biokinetics

Effective excretion of nanostructured noble metals is still one of the most challenging bottlenecks for their employment in clinical practice. Besides the persistence issue, the clinical translation of inorganic nanomaterials is also affected by a bewildering lack of investigations regarding their quantitative biokinetics. Here, we have quantitatively correlated the chemical nature of the three most interesting noble metals for biomedical applications to their biosafety and biokinetics in, respectively, zebrafish and murine models. Gold, silver, and platinum ultrasmall-in-nano architectures with comparable size elicit, after intravenous administration, different excretion pathways depending on their intrinsic metallic nature. Understanding the in vivo fate of noble metal nanoparticles is a significant breakthrough to unlock their clinical employment for the establishment of treatments for neoplasms, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders.

Titanium and zirconium are biomaterials that present a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) or zirconium dioxide (ZrO(2)). As a result of corrosion, microparticles can be released into the bioenvironment, and their effect on tissues is seemingly associated with differences in the physicochemical properties of these metals. The aim of this study was to perform a long-term evaluation of the distribution, destination, and potential risk of TiO(2) and ZrO(2) microparticles that might result from the corrosion process. Wistar rats were i.p. injected with an equal dose of either TiO(2) or ZrO(2) suspension. The following end-points were evaluated at 3, 6, and 18 months: (a) the presence of particles in blood cells and liver and lung tissue, (b) Ti and Zr deposit quantitation, (c) oxidant-antioxidant balance in tissues, and (d) O(2)(-) generation in alveolar macrophages. Ti and Zr particles were detected in blood mononuclear cells and in organ parenchyma. At equal doses and times postadministration, Ti content in organs was consistently higher than Zr content. Ti elicited a significant increase in O(2)(-) generation in the lung compared to Zr. The consumption of antioxidant enzymes was greater in the Ti than in the Zr group. The present study shows that the biokinetics of TiO(2) and ZrO(2) depends on particle size, shape, and/or crystal structure.

Minimal research has investigated physical activity and health profiles among university students in Africa. Research has however shown the need for health intervention programmes across all domains to advocate both physical activity participation and exercise education. The purpose of this study was to objectively analyse physical activity and health profiles among senior university students in Cape Town, South Africa. A secondary aim was to investigate the use of the non-profit organisation, the Biokinetic Humanitarian Project (BHP) (which provides complimentary exercise testing, exercise prescription and health education) to improve selected health measures in this population. A cross-sectional research study was employed whereby male and female university residence students (n=19) were screened for health and fitness measures at baseline and after a 6-month intervention period. Physical activity and health education was assessed using the International Physical Activity Question...

Minimal research has investigated physical activity and health profiles among university students in Africa. Research has however shown the need for health intervention programmes across all domains to advocate both physical activity participation and exercise education. The purpose of this study was to objectively analyse physical activity and health profiles among senior university students in Cape Town, South Africa. A secondary aim was to investigate the use of the non-profit organisation, the Biokinetic Humanitarian Project (BHP) (which provides complimentary exercise testing, exercise prescription and health education) to improve selected health measures in this population. A crosssectional research study was employed whereby male and female university residence students (n=19) were screened for health and fitness measures at baseline and after a 6-month intervention period. Physical activity and health education was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionn...