Purification and biological activity of the thrombin-like substance isolated from Bothrops insularis venom

The venom of Bothrops insidaris snake, known in Brazil as jararaca ilhoa, contains a variety of proteolytic enzymes such as a thrombin-like substance that is responsible for various pharmacological effects. B. insularis venom chromatography profile showed an elution of seven main fractions. The thrombin-like activity was detected in fractions I and 111, the latter being subjected to two other chromatographic procedures, so to say DEAE and Hi Trap Benzamidine. The purity degree of this fraction was confirmed by analytical reverse phase HPLC, which displayed only one main fraction confirmed by SDS-PAGE constituting fraction III. About 5 mu g of fraction III protein potentiated the secretion of insulin induced by 2.8mM of glucose in rats isolated pancreatic beta-cells treated; the increase being around 3-fold higher than its respective control. B. insidaris lectin (BiLec; 10 mu g/mL) was also studied as to its effect on the renal function of isolated perfused rat kidneys with the use of six Wistar rats. BiLec increased perfusion pressure (PP), renal vascular resistence (RVR), urinary flow (UF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Sodium (%TNa+) and chloride tubular reabsorption (%TCl-) decreased at 120 min, without alteration in potassium transport. In conclusion, the thrombin-like substance isolated from B. insularis venom induced an increase in insulin secretion, in vitro, and transiently altered vascular, glomerular and tubular parameters in the isolated rat kidney. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Consumo de drogas psicoactivas por adolescentes escolares de Assis, SP

To quantify psychoactive drug use and investigate use-related variables among students of Assis, Brazil, a questionnaire was administered to collect sociodemographic data and identify the pattern of non-medical use of psychoactive drugs in 20% of public and private school students. The largest consumption indexes for lifetime use were seen for alcohol (68.9%) and tobacco (22.7%). Drugs most often used were: solvents (10.0%); marijuana (6.6%); benzodiazepines (3.8%); amphetamines (2.6%); cocaine (1.6%); and anticholinergics (1.0%).

Childhood trauma in substance use disorder and depression: An analysis by gender among a Brazilian clinical sample

Objective: In this study, we compared the frequency and intensity of childhood traumas in alcohol- or other drug-dependent patients, in patients with depression, and in a control group without psychiatric diagnoses. Methods: The study had a retrospective design of a clinical sample of men and women from the groups listed above. They were evaluated by the same standardized instrument: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.. Results: A higher frequency and intensity of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse were found in alcohol- and other drug-dependent patients than in patients with depression, who, in turn, presented significantly higher proportions than the control group. In all of the cases, the frequency was higher among women than men. Conclusion: Because of the high frequency and intensity of childhood traumas among alcohol- or other drug-dependent patients and depressed patients, the assessment of problems due to childhood traumas among these patients is essential to a better understanding of the etiology of those disorders and to their treatment. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bioactive substance contents and antioxidant capacity of the lipid fraction of Annona crassiflora Mart. seeds

Annona crassiflora Mart. is a typical fruit of the Brazilian cerrado, considered to be a species of economic interest, mainly for its use in cooking, which is widespread among the inhabitants of that region, and can be found in many typical local dishes, especially sweets, jellies, liqueurs, soft drinks, ice creams and juices. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the bioactive substance contents and the antioxidant capacity of the lipid fraction of A. crassiflora Mart. seeds in the interest of better identifying the quality of this raw material from the Brazilian cerrado. After the receipt of the fruits, the seeds were removed manually and, then, the lipid fraction was obtained by cold extraction with chloroform:methanol:water (2:1:0.8, v/v/v) and analyzed for the composition of phytosterols, tocopherols, fatty acids, total carotenoids, antioxidant activity and oxidative stability index. The lipid fraction showed significant quantity of bioactive substances, especially phytosterols, tocopherols and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as significant antioxidant capacity and oxidative stability, influenced by the content of phytosterols and the composition of fatty acids present in the analyzed fraction. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Long-range development planning: notes on its substance and methodology

Revisa varios de los problemas que presenta la planificación del desarrollo a largo plazo: los aspectos políticos; la relación entre la planificación y el mercado en las economías mixtas; y los aspectos éticos y metodológicos.

