Antibacterial and osteoinductive properties of wollastonite scaffolds impregnated with propolis produced by additive manufacturing.

Biocompatible ceramic scaffolds offer a promising approach to address the challenges in bone reconstruction. Wollastonite, well-known for its exceptional biocompatibility, has attracted significant attention in orthopedics and craniofacial fields. However, the antimicrobial properties of wollastonite have contradictory findings, necessitating further research to enhance its antibacterial characteristics. This study aimed to explore a new approach to improve in vitro biological response in terms of antimicrobial activity and cell proliferation by taking advantage of additive manufacturing for the development of scaffolds with complex geometries by 3D printing using propolis-modified wollastonite. The scaffolds were designed with a TPMS (Triply Periodic Minimal Surface) gyroid geometric shape and 3D printed prior to impregnation with propolis extract. The paste formulation was characterized by rheometric measurements, and the presence of propolis was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The scaffolds were comprehensively assessed for their mechanical strength. The biological characterization involved evaluating the antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, employing Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Zone of Inhibition (ZOI), and biofilm formation assays. Additionally, SaOs-2 cultures were used to study cell proliferation (Alamar blue assay), and potential osteogenic was tested (von Kossa, Alizarin Red, and ALP stainings) at different time points. Propolis impregnation did not compromise the mechanical properties of the scaffolds, which exhibited values comparable to human trabecular bone. Propolis incorporation conferred antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The implementation of TPMS gyroid geometry in the scaffold design demonstrated favorable cell proliferation with increased metabolic activity and osteogenic potential after 21 days of cell cultures.

Avaliação da técnica de Millard associada à zetaplastia no tratamento de portadores de fenda labial unilateral / Evaluation of the Millard technique associated with zetaplasty in the treatment of patients with unilateral cleft lip

Introdução: As fendas labiais são deformidades congênitas muito comuns e acometem em grau variável as partes moles e estruturas ósseas do terço médio da face. O tratamento cirúrgico deve ser precoce e segue um protocolo que varia de acordo com o centro de referência. As técnicas cirúrgicas de queiloplastia são inúmeras e, dentre elas, uma das mais utilizadas é a de Millard. O objetivo é avaliar a técnica de Millard tipo I associada a uma zetaplastia da mucosa (técnica empregada pelo autor) como cirurgia de escolha na queiloplastia primária dos pacientes portadores de fenda labial unilateral, entendendo que a técnica é adequada se o número de cirurgias secundárias (reoperações) for baixo. Métodos: Foram operados 65 pacientes por essa técnica no período de janeiro de 2007 a dezembro de 2012 em Santos. Todos acompanhados por no mínimo quatro anos. Resultados: Dos 65 pacientes, 10 (15%) foram considerados "resultados insatisfatórios" e reoperados. Conclusão: Queiloplastia primária à Millard tipo I associada a zetaplastia é adequada, com um número de reoperações baixo e semelhantes aos da literatura atual.

Introduction: Cleft lips are very common congenital deformities that affect, in varying degrees, the soft tissues and bone structures of the middle third of the face. Surgical treatment should be performed early and a protocol must be followed, which varies according to the reference center. There are numerous surgical techniques for lip repair, and among them, the Millard technique is the most used. The objective is to evaluate the association of the Millard type I with zetaplasty mucosal technique (used by the author) as the surgery of choice for primary lip repair in patients with unilateral cleft lip, and to understand whether the techniques are appropriate when the number of second surgeries (reoperation) is low. Methods: Sixty-five patients underwent operations by this technique from January 2007 to December 2012 in Santos, all of whom were followed for at least four years. Results: Of the 65 patients, 10 (15%) were considered to present "unsatisfactory results" and underwent reoperation. Conclusion: Primary cheiloplasty with zetaplasty-associated Millard type I is appropriate when the number of reoperations is low, and our results agree with the current literature.

Morphological Findings in Trophozoites during Amoebic Abscess Development in Misoprostol-Treated BALB/c Mice.

During amoebic liver abscess (ALA) formation in susceptible animals, immune response is regulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) dependent mechanisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of misoprostol (MPL), a PGE1 analogue, on ALA formation in BALB/c mice. Male mice from BALB/c strain were intrahepatically infected with 7.5 × 10(5) trophozoites of E. histolytica strain HM1:IMSS and treated with 10(-4) M of MPL daily until sacrifice at 2, 4, and 7 days postinfection (p.i.). ALA formation was evaluated at 2, 4, and 7 days postinfection; trophozoite morphology was analyzed using immunohistochemistry and image analysis. Results showed an increase in frequency of ALA formation in infected and MPL-treated mice only at 2 days p.i. (P = 0.03). A significant diminution in the size of trophozoites was detected in abscesses from mice independently of MPL treatment (from 5.8 ± 1.1 µm at 2 days p.i. to 2.7 ± 1.9 µm at 7 days p.i.) compared with trophozoites dimensions observed in susceptible hamsters (9.6 ± 2.7 µm) (P < 0.01). These results suggest that MPL treatment may modify the adequate control of inflammatory process to allow the persistence of trophozoites in the liver; however, natural resistance mechanisms cannot be discarded.

Tromboprofilaxis en pacientes hospitalizados, ¿estamos haciendo lo correcto? / Thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients, are we doing the right thing?

Introducción: El tromboembolismo venoso conlleva una alta morbimortalidad en pacientes hospitalizados. Existe contundente evidencia sobre la costo-efectividad de la tromboprofilaxis, y no realizarla, se considera una práctica médica insegura. Materiales y métodos: Este estudio trasversal se realizó para evaluar la presencia de factores de riesgo y la realización de profilaxis para trombosis venosa profunda y embolismo pulmonar en pacientes hospitalizados en los servicios de medicina interna, gineco-obstetricia y quirúrgicas del Hospital Universitario San Jorge, en Pereira, Colombia, entre agosto de 2009 y marzo de 2010. Resultados: De 210 pacientes sólo el 29,5 % recibió profilaxis farmacológica pese a que hasta un 57,6% presentaron tres o más factores de riesgo para tromboembolismo venoso. Prácticamente la mitad de los pacientes de los servicios de medicina interna (47%) y de cirugía (56,3%) fueron clasificados como “alto o muy alto riesgo”. El servicio de cirugía fue el que más pacientes de muy alto riesgo albergó (81,8%); sin embargo, no recibieron tromboprofilaxis un 86% de estos pacientes. En contraste, el servicio de Medicina Interna fue el que realizó tromboprofilaxis de tipo farmacológico con más frecuencia (75,8% de los pacientes en este servicio la recibieron), mientras que en el servicio de gineco-Obstetricia solo un 2,7% de las pacientes la recibieron. Del total de pacientes que recibieron profilaxis farmacológica, un 4,3% no tenía indicación. Discusión: El análisis mostró que ser hospitalizado en el servicio de quirúrgica o de gineco-obstetricia de este institución se convierte en un factor de riesgo para no recibir tromboprofilaxis (p<0,001). Este estudio demuestra la necesidad de aplicar estrategias para que los médicos comprendan la importancia de la tromboprofilaxis y la apliquen de acuerdo con las guías mundialmente aceptadas.

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are important causes of morbidity and mortality in medically ill and surgical patients. There is a large body of evidence about the benefit of thromboprophylaxis and its cost-effectiveness, no performing prophylaxis is considered an unsafe medical care. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done to assess risk factors and prophylaxis given for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in newly admitted medically ill and surgical patients during August 2009 to March 2010, in a tertiary teaching care center hospital in Colombia (Hospital Universitario San Jorge). Results: Only 29.5 percent out of 210 patients were given pharmacological prophylaxis, despite more than a half patients (57.6%) had three or more venous thromboembolism risk factors. Most of very high risk patients (81.8%) were at the surgical ward. The 47% and the 56,3 were classified as having high or very high risk in the internal medicine and surgical ward respectively. However, 86% of patients at surgical ward, and 97.3% at gynecology and obstetrics ward, did not receive prophylaxis, as long as, at internal medicine ward, more than a half patients did receive it (75.8%). Only 4.3% of patients were given prophylaxis without indication. Discussion: Most of patients who did not receive pharmacological prophylaxis were at surgical ward (41.2%) and gynecology and obstetrics ward (48%) and being admitted in these becomes a risk factor for not receiving thromboprophylaxis (p<0.001). This study underlines the need to aggressively implement venous thromboembolism risk stratification strategy in medical and surgical patients and provide prophylaxis according to the published guidelines.

Una propuesta attropológica para la comprensiónde la resiliencia en niños: lass virtudes humanas / An anthropologiaal proposal to understand children's resilience: human virtues / Uma proposta antropológica para a compreensão da resiliência nas crianças: as virtudes humanas

El abordaje de la resiliencia ha tenido algunas modificaciones a lo largo de los años. En un principio, se enfocaba en los aspectos negativos que las personas generaban en medio de la adversidad. Posteriormente, se ha centrado en las características positivas que pueden desarrollarse como producto de estas situaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en generar una reflexión sobre la manera de comprender y conceptualizar la resiliencia desde diferentes perspectivas teóricas y así generar una nueva manera de entenderla de acuerdo con las virtudes humanas desde la antropología filosófica. Para cumplir con este propósito, se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura empírico-analítica de los estudios que proponían una manera de evaluar y medir este concepto. Aunque existen algunas propuestas para medir la resiliencia desde diferentes disciplinas, ninguno de los estudios previos tuvo en cuenta las virtudes humanas como indicadores de resiliencia desde la antropología filosófica.

The approach to resilience has undergone several changes over the years. Initially, it concentrated on the negative aspects persons generate in the midst of adversity. Subsequently, the focus has been on the positive characteristics that may develop as a result of these situations. The aim of this study is to reflect on how resilience can be understood and conceptualized from different theoretical perspectives and, thus, to find new ways to understand it based on human virtues from the perspective of philosophical anthropology. To do so, the authors reviewed empirical-analytic literature on studies that propose ways to assess and measure this concept. Although there are some proposals to measure resilience through different disciplines, none of the previous studies took into account human virtues as indicators of resilience from the standpoint of philosophical anthropology.

A abordagem da resiliência vem tendo algumas modificações ao longo dos anos. Em um princípio, enfocava-se nos aspectos negativos que as pessoas geravam em meio da adversidade. Posteriormente, centrou-se nas características positivas que podem se desenvolver como produto dessas situações. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em gerar uma reflexão sobre a maneira de compreender e conceitualizar a resiliência sob diferentes perspectivas teóricas e, assim, gerar uma nova maneira de entendê-la de acordo com as virtudes humanas a partir da antropologia filosófica. Para atingir este propósito, realizou-se uma revisão da literatura empírico-analítica dos estudos que propunham uma maneira de avaliar e medir este conceito. Embora existam algumas propostas para medir a resiliência desde diferentes disciplinas, nenhum dos estudos prévios considerou as virtudes humanas como indicadores de resiliência a partir da antropologia filosófica.