Social representations of the generic drug by drug users

O artigo objetivou captar as representações sociais do medicamento genérico por usuários de medicamentos no intuito de que seus resultados possam ser utilizados no aprimoramento da política desse tipo de medicamento no Brasil. Utilizou-se a Teoria das Representações Sociais como suporte teórico-metodológico. A pesquisa foi realizada no período de abril de 2002 a fevereiro de 2003, na cidade do Natal/RN, com 116 usuários de medicamentos, abordados em farmácias e/ou drogarias. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi a entrevista semi-estruturada, com uso de gravador. Os dados foram avaliados através do programa ALCESTE 4.5, além da análise de conteúdo preconizada por Laurence Bardin. O ALCESTE isolou 5 classes semânticas e a análise de conteúdo identificou 10 categorias. Para os usuários, o genérico representa um medicamento comercializado a preço mais barato, sem marca, equivalente a outro mais caro, mas que supre as necessidades imediatas de consumo, além do que a palavra genérico encerra uma representação mais ampla, absorvendo e englobado quaisquer produtos que tenham a característica dos medicamentos genéricos, porém com qualidade duvidosa.The paper aimed to apprehend the social representations of the generic drug by drug users, establishing mechanisms that could be used to improve the policy of this type of medicines in Brazil. The Theory of Social Representations was employed as theoretic-methodological support. The research was done from April, 2002 through February, 2003 in the city of Natal/RN with 116 drug users approached at pharmacies and/or drugstores. The instrument of data collection was a semistructured interview with a tape recorder. The data analysis was performed with the aid of both the ALCESTE 4.5 program and the content analysis recommended by Laurence Bardin. The ALCESTE isolated 5 semantic classes and the content analysis identified 10 categories. For users the generic drug stands for a medicine sold at a lower price, a no-mark product equivalent to a more expensive one, but which supplies the immediate consumption demand, in addition to the fact that the word generic comprises a wider representation, absorbing and incorporating any products having the characteristics of generic drugs, but with questionable quality

Avaliação de géis obtidos a partir da acetilação da quitosana em meio heterogêneo

Chitosan was acetylated during 2, 5 and 10h and physical gels were obtained at different polymer concentrations in N,N-dimethylacetamide containing 5% of LiCl. Acetylation was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and 13C NMR, and degrees of acetylation in the range of 0.82-0.91 were determined by NMR. The O-acetylation degree (0.12-0.15) was exclusively determined by a volumetric method. Rheological studies showed that the storage modulus values were smaller for the more acetylated samples and increased with the temperature and the polymer concentration. All the gels presented storage modulus superior to loss modulus, evidencing more elastic than viscous characteristics. The results obtained in this work suggest a gelation process based on a balance between O and N-acetylation and intermolecular bonds

Traditional Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Biological Activities of Bixa orellana

Bixa orellana L., popularly known as “urucum,” has been used by indigenous communities in Brazil and other tropical countries for several biological applications, which indicates its potential use as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical products. The aim of this work was to report the main evidence found in the literature, concerning the ethnopharmacology, the biological activity, and the phytochemistry studies related to Bixa orellana L. Therefore, this work comprises a systematic review about the use of Bixa orellana in the American continent and analysis of the data collected. This study shows the well-characterized pharmacological actions that may be considered relevant for the future development of an innovative therapeutic agent

Clay and Polymer-Based Composites Applied to Drug Release: A Scientific and Technological Prospection

There has been a growing trend in recent years for the development of hybrid materials, called composites, based on clay and polymers, whose innovative properties render them attractive for drug release. The objective of this manuscript was to conduct a review of original articles on this topic published over the last decade and of the body of patents related to these carriers. A scientific prospection was carried out spanning the period from 2005 to 2015 on the Web of Science database. The technological prospection encompassed the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office, the World International Patent Office and the National Institute of Industrial Property databases, filtering patents with the code A61K. The survey revealed a rise in the number of publications over the past decade, confirming the potential of these hybrids for use in pharmaceutical technology. Through interaction between polymer and clay, the mechanical and thermal properties of composites are enhanced, promoting stable, controlled drugs release in biological media. The most cited clays analyzed in the articles was montmorillonite, owing to its high surface area and capacity for ion exchange. The polymeric part is commonly obtained by copolymerization, particularly using acrylate derivatives. The hybrid materials are obtained mainly in particulate form on a nanometric scale, attaining a modified release profile often sensitive to stimuli in the media. A low number of patents related to the topic were found. The World International Patent Office had the highest number of lodged patents, while Japan was the country which published the most patents. A need to broaden the application of this technology to include more therapeutic classes was identified. Moreover, the absence of regulation of nanomaterials might explain the disparity between scientific and technological output.   This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page

