Abstract

Vulvovaginal candidosis is a common worldwide female medical problem, occurring mostly in women of childbearing age. Currently available options for the treatment of this condition include local and oral (systemic) therapy. Both alternatives have been considered equally effective in the treatment of uncomplicated vulvovaginal candidosis, although oral regimens are often preferred by physicians and women. However, local treatment presents several advantageous and unique features that may favour this therapeutic approach. The availability of numerous antifungal drugs and products for topical administration makes the selection quite challenging as this task is mostly based on personal experience or anecdotal data. Also, recent advances have been made in topical antifungal formulations and there is an increasing availability of over-the-counter products. Therefore, a review of both general and practical considerations related to the local treatment of vulvovaginal candidosis is timely.In summary, azoles and short-term regimens are usually recommended for the local treatment of vulvovaginal candidosis, with nystatin and boric acid considered as second-line alternatives. Unconventional approaches may also be regarded as suitable in patients refractory to usual treatments. In addition to the susceptibility of implicated Candida spp. to the antifungal agents, this choice should take into consideration other important issues such as particular situations (e.g. pregnancy, menopause, drug hypersensitivity), women's preferences, and the availability, particularities and cost of antifungal formulations.

No abstract

It is very challenging to the quality of the papaya culture’s fruits (Carica papaya L.) after the crop, especially due to their significance to the international market, that is, their elevated exportation demands. The purpose of this work was the application of biodegradable coatings composed of Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp. associated or not with pomegranate seed oil in ‘Golden’ papaya and to evaluate their effect in the conservation powder-crop. The installation of the experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design, with a 6 x 6 factorial outline, that is, six concentrations (C: control; SO: 0.5% of Scenedesmus sp. + 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil; S: 0.5% of Scenedesmus sp.; CO: 0.5% of Chlorella sp. + 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil; CH: 0.5% of Chlorella sp.; O: 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil) and six evaluation periods (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days), stored at a temperature of 18±2 °C with 60±5% RH with three repetitions of two fruits per portion. The use of coverings composed of Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp. in association or not with pomegranate seed oil was proven efficient in the reduction of the breathing tax of ‘Golden’ papaya, delaying the ripening process, and therefore representing a promising alternative for these fruits’ powder-crop conservation. The coating composed of 0.5% of Chlorella sp. + 0.3% of pomegranate seed oil (CO) provided a better powder-crop conservation of ‘Golden’ papaya during 15 days of storage.

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent and underdiagnosed sleep disorder. Recent studies suggest that OSA might disrupt the biological clock, potentially causing or worsening OSA-associated comorbidities. However, the effect of OSA treatment on clock disruption is not fully understood. Methods: The impact of OSA and short-(four months) and long-term (two years) OSA treatment, with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), on the biological clock was investigated at four time points within 24 h, in OSA patients relative to controls subjects (no OSA) of the same sex and age group, in a case-control study. Plasma melatonin and cortisol, body temperature and the expression levels and rhythmicity of eleven clock genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed. Additional computational tools were used for a detailed data analysis. Findings: OSA impacts on clock outputs and on the expression of several clock genes in PBMCs. Neither shortnor long-term treatment fully reverted OSA-induced alterations in the expression of clock genes. However, long-term treatment was able to re-establish levels of plasma melatonin and cortisol and body temperature. Machine learning methods could discriminate controls from untreated OSA patients. Following long-term treatment, the distinction between controls and patients disappeared, suggesting a closer similarity of the phenotypes. Interpretation: OSA alters biological clock-related characteristics that differentially respond to short-and long-term CPAP treatment. Long-term CPAP was more efficient in counteracting OSA impact on the clock, but the obtained results suggest that it is not fully effective. A better understanding of the impact of OSA and OSA treatment on the clock may open new avenues to OSA diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to develop an inexpensive apparatus for fabricating microspheres, based on chitosan, for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) controlled release. Chitosan microspheres were prepared by precipitation method and the effects of manufacturing parameters (injection and airflow rates) on size distribution microspheres were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the manufacturing parameters, injection and airflow rates, determine the microsphere size distribution. By modulating these parameters, it was possible to produce chitosan microspheres as small as 437 ± 44 μm and as large as 993 ± 18 μm. Chitosan microspheres loaded with 5-FU were also produced using the experimental equipment. The obtained microspheres presented 5-FU controlled release, indicating that the microspheres can be used orally, since they are capable of crossing the stomach barrier and of continuing with the process of 5-FU release.

This work aimed to prepare chitosan/clay microspheres, by the precipitation method, for use in drug carrier systems. The influence of the process parameters, particularly two airflows of the drag system (2.5 and 10 L·min−1) on the microspheres physical dimensions and properties, such as microstructure, degree of swelling and porosity were evaluated. The samples were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Water absorption and porosity tests were also performed. The results showed that the process parameters affected the size of the microspheres. The diameter, volume and surface area of the chitosan/clay microspheres decreased when they were prepared with the higher airflow of the drag system. The microspheres presented a porous microstructure, being the pore size, percentage of porosity and degree of swelling affected not only by the process parameters but also by the type of clay. Hybrids (chitosan/clay) with intercalated morphology were obtained and the hybrid prepared with montmorillonite clay at higher airflows of the drag system presented the greatest interlayer spacing and a more disordered morphology. Thus, it is certain that the chitosan/clay nanocomposite microspheres prepared with montmorillonite (CL clay) at higher airflows of the drag system can have good drug-controlled release properties.