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The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a system involving ozonated water and ultrasound causes de-epithelization of the human amniotic membrane (HAM). The experiment protocol was carried out in four stages. Stage I was carried out to determine the duration of the experiment. Stage II comprised the first experiment, involving four groups of samples studied in triplicate: control/natural (IN), processed with ultrasound in a liquid medium (US), processed with ozonated water (O3), and processed with ozonated water combined with ultrasound (US_O3). Stage III was performed to confirm the results, following the same steps present in Stage II. Stage IV involved the use of oxygen to confirm the hypothesis. Histological analysis was carried out to verify whether the effects of O2 were similar to those of O3. The system was activated, and ozonation was carried out for 10 min, as in the previous experiment, reaching a concentration level of 3.0 mg/L. The samples were submerged and positioned in the reservoir and processed separately for 55 min. The biochemical properties were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the morphology was examined using histology and scanning electron microscopy. The spectra of the samples exhibited similarities; however, subtle changes were highlighted, such as smooth band shifts and intensity changes. The morphology indicated that ultrasound achieved more efficient HAM de-epithelialization compared to ultrasound combined with ozonated water and ozonated water alone. One plausible hypothesis for this observation is that cavitation represents the primary mechanism responsible for de-epithelialization. When ultrasound is combined with ozone, the bubbles generated by ozone gas reduce the cavitation effect. This study is pioneering as it demonstrates an ultrasound system capable of the efficient de-epithelialization of the HAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Production Engineering / Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Produção is the property of Brazilian Journal of Production Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Endoscopes are flexible medical instruments that require a high-level disinfection protocol. This study aimed to develop a fluid-dynamic system with ozonated water to obtain high-level disinfection. A colonoscope replica with an internal flexible polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube was made. The set was then contaminated, washed, and disinfected with ozonated water. The replica was placed in a tank with a fluid-dynamic circuit. The endoscope was submerged into the tank and ozonated water was pumped through the working channel. Quantitative microbiological tests were carried out between the washing stage and disinfection in the fluid-dynamic system with ozonated water. The results indicated that the ozone concentration curve in the water from the 27- liter main tank reached the value of 0.95 mg/L after 20 minutes. No bacterial growth was detected after the replica remained in the hydrodynamic system with ozonated water for 15 minutes. The results showed that the fluid-dynamic system using ozonated water is promising as it enables high-level disinfection of the colonoscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports an optomechanical, electronic system consisting of LEDs emitting light in the near-infrared region. The 147 light-emitting diodes were distributed in a semi-spherical dome so that each focused light upon the center of the radius. The LEDs received electrical polarization so that the optical power of each provided 16 ± 0.36 mW for a total of 2.4 W. The developed system allows multifunctional applications in phototherapy, making it possible to perform this clinical technique for the treatment of skin lesions and contusions at the musculoskeletal level. The geometry of the developed system also allows the use of phototherapy in the treatment of neurological pathologies. In terms of instrumentation, the three-dimensional light intensity distribution and the thermographic images were obtained using three working distances from the system to the target. Three-dimensional light intensity distributions were obtained considering each working distance. These were inserted in the thermographic images as indications of the emitted temperature distributions. This work verified that the optomechanical and electronic system developed with LEDs may be used for multiple applications in phototherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human amniotic membrane (hAM) has a great potential in regenerative medicine as it can be disinfected, preserved, and stored. The present study evaluated a hydrodynamic system that uses ozonated water for disinfecting hAM and assessed possible morphological alterations using histological analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). hAM fragments were experimentally contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (103 CFU/mL) and submitted to disinfection processes for 5, 10 and 15 minutes (1.95, 3.9 and 5.85 mg/cm2 (O3), respectively). The results of the water microbiological analysis showed that no microbial growth was detected in all water