoL. Psychological morbidity and perfectionism contributed negatively to QoL, while household income contributed positively. Ageing perceptions moderated the relationship between self-esteem and QoL. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, intervention programs to reduce psychological morbidity, increase self-esteem, promote more adaptive patterns of perfectionism, and recognize the role of age perception are needed to improve women's QoL. The perceived influence of the usage of cosmetic products to prevent/minimize aging signs should be further explored.

CONTEXTE: Le vieillissement s'accompagne de changements physiques, tant au niveau physiologique qu'au niveau de l'apparence. La façon dont les gens perçoivent ces changements a des conséquences importantes sur la santé générale et la qualité de vie (QdV). Cette étude a analysé la relation entre les variables sociodémographiques, les variables psychologiques, l'utilisation de produits cosmétiques anti-âge/soins esthétiques et la QdV. MÉTHODES: Cette étude transversale a inclus un échantillon de 271 femmes, âgées de 25 à 70 ans, utilisatrices de produits cosmétiques anti-âge et/ou de soins esthétiques. Les participants ont été évalués sur la morbidité psychologique (Hospit Anxiety and Depression Scale), les schémas d'apparence (Appearance Schemas Inventory - Revised), l'estime de soi (Roenberg Self-Esteem Scale), le perfectionnisme (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale), l'auto-perception du vieillissement (Brief Questionnaire sur les perceptions du vieillissement) et QdV (SF-12v2). RÉSULTATS: Être plus âgé et avoir un revenu du ménage plus élevé était associé à une meilleure qualité de vie. L'utilisation de produits raffermissants pour le visage, de produits de coloration capillaire et de soins solaires était également associée à une meilleure qualité de vie. La morbidité psychologique et le perfectionnisme ont contribué négativement à la qualité de vie, tandis que le revenu du ménage a contribué positivement. Les perceptions du vieillissement ont modéré la relation entre l'estime de soi et la qualité de vie. CONCLUSION: Selon les résultats, des programmes d'intervention visant à réduire la morbidité psychologique, à augmenter l'estime de soi, à promouvoir des schémas de perfectionnisme plus adaptatifs et à reconnaître le rôle de la perception de l'âge sont nécessaires pour améliorer la qualité de vie des femmes. L'influence de l'utilisation de produits cosmétiques pour prévenir/minimiser les signes du vieillissement doit être davantage perçue.

Engineering Immunomodulatory Biomaterials To Tune the Inflammatory Response.

Current state-of-the-art biomedical implants and tissue engineering methods promise technologies to improve or even restore the function of diseased organs. However, one of the biggest challenges to clinical success is the lack of functional integration. A series of cellular and molecular events following biomaterial implantation poses an important bottleneck for developing breakthrough solutions. With inflammation increasingly recognized as a crucial component influencing regeneration, immunomodulation or immuno-engineering has emerged as a potential solution to overcome this key challenge in regenerative medicine. We postulate possibilities to utilize biomaterial physicochemical modifications to modulate the host inflammatory response and develop strategies for effective biomaterial integration. Biomaterial-based immunomodulation strategies can significantly ameliorate the outcomes of medical implants and tissue engineering therapies.

High Antimicrobial Activity and Low Human Cell Cytotoxicity of Core-Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized with an Antimicrobial Peptide.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with antimicrobial agents are promising infection-targeted therapeutic platforms when coupled with external magnetic stimuli. These antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) may offer advantages in fighting intracellular pathogens as well as biomaterial-associated infections. This requires the development of NPs with high antimicrobial activity without interfering with the biology of mammalian cells. Here, we report the preparation of biocompatible antimicrobial SPION@gold core-shell NPs based on covalent immobilization of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) cecropin melittin (CM) (the conjugate is named AMP-NP). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the AMP-NP for Escherichia coli was 0.4 µg/mL, 10-times lower than the MIC of soluble CM. The antimicrobial activity of CM depends on the length of the spacer between the CM and the NP. AMP-NPs are taken up by endothelial (between 60 and 170 pg of NPs per cell) and macrophage (between 18 and 36 pg of NPs per cell) cells and accumulate preferentially in endolysosomes. These NPs have no significant cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory activities for concentrations up to 200 µg/mL (at least 100 times higher than the MIC of soluble CM). Our results in membrane models suggest that the selectivity of AMP-NPs for bacteria and not eukaryotic membranes is due to their membrane compositions. The AMP-NPs developed here open new opportunities for infection-site targeting.

One-step synthesis of high-density peptide-conjugated gold nanoparticles with antimicrobial efficacy in a systemic infection model.

The increase in antibiotic drug resistance and the low number of new antibacterial drugs approved in the last few decades requires the development of new antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are very promising molecules to fight microbial infection since they kill quickly bacteria and, in some cases, target bacterial membrane. Although some AMPs may be stable against proteolytic degradation by chemical modification, in general, low AMP activity and stability in the presence of serum and proteolytic enzymes as well as their cytotoxicity have impaired their clinical translation. Here, we describe a one-step methodology to generate AMP-conjugated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), with a high concentration of AMPs (CM-SH) (≈240 AMPs per NP), controlled size (14 nm) and low polydispersity. AMP-conjugated Au NPs demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity and stability in serum and in the presence of non-physiological concentrations of proteolytic enzymes than soluble AMP, as well as low cytotoxicity against human cells. Moreover, the NPs demonstrated high antimicrobial activity after in vivo administration in a chronic wound and in an animal model of systemic infection.

High-density antimicrobial peptide coating with broad activity and low cytotoxicity against human cells.

Medical device-associated infections are a multi-billion dollar burden for the worldwide healthcare systems. The modification of medical devices with non-leaching coatings capable of killing microorganisms on contact is one of the strategies being investigated to prevent microorganism colonization. Here we developed a robust antimicrobial coating based on the chemical immobilization of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP), cecropin-melittin (CM), on gold nanoparticles coated surfaces. The concentration of AMP immobilized (110 µg/cm(2)) was higher than most of the studies reported so far (<10 µg/cm(2)). This translated onto a coating with high antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria sp., as well as multi-drug resistant bacteria. Studies with E. coli reporter bacteria showed that these coatings induced the permeability of the outer membrane of bacteria in less than 5 min and the inner membrane in approximately 20 min. Importantly, the antimicrobial properties of the coating are maintained in the presence of 20% (v/v) human serum, and have low probability to induce bacteria resistance. We further show that coatings have low toxicity against human endothelial and fibroblast cells and is hemocompatible since it does not induce platelet and complement activation. The antimicrobial coating described here may be promising to prevent medical device-associated infections. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been chemically immobilized on surfaces of medical devices to render them with antimicrobial properties. Surfaces having immobilized cationic peptides are susceptible to be adsorbed by plasma proteins with the subsequent loss of antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, with the exception of very few studies that have determined the cytotoxicity of surfaces in mammalian cells, the effect of the immobilized AMP on human cells is relatively unknown. Here we report a coating based on cecropin-melittin peptide (CM) that maintains its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria including multi-drugs resistance bacteria in the presence of serum and has relatively low cytotoxicity against human cells. The reported coatings may be translated on to variety of substrates (glass and titanium) and medical devices to prevent device-associated microbial infection.

Estilos de vida en escolares con asma bronquial, en Consultorio de Pediatría del Hospital Román Egoavil Pando - Villa Rica. 2016 / Lifestyles of the school children with bronchial asthma in the Pediatrics Service of the Hospital Roman Egoavil Pando - Villa Rica. 2016

Objetivo: Describir estilos de vida en niños con asma bronquial que asisten al consultorio del Hospital Román Egoavil Pando Villa Rica Enero-Febrero 2016. Metodología: Investigación descriptiva cuantitativa de corte transversal, realizado en 40 niños, a los cuales se les aplicó un cuestionario mediante la técnica de entrevista, instrumento validado por jueces expertos. A los niños se les pidió el asentamiento informado y a sus familiares el consentimiento informado. Resultados: La mayoría 62.50 por ciento presentan estilos de vida saludables. Según dimensiones, el estilo de vida saludable se refleja mayormente en: higiene y abrigo (82.50 por ciento), en alimentario (80 por ciento) y en descanso y sueño (65 por ciento); mientras que es no saludable en higiene del hogar (55 por ciento), y lo recreativo y sociable (62.50 por ciento). Sobre estilos alimenticios, mayormente tiene un estilo de vida saludable: 85 por ciento en número de raciones y 65 por ciento en tipo de alimentos que consume. Sobre higiene y abrigo mayormente tienen un estilo de vida saludable: 85 por ciento en baño diario y 80 por ciento en usar ropa acorde a la estación. Sobre estilos recreativos y sociales la mayoría tienen un estilo de vida no saludable 90 por ciento en caminatas y paseos familiares o amigos, participación en eventos sociales, 75 por ciento práctica de gimnasia o deporte y 80 por ciento en nado en piscina climatizada. Sobre estilos de descanso y sueño el estilo de vida es saludable, 85 por ciento en horario de dormir, en 70 por ciento (28) el uso de descanso o siesta, un estilo de vida no saludable en 60 por ciento (24) en continuidad del sueño. Sobre higiene del hogar tienen estilos de vida saludables, 85 por ciento respecto de higiene y presencia de objetos en el dormitorio, 75 por ciento (30) en cambio de ropa de cama, 55 por ciento en uso de material para la higiene y 50 por ciento en la frecuencia de higiene de habitaciones y ropa de cama; un estilo de vida no saludable...

Objective: To describe lifestyles in children with bronchial asthma who attend the doctor's at the Hospital Roman Egoavil Pando, Villa Rica, January-February 2016. Methodology: quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research, conducted in 40 children, which were applied a questionnaire by interviewing technique, instrument validated by expert judges. Children were asked informed and their families informed consent settlement. Results: 62.50 per cent most have healthy lifestyles. According dimensions, healthier lifestyle is mainly reflected in: hygiene and shelter (82.50 per cent) in food (80 per cent) and rest and sleep (65 per cent); while not healthy household hygiene (55 per cent), and recreation and sociable (62.50 per cent). On food styles, mostly you have a healthy lifestyle: 85 per cent by number of servings and 65 per cent in type of food you eat. Hygiene and shelter mostly have a healthy lifestyle: 85 per cent in daily bath and 80 per cent in wear clothing appropriate for the season. On recreational and social styles most have 90 per cent on hikes and walks family or friends, participation in social events, 75 per cent practice gymnastic and 80 per cent by swimming in a heated pool unhealthy lifestyle. About styles of rest and sleep lifestyle it is healthy, 85 per cent in sleep schedule, in 70 per cent (28) use of rest or nap, a lifestyle not healthy at 60 per cent (24) in sleep continuity. On home hygiene have healthy lifestyles, 85 per cent on hygiene and presence of objects in the bedroom, 75 per cent (30) instead of linen, 55 per cent in use of materials for hygiene and 50 per cent in frequency hygiene rooms and bedding; a style of life unhealthy 87.50 per cent on cleaning and control of environmental pollution, 60 per cent in animal breeding and pets in the house. Conclusion: Most school children with bronchial asthma, have healthy lifestyles. According dimensions, most school with bronchial asthma have healthy lifestyles hygiene and shelter...

Cancer cell angiogenic capability is regulated by 3D culture and integrin engagement.

Three-dimensional culture alters cancer cell signaling; however, the underlying mechanisms and importance of these changes on tumor vascularization remain unclear. A hydrogel system was used to examine the role of the transition from 2D to 3D culture, with and without integrin engagement, on cancer cell angiogenic capability. Three-dimensional culture recreated tumor microenvironmental cues and led to enhanced interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion that depended on integrin engagement with adhesion peptides coupled to the polymer. In contrast, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion was unaffected by 3D culture with or without substrate adhesion. IL-8 diffused greater distances and was present in higher concentrations in the systemic circulation, relative to VEGF. Implantation of a polymeric IL-8 delivery system into GFP bone marrow-transplanted mice revealed that localized IL-8 up-regulation was critical to both the local and systemic control of tumor vascularization in vivo. In summary, 3D integrin engagement within tumor microenvironments regulates cancer cell angiogenic signaling, and controlled local and systemic blockade of both IL-8 and VEGF signaling may improve antiangiogenic therapies.

Upregulation of bone cell differentiation through immobilization within a synthetic extracellular matrix.

There is a need for new therapeutic strategies to treat bone defects caused by trauma, disease or tissue loss. Injectable systems for cell transplantation have the advantage of allowing the use of minimally invasive surgical procedures, and thus for less discomfort to patients. In the present study, it is hypothesized that Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-coupled in a binary (low and high molecular weight) injectable alginate composition is able to influence bone cell differentiation in a three-dimensional (3D) structure. Viability, metabolic activity, cytoskeleton organization, ultrastructure and differentiation (alkaline phosphatase (ALP), von Kossa, alizarin red stainings and osteocalcin quantification) of immobilized cells were assessed. Cells within RGD-modified alginate microspheres were able to establish more interactions with the synthetic extracellular matrix as visualized by confocal laser scanning microscope and transmission electron microscopy imaging, and presented a much higher level of differentiation (more intense ALP and mineralization stainings and higher levels of osteocalcin secretion) when compared to cells immobilized within unmodified alginate microspheres. These findings demonstrate that peptides covalently coupled to alginate were efficient in influencing cell behavior within this 3D system, and may provide adequate preparation of osteoblasts for cell transplantation.

Tratamento do alcoolismo em Goiânia e cidades vizinhas / Alcoholism treatment in Goiânia and cities nearby

Este trabalho apresenta um levantamento sobre as instituiçöes que tratam o alcoolismo em Goiânia e cidades vizinhas. A partir de uma pesquisa de campo, analisamos algumas características: critérios para internaçäo ou tratamento, formas de tratamento, sexo, período de internaçäo e/ou tratamento,índice de recuperaçäo, principais dificuldades ou desafios e continuidade de tratamento após a alta

Tratamento do alcoolismo em Goiania e cidades vizinhas

Este trabalho apresenta um levantamento sobre as instituicoes que tratam o alcoolismo em Goiania e cidades vizinhas. A partir de uma pesquisa de campo, analisamos algumas caracteristicas: criterios para internacao ou tratamento, formas de tratamento, sexo, periodo de internacao e/ou tratamento, indice de recuperacao, principais dificuldades ou desafios e continuidade de tratamento apos a alta.