Profile of the use of legal and illegal drugs by college students at a private university / Perfil da utilização de drogas lícitas e ilícitas por universitários de uma instituição privada / Perfil de la utilización de drogas lícitas e ilícitas por universitarios de una institución privada

The study investigated the prevalence of legal and/or illegal drugs among students enrolled in Health Sciences Courses (HSC) at a university located in the Quixadá municipality, State of Ceará. The study was conducted through a questionnaire administered to 345 HSC students. The resulting profile was of single white females, ages 16-20 years old, unemployed, with a household income of 2-4 minimum wage salaries. The vast majority does not use any legal or illegal drugs. However, 39 and 16% use alcohol and cocaine, especially for the high, and mainly because of peer pressure during social events. The majority of the students self-medicate. The study suggests that alcohol and drug use within this population is alarming and that new surveys need to be conducted.

O trabalho investigou a prevalência do uso de drogas lícitas e/ou ilícitas entre os universitários dos Cursos de Ciências da Saúde de uma instituição de ensino superior do município de Quixadá, Ceará. O estudo foi realizado por meio de um questionário aplicado entre 345 universitários dos Cursos de Ciências da Saúde em questão. O perfil dos universitários estudados é de mulheres na faixa etária de 16 a 20 anos, solteiras, brancas, que não exerciam atividade remunerada, com renda familiar de 2 a 4 salários-mínimos. A grande maioria não fazia uso de nenhuma droga lícita ou ilícita. Entretanto, entre 39 e 16% fazia uso do álcool e da cocaína, respectivamente, devido, em especial, à sensação de alegria, e, principalmente, pela influência dos amigos em eventos sociais. A maioria dos universitários pratica automedicação. O estudo realizado sugere que o problema de uso de drogas e álcool nessa população é preocupante e novos levantamentos precisam ser realizados.

El trabajo investigó la superioridad del uso de drogas lícitas y/o ilícitas entre los universitarios de los Cursos de Ciencias de la Salud (CCS) de una institución de enseñanza superiora del municipio de Quixadá, Ceará. El estudio fue realizado por medio de un cuestionario aplicado entre 345 universitarios del CCS en cuestión. El perfil de los universitarios estudiados es de mujeres con banda etaria de 16 a 20 años, solteras, blancas, que no ejercen actividad remunerada con renta familiar de 2 a 4 salarios mínimos. La grande mayoría no hace uso de ninguna droga lícita o ilícita. Mientras, 39 y 16% hace uso del alcohol y de la cocaína, respectivamente, debido en especial a la sensación de alegría, y principalmente por la influencia de los amigos en eventos sociales. La mayoría de los universitarios practica automedicación. El estudio realizado sugiere que el problema de uso de drogas y alcohol en esa población es preocupante y nuevos levantamientos necesitan ser realizados.

Lipoic acid effects on glutamate and taurine concentrations in rat hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced seizures.

Pilocarpine-induced seizures can be mediated by increases in oxidative stress and by cerebral amino acid changes. The present research suggests that antioxidant compounds may afford some level of neuroprotection against the neurotoxicity of seizures in cellular level. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the lipoic acid (LA) effects in glutamate and taurine contents in rat hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced seizures. Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 0.9% saline (Control), pilocarpine (400 mg/kg, Pilocarpine), LA (10 mg/kg, LA), and the association of LA (10 mg/kg) plus pilocarpine (400 mg/kg), that was injected 30 min before of administration of LA (LA plus pilocarpine). Animals were observed during 24 h. The amino acid concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). In pilocarpine group, it was observed a significant increase in glutamate content (37%) and a decrease in taurine level (18%) in rat hippocampus, when compared to control group. Antioxidant pretreatment significantly reduced the glutamate level (28%) and augmented taurine content (32%) in rat hippocampus, when compared to pilocarpine group. Our findings strongly support amino acid changes in hippocampus during seizures induced by pilocarpine, and suggest that glutamate-induced brain damage plays a crucial role in pathogenic consequences of seizures, and imply that strong protective effect could be achieved using lipoic acid through the release or decrease in metabolization rate of taurine amino acid during seizures.

Alterations on monoamines concentration in rat hippocampus produced by lipoic acid.

The purposes of the present study were to verify monoamines (dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT)), and their metabolites (3,4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)) contents in rat hippocampus after lipoic acid (LA) administration. Wistar rats were treated with 0.9% saline (i.p., control group) and LA (10, 20 or 30 mg/kg, i.p., LA10, LA20 and LA30 groups, respectively). After the treatments all groups were observed for 24 h. The NE and DA levels were increased only in 20 mg/kg dose of LA in rat hippocampus. Serotonin content and in their metabolite 5-HIAA levels was decreased in same dose of LA. On the other hand, in DOPAC and HVA levels did not show any significant change. The alterations in hippocampal monoamines can be suggested as a possible of brain mechanism of action from this antioxidant. The outcome of the study may have therapeutic implications in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Alterations on monoamines concentration in rat hippocampus produced by lipoic acid / Alterações na concentração de monoaminas no hipocampo de ratos produzidas pelo ácido lipóico

The purposes of the present study were to verify monoamines (dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT)), and their metabolites (3,4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)) contents in rat hippocampus after lipoic acid (LA) administration. Wistar rats were treated with 0.9 percent saline (i.p., control group) and LA (10, 20 or 30 mg/kg, i.p., LA10, LA20 and LA30 groups, respectively). After the treatments all groups were observed for 24 h. The NE and DA levels were increased only in 20 mg/kg dose of LA in rat hippocampus. Serotonin content and in their metabolite 5-HIAA levels was decreased in same dose of LA. On the other hand, in DOPAC and HVA levels did not show any significant change. The alterations in hippocampal monoamines can be suggested as a possible of brain mechanism of action from this antioxidant. The outcome of the study may have therapeutic implications in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a concentração das monoaminas (dopamina (DA), norepinefrina (NA), serotonina (5-HT)), e seus metabólitos (ácido 3,4-hidroxifenil (DOPAC), ácido homovanílico (HVA) e 5 ácido hydroxiindolacético (5-HIAA)) no hipocampo de ratos após administração do ácido lipóico (AL). Ratos Wistar foram tratados com solução salina 0,9 por cento (i.p., grupo controle) e AL (10, 20 ou 30 mg/kg, i.p., AL10, AL20 e AL30 grupos, respectivamente). Após os tratamentos todos os grupos foram observados durante 24 h. O conteúdo de DA no hipocampo de ratos foi aumentado apenas com AL na dose de 20 mg/kg dose. A concentração de serotonina e do seu metabólito 5-HIAA também foi diminuída com esta dose de AL. Por outro lado, os níveis de DOPAC e de HVA não mostrram nenhuma mudança significativa. As alterações na concentração das monoaminas hipocampais podem ser sugeridas como um possível mecanismo de ação cerebral deste antioxidante. O resultado do estudo pode ter implicações terapêuticas no tratamento de doenças neurodegenerativas.