Pharmacokinetic study with computational tools in the medicinal chemistry course

To improve the teaching-learning process in the Medicinal Chemistry course, new strategies have been incorporated into practical classes of this fundamental discipline of the pharmaceutical curriculum. Many changes and improvements have been made in the area of medicinal chemistry so far, and students should be prepared for these new approaches with the use of technological resources in this field. Practical activities using computational techniques have been directed to the evaluation of chemical and physicochemical properties that affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs. Their objectives were to allow students to know these tools, to learn how to access them, to search for the structures of drugs and to analyze results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Brazil to demonstrate the use of computational practices in teaching pharmacokinetics. Practical classes using Osiris and Molinspiration were attractive to students, who developed the activities easily and acquired better theoretical knowledge.Para melhorar o processo ensino-aprendizagem no curso de Química Medicinal novas estratégias estão sendo incorporadas às aulas práticas desta disciplina fundamental do currículo farmacêutico. Muitas mudanças e melhorias vêm marcando a área de química medicinal e por isso é importante que os alunos sejam colocados nestas novas abordagens na área, com a utilização de recursos tecnológicos. As atividades práticas foram direcionadas para a avaliação dos dados químicos e físico-químicos de fármacos que influenciam as propriedades farmacocinéticas com o auxílio de técnicas computacionais. Os objetivos foram permitir aos alunos conhecer essas ferramentas, saber como acessá-las, procurar as estruturas de fármacos e analisar os resultados. Este é o primeiro estudo publicado no Brasil que apresenta aula prática computacional sobre o tema farmacocinética. As aulas práticas utilizando os servidores Osiris e Molinspiration foram atraentes para os alunos, que desenvolveram as atividades com maior facilidade e sedimentaram o conhecimento teórico adquirido em sala de aula

Assessment of pharmaceutical services in HIV/AIDS health units in the city of Niterói, Brazil

This study aimed to conduct an assessment of pharmaceutical services in HIV/AIDS in the city of Niteroi, Brazil, with emphasis on management. It was done a descriptive cross-sectional study, and the approach used was a normative assessment focused on quality. The indicators used were analyzed individually or grouped according to the components of pharmaceutical services. The assessment identified some good points, especially regarding the good availability of ARVs, and good guide patients in the use of these drugs, and also some problems such as low levels of compliance in relation to good dispensing practices criteria and storage and a high time for the distribution of medicines. The result was a degree of 50.3% compliance with the quality criteria, considered only regular in accordance with trial made. Proposals were suggested for actions and interventions, especially in relation to the improvement of structural conditions of pharmacies of health facilities in the city, and increased training of professionals involved in the services

Dispensing errors in a Rio de Janeiro tertiary hospital: incidence, types, and causes / Erros de dispensação em hospital terciário do Rio de Janeiro: incidência, tipos e causas

Objective: In this study, the drug dispensing system of a tertiary care center was analysed, with the purpose of identifying the occurrence of dispensing errors, their types, causes, and the role of double checking in prevention. The main factors that contribute for the errors and the recommendations to avoid them have been evaluated from the perspective of the professionals involved in the dispensation process. Methods: 1,077 prescriptions were assessed in a 6-month  period. The errors were recorded and corrected before the medication left the pharmacy. Each pharmaceutical unit dispensed was considered as a possibility of error. The results were analyze through descriptive statistics (average, median, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and frequencies). In the second step of the research, the opinion of the professionals directly involved with dispensing  about causes and consequences of the errors was assessed through a questionnaire with  open and closed questions to explore the factors and causes of errors. Results: A 4.5% rate of dispensing errors inside the pharmacy was observed , during the double-check process. The rate observed when the medicines arrived at the admission units was of 0.37%.  The most frequent class of errors in dispensing was drug omission (62.9%), followed by dose added errors (11.7%); incorrect time (10.2%); incorrect drug (9.2%), and changed dosage form (6.4%). We found a direct relationship between the number of dispensed items during a shift and the number of dispensing errors (?=0,844). The schedule for team shifts  influenced the error rate (p=0,016). Conclusion: Knowing the dispensing error profile is crucial for promoting behaviour changes and to define adequated error barriers

Epistemologias do Sul e a experiência do Projeto Vidas Paralelas Migrantes Brasil-França

