Análise retrospectiva da toxicidade de gotas otológicas, medicamentos tópicos nasais e orofaríngeos registrada na Grande São Paulo.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective analysis of human toxicity files involving topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases (eardrops, topical nasal medicines, lozenges, drops and sprays for oropharyngeal affections). METHODS: Thirty-four brands of eardrops, 48 of topical nasal medicines and 22 of tablets, lozenges and sprays for oropharyngeal affections were selected, from a total of 104 products available in Brazil. We analyzed the registries in the electronic database from the Poison Control Centre of São Paulo (CCI-Jabaquara), Brazil, for the period from January 1996 through December 2000. The cases related to selected pharmaceuticals were collected. RESULTS: 10,823 cases of human toxicity caused by medicines were voluntarily reported to CCI-Jabaquara. Topical medicines for treatment of upper airways diseases accounted for 291 cases (2.68%), from which 240 (82.5%) represented poisoning; 12 (4.1%) involved ear drops, 268 (92%), topical nasal medicines and 11 (3.9%), topical medicines for oropharyngeal affections. Among topical nasal medicines, vasoconstrictors predominated (233 cases), and among medicines for oropharyngeal affections, it was tetracaine (four cases). Considering age distribution, toxicity predominated significantly in children aged from 1 to 4 years (p=0.0003). The main causes of toxicity were: accidental intake of medicines (43%) and error in drug administration (14.8%). Hypereflexia and vomiting were the most frequent symptoms related to toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: There was significant incidence of systemic toxicity due to eardrops, topical nasal and oropharyngeal medicines in children 1 to 4 years-old, whose main cause was accidental intake of these medicines.

Aderência e formação do biofilme por Staphylococcus aureus ao polietilenotereftalato (PET) usado como embalagem para acondionamento de medicamentos e cosméticos

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used for package drugs and cosmetics. The aim of this research was examine by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) a Staphylococcus aureus attachment and biofilm formation on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface and hydrophobicity of S. aureus by adherence to hydrocarbons. A suspension of S. aureus was prepared in Mueller-Hinton broth and, coupons of polyethylene terephthalate were incubated for 30 minutes, two, 24 and 48 hours, 15 and 30 days. Afteron the coupons were removed and prepared for scanning electron microscope analysis. The attachment and biofilm formation was observed on the surfaces of PET. The SEM revealed adhesion and biofilm formation on PET surfaces. The hydrophobicity test classified S. aureus as hydrophobic.

Consumo de medicamentos por idosos segundo prescrição médica em Jaú-SP

This study was carried out in order to identify the interactions that occur most often between prescribed drugs as they are taken by elderly patients attending municipal public health centers in the city of Jaú, São Paulo State, Brazil. It is known that older people frequently have to live with chronic health problems, which oblige them to use the health service a great deal and to consume large quantities of medicines. When concomitant diseases are present, and polytherapy is being applied, the likelihood of adverse reactions and interactions between drugs increases. The population under study consisted of 148 persons aged 65 or more who frequented the pharmacy at the Núcleo de Gestão Assistencial (Municipal Health Centre, NGA25) in Jaú, between August and December 2004. Data were collected from medical prescriptions, the independent variables being the age and sex of the patient. For each patient, the pharmacological classes of drugs taken and drug-drug interactions were recorded. It was found that the mean numbers of drugs consumed were 3.8 among women and 3.9 among men. In terms of age, the highest number of drugs (4.2) was used in the group aged 75 to 84 years. The most frequently prescribed classes, in decreasing order, were: antihypertensives, 25.0%, heart drugs, 15.5%, diuretics, and anti-diabetic drugs, 10.7%. It was concluded that the classes most involved in drug-drug interactions were heart drugs, diuretics and antihypertensives. The most problematic active constituents were digoxin, amiodarone, frusemide, captopril, propranolol and nifedipine.

Diagnóstico de uma área compactada por atividade minerária, na floresta amazônica, empregando métodos geoestatísticos à variável resistência mecânica à penetração do solo

A quite common problem in the recovery of degraded areas in the mineral exploration understands the compaction of the soil due to the intense traffic of machines and earth movement. The most common problem of the compaction of a degraded surface is: increase of the mechanical resistance to the penetration of the rooats, reduction of the aeration, alteration of the water flow and heat. Thus the present work had the basic objective of diagnosing the compaction of a degraded area by mining in a space way, through the mechanical resistance the way penetration to guide a future subsoiling in the place seeking recovery. Through the studies it was concluded that the kriging method in agreement with the space variation allows the division of the area studies in sub areas facilitating a future work to reduce cost and unnecessary interference to the atmosphere. The method was shown quite appropriate and it can be used in diagnosis of the compaction in a degraded area by mining, foreseeing subsoiling need.