Representações sociais do medicamento genérico por usuários Social representations of the generic drug by drug users

O artigo objetivou captar as representações sociais do medicamento genérico por usuários de medicamentos no intuito de que seus resultados possam ser utilizados no aprimoramento da política desse tipo de medicamento no Brasil. Utilizou-se a Teoria das Representações Sociais como suporte teórico-metodológico. A pesquisa foi realizada no período de abril de 2002 a fevereiro de 2003, na cidade do Natal/RN, com 116 usuários de medicamentos, abordados em farmácias e/ou drogarias. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi a entrevista semi-estruturada, com uso de gravador. Os dados foram avaliados através do programa ALCESTE 4.5, além da análise de conteúdo preconizada por Laurence Bardin. O ALCESTE isolou 5 classes semânticas e a análise de conteúdo identificou 10 categorias. Para os usuários, o genérico representa um medicamento comercializado a preço mais barato, sem marca, equivalente a outro mais caro, mas que supre as necessidades imediatas de consumo, além do que a palavra genérico encerra uma representação mais ampla, absorvendo e englobado quaisquer produtos que tenham a característica dos medicamentos genéricos, porém com qualidade duvidosa.<br>The paper aimed to apprehend the social representations of the generic drug by drug users, establishing mechanisms that could be used to improve the policy of this type of medicines in Brazil. The Theory of Social Representations was employed as theoretic-methodological support. The research was done from April, 2002 through February, 2003 in the city of Natal/RN with 116 drug users approached at pharmacies and/or drugstores. The instrument of data collection was a semistructured interview with a tape recorder. The data analysis was performed with the aid of both the ALCESTE 4.5 program and the content analysis recommended by Laurence Bardin. The ALCESTE isolated 5 semantic classes and the content analysis identified 10 categories. For users the generic drug stands for a medicine sold at a lower price, a no-mark product equivalent to a more expensive one, but which supplies the immediate consumption demand, in addition to the fact that the word generic comprises a wider representation, absorbing and incorporating any products having the characteristics of generic drugs, but with questionable quality

Standardization of extracts from Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) by total flavonoids content determination

La calidad de los extractos vegetales es influenciada por parámetros tales como el método de extracción, el líquido extractor, granulometría del material vegetal y proporción plantasolvente. La uniformidad de esos parámetros en la obtención de extractos es de gran importancia para garantizar la calidad de los mismos. El ensayo espectrofotométrico basado en la formación de complejos con el cloruro de aluminio fue aplicado en la dosificación de flavonoides de Momordica charantia L., lo cual evidenció diferencias significativas entre los métodos de extracción, líquidos extractores e proporciones planta-solvente. La solución extractiva que presentó el mayor tenor de flavonoides fue preparada por maceración, con etanol 70º GL, granulometría del material vegetal de hasta 710 µm y en la proporción planta-solvente 1,5:10.The quality of vegetable extracts is influenced by parameters such as: extraction method, extracting liquid, vegetable matter granulometry and plant:solvent ratio. The standardization of these parameters in obtaining extracts is of great importance in order to guarantee their quality. The spectrophotometric trial based on the formation of complexes with aluminum chloride was applied to evaluate the flavonoids contents of Momordica charantia L., which showed significant differences between the extraction methods, extracting liquids and plant:solvent ratios. The extractive solution which presented the greatest level of flavonoids was prepared by maceration, with ethanol 70º GL, vegetable matter granulometry up to 710 µm and plant:solvent ratio 1.5:10.La calidad de los extractos vegetales es influenciada por parámetros tales como el método de extracción, el líquido extractor, granulometría del material vegetal y proporción plantasolvente. La uniformidad de esos parámetros en la obtención de extractos es de gran importancia para garantizar la calidad de los mismos. El ensayo espectrofotométrico basado en la formación de complejos con el cloruro de aluminio fue aplicado en la dosificación de flavonoides de Momordica charantia L., lo cual evidenció diferencias significativas entre los métodos de extracción, líquidos extractores e proporciones planta-solvente. La solución extractiva que presentó el mayor tenor de flavonoides fue preparada por maceración, con etanol 70º GL, granulometría del material vegetal de hasta 710 ?m y en la proporción planta-solvente 1,5:10.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Standardization of extracts from Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae) by total flavonoids content determination

