Redefining vascular repair: revealing cellular responses on PEUU-gelatin electrospun vascular grafts for endothelialization and immune responses on in vitro models.

Tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) poised for regenerative applications are central to effective vascular repair, with their efficacy being significantly influenced by scaffold architecture and the strategic distribution of bioactive molecules either embedded within the scaffold or elicited from responsive tissues. Despite substantial advancements over recent decades, a thorough understanding of the critical cellular dynamics for clinical success remains to be fully elucidated. Graft failure, often ascribed to thrombogenesis, intimal hyperplasia, or calcification, is predominantly linked to improperly modulated inflammatory reactions. The orchestrated behavior of repopulating cells is crucial for both initial endothelialization and the subsequent differentiation of vascular wall stem cells into functional phenotypes. This necessitates the TEVG to provide an optimal milieu wherein immune cells can promote early angiogenesis and cell recruitment, all while averting persistent inflammation. In this study, we present an innovative TEVG designed to enhance cellular responses by integrating a physicochemical gradient through a multilayered structure utilizing synthetic (poly (ester urethane urea), PEUU) and natural polymers (Gelatin B), thereby modulating inflammatory reactions. The luminal surface is functionalized with a four-arm polyethylene glycol (P4A) to mitigate thrombogenesis, while the incorporation of adhesive peptides (RGD/SV) fosters the adhesion and maturation of functional endothelial cells. The resultant multilayered TEVG, with a diameter of 3.0 cm and a length of 11 cm, exhibits differential porosity along its layers and mechanical properties commensurate with those of native porcine carotid arteries. Analyses indicate high biocompatibility and low thrombogenicity while enabling luminal endothelialization and functional phenotypic behavior, thus limiting inflammation in in-vitro models. The vascular wall demonstrated low immunogenicity with an initial acute inflammatory phase, transitioning towards a pro-regenerative M2 macrophage-predominant phase. These findings underscore the potential of the designed TEVG in inducing favorable immunomodulatory and pro-regenerative environments, thus holding promise for future clinical applications in vascular tissue engineering.

Aceite esencial de Arazá (Eugenia stipitata McVaugh) con actividad antibacteriana

Introducción: El Perú es uno de los países con mayor biodiversidad en especies botánicas, algunas con propiedades medicinales conocidas. Objetivo: Determinar el efecto antibacteriano del aceite esencial de las hojas de Eugenia stipitata McVaugh frente a Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 y Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis ATCC 13076. Métodos: Estudio de tipo básico con enfoque cuantitativo y experimental. Las plantas provienen del distrito de Belén, ciudad de Iquitos, Departamento de Loreto. La técnica para la extracción del aceite esencial fue la de arrastre de vapor y la técnica microbiológica para determinar el efecto antimicrobiano la de Kirby Bauer. Se trabajaron las muestras en 4 concentraciones 100, 75, 50 y un 25 %; un control negativo solo con dimetilsulfóxido, se utilizaron 5 repeticiones por cada muestra. Resultados: La muestra a concentración al 100 % tuvo actividad antibacteriana contra Staphylococcus aureus. La actividad del ensayo frente a Escherichia coli demostró ser efectiva en todas las muestras, sin embargo, se observó que los halos de inhibición de mayor diámetro se manifestaron en las muestras al 100 % y 75 %. Además, se evidenció actividad antibacteriana a concentraciones del 100 %, 75 % y un 50 % frente a Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis. Conclusiones: El aceite esencial de las hojas de Eugenia stipitata McVaugh presenta efecto antibacteriano frente a Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli y Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis.

Introduction: Peru is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in botanical species, some with known medicinal properties. Objective: To determine the antibacterial effect of the essential oil of Eugenia stipitata McVaugh leaves against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis ATCC 13076. Methods: Basic study with a quantitative and experimental approach. Plants came from the district of Belén, city of Iquitos, Department of Loreto. The technique for the extraction of the essential oil was steam dragging and the microbiological technique to determine the antimicrobial effect was Kirby Bauer's technique. The samples were worked in 4 concentrations 100, 75, 50 and 25 % and a negative control only with dimethyl sulfoxide, using 5 replicates for each sample. Results: The sample at 100 % concentration had antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The activity of the assay against Escherichia coli proved to be effective in all the samples, however, it was observed that the inhibition halos of greater diameter were manifested in the samples at 100 % and 75 %. In addition, antibacterial activity was evidenced at concentrations of 100 %, 75 % and 50 % against Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis. Conclusions: The essential oil of Eugenia stipitata McVaugh leaves has an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica sv Enteritidis.

A ação educativa realizada pelo assistente social no grupo de primeiro atendimento em um hospital de alta complexidade / The educational action carried out by the social worker in the first care group in a high complexity hospital

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo refere-se à dimensão da ação socioeducativa realizada pelos assistentes sociais no "grupo de atendimento aos pacientes de primeira consulta" em um hospital terciário especializado em cardiologia no Estado de São Paulo. Buscou-se analisar a contribuição da ação educativa do grupo de primeiro atendimento para assim aprimorar a ação educativa socializando a garantia de acessos aos direitos dos usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). OBJETIVO: Analisar a contribuição da ação educativa do grupo de primeiro atendimento em um hospital de alta complexidade realizada pela equipe do Serviço Social. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de cunho qualitativo/quantitativa com total de 36 participantes: (23) pacientes (13) funcionários da instituição. Os critérios para a participação foram: pacientes que participaram do grupo e funcionários envolvidos no processo do grupo de primeiro atendimento. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, exploratório e prospectivo que se valeu de uma abordagem individual. RESULTADOS: As respostas desta pesquisa foram divididas em quatro grupos (pacientes, médicos, assistentes sociais e equipe do Serviço de Arquivo Médico e Estatístico - SAME) todos envolvidos com o grupo de primeiro atendimento. Vale ressaltar que 83% dos pacientes entrevistados informaram estar muito satisfeitos ao participar do grupo de primeiro atendimento. O que se revelou também sobre a orientação a respeito da Lei N.10.241 sobre os direitos dos usuários dos serviços de saúde no Estado de São Paulo, foi o tema considerado de maior satisfação pelos pacientes em 73%, este tema em específico traz uma breve abordagem sobre cidadania, humanização e a lei que respalda os usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde, com o intuito de incentivar o paciente a ser o principal protagonista do seu tratamento de saúde e levar ao conhecimento de que o mesmo possui leis de proteção social. DISCUSSÃO: A pesquisa possibilitou identificar aspectos relevantes sobre a efetividade da ação educativa no que se refere ao acolhimento e acesso aos direitos. CONCLUSÃO: A referida ação educativa contribui para a viabilização do acesso aos direitos sociais, favorece o empoderamento no exercício da cidadania e fortalece a autonomia dos pacientes em tratamento da saúde cardiovascular. Palavras-Chaves: Serviço Social; Ação educativa; Acolhimento; Educação em Saúde.

Systemic lupus erythematosus phenotypes formed from machine learning with a specific focus on cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE: To phenotype SLE based on symptom burden (disease damage, system involvement and patient reported outcomes), with a specific focus on objective and subjective cognitive function. METHODS: SLE patients ages 18-65 years underwent objective cognitive assessment using the ACR Neuropsychological Battery (ACR-NB) and data were collected on demographic and clinical variables, disease burden/activity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, anxiety, fatigue and perceived cognitive deficits. Similarity network fusion (SNF) was used to identify patient subtypes. Differences between the subtypes were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests. RESULTS: Of the 238 patients, 90% were female, with a mean age of 41 years (s.d. 12) and a disease duration of 14 years (s.d. 10) at the study visit. The SNF analysis defined two subtypes (A and B) with distinct patterns in objective and subjective cognitive function, disease burden/damage, HRQoL, anxiety and depression. Subtype A performed worst on all significantly different tests of objective cognitive function (P < 0.03) compared with subtype B. Subtype A also had greater levels of subjective cognitive function (P < 0.001), disease burden/damage (P < 0.04), HRQoL (P < 0.001) and psychiatric measures (P < 0.001) compared with subtype B. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the complexity of cognitive impairment (CI) in SLE and that individual, multifactorial phenotypes exist. Those with greater disease burden, from SLE-specific factors or other factors associated with chronic conditions, report poorer cognitive functioning and perform worse on objective cognitive measures. By exploring different ways of phenotyping SLE we may better define CI in SLE. Ultimately this will aid our understanding of personalized CI trajectories and identification of appropriate treatments.