Resistência à penetração de um solo em recuperação sob sistemas agrosilvopastoris

In the Research and Teaching Farm of the State University of São Paulo (UNESP) - Campus of Ilha Solteira, located in Selviria, in Mato Grosso do Sul State, a study was conducted with the objective of investigating the resistance to penetration of a highly degraded soil due to construction of a Hydroelectric Power Plant. The experimental design was a completely randomized, with five treatments and five replications. The treatments were constituted of the following uses and managements: area in advanced state of degradation; area under regeneration cultivated 13 years with Pinus; area under regeneration cultivated 11 years with green manure and pasture; degraded area with natural regeneration; and area with natural vegetation (savanna). The system where the area was under regeneration with Pinus cultivation and the niches with natural regeneration were the closest to natural condition (savanna). Except for the natural area (savanna), all others presented a higher resistance to penetration in the layer of 0.20-0.40 m, which represents serious limitations for growth of plant roots.

Correlação da produtividade do feijão com a resistência à penetração do solo sob plantio direto

The soil mechanical resistance to penetration (PR) has great influence on vegetative development as the root growth and the crop productivity change in inverse proportion. Thus, the objective of this research was to study correlation between the bean grain productivity and the PR in an Oxisol cultivated for four years in no-tillage system at FEIS/UNESP. The attributes PR and yield were determined in a regular grid with 119 sample points. The PR was determined in the layers of 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.15, 0.15-0.20 and 0.25-0.30 m. The results were submitted to procedures of descriptive statistics, linear correlation and geostatistic analysis. The linear correlation between the yield and PR was practically null, as in all soil layers investigated it showed determination coefficients (R2) smaller than 0.03 and not significant. The geostatistic analysis showed moderate structure of spatial dependency for PR in the layers of 0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.15 m, and strong for yield; however, the conjugate spatial analysis of such attributes showed no correlation, therefore, the spatial variability of PR did not influence the yield.

Excipientes de medicamentos e as informações da bula

Aim: To evaluate the presence of preservatives, dyes, sweeteners and flavouring substances in 73 pharmaceutical preparations of 35 medicines for oral administration, according to drug labeling information about the excipients. Methods: 35 medications were selected, both over-the-counter and prescription durgs, marketed in Brazil. The sample included: analgesic/antipyretic, antimicrobial, mucoregulatory, cough and cold, decongestant, antihistamine, bronchodilator, corticosteroid, antiinflammatory and vitamin medications. We collected data on 73 preparations of these drugs, according to drug labeling information regarding preservatives, dyes, sweeteners and flavourings. Results: Methylparaben and propylparaben were the most common preservatives found (43% and 35.6% respectively). The most common sweeteners were: sucrose (sugar) (53.4%), sodium saccharin (38.3%) and sorbitol (36.9%). Twenty-one medicines (28,7%) contained two sweeteners. Colourless medicines predominated (43.8%), followed by those with sunset yellow dye (FD&C yellow no. 6) (15%). Five products (6.8%) contained more than one colour agent. Tartrazine (FD&C yellow no. 5) was present in seven preparations (9.5%). Fruit was the most common flavouring found (83%). Labelings of drugs which contained sugar frequently omitted its exact concentration (77%). Of the four labelings of medicines which contained aspartame, two did not warn patients regarding phenylketonuria. Conclusions: Omission and inacuracy of drug labeling information on pharmaceutical excipients may expose susceptible individuals to adverse reactions caused by preservatives and dyes. Complications of inadvertent intake of sugar-containing medicines by diabetics, or aspartame intake by patients with phenylketonuria may also occur.

Estudo da bula de medicamentos: Uma análise da situação

This study was carried out in the city of Araraquara (SP, Brazil), where 1829 people selected randomly from 42 districts were interviewed with regard to their use of medicines, in particular whether and how they read the insert information sheet and the most frequently read items and problems encountered in the text. Surveys were performed in two stages, the first when package inserts were regulated in Brazil by Portaria SVS 110/1997 (Ministry of Health directive) and the second after the new regulation (RDC 140/2003) came into force. Out of 1829 people interviewed, 1597 reported using some medicine. The markedly similar results in both stages of the research pointed to the difficulties encounteved in reading the package inserts, due to the small letters, the obscure language and the massive amount of information. This paper shows that package inserts of medicines need to be simpler, so the patients have an idea of the importance of the medicine and are able to realize soon any problem that might appear due to the use of the medicine and what action they should take. Furthermore, it will be helpful to the evaluation of the package inserts of medicines, elaborated in conformity with RDC 140, if they work effectively as a source of information and guidance for the patient are not simply given a new layout, while maintaining items that impede their understanding and use.

Condutividade hidráulica e resistência à penetraçao do solo influenciada por diferentes sistemas de manejo

Soil management measures that increase the efficiency of organic matter cycling and maintain favorable soil structure are needed for improving soil quality. On the other hand, soil structure degradation due to inadequate soil management systems is widespread. Among the indicators of soil physical quality, saturated hydraulic conductivity and penetration resistance are thought to be sensitive to soil management system. The aim of this work was to study the influence of soil tillage system and organic fertilization on selected soil physical properties after the first year of treatment. The field work was conducted in Selviria, MS, Brazil on an Oxisol. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with split-plots, with 12 treatments and 4 repetitions. Tillage treatments included conventional ploughing (CT) and direct drilling (DD). Fertilizer treatments were: 1) manure, 2) manure plus mineral, 3) traditional mineral 4) plant residues of Crotalaria juncea, 5) plant residues of Pennisetum americanum and 6) control plot. The plots were cropped to bean in winter and to cotton in summer, and both cultures were irrigated. After one year no significant differences between treatments in mechanical resistance and porosity were found. However, saturated hydraulic conductivity and infiltration were higher in the conventional tillage treatment at the 0.00-0.10 m depth. Moreover, an improvement in soil physical condition by organic fertilizers was shown.

Resistência à compressão do concreto autoadensável: Influência da atividade pozolânica do calcário e do basalto

This research studies the influence of the pozzolanic activity of the calcareous and basalt in the resistence behavior of the compressive strength of high performance self-compacting concrete (HPSCC). The selected aditives are the calcareous filler and basalt filler, for they are industrial residues helping that way the sustainable development. The paste of this concrete type is constituted of cement, silica fume, calcareous filler or basalt filler, water and superplasticizer additive. In this research the relationships water/cement are fixed in 0,40 kg/kg, silica fume/cement of 0,10 kg/kg and the relationships filler/cement and superplasticizer/cement are determined through of Marsh́s cone and mini-slump tests. The granular skeleton is gotten from a composition between quartzous sand and brita of basalt that presents the lesser index of emptinesses. The results show that the HPSCC with the addition of calcareous filler has greater compressive strength than what the HPSCC with addition of basalt filler in the ages of 7, 28 and 63 days. It is explained by the fact that the calcareous filler presents greater index of pozzolanic activity than the basalt filler. Besides that the relation water/fine for the HPSCC with calcareous filler is 0,27 l/kg whereas the HPSCC with basalt filler is of 0,29 l/kg.

Qualidade dos medicamentos contendo dipirona encontrados nas residências de Araraquara e sua relação com a atenção farmacêutica

Many studies had described the morbi-mortality related to medicines. As for the strategies to reduce the possible risks for medicine therapy is very important to readvise the pharmaceutical activity, once the pharmacist has potential for constitute an essential part for the solution of problems related to the utilization of medicines. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate that the therapeutic subdosage and the microbiological contamination may be directly involved with the inappropriate manipulation of medicines stored in residences. Liquid dosage forms containing dipyrone market in Brazil and stored at homes in Araraquara (SP) were analyzed regarding quantitative and microbiological analysis. Only in 57% from 128 samples analyzed the drug quantity was in accordance. Moreover, 26.2% from 128 samples analyzed presented S. aureus, E. coli and Salmonella sp. These results demonstrated clear reduction in their quality, as well as the presence of molds and/or bacteria in some medicines that still agreed with the expirations dates, showing the importance of the pharmacist in advising the correct use and store of medicines.

Atividade microbiana em um Latossolo degradado tratado com lodo de esgoto

The degraded soil shows, in general, poor biological activity, considering its physical characteristics, low fertility and organic matter, mainly due to removal or degradation of its superficial layer. The sewage sludge, due to its high content of easily decomposed organic matter can be an alternate source of organic residues and combined to its high content of the principal nutrients for the plants can be an important factor to promote biological activities in degraded soil. In order to study the actions of the sewage sludge in the recovery of a degraded Latosol, the carbon in the microbial biomass (C mic), the carbon released CO2 (C-CO2) and the relation between microbial and organic carbon (Cmic/Corg) were used as indicators of the effects. To do so, two doses (30 and 60 Mg ha-1) of sewer slime applied in topdressing and incorporated together with a mineral fertilizer treatment, using the eucalyptus as a test crop. A completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 4 repetitions was used. The sewage sludge promoted increase of liberated C-CO2 and the C mic, which constitute the adequate quality indicators for monitoring the soil recovery.

Ocorrência de infecção urinária em pacientes de um hospital universitário

Infection in hospitals is a serious problem for the Public Health System. It is responsible for the increasing number of hospital deaths, as well as the longer time patients may have to stay in hospital, raising the costs of confinement more and more. The most common hospital infection is urinary tract infections (UTI), the use of the urinary catheter being the main risk factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of UTI among hospitalized patients in a University Hospital in Brazil, from October to December 2003. Out of 271 samples of urine checked, 51 were positive, 27 of these from patients having community-acquired UTI and 24 whose infection originated in the hospital. The community-acquired UTIs were more frequent in female patients (63%). The highest incidence of infection was caused by Escherichia coli (74%), especially in patients aged from 0 to 15 (37%). The episodes of hospital-acquired infection happened, in the main, in male patients aged above 50 (68%) who were using a lasting vesical catheter; in this group of patients the infection was frequently caused by E. coli (29.1%) and Klebsiella spp. (29.1%). E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited strong resistance (62.5%) to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, as well as to ampicillin, showing that these drugs should not be used to cure UTIs in this institution.

Propagandas de medicamentos psicoativos: Análise das informações científicas

Objective: According to the World Health Organization, medicinal drug promotion should be reliable, accurate, truthful, informative, balanced, up-to-date and capable of substantiation. The objective of the present study was to review psychoactive drug advertisements to physicians as for information consistency with the related references and accessibility of the cited references. Methods: Data was collected in the city of Araraquara, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. There were collected and reviewed 152 drug advertisements, a total of 304 references. References were requested directly from pharmaceutical companies' customer services and searched in UNESP (Ibict, Athenas) and BIREME (SciELO, PubMed, free-access indexed journals) library network and CAPES journals. Advertisement statements were checked against references using content analysis. Results: Of all references cited in the advertisements studied, 66.7% were accessed. Of 639 promotional statements identified, 346 (54%) were analyzed. The analysis showed that 67.7% of promotional statements in the advertisements were consistent with their references, while the remaining was either partially consistent or inconsistent. Of the material analyzed, an average 2.5 (1-28) references was cited per advertisement. In the text body, there were identified 639 pieces of information clearly associated with at least one cited reference (average 3.5 pieces of information per advertisement). Conclusion: The study results evidenced difficult access to the references. Messages on efficacy, safety and cost, among others, are not always supported by scientific studies. There is a need for regulation changes and effective monitoring of drug promotional materials.

Níveis constitutivos de compostos fenólicos podem estar relacionados à resistência da cana-de-açúcar à cigarrinha-das-raízes

The interaction of the leafhopper-of-roots with the sugar cane is still poorly marked and there is little information on resistant varieties. The phenolic compounds are involved in resistance mechanisms of the antibiosis type, but few studies are devoted to the studying role of these compounds in the interaction of plants with sucking insects. The study was conducted to determine how the sugar cane responded to the infestation of Mahanarva fimbriolata in terms of accumulation of phenolic compounds. An experiment was carried out under controlled conditions in a randomized design in a factorial schedule 3 x 2 x 4, with 3 genotypes and sugar cane, 2 levels of nymphs infestation of M. fimbriolata and sampling 4 times, with 4 repetitions. The genotypes SP80-1816 and RB72454 showed higher levels of total phenols when subjected to an infestation of the pest, but the duration of the nymphal stage and mortality of sharpshooters were significantly lower in those varieties, indicating that the increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds may had been caused by death and decay of the roots. It was not observed variation in levels of total phenols in the variety SP83- 5073 subject to an infestation of M. fimbriolata. However, the mortality of the leafhopperof- roots and duration of the stage of nymphs were significantly higher in genotype, indicating the existence of resistance-type antibiosis. Analysis of correlation showed that higher initial levels of phenolic compounds resulting in mortality of the pest can increase the duration of the nymph stage.