Drugs, alcohol, and criminal behaviour : a profile of inmates in canadian federal institutions

The scientific literature often mentions that there is a statistical connection between alcohol and drug consumption and criminal behaviour. However, there is little information available which would make it possible to quantify this connection, and specify the impact that drugs and alcohol have on criminal behaviour. Consumption of psychoactive substances has two major effects: intoxication and addiction. These effects are related, respectively, to the psycho-pharmacological and economic-compulsive models of the connection between drugs and crime. The first model associates drug use and intoxication with a decrease in cognitive functions and a lack of self-control, leading to aggressive impulses, violence and lack of inhibitions. The second model refers to the huge costs that are associated with being addicted to certain drugs. A person addicted to these drugs would need to engage in lucrative criminal activities in order to pay for them. This article explores and attempts to further define the links between alcohol, illicit drugs and criminal behaviour, taking into account the types of drugs consumed and the types of criminal behaviour displayed.

Development of Electrochemical and Fluorescent Sensors

Chemical sensors have growing interest in the determination of food additives, which are creating toxicity and may cause serious health concern, drugs and metal ions. A chemical sensor can be defined as a device that transforms chemical information, ranging from the concentration of a specific sample component to total composition analysis, into an analytically useful signal. The chemical information may be generated from a chemical reaction of the analyte or from a physical property of the system investigated. Two main steps involved in the functioning of a chemical sensor are recognition and transduction. Chemical sensors employ specific transduction techniques to yield analyte information. The most widely used techniques employed in chemical sensors are optical absorption, luminescence, redox potential etc. According to the operating principle of the transducer, chemical sensors may be classified as electrochemical sensors, optical sensors, mass sensitive sensors, heat sensitive sensors etc. Electrochemical sensors are devices that transform the effect of the electrochemical interaction between analyte and electrode into a useful signal. They are very widespread as they use simple instrumentation, very good sensitivity with wide linear concentration ranges, rapid analysis time and simultaneous determination of several analytes. These include voltammetric, potentiometric and amperometric sensors. Fluorescence sensing of chemical and biochemical analytes is an active area of research. Any phenomenon that results in a change of fluorescence intensity, anisotropy or lifetime can be used for sensing. The fluorophores are mixed with the analyte solution and excited at its corresponding wavelength. The change in fluorescence intensity (enhancement or quenching) is directly related to the concentration of the analyte. Fluorescence quenching refers to any process that decreases the fluorescence intensity of a sample. A variety of molecular rearrangements, energy transfer, ground-state complex formation and collisional quenching. Generally, fluorescence quenching can occur by two different mechanisms, dynamic quenching and static quenching. The thesis presents the development of voltammetric and fluorescent sensors for the analysis of pharmaceuticals, food additives metal ions. The developed sensors were successfully applied for the determination of analytes in real samples. Chemical sensors have multidisciplinary applications. The development and application of voltammetric and optical sensors continue to be an exciting and expanding area of research in analytical chemistry. The synthesis of biocompatible fluorophores and their use in clinical analysis, and the development of disposable sensors for clinical analysis is still a challenging task. The ability to make sensitive and selective measurements and the requirement of less expensive equipment make electrochemical and fluorescence based sensors attractive.

Conformational Properties of Angiotensin II and Its Active and Inactive TOAC-Labeled Analogs in the Presence of Micelles. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Fluorescence, and Circular Dichroism Studies

The interaction between angiotensin II (AII, DRVYIHPF) and its analogs carrying 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl-4-amino-4-carboxylic acid (TOAC) and detergents-negatively charged sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and zwitterionic N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (HPS)-was examined by means of EPR, CD, and fluorescence. EPR spectra of partially active TOAC(1)-AII and inactive TOAC(3)-AII in aqueous solution indicated fast tumbling, the freedom of motion being greater at the N-terminus. Line broadening occurred upon interaction with micelles. Below SDS critical micelle concentration, broader lines indicated complex formation with tighter molecular packing than in micelles. Small changes in hyperfine splittings evinced TOAC location at the micelle-water interface. The interaction with anionic micelles was more effective than with zwitterionic micelles. Peptide-micelle interaction caused fluorescence increase. The TOAC-promoted intramolecular fluorescence quenching was more, pronounced for TOAC(3)-AII because of the proximity between the nitroxide and Tyr(4). CD spectra showed that although both AII and TOAC(1)-AII presented flexible conformations in water, TOAC(3)-AII displayed conformational restriction because of the TOAC-imposed bend (Schreier et al., Biopolymers 2004, 74, 389). In HPS, conformational changes were observed for the labeled peptides at neutral and basic pH. In SDS, all peptides underwent pH-dependent conformational changes. Although the spectra suggested similar folds for All and TOAC(1)-AII, different conformations were acquired by TOAC(3)-AII. The membrane environment has been hypothesized to shift conformational equilibria so as to stabilize the receptor-bound conformation of ligands. The fact that TOAC(3)-AII is unable to acquire conformations similar to those of native AII and partially active TOAC(1)-AII is probably the explanation for its lack of biological activity. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 92: 525-537, 2009.

Antimicrobial use and incidence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a teaching hospital: an ecological approach

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major threat in healthcare settings. The use of antimicrobials can influence the incidence of resistant strains by direct and indirect mechanisms. The latter can be addressed by ecological studies. Methods: Our group attempted to analyze the relation between the use of antipseudomonal drugs and the incidence of MDR-PA among 18 units from a 400-bed teaching hospital. The study had a retrospective, ecological design, comprising data from 2004 and 2005. Data on the use of four antimicrobials (amikacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime and imipenem) were tested for correlation with the incidence of MDR-PA (defined as isolates resistant to the four antimicrobials of interest) in clinical cultures. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Significant correlations were determined between use and resistance for all antimicrobials in the univariate analysis: amikacin (standardized correlation coefficient = 0.73, p = 0.001); ciprofloxacin (0.71, p = 0.001); ceftazidime (0.61, p = 0.007) and imipenem (0.87, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, only imipenem (0.67, p = 0.01) was independently related to the incidence of multidrug-resistant strains. Conclusions: These findings share similarities with those reported in individual-based observational studies, with possible implications for infection control.

Performance of fluorescence methods, radiographic examination and ICDAS II on occlusal surfaces in vitro

This study compared the performance of fluorescence-based methods, radiographic examination, and International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) II on occlusal surfaces. One hundred and nineteen permanent human molars were assessed twice by 2 experienced dentists using the laser fluorescence (LF and LFpen) and fluorescence camera (FC) devices, ICDAS II and bitewing radiographs (BW). After measuring, the teeth were histologically prepared and assessed for caries extension. The sensitivities for dentine caries detection were 0.86 (FC), 0.78 (LFpen), 0.73 (ICDAS II), 0.51 (LF) and 0.34 (BW). The specificities were 0.97 (BW), 0.89 (LF), 0.65 (ICDAS II), 0.63 (FC) and 0.56 (LFpen). BW presented the highest values of likelihood ratio (LR)+ (12.47) and LR- (0.68). Rank correlations with histology were 0.53 (LF), 0.52 (LFpen), 0.41 (FC), 0.59 (ICDAS II) and 0.57 (BW). The area under the ROC curve varied from 0.72 to 0.83. Inter- and intraexaminer intraclass correlation values were respectively 0.90 and 0.85 (LF), 0.93 and 0.87 (LFpen) and 0.85 and 0.76 (FC). The ICDAS II kappa values were 0.51 (interexaminer) and 0.61 (intraexaminer). The BW kappa values were 0.50 (interexaminer) and 0.62 (intraexaminer). The Bland and Altman limits of agreement were 46.0 and 38.2 (LF), 55.6 and 40.0 (LFpen) and 1.12 and 0.80 (FC), for intra- and interexaminer reproducibilities. The posttest probability for dentine caries detection was high for BW and LF. In conclusion, LFpen, FC and ICDAS II presented better sensitivity and LF and BW better specificity. ICDAS II combined with BW showed the best performance and is the best combination for detecting caries on occlusal surfaces. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Synergism between plant extract and antimicrobial drugs used on Staphylococcus aureus diseases

Searches for substances with antimicrobial activity are frequent, and medicinal plants have been considered interesting by some researchers since they are frequently used in popular medicine as remedies for many infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to verify the synergism between 13 antimicrobial drugs and 8 plant extracts - guaco (Mikania glomerata), guava (Psidium guajava), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), garlic (Allium sativum), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), ginger (Zingiber officinale), carqueja (Baccharis trimera), and mint (Mentha piperita) - against Staphylococcus aureus strains, and for this purpose, the disk method was the antimicrobial susceptibility test performed. Petri dishes were prepared with or without dilution of plant extracts at sub-inhibitory concentrations in Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA), and the inhibitory zones were recorded in millimeters. In vitro anti-Staphylococcus aureus activities of the extracts were confirmed, and synergism was verified for all the extracts; clove, guava, and lemongrass presented the highest synergism rate with antimicrobial drugs, while ginger and garlic showed limited synergistic capacity.

Anti-coagulase-negative Staphylococcus activity of ethanolic extracts of propolis from two Brazilian regions and synergism with antimicrobial drugs by the E-test method

Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from vegetal sources and its therapeutic properties have been investigated. In this work, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) from the Southeast and South of Brazil on coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) growth as well as the EEP in vitro synergism with antimicrobial drugs by using the diffusion method (E-test). The EEP chemical characteristics (dry weight, pH, flavonoid and phenolic compounds) were determined. Seven drugs were tested, and synergism was observed between three drugs and Southeast EEP, six drugs and South EEP, and one drug and ethanol control. Ethanolic extracts of propolis from the South of Brazil presented the greatest flavonoid content and synergism rate, while EEP from the Southeast presented the greatest anti-CNS activity and phenolic compound content. Results showed the correlation among anti-CNS activity, synergism rate and chemical characteristics of propolis.

Chromosomal imbalances detected in primary bone tumors by comparative genomic hybridization and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization

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

Oral drugs for hypertensive urgencies: systematic review and meta-analysis

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Urgências hipertensivas são definidas como elevações graves na pressão arterial sem evidência de danos agudos ou progressivos a órgãos-alvo. A necessidade de tratamento é considerada urgente, mas permite um controle gradual, utilizando-se drogas orais ou sublinguais. Se o aumento na pressão arterial não está associado a risco de vida ou danos a órgãos alvo, o controle pressórico deve ser feito lentamente durante 24 horas. em relação às urgências hipertensivas, não é conhecida qual a classe de drogas anti-hipertensivas que promove os melhores resultados e há controvérsia em relação a quando e quais as drogas devem ser utilizadas nestas situações. O objetivo desta revisão foi avaliar a efetividade e a segurança de drogas orais para urgências hipertensivas. METODOS: Esta revisão sistemática da literatura foi desenvolvida no Centro Cochrane do Brasil, e na Disciplina de Medicina de Urgência e Medicina Baseada em Evidências da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) - Escola Paulista de Medicina (Unifesp-EPM), de acordo com a metodologia da Colaboração Cochrane. RESULTADOS: Os 16 ensaios clínicos aleatórios selecionados incluíram 769 participantes e demonstraram um efeito superior dos inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina no tratamento da urgência hipertensiva, avaliada em 223 participantes. Os efeitos adversos mais frequentes para os bloqueadores de canal de cálcio foram cefaleia (35/206), rubor (17/172) e alterações do ritmo cardíaco (14/189); para os inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina, o efeito colateral mais frequente foi disgeusia (25/38). CONCLUSÕES: Há evidências importantes a favor do uso de inibidores da enzima conversora da angiotensina para o tratamento de urgências hipertensivas, quando comparados aos bloqueadores dos canais de cálcio, devido a maior efetividade e à menor frequência de efeitos adversos, como cefaléia e rubor facial.

Cationic liposomes in mixed didodecyldimethylammonium bromide and dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide aqueous dispersions studied by differential scanning calorimetry, nile red fluorescence, and turbidity

