Potential utility of melatonin as an antioxidant therapy in the management of sickle cell anemia

This study aimed to assess antioxidant effects of melatonintreatment compared to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and to their combination in asickle cell suspension. Sickle erythrocytes were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, composing external control group. They were alsosuspended and incubated at 37°C either in the absence (experimental controlgroup) or in the presence of NAC, melatonin and their combination atconcentrations of 100 pM, 100 nM and 100 lM for 1 hr (treatment groups).The melatonin influences were evaluated by spectrophotometric [hemolysisdegree, catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathioneperoxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase (G6PDH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities] andchromatographic methods [glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA)levels]. Incubation period was able to cause a rise about 64% on hemolysisdegree as well as practically doubled the lipid peroxidation levels (P < 0.01).However, almost all antioxidants tested treatments neutralized this incubationeffect observed in MDA levels. Among the antioxidant biomarkers evaluated,we observed a modulating effect of combined treatment on GPx and SODactivities (P < 0.01), which showed ~25% decrease in their activities. Inaddition, we found an antioxidant dose-dependent effect for melatonin onlipid peroxidation (r = 0.29; P = 0.03) and for combined antioxidanttreatments also on MDA levels (r = 0.37; P = 0.01) and on SOD activity(r = 0.54; P < 0.01). Hence, these findings contribute with important insightthat melatonin individually or in combination with NAC may be useful forsickle cell anemia management.

Arrecadação de medicamentos como estratégia em educação e saúde

O Projeto de Extensão foi desenvolvido na Farmácia-Escola Prof. Dr. Antônio Alonso Martinez, que faz parte do NAC (Núcleo de Atendimento à Comunidade), pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas da UNESP. Desenvolveu-se um Sistema de Gestão Interno para o controle das amostras grátis e medicamentos que são destinados à doação para a população de Araraquara e região. Realizou-se a orientação e conscientização da população sobre o reaproveitamento de medicamentos e amostras grátis que não seriam mais utilizados e que estavam dentro do prazo de validade. A divulgação foi efetuada com folder explicativo que foi distribuído na Farmácia-Escola, em consultórios médicos e nas faculdades da UNESP do Câmpus de Araraquara. Além disso, houve divulgação na Semana de Atenção Farmacêutica Estudantil (SAFE) e no site e jornal da EPTV. O prazo de validade de cada produto foi verificado e a dispensação desses medicamentos foi feita mediante a apresentação de prescrição médica. Além disso, realizou-se a Assistência Farmacêutica ao informar ao paciente os detalhes da posologia e possíveis interações medicamentosas, de modo a esclarecer eventuais dúvidas dos pacientes. Os medicamentos mais doados foram anti-hipertensivos e hormônios, refletindo no maior número de formas farmacêuticas doadas como sendo comprimidos e cápsulas. O objetivo da divulgação foi alcançado com o aumento de doações realizadas nos meses subsequentes ao início da mesma e com o aumento de 61,9 % em relação ao ano de 2012

Correlação de resultados da depuração de creatinina determinada e o Clearance estimado por fórmula

O presente trabalho compara os resultados obtidos da depuração da creatinina endógena de pacientes encaminhados por solicitação médica, realizados pelo Setor de Bioquímica Clínica do CRD-NAC Unesp com protocolo do procedimento de depuração implantado na rotina laboratorial, que utiliza dados da creatinina de sangue e urina (amostra de 24 horas), com os resultados obtidos, para os mesmos pacientes, a partir das fórmulas de Cockcroft-Gault, MDRD simplificada e CDK-EPI, onde não se utiliza os valores obtidos na amostra de urina de 24 horas. E, a partir dessa análise, verifica em que casos o resultado do exame sem a amostra de urina de 24 horas correlaciona-se com o resultado da depuração da creatinina endógena realizado como procedimento de rotina e quais seriam as prováveis variáveis interferentes na aplicação destas fórmulas utilizadas em casos específicos, conforme a necessidade na avaliação clínica.

Influence of N-acetylcysteine on oxidative stress in slow-twitch soleus muscle of heart failure rats

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

N-acetilcisteína e trolox na conservação de células espermáticas epididimárias de cães

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Revisão dos procedimentos operacionais padrão da farmácia-escola Prof. Dr. Antonio Alonso Martinez conforme RDC 67/07

