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In this study, a chicken meat containing AgNPs (candidate reference material Nanolyse 14) has been used as a model matrix to study the fate and behaviour of AgNPs upon oral ingestion following an in vitro model that included saliva, gastric and intestinal digestions. The behaviour of a 40 nm AgNPs standard solution during the three digestion steps was also evaluated. Sample preparation conditions were optimised to prevent AgNPs oxidation and/or aggregation and to ensure the representativeness of the reported results. Total silver released from the test sample and the evaluated AgNP standard was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The presence of both AgNPs and dissolved silver in the extracts was confirmed by single particle (SP)-ICPMS analysis. AgNPs were sized and the particle number concentration determined in the three digestion juices. Experimental results demonstrated differentiated behaviours for AgNP from the standard solution and the meat sample highlighting the relevance of using physiological conditions for accurate risk assessment. In the most realistic scenario assayed (i.e., spiked chicken meat analysis), only 13% of the AgNPs present in the reference material would reach the intestine wall. Meanwhile, other bioaccessible dissolved forms of silver would account for as much as 44% of the silver initially spiked to the meat paste.

Silver migration from a commercial baby feeding bottle and a food box containing AgNPs, as confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis, was evaluated using food simulant solutions [i.e., water, 3% (v/v) acetic acid, and 10% and 90% (v/v) ethanol]. Silver release was investigated at temperatures in the 20-70 °C range using contact times of up to 10 days. Migration of silver from the food box was in all cases 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than that observed for the baby bottle, although the total silver content in the original box material was half of that found in the baby bottle. As expected, for both food containers, silver migration depended on both the nature of the tested solution and the applied conditions. The highest release was observed for 3% acetic acid at 70 °C for 2 h, corresponding to 62 ng dm and 1887 ng dm of silver for the baby bottle and the food box, respectively. Single particle-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICPMS) was used to characterise and quantify AgNPs in the food simulants extracts. Sample preparation was optimized to preserve AgNPs integrity. The experimental parameters affecting AgNPs detection, sizing and quantification by SP-ICPMS were also optimised. Analyses of water and acidic extracts revealed the presence of both dissolved silver and AgNPs. Small AgNPs (in the 18-30 nm range) and particle number concentrations within the 4-1510 10 L range were detected, corresponding to only 0.1-8.6% of the total silver released from these materials. The only exception was AgNPs migrated into water at 40 °C and 70 °C from the food box, which accounted for as much as 34% and 69% of the total silver content, respectively.

This study evaluated the feasibility of asymmetric flow field flow fractionation coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (AF4-ICP-MS) for separation, characterization and quantification of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in complex nutraceutical and beverage samples. For improved determination, different analysis conditions were proposed depending on the NP size, i.e. below 20nm and in the 20-60nm range. After optimization of the different experimental parameters affecting the AF4 separation process and the analyte detection, the proposed methods showed a wide dynamic linear range (i.e., in the 10-1000¿gL-1) and limits of detection below 28ngL-1. A previous probe ultrasonication for 90s (corresponding to 45 pulses of 2s) of the tested samples resulted in complete AgNPs disaggregation. As a result, a fast accurate determination was achieved (complete analysis was done in ca. 37min). The practicality of the proposed methodology for the intended determination was demonstrated by successful determination of the AgNPs present in a variety of nutraceuticals and a beverage at concentration levels in the 0.7-29.5×103¿gL-1 range. A good agreement was observed among these concentration data and those determined by more conventional sample preparation techniques, such as ultracentrifugation and acid digestion. Also, the estimated NP sizes using AF4 compared satisfactorily with those determined by image techniques, i.e. transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All together demonstrated the utility of this novel analytical methodology for the analysis of AgNPs of different size in complex matrices.

The incidence of cervical cancer in Colombia is estimated to be at a rate of 21,5 new cases per every 100.000 women (1), above 20 years old, that cause discomfort, uneasiness and suffering that hinder their fully vital development. Purpose: understand social support as a coping strategy in women diagnosed with cervical cancer. Methodology: this qualitative study, conducted in the metropolitan area of Vale de Aburrá (Colombia), between August 2007 and May 2009, following the guidelines proposed by literature, fourteen women whose cervical cancer has been diagnosed and treated, were interviewed and attested through the institutions in charge of their treatment. Data analysis is performed manually, following the process to identify the conditions in which the interviewed women defined the coping strategies for their treatment. Results: social support, offered by health professionals, family, neighbors and friends emerges as an important coping strategy during the disease. Conclusions: Health professionals must furnish information – vital for the ills – using a very clear, concise language. It is also important to make sure that the patient and his/her family fully understand the message. Nursing professionals must provide humanized health care in attention to individual features. Including the family in care programs and involving them in the education given to the patient is one of the pillars of the strategies to cope with cervical cancer., A incidência de câncer de colo uterino na Colômbia se estima em 21,5 casos novos por 100.000 mulheres (1), identificados em idades superiores aos 20 anos, que causam mal-estar, sofrimento e incômodo e que entorpecem seu desenvolvimento vital pleno. Objetivo: compreender o apoio social como estratégia de afrontamento nas mulheres diagnosticadas com câncer de colo uterino. Metodologia: neste estudo de tipo qualitativo, realizado na área metropolitana do Vale de Aburrá (Colômbia), entre agosto de 2007 e maio de 2009, seguindo as linhas básicas propostas pela teoria fundada, catorze mulheres diagnosticadas e tratadas de câncer de colo uterino foram entrevistadas depois de serem contatadas por intermédio das instituições encarregadas dos seus tratamentos. A análise dos dados se fez manualmente, seguindo o processo para identificar as condições em que as entrevistadas definiram as estratégias para afrontar o seu tratamento. Resultados: o apoio social, oferecido por pessoal de saúde, família, vizinhos e amigos, emergiu como estratégia de afrontamento importante durante a doença. Conclusões: a informação –vital para os doentes– deve ser fornecida por pessoal de saúde em linguagem clara. Também é importante se certificar que o paciente e a família compreendam a mensagem. O pessoal de enfermagem deve oferecer cuidado humanizado que considere as particularidades individuais. É preciso incluir a família nos programas de cuidado e envolve-la na educação providenciada ao paciente, como um dos pilares no afrontamento do câncer de colo uterino., La incidencia de cáncer de cuello uterino en Colombia se estima en 21,5 casos nuevos por 100.000 mujeres (1), comprendidos en edades desde los 20 años, ocasionándoles malestar, sufrimiento e incomodidad y entorpeciendo su pleno desarrollo vital. Objetivo: comprender el apoyo social como estrategia de afrontamiento en las mujeres diagnosticadas con cáncer de cérvix. Metodología: en este estudio de tipo cualitativo, llevado a cabo en el área metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá (Colombia), entre agosto de 2007 y mayo de 2009, bajo los lineamientos propuestos por la teoría fundada, se entrevistó a 14 mujeres diagnosticadas y tratadas de cáncer de cérvix, que se contactaron por intermedio de instituciones encargadas de brindar el tratamiento. El análisis de los datos se hizo manualmente, siguiendo el proceso para identificar las condiciones en que las entrevistadas definieron las estrategias para enfrentar su tratamiento. Resultados: el apoyo social, brindado por personal de salud, familia, vecinos y amigos, emergió como una estrategia de afrontamiento importante durante la trayectoria de la enfermedad. Conclusiones: la información —vital para los enfermos— debe ser dada por personal de salud en un lenguaje claro, y cerciorarse de la comprensión de su mensaje por el paciente y su familia. El personal de enfermería debe ofrecer cuidado humanizado en el que se consideren las peculiaridades individuales. Se debe incluir a la familia en los planes de cuidado e involucrarla en la educación que se da al paciente, como uno de los pilares en el afrontamiento del cáncer de cérvix.