No abstract

Dehydrated MCM-41 (S1) was functionalized under nitrogen with 3-chloropropyltriethoxysilane (CPTS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) by grafting in toluene at 80 °C over 48 h to give the corresponding materials S2 and S3, respectively. Subsequently, S2 and S3 were suspended in methanol and reacted in a nitrogen atmosphere with betulinic acid (BA) for 48 h at 65 °C (in the presence of the triethylamine of S2) to give the BA-functionalized materials S4 and S5. All materials studied were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, nitrogen gas sorption, multinuclear MAS NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, UV spectroscopy, IR, SEM, and TEM. To study the release of BA, S4 and S5 were suspended in solutions simulating various body pH conditions (pH 7.4, 5.5, and 3.0). Results of the quantification of BA release by HPLC for S4 show a pH-dependent and very slow BA release following a logarithmic tendency, while S5 behaves differently, also pH-dependent but, in this case, fast release of BA which requires only days for total release of the therapeutic compound. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of all synthesized materials against various cancer cell lines was studied. The results show the absence of an antiproliferative effect on the surfaces without BA S1-S3, while an antiproliferative effect was observed with S4 and S5 and was attributed to the release of BA in the medium.

The Diet, Physical Activity and Health (Alimentación, Actividad física y Salud, ALAS) program is an intervention implemented by the municipal health services of Madrid with the objective of reducing weight and preventing diabetes in high-risk population by improving diet and physical activity. The ALAS program combines individual visits with a 10-session group workshop that takes place over a 6-month period. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the ALAS intervention implemented under real-life conditions between 2016 and 2019. The intervention was evaluated with a pre- and post-intervention study with follow-up performed 6 and 12 months from the start of the program. The analyzed outcomes were a 5–10% reduction in the initial weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and a change in glycemic status in prediabetic participants. Statistical models were adjusted by sociodemographic variables. The participants were recruited from municipal community health centers or referred by municipal occupational health services. Between 2016 and 2019, 1629 people participated in the program. At 6 months, 85% of the participants had lost weight; 43% had lost 5% or more of their initial weight, and 12% had lost 10% or more. Regarding BMI, 22.3% of participants who were initially obese were no longer obese, and 15.2% of the overweight participants achieved normal weight. A total of 35.1% of the prediabetic participants reverted to normoglycemic status. The intervention was found to be more effective for men, for those who completed the intervention and those who accessed the program through the occupational health route. Among the participants who accessed the intervention via the community, the intervention was more effective in those with a high educational level. The evaluation demonstrated the effectiveness of the ALAS program for reducing weight and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes when applied under real-life conditions. The effectiveness of the intervention differed according to gender, access route and educational level of the participants.

The inside cover picture shows that a combination of functionalized mesoporous materials such as MCM-41 and cytotoxic agents, in this case the natural product betulinic acid, gives a drug delivery system with potential application as an adjuvant for local implantation to prevent the recurrence of bone tumors. For more details, see the Full Paper by Santiago Gómez-Ruiz, Damiµn PØrez-Quintanilla, Goran N. Kalud¯erović et al. on p. 670 ff.