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Several common age-related mechanisms and factors influence muscle and bone, affecting functionality of both tissues. Sarcopenia is closely linked with osteoporosis, and their combined effect may exacerbate negative health outcomes. Fall-related fractures are some of the most serious consequences of these two systemic pathologies, with hip fracture being a major complication affecting osteoporotic and sarcopenic elderly. This work aims to review the literature on the current state of knowledge about the relations between sarcopenia and osteoporosis and to present the association between sarcopenia and osteoporosis and the risk of hip fracture. A literature search was performed in PubMed and Scopus databases for articles with the predefined terms "sarcopenia," "muscular atrophy," "femoral fractures," "hip fractures," "osteoporosis," and "bone density." There is a growing and significant interest being directed to sarcopenia and associated risk for osteoporotic hip fracture, but there still is a notorious heterogeneity in the methodology and cohort size of the available studies. Collectively, most of the studies herein analyzed indicate that sarcopenia could be a predictor of risk for hip fracture. The simultaneous evaluation of sarcopenia and osteoporosis may be of importance in identifying those patients in higher risk of suffering an osteoporotic hip fracture and who could benefit from preventive or therapeutic interventions, or both.

Glucocorticoid (GC) drugs are the cornerstone therapy used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we report pH responsive poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)–poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMPC–PDPA) polymersomes as a suitable nanoscopic carrier to precisely and controllably deliver GCs within inflamed target cells. The in vitro cellular studies revealed that polymersomes ensure the stability, selectivity and bioavailability of the loaded drug within macrophages. At molecular level, we tested key inflammation-related markers, such as the nuclear factor-κB, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. With this, we demonstrated that pH responsive polymersomes are able to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of loaded GC drug. Overall, we prove the potential of PMPC–PDPA polymersomes to efficiently promote the inflammation shutdown, while reducing the well-known therapeutic limitations in GC-based therapy.

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Objective Skin health and beauty are a cornerstone of general well‐being in humans. Anti‐ageing cosmetics are used to provide a healthy and youthful appearance. Among the different cosmetic actives, antioxidants are incorporated in anti‐ageing products due to their beneficial effects in preventing and minimizing the signs of skin ageing. This work aims to understand how anti‐ageing formulations changed in the past 7 years regarding pure antioxidants composition. Methods Data were collected from anti‐ageing formulations commercialized in main stores and pharmacies in the Portuguese market. The study started on 2011 and was updated with products launched or whose composition has been renewed on 2013, 2015 or 2018. Results Ascorbic acid and tocopherol and their derivatives were consistently the most used antioxidants in anti‐ageing formulations; followed by niacinamide and retinyl palmitate. Seven ascorbic acid derivatives are currently used in anti‐ageing formulations while only three tocopherol derivatives were identified in this study. Several combinations of antioxidants were routinely found, mainly tocopherol (or tocopherol derivatives) with other antioxidants and tocopherol with tocopherol derivatives. We have not identified emerging antioxidants with great impact in anti‐ageing formulations even though niacinamide and retinyl palmitate exhibited over 10% more usage in 2018. Conclusion This insight is relevant to the cosmetic industry providing a better understanding of the scientific‐based formulation of modern cosmetics and supports the need for innovative antioxidants in anti‐ageing cosmetics.

The research aimed at determining, using surface response methodology, an optimal chocolate cake formulation when wheat flour was partially replaced with inulin and/or yacon meal. The yacon meal used in the formulation was prepared by using tuberous roots of yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia Poepp. & Endl.). The optimization indicated that a formulation with 20% of the wheat flour replaced with yacon meal, 153 mL of water and no inulin showed the best values for hardness (3.638 N), cohesiveness (0.691) and specific volume (1.86 cm 3 g )1 ). A formulation with 40% of the wheat flour replaced with yacon meal, 6% replaced with inulin and containing 126 mL of water showed similar values to the optimized formulation for the three responses mentioned earlier but, in addition, it had a greater content of fructooligosaccharides and inulin. Consequently, both formulations may give useful functional foods with physical parameters comparable with the control formulation.

HighlightsMeckel’s diverticulum is the most common congenital malformation of the gut.Several risk factors for developing symptomatic MD have been identified.Intestinal obstruction is the most common presenting symptom in adults.Pre-operative diagnosis remains elusive even with the appropriate imaging techniques.

Radial osteotomy is currently advocated for patients with Lichtman's stages II and IIIA of Kienböck's disease; its place in the treatment of patients with stage IIIB disease remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medium-term results of this procedure and to compare the outcome in patients with stage IIIB disease and those with earlier stages (II and IIIA). A total of 18 patients (18 osteotomies) were evaluated both clinically and radiologically at a mean follow-up of 10.3 years (4 to 18). Range of movement, grip strength and pain improved significantly in all patients; the functional score (Nakamura Scoring System (NSSK)) was high and self-reported disability (Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire) was low at the final follow-up in all patients evaluated. Patients with stage IIIB disease, however, had a significantly lower grip strength, lower NSSK scores and higher disability than those in less advanced stages. Radiological progression of the disease was not noted in either group, despite the stage. Radial osteotomy seems effective in halting the progression of disease and improving symptoms in stages II, IIIA and IIIB. Patients with less advanced disease should be expected to have better clinical results.