[Evaluation of depressive symptoms and resilience in patients on pharmacotherapeutic follow-up]. / Evaluación de síntomas depresivos y resiliencia en pacientes bajo seguimiento farmacoterapéutico.

This study aimed to carry out the pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of patients with depression and to assess its impact on the resilience of the patients. Patients were followed-up for 8 months. The pharmacist evaluated depressive symptoms, resilience, and the need for pharmaceutical intervention. The measurement tools used were the Dader method, PHQ-9, and a resilience scale. Data were analysed using BioStat 5.0 software and the performing of the Wilcoxon and Pearson correlation tests. There was a reduction in the rate of depressive symptoms from 12.9 to 5.2 (P<.0001), and an increase in the resilience score from 112.4 to 149.0 (P<.0001). Pharmaceutical interventions were made to resolve the drug related problems in the form of oral communication between pharmacist-patient or pharmacist-patient-doctor. The pharmaceutical care was effective in decreasing depression and contributed to the increased resilience of patients.

Contamination from an affluent of Furnas reservoir by trace metals.

This study aims to determine concentrations and characterize trace metals distribution in an affluent of Furnas reservoir, Alfenas-MG. Water and sediment samples were taken monthly, 2010/10-2011/07 in five sites of Córrego do Pântano for subsequent determination of Pb, Cd and Zn levels by chemical analysis. The stream studied is in disagreement with Brazilian legislation for Class II water bodies (CONAMA 357). The highlights are the unsuitable concentrations of Pb for human consumption, according to Ministry of Health 2914 decree, providing risk for population.

Efeito alelopático de folhas de bamburral [Hyptis suaveolens (L. ) Poit] sobre a germinação de sementes de sorgo (Sorghum vulgare Pers. ), rabanete (Raphanus sativus L. ) e alface (Lactuca sativa L. ) / Allelopathic effects of leaves of "bamburral" [Hyptis suaveolens (L. ) Poit] on the germination of seeds of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers. ), radish (Raphanus sativus L. ) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. )

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi à verificação do efeito alelopático de Hyptis. suaveolens na germinação de sorgo, alface e rabanete, bem como, a comprovação da existência de compostos com potencial alelopático. Sementes de sorgo, alface e rabanete foram semeadas em substrato constituído de areia, terra e adubo orgânico contendo folhas de H. suaveolens. As análises da germinação foram feitas considerando a protrusão da radícula para o término do evento germinativo. Foi calculado o IVG (índice de velocidade de germinação) e %G (porcentagem de germinação). Os resultados mostraram que sorgo e a alface foram mais susceptíveis ao potencial alelopático de H. suaveolens, sendo que para o rabanete foi observado um efeito benéfico. Entre os tratamentos, o substrato esterilizado e não esterilizado mostraram diferenças entre si. A análise cromatográfica do óleo essencial presente nas folhas de H. suaveolens revelou a presença de compostos com potencial alelopático. Portanto, H. suaveolens, pode apresentar efeito alelopático positivo no IVG de sementes de rabanete e a presença de microorganismos pode ser necessária para que esse efeito alelopático aconteça.

The aim of this study was to verify the allelopathic effect of H. suaveolens on the germination of sorghum, lettuce and radish, as well as to prove the existence of compounds with allelopathic potential. Seeds of sorghum, lettuce and radish were sown in substrate consisting of sand, soil and organic fertilizer containing leaves of H. suaveolens. The germination tests were performed considering the protrusion of the radicle for the conclusion of the germinative event. GSI (germination speed index) and G% (percentage of germination) were calculated. The results showed that sorghum and lettuce were more susceptible to the allelopathic potential of H. suaveolens, while for radishes a beneficial effect was observed. Between treatments, the sterilized and unsterilized substrate showed differences. The chromatographic analysis of essential oil present in the leaves of H. suaveolens revealed the presence of compounds with allelopathic potential. Therefore, H. suaveolens may have positive allelopathic effect on the GSI of radish seeds, and the presence of microorganisms may be necessary for such an allelopathic effect to occur.

A influência do acompanhamento farmacoterapêutico na adesão à terapia anti-hipertensiva e no grau de satisfação do paciente / Influence of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up on patient compliance and satisfaction with antihypertensive therapy

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi proporcionar o serviço de Acompanhamento Farmacoterapêutico (AFT) a pacientes hipertensos usuários da Farmácia Popular de Alfenas (MG), além de avaliar a adesão do usuário aos medicamentos antes e após o AFT e o grau de satisfação com o serviço prestado. O trabalho foi realizado com 27 pacientes de ambos os sexos e com faixa etária entre 40 e 70 anos ou mais. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupo controle e teste, ambos responderam ao questionário de adesão no início do estudo e, ao final, apenas os pacientes do grupo teste o fizeram. Os pacientes do grupo teste receberam Acompanhamento Farmacoterapêutico durante dez meses (2008) e, ao final desse período, responderam o questionário de satisfação pelo serviço. Um dos motivos mais importantes para a não adesão foi o esquecimento de administrar o medicamento (67% para ambos os grupos). Outros fatores, como a falta de informação sobre a doença e a não compreensão sobre como utilizar os medicamentos, foram sanados com a intervenção farmacêutica. Dos pacientes participantes desta pesquisa, 80% achavam importante o trabalho conjunto do farmacêutico com o médico e 100% disseram que continuariam a utilizar o serviço prestado e o indicariam a amigos e parentes. Os dados sugerem que as intervenções farmacêuticas foram efetivas no sentido de aumentar a adesão no grupo que recebeu AFt e que os pacientes ficaram satisfeitos com o serviço prestado.

This research was designed to provide a Pharmacotherapeutic Follow-up (PF) service to hypertensive patients who attend the Popular Pharmacy in Alfenas (Minas Gerais, Brazil) and to assess user adherence to medication before and after the PF and the degree of satisfaction with the service rendered. This study was carried out with 27 patients of both sexes, aged 40 years and above. The patients were divided into two groups, control and test; all patients answered the adherence questionnaire at the beginning of the study and, at the end, only those in the test group. The patients in the test group received PF for ten months (2008) and, at the end of this period, they were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with the service. One of the commonest reasons given for non-adherence to medication was forgetfulness (67% for both groups). Other problems, such as lack of information on the disease and poor understanding of how to take the medicines, were solved by pharmaceutical intervention. According to 80% of the patients involved, this teamwork between pharmacist and physician is important, and 100% reported they would continue to use the service and would recommend it to friends and relatives. The data suggest that pharmaceutical interventions were effective in improving adherence to medication among patients in the group that received PF and that the patients were satisfied with the service given.

Leishmanicidal activity of benzophenones and extracts from Garcinia brasiliensis Mart. fruits.

Infections by protozoans of the genus Leishmania are the major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials, which exert renal and cardiac toxicity. Thus, there is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments against leishmaniasis. The present study was designated to evaluate, by a bioguided assay, the leishmanicidal activity of extracts (hexane, ethyl-acetate and ethanolic) and molecules both obtained by means of extraction from pericarps of Garcinia brasiliensis fruits. The hexane extract presented the best activity on the extracellular (promastigotes) and intracellular (amastigotes) forms of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, when compared to the other extