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This is an integrative review of the literature with the objective of analyzing the scientific production on psychoactive substance use in the elderly, with a specific focus on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. The systematic research was performed on the Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Academic Search Premier, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. After considering the criteria for inclusion and exclusion, 13 studies were selected, with no restriction on the period of time. Elderly users of psychoactive substances are predominantly men with low levels of education and income, who are unemployed, unmarried and living alone, besides presenting organic and psychological comorbidities. Alcohol is the most common drug used in this age group, followed by abuse of medication, although the use of illicit substances has increased progressively. Despite evidence being limited, studies indicate lower rates of high-risk behavior to health in the elderly. The literature is consensual about the need for more studies in order to fill gaps in the knowledge and to facilitate early identification of these users.Keywords: elderly; drug users; substance-related disorders; prescription drug misuse; evidence-based practice. USO DE SUBSTÂNCIAS PSICOATIVAS EM IDOSOS: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVAResumo: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, que teve por objetivo analisar a produção científica sobre o uso de substâncias psicoativas em idosos, focalizando suas condições sociodemográficas e clínicas. Foi realizada uma busca sistemática utilizando-se as bases Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Academic Search Premier, PubMed e ScienceDirect. Considerando os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram selecionados 13 estudos, sem restrição de período de tempo. Os idosos usuários de substâncias psicoativas caracterizam-se, predominantemente, por serem homens, com baixos níveis de escolaridade e renda, desocupação laboral, não casados e a habitar isoladamente, além de apresentarem comorbilidades orgânicas e psíquicas. O álcool é a droga mais comum nessa faixa etária, seguido do abuso de medicamentos; no entanto, o uso de substâncias ilícitas tem aumentado progressivamente. Ainda que as evidências sejam limitadas, estudos indicam menores taxas de comportamentos de alto risco para saúde em idosos. A literatura é consensual sobre a necessidade de mais estudos, de modo a preencher as lacunas do conhecimento e facilitar a identificação precoce desses utentes. Elderly substance abuse: an integrative reviewRevista Psicologia: Teoria e Prática, 19(2), 42-59. São Paulo, SP, mai.-ago. 2017. ISSN 1516-3687 (impresso), ISSN 1980-6906 (on-line). http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1980-6906/psicologia.v19n2p42-59. Sistema de avaliação: às cegas por pares (double blind review). Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. Elderly substancePalavras-chave: idosos; usuários de drogas; transtornos relacionados ao uso de substâncias; uso indevido de medicamentos sob prescrição; prática baseada em evidência. EL ABUSO DE SUSTANCIAS EN LOS ANCIANOS: UNA REVISIÓN INTEGR...

Magnetic nanoparticles (NP), such as magnetite, have been the subject of research for application in the biomedical field, especially in Magnetic Hyperthermia Therapy (MHT), a promising technique for cancer therapy. NP are often coated with different compounds such as natural or synthetic polymers to protect them from oxidation and enhance their colloidal electrostatic stability while maintaining their thermal efficiency. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanoparticles coated with fucoidan, a biopolymer with recognized biocompatibility and antitumoral activity, is reported. The potential application of NP in MHT was evaluated through the assessment of Specific Loss Power (SLP) under an electromagnetic field amplitude of 14.7 kA m−1 and at 276 kHz. For fucoidan-coated NP, it was obtained SLP values of 100 and 156 W/g, corresponding to an Intrinsic Loss Power (ILP) of 1.7 and 2.6 nHm2kg−1, respectively. These values are, in general, higher than the ones reported in the literature for non-coated magnetite NP or coated with other polymers. Furthermore, in vitro assays showed that fucoidan and fucoidan-coated NP are biocompatible. The particle size (between ca. 6 to 12 nm), heating efficiency, and biocompatibility of fucoidan-coated magnetite NP meet the required criteria for MHT application.

Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation method with and without the assistance of an additive, namely, gelatin, agar-agar or pectin, using eco-friendly conditions and materials embodying a green synthesis process. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the structure and morphology of the nanoparticles. Magnetic properties were investigated by SQUID magnetometry and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that the presence of the additives implies a higher reproducibility of the morphological magnetic nanoparticle characteristics compared with synthesis without any additive, with small differences associated with different additives. To assess their potential for magnetic hyperthermia, water-based suspensions of these nanoparticles were prepared with and without citric acid. The stable solutions obtained were studied for their structural, magnetic and heating efficiency properties. The results indicate that the best additive for the stabilization of a water-based emulsion and better heating efficiency is pectin or a combination of pectin and agar-agar, attaining an intrinsic loss power of 3.6 nWg-1.

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