This work reports the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) functionalized with tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane (F13) and their in situ incorporation onto cotton textiles. The hybrid MSNs and the functional textiles were prepared by a one-pot co-condensation methodology between tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and F13, with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as the template and triethanolamine as the base. The influence of the F13 to TEOS molar ratio (1:10, 1:5 and 1:3) on the nanoparticle morphology, porosity, degree of functionalization, and hydro/oleophobic properties is discussed. The hybrid nanosilicas presented high colloidal stability and were spherical and monodispersed with average particle size of ∼45 nm. They also showed high surface areas, large pore volumes, and a wormhole-type mesoporous structure. The increase in the organosilane proportion during the co-condensation process led to a more radially branched wormhole-like mesoporosity, a decrease in the surface area, pore volume, and amount of surface silanol groups, and an enrichment of the surface with fluorocarbon moieties. These changes imparted hydrophobic and oleophobic properties to the materials, especially to that containing the highest F13 loading. Cotton textiles were coated with the F13-MSNs through an efficient and less time-consuming route. The combination between surface roughness and mesoporosity imparted by the MSNs, and the low surface energy provided by the organosilane resulted in superhydrophobic functional textiles. Moreover, the textile with the highest loading of fluorocarbon groups was superamphiphobic.

-This study focuses on the ophiuroids collected during the Programme of Evaluation of the Living Resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone for the Brazilian coast (REVIZEE), South Score/Benthos, in the states of Rio de Janeiro (Ilha Grande Bay), São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul (Tramandaí) (24° 07,113' S and 29° 48,500' S; and 43° 46,759' W and 49° 06,800' W). Samples were collected on the continental shelf and slope (60-810 m) using the following equipment: van Veen, box corer and a rectangular dredge. Individuals were identified, measured and photographed under a stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope. Growth series of the species that contributed with more than 10 individuals were analysed. A total of 5044 individuals were collected and were represented by 29 species, which belonged to seven families. The most abundant species were Ophiura ljungmani and Ophiomisidium pulchellum, which represented 79.7% of the total number of individuals. The analyses and description of species as well as the organization of the growth series allowed the verification that some characteristics of morphological structures used for the identification of the group remain unaltered throughout the life of the organism, whilst others undergo alterations. We recorded two new occurrences for the Brazilian coast: Ophiostriatus striatus and Amphilimna mirabilis. The ophiuroid fauna is composed of species with wide distribution along the Brazilian coast, such as Ophiothrix angulata and Amphipholis squamata, species with occurrence restricted to certain areas, such as Ophioleptoplax brasiliana and Nudamphiura carvalhoi. Most species were collected within the bathymetry limits previously described for them.Keywords -taxonomy; Ophiuroidea; geographical distribution; bathymetric distribution; Brazil.Resumo -Este estudo foca os ofiuróides coletados durante o Programa de Avaliação do Potencial Sustentável dos Recursos Vivos da Zona Econômica Exclusiva (REVIZEE), Score Sul/Bentos, nos estados de Rio de Janeiro (Baía de Ilha Grande), São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul (Tramandaí) (24° 07.113' S e 29° 48.500' S; e 43° 46.759' W e 49° 06.800' W). As amostras foram coletadas na plataforma e talude continental (60-810 m de profundidade) usando os seguintes equipamentos: van Veen, "box corer" e uma draga retangular. Os indivíduos foram identificados, medidos e fotografados em um estereomicroscópio e um microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Séries de crescimento das espécies com mais de 10 exemplares foram analisadas. Do total de 5044 indivíduos, foram identificadas e descritas 29 espécies pertencentes a sete famílias, sendo que as mais abundantes foram Ophiura ljungmani e Ophiomisidium pulchellum, representando 79,7 % do total amostrado. A análise e descrição das espécies assim como a organização das séries de crescimento, permitiram constatar que algumas estruturas morfológicas utilizadas para a identificação do grupo permanecem inalteradas durante toda vida do organismo, enquanto outras ...

Infectious diseases are a major global concern being responsible for high morbidity and mortality mainly due to the development and enhancement of multidrug-resistant microorganisms exposing the fragility of medicines and vaccines commonly used to these treatments. Taking into account the scarcity of effective formulation to treat infectious diseases, nanotechnology offers a vast possibility of groundbreaking platforms to design new treatment through smart nanostructures for drug delivery purposes. Among the available nanosystems, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) stand out due their multifunctionality, biocompatibility and tunable properties make them emerging and actual nanocarriers for specific and controlled drug release. Considering the high demand for diseases prevention and treatment, this review exploits the MSNs fabrication and their behavior in biological media besides highlighting the most of strategies to explore the wide MSNs functionality as engineered, smart and effective controlled drug release nanovehicles for infectious diseases treatment.

Hybrid nanomaterials based on the covalent grafting of silylated naphthopyrans (NPTs) onto silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) were successfully prepared and studied as new photochromic materials. They were prepared by a two-step protocol consisting of (i) NPTs (derivatives from 2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran (2H-NPT) and 3H-naphtho[2,1-b]pyran (3H-NPT)) silylation by a microwave-assisted reaction between hydroxyl-substituted NPTs and 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate, followed by (ii) covalent post-grafting onto SiO2 NPs. In order to study the role of the silylation step, the analogous non-silylated nanomaterials were also prepared by direct adsorption of NPTs. The characterization techniques confirmed the successful NPTs silylation and subsequent grafting to SiO2 NPs. All SiO2-based nanomaterials revealed photoswitching behavior, following a biexponential decay. The SiO2 NPs functionalized with silylated 3H-NPTs (SiO2@S3 and SiO2@S4) presented the most promising photochromic properties, showing fast coloration/decoloration kinetics (coloring in 1 min under UV irradiation and fading in only 2 min) and high values of total color difference (ΔE*ab = 30-50). Also, the 2H-NPTs-based SiO2 NPs (SiO2@S1 and SiO2@S2) presented fast coloration and good color contrasts (ΔE*ab = 54), but slower fading kinetic rates, taking more than 2 h to return to their initial color. In contrast, the SiO2 NPs functionalized with non-silylated NPTs (SiO2@1 and SiO2@3) showed weaker color contrasts (ΔE*ab = 6-10) and slower fading kinetics, proving that the NPT silylation step was crucial to enhance the photochromic behavior of SiO2 NPs based on NPTs. Furthermore, the silylated-based nanomaterials showed good photostability upon prolonged UV light exposure, keeping their photochromic performance unchanged for at least 12 successive UV/dark cycles, anticipating interesting technological applications in several areas.

Our results suggest that both the choroidal and retinal macula are altered in Huntington's disease and may become useful biomarkers for monitoring neurodegeneration in this disease. The involvement of the choroid may also support the recent findings of vascular involvement in Huntington's disease.

RESUMOIntrodução: A estimulação cerebral profunda (ECP) é eficaz na doença de Parkinson (DP) avançada, melhorando sintomas motores, flutuações e a qualidade de vida. No entanto, têm sido reportados efeitos adversos psiquiátricos, mas de uma forma variável e não padronizada. O objectivo deste artigo é analisar e sumarizar a evidência publicada sobre sintomas depressivos e ansiedade em doentes com DP após ECP, através de revisão sistemática e meta-análise. Material e Métodos: A PubMed foi pesquisada até Maio 2012 para identificar os estudos que avaliaram sintomas depressivos e ansiedade em doentes com doença de Parkinson submetidos a estimulação cerebral profunda bilateral do núcleo subtalâmico (NST) ou globo pálido interno (GPi). Foram feitas meta-análises com modelo de efeitos aleatórios para grupos de pelo menos três estudos homogéneos em relação ao desenho e instrumentos utilizados. Resultados: Foram selecionadas 63 referências; 98,4% continham dados relativos a escalas de avaliação de depressão e 38,1% relativos a ansiedade. Dois estudos não discriminavam o alvo usado; nos restantes 61 foi feita avaliação de curto prazo em 37 (60,7%), de médio prazo em 36 (59,0%) e de longo prazo em 5 (8,2%). Foram encontrados dados sobre variação pré/pós operatória em 57 (93,4%) estudos e 16 (26,2%) continham dados comparando ECP-NST versus outros grupos: ECP-GPi (n = 4 estudos, 25,0%), elegíveis para cirurgia (n = 6, 37,5%), e tratamento médico (n = 7, 43,8%). Discussão: É aparente a melhoria de depressão e ansiedade após ECP, sobretudo a curto prazo, efeito que tende a esbater-se em avaliações posteriores. Em relação à depressão a ECP-NST mostrou-se superior ao tratamento médico, mas não em comparação com o grupo de controlo elegível para cirurgia. Verificou-se o resultado oposto para a ansiedade, uma vez que os resultados favorecem o tratamento médico sobre a ECP-NST, e esta sobre o grupo de elegíveis para cirurgia. Não é evidente a superioridade de um alvo sobre o outro, mas os dados favorecem ligeiramente o GPi para ambos os tipos de sintomas. Conclusões:O padrão e curso dos sintomas depressivos e ansiedade após ECP na DP não são claros, mas ambos parecem melhorar no curto prazo, especialmente a depressão após a ECP-NST. Os resultados são bastante heterogéneos. Devem ser promovidos esforços no sentido de haver padronização de procedimentos de avaliação nos vários centros. Palavras-chave: Doença de Parkinson; Estimulação Cerebral Profunda; Ansiedade; Depressão; Meta-Análise. ABSTRACT Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective in advancedParkinson's disease (PD), improving motor symptoms, fluctuations and quality of life. However, adverse psychiatric outcomes have been reported, albeit variably and in an unstandardized fashion. We aimed to summarize the published evidence on the outcomes of anxiety and depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients following DBS, through systematic review and meta-analysis. Material and Methods: PubMed was searched until May 2012 to identify studies assessing anxiety and...

Background. Few data have been published regarding long-term mortality in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with DBS. Methods. This study analyzed long-term mortality rates, causes, and correlates in PD patients treated with DBS. Results. 184 consecutive patients were included; mean follow-up was 50 months. Fifteen deaths occurred (total 8.15%, annual mortality rate 1.94%). Mean age at disease onset and at surgery was 48 ± 2.4 and 63 ± 1.6 years, respectively. Mean disease duration until death was 21 ± 7.8 years. Most deaths related to stroke, myocardial infarction, other vascular/heart disorders, or severe infection; one suicide was recorded. Deceased PD patients were mostly male and had lower motor benefit after DBS, but univariate analysis failed to show significant differences regarding gender and motor benefit. Survival was 99% and 94% at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions. Long-term survival is to be expected in PD patients treated with DBS, possibly higher than previously expected. Death usually supervenes due to vascular events or infection.

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