Static and dynamic postural control of postpartum women of different delivery methods

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in postural control between nulligravida women and women who have given birth by vaginal or cesarean section.MethodsWomen who had only vaginal delivery in the previous 1–3 years were included in the vaginal delivery group (n = 27), those who had only cesarean delivery in the previous 1–3 years were included in the cesarean section group (n = 28), and those who had never given birth were included in the control group (n = 32). Evaluations were administered 6–8 days after the ovulation phase. Postural control of the participants was evaluated with the computerized dynamic posturography device.ResultsA total of 87 women with a mean age of 29.4 ± 4 years and a mean body mass index of 24.1 ± 3.1 kg/m² were included in the study. Antero-posterior somatosensory organization test values of the vaginal delivery group were lower than the control group (p = 0.0016). The cesarean delivery group had statistically lower antero-posterior somatosensory (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0013) and medio-lateral somatosensory (p = 0.002 and p = 0.017, respectively) test scores compared to the control group and the vaginal delivery group.ConclusionsIt was observed that women who birthed with vaginal or cesarean delivery had impaired somatosensory postural control. There is definitely a need for further studies with a long-term follow-up examining the effects of postural control during pregnancy and the postpartum period.     

Synthesis and characterization of photosensitive gelatin-based hydrogels for photodynamic therapy in HeLa-CCL2 cell line

BackgroundHydrogel systems are increasingly gaining visibility involving biomedicine, tissue engineering, environmental treatments, and drug delivery systems. These systems have a three-dimensional network composition and high-water absorption capacity, are biocompatible, allowing them to become an option as photosensitizer carriers (PS) for applications in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) protocols.MethodsA nanohydrogel system (NAHI), encapsulated with chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) was synthesized for drug delivery.. NAHI was synthesized using gelatin as based polymer by the chemical cross-linking technique. The drug was encapsulated by immersing the hydrogel in a 1.0 mg.mL⁻¹ ClAlPc solution. The external morphology of NAHI was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degree of swelling of the synthesized system was evaluated to determine the water absorption potential. The produced nanohydrogel system was characterized by photochemical, photophysical and photobiologial studies.ResultsThe images from the SEM analysis showed the presence of three-dimensional networks in the formulation. The swelling test demonstrated that the nanohydrogel freeze-drying process increases its water holding capacity. All spectroscopic results showed excellent photophysical parameters of the drug studied when served in the NAHI system. The incorporation efficiency was 70%. The results of trypan blue exclusion test have shown significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the cell viability for all groups treated with PDT, in all concentrations tested. In HeLa cells, PDT mediated by 0,5 mg.mL⁻¹ ClAlPc encapsulated in NAHI showed a decrease in survival close to 95%. In the internalization cell study was possible to observe the internalization of phthalocyanine after one hour of incubation, at 37 °C, with the the accumulation of PS in the cytoplasm and inside the nucleus at both concentrations tested.ConclusionsGiven the peculiar performance of the selected system, the resulting nanohydrogel is a versatile platform and display potential applications as controlled delivery systems of photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy application.     

CRISPR-Cas系统在动物及植物中不同的递送方式研究进展*

CRISPR-Cas 系统的发现彻底改变了基因编辑技术领域，在多方面都有着广阔的前景。该系统主要有Cas 蛋白和单链向导RNA 组成，其功能的发挥高度依赖于各组分的有效递送。本篇综述对目前动植物中该系统组分 的常用递送方式进行详细总结，并分析其目前仍存在的问题。     

Repurposing of parenterally administered active substances used to treat pain both systemically and locally

Pain is a constant in our lives. The efficacy of drug therapy administered by the parenteral route is often limited either by the physicochemical characteristics of the drug itself or its adsorption–distribution–metabolism–excretion (ADME) mechanisms. One promising alternative is the design of innovative drug delivery systems that can improve the pharmacokinetics |(PK) and/or reduce the toxicity of traditionally used drugs. In this review, we discuss several products that have been approved by the main regulatory agencies (i.e., nano- and microsystems, implants, and oil-based solutions), highlighting the newest technologies that govern both locally and systemically the delivery of drugs. Finally, we also discuss the risk assessment of the scale-up process required, given the impact that this approach could have on drug manufacturing.Teaser: The management of pain by way of the parenteral route can be improved using complex drug delivery systems (e.g., micro- and nanosystems) which require high-level assessment and shorten the regulatory pathway.     

