Background: Infusion Pumps (IP) are medical devices that were developed in the 1960s and generate fluid flow at pressures higher than that of normal blood pressure. Various hospital sectors make use of them, and they have become indispensable in therapies requiring continuity and precision in the administration of medication and/or food. As they are classified Class III (high risk) equipment, their maintenance is crucial for proper performance of the device, as well as patient and operator safety. The principal consideration of the pump is the volume infused, and the device demands great attention to detail when being calibrated. A lack of necessary care with this equipment can lead to uncertainty in volume and precision during the administration of substances. Because of this, it is essential to evaluate its reliability, to prevent possible failures at time of execution. This control aims at the quality of the intended infusion result, becoming an indication of quality. Methods: This systematic review summarizes studies done over the last 10 years (2011 to December 2021) that address the reliability and accuracy of hospital infusion pumps, in order to identify planning of maintenance and/or other techniques used in management of the equipment. The Prisma method was applied and the databases utilized were Embase, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Science Direct. In addition, similar reviews were studied in Prospero and the Cochrane Library. For data analysis, softwares such as Mendeley, Excel, RStudio, and VOSviewer were used, and Robvis helped in plotting risk of bias results for studies performed with Cochrane tools. Results: The six databases selected produced 824 studies. After applying eligibility criteria (inclusion and exclusion), removing duplicates, and applying filters 1 and 2, 15 studies were included in the present review. It was found that the most relevant sources came from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and that the most relevant keywords revolved around the terms (“device failure”, “infusion pumps”, “adverse effects”, “complications”, etc.). These results made clear that there remains substantial room for improvement as it relates to the study of accuracy and reliability of infusion. Conclusions: We verified that the reliability and precision analysis of hospital infusion pumps need to be performed in a more detailed and consistent way. New developments, considering the model and IP specification, are intended, clearly explaining the adopted methodology.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread throughout more than 160 countries, infecting millions of people worldwide. To address this health emergency, countries have organized the flow of production and innovation to reduce the impact on health. This article shows the response of the Brazilian scientific community to meet the urgent needs of the public unified health system [SUS], aiming to guarantee universal access to an estimated population of 211 million. By December 2020, Brazil had recorded more than six million cases and approximately 175,000 deaths. Methods: We collected data on research, development and innovation projects carried out by 114 public universities (plus Oswaldo Cruz Foundation [Fiocruz] and Butantan Institute), as reported on their websites. Additionally, we examined the studies on COVID-19 approved by the National Comission for Research Ethics, as well as those reported on the Ministry of Education website as of May 15, 2020. Results: The 789 identified projects were classified according to research categories as follows: development and innovation (n = 280), other types of projects (n = 226), epidemiologic research (n = 211), and basic research on disease mechanisms (n = 72). Most proposals focused on the development and innovation of personal protective equipment, medical devices, diagnostic tests, medicines and vaccines, which were rapidly identified as research priorities by the scientific community. Some promising results have been observed from phase III vaccine trials, one of which is conducted in partnership with Oxford University and another of which is performed with Sinovac Biotech. Both trials involve thousands of volunteers in their Brazilian arms and include technology transfer agreements with Fiocruz and the Butantan Institute, respectively. These vaccines proved to be safe and effective and were immediately licensed for emergency use. The provision of doses for the public health system, and vaccination, started on January 17, 2021. Conclusions: The mobilized Brazilian scientific community has generated comprehensive research, development and innovation proposals to meet the most urgent needs. It is important to emphasize that this response was only possible due to decades of investment in research, development and innovation in Brazil. We need to reinforce and protect the Brazilian science, technology and innovation system from austerity policies that disregard health and knowledge as crucial investments for Brazilian society, in line with the constitutional right of universal health access and universal health coverage.