samples. The hAM surface monitoring with swab method and the analysis of fragment inoculated directly into the culture media revealed that no microbial growth was detected after 10 and 15 minutes. The SEM and histological analysis of hAM revealed that morphological alterations in the epithelium began after 10 minutes 3.9 mg/cm2 (O3) of the disinfection process, and significant changes in the epithelial cells were observed after 15 minutes (5.85 mg/cm2 (O3)). These findings indicates that the structural integrity of hAM was maintained during the process and suggest that the technique is a promising system to disinfect this biological material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene oxide and gamma irradiation are two well-established sterilizing processes for surgical materials; however, they present toxicity and high cost, respectively. Ozone Gas, O3(g), has been used effectively for disinfection and sterilization. Low pressure (LP) can promote water vaporization whenever the vapor pressure drops below the water saturation pressure, which at 20 °C (experimental temperature) is 2337 Pa. The microorganism used to contaminate the surgical needles (SN) was Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterium whose cytoplasm is mostly water. Sixty SN samples were divided into six groups of 10: negative control (sterile SN), positive control (experimentally contaminated SN), LP group, two groups associating LP and O3(g), and O3(g) alone group. The CFU/mL count demonstrated microbicide efficacy of LP+O3(g) and O3(g) groups. This is an innovative protocol for microbial inactivation, mainly because of LP application. In the future, this technique can be evaluated for sterilization of SN and other medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus mutans is one of the principal pathogens of the human oral habitat, being one of the principal etiological agents of carious lesions. Ozone is a powerful oxidant, it has the ability to inactivate microorganisms in general, and ultrasound is an acoustic system generated through a piezoelectric crystal that also presents microbicidal effects. In the present study, a comparative analysis was made of the damage caused to Streptococcus mutans in vitro by ultrasound and ozone, through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AF) analysis. In addition, flow cytometry was used to determine microbial viability and the formation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) after the application of different techniques. The data obtained by means of microscopic analysis reveal that both ozone and ultrasound produce morphological alterations in bacteria, which become rod-shaped organisms. In addition to this deformation, on the microbial surface it was possible to identify crater-like impressions. In contrast, the irregularity of protuberances on the surface of the microbial wall was only detected when ozone was employed. Regarding the formation of ROS, it was observed that that ozone induces a significant growth (p <.05) of these molecules, while ultrasound does not present this effect. Ozone and ultrasound present microbicidal effects, however, ozone is more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rhipicephalus microplus is an important ectoparasite of livestock as it results in loss to the producer. The present study analyzed the effects of ozone gas, a fluid with acaricidal potential, on this species of cattle tick. Engorged females of R. microplus were divided into two groups: control, oxygen and ozone groups. The results indicated that ticks in the control and oxygen groups maintained the oviposition process intact. Females exposed to the ozone gas died before eggs were deposited and damage on the cuticle was observed, proving that the ozone gas had an acaricidal effect on the ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozonated water has been demonstrated to induce significant results in terms of the elimination of microorganisms. The present study assessed the damage to Streptococcus mutans after exposure to ozonated water; the ozone generator was adjusted to provide an outlet concentration of 60 mg/L, the samples were submitted to different ozonation times 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 mi. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force images were obtained to identify damage to the bacteria, followed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluation and microbial viability. The results showed a significant reduction in viability and the images evidenced the generation of gaps on the microbial wall and surface layer alterations. Ozone can induce significant damage to S. mutans, thus suggesting that the use of ozonated water to prevent carious lesion formation is extremely promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the hypothesis that light could reduce the lethality of COVID-19. Methods: Most models for projections of the spread and lethality of COVID-19 take into account the ambient temperature, neglecting light. Recent advances in understanding the mechanism of action of COVID-19 have shown that it causes a systemic infection that significantly affects the hematopoietic system and hemostasis, factors extremely dependent of