Biomedicine represents one of the main study areas for dendrimers, which have proven to be valuable both in diagnostics and therapy, due to their capacity for improving solubility, absorption, bioavailability and targeted distribution. Molecular cytotoxicity constitutes a limiting characteristic, especially for cationic and higher-generation dendrimers. Antineoplastic research of dendrimers has been widely developed, and several types of poly(amidoamine) and poly(propylene imine) dendrimer complexes with doxorubicin, paclitaxel, imatinib, sunitinib, cisplatin, melphalan and methotrexate have shown an improvement in comparison with the drug molecule alone. The anti-inflammatory therapy focused on dendrimer complexes of ibuprofen, indomethacin, piroxicam, ketoprofen and diflunisal. In the context of the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, dendrimer complexes of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, beta-lactamines and aminoglycosides have shown promising effects. Regarding antiviral therapy, studies have been performed to develop dendrimer conjugates with tenofovir, maraviroc, zidovudine, oseltamivir and acyclovir, among others. Furthermore, cardiovascular therapy has strongly addressed dendrimers. Employed in imaging diagnostics, dendrimers reduce the dosage required to obtain images, thus improving the efficiency of radioisotopes. Dendrimers are macromolecular structures with multiple advantages that can suffer modifications depending on the chemical nature of the drug that has to be transported. The results obtained so far encourage the pursuit of new studies.
This study proposes a review on hyaluronic acid (HA) known as hyaluronan or hyaluronate and its derivates and their application in cosmetic formulations. HA is a glycosaminoglycan constituted from two disaccharides (N-acetylglucosamine and D-glucuronic acid), isolated initially from the vitreous humour of the eye, and subsequently discovered in different tissues or fluids (especially in the articular cartilage and the synovial fluid). It is ubiquitous in vertebrates, including humans, and it is involved in diverse biological processes, such as cell differentiation, embryological development, inflammation, wound healing, etc. HA has many qualities that recommend it over other substances used in skin regeneration, with moisturizing and anti-ageing effects. HA molecular weight influences its penetration into the skin and its biological activity. Considering that, nowadays, hyaluronic acid has a wide use and a multitude of applications (in ophthalmology, arthrology, pneumology, rhinology, aesthetic medicine, oncology, nutrition, and cosmetics), the present study describes the main aspects related to its use in cosmetology. The biological effect of HA on the skin level and its potential adverse effects are discussed. Some available cosmetic products containing HA have been identified from the brand portfolio of most known manufacturers and their composition was evaluated. Further, additional biological effects due to the other active ingredients (plant extracts, vitamins, amino acids, peptides, proteins, saccharides, probiotics, etc.) are presented, as well as a description of their possible toxic effects.
Dietary supplements (DS) used to improve the quality of life, can produce adverse events, either as a result of inappropriate consumption, or as the intrinsic properties of active compounds, either as drug-dietary supplement interactions or due to contaminations or adulterations. The European legislation, including the Romanian legislation doesn't refer to all types of DS, and even more it doesn't contain any regulations regarding detecting, monitoring or reporting adverse events. In the last years, some countries (USA, France, Czech Republic) started the nutrivigilance, a scientific support in order to identify the possible adverse effects of DS and to enhance consumer safety, necessary for detection, understanding and prevention of adverse events related to the use of DS, a major public health risk, which can lead to an inappropriate practice and may eventually be harmful to patients' lives. This study highlights the necessity to introduce the nutrivigilance as a habitual practice and activity of all authorities and actors from the Romanian dietary supplements' market, due the increase of dietary supplements consumption and their risks for the people's health. RezumatUtilizate cu scopul de a creşte calitatea vieţii, suplimentele alimentare pot cauza reacţii adverse, fie ca urmare a consumului inadecvat sau din cauza proprietăţilor intrinseci ale compuşilor activi conţinuţi, fie datorită interacţiunilor medicament -supliment alimentar, sau chiar a contaminării sau falsificării lor. Legislaţia europeană, inclusiv cea românească, nu reglementează toate categoriile de suplimente, şi cu atât mai mult nu conţine aspecte privind detectarea, monitorizarea şi raportarea reacțiilor adverse cauzate de acestea. In ultimii ani, câteva state (SUA, Franţa, Cehia etc.) au introdus nutrivigilenţa, o nouă ştiinţă şi activitate necesară pentru detectarea, evaluarea, înţelegerea şi prevenirea efectelor adverse produse de suplimentele alimentare. Lucrarea de faţă doreşte să evidenţieze necesitatea introducerii nutrivigilenţei ca o practică şi activitate permanentă a tuturor autorităţilor şi actorilor implicaţi în piaţa suplimentelor alimentare din România, ca urmare a tendinţei de creştere accelerată a consumului acestora, dar şi a riscurilor pe care aceste produse le pot avea pentru sănătatea populaţiei.
Measuring patient satisfaction of healthcare service quality represents a significant element of a healthcare's system (HS) overall evaluation. It is the starting point for creating policies in national healthcare. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate Romanian patients' perception and satisfaction of the quality of the national HS as a whole and of its components. Exploratory and descriptive research was used. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with Romanian patients, based on a questionnaire. Out of the 2305 respondents, 83% used the Romanian HS in the past 12 months and 58% of the respondents did not trust the system. The accommodation, food, and other facilities of Romanian hospitals were perceived as being at a low level. One third of the respondents were unsatisfied and very unsatisfied with respect to the overall impression of the Romanian HS. In addition, our research found a statistically significant relationship between confidence in the HS, age, and gender, and also between the overall impression on the HS, age and income.
Insulin resistance (IR) and cardiometabolic disorders are the main consequences of today's alimentary behavior. This study evaluates the effects of a chronic-discontinuous treatment with alpha-lipoic acid (AL), an antioxidant substance that improves glycemic control associated with diabetes mellitus, on metabolic disorders and plasma oxidative stress induced by fructose intake, in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (48 animals) were randomized into two series (n = 24): rats fed with standard chow or with standard chow supplemented with 60% fructose. In each of the two series, for 2 weeks/month over 12 weeks, a group of rats (n = 12) was intraperitoneally injected with NaCl 0.9%, and a second group (n = 12) received AL 50 mg/kg/day. Body weight, glycemia, and systolic blood pressure were monitored throughout the study. After 12 weeks, IR, plasma lipoproteins, uric acid, transaminase activities, and oxidative stress markers were assessed. The high fructose-enriched diet induced cardiometabolic disorders (hypertension, hyperglycemia, IR and dyslipidemia), an increase in uric acid concentration, transaminase activities and C-reactive protein level. This diet also enhanced plasma products of lipid and protein oxidation, homocysteine level, and decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. In this field, there is evidence to indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the etiology of diabetic complications. AL discontinuous treatment prevents the metabolic disorders induced by fructose intake, reduced plasma lipid and protein oxidation-products, and restored the GHS/GSSG ratio. Our study proves a promising potential of the chronic-discontinuous treatment of AL and highlights the pleiotropic effects of this antioxidant substance in metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
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