Wound healing is a perfectly coordinated cascade of cellular, molecular, and biochemical events which interact in tissue reconstitution. Chronic diseases such as pressure ulcers (PU) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are considered risk factors for wound healing. Patients with such diseases often have higher sepsis, infection, and complication rates, since they have revascularization inhibition and low growth factor expression. Thus, latex biomembrane (LBM), a biocompatible material, derived from the latex of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) appears to create tendencies as an angiogenic-inducing tissue healing agent and as biomaterial, resulting from its structural qualities and its low cost when compared to conventional treatments. Therefore, this work aims at summarizing the results, experiments, and scientific findings that certify or recommend the use of LBM as a new technique to be applied effectively in the treatment of wounds. An integrative review was held in the BIREME, LILACS, Burns, MEDLINE, PubMed, and SciELO databases, from 2000 to 2016, using the following descriptors: “healing,” “diabetes mellitus,” “wounds,” and “latex membrane.” As a result, 600 experiments (out of 612) presented satisfactory results; however, 33% of the cases received explicit recommendations, 11% required more studies on the subjects, and 1% was denied. On the other hand, half of the studies did not expressly endorse its use, despite presenting satisfactory results. The LBM was characterized as a good therapeutic alternative in cases of wounds, including chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and PU, due to its relevant potential for wound healing stimulation, acceleration of cell tissue mending and revascularization, or the reestablishment of angiogenic functions (creation of new blood vessels). The LBM was also confirmed to be safe as a biocompatible material whose structural qualities (elasticity, adaptability, impermeability, and possibility of suture), devoid of toxicity, allowed interaction between tissues and presented no hypersensitivity inducer and no antimicrobial effect.

RESUMO O conceito do Complexo Econômico Industrial da Saúde se inter-relaciona com o conceito de Pesquisa Translacional na medida em que aproxima o desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico do sistema acadêmico produtivo à utilização do conhecimento pela sociedade. Amplia-se o conceito tradicional da ‘hélice tríplice’ para incluir o uso social da inovação, proporcionando resultados concretos para o setor saúde. Nesta concepção ampliada, a dimensão translacional foi privilegiada: a necessidade de formação da agenda estratégica de plataformas tecnológicas, a indução de especialização em instituições de ciência e tecnologia, a transformação de transferência de tecnologia em capacidade de inovação com resultados para acesso universal no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A Pesquisa Translacional inclui em uma mesma estratégia o conhecimento e a produção de bens e serviços necessários à saúde e ao bem-estar, assim como o acesso da sociedade a eles, articulando o contexto do desenvolvimento científico, acadêmico e industrial no País. Este trabalho procura explicitar o referencial conceitual, ou seja: reduzir a vulnerabilidade em saúde, permitindo que o conhecimento chegue ao cidadão e que marque a própria agenda de pesquisa e de inovação.

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) devices simulate human organs within a microenvironment, potentially surpassing traditional preclinical methods and paving the way for innovative treatments. A thorough understanding of the current state of OoC design enables the development of more precise and relevant models that replicate not only the structure of organs but also their intricate cellular interactions and responses to external stimuli. This knowledge facilitates the optimization of biomimetic materials and allows for the real-time simulation of physiological microenvironments. By keeping abreast of new microfabrication techniques, we can explore opportunities to create customized and highly functional OoCs. Objective: To provide a comprehensive overview of microphysiological platform designs. Methods: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO under the number CRD42022352569. We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The eligibility criteria included studies utilizing human tissue, either primary or secondary lineage cells. Results: A total of 9.790 papers were retrieved from the Scopus, Embase, IEEE and Web of Science databases. After removing duplicates and applying a 10-year publication filter, 3.150 articles were screened by title and Full-text analyses were then performed. Eighteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review. In this review, we examine the principles of OoC design, focusing on structure, dimensions, cell culturing options and manufacturing techniques. We also examine recent advances and future prospects in the field. Conclusions: Microphysiological devices in health research can facilitate drug discovery and improve our understanding of human physiology. They contribute to more ethical research by reducing the number of animals used in experiments.