Enhancing the antischistosomal activity of carvacryl acetate using nanoemulsion.

Aim: To formulate a carvacryl acetate nanoemulsion (CANE) and test its antischistosomal activity. Materials & methods: CANE was prepared and tested in vitro on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms and both human and animal cell lines. Next, CANE was administered orally to mice infected with either a prepatent infection or a patent infection of S. mansoni. Results: CANE was stable during 90 days of analysis. CANE showed in vitro anthelmintic activity, and no cytotoxic effects were observed. In vivo, CANE was more effective than the free compounds in reducing worm burden and egg production. Treatment with CANE was more effective for prepatent infections than praziquantel. Conclusion: CANE improves antiparasitic properties and may be a promising delivery system for schistosomiasis treatment.

Synthesis, Thermal Analysis, Spectroscopic Properties, and Degradation Process of Tutton Salts Doped with AgNO3 or H3BO3.

In this work, we synthesized and studied the spectroscopic properties of (NH4)2(SO4)2Y(H2O)6 (Y = Ni, Mg) crystals doped with AgNO3 or H3BO3. These crystals constitute a series of hexahydrated salts known as Tutton salts. We investigated the influence of dopants on the vibrational modes of the tetrahedral ligands NH4 and SO4, octahedral complexes Mg(H2O)6 and Ni(H2O)6, and H2O molecules present in these crystals through Raman and infrared spectroscopies. We were able to identify bands that are attributed to the presence of Ag and B dopants, as well as band shifts caused by the presence of these dopants in the crystal lattice. A detailed study of the crystal degradation processes was performed by thermogravimetric measurements, where there was an increase in the initial temperature of crystal degradation due to the presence of dopants in the crystal lattice. Raman spectroscopy of the crystal residues after the thermogravimetric measurements helped us to elucidate the degradation processes occurring after the crystal pyrolysis process.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Carvacrol-Loaded Nanoemulsion in a Mouse Model of Schistosomiasis.

Since praziquantel is the only drug available to treat schistosomiasis, a neglected parasitic disease that affects more than 240 million people worldwide, there is an urgent demand for new antischistosomal agents. Natural compound-loaded nanoparticles have recently emerged as a promising alternative for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Carvacrol is an antimicrobial monoterpene present in the essential oil extracted from several plants, especially oregano (Origanum vulgare). In this study, a carvacrol nanoemulsion (CVNE) was prepared, characterized, and administered orally (200 mg/kg) in a mouse infected with either immature (prepatent infection) or adult (patent infection) Schistosoma mansoni. For comparison, data obtained with an unloaded nanoemulsion (blank formulation), free carvacrol, and the drug of reference praziquantel are also presented. CVNE was more effective than free carvacrol in reducing the worm burden and egg production in both patent and prepatent infections. Favorably, CVNE had a high effect in terms of reducing the number of worms and eggs (85%-90%) compared with praziquantel (∼30%) in prepatent infection. In tandem, carvacrol-loaded nanoemulsion markedly improved antischistosomal activity, showing efficiency in reducing worm and egg burden, and thus it may be a promising delivery system for the treatment of schistosomiasis.

Positive impact of a clinical goal-directed protocol on reducing cardiac arrests during potential brain-dead donor maintenance.

BACKGROUND: The disproportion between the large organ demand and the low number of transplantations performed represents a serious public health problem worldwide. Reducing the loss of transplantable organs from deceased potential donors as a function of cardiac arrest (CA) may contribute to an increase in organ donations. Our purpose was to test the hypothesis that a goal-directed protocol to guide the management of deceased donors may reduce the losses of potential brain-dead donors (PBDDs) due to CA. METHODS: The quality improvement project included 27 hospitals that reported deceased donors prospectively to the Transplant Center of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. All deceased donors reported prospectively between May 2012 and April 2014 were analyzed. Hospitals were encouraged to use the VIP approach checklist during the management of PBDDs. The checklist was composed of the following goals: protocol duration 12-24 hours, temperature > 35 °C, mean arterial pressure ≥ 65 mmHg, diuresis 1-4 ml/kg/h, corticosteroids, vasopressin, tidal volume 6-8 ml/kg, positive end-expiratory pressure 8-10 cmH2O, sodium < 150 mEq/L, and glycemia < 180 mg/dl. A logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of CA. RESULTS: There were 726 PBDD notifications, of which 324 (44.6) were actual donors, 141 (19.4 %) CAs, 226 (31.1 %) family refusals, and 35 (4.8 %) contraindications. Factors associated with CA reduction included use of the checklist (odds ratio (OR) 0.43, p < 0.001), maintenance performed inside the ICU (OR 0.49, p = 0.013), and vasopressin administration (OR 0.56, p = 0.04). More than three interventions had association with less CAs (OR 0.19, p < 0.001). After 24 months, CAs decreased from 27.3 % to 14.6 % (p = 0.002), reaching 12.1 % in the following two 4-month periods (p < 0.001). Simultaneous increases in organ recovered per donor and in actual donors were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A quality improvement program based on education and the use of a goal checklist for the management of potential donors inside the ICU is strongly associated with a decrease in donor losses and an increase in organs recovered per donor.

Gravimetric method for the determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations.

A gravimetric method for the determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations was developed. Diclofenac is precipitated from aqueous solution with copper(II) acetate in pH 5.3 (acetic acid/acetate buffer). Sample aliquots had approximately the same quantity of the drug content in tablets (50 mg) or in ampules (75 mg). The observed standard deviation was about +/- 2 mg; therefore, the relative standard deviation (RSD) was approximately 4% for tablet and 3% for ampule preparations. The results were compared with those obtained with the liquid chromatography method recommended in the United States Pharmacopoeia using the statistical Student's t-test. Complete agreement was observed. It is possible to obtain more precise results using higher aliquots, for example 200 mg, in which case the RSD falls to 1%. This gravimetric method, contrary to what is expected for this kind of procedure, is relatively fast and simple to perform. The main advantage is the absolute character of the gravimetric analysis.