O Projeto de Iniciação Científica foi desenvolvido na Farmácia-Escola Prof. Dr. Antônio Alonso Martinez, uma unidade auxiliar da Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas da UNESP-Araraquara e que é parte integrante do NAC (Núcleo de Atendimento à Comunidade). Por ser vinculada à uma instituição pública ela serve como modelo para toda a comunidade, além de ser um estabelecimento de ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Por isso, ela tem o compromisso de cumprir com todas as exigências legais de maneira exemplar, garantindo a qualidade dos produtos manipulados. Realizou-se a revisão e adequação dos Procedimentos Operacionais Padrão (POPs) presente no Manual de Boas Práticas de Manipulação da Farmácia-Escola, baseando-se nas diretrizes da RDC 67/07 (Anexo I - Boas Práticas de Manipulação em Farmácia) e também uma inspeção na rotina dos processos envolvidos na manipulação e dispensação dos produtos manipulados. Fez-se a aplicação do Roteiro de Inspeção para Farmácia - Anexo VII da RDC 67/07 com a finalidade de constatar e avaliar o cumprimento das Boas Práticas de Manipulação em Farmácias (BPMF). Verificou-se que a Farmácia-Escola ainda não está em conformidade com todos os critérios estabelecidos pela RDC 67/07, mas que mesmo com as dificuldades enfrentadas para se adequar ela atende à quase todos os itens considerados imprescindíveis. Segundo as farmacêuticas responsáveis, medidas corretivas vêm sendo estudadas para que aos poucos todos os itens constantes na Resolução em questão sejam cumpridos.

Revisão dos procedimentos operacionais padrão da farmácia-escola Prof. Dr. Antonio Alonso Martinez conforme RDC 67/07

O Projeto de Iniciação Científica foi desenvolvido na Farmácia-Escola Prof. Dr. Antônio Alonso Martinez, uma unidade auxiliar da Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas da UNESP-Araraquara e que é parte integrante do NAC (Núcleo de Atendimento à Comunidade). Por ser vinculada à uma instituição pública ela serve como modelo para toda a comunidade, além de ser um estabelecimento de ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Por isso, ela tem o compromisso de cumprir com todas as exigências legais de maneira exemplar, garantindo a qualidade dos produtos manipulados. Realizou-se a revisão e adequação dos Procedimentos Operacionais Padrão (POPs) presente no Manual de Boas Práticas de Manipulação da Farmácia-Escola, baseando-se nas diretrizes da RDC 67/07 (Anexo I - Boas Práticas de Manipulação em Farmácia) e também uma inspeção na rotina dos processos envolvidos na manipulação e dispensação dos produtos manipulados. Fez-se a aplicação do Roteiro de Inspeção para Farmácia - Anexo VII da RDC 67/07 com a finalidade de constatar e avaliar o cumprimento das Boas Práticas de Manipulação em Farmácias (BPMF). Verificou-se que a Farmácia-Escola ainda não está em conformidade com todos os critérios estabelecidos pela RDC 67/07, mas que mesmo com as dificuldades enfrentadas para se adequar ela atende à quase todos os itens considerados imprescindíveis. Segundo as farmacêuticas responsáveis, medidas corretivas vêm sendo estudadas para que aos poucos todos os itens constantes na Resolução em questão sejam cumpridos.

First Micromorphological Studies Of Brazilian Sambaquis, Jabuticabeira II Site, Santa Catarina State

First Micromorphological Studies of Brazilian Sambaquis, Jabuticabeira II Site, Santa Catarina State. In this note, preliminary results from the micromorphological study of the fish mound that covers the Jabuticabeira II sambaqui site, developed within the interdisciplinary research project Sambaquis e paisagem, are presented. Microstratigraphic analyses enabled the identification of anthropic pre-depositional processes that participated in the formation of this large structure, related to the burning and transport of mineral and organic material (terrigenous sand and charcoal) and inorganic residues of biological origin (bones, phytoliths, diatoms and siliceous aggregates). The effects of post-depositional alterations over these particles can be observed through dissolution traces in bone and the formation of a fine mineral material of phosphatic composition. The articulation of the evidence confirms the complex combination of activities and alteration processes involved in the formation of sambaqui sites, which transcends traditional functional dichotomies.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine on pulmonary cell death in a controlled hemorrhagic shock model in rats

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) combined with fluid resuscitation on pulmonary cell death in rats induced with controlled hemorrhagic shock (HS). METHODS: Two arteries (MAP calculation and exsanguination) and one vein (treatments) were catheterized in 22 anesthetized rats. Two groups of male albino rats were induced with controlled HS at 35mmHg MAP for 60 min. After this period, the RL group was resuscitated with Ringer's lactate and the RL+NAC group was resuscitated with Ringer's lactate combined with 150mg/Kg NAC. The control group animals were cannulated only. The animals were euthanized after 120 min of fluid resuscitation. Lung tissue samples were collected to evaluate the following: histopathology, TUNEL and imunohistochemical expression of caspase 3. RESULTS: RL showed a greater number of cells stained by TUNEL than RL + NAC, but there was no change in caspase 3 expression in any group. CONCLUSION: N-acetylcysteine associate to fluid resuscitation, after hemorrhagic shock, decreased cell death attenuating lung injury.

