https://hdl.handle.net/10481/24470 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:39:26 GMT 2026-04-14T06:39:26Z https://hdl.handle.net/10481/110221 Formulative Study and Characterization of Novel Biomaterials Based on Chitosan/Hydrolyzed Collagen Films Martínez, T.; Valentino, C.; Rodríguez Pozo, Francisco Ramón; Hernández Benavides, Pablo José; Arrebola Vargas, Francisco Jesús; Paredes Martínez, José Manuel; Sainz-Díaz, Claro Ignacio; Iglesias Salto, Guillermo Ramón; Rossi, S.; Sandri, G.; Medina Pérez, María Del Mar; Aguzzi , Carola To date, the need for biomaterials capable of improving the treatment of chronic skin wounds remains a clinical challenge. The aim of the present work is to formulate and characterize chitosan (Cs)/hydrolyzed collagen (HC) films as potential biomaterials with improved mechanical and hydration performances compared to single component formulations. Films were made by the solvent casting method, with or without glycerin and/or PEG1500 as plasticizers, resulting in a total of eight formulations. All films were characterized by their physico-chemical characteristics and their mechanical and hydration features. A full factorial design was also used to statistically assess the effect of HC concentration, type and concentration of plasticizers and their possible interactions on mechanical and swelling behaviors. Solid state characterization confirmed the hybrid nature of the films, with suggested electrostatic interactions between Cs and HC. Mechanical and swelling properties, along with the analysis of the experimental design, allowed the identification of formulations containing high HC concentration (2% w/v) and glycerin or glycerin/PEG1500 as more suitable candidates for skin wound treatment. Finally, viability assay of immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT) showed no statistical differences in cell survival compared to the complete culture medium, suggesting their potential as a promising tool for biomedical applications. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/110221 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/109803 Human Lactoferrin-clay Mineral Nanohybrids as Emerging Green Biomaterials: A Physicochemical Characterization. Valentino, C.; Martínez, T.; Hernández, P.; Arrebola Vargas, Francisco Jesús; Paredes, JM.; Rossi, S.; Sandri, G.; Medina, MM.; Aguzzi, C. Herein montmorillonite and halloysite have been exploited to prepare advanced lactoferrin-loaded nanohybrid biomaterials for potential biomedical applications. Nanohybrids were prepared following two methodologies: a traditional procedure which induces spontaneous drug-clay interactions to take place in aqueous environment and by spray drying, as alternative and preferred industrial technique for protein processing. Structural assembly of the obtained nanohybrids was assessed by solid state characterization techniques and determination of their surface charge properties. Full microscopy studies, including scanning electron microscopy and ultra-high resolution transmission electron microscopy coupled with EDS were also carried out. Cytotoxicity assays were performed to assess biocompatibility of nanohybrids towards human fibroblast cell cultures. Results showed that both intercalation-solution and spray drying procedures led to the effective formation of nanohybrids structures, with greater extent of peptide-clay mineral interactions in those obtained by spray drying. All the samples exhibited cell viability % higher than 80%, with best results for halloysite coupled with spray drying technique. https://hdl.handle.net/10481/109803 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/103702 The influence of circadian rhythm disruption during Ramadan on metabolic responses to physical activity: a pilot study Anwardeen, Najeha Rizwana; Naja, Khaled; Almuraikhy, Shamma; Sellami, Maha; Al-Amri, Hadaia Saleh; Philip, Nebu; Tamimi, Faleh; Agil, Ahmed; Elrayess, Mohamed A. Background: Circadian rhythms and sleep patterns are important regulators of metabolic health. During Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF), the sleep–wake cycles are often disrupted, which can affect physical activity (PA) and related metabolic responses. Limited knowledge is available on how sleep disruption influences PA in the general population during RIF. This pilot study aimed to examine the metabolic responses to moderate PA under normal and disrupted sleep patterns during RIF. Methods: A pilot study was conducted on 12 participants comprising of individuals with normal (n = 5) and disrupted sleep patterns (n = 7). Blood samples were collected, and measurements of clinical traits, cytokines, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and metabolic profiles were performed before and after intervention. Orthogonal partial least square – discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and linear regressions were performed to assess metabolic responses to PA during RIF under different patterns. Results and conclusion: Fasting participants with normal sleep patterns exhibited lower HOMA-IR (β = −0.416, p = 0.047) in response to PA compared to those with disrupted sleep. Additionally, they demonstrated more efficient lipid utilization during PA, characterized by reduced diacylglycerol levels, which could enhance insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. In contrast, fasting participants with disrupted sleep patterns experienced metabolic stress, marked by significant depletion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and plasmalogens in response to PA. These changes were associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress, potentially leading to metabolic dysregulation. The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1542016/full#supplementary-material https://hdl.handle.net/10481/103702 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/103453 Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder O’Connell, Kevin S.; Rivera Sánchez, Margarita; Bipolar Disorder Working Group Bipolar disorder (BD) is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease 1 . Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown 2 . We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n=158,036 BD cases, 2.8 million controls), combining Clinical, Community, and Self-reported samples. We identified 298 genome-wide significant loci in the multi-ancestry meta- analysis, a 4-fold increase over previous findings 3 , and identified a novel ancestry-specific association in the East Asian cohort. Integrating results from fine-mapping and other variant-to-gene mapping approaches identified 36 credible genes in the aetiology of BD. Genes prioritised through fine-mapping were enriched for ultra-rare damaging missense and protein-truncating variations in BD cases 4 , highlighting convergence of common and rare variant signals. We report differences in genetic architecture of BD depending on the source of patient ascertainment and on BD-subtype (BDI and BDII). Several analyses implicate specific cell types in BD pathophysiology, including GABAergic interneurons and medium spiny neurons. Together, these analyses provide novel insights into the genetic architecture and biological underpinnings of BD. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, PGC has received major funding from the US National Institute of Mental Health (PGC4: R01 MH124839, PGC3: U01 MH109528, PGC2: U01 MH094421 and PGC1: U01 MH085520). https://hdl.handle.net/10481/103453 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/103380 Respiratory disease in people with major depressive disorder: A systematic review and Meta-analysis Jiménez-Peinado, Ana; Laguna-Muñoz, David; Jaén Moreno, María José; Camacho-Rodríguez, Cristina; Del Pozo, Gloria Isabel; Vieta, Eduard; Caballero Villarraso, Javier; Rico-Villademoros, Fernando; Sarramea, Fernando Background Living with major depressive disorder (MDD) reduces life expectancy, with respiratory disease being a significant threat. However, evidence on respiratory disease in this population has not yet been meta-analyzed. Methods This meta-analysis examines respiratory disease prevalence and odds ratio (OR) in patients with MDD and treatment resistant depression (TRD). A systematic literature search was conducted, with a snowball search of reference and citation lists. Inclusion criteria covered studies in MDD and TRD patients with confirmed diagnoses of respiratory diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], pneumonia, lung cancer, and tuberculosis), comparing with a control group when possible. Results From 4,138 retrieved articles, 15 (including 476,927 individuals with MDD, 50,680 with TRD, and 1,108,979 control group) met the inclusion criteria. In MDD patients, COPD prevalence was 9.0% (95% CI: 3.8–19.6%), asthma 8.6% (95% CI: 5.7–12.8%), and pneumonia 2.5% (95% CI: 2.2–2.9%). In TRD patients, COPD prevalence was 9.9% (95% CI: 4.2–21.9%) and asthma 10.9% (95% CI: 10.7–11.2%), but meta-analysis limited to those diseases showed no significant relative risk differences. Compared to the general population, individuals with MDD had significantly higher rates of COPD (OR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.49–2.16), even higher in younger populations (1.85 [95% CI: 1.74–1.97]) and more prevalent in women. Conclusions This first meta-analysis on this topic shows that MDD is associated with an increased risk of respiratory illness compared to the general population. The prevalence of asthma doubles the mean described in the general population worldwide, and in COPD, women and younger people are at particular risk. Prevention policies are urgently needed. This study was supported by a grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/01657) and was co-funded by the European Union.; The supplementary material for this article can be found at http://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.13 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/103380