Adherence to inhalation therapy and quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Inhalation therapy is a crucial part of the cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment regimen. Drugs that assist in mucociliary clearance and inhaled antibiotics are used by most patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study where patients with CF and their caregivers answered questionnaires regarding their adherence to inhalation therapy and QoL. Demographic, spirometric, and bacteriological data, as well as S-K scores and hospitalization frequencies were also collected. Results: We included 66 patients in this study; participants had a mean age of 12.3 years and Z-scores of -1.4 for forced expiratory volume in 1 second and 48.6 for body mass index. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their self-reported adherence to inhalation therapy: high adherence (n = 46) and moderate/low adherence (n = 20). When comparing both groups, there was no statistically significant differences in age, sex, family income, and S-K score (p > 0.05). The high-adherence group had had shorter hospitalization periods in the previous year (p = 0.016) and presented better scores in the following domains of the QoL questionnaire: emotion (p = 0.006), eating (p = 0.041), treatment burden (p = 0.001), health perception (p = 0.001), and social (p = 0.046). Conclusions: A low self-reported adherence to inhalation therapy recommendations was associated with longer hospitalizations in the previous year and with a decrease in QoL in pediatric patients with CF. (AU)

Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) Scaffold Induces Short-term Nerve Regeneration and Functional Recovery Following Sciatic Nerve Transection in Rats.

Peripheral nerve injury is an important cause of incapability and has limited available treatment. Autologous donor nerve implant is the golden standard treatment, however, may cause secondary deficits. Stem cells show positive results in preclinical settings, preserving tissue and function. We tested the efficacy of stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth seeded in poly (lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds in sciatic nerve transection model. Seventy-two adult male Wistar rats had 7-mm nerve gap bridge using scaffolds with (or without) stem cells. Animals were randomly divided into: sham-operated; sham-operated without scaffold; sham-operated + scaffold + stem cells; sciatic transection + no treatment; sciatic transection + acellular scaffolds; sciatic transection + scaffold + stem cells. Sciatic Functional Index and Ladder Rung Walking tests were performed before (-1), 14 and 28 days after surgery. Morphometric nerve measurement and muscle weights were assessed. Scaffolds with stem cells improved function in Sciatic Functional Index. Acellular scaffold was effective, promoting functional recovery and nerve regeneration following nerve injury. Scaffolds provide better nerve regeneration and functional recovery after sciatic transection. Despite cell therapy promoting faster recovery after sciatic transection in the Sciatic Index Score, stem cells did not improve functional and morphological recovery after nerve injury. This is the first study testing the potential use of scaffolds combined with stem cells in the early stages after injury. Scaffolds with stem cells could accelerate nerve recovery and favor adjuvant therapies, evidencing the need for further studies to increase the knowledge about stem cells' mechanisms.