Solid dispersions with hydrogenated castor oil increase solubility, dissolution rate and intestinal absorption of praziquantel

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of phosphated cross-linked high amylose on in vitro release of different drugs

The influence of structural characteristics of high amylose cross-linked at different degrees on the release of drugs with important molecular differences, namely sodium diclophenac (SD) and nicotinamide (NI), was assessed in vitro from non-compacted systems. The release profiles were related with classical kinetic mathematical models for better understanding of the release mechanism. An increase in polymer cross-linking degree resulted in longer release time for both drugs, although SD generally was released slower than NI. SD release from samples cross-linked at 2% of basis was driven mainly by Fickian diffusion, while from samples cross-linked at 4% of basis follows anomalous mechanism. Inversely, anomalous mechanism was responsible for NI release from 2% samples and Fickian diffusion from 4% samples. Results suggest that the performance of cross-linked high amylose as excipient for controlled drug release not only depends on cross-linking degree but also is highly influenced by structural characteristics of the drug. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of resazurin microtiter assay performance and BACTEC MGIT 960 in the susceptibility testing of Brazilian clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to four first-line drugs

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

Cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization in adolescent rats endures until adulthood: Lack of association with GluR1 and NR1 glutamate receptor subunits and tyrosine hydroxylase

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

Safety Assessment of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIM) use in Older People and the Factors Associated with Hospital Admission

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Crystal structure, DNA binding studies, nucleolytic property and topoisomerase I inhibition of zinc complex with 1,10-phenanthroline and 3-methyl-picolinic acid

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A preliminary trial comparison of several anesthetic techniques in cats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of several drug combinations (atropine, xylazine, romifidine, methotrimeprazine, midazolam, or fentanyl) with ketamine for short term anesthesia in cats. Twelve cats were anesthetized 6 times by using a cross-over Latin square protocol: methotrimeprazine was combined with midazolam, ketamine, and fentanyi; midazolam and ketamine; romifidine and ketamine; and xylazine and ketamine. Atropine was combined with romifidine and ketamine, and xylazine and ketamine. Temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate decreased in all groups. Apnea occurred in 1 cat treated with methotrimeprazine, romifidine, and ketamine, suggesting that ventilatory support may be necessary when this protocol is used. Emesis occurred in some cats treated with alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonists, and this side effect should be considered when these drugs are used.

Lower levels of oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in lymphocytes from patients undergoing surgery with propofol anesthesia

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

Analgesia for cats after ovariohysterectomy with either buprenorphine or carprofen alone or in combination

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

Variability and resistance mutations in the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease in patients not treated with protease inhibitors

The goal of treatment of chronic hepatitis C is to achieve a sustained virological response, which is defined as exhibiting undetectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels in serum following therapy for at least six months. However, the current treatment is only effective in 50% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1, the most prevalent genotype in Brazil. Inhibitors of the serine protease non-structural protein 3 (NS3) have therefore been developed to improve the responses of HCV-infected patients. However, the emergence of drug-resistant variants has been the major obstacle to therapeutic success. The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of resistance mutations and genetic polymorphisms in the NS3 genomic region of HCV from 37 patients infected with HCV genotype 1 had not been treated with protease inhibitors. Plasma viral RNA was used to amplify and sequence the HCV NS3 gene. The results indicate that the catalytic triad is conserved. A large number of substitutions were observed in codons 153, 40 and 91; the resistant variants T54A, T54S, V55A, R155K and A156T were also detected. This study shows that resistance mutations and genetic polymorphisms are present in the NS3 region of HCV in patients who have not been treated with protease inhibitors, data that are important in determining the efficiency of this new class of drugs in Brazil.

Skin reactions to drugs

OBJECTIVE - To assess drug reactions and report the drugs involved and the most frequent types of skin reactions.METHODS - A retrospective and descriptive study. Data of inpatients at the Dermatology Ward with initial diagnosis of adverse drug reactions were evaluated from January 1999 to June 2004. Patients with confirmed diagnosis were included in the study based on clinical and histopathological criteria, after analysis of medical charts.RESULTS - Initial diagnosis of adverse drug reactions was confirmed in 121 patients. Forty-three patients were included in the study; 51.2% were females and 86% were caucasians. A total of 48,8% were on one drug only. Antibiotics were the most commonly used drug (20%) and accounted for 33% of the drug eruptions. The second group comprised anti-inflammatory drugs (16 7%), followed by anticonvulsants (13%), analgesic/antipyretic (13%.) agents. Skin eruption manifested as maculopapular exanthema in 41.9% patients, erythrodermia in 25.6%, and urticaria in 23.3%.CONCLUSION - Maculopapular exanthema was the main type of skin reaction triggered by use of drugs, and these reactions were most frequently caused by antibiotics.

Inflamação de queratoses seborreicas múltiplas induzida por quimioterapia com gencitabina

São diversos e comuns os efeitos mucocutâneos dos quimioterápicos, alguns por ação citotóxica, outros por hipersensibilidade ao fármaco. Os autores relatam a ocorrência de inflamação em múltiplas queratoses seborreicas pré-existentes, após terapia citorredutora com gencitabina, em paciente sob tratamento para neoplasia de pâncreas. Discutem, ainda, a benignidade do evento e alertam para a necessidade de adequada identificação dos efeitos cutâneos decorrentes da quimioterapia sistêmica.

Scintigraphy of the hepatobiliar system in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the hepatobiliary function of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under triple treatment, using the technetium-99m-DISIDA (99mTc-DISIDA) hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Ten men and three women with pulmonary tuberculosis were subjected to hepatobiliary scintigraphy at the beginning of triple treatment (M1) and two months after it (M2). Patients were from the urban area, of low socioeconomic level, malnourished, and chronic alcohol and/or tobacco users. Ten normal individuals were evaluated as controls. Radiotracer images were acquired on a computerized gamma camera (Orbiter-Siemens) and T1/2 uptake and excretion values were calculated. Nutritional status and serum hepatic enzyme levels for each patient were evaluated at M1 and M2. None presented clinical or laboratory antecedent of hepatobiliary disease. At M1, there were no hepatic serum or kinetic alterations of the 99mTc-DISIDA. At M2, patients presented better nutritional conditions than at M1; there was increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and reduced excretion time for 99mTc-DISIDA, which was interpreted as a more adaptive than toxic phenomenon, yet not all alterations were significant and none manifested clinically. Apparently, triple treatment acted on the liver inducing the P450 cytochrome enzymatic system, accelerating radiotracer excretion, which follows the same path as the bilirubins.

Bedside assessment of swallowing in elderly subjects using psychotropic drugs

Drogas neurolépticas são utilizadas em diversas doenças mentais e suspeita-se que causem disfagia orofaríngea, principalmente em usuários idosos. OBJETIVO: Observar o efeito dos neurolépticos sobre a deglutição de idosos institucionalizados. Forma de Estudo: Descritivo transversal de série de casos. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: A deglutição de 47 idosos moradores de casa de repouso, usuários e não usuários de drogas neurolépticas foi avaliada por meio do teste clínico funcional da deglutição usando quatro consistências de alimentos. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos. Os usuários de neurolépticos mostraram porcentagem maior de deglutições múltiplas, enquanto os não usuários apresentaram porcentagem maior de escape oral. CONCLUSÃO: Medicações neurolépticas, isoladamente, não afetam o mecanismo da deglutição do idoso. Entretanto, novos estudos, com número maior de indivíduos e que usem avaliação específica da deglutição, são necessários