阴道顺产与剖宫产对初产妇产后早期盆底功能的影响比较

目的研究阴道顺产与剖宫产对初产妇产后早期盆底功能的影响。方法选择2020年1月至12月在阳春市人民医院产科中心分娩的120例初产妇展开研究,按照分娩方式的不同分为对照组与观察组,每组各60例。对照组为阴道顺产,观察组采用剖宫产,两组均在产后第6周进行早期盆底功能检查,并进行盆底康复治疗,比较两组的治疗效果。结果观察组的尿失禁、阴道脱垂、子宫脱垂发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组治疗后的盆底肌力分级情况优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组治疗后的膀胱颈与耻骨联合下缘水平线间的垂直距离(BSD)高于对照组,膀胱尿道后角(RA)、膀胱颈移动度(BND)低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论阴道顺产对于盆底功能及盆腔结构的不良影响大于剖宫产,盆底功能障碍性疾病发生率更高,而康复治疗可有效改善阴道顺产、剖宫产初产妇的盆底功能,剖宫产初产妇的盆底功能恢复更好。     

Fourteen years of the Pregnancy Registry on maternal immunisation with a reduced-antigen-content tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine

BackgroundGSK initiated a Pregnancy Registry in the United States (US) for the reduced-antigen-content tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap; Boostrix, GSK) vaccine with the aim to detect and describe pregnancy outcomes in women vaccinated with Boostrix 28 days before estimated conception or during pregnancy.MethodsVoluntary reports of pregnancy exposure to Boostrix received from spontaneous and post-marketing surveillance sources in the US were assessed. Reports were classified as prospective or retrospective based on the knowledge of pregnancy outcomes at the time of reporting. For completeness, reports of exposure to Boostrix or to the Tdap-inactivated poliovirus vaccine (Boostrix-IPV, GSK) reported to the global safety database from countries outside the US were also evaluated.ResultsFrom May 2005 to August 2019, 1517 (1455 prospective and 62 retrospective) pregnancy reports were received in the Boostrix US Pregnancy Registry. Of the prospective reports, 250 had known outcomes: 244 live infants with no apparent birth defects (BDs), three live infants with BDs, and three spontaneous abortions with no apparent BDs. Of the retrospective reports, 55 had known outcomes: 33 live infants with no apparent BDs, 16 live infants with BDs, one spontaneous abortion with no apparent BDs, four stillbirths with no apparent BDs, and one stillbirth with BDs. Cumulatively, 1321 pregnancy reports (1006 for Boostrix; 315 for Boostrix-IPV) were received from countries outside the US. Of these, 163 prospective reports and 551 retrospective reports had known outcomes. Results were in line with those from the Boostrix US Pregnancy Registry.ConclusionsData currently available from the Boostrix US Pregnancy Registry and from countries outside the US suggested that exposure to Boostrix or Boostrix-IPV during pregnancy does not raise safety concerns related to adverse pregnancy outcomes or BDs.     

A commitment to marginalized children in the European Union: The hope and challenges of the EU Child Guarantee

While children in general are usually seen as a societal priority, many children are disadvantaged by marginalization, with adverse effects on health and development. Following feasibility studies, the European Commission has now adopted a formal Child Guarantee of service access. This paper links the Feasibility Studies to other reports on the need to address marginalized and institutionalized children. The problems in identifying and quantifying such children are outlined, as are the challenges of planning for these groups of children and the difficulty of finding universal definitions and data. This European Union initiative is timely, given that around a quarter of European children are marginalized, while the effects of Covid-19 will add to this marginalization.