In the last decade, selectively tuned bio-based polyesters have been increasingly used for their clinical potential in several biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, wound healing, and ...drug delivery. With a biomedical application in mind, a flexible polyester was produced by melt polycondensation using the microbial oil residue collected after the distillation of β-farnesene (FDR) produced industrially by genetically modified yeast,
After characterization, the polyester exhibited elongation up to 150% and presented
of -51.2 °C and
of 169.8 °C. In vitro degradation revealed a mass loss of about 87% after storage in PBS solution for 11 weeks under accelerated conditions (40 °C, RH = 75%). The water contact angle revealed a hydrophilic character, and biocompatibility with skin cells was demonstrated. 3D and 2D scaffolds were produced by salt-leaching, and a controlled release study at 30 °C was performed with Rhodamine B base (RBB, 3D) and curcumin (CRC, 2D), showing a diffusion-controlled mechanism with about 29.3% of RBB released after 48 h and 50.4% of CRC after 7 h. This polymer offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for the potential use of the controlled release of active principles for wound dressing applications.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Shoulder rehabilitation is a process that requires physical therapy sessions to recover the mobility of the affected limbs. However, these sessions are often limited by the availability and cost of ...specialized technicians, as well as the patient's travel to the session locations. This paper presents a novel smartphone-based approach using a pose estimation algorithm to evaluate the quality of the movements and provide feedback, allowing patients to perform autonomous recovery sessions. This paper reviews the state of the art in wearable devices and camera-based systems for human body detection and rehabilitation support and describes the system developed, which uses MediaPipe to extract the coordinates of 33 key points on the patient's body and compares them with reference videos made by professional physiotherapists using cosine similarity and dynamic time warping. This paper also presents a clinical study that uses QTM, an optoelectronic system for motion capture, to validate the methods used by the smartphone application. The results show that there are statistically significant differences between the three methods for different exercises, highlighting the importance of selecting an appropriate method for specific exercises. This paper discusses the implications and limitations of the findings and suggests directions for future research.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
In chronic shoulder pain, adaptations in the nervous system such as in motoneuron excitability, could contribute to impairments in scapular muscles, perpetuation and recurrence of pain and reduced ...improvements during rehabilitation. The present cross-sectional study aims to compare trapezius neural excitability between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. In 12 participants with chronic shoulder pain (symptomatic group) and 12 without shoulder pain (asymptomatic group), the H reflex was evoked in all trapezius muscle parts, through C3/4 nerve stimulation, and the M-wave through accessory nerve stimulation. The current intensity to evoke the maximum H reflex, the latency and the maximum peak-to-peak amplitude of both the H reflex and M-wave, as well as the ratio between these two variables, were calculated. The percentage of responses was considered. Overall, M-waves were elicited in most participants, while the H reflex was elicited only in 58-75% or in 42-58% of the asymptomatic and symptomatic participants, respectively. A comparison between groups revealed that the symptomatic group presented a smaller maximum H reflex as a percentage of M-wave from upper trapezius and longer maximal H reflex latency from the lower trapezius (
< 0.05). Subjects with chronic shoulder pain present changes in trapezius H reflex parameters, highlighting the need to consider trapezius neuromuscular control in these individuals' rehabilitation.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Neuromuscular re-education through therapeutic exercise has a determinant role in chronic shoulder pain rehabilitation. Smartphones are an interesting strategy to extend the rehabilitation to a ...home-based scenario as it can increase the attraction and involvement of users by providing feedback. Objective: To analyze the concurrent validity of a smartphone’s application based on 2D video analysis against the gold-standard 3D optoelectronic system for assessing movement quality during upper limb therapeutic exercises. Methods: Fifteen young adults were evaluated while executing two different shoulder exercises with a smartphone’s 2D video and a 3D optoelectronic system simultaneously in two conditions: (1) with the supervision and instructions of a physiotherapist (guided exercise), and (2) without the feedback of the physiotherapist (non-guided exercise). The data obtained during the guided and non-guided exercises were compared to calculate the movement quality index based on the approximation of the non-guided exercise to the guided exercise for the head, trunk, and shoulder’s range of movement. The agreement of the movement quality index assessed with the smartphone application and the optoelectronic system was carried out through Bland–Altman analysis. Results: The Bland–Altman analysis indicates the range of agreement and bias tendency. This tendency demonstrates that the percentage of difference between the two methods increases as the movement quality index decreases. Conclusions: There is agreement between the movement quality evaluated by a gold-standard method and the developed application, although the proposed method appears to have less sensitivity for evaluating movements with lower quality index.