The thermotropic phase behavior of cationic liposomes in mixtures of two of the most investigated liposome-forming double-chain lipids, dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), turbidity, and Nile Red fluorescence. The dispersions were investigated at 1.0 mM total surfactant concentration and varying DODAB and DDAB concentrations. The gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition temperatures (T-m) of neat DDAB and DODAB in aqueous dispersions are around 16 and 43 degrees C, respectively, and we aim to investigate the T-m behavior for mixtures of these cationic lipids. Overall, DDAB reduces the T-m of DODAB, the transition temperature depending on the DDAB content, but the T-m of DDAB is roughly independent of the DODAB concentration. Both DSC and fluorescence measurements show that, within the mixture, at room temperature (ca. 22 degrees C), the DDAB-rich liposomes are in the liquid-crystalline state, whereas the DODAB-rich liposomes are in the gel state. DSC results point to a higher affinity of DDAB for DODAB liposomes than the reverse, resulting in two populations of mixed DDAB/DODAB liposomes with distinctive phase behavior. Fluorescence measurements also show that the presence of a small amount of DODAB in DDAB-rich liposomes causes a pronounced effect in Nile Red emission, due to the increase in liposome size, as inferred from turbidity results.

A simple spectrophotometry method for the determination of tetracycline and doxycycline in pharmaceutical formulations using chloramine-T

A simple, rapid, accurate and inexpensive spectrophotometric method for the determination of tetracycline and doxycycline has been developed. The method is based on the reaction between these drugs and chloramine-T in alkaline medium producing red color products with absorbance maximum at the λ=535 and 525 nm for the tetracycline and doxycycline, respectively. The best conditions for the reactions have been found using multivariate method. Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration ranges 1. 03 x 10 -5 to 3. 61 x 10 4mol L -1 and 1. 75 x 10 -5 to 3. 48 x 10 4mol L -1 for the tetracycline and doxycycline, respectively. The quantification limits were 5. 63 x 10 -6 mol L -1 and 7. 12 x 10 -7 mol L -1 for the tetracycline and doxycycline, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of these drugs in pharmaceutical formulations and the results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained by the comparative method at the 95% confidence level.

Simultaneous spectrometric determination of Cu2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ in polivitaminic/polimineral drug using SPA and GA algorithms for variable selection

Este artigo apresenta uma aplicação do método para determinação espectrofotométrica simultânea dos íons divalentes de cobre, manganês e zinco à análise de medicamento polivitamínico/polimineral. O método usa 4-(2-piridilazo) resorcinol (PAR), calibração multivariada e técnicas de seleção de variáveis e foi otimizado o empregando-se o algoritmo das projeções sucessivas (APS) e o algoritmo genético (AG), para escolha dos comprimentos de onda mais informativos para a análise. Com essas técnicas, foi possível construir modelos de calibração por regressão linear múltipla (RLM-APS e RLM-AG). Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com modelos de regressão em componentes principais (PCR) e nos mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS). Demonstra-se a partir do erro médio quadrático de previsão (RMSEP) que os modelos apresentam desempenhos semelhantes ao prever as concentrações dos três analitos no medicamento. Todavia os modelos RLM são mais simples pois requerem um número muito menor de comprimentos de onda e são mais fáceis de interpretar que os baseados em variáveis latentes.

Flow-batch analyser for preparation of calibration standard mixtures in simultaneous multicomponent spectrometric analysis

ABSTRACT: The application of multivariate calibration techniques to multicomponent analysis by UV-VIS molecular absorption spectrometry is a powerful tool for simultaneous determination of several chemical species. However, when this methodology is accomplished manually, it is slow and laborious, consumes high amounts of reagents and samples, is susceptible to contaminations and presents a high operational cost. To overcome these drawbacks, a flow-batch analyser is proposed in this work. This analyser was developed for automatic preparation of standard calibration and test (or validation) mixtures. It was applied to the simultaneous determination of Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in polyvitaminic and polymineral pharmaceutical formulations, using 4-(2-piridilazo) resorcinol as reagent and a UV-VIS spectrophotometer with a photodiode array detector. The results obtained with the proposed system are in good agreement with those obtained by flame atomic absorption spectrometry, which was employed as reference method. With the proposed analyser, the preparation of calibration and test mixtures can be accomplished about four hours, while the manual procedure requires at least two days. Moreover, it consumes smaller amounts of reagents and samples than the manual procedure. After the preparation of calibration and test mixtures, 60 samples^-1 can be carried out with the proposed flow-batch analyser.

Predicting soluble solid content in intact jaboticaba [Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg] fruit using near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

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

Influence of calibration protocols for a pressure-sensing walkway on kinetic and temporospatial parameters

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