Stability study of fluconazole applying validated bioassay and stability-indicating LC methods

Chemical degradation of drugs may result in altered therapeutic efficacy and even toxic effects. Therefore, understanding the factors that change the stability of pharmaceuticals and identifying ways to guarantee their stability are important. In this work stability-indicating Liquid Chromatographic (LC) and bioassay methods were validated and employed in the fluconazole stability studies. The correlation of sample results from both methods was evaluated. Fluconazole raw material stability was investigated in aqueous, acid (0.1 M HCl), alkaline (0.1 M NaOH) and oxidative (3% v/v H2O2) reflux for 6 hours, by LC method. Fluconazole capsules were exposed to UVC (254 nm, 66 and 180 days), climatic chamber (40°C, 75% RH, 90 days) and oven (60°C, 60 days), these samples were analyzed by LC and bioassay methods It was found that the drug is degraded (10% decrease) with arising of a possible degradation product in an oxidative medium and UVC exposure, in all the others conditions fluconazole remained chemically stable (higher than 98%) when analyzed by LC. However when the capsules stressed samples were evaluated through bioassay very low antifungal activity was found (about 30%). Fluconazole showed to be an unstable drug and it indicates that special care must be taken during the handling, storage and quality control using appropriated methods to analyze this therapeutic agent. This work suggests monitoring the fluconazole stability by bioassay and the stability-indicating LC methods.

Study of physical-chemical stability in contaminated conditioners by bacteria

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparative study over methods developed for quantification of darunavir in tablets by environmental friendly infrared and capillary electrophoretic techniques

Darunavir, a protease inhibitor used in the treatment of HIV infection, presents few methods for its determination in pharmaceuticals. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy offers the possibility of obtaining spectra relatively quickly, providing interesting information, analytically, qualitatively or quantitatively. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) performs separations of high efficiency in shorter time with reagents and samples in small quantity. These two methods are cost-benefitted when we evaluate the green level and the cost of analysis. Faster and cheaper methods without generating organic waste by IR and CE for the quantification of darunavir were developed and validated, focusing socioeconomic impact of analytical decisions. If the cost of acquisition, maintenance, production, analysis and conditioning of drugs and pharmaceuticals is high, consequently the price of this product in the market will be higher and it cannot be accessible to the patient. Treatment failure not only affects the quality of life of patients, but also contributes significantly to the economic burden of the health system. In this context there is a tool called Analysis of the Life Cycle, which comes to make us think in a multidimensional way focusing the whole, the parts and especially the interaction among the parts of a system.

Comparison of high performance liquid chromatography and three titrimetric methods for the determination of ceftazidime in pharmaceutical formulations

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Actinic Cheilitis: epidemiological study in a riverine population of northern Brazil

AIM: The aim of this survey was to assess the prevalence of AC in riverine population in countryside of Amazonas, northern Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients answered a questionnaire and were examined between January and December of 2008. Data were gathered on the following participant’s characteristics: 1) age group; 2) gender; 3) ethnicity 4) outdoor activities (sunlight exposure); 5) smoking habits; 6) drinking habits; and 7) access to oral health services (the last dental visit). Clinical observation of the lips for determination of AC presence was used. Patients who presented clinical manifestation of moderate and severe AC were submitted to incisional biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. In case of a positive result after histopathological examination, patients were advised and appropriate treatment was offered. All patients received information about AC and its'prevention. RESULTS: Among the 200 participants that were examined, the prevalence of AC was 2% (4 cases). Of all patients surveyed, women were the majority totalizing 124 patients (72.0%). According to age, 48 (24.0%) people were 20g34 yeargold; 42 (21.0%) were 35g44gyeargold; 50 (25.0%) were 45g60gyeargold; and 60 (30.0%) were 61 or older. CONCLUSION: Even though AC was present in a low prevalence rate, an epidemiological variety is expected, once geographic and ethnic differences should be considered.

O mestrado profissional na área de ensino de Ciências e Matemática: alguns esclarecimentos

This paper, elaborated from documents created and used in the last years by the commissions and coordinations of the Science and Mathematics Teaching CAPES/MEC (Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel/Ministry of Education) Area, brings some explanations regarding the professional master’s degree in Science and Mathematics Teaching. This kind of master’s program is an innovation in Brazil and may contribute significantly to the improvement of science and mathematics teaching in the country. It may also stimulate the development of similar proposals in other Latin-American countries.

Políticas de formação docente na Bahia:uma anállise a partir de pressupostos da Teoria Social de Habermas

Num contexto de mudanças amplas e céleres nos mundos do trabalho e da cultura, como se situam os professores frente às normas que regulam sua formação? Ao discutirmos esta questão, propomo-nos a colaborar com os debates sobre as políticas públicas, especialmente aquelas diretamente relacionadas à formação de professores de Ciências que atuam em determinada região no interior da Bahia, desvelando fatores que constrangem ou impedem a ação dos professores na configuração dessas políticas e apontando para outras possibilidades de formação docente. Para tanto, utilizamo-nos de dados de pesquisas acadêmicas, documentos, legislação e entrevistas realizadas com 15 docentes. Para a análise, apoiamo-nos em referenciais críticos, particularmente na teoria social de Habermas. Foi possível relevar a ausência do Estado em determinados aspectos da formação desses profissionais, bem como sua presença incisiva e sufocante em outros. A participação restrita dos docentes, como grupo afetado, na produção das políticas de formação demonstra que a integração social não tem se fundamentado na comunicação, mas em processos não linguísticos, principalmente por meio do poder estatal que abriga os ditames do sistema econômico. Finalizamos o texto, chamando a atenção para as possibilidades apresentadas pelo conceito de esfera pública para o apontamento de novas possibilidades formativas.

O papel das emissoras educativas no Brasil em tempo de eleições

The concept of educational radio is present in the Brazilian Code of Broadcasting in 1963, valued by an Interministerial 1999.According to the Ministry of Communications, only 176 stations are considered educational universe of 3,000 existing radios in Brazil. In this context, the study proposes to establish a discussion on the educational experiences obtained from the radio, considering the Brazilian radio culture that favors concessions to trade groups and religious politicians. The challenge will be to move toward a program that combines educational content, entertainment, and thus ensures a common universe of communication skills enabling the adult radio listeners their actual interaction with the world around him. The methodology will work in the literature from texts on the subject, and the result of practical observations collected during visits to the broadcasters, programming and analysis.

El conflictivo nacimiento de la Universid de São Paulo en la década de 1930

The creation of the University of São Paulo in the early 1930’s brought about arguments in the projects about its organization. The idea was to establish the Polytechnic School of São Paulo as the core of the future institution. However, the option adopted in 1934 allocated this position to the newly created Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters. This caused a strong reaction by both former professional schools that were incorporated into the university, above all the Polytechnic School. This article sets out to describe the conflicts between the Polytechnic School and the Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters during the tumultuous beginnings of the University of São Paulo.

Mulheres na politica e na mídia Brasileira: breve histórico e cenário atual

Brazil was one of the four countries of Latin America to be elected in this century, the first time a woman for president. But does the fact of having a woman in the highest office of the Republic reflects the reality of women's political participation in Brazil? And how will the female representation in the media of the country? To answer these questions, this article is a literature review of these topics, showing that, despite having a woman in the highest office of the Republic, women's political participation and their representation in the media is lagging behind.

Design universal e acessibilidade: análise ergonomica de equipamentos de ginástica em espaços públicos

In recent years the availability of equipment for exercise in public places increased demand on the principles of universal design, ergonomics and accessibility, since they are intended for use by many different users. This paper presents an analysis of ergonomic equipment and discusses the main problems observed, as well as projective presents parameters for the development of new products.

A questão da experiência estética nos debates de epistemologia da comunicação

In the outline of communication epistemology, the article discusses the fluid and complex delimitations of the field of social communication and its intersections with the world of aesthetics. It includes the question of aesthetic experience and its presence in the epistemological debates on communication in Brazil. It tries to identify possible contributions of the phenomenology of aesthetic experience, based upon the teachings of Mikel Dufrenne and the theoretical references proposed by John Dewey, Paul Valéry, Luigi Pareyson and Jacques Rancière, to the studies on communication. To contextualize the articulations between communication and aesthetics in the debates developed in the Working Group on Communication Epistemology, the article briefly explores the works that discussed that intersection over the last ten years.

The Flower Workshop: a social self-organizing practice in mental health nursing

Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Feeding and reproductive dynamics of the damselfish, Stegastes fuscus in the coastal reefs of northeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Staphylococcal enterotoxins: molecular aspects and detection methods

Members of the Staphylococcus genus, especially Staphylococcus aureus, are the most common pathogens found in hospitals and in community-acquired infections. Some of their pathogenicity is associated with enzyme and toxin production. Until recently, S. aureus was the most studied species in the genus; however, in last few years, the rise of infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci has pointed out the need for further studies on virulence factors that have not yet been completely elucidated so as to better characterize the pathogenic potential of this group of microorganisms. Several staphylococcal species produce enterotoxins, a family of related proteins responsible for many diseases, such as the toxic-shock syndrome, septicemia and food poisoning. To this date, 23 different enterotoxin types have been identified besides toxic-shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), and they can be divided into five phylogenetic groups. The mechanism of action of these toxins includes superantigen activity and emetic properties, which can lead to biological effects of infection. Various methods can detect genes that encode enterotoxins and their production. Molecular methods are the most frequently used at present. This review article has the objective to describe aspects related to the classification, structure and regulation of enterotoxins and toxic-shock syndrome toxin-1 detection methods.