Apolipoprotein M gene polymorphisms in childhood-onset type 1 diabetes in southern Brazil.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), associated with autoimmune destruction of pancreatic ß cells, is observed in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the potential association of the apolipoprotein M (APOM) polymorphisms rs707921, rs805264, rs805296, rs805297, and rs9404941 in childhood-onset T1DM (n = 144) and compared them to those in healthy (mostly Euro-Brazilian) children (n = 168). METHODS: This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Parana (CAAE 24676613.6.0000.0102). Genotyping was performed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (rs805296 and rs9404941) and TaqMan probes (rs707921, rs805264, and rs805297). RESULTS: All polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the codominant model, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in genotype and allele frequencies between healthy controls and children with T1DM. The minor allele frequencies (95% CI) for healthy subjects were rs707921 (A, 10.7%; 7-14%), rs805264 (A, 6.5%; 4-9%), rs805296 (C, 3.6%; 2-6%), rs805297 (A, 22.6%; 22-31%), and rs9404941 (C, 2.7%; 1-4%). The frequencies of the rs805297 A allele and rs805296 C allele were similar to those of other Caucasian populations; both the rs707921 and rs805264 A alleles were similar to American and Latin American populations, whereas that of the rs9404941 C allele was lower than that observed in the Caucasian and Asian populations. CONCLUSIONS: Haplotype analysis suggests that rs805297-C, rs9404941-T, rs805296-T, rs805264-G, and rs707921-C conferred risk (OR: 4.25; 95% CI: 1.81-10.1) to childhood-onset T1DM in the Euro-Brazilian population.

Heteroleptic oxidovanadium(IV)-malate complex improves glucose uptake in HepG2 and enhances insulin action in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus, a complex and heterogeneous disease associated with hyperglycemia, is a leading cause of mortality and reduces life expectancy. Vanadium complexes have been studied for the treatment of diabetes. The effect of complex [VO(bpy)(mal)]·H2O (complex A) was evaluated in a human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line and in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Wistar rats conditioned in seven groups with different treatments (n = 10 animals per group). Electron paramagnetic resonance and 51V NMR analyses of complex A in high-glucose Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) revealed the oxidation and hydrolysis of the oxidovanadium(IV) complex over a period of 24 h at 37 °C to give low-nuclearity vanadates "V1" (H2VO4-), "V2" (H2V2O72-), and "V4" (V4O124-). In HepG2 cells, complex A exhibited low cytotoxic effects at concentrations 2.5 to 7.5 µmol L-1 (IC50 10.53 µmol L-1) and increased glucose uptake (2-NBDG) up to 93%, an effect similar to insulin. In STZ-induced diabetic rats, complex A at 10 and 30 mg kg-1 administered by oral gavage for 12 days did not affect the animals, suggesting low toxicity or metabolic impairment during the experimental period. Compared to insulin treatment alone, complex A (30 mg kg-1) in association with insulin was found to improve glycemia (30.6 ± 6.3 mmol L-1 vs. 21.1 ± 8.6 mmol L-1, respectively; p = 0.002), resulting in approximately 30% additional reduction in glycemia. The insulin-enhancing effect of complex A was associated with low toxicity and was achieved via oral administration, suggesting the potential of complex A as a promising candidate for the adjuvant treatment of diabetes.

Histórico das tentativas de liberação da venda de medicamentos em estabelecimentos leigos no Brasil a partir da implantação do Plano Real / Description of attempts to obtain approval for selling medications at ordinary Brazilian establishments after the introduction of the Real Economic Stabilization Plan

Apesar de ilegal, a prática da venda de medicamentos em locais inadequados e não permitidos por lei, como armazéns e supermercados, sempre foi bastante comum no Brasil. A Medida Provisória (MP) 592/94, que implantou o Plano Real, liberou a venda de medicamentos anódinos nestes estabelecimentos; porém, este artigo foi suprimido quando a mesma foi convertida na Lei 9.069/95. A partir daí, iniciou-se uma série de tentativas de legalização deste comércio, que só se encerraram em 2004, com a proibição pelo STJ de tal comercialização. Mesmo assim, o comércio continua a ocorrer de forma ilegal. Este trabalho apresenta um histórico dos acontecimentos compreendidos entre 1994 e 2006, visando fornecer um material de atualização ao farmacêutico, acadêmicos e pesquisadores da área, devido à escassez de material bibliográfico sobre este tema específico.

Although not legal, the practice of selling medications through unlicensed outlets such as stores and supermarkets has long been common in Brazil. Introducing the Real Economic Stabilization Plan, Provisional Measure 592/94 allowed the sale of non-prescription medications (anodynes) in such establishments. However, this item was suppressed when this Provisional Measure was enacted as Law N° 9,069/95. Since then, other attempts have been made to establish this type of trade in medications, forbidden in 2004 through a decision handed down by the Superior Court of Justice. Nevertheless, this unlawful trade in medications still continues. Due to the scarcity of publications on this specific issue, this paper offers an updated overview for druggists, pharmacists, academics and researchers, describing the events that took place between 1994 and 2006.

[Description of attempts to obtain approval for selling medications at ordinary Brazilian establishments after the introduction of the Real Economic Stabilization Plan]. / Histórico das tentativas de liberação da venda de medicamentos em estabelecimentos leigos no Brasil a partir da implantação do Plano Real.

Although not legal, the practice of selling medications through unlicensed outlets such as stores and supermarkets has long been common in Brazil. Introducing the Real Economic Stabilization Plan, Provisional Measure 592/94 allowed the sale of non-prescription medications (anodynes) in such establishments. However, this item was suppressed when this Provisional Measure was enacted as Law N masculine 9,069/95. Since then, other attempts have been made to establish this type of trade in medications, forbidden in 2004 through a decision handed down by the Superior Court of Justice. Nevertheless, this unlawful trade in medications still continues. Due to the scarcity of publications on this specific issue, this paper offers an updated overview for druggists, pharmacists, academics and researchers, describing the events that took place between 1994 and 2006.