Evaluation of efficacy and safety of itraconazole oral solution for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients

This study was a non-comparative multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of itraconazole oral solution 200 mg/day (100 mg twice a day in the fasting state) for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients. We included 50 patients who were treated and followed for up to 3 weeks after ending therapy in the analysis. Mycological cures at the end of therapy occurred in 20/50 patients (40%), but colonization by Candida sp. was recorded in 42/50 (84%) by the end of follow-up. A high rate of clinical response was observed in 46/50 (92%), and the response was sustained for up to 21 days after stopping therapy in 24/46 patients (52%). Clinical relapses were documented among 22 patients, but all causative fungal organisms associated with a relapse were susceptible to itraconazole. There were many patients with persistence or recurrence of Candida, but without mucositis. Relapse of Candida mucositis was significantly related to low levels of CD4 lymphocytes exhibited by symptomatic patients. The drug was well tolerated by all but 1 patient. We conclude that itraconazole oral solution (100 mg bid for 7-14 days) is a well tolerated and effective treatment for suppressing the symptoms of oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients. Patients with severe immunosuppression may relapse and require frequent cycles of treatment or longterm suppressive therapy.Federal University of Paraná Clinical HospitalAliança HospitalFederal University of São Paulo DIPA Special Mycology LaboratoryJanssen-Cilag Farmacêutica do BrasilUNIFESP, DIPA Special Mycology LaboratorySciEL

GAMMA-ORYZANOL HAS AN EQUIVALENT EFFICACY AS A LIPID-LOWERING AGENT COMPARED TO FIBRATE AND STATIN IN TWO DYSLIPIDEMIA MICE MODELS

Objective: A substantial fraction of the population is intolerant or does not respond well to the recommended treatments for dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy ofgamma-oryzanol (γ-ORZ) treatment in acute and long-term mouse experimental models of dyslipidemia in comparison toGemfibrozil and Simvastatin. Methods: For the acute dyslipidemia-induced model, dyslipidemia was induced in 40 mice using a single intra-peritoneal administration of Triton WR-1339. For the long-termmodel, dyslipidemia was induced in 24 mice using a hypercholesterolemic diet over 14 days. Thereafter, animals were divided into different groups of treatment,and orally received treatments with gamma-oryzanol (5, 25, 50mg. kg-1), gemfibrozil or simvastatin. For biochemical analysis, glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols were measured. Body weight and net food intake was registered weekly, and urea, creatinine, AST and ALT levels were evaluated. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls method,and p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Only the highest dose of γ-ORZ exhibited significant protective effects. Gamma-oryzanol andGemfibrozil treatments reduced total cholesterol and triacylglycerols levels in a similar manner in the acute model. In the second model, γ-ORZ and simvastatin treatments reduced glucose and total cholesterol levels in the same way. In addition, the administration ofγ-ORZ did not cause any adverse events, or significantly altered hepatic enzymes levels, plasmatic urea or creatinine concentrations. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that gamma-oryzanol acts as a potential lipid-lowering agent, reducing triglycerides and total cholesterol in dyslipidemia-induced models

Chitosan/mangiferin particles for Cr(VI) reduction and removal

AbstractIn this work, chitosan/mangiferin particles (CMP) were prepared by spray-drying technique and characterized by SEM, DLS, FTIR, HPLC–UV and adsorption studies to investigate a possible application as a preventive material in cases of human and animal contamination with Cr(VI). CMP presented sizes ranging from nano to micrometers. Chitosan and mangiferin (MA) presence in the powder was confirmed by FTIR and MA quantification (136μg/mg) was performed using a calibration curve prepared by HPLC–UV. Adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) onto CMP was compared with chitosan and investigated in a batch system by considering the effects of various parameters like contact time, initial concentration of adsorbent and pH. Cr(VI) removal is pH dependent and it was found to be maximum at pH 5.0. The results showed that CMP has a potential application as a preventive material in cases of human or animal contamination with Cr(VI)