This article addresses the experience of the Migrant Parallel Lives Project (“PVP Migrantes”), whose action subjects are people in migration situation in both countries. Funded by CAPES-COFECUB, this project is an international research cooperation between the University of Brasília, University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Université Paris XIII and Université Paul Valery. The method of the project is structured in the performance of photography and human rights workshops and has as a guide the reflection from the image and the sharing of meanings, paths, destinations, impacts and possibilities of collective construction of forms of intervention in the world, capable of guaranteeing the human rights of the migrants. This article emerges from the experiences developed in order to reflect on the convergences and crossings with the perspectives of the epistemologies of the South. The project starts from the praxis of the workshops and from the potential of incorporating the image as an emancipatory device in order to discuss the theoretical-methodological aspects and their epistemological dialogues. Thus, the workshops are catalysts for a powerful encounter mediated by two important actants inscribed in the project method: photographs and a world map, through which migration experiences are told and shared, embodying a common object that does not seek to homogenize the experiences, since the logic of the epistemologies of the South is not to work with single stories and unquestionable truths, but to allow the emergence of epistemological, cultural, political and social diversities.Este artículo analiza la experiencia del Proyecto Vidas Paralelas Migrantes Brasil- Francia, que tiene como temas de acción personas en situaciones de migración en ambos países. Esta es una cooperación internacional de investigación entre la Universidad de Brasilia, la Universidad del Estado de Río de Janeiro, la Universidad Paris XIII y la Universidad Paul Valery, financiada por CAPES-COFECUB. El método del proyecto se estructura en la realización de «Talleres de fotografía y derechos humanos», que tienen como hilo conductor la reflexión desde la imagen y el intercambio de significados, caminos, destinos, impactos y posibilidades de construcción colectiva de formas de intervención en el mundo, capaces de garantizar los derechos humanos de los sujetos migrantes involucrados. Este artículo se sumerge en las experiencias desarrolladas para reflexionar sobre sus convergencias y atravesamientos con las perspectivas de las epistemologías del sur. Partimos de reflexiones teóricas y metodológicas para pensar en la práctica de los talleres y el uso de fotografías como una forma propositiva de construir vínculos entre todos los que se articulan en esta red. Por lo tanto, los talleres se entienden como catalizadores de una reunión mediada por dos importantes actores registrados en el método del proyecto: fotografías y un mapa del mundo. A través de estos actores, se construye una conversación, se cuenta y comparte las experiencias de migración, dando forma a un significado común que no busca homogeneizar las experiencias, ya que la lógica de las epistemologías del sur no es trabajar con historias únicas y verdades incuestionables, pero precisamente para permitir el surgimiento de diversidades, ya sean epistemológicas, culturales, políticas y sociales.Esse artigo aborda a experiência do Projeto Vidas Paralelas Migrantes Brasil-França, que tem como sujeitos da ação as pessoas em situação de migração em ambos países. Esse projeto é uma cooperação internacional de pesquisa entre a Universidade de Brasília, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Université Paris XIII e Université Paul Valery, financiado pela CAPES-COFECUB via edital. O método do projeto estrutura-se na realização de oficinas de fotografia e direitos humanos e tem como fio condutor a reflexão a partir da imagem e da partilha de sentidos, trajetos, destinos, impactos e possibilidades de construção coletiva de formas de intervenção no mundo, capazes de garantir os direitos humanos dos sujeitos migrantes envolvidos. Este artigo emerge nas experiências desenvolvidas, a fim de refletir sobre suas convergências e atravessamentos com as perspectivas das epistemologias do Sul. Partimos então da práxis das oficinas e das potencialidades da incorporação da imagem enquanto dispositivo emancipatório para discutir os aspectos teórico-metodológicos e seus diálogos epistemológicos. Assim, as oficinas são catalisadoras de um potente encontro mediado por dois importantes actantes inscritos no método do projeto: fotografias e um mapa do mundo. Por meio destes, as experiências de migração vão sendo contadas e partilhadas, dando corpo a um comum que não busca homogeneizar as experiências, uma vez que a lógica das epistemologias do Sul não é trabalhar com histórias únicas e verdades inquestionáveis, mas permitir a emersão das diversidades epistemológicas, culturais, políticas e sociais

Brazilian consortium for the study on renal diseases associated with COVID-19 : a multicentric effort to understand SARS-CoV-2-related nephropathy

Kidney involvement appears to be frequent in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite this, information concerning renal involvement in COVID-19 is still scarce. Several mechanisms appear to be involved in the complex relationship between the virus and the kidney. Also, different morphological patterns have been described in the kidneys of patients with COVID-19. For some authors, however, this association may be just a coincidence. To investigate this issue, we propose assessing renal morphology associated with COVID-19 at the renal pathology reference center of federal university hospitals in Brazil. Data will come from a consortium involving 17 federal university hospitals belonging to Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERH) network, as well as some state hospitals and an autopsy center. All biopsies will be sent to the referral center for renal pathology of the EBSERH network. The data will include patients who had coronavirus disease, both alive and deceased, with or without pre-existing kidney disease. Kidney biopsies will be analyzed by light, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for various inflammatory cells (i.e., cells expressing CD3, CD20, CD4, CD8, CD138, CD68, and CD57) as well as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) will be performed on paraffinized tissue sections. In addition to ultrastructural assays, in situ hybridization (ISH), IHC and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) will be used to detect Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in renal tissue. For the patients diagnosed with Collapsing Glomerulopathy, peripheral blood will be collected for apolipoprotein L-1 (APOL1) genotyping. For patients with thrombotic microangiopathy, thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), antiphospholipid, and complement panel will be performed. The setting of this study is Brazil, which is second behind the United States in highest confirmed cases and deaths. With this complete approach, we hope to help define the spectrum and impact, whether immediate or long-term, of kidney injury caused by SARS-CoV-2

Alterações musculares e esqueléticas cervicais em mulheres disfônicas

Termo clínico, a disfonia envolve a todas as transformações e dificuldades durante a emissão vocal, as quais resultam no impedimento da produção normal da voz. Pacientes como esse problema, podem apresentar desequilíbrio da musculatura crâniocervical e laríngea e lesão orgânica subjacente. A disfonia resulta em modificações fonatórias, limitando atividades diárias relacionadas ao uso da voz, impactando na vida social e na qualidade de vida do indivíduo. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar alterações musculares e esqueléticas cervicais em mulheres com disfonia, conforme identificado na literatura científica sobre o tema. Para isso, realizou-se uma revisão integrativa de literatura, selecionando estudos nas bases de dados Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs) e Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline). A partir da análise qualitativa dos resultados, concluiu-se que dor intensa na região posterior do pescoço e na laringe se manifestam em mulheres disfônicas. Contribuem para isso a função prejudicada da articulação cervical e alterações da amplitude de movimento cervical. Com isso, compreende-se que o abuso vocal e o mau uso da voz como fatores mais comuns para a disfonia

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30–79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30–79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306–359) million women and 317 (292–344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584–668) million women and 652 (604–698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55–62) of women and 49% (46–52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43–51) of women and 38% (35–41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20–27) for women and 18% (16–21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings