Transdermal formulations containing human sexual steroids: development and validation of methods and in vitro drug release

In vitro release of bioidentical hormones in four different liposomal transdermal emulsions (containing testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, or estradiol and estriol) was assessed. For this purpose, novel high-performance liquid chromatography methods were developed and validated in an eco-friendly manner and used to determine the in vitro release of such products. The methods were suitable for our intended goal, and the emulsions employed were found to be effective as transporting candidates for the efficient release of hormones in the transdermal delivery of human sexual steroids.

Green tea in transdermal formulation: HPLC method for quality control and in vitro drug release assays

RP-HPLC based analytical method for use in both quality control of green tea in a semisolid formulation and for in vitro drug release assays was developed and validated. The method was precise (CV < 5%), accurate (recovery between 98% and 102%), linear (R² > 0.99), robust, and specific for the determination of epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), caffeine (CAF), and gallic acid (GA). In a diffusion cell chamber, the release rate of EGCG was 8896.01 µg cm-2. This data showed that EGCG will be able to exert its systemic activity when delivered though the transdermal formulation, due to its good flux rates with the synthetic membrane.

UCL Discovery: raising the Open Access profile at the institution

Presentation at the "Tutkimus vapaaksi verkkoon!" seminar in Helsinki, January 25, 2011

Water quality indicators for environmental and resistance profile of Escherichia coli strains isolated in Rio Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil

In this article it was evaluated the quality of water in the Cascavel river, in the city of Cascavel - Paraná using microbiological indicators, physical and chemical pollution and susceptibility / resistance in strains of Escherichia coli isolated antimicrobial trade. The water sampling was conducted between 2010-July and 2011-June at three points: a) near the source, b) urban area, c) rural area. The samples were analyzed for physical, chemical and microbiological variables: temperature, pH, color, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, total coliforms (CT), fecal coliform (CTe) and Escherichia coli. Tests were also performed to nine antimicrobial commercial resistances. The variables studied indicated that the Cascavel river water was presented at disagreement with the resolution 357/2005 CONAMA (class I), ranking in the index as regular water quality. The physical, chemical and rainfall did not affect the growth of CT and CTe, with higher counts of E. coli in the urban area. The greatest resistance profiles of the strains of E. coli isolated from Cascavel river water was found in section 2, the urban area as a probable consequence of human influence on water quality.

Use of interactive performance optimization for identifying the ideal profile of swine finishing producers

The present research aimed to develop a modeling capable of identifying the ideal profile of swine finishing producers using the interactive performance optimization, which began by verifying qualitative the criteria considered most relevant to the decision-making, generating a closed structured diagnosis that covers the socioeconomic aspects about the activity, until the design of a mathematical model able to translate the data obtained in quantitative information. For the verification, it was proposed a practical study for a universe of 120 members of a cooperative in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The results showed that, from the application and the definition of the ideal profile, it was possible to verify that 82 producers are in the group of those who have obtained a "Good" performance, and to 44 the result is in the range between 86% to 90% from the ideal, which means that most have short or medium-term conditions to evolve their status for the considered "Very Good", where only 12.5% of the producers are currently.

Effects of splenic allograft in lipid profile of non-splenectomized rats: the immune and metabolic role of the "double spleen"

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of the spleen and splenic allograft in lipid control and evaluate its effect on the lipid profile of rats.METHOD: 32 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control group (1), total splenectomy group (2), splenectomy and implantation of allograft group (3) and double spleen group (4). Each group was subdivided into two subgroups: A and B, based on the death of the animals after 30 or 120 days of monitoring. The procedures in groups 2, 3 and 4 were made simultaneously, and splenectomized animals, groups 2 and 3 were donors, respectively, for the animals of groups 3 and 4. In group 4 the spleen was preserved and the animals received implants from the spleens of rats from group 3. The regeneration of splenic tissue was evaluated by macroscopic and microscopic analyzes of the grafts and own spleens, as well as with measurements of VLDL, HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides.RESULTS: after 120 days, Group 4 showed levels of total cholesterol and LDL lower than the other groups. Group 1 had higher levels of lipids.CONCLUSION: The technique of double spleen was effective in the control of lipid metabolism, corroborating the function of the spleen as a reserve of lipids.

Evolution in the profile of thyroid cancer cases treated in an oncology reference service: what changed in the last 20 years

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of thyroid carcinoma cases treated at a reference hospital for cancer between 2008 and 2010.Methods: we studied 807 cases and analyzed the following clinicopathologic variables: symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic tests, staging, histological type, treatment performed and complications.Results: Females were more affected, with 660 cases (82%). The average age at diagnosis was 44.5 years. Prior exposure to ionizing radiation was reported by 22 (3%) patients, a family history of thyroid cancer by 89 (11%), and 289 (36%) individuals reported other types of cancer in the family. The fine needle aspiration biopsy was the main parameter for surgical indication and was suggestive of carcinoma in 463 patients (57%). Papillary carcinoma was the most common histological type, with 780 cases (96.6%). There were 728 (90%) total thyroidectomies, 43 (5.3%) reoperations or partial thyroidectomies followed by totalization, 23 (2.8%) extended thyroidectomies and only 13 (1.6%) partial thyroidectomies (lobectomy with isthmectomy). Neck dissection associated with thyroidectomy was done in 158 patients (19.5%). We observed a predominance of tumors classified as T1 in 602 (74.6%) patients. Transient hypocalcemia was the most frequent complication.Conclusion: The results show that the worldwide increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer has changed the profile of patients seen at a referral service. In addition, there were changes in the type of surgical treatment used, with increased use of total thyroidectomy in relation to partial and subtotal ones, and decreased use of elective neck dissections.

Safety and tolerability of controlled-release oxycodone on postoperative pain in patients submitted to the oncologic head and neck surgery

Objective: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of controlled-release oxycodone in the treatment of postoperative pain of head and neck oncologic resections.Methods: We conducted a prospective, observational and open study, with 83 patients with moderate to severe pain after head and neck oncological operations. All patients received general anesthesia with propofol, fentanyl and sevoflurane. Postoperatively, should they have moderate or severe pain, we began controlled-release oxycodone 20 mg 12/12 b.i.d on the first day and 10 mg b.i.d. on the second. We assessed the frequency and intensity of adverse effects, the intensity of postoperative pain by a verbal numeric scale and the use of rescue analgesia from 12 hours after administration of the drug and between 7 and 13 days after the last oxycodone dose.Results: The most common adverse events were nausea, vomiting, dizziness, pruritus, insomnia, constipation and urinary retention, most mild. No serious adverse events occurred. In less than 12 hours after the use of oxycodone, there was a significant decrease in the intensity of postoperative pain, which remained until the end of the study. The rescue medication was requested at a higher frequency when the opioid dose was reduced, or after its suspension.Conclusion: Controlled release oxycodone showed to be safe and well tolerated and caused a significant decrease in post-operative pain.

Profile of hip arthroplasty patients in a teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the epidemiological profile of patients undergoing hip replacement, primary or revisional. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive study, including hip arthroplasties performed from January 2009 to June 2012 in a Belo Horizonte teaching hospital, Minas Gerais State - MG, Brazil. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: orthopedic procedures represented 45% of the operations at the hospital in the period, 1.4% hip arthroplasties. There were 125 hip replacements, 85 total, 27 partial and 13 reviews. Among the patients, 40% were male and 60% were female. Age ranged between 20 and 102 years, mean and median of 73 and 76 years, respectively. The most frequent diagnosis (82%) was femoral neck fracture by low-energy trauma caused by falling form standing position. In 13 revision operations, 12 required removal of the prosthesis. The infectious complication led to revision in 54% of the time, followed by dislocation (15%), peri-prosthetic fracture (15%) and aseptic loosening (15%). The infection etiologic agent was identified in 43% of occasions. The average length of the prosthesis to a revision operation was eight months. CONCLUSION: patients undergoing hip arthroplasty are elderly, with femoral neck fracture caused by falling form standing position, affecting more women. The incidence of hip prosthesis loosening was 10%. The main cause of the infection was loosening. The incidence of revisional hip arthroplasty was 10% and the incidence of hospital mortality in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty was 7.2%.

Epidemiological profile and postoperative complications of women undergoing gynecological surgery in a reference center in the northern brazilian legal amazon

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile and the operative complications of patients undergoing gynecological operations for benign diseases in a tertiary public hospital in the state of Roraima, Brazil. Methods: We conducted a retrospective survey through the analysis of 518 records of patients submitted to gynecological operations between January and June 2012. We included the three major operations during this period (n = 175): hysterectomy, colpoperineoplasty and suburethral sling placement. We excluded 236 cases of tubal ligation and 25 cases where it was not possible to access to medical records. Results: The mean age was 47.6 years; the education level of most patients was completed junior high (36.6%); 77% were from the State capital, 47.4% were in stable relationships and 26.3% were housewives. The majority of patients had given birth three or more times (86.6%), with previous vaginal delivery in 50.2%, and cesarean delivery, 21%. The main diagnostic indications for surgical treatment were uterine myoma (46.3%), urinary incontinence (27.4%) and genital dystopias (17.7%). We found three cases (1.7%) of high-grade intraepithelial lesions on Pap smear. The most common procedure was total hysterectomy (19.8%), 15.5% vaginally. The most common complication was wound infection (2.2%). Conclusion: Women undergoing gynecological operations due to benign disease had a mean age of 47 years, most had levels of basic education, came from the capital, were in stable relationships, predominantly housewives, multiparous and showed low operative complication rates.