REFLEXÕES SOBRE O ENSINO FUNDAMENTAL PÚBLICO SOTEROPOLITANO NA PERSPECTIVA INTERDISCIPLINAR DA EDUCOMUNICAÇÃO

O presente texto resulta da primeira etapa de execução do projeto de iniciação científica intitulado “Interseções mídia, escola e sociedade: mapeamento da apropriação dos meios de comunicação na prática escolar e avaliação da proposta de mediação cultural pela figura do educomunicador”, desenvolvido no ambiente do curso de Jornalismo da Faculdade Social da Bahia desde agosto de 2008. O projeto subdividiu-se em duas partes complementares: uma referiu-se à pesquisa de campo, centrada no mapeamento dos modos de apropriação dos produtos comunicacionais massivos pelos docentes do ensino fundamental na prática educativa; a outra objetivou a pesquisa bibliográfica. Após a realização dos procedimentos empíricos de sondagem, aplicação de questionários e entrevistas com os professores e considerando-se a realidade pesquisada, o projeto encaminhou-se para o recorte étnico-racial, a fim de promover ações no sentido da criação de um instrumento efetivo e participativo de reflexão crítica e de comunicação entre as instâncias envolvidas no processo

Fluorescence studies on new potential antitumoral benzothienopyran-1-ones in solution and in liposomes

Fluorescence properties of four new potential antitumoral compounds, 3-arylbenzothieno[2,3-c]pyran-1-ones, were studied in solution and in lipid membranes of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (Egg-PC) and dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB). The 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran-1-one (1c) exhibits the higher fluorescence quantum yields in all solvents studied. All compounds present a solvent sensitive emission, with significant red shifts in polar solvents for the methoxylated compounds. The results point to an ICT character of the excited state, more pronounced for compound 1c. Fluorescence (steady-state) anisotropy measurements of the compounds incorporated in liposomes of DPPC, DODAB and Egg-PC indicate that all compounds have two different locations, one due to a deep penetration in the lipid membrane and another corresponding to a more hydrated environment. In general, the methoxylated compounds prefer hydrated environments inside the liposomes. The 3-(4- fluorophenyl)benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran-1-one (1a) clearly prefers a hydrated environment, with some molecules located at the outer part of the liposome interface. On the contrary, the preferential location of 3-(2-fluorophenyl)benzothieno[2,3-c]pyran-1-one (1b) is in the region of lipid hydrophobic tails. Compounds with a planar geometry (1a and 1c) have higher mobility in the lipid membranes when phase transition occurs.Portugal and FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional), for financial support through Centro de Física (CFUM) and Centro de Química (CQ-UM) of University of Minho and through the Project PTDC/QUI/81238/2006. M.S.D. Carvalho and R.C. Calhelha acknowledge FCT for their PhD grants SFRH/BD/47052/2008 and SFRH/BD/29274/2006, respectively.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Fibrossarcoma ameloblástico agressivo em maxila : relato de caso e novas perspectivas com base na literatura atual

O fibrossarcoma ameloblástico (FSA) é um tumor maligno raro caracterizado pela presença de componente epitelial benigno em um tecido conjuntivo fibroso maligno. Pode desenvolver-se a partir de um fibroma ameloblástico ou como uma lesão nova. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar um caso de um FSA agressivo e recorrente em maxila em um paciente de 38 anos. O diagnóstico histopatológico desse tumor pode ser difícil, principalmente a partir de biópsias incisionais. Este trabalho também discute fatores em relação aos aspectos histopatológicos para o seu diagnóstico, assim como seu comportamento clínico, com base em revisão atual da literatura.Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma (AFS) is a rare malignant tumor characterized by benign epithelial component within a malignant fibrous stroma. It occurs as a de novo lesion or from a previous ameloblastic fibroma. The aim of this paper is to report an aggressive and recurrent case of AFS in the maxilla of a 38-year-old patient. Histopathological diagnosis can be challenging, especially when it is based on incisional biopsy specimens. Hence, this report highlights not only the importance of the histological features for diagnosis but also the clinical behavior of AFS based on current literature evidence

Tratamento do Lixo: Materiais, substâncias, separação - uma proposta do PIBID como estratégia para o ensino de Química

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Estratégias diferenciadas e contextualizadas no Ensino de Química na Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA)

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