Failure Analysis of TEVG's II: Late Failure and Entering the Regeneration Pathway.

Tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) are a promising alternative to treat vascular disease under complex hemodynamic conditions. However, despite efforts from the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine fields, the interactions between the material and the biological and hemodynamic environment are still to be understood, and optimization of the rational design of vascular grafts is an open challenge. This is of special importance as TEVGs not only have to overcome the surgical requirements upon implantation, they also need to withhold the inflammatory response and sustain remodeling of the tissue. This work aims to analyze and evaluate the bio-molecular interactions and hemodynamic phenomena between blood components, cells and materials that have been reported to be related to the failure of the TEVGs during the regeneration process once the initial stages of preimplantation have been resolved, in order to tailor and refine the needed criteria for the optimal design of TEVGs.

Failure Analysis of TEVG's I: Overcoming the Initial Stages of Blood Material Interaction and Stabilization of the Immune Response.

Vascular grafts (VG) are medical devices intended to replace the function of a diseased vessel. Current approaches use non-biodegradable materials that struggle to maintain patency under complex hemodynamic conditions. Even with the current advances in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine with the tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs), the cellular response is not yet close to mimicking the biological function of native vessels, and the understanding of the interactions between cells from the blood and the vascular wall with the material in operative conditions is much needed. These interactions change over time after the implantation of the graft. Here we aim to analyze the current knowledge in bio-molecular interactions between blood components, cells and materials that lead either to an early failure or to the stabilization of the vascular graft before the wall regeneration begins.

Cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities of amphibian (anuran) skin extracts on human acute monocytic leukemia cells.

The use of preparations derived from frog skins for curative purposes antedates research history and is perpetuated in current medicine. The skins of anuran's (frogs and toads) are a rich source of compounds with a great importance in the search of antibiotics, analgesics, immunomodulators, enzymatic inhibitors and antitumoral agents applying to human health. Nowadays, cancer is the second most common cause of mortality with more than 8.2 million of deaths worldwide per year. Acute monocytic leukemia is the subtype M5 of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) a cancer type with reduced survival rates in patients. The monocyte to macrophage differentiation plays an essential role increasing the expansion of AML cell lines. Herein we studied the cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities of eleven amphibian species of three families belonging to Argentinean zones, against THP-1 monocytes and THP-1 macrophages acute monocytic leukemia cell lines. The evaluated species showed pronounced deleterious effects on acute monocytic leukemia THP-1 cell lines, reducing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis, autophagy and in some cases cell aggregation. Being this work of great importance for the study of new natural anti-cancer compounds.

Understanding human salivary esterase activity and its variation under wine consumption conditions.

Salivary esterase enzymes have been related to the in vitro hydrolysis of carboxylic esters associated with fruity and pleasant aroma nuances in many types of wine. However, very little is known about human total salivary esterase activity (TSEA) under physiological conditions. The purpose of this study is to gain understanding of TSEA and its relevance under wine consumption conditions. To do this, a methodology for TSEA measurement was optimised and applied to examine inter-individual differences (n = 10). Furthermore, TSEA was correlated with other salivary parameters (flow, pH, total protein content). The effect of the oral exposure to different types of wine-like solutions with different composition (ethanol, phenolic and aroma compounds) on TSEA was also assessed. Results showed large inter-individual differences, up to 86%, on TSEA values. Additionally, TSEA was positively correlated with the total salivary protein content (TPC) and negatively correlated with salivary pH and flow. After the oral exposure to wine-like solutions, the combined presence of ethanol, carboxylic esters and phenolic compounds produced the highest TSEA value. Results from this work prove that human salivary esterase is active during wine consumption, and adds support to the involvement of this enzymatic activity on wine aroma perception during wine intake, which will require future studies.

Revisión sistemática para el abordaje de síntomas desagradables gastrointestinales en cuidados paliativos / Systematic review for addressing uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms in palliative care / Revisão sistemática para a abordagem dos sintomas gastrointestinais desagradáveis em cuidados paliativos

Resumen Introducción Este artículo de revisión sistemática pretende examinar en detalle la evidencia cientifica para el abordaje desde la enfermería, en el manejo de síntomas desagradables, gastrointestinales tales como: síndrome anorexia caquexia, disfagia, náuseas y vómito enfocado al cuidado paliativo, basados en el referente teórico del modelo revisado del manejo de síntomas de Marylin J. Dodd. Materiales y Métodos La estrategia que se realizó fue la del sistema PICO, metodológicamente se estableció una pregunta la cual se contesta con la selección de los artículos que se realizó, continuando con la revisión sistemática se aplica la declaración (PRISMA), la investigación de los artículos fue realizada en las bases de datos Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Pubmed, Dialnet, Ebscohost, ProQuest y Elsevier. Dentro de los criterios de inclusión, se tuvo en cuenta principalmente los artículos que fomentan el manejo de los síntomas gastrointestinales en cuidado paliativo. Resultados A pesar de que se evidencia los avances en conocimiento, se identifica que son insuficientes los estudios en este campo, mostrando la necesidad y la obligación de desarrollar el manejo y control de los síntomas desagradables gastrointestinales, el manejo del síntoma debe ser basado en: la experiencia del síntoma desde la percepción, evaluación y respuesta. Discusión La evidencia muestra las diferentes maneras de abordar los síntomas desagradables gastrointestinales, con una mirada holística, en constante movimiento, resaltando que se debe intervenir, desde la dimensión espiritual, física y social. Conclusiones La intención es contribuir con evidencia científica para abordar los síntomas desagradables gastrointestinales.

Abstract Introduction This systematic review article aims to examine in detail the scientific evidence from a nursing perspective in the management of uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia-cachexia syndrome, dysphagia, nausea and vomiting, focused on palliative care and based on the theoretical reference of the Revised Symptom Management Model of Marylin J. Dodd. Materials and Methods PICO strategy was used. Methodologically, a question was posed whose answer was provided in the selection of the articles made. Following the systematic review, the PRISMA statement was applied. Article research was conducted through Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PubMed, Dialnet, EBSCOhost, ProQuest and Elsevier databases. As inclusion criteria, articles promoting the management of gastrointestinal in palliative care were mainly considered. Results Although advances in knowledge are evident, it was identified that field-related studies are insufficient, showing the need and the obligation to work on the management and control of uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms management should be based on the experience of symptoms from its perception, evaluation and response. Discussion The evidence indicates the different ways of addressing uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms under an ever-changing holistic view, emphasizing that it is necessary to intervene from spiritual, physical and social dimensions. Conclusions The purpose is to contribute by means of scientific evidence to addressing uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms.