Validação de versão para o português de questionário sobre qualidade de vida para mulher com endometriose (Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire - EHP-30)

OBJETIVO: desenvolvimento da versão em português brasileiro do Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire (EHP-30), adaptação transcultural ao Brasil e avaliação das medidas psicométricas do EHP-30 Português em amostra brasileira. MÉTODOS: o instrumento original em inglês foi vertido para o português, seguindo diretrizes internacionais, passando por todas as etapas de tradução, retrotradução e comparação das versões para adaptação transcultural, validade de face e de conteúdo. O EHP-30 Português foi aplicado a uma amostra de 54 pacientes com diagnóstico de endometriose para análise de consistência interna, usando o alfa de Cronbach. A fidedignidade teste-reteste foi avaliada pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC). Para a avaliação de validade de construto convergente foi testada correlação entre o EHP-30 Português, WHOQOL-Bref e o Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI). RESULTADOS: a avaliação da consistência interna apresentou valores de α=0,8 a 0,9, sugerindo homogeneidade entre as questões. A fidedignidade teste-reteste apresentou ICC de 0,8 a 0,9, demonstrando estabilidade do instrumento. Na validação de construto, demonstraram-se fortes correlações da escala de auto-imagem do EHP-30 com os domínios físico (-0,6) e psicológico (-0,6) do WHOQOL-Bref e da escala de suporte social com o BDI (0,5), evidenciando-se, assim, boa correlação com outros instrumentos de avaliação de qualidade de vida. CONCLUSÕES: o EHP-30 Português mostrou ser um instrumento de fácil e rápida aplicação e bem aceito pelas pacientes, apresentando bom desempenho psicométrico, com medidas de fidedignidade adequadas (consistência interna e fidedignidade teste-reteste) e validade de construto. Estes resultados demonstram que o EHP-30 Português é um instrumento adequado para avaliação de qualidade de vida em mulheres brasileiras com endometriose em ambiente clínico e de pesquisa.

Arterial hypertension and metabolic profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

PURPOSE: To evaluate parameters related with arterial pressure and metabolic profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (POS). METHODS: This monocentric study at the University Hospital Endocrinology Section included 60 women aged 18-45 years, 42 being diagnosed with POS and acting as 18 controls. All women were subjected to transvaginal ultrasound and monitored for arterial pressure for 24 h in the ambulatory (MAP). Venous blood samples were taken between 07.00 and 09.00, after 12 h fasting. Basal (BG) and fasting glucose concentrations, total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides and insulin (to calculate the homeostatic assay insulin-resistance, HOMA-IR) were measured. Collected data were the mean arterial blood pressure (24-h awake/sleep cycle), arterial pressure nocturnal descensus, glycemia and fasting glucose for HOMA-IR, and lipid profile. The Student's t test was used to compare homogeneous variables; the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare non-homogeneous variables; the Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to search for correlation between the variables. The c² test was used for comparison of the absence of nocturnal descensus. Significance was taken as p<0.05. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with POS was 27.4±5.5 (18-45 years, n=42) and the body mass index (BMI) was 30.2±6.5 kg/m² (18.3-54.9). In the Control Group, the mean age was 31.4±6.1 (18-45 years) and the BMI was 27.1±6.2 kg/m² (18.3-54.9, n=18). No difference in the metabolic parameters and insulin resistance was observed between the two groups. Comparison between these parameters and MAP showed that the only parameter with a correlation was the BMI, independent of the POS diagnosis. This was not seen in nocturnal descensus, which was uncorrelated with POS and any of the other studied parameters. CONCLUSION: POS women do not show higher arterial blood pressure, glycemia, HDL-col, TG, HOMA-IR and BMI compared to non-POS women. However, POS patients showed correlation between arterial pressure and BMI, suggesting that obesity is a primary factor involved in arterial pressure changes in these patients.

Gene expression profile of ABC transporters and cytotoxic effect of ibuprofen and acetaminophen in an epithelial ovarian cancer cell line in vitro

PURPOSES: To determine the basic expression of ABC transporters in an epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, and to investigate whether low concentrations of acetaminophen and ibuprofen inhibited the growth of this cell line in vitro. METHODS: TOV-21 G cells were exposed to different concentrations of acetaminophen (1.5 to 15 μg/mL) and ibuprofen (2.0 to 20 μg/mL) for 24 to 48 hours. The cellular growth was assessed using a cell viability assay. Cellular morphology was determined by fluorescence microscopy. The gene expression profile of ABC transporters was determined by assessing a panel including 42 genes of the ABC transporter superfamily. RESULTS: We observed a significant decrease in TOV-21 G cell growth after exposure to 15 μg/mL of acetaminophen for 24 (p=0.02) and 48 hours (p=0.01), or to 20 μg/mL of ibuprofen for 48 hours (p=0.04). Assessing the morphology of TOV-21 G cells did not reveal evidence of extensive apoptosis. TOV-21 G cells had a reduced expression of the genes ABCA1, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCD3, ABCD4 and ABCE1 within the ABC transporter superfamily. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides in vitro evidence of inhibitory effects of growth in therapeutic concentrations of acetaminophen and ibuprofen on TOV-21 G cells. Additionally, TOV-21 G cells presented a reduced expression of the ABCA1, ABCC3, ABCC4, ABCD3, ABCD4 and ABCE1 transporters.