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As pessoas com estomias tem a sexualidade como um dos domínios de maior impacto em suas vidas. Portanto, buscou-se investigar as características que influenciam o desempenho sexual de homens estomizados. O estudo é analítico, transversal e quantitativo, desenvolvido em um hospital universitário, no período de maio de 2019 a março de 2020. Os dados das entrevistas foram registrados em planilhas para tratamento estatístico. Participaram 74 estomizadosdos, sendo que 43,2% dos entrevistados relataram possuir um desempenho sexual “bom a excelente”, em contrapartida, apresentaram os piores aspectos quanto ao “controle da ejaculação” e “autoconfiança”, que representa aproximadamente 50% das vezes. Os homens estomizados apresentam alterações emocionais a disfunções sexuais, experimentam a necessidade de adaptação a nova situação relacionado a sua atividade sexual. Portanto, há necessidade de uma equipe multiprofissional capacitada para lidar com as dúvidas, anseios e sentimentos destes indivíduo. Descritores: Estomia, Homens, Sexualidade. Analysis of the sexual performance of men with stomas Abstract: People with ostomies have sexuality as one of the most impacting domains in their lives. Therefore, we sought to investigate the characteristics that influence the sexual performance of men with a stoma. The study is analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative, developed at a university hospital, from May 2019 to March 2020. Data from the interviews were recorded in spreadsheets for statistical treatment. 74 people with an ostomy participated, with 43.2% of respondents reporting having a "good to excellent" sexual performance, on the other hand, they presented the worst aspects regarding "ejaculation control" and "self-confidence", which represents approximately 50% of the times. Men with stomas present emotional changes to sexual dysfunctions, experience the need to adapt to a new situation related to their sexual activity. Therefore, there is a need for a multidisciplinary team capable of dealing with the doubts, anxieties and feelings of these individuals. Descriptors: Ostomy, Men, Sexuality. Análisis del desempeño sexual de hombres con estomas Resumen: Las personas con ostomías tienen la sexualidad como uno de los dominios de mayor impacto en sus vidas. Por lo tanto, buscamos investigar las características que influyen en el desempeño sexual de los hombres con estoma. El estudio es analítico, transversal y cuantitativo, desarrollado en un hospital universitario, de mayo de 2019 a marzo de 2020. Los datos de las entrevistas fueron registrados en hojas de cálculo para su tratamiento estadístico. Participaron 74 personas con ostomía, el 43,2% de los encuestados reportaron tener un desempeño sexual “bueno a excelente”, por otro lado, presentaron los peores aspectos en cuanto a “control de la eyaculación” y “confianza en sí mismos”, lo que representa aproximadamente El 50% de las veces Los hombres ostomizados presentan cambios emocionales ante disfunciones sexuales, experimentan la necesidad de adaptarse a una nueva situación relacionada con su actividad sexual, por lo que se necesita un equipo multidisciplinario capaz de resolver las dudas, ansiedades y sentimientos de estos individuos. Descriptores: Ostomía, Hombres, Sexualidad.

Candida albicans (C. albicans) are the most common cause of urinary fungal infections. C. albicans biofilms are of increasing clinical importance due to their resistance to antifungal therapy. Since the use of medical devices causes most hospital infections, polymeric coatings that reduce microorganisms adhesion and biofilm formation are considered an attractive strategy. In this work, the ability and possible mechanisms of poly(methylmethacrylate-co-dimethylacrylamide) (PMMDMA) to inhibit C. albicans biofilms on medical devices have been studied. Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate fungal adhesion at various pH conditions, while the surface roughness of the coated and uncoated catheters was analyzed by atomic force microscopy. The surface charge was assessed, and the contact angle was determined to evaluate the surface hydrophobicity. PMMDMA coated catheters showed reduced binding of C. albicans at all pH values studied and presented a hydrophilic contact angle of ϴ = 71°. Negative zeta potential values of PMMDMA enhanced the reduction in C. albicans binding. AFM images demonstrated a smoother and homogeneous surface of PMMDMA-coated catheters. Coating with PMMDMA provided a smoother, more hydrophilic, and negative-charged surface, contributing to a substantial reduction of C. albicans binding.

Chromone derivatives exhibiting high absorbance values in the UVA/UVB region were synthesized, and their photoprotective properties were evaluated. Chromones were prepared according to known literature procedures and characterized by high resolution mass spectrometry, infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The in vitro solar protection factor (SPF) was determined by the Mansur method and cytotoxicity was evaluated using the sulforhodamine B assay. Two of the chromones synthesized demonstrated suitable SPF values and displayed no cytotoxic effect towards MRC-5 human fibroblasts at the tested concentrations, indicating great potential for future in vivo assays and clinical trials. Finally, the lead compound was incorporated into a nanoemulsion. Nanoemulsions showed high droplet size homogeneity and excellent stability. Chromones bearing methoxy substituents were found to be the most promising compounds with ideal photoprotective properties desirable for utilization and incorporation in sunscreen formulations.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, affecting mostly lungs, that is still considered a health global problem as it causes millions of deaths worldwide. Current treatment is effective, however, associated with severe adverse effects due to the high doses of each anti-tuberculosis drug daily administrated by oral therapy. For the first time, a pyrazinoic acid biodegradable nanoconjugate was synthesized and developed for pulmonary administration in an attempt to reduce the administered doses by achieving a high drug payload and controlled release at the target site. The conjugate was synthesized by coupling pyrazinoic acid on carboxylic groups of poly(malic acid), which is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, and posteriorly self-assembled into nanoconjugates. Characterization confirmed the formation of nanometric, spherical and negatively charged pyrazinoic acid nanoconjugate (NC-PA). NC-PA was stable for 60 days at 4 and 37 ºC and able to deliver PA in a sustained release manner over time. On macrophages, they exhibited no cell toxicity for a wide range of concentrations (from 1 to 100 µg/mL), demonstrating the safety of NC-PA. In addition, the nanoconjugate was efficiently taken up by RAW 264.7 cells over 6 hours reaching a maximum value after 3h of incubation. In conclusion, innovative nanoconjugates are a promising alternative to deliver drugs directly to the lungs and contributing to improving tuberculosis therapy.

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It is important to understand the stability of the formed gels and the factors that affect the behavior of these agents in a complex system to impart desirable properties to a new product. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the morphological structure of gelling agents, LM-pectin, kappa-carrageenan and guar gum and to study the effects of these gelling agents in low-calorie fruit jelly model systems. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis allowed us to recognize the morphology of the gelling agents of interest, and showed that only the powdered samples of LM-pectin and kappa-carrageenan presented structures that collaborate for the process of gelling. Based on all the information gathered through the analysis of low-calorie fruit jelly modeling systems using the gelling agents studied, we suggest that the best combinations among the formulations tested were those containing concentrations higher or equal than 75% LM-pectin.