Resumo Introdução Este artigo de revisão sistemática objetiva examinar detalhadamente a evidência científica para a abordagem sob a perspectiva da enfermagem do manejo de sintomas gastrointestinais desagradáveis como: síndrome anoréxico, caquexia, disfagia, náuseas e vómitos com foco no cuidado paliativo, baseados no referente teórico do modelo de manejo de sintomas de Marylin J. Dodd. Materiais e Métodos A estratégia utilizada foi aquela do sistema PICO, metodologicamente foi estabelecida uma pergunta que foi respondida a partir da seleção dos artigos que foi realizada, continuando com a revisão sistemática aplicou-se a declaração (PRISMA), a pesquisa dos artigos foi realizada nos bancos de dados Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Pubmed, Dialnet, Ebscohost, ProQuest e Elsevier. Dentro dos critérios de inclusão, foram considerados principalmente os artigos que promovem o manejo dos sintomas gastrointestinais em cuidados paliativos. Resultados Apesar da constatação de avances no conhecimento, verifica-se que os estudos neste campo são insuficientes, o que demonstra a necessidade e a obrigação de desenvolver o manejo e controle dos sintomas gastrointestinais desagradáveis, o manejo do sintoma deve estar baseado: na experiência do sintoma a partir da percepção, avaliação e resposta. Discussão A evidência demonstra as diferentes maneiras de tratar os sintomas gastrointestinais desagradáveis, sob um olhar holístico, em constante movimento, salientando que a intervenção deve ser feita a partir da dimensão espiritual, física e social. Conclusões O trabalho visa contribuir com evidência científica para o manejo dos sintomas gastrointestinais desagradáveis.

The Rare and Challenging Presentation of Gastric Cancer during Pregnancy: A Report of Three Cases

Pregnancy-associated gastric cancer is extremely rare. In many cases, it is diagnosed at an advanced stage because the symptoms during pregnancy are generally overlooked. We report three cases of gastric cancer during pregnancy with various outcomes. The first case included a patient with stage IV gastric cancer who received palliative chemotherapy. This patient had a preterm birth and died 7 months after diagnosis. The second case received neoadjuvant chemotherapy during pregnancy and a total gastrectomy was performed after delivery. She then received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. This patient developed pulmonary metastasis and died of recurrence 41 months after surgery. In the third case, a distal subtotal gastrectomy was performed at week 14 of pregnancy, with no complications. The patient received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. She is currently without recurrence 14 months after surgery. In patients with pregnancy-associated gastric cancer, treatment decisions are predominantly influenced by clinical stage and gestational age at diagnosis.

Interobserver variance in myelodysplastic syndromes with less than 5 % bone marrow blasts: unilineage vs. multilineage dysplasia and reproducibility of the threshold of 2 % blasts.

Previous studies have shown the reproducibility of the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) classification in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), especially when multilineage dysplasia or excess of blasts are present. However, there are few data regarding the reproducibility of MDS with unilineage dysplasia. The revised International Prognostic Scoring System R-IPSS described two new morphological categories, distinguishing bone marrow (BM) blast cell count between 0-2 % and >2- < 5 %. This distinction is critical for establishing prognosis, but the reproducibility of this threshold is still not demonstrated. The objectives of our study were to explore the reliability of the 2008 WHO classification, regarding unilineage vs. multilineage dysplasia, by reviewing 110 cases previously diagnosed with MDS, and to study whether the threshold of ≤2 % BM blasts is reproducible among different observers. We used the same methodology as in our previous paper [Font et al. (2013) Ann Hematol 92:19-24], by encouraging investigators to include patients with <5 % BM blasts. Samples were collected from 11 hospitals and were evaluated by 11 morphologists. Each observer evaluated 20 samples, and each sample was analyzed independently by two morphologists. Discordance was observed in 36/108 suitable cases (33 %, kappa test 0.503). Diagnosis of MDS with unilineage dysplasia (refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia (RCUD), refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS) or unclassifiable MDS) was assessed in 33 patients, by either of the two observers. We combined this series with the cases with RCUD or RARS included in our 2013 paper, thus obtaining 50 cases with unilineage dysplasia by at least one of the observers. The whole series showed very low agreement regarding RCUD (5/23, 21 %) and RARS (5/28, 18 %). Regarding BM blast count, the threshold of ≤2 % was not reproducible (discordance rate 32/108 cases, kappa test 0.277). Our study shows that among MDS WHO 2008 categories, interobserver discordance seems to be high in cases with unilineage dysplasia. We also illustrate that the threshold of ≤2 % BM blasts as settled by the R-IPSS may be not easy to reproduce by morphologists in real practice.

Rituximab en población pediátrica: experiencia en el tratamiento de enfermedades reumatológicas, en unhospital infantil de Medellín, Colombia / Rituximab in pediatric population: Experience of rheumatic diseases treatment in a children's hospital in Medellín, Colombia

Introducción: En niños, diferentes series han encontrado que rituximab es eficaz y seguro entrombocitopenia y anemia hemolítica autoinmunes; no obstante, los estudios en lupus eritematososistémico (LES) de inicio temprano, dermatomiositis juvenil (DMJ) y en vasculitis sistémicasson escasos.Objetivo y métodos: Describir la respuesta clínica a rituximab en pacientes ≤18 años conenfermedad reumatológica, evaluados en un hospital infantil de Medellín, Colombia. Serie decasos en la que se revisó la historia clínica de pacientes con LES, síndrome antifosfolípido, DMJy vasculitis sistémicas que recibieron rituximab entre enero de 2006 y julio de 2011.Resultados: En el tiempo establecido 19 pacientes ≤18 años recibieron rituximab. La indicaciónmás frecuente fue nefritis lúpica (NL) (47,4%), seguida por trombocitopenia autoinmune (26,3%).En pacientes con NL se lograron reducir los esteroides en 58% y el control de la proteinuria en lamayoría de los casos. En trombocitopenia o anemia hemolítica autoinmune se observó respuestaadecuada en el 83%. En los casos de vasculitis se encontró respuesta a la terapia pero la pacientecon DMJ fue refractaria. No se presentaron eventos adversos.Conclusiones: con rituximab se observó mejoría en anemia hemolítica asociada a LES y trombocitopeniaasociada a LES o síndrome antifosfolípido, que no habían respondido a terapia de primeralínea. Aunque en NL mostró efecto clínico favorable y permitió ahorro de dosis de esteroides, serequieren estudios prospectivos para evaluar la utilidad en pacientes con NL ≤18 años.

Artritis indiferenciada: experiencia en dos Centros ambulatorios de reumatología, Medellín, Colombia / Undifferentiated arthritis: experience in two outpatient center of rheumatology, Medellin, Colombia

Introducción: La prevalencia de la artritis indiferenciada en cohortes de artritis de reciente comienzo ha sido variable (23%-56%). Hasta el 54% de los pacientes entra espontáneamente en remisión, 30% evoluciona a artritis reumatoide u otra enfermedad articular inflamatoria definida y 20% continúa con artritis indiferenciada. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y el comportamiento, en el tiempo, de la artritis indiferenciada en pacientes de dos centros de reumatología de Medellín, Colombia. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes con diagnóstico de artritis indiferenciada, con al menos 6 meses de seguimiento, evaluados a mayo de 2011, en Reumatologya S.A. y Clínica Las Vegas. Se analizaron variables demográficas, clínicas y de laboratorio. Resultados: Se incluyeron 61 historias clínicas. La afección fue monoarticular en el 36,1%, oligoarticular en el 27,9% y poliarticular en el 36,1%. En el 75,4% se estableció una enfermedad articular inflamatoria definida (26,2% artritis reumatoide, 16,4% artropatía por pirofosfato de calcio, 6,6% artropatía por cristales de urato monosódico, 6,6% espondiloartropatía seronegativa, 4,9% osteoartritis erosiva, y 14,5% otras). Conclusiones: Durante el seguimiento, el 24,6% de los pacientes continuó con diagnóstico de artritis indiferenciada. La artritis se autolimitó en el 6,6% de los pacientes y en el 75,4% restante se estableció una enfermedad articular inflamatoria definida. Si bien el diseño y tamaño de la muestra del estudio son insuficientes para definir asociaciones estadísticamente significativas, los hallazgos aportan al conocimiento del comportamiento de la artritis indiferenciada en Colombia.