La calidad de los extractos vegetales es influenciada por parámetros tales como el método de extracción, el líquido extractor, granulometría del material vegetal y proporción plantasolvente. La uniformidad de esos parámetros en la obtención de extractos es de gran importancia para garantizar la calidad de los mismos. El ensayo espectrofotométrico basado en la formación de complejos con el cloruro de aluminio fue aplicado en la dosificación de flavonoides de Momordica charantia L., lo cual evidenció diferencias significativas entre los métodos de extracción, líquidos extractores e proporciones planta-solvente. La solución extractiva que presentó el mayor tenor de flavonoides fue preparada por maceración, con etanol 70º GL, granulometría del material vegetal de hasta 710 µm y en la proporción planta-solvente 1,5:10.The quality of vegetable extracts is influenced by parameters such as: extraction method, extracting liquid, vegetable matter granulometry and plant:solvent ratio. The standardization of these parameters in obtaining extracts is of great importance in order to guarantee their quality. The spectrophotometric trial based on the formation of complexes with aluminum chloride was applied to evaluate the flavonoids contents of Momordica charantia L., which showed significant differences between the extraction methods, extracting liquids and plant:solvent ratios. The extractive solution which presented the greatest level of flavonoids was prepared by maceration, with ethanol 70º GL, vegetable matter granulometry up to 710 µm and plant:solvent ratio 1.5:10.La calidad de los extractos vegetales es influenciada por parámetros tales como el método de extracción, el líquido extractor, granulometría del material vegetal y proporción plantasolvente. La uniformidad de esos parámetros en la obtención de extractos es de gran importancia para garantizar la calidad de los mismos. El ensayo espectrofotométrico basado en la formación de complejos con el cloruro de aluminio fue aplicado en la dosificación de flavonoides de Momordica charantia L., lo cual evidenció diferencias significativas entre los métodos de extracción, líquidos extractores e proporciones planta-solvente. La solución extractiva que presentó el mayor tenor de flavonoides fue preparada por maceración, con etanol 70º GL, granulometría del material vegetal de hasta 710 ?m y en la proporción planta-solvente 1,5:10.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Spray drying parameters optimization for chitosan microparticles as insulin carrier

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a influência dos parâmetros de nebulização no rendimento, granulometria e morfologia das micropartículas de quitosana como potencial carreadores da insulina. Quitosana a 1% e 2% (m/v) foi nebulizada em diferentes condições de fluxo e temperatura de entrada. A granulometria foi estudada por microscopia óptica e a morfologia por MEV. A concentração de quitosana foi o fator que mais influenciou no rendimento. A forma esférica foi predominante, com distribuição granulométrica compatível para permanência no septo nasal. As soluções poliméricas mais concentradas e a inclusão de insulina levaram a um aumento no diâmetro das partículas e a uma superfície menos rugosa.This study aimed to determine the influence of spray drying parameters on yield, particle size distribution and morphology of chitosan microparticles with potential as insulin carrier. Chitosan 1% and 2% (w/v) solutions were spray dried under different flow rates and inlet temperatures. Particle size distribution was determined by optical microscopy and surface morphology was examined by SEM. Chitosan concentration was the major factor that influenced the yields. Spherical particles predominated and their granulometry distribution showed to be compatible with permanence in the nasal septum. Solutions with higher polymer content as well the addition of insulin led to an increase in particle size and a smoother surface.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Preformulation of a liquid dosage formulation of captopril for pediatric use: drug-excipient compatibility and stability studies

Currently, medications used in children are typically modified from pharmaceutical dosage forms designed for adults. Captopril is widely adapted to liquid formulations for use in hospitals. Its stability in the aqueous medium is reduced since it undergoes oxidation producing captopril disulfide (its main metabolite). The aim of this formulation study was to suggest favorable conditions for the development of a stable captopril formulation. The compatibility between the drug and excipients was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC). For studies in solution, different formulations were prepared according to a factorial design varying EDTA concentration, water purity and pH. The resultant formulations were stored at 60°C and analyzed over a twelve-day period using HPLC. The DSC curves obtained suggested, although not conclusive to elucidation, interactions of captopril with citric acid and sucralose. The stability study of these solutions revealed that the variables significantly influenced captopril content, which degraded at zero order kinetics and rates differing by a factor of up to 7 times, where pH proved the most influential factor. Interactions between variables were observed. Therefore, development of a stable captopril formulation is feasible provided EDTA and a buffering agent is used at suitable concentrations (0.08% and pH 3.85)