The construction of the African perspective: a history of the General History of Africa project (Unesco)

This article analyzes the construction of the African perspective in the General History of Africa project (GHA), focusing on the period between 1965 and 1979. With the participation of over two hundred international experts under the auspices of Unesco, this was one of the greatest intellectual projects of the twentieth century. Based on primary sources, this analysis emphasizes the internal conflicts involved in the construction of the African perspective as a hegemonic line of thought in the GHA. Two critical moments of the project were found in the investigation: the controversial years (1972-78), and the pragmatic years (1978-82). As a result of these disputes, theoretical and methodological parameters were constructed, in addition to eight volumes of material published in the 1980s, and recently republished in Brazil.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine on markers of skeletal muscle injury after fatiguing contractile activity

The effects of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an unspecific antioxidant, on fatiguing contractile activity-induced injury were investigated. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups. The placebo group (N=12) received one injection of phosphate buffer (PBS) 1 h prior to contractile activity induced by electrical stimulation. The NAC group (NAC; N=12) received electrical stimulation for the same time period and NAC (500 mg/kg, i.p.) dissolved in PBS 1 h prior to electrical stimulation. The contralateral hindlimb was used as a control, except in the analysis of plasma enzyme activities, when a control group (rats placebo group not electrically stimulated and not treated) was included. The following parameters were measured: tetanic force, muscle fatigue, plasma activities of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), changes in muscle vascular permeability using Evans blue dye (EBD), muscle content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Muscle fatigue was delayed and tetanic force was preserved in NAC-treated rats. NAC treatment decreased plasma CK and LDH activities. The content of muscle-derived ROS, TBARS, EBD and MPO activity in both gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were also decreased by NAC pre-treatment. Thus, NAC has a protective effect against injury induced by fatiguing contractile activity in skeletal muscle.

N-Acetylcysteine protects the peritoneum from the injury induced by hypertonic dialysis solution

Background: Oxidative stress has been implicated in the development of peritoneal damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in a rat peritoneal infusion model. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups: (i) control group; (ii) HDS group, receiving peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS); and (iii) HDS+NAC group, receiving PDS and oral NAC. Six weeks later they were evaluated for dialysate to plasma urea ratio (D/P), ratio of glucose concentration in peritoneal fluid (G1/G0), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in plasma and urine and histology of peritoneal membrane. Results: The HDS+NAC group presented a lower increase in solute transport (D/P 0.51 +/- 0.1, and G1/GO 0.35 +/- 0.06) in comparison with the HDS group (D/P 0.67 +/- 0.1; p=0.03, and G1/G0 0.27 +/- 0.07; p=0.01). The HDS+NAC group showed lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substance concentrations compared with the HDS group. In the treated group, the peritoneal membrane presented lower thickness. Conclusions: Functional and histological peritoneal changes were significantly reduced by the treatment with NAC.

Ultrasonic sensor for the presence of oily contaminants in water

The determination of the complex reflection coefficient of ultrasonic shear-waves at the solid-liquid interface is a technique employed for the measurement of the viscoelastic properties of liquids. An interesting property of the measurement technique is the very small penetration depth of the shear-waves into the liquid sample, which permits measurements with liquid films of some micrometers thick. This property, along with the adhesion of oily substances to surfaces, can be used for the detection of oily contaminants in water. In this work, the employment of the ultrasonic shear-wave reflection technique to the detection of oily contaminants in water is proposed and the theoretical and experimental concepts involved are discussed. Preliminary experimental results show the measurement technique can detect SAE 40 automotive oil in water in volume proportions less than 0.5%.

Proliferative Activity in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Hepatectomized Mice: Effect of N-Acetylcysteine

Background. Dysfunction of the liver after transplantation may be related to the graft size and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) exerts beneficial effects on livers undergoing ischemia reperfusion. We sought to evaluate NAC modulation on reduced livers associated with I/R injury. Methods. Male C57BL/6 mice of 8 weeks of age were divided into groups: 50% hepatectomy (G-Hep); NAC (G-Hep + NAC [150 mg/kg]) via vena cava 15 minutes before hepatectomy; ischemia (G-Hep + IR); NAC with hepatectomy (G-IR + Hep + Nac); and IR using 30 minutes selective hepatic occlusion and reperfusion for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the remaining liver was removed, for staining with hematoxylin and eosin or labeling by proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Blood was collected for biochemical evaluations. Significance was considered for P <= .05. Results. Aspartate aminotransferase was high in all studied groups reflecting the hepatectomy and intervention. injuries. However, when assessing alanine aminotransferase, which depicts liver function, induction of IR promoted a greater increase than hepatectomy (P = .0003). NAC decreased ALT activity in all groups, even in association with I/R (P < .05), reflecting a modulation of the injury. Necrosis resulting from IR was mitigated by NAC. The experimental model of 50% reduced live promoted regeneration of the hepatic remnant, which was accentuated by NAC, according to the total number of hepatocytes and PCNA values. Conclusion. NAC preserved the remnant liver in mice and stimulates regeneration even after IR injury.