Silver has been mainly investigated as an antibacterial agent and less as a fungicide in which concerns antimicrobial properties. In this research, the antifungal activity of composite films of pullulan and Ag nanoparticles (NP) against Aspergillus niger was evaluated using standard protocols. These new materials were prepared as transparent cast films (66-74 mu m thickness) from Ag hydrosols containing the polysaccharide. Fungal growth inhibition was observed in the presence of such silver nanocomposite films. Moreover, disruption of the spores cells of A. niger was probed for the first time by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This effect occurred in the presence of the nanocomposites due to Ag NP dispersed as fillers in pullulan. This polysaccharide was used here as a biocompatible matrix, hence making these nanocomposites beneficial for the development of antifungal packaging materials. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This work reports the development of extruded porcelain stoneware tiles that show antimicrobial (to act as a barrier to the bacteria's growth during a long period of time), and anti-stain (easy to clean) actions, and possess high chemical resistance. The antimicrobial action was proven through the reduction of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. Staining and chemical resistance were tested according to ISO 10545-14 and 10545-13 standards, respectively. The tiles promote a population reduction of over 77% and 81% for the S. aureus and the E. colt bacteria, respectively. The optimized product was obtained by adding 2.5 wt% of a black ceramic pigment to the industrially-prepared paste, followed by the application of a small quantity of glaze (by jet spraying). Chemical (solution of 98 wt% NaNO3 and 2 wt% AgNO3) and thermal (2 h at 430 degrees C) treatments were finally applied to get the active surface. In terms of anti-staining characteristics the tiles belong to class 5, while their chemical resistance is excellent (UA, ULA and UHA) against almost all aggressive agents, except for chloridric acid, 18% (v/v), for which a small surface attack (UHB) was observed. Furthermore, the treatments used (chemical and thermal) do not change the surface aspect of the product, and thus fulfil the industrial/commercial requirements. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

The first catalytic active composites based on CoAl2O4 nanoparticles with different size (5.5 and 2.5 nm) were successfully prepared using a simple methodology of incorporation into MIL-101(Cr) framework, CoAl-x@MIL(Cr). Characterization of CoAl-x@MIL(Cr) composites by elemental analysis, vibrational spectroscopy (FT-IR and FT-Raman), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the successful preparation and stability of the support structure after nanoparticle immobilization. A remarkable catalytic performance was found for thioanisole oxidation under sustainable conditions (95% of conversion after 30 min of reaction) and the catalytic application of the most active composite was extended to styrene oxidation. Higher catalytic performance was achieved for the composite prepared with larger CoAl2O4 nanoparticles. The recyclability and the stability of composites after catalytic use were investigated. For the CoAl-x@MIL(Cr) catalytic systems, the loading parameter instead of the nanoparticle size seemed to have a pronounced influence in the heterogeneous catalytic performance. The confinement effect promoted by MIL-101(Cr) cavities associated to the higher number of catalytic active centers (CoAl2O4) is clearly more important than the size of the catalytic nanoparticles used.

An in situ synthesis method for preparing silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) embedded in chitosan-polyethylene glycol (CS-PEG) membranes is disclosed. The aim is to develop implantable multifunctional devices for biofilm inhibition and drug release to reduce percutaneous device related complications (PDRCs). A multiple array of characterization techniques confirmed the formation of fluorescent AgNCs with sizes of similar to 3 nm uniformly distributed in CS-PEG matrix and their active role in determining the fraction and interconnectivity of the microporous membranes. The presence and increasing contents of AgNCs enhanced the mechanical stability of membranes and decreased their susceptibility to degradation in the presence of lysozyme and H2O2. Moreover, the presence and increasing concentrations of AgNCs hindered biofilm formation against Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) and enabled a sustainable release of an anti-inflammatory drug naproxen in vitro until 24 h. The overall results gathered and reported in this work make the AgNCs impregnated CS-PEG membranes highly promising multifunctional devices combining efficient antibacterial activity and biocompatibility with active local drug delivery.

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil clínico-epidemiológico – com base em parâmetros de capacidade respiratória funcional, dispneia, gravidade e características sociodemográficas – dos pacientes com DPOC acompanhados em um centro de referência em pneumologia de Alagoas. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo observacional e transversal, pautado na aplicação de questionário padronizado – Modified British Medical Research Council (mMRc), avaliação de prontuário e espirometria de pacientes previamente diagnosticados com DPOC no setor de Pneumologia do Hospital Universitário Professor Alberto Antunes (HUPAA). Resultados: Um total de 46 pacientes foram analisados obtendo-se um perfil de idosos do sexo feminino (63%) que possuíram ou possuem hábitos tabágicos (78,3%) e outras comorbidades, prevalentemente, de origem cardiovascular. Para avaliar a escala do Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) dos pacientes, o mMRC foi aplicado em conjunto com o número de exacerbações anuais da doença e classificados em A (52%), B (19,5%), C (2,1%) ou D (26%). Quanto a gravidade da doença, o Valor Expiratório Forçado no Primeiro Segundo (VEF1) esteve menor que 50% do valor predito em mais de 70% dos pacientes, com isso, considerados grave ou muito grave. Conclusão: O perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes enquadra-se aos estudos mundiais, com exceção da prevalência de mulheres em detrimento dos homens. Os pacientes possuem, relativamente, uma média qualidade de vida pautando-se pelo mMRC. Por outro lado, quanto a gravidade da doença, tem-se destaque para os pacientes com DPOC grave e muito grave.

Existem poucas evidências de que a ingestão de frutas e vegetais esteja relacionada com a melhora da função pulmonar em pacientes com Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica. Para avaliar a associação entre o consumo de frutas e vegetais e o estadiamento da doença, realizamos um estudo observacional e transversal onde foram avaliados 32 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 55 e 93 anos submetidos à avaliação clínica conforme o protocolo Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease – GOLD. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com a maior frequência de sintomas (A/C e B/D) e responderam um Questionário de Frequência Alimentar. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre o consumo de frutas em relação ao estadiamento da doença em ambos os grupos (p = 0,920 e p = 0,562). O mesmo resultado foi encontrado em relação ao consumo de vegetais (p = 0,064 e p = 0,483). O resultado deste estudo não mostrou associação significativa entre a frequência e a quantidade de consumo de frutas e vegetais com o estadiamento da doença.

OBJECTIVES: ,,,,,The prevalence of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to disease severity has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients according to disease severity. ,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,METHODS: ,,,,,The study included 25 mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and 25 severe/very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. All participants underwent clinical evaluation, spirometry and electrocardiography/echocardiography. ,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,RESULTS: ,,,,,Electrocardiography and echocardiography showed Q-wave alterations and segmental contractility in five (10%) patients. The most frequent echocardiographic finding was mild left diastolic dysfunction (88%), independent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage. The proportion of right ventricular overload (p<0.05) and blockage of the anterosuperior division of the left bundle branch were higher in patients with greater obstruction. In an echocardiographic analysis, mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients showed more abnormalities in segmental contractility (p<0.05), whereas severe/very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients showed a higher prevalence of right ventricular overload (p<0.05), increased right cardiac chamber (p<0.05) and higher values of E-wave deceleration time (p<0.05). Age, sex, systemic arterial hypertension, C-reactive protein and disease were included as independent variables in a multiple linear regression; only disease severity was predictive of the E-wave deceleration time [r2 = 0.26, p = 0.01]. ,,,, ,,,, ,,,,,CONCLUSION: ,,,,,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have a high prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, which is associated with disease severity. Because of this association, it is important to exclude decompensated heart failure during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.