Precision Medicines for Retinal Lipid Metabolism-Related Pathologies.

Oxidation of lipids and lipoproteins contributes to inflammation processes that promote the development of eye diseases. This is a consequence of metabolism dysregulation; for instance, that of the dysfunctional peroxisomal lipid metabolism. Dysfunction of lipid peroxidation is a critical factor in oxidative stress that causes ROS-induced cell damage. Targeting the lipid metabolism to treat ocular diseases is an interesting and effective approach that is now being considered. Indeed, among ocular structures, retina is a fundamental tissue that shows high metabolism. Lipids and glucose are fuel substrates for photoreceptor mitochondria; therefore, retina is rich in lipids, especially phospholipids and cholesterol. The imbalance in cholesterol homeostasis and lipid accumulation in the human Bruch's membrane are processes related to ocular diseases, such as AMD. In fact, preclinical tests are being performed in mice models with AMD, making this area a promising field. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, offers the opportunity to develop site-specific drug delivery systems to ocular tissues for the treatment of eye diseases. Specially, biodegradable nanoparticles constitute an interesting approach to treating metabolic eye-related pathologies. Among several drug delivery systems, lipid nanoparticles show attractive properties, e.g., no toxicological risk, easy scale-up and increased bioavailability of the loaded active compounds. This review analyses the mechanisms involved in ocular dyslipidemia, as well as their ocular manifestations. Moreover, active compounds as well as drug delivery systems which aim to target retinal lipid metabolism-related diseases are thoroughly discussed.

As implicações bioéticas da Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito da Pandemia: o caso Prevent Senior / The bioethical implications of the Parliamentary Pandemic Inquiry Commission: the Prevent Senior case / Las implicaciones bioéticas de la Comisión Parlamentaria de Investigación de Pandemia: el caso Prevent Senior

Objetivo: discutir os desdobramentos bioéticos, ocasionados pela atuação da operadora de saúde Prevent Senior, na Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito da Pandemia (CPI da Pandemia). Metodologia: trata-se de uma análise documental, utilizando o relatório final produzido pela CPI da Pandemia, juntamente com a revisão da abordagem bioética principialista elucidada por Tom L. Beauchamp e James F. Childress. Resultados: a pesquisa apontou que, se os fatos descritos no relatório da CPI forem confirmados após o devido processo legal, princípios bioéticos não foram observados, bem como diplomas legais infringidos. Conclusão: diante do cenário pandêmico, os preceitos bioéticos são instrumentos imprescindíveis para o enfrentamento digno e justo das adversidades em saúde.

Objective: to discuss the bioethical reverberation, caused by the performance of the health operator Prevent Senior, in the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission of the Pandemic. Methods: this is a documentary analysis using the final report prepared by the Commission and a review of the principles-based bioethical approach outlined by Tom L. Beauchamp and James F. Childress. Results: the research showed that if the facts described in the Commission's report are confirmed after due process, it is evident that bioethical principles were not followed, and legal requirements were violated. Conclusion: in the face of the pandemic scenario, bioethical principles are an essential tool to deal with health adversities in a dignified and fair manner.

Objetivo: discutir los desarrollos bioéticos, provocados por la actuación del operador de salud Prevent Senior, en la, en la Comisión Parlamentaria de Investigación de la Pandemia (CPI de la Pandemia). Metodología: se trata de un análisis documental, utilizando el informe final elaborado por el CPI de la Pandemia, junto con la revisión del enfoque bioético principialista dilucidado por Tom L. Beauchamp y James F. Childress. Resultados: la investigación apuntó que si los hechos descritos en el informe del CPI son confirmados después del debido proceso de ley, no se observaron los principios bioéticos, así como de los diplomas legales infringidos. Conclusión: ante el escenario de la pandemia, los preceptos bioéticos son instrumentos esenciales para un enfrentamiento digno y equitativo de las adversidades em salud.

Lipid-Based Nanoparticulate Systems for the Ocular Delivery of Bioactives with Anti-Inflammatory Properties.