Purpose
Based on the fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) hypothesis, the low-FODMAP diet has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach for ...inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with promising results on disease management. However, this diet implies a specific broad food restriction, which potentially increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies and may aggravate gut microbiota dysbiosis of IBD patients. The aim of the present study is to review the effect of individual FODMAPs on the human gut microbiota. In addition, this narrative review provides an updated overview of the use of the low-FODMAP diet in IBD, namely the implementation, advantages, limitations, and the impact on the gut microbiota.
Methods
The literature search strategy was applied to PubMed and Web of Science using relevant keywords, IBD, FODMAPs, Fructose, Lactose, Polyols, FOS, GOS, low-FODMAP diet and gut microbiota.
Results
Current data suggest that the low-FODMAP diet may effectively improve clinical outcomes in the management of IBD and ensure better quality of life for IBD patients. However, there is evidence highlighting some issues of concern, particularly the adequacy of the diet and the impact on the gut microbiota. The various FODMAP types differently modulate the gut microbiota.
Conclusion
IBD management should be achieved with the least possible dietary restriction to avoid detrimental consequences, particularly on nutritional adequacy and gut microbiota. Thus, it is important to individualize and monitor the nutrition intervention. Further studies are required to better characterize the relationship between diet, the gut microbiota, and IBD to support the generalization of this approach for clinical practice in IBD therapy and management.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FSPLJ, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory and degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by demyelination and concomitant axonal loss. The lack of a single specific test, and ...the similarity to other inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, makes it difficult to have a clear diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Therefore, laboratory tests that allows a clear and definite diagnosis, as well as to predict the different clinical courses of the disease are of utmost importance. Herein, we compared the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteome of patients with multiple sclerosis (in the relapse-remitting phase of the disease) and other diseases of the CNS (inflammatory and non-inflammatory) aiming at identifying reliable biomarkers of multiple sclerosis.
CSF samples from the discovery group were resolved by 2D-gel electrophoresis followed by identification of the protein spots by mass spectrometry. The results were analyzed using univariate (Student's t test) and multivariate (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Linear Discriminant Analysis) statistical and numerical techniques, to identify a set of protein spots that were differentially expressed in CSF samples from patients with multiple sclerosis when compared with other two groups. Validation of the results was performed in samples from a different set of patients using quantitative (e.g., ELISA) and semi-quantitative (e.g., Western Blot) experimental approaches.
Analysis of the 2D-gels showed 13 protein spots that were differentially expressed in the three groups of patients: Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, Prostaglandin-H2-isomerase, Retinol binding protein 4, Transthyretin (TTR), Apolipoprotein E, Gelsolin, Angiotensinogen, Agrin, Serum albumin, Myosin-15, Apolipoprotein B-100 and EF-hand calcium-binding domain-containing protein. ELISA experiments allowed validating part of the results obtained in the proteomics analysis and showed that some of the alterations in the CSF proteome are also mirrored in serum samples from multiple sclerosis patients. CSF of multiple sclerosis patients was characterized by TTR oligomerization, thus highlighting the importance of analyzing posttranslational modifications of the proteome in the identification of novel biomarkers of the disease.
The model built based on the results obtained upon analysis of the 2D-gels and in the validation phase attained an accuracy of about 80% in distinguishing multiple sclerosis patients and the other two groups.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The
cis
-Ru(bpy)
2
(Met)(PF
6
)
2
complex, where Met =
l
-methionine and bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, was prepared and fully characterized. This complex was subjected to blue and green light photolysis ...(453 and 505 nm, respectively) in aqueous solution, leading to the release of methionine and formation of the
cis
-Ru(bpy)
2
(H
2
O)
2
2+
ion. This latter photoproduct was shown to subsequently interact with DNA, while DNA photocleavage was noticed. In agreement with these reactivities, this compound exhibited an exciting antibacterial action, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Staphylococcus epidermidis
, which was enhanced upon blue light irradiation. Altogether, these results showed that our strategy was successful in producing light-triggered DNA-binding agents with pharmacological potential and a likely blocking reagent for efficient peptide chemistry formation.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
•Influence of the osmodehydration process on candied pumpkins quality was studied.•Mass balance equations based on Fick's second law were solved numerically.•Effective diffusion coefficients of water ...and sucrose increase with temperature.•Harder and less elastic products were obtained with increasing sucrose content.•Rheological changes were related with the reinforcement of the cell wall matrix.
The influence of osmotic dehydration process parameters on the efficiency of water loss and sucrose gain of pumpkins and the influence on the quality of the final product are essential for production of superior quality candied pumpkins. Mass transfer kinetics during osmotic dehydration of pumpkins were modelled by assuming Fickian diffusion of sucrose and water in unsteady state conditions, which described very well the experimental results for water loss and sugar gain. Water and sucrose effective diffusion coefficients increase significantly with temperature. Temperature and sucrose concentration had a significant influence on both water and sugar diffusion, increasing as the solution temperature increased. Significant increase in the effective water diffusivity and decrease in the sucrose effective diffusivity was observed when the sucrose solution concentration increased from 40°Brix to 50 and 60°Brix. From 50 to 60°Brix, no difference in the effective diffusivities was observed. Candied pumpkins with higher sucrose content have a higher breaking stress, less breaking strain and lower work to fracture. Moreover, the product becomes harder and less elastic with increasing sucrose content, resulting in more brittle products, which seems to be related with reinforcement of the pumpkin cell wall matrix.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Despite the existence of several studies about the scapula’s position and motion, in shoulder pain conditions, there are still conflicting findings regarding scapular adaptations and reduced research ...about the scapula’s role during functional tasks. The present study aimed to compare scapular-related kinematic and electromyographic outcomes during different shoulder movements (with and without load) and the drinking task, between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects. Forty subjects (divided into two groups) participated in this cross-sectional observational study. Scapulothoracic motion, scapulohumeral rhythm, and movement quality (considering trunk compensation, time-to-peak acceleration, and smoothness), as well as the relative surface electromyographic activity and muscle ratio considering the trapezius, serratus anterior, and levator scapulae (LS), were assessed. The symptomatic group presented the following: (1) changes in scapular upward rotation (p = 0.008) and winging (p = 0.026 and p = 0.005) during backward transport and drink phases; (2) increased muscle activity level of the middle trapezius (MT) in all tasks (p < 0.0001 to p = 0.039), of LS during shoulder elevation with load (p = 0.007), and of LS and LT during most of the drinking task phases (p = 0.007 to p = 0.043 and p < 0.0001 to p = 0.014, respectively); (3) a decreased serratus anterior lower portion activity level (SAlow) during shoulder lowering with load (p = 0.030) and drink phase (p = 0.047); and (4) an increased muscular ratio between scapular abductors/adductors (p = 0.005 to p = 0.036) and elevators/depressors (p = 0.008 to p = 0.028). Compared to asymptomatic subjects, subjects with chronic shoulder pain presented scapular upward rotation and winging adaptations; increased activity levels of MT, LT, and LS; decreased activity levels of SAlow; and increased scapular muscle ratios.
Several tools have been used to assess muscular stiffness. Myotonometry stands out as an accessible, handheld, and easy to use tool. The purpose of this review was to summarize the psychometric ...properties and methodological considerations of myotonometry and its applicability in assessing scapular muscles. Myotonometry seems to be a reliable method to assess several muscles stiffness, as trapezius. This method has been demonstrated fair to moderate correlation with passive stiffness measured by shear wave elastography for several muscles, as well as with level of muscle contraction, pinch and muscle strength, Action Research Arm Test score and muscle or subcutaneous thickness. Myotonometry can detect scapular muscles stiffness differences between pre- and post-intervention in painful conditions and, sometimes, between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