O julgamento sociomoral de universitários usuários de maconha

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A relação entre o padrão de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e a competência moral em universitária

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

Calando-se para se preservar de um contexto ameaçador, mediante a fragilidade de se resgatar o aluno da rede pública de ensino, em interações com substâncias psicoativas: a experiência do professor

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Investigação dos prejuízos motores decorrentes da exposição crônica ao etanol, em ratas intoxicadas da adolescência à fase adulta

De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, o etanol é a droga psicotrópica mais utilizada em todo mundo, ocupando hoje um lugar de destaque por já ser considerado um problema de saúde pública em todo o mundo. Seu consumo pesado está em alta dentre adolescentes, a partir de 15 anos, e adultos jovens Uma grande variedade de pesquisas relacionam seus efeitos nocivos a diversos órgãos e sistemas do organismo, bem como prejuízos e degeneração de estruturas do Sistema Nervoso central, sendo o cerebelo um de seus principais alvos, seja pela afinidade dessa substância por estruturas celulares seja pela capacidade de gerar uma cascata de processos deletérios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar alterações comportamentais, associadas ao cerebelo, em ratas intoxicadas cronicamente por etanol da adolescência a fase adulta. Ratas com 35 dias de vida pós-natal receberam, durante 55 dias, etanol por meio de gavagem. Após esse período de intoxicação, os animais passaram por uma bateria de testes para avaliar déficits motores. Os testes comportamentais consistiram Open Field, Pole Test, Beam Walking e Rota-rod. Os resultados demonstraram que os animais expostos ao etanol apresentaram déficits motores em todos os testes comportamentais. Embora vários mecanismos estejam associados à degeneração cerebelar, estudos mais aprofundados devem ser realizados para investigar o verdadeiro efeito desta droga e sua correlação aos resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa.

Movendo-se entre a experimentação e a dependência de drogas: o autocontrole do adolescente como componente interveniente

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Levantamento sobre uso de álcool, tabaco e outras drogas, redes de apoio e apoio social entre universitários

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

Análise Isotópica de Carbono-13 e Nitrogênio-15 da Ipomoea violacea para Determinação de sua Origem Geográfica

Along the Earth globe we can find many types of psychoactive plants. Among them is the Ipomoea violacea, popularly known as Morning Glory. There are ergotalkaloids producer associated-fungus in its leaves and seeds. One of these alkaloids that can be found is the ergine (or LSA), a homologous substance of the lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). There are many discussions around the world about the inclusion of LSA in the list of controlled substances. In Brazil, this was recently prohibited. One of the most important point of view in the study of isotopic composition of 13C and 15N of this plant is the fact that there is a total alkaloid variation in function of its geographic origin like was verified in 1960’s, besides to aggregate knowledge about it. This work was made to verify if the isotopic ratio can be used as a tool in tracing this illegal Brazilian plant. We could conclude that this plant presents a C3 photosynthetic pathway, its parts has different isotopic carbon and nitrogen composition and that stable isotope analysis can be successfully used as a tool to detect its geographic origin

Relationship between levels of neuropeptide Substance P in periodontal disease and chronic pain: a literature review

The aim of the current review was to investigate the relationship between levels of neuropeptide Substance P in periodontal disease and chronic pain. Substance P is a neuropeptide that is directly related with pain. In periodontal disease, it is expressed during the inflammatory process, and is one of the factors responsible for bone resorption. Studies have shown that Substance P levels are highest in the gingival crevicular fluid from sites with active periodontal disease and bone loss. The persistence of these substances could be sufficient to stimulate neurogenic inflammation in susceptible tissues, and cause pain. The scientific literature shows that Substance P expressed during periodontal disease can be a risk factor for patients with systemic inflammatory pathologies, such as chronic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Additional research is needed to confirm the participation of this substance in the origin of some types of chronic pain.

Antinociception induced by acute oral administration of sweet substance in young and adult rodents: The role of endogenous opioid peptides chemical mediators and mu(1)-opioid receptors

The present work aimed to investigate the effects of acute sucrose treatment on the perception of painful stimuli. Specifically, we sought to determine the involvement of the endogenous opioid peptide-mediated system as well as the role of the mu(1)-opioid receptor in antinociception organisation induced by acute sucrose intake. Nociception was assessed with the tail-flick test in rats (75, 150 and 250 g) of different ages acutely pre-treated with 500 mu L. of a sucrose solution (25, 50, 150 and 250 g/L) or tap water. Young and Adult rats (250 g) showed antinociception after treatment with 50 g/L (during 5 min) and 150 g/L and 250 g/L (during 20 min) sucrose solutions. Surprisingly, this antinociception was more consistent in mature adult rodents than in pups. To evaluate the role of opioid systems, mature adult rodents were pre-treated with different doses (0.25, 1 or 4mg/kg) of the non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone, the selective pi-opioid receptor antagonist naloxonazine or vehicle followed by 250 g/L sucrose solution treatment. Sucrose-induced antinociception was reduced by pre-treatment with both naloxone and naloxonazine. The present findings suggest that sweet substance-induced hypo-analgesia is augmented by increasing sucrose concentrations in young and adult rodents. Acute oral sucrose treatment inhibits pain in laboratory animal by mediating endogenous opioid peptide and mu(1)-opioid receptor actions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.