light, mainly in the region of visible and infrared radiation. Results: In the COVID-19 patients hemoglobin is decreasing and protoporphyrin is increasing, generating an extremely harmful accumulation of iron ions in the bloodstream, which are able to induce an intense inflammatory process in the body with a consequent increase in C-reactive protein and albumin. Observing the unsaturation characteristics of the cyclic porphyrin ring allows it to absorb and emit radiation mainly in the visible region. This characteristic can represent an important differential to change this process in the event of an imbalance in this system, through the photobiomodulation to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) using red and nearinfrared radiation (R-NIR) and vitaminDusing ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. These two compounds have the primary role of activating the defense mechanisms of the immune system, enabling greater resistance of the individual against the attack by the virus. According to the theory of electron excitation in photosensitive molecules, similar to hemoglobin heme, after the photon absorption there would be an increase in the stability of the iron ion bond with the center of the pyrrole ring, preventing the losses of heme function oxygen transport (HbO2). The light is also absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in the R-NIR region, with a consequent increase in electron transport, regulating enzyme activity and resulting in a significant increase of oxygen rate consumption by mitochondria, increasing ATP production. Conclusions: The most favorable range of optical radiation to operate in this system is between R-NIR region, in which cytochrome c oxidase and porphyrin present absorption peaks centered at 640 nm and HbO2 with absorption peak centered at 900 nm. Based on the mechanisms described earlier, our hypothesis is that light could reduce the lethality of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copaiba oleoresin presents several compounds with known biologic activity and physiologic effects, including analgesic and insecticide properties. Among them are the terpenoids (mainly diterpenes and sesquiterpenes) with β-caryophyllene, the main representative of the terpenoids and considered to be a chemical marker. This study employed Raman spectroscopy and principal component analysis (PCA) techniques to identify and quantify the β-caryophyllene marker in copaiba oil samples purchased from popular markets in Brazil. A dispersive Raman spectrometer (830 nm, 250 mW, 2 cm−1 spectral resolution) was used. Results showed the identification of the main Raman peaks from the β-caryophyllene in copaiba oil samples (main peaks at 507, 771, 1442, 1638, and 1673 cm−1). The loading vector 2 (PC2) extracted the spectral information from β-caryophyllene in the samples and the eigenvalue 2 (score 2) allowed the estimation of the concentration of this marker in commercial samples, with the concentrations from 15 to 34%. Raman spectroscopy combined with PCA may be considered to be a potential analytical tool for the quality control of Copaifera oil samples by quantifying β-caryophyllene using its unique spectral information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reprocessing of endoscopes is a complex procedure due to their structural design. In the constant search for new antimicrobial substances, recent studies with ozone have yielded great benefits. The present study evaluated the effects of ozonated water used to disinfect endoscopes comparing its efficacy with the conventional technique (2% glutaraldehyde). According to the results obtained, when ozonated water was used (330 mg.min.L-1), induced a 2 log reduction of the viable microorganisms under the conditions tested. Ozonated water was a potent gastrointestinal endoscopic sanitizer, suggesting it is a feasible alternative for disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes the development of an optical catheter with bending control of the distal end. The probe consists of seven optical fibers wrapped in a resin and a biocompatible flexible teflon tube with a novel mechanical device that allows bending of the distal extremity to access a desired location of a human organ. A central fiber is used for tissue Raman excitation, five fibers are used for Raman signal collection, and the seventh for "optoclinical" treatment applications. Infrared, dispersive Raman spectra at 785 nm excitation were employed to optically characterize the proposed catheter. An excitation transmission loss of 16% was found compared to the traditional six collecting fibers catheter, both with their distal tip straight. By bending of the distal tip at different angles, with turning the intermediated section of the catheter around cylinders of different diameters (one finds a correlation between curvature angle of the tip and cylinder diameter), the transmission loss coefficient and transmission were determined for each distal tip angle. A transmission reduction of 5% was found for a 180° curvature. This optical catheter could be very useful in clinics, providing a way to control the fiber tip position and angle onto the tissue or organ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]