The complexity of the eye structure and its physiology turned ocular drug administration into one of the most challenging topics in the pharmaceutical field. Ocular inflammation is one of the most common ophthalmic disorders. Topical administration of anti-inflammatory drugs is also commonly used as a side treatment in tissue repair and regeneration. The difficulty in overcoming the eye barriers, which are both physical and chemical, reduces drug bioavailability, and the frequency of administration must be increased to reach the therapeutic effect. However, this can cause serious side effects. Lipid nanoparticles seem to be a great alternative to ocular drug delivery as they are composed from natural excipients and can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs of different sources, and their unique properties, as their excellent biocompatibility, safety and adhesion allow to increase the bioavailability, compliance and achieve a sustained drug release. They are also very stable, easy to produce and scale up, and can be lyophilized or sterilized with no significant alterations to the release profile and stability. Because of this, lipid nanoparticles show a great potential to be an essential part of the new therapeutic technologies in ophthalmology to deliver synthetic and natural anti-inflammatory drugs. In fact, there is an increasing interest in natural bioactives with anti-inflammatory activities, and the use of nanoparticles for their site-specific delivery. It is therefore expected that, in the near future, many more studies will promote the development of new nanomedicines resulting in clinical studies of new drugs formulations.

Implicações da autonomia na recusa de vacinação contra a COVID-19: reflexões a partir do entendimento do Supremo Tribunal Federal / Implications of autonomy in the refusal of vaccination against COVID-19: reflectinguponthe Brazilian Supreme Court understanding / Implicaciones de la autonomía en el rechazo de la vacunación contra el COVID-19: reflexiones sobre la comprensión del Tribunal Supremo de Brasil

Objetivo: discutir as implicações da autonomia na obrigatoriedade da vacina contra a COVID-19 a partir de decisão do Supremo Tribunal Federal, correlacionando-as com a ética baseada em princípios. Metodologia: trata-se de uma pesquisa documental, pautada por decisões recentes do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) e bibliográfica, utilizando bases de dados científicas. Resultados: observou-se que a vacinação compulsória no Brasil vem sendo aplicada em vários períodos da história e configura uma medida que assegura os direitos fundamentais, como o direito à saúde. Em um cenário pandêmico, a autonomia do indivíduo perde o protagonismo frente às necessidades coletivas, já que o direito à saúde é individual e coletivo. Concomitantemente, a suposta restrição da liberdade individual respalda-se no fundamento do interesse coletivo à saúde e à dignidade da pessoa humana. Conclusão: a imunização da população brasileira deve ser abordada de forma segura e eficaz para o controle dessa crise sanitária.

Objective: to discuss the implications of autonomy in the mandatory vaccine against COVID-19 from a decision of the Federal Supreme Court correlated with ethics based on principles. Methods: this is a document analysis research, guided by recent decisions of the Supreme Court (STF) and bibliographic, using scientific databases. Results: compulsory vaccination in Brazil has been applied in various periods of history and configures a measure that ensures fundamental rights, such as the right to health. Even because, in a pandemic scenario, the autonomy of the individual loses its protagonism in the face of collective needs, since the right to health is individual and collective. Concomitantly, the alleged restriction of individual freedom is supported by the foundation of the collective interest in health and human dignity. Conclusion: the immunization of the Brazilian population must be approached in a safe and effective way to control this health crisis.

Objetivo: el estudio tuvo como objetivo discutir las implicaciones de la autonomía en la vacuna obligatoria contra el COVID-19 a partir de las decisiones del Supremo Tribunal Federal correlacionada con la ética basada en principios. Metodología: se trata de una investigación documental, guiada por decisiones recientes del Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) y bibliográfica, utilizando bases de datos científicas. Resultados: se observó que la vacunación obligatoria en Brasil se ha aplicado en varios períodos de la historia y configura una medida que garantiza derechos fundamentales, como el derecho a la salud. Además, en un entorno pandémico, la autonomía del individuo pierde el protagonismo frente a las necesidades colectivas, ya que el derecho a la salud es individual y colectivo. Concomitantemente, la supuesta restricción de la libertad individual se apoya en el fundamento del interés colectivo a la salud y la dignidad humana. Conclusión: la inmunización de la población brasileña debe ser abordada de forma segura y eficaz para controlar esta crisis sanitaria.

Factors Affecting the Retention Efficiency and Physicochemical Properties of Spray Dried Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lippia sidoides Essential Oil.

Essential oils (EOs) are widely used in various industrial sectors but can present several instability problems when exposed to environmental factors. Encapsulation technologies are effective solutions to improve EOs properties and stability. Currently, the encapsulation in lipid nanoparticles has received significant attention, due to the several recognized advantages over conventional systems. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the lipid matrix composition and spray-drying process on the physicochemical properties of the lipid-based nanoparticles loaded with Lippia sidoides EO and their retention efficiency for the oil. The obtained spray-dried products were characterized by determination of flow properties (Carr Index: from 25.0% to 47.93%, and Hausner ratio: from 1.25 to 1.38), moisture (from 3.78% to 5.20%), water activity (<0.5), and powder morphology. Zeta potential, mean particle size and polydispersity index, of the redispersed dried product, fell between -25.9 mV and -30.9 mV, 525.3 nm and 1143 nm, and 0.425 and 0.652, respectively; showing slight differences with the results obtained prior to spray-drying (from -16.4 mV to -31.6 mV; 147 nm to 1531 nm; and 0.459 to 0.729). Thymol retention in the dried products was significantly lower than the values determined for the liquid formulations and was affected by the drying of nanoparticles.

[Microbiologic evaluation of enteral diets handled in a hospital]. / Avaliação microbiológica de dietas enterais manipuladas em um hospital.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the microbiological quality of open enteral feeding system manipulated in a specialized hospital in oncology in the city of Natal-RN. METHODS: 20 samples of industrialized enteral feeding in open system had been analyzed. The searched microrganisms had been: Bacillus cereus, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Clostridium sulfite reducer, mesophilic aerobic bacteria and coagulase positive Staphylococci. The methodology used for accomplishment of the microbiological analyses was the praised one for the Food and Drug Administration--FDA. RESULTS: It was evidenced total coliforms, Escherichia coli and mesophilic aerobic bacteria contamination in 25%, 10% and 20% of the analyzed samples, respectively. It was not identified the presence of Bacillus cereus, Salmonella sp, Clostridium sulfite reducer, and coagulase positive Staphylococci in none of the analyzed samples. CONCLUSION: The gotten results show that the enteral feedings are in unsatisfactory hygienic-sanitary conditions, evidencing the necessity of a bigger control in the manipulation of the same ones.

Avaliação microbiológica de dietas enterais manipuladas em um hospital / Microbiologic evaluation of enteral diets done in hospital

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade microbiológica de dietas enterais em sistema aberto manipuladas em um hospital especializado em oncologia na cidade de Natal-RN. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas 20 amostras de dietas enterais industrializadas em sistema aberto. Os microrganismos pesquisados foram: Bacillus cereus, coliformes totais, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, Clostridium sulfito redutor, bactérias mesófilas aeróbias e Staphylococcus coagulase positiva. A metodologia empregada para realização das análises microbiológicas foi a preconizada pelo Food and Drug Administration - FDA. RESULTADOS: Foi evidenciada a contaminação por coliformes totais, Escherichia coli e bactérias mesófilas aeróbias em 25 por cento, 10 por cento e 20 por cento das amostras analisadas, respectivamente. Não foi identificada a presença de Bacillus cereus, Salmonella sp, Clostridium sulfito redutor, e Staphylococcus coagulase positiva em nenhuma das amostras analisadas. Conclusão: Os resultados obtidos mostram que as dietas enterais encontram-se em condições higiênico-sanitárias insatisfatórias, evidenciando a necessidade de um maior controle na manipulação das mesmas.

Comparação de picos de pressão em assento flexível em portadores de lesão medular e indivíduos normais: uma avaliação por interface de pressão / Comparison of peak pressure in flexible cushions in spinal cord injured and normal subjects: an interface pressure evaluation

As úlceras por pressão (UP) são complicações freqüentes em pacientes com lesão medular (LM). Estratégias de prevenção objetivam reduzir a magnitude ou duração da pressão, fricção e cisalhamento entre a pele e superfície de suporte. Para medir a eficácia destas superfícies utilizam-se medidas de interface de pressão. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar os índices de interface de pressão em assento flexível em pacientes lesados medulares. Um estudo transversal com 103 indivíduos com LM e 101 pessoas sadias foi realizado com o mapeamento dos picos de pressão por meio de um sistema de interface sensível em cadeira de rodas padrão, com almofada flexível. Dados antropométricos foram obtidos pelo exame físico para o cálculo do índice de massa corpórea (IMC). Os resultados confirmam os elevados índices de interface de pressão na amostra de pacientes com LM. Com o aumento do IMC em indivíduos não lesados medulares há uma diminuição dos picos de pressão, ou seja, melhor distribuição da força. Na amostra de pacientes com LM, observou-se que apesar do aumento do IMC, a maioria dos indivíduos mantém elevados índices de pressão na posição sentada. Não é possível contestar os estudos que relacionam picos de pressão, lesão medular e peso, pois na amostra estudada, indivíduos obesos ou com sobrepeso apresentam pequena representação.