Clinical oxidative stress during leprosy multidrug therapy:impact of dapsone oxidation

This study aims to assess the oxidative stress in leprosy patients under multidrug therapy (MDT; dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin), evaluating the nitric oxide (NO) concentration, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione (GSH) levels, total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and methemoglobin formation. For this, we analyzed 23 leprosy patients and 20 healthy individuals from the Amazon region, Brazil, aged between 20 and 45 years. Blood sampling enabled the evaluation of leprosy patients prior to starting multidrug therapy (called MDT 0) and until the third month of multidrug therapy (MDT 3). With regard to dapsone (DDS) plasma levels, we showed that there was no statistical difference in drug plasma levels between multibacillary (0.518±0.029 μg/mL) and paucibacillary (0.662±0.123 μg/mL) patients. The methemoglobin levels and numbers of Heinz bodies were significantly enhanced after the third MDTsupervised dose, but this treatment did not significantly change the lipid peroxidation and NO levels in these leprosy patients. In addition, CAT activity was significantly reduced in MDT-treated leprosy patients, while GSH content was increased in these patients. However, SOD and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity levels were similar in patients with and without treatment. These data suggest that MDT can reduce the activity of some antioxidant enzyme and influence ROS accumulation, which may induce hematological changes, such as methemoglobinemia in patients with leprosy. We also explored some redox mechanisms associated with DDS and its main oxidative metabolite DDS-NHOH and we explored the possible binding of DDS to the active site of CYP2C19 with the aid of molecular modeling software

Ocorrência de protozoários e helmintos em amostras de fezes de cães errantes da Cidade de Itapema, Santa Catarina Occurrence of protozoa and helminthes in faecal samples of stray dogs from Itapema City, Santa Catarina

Foram estudadas amostras fecais de cães apreendidos em logradouros públicos, pela vigilância sanitária de Itapema, SC. De 158 amostras examinadas, 121 (76,6%) foram positivas, com uma prevalência maior para Ancylostoma spp (70,9%), seguida por Toxocara canis (14,5%), Trichuris vulpis (13,9%), Isospora spp. (6,3%) e Dipylidium caninum (1,9%).<br>Samples of feces from dogs seized by the health surveillance program of Itapema city, SC, were studied. From 158 samples examined 121 (76.6%) were positive, with a prevalence of Ancylostoma spp (70.9%), followed by Toxocara canis (14.5%), Trichuris vulpis (13.9%), Isospora spp (6.3%) and Dipylidium caninum (1.9%)

Efeitos do exercício físico durante a hemodiálise em indivíduos com insuficiência renal crônica: uma revisão Effects of physical exercise during hemodialysis in patients with chronic renal insufficiency: a literature review

As principais alterações observadas em indivíduos com insuficiência renal crônica são anemia, hipertensão arterial sistêmica e atrofia muscular, que levam à baixa capacidade aeróbica e perda de força muscular. Assim, parte do tratamento desses indivíduos consiste em programas de exercício físico. O objetivo desta revisão da literatura foi documentar os efeitos agudos e as adaptações crônicas, cardiovasculares e musculares em indivíduos no estágio final da doença renal, submetidos a programas de exercício físico durante a hemodiálise. Foram selecionados artigos científicos nas bases eletrônicas Medline, Lilacs e PEDro, assim como no acervo de periódicos da biblioteca da Faculdade de Medicina da UFMG. Foram analisados 13 artigos envolvendo exercício físico aeróbico associado ou não a fortalecimento muscular durante a hemodiálise, variando quanto à intensidade, freqüência e duração da intervenção. A maioria demonstrou que exercícios físicos realizados durante a hemodiálise promovem efeitos benéficos na melhora da capacidade aeróbica, força muscular e no controle dos fatores de risco cardiovasculares, auxiliando a remoção dos solutos durante a hemodiálise. Embora o tema seja ainda pouco explorado, a literatura disponível evidencia benefícios do exercício durante a hemodiálise sobre a capacidade aeróbica e força muscular dos pacientes.<br>Main alterations seen in patients with chronic renal insufficiency are anemia, systemic arterial hypertension, and muscular atrophy, which lead to low aerobic capacity and loss of muscle strength. Hence part of these patients treatment consists in programs of physical exercise. The purpose of this literature review was to assess muscle and cardiovascular acute effects and chronic adaptations in end-stage renal disease patients submitted to physical exercise during hemodialysis. After browsing through Medline, Lilacs and PEDro databases, as well as searching for periodic articles at the UFMG Medicine School library, 13 articles were selected, related to aerobic exercise associated or not to muscle strengthening during hemodialysis. Studies varied as to exercise intensity, frequency and duration. Most articles found that physical exercise performed during hemodialysis favoured better aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and control of cardiovascular risk factors, helping solute removal during hemodialysis. Though the subject is scarcely studied, available literature shows that exercises during hemodialysis are beneficial to patients' aerobic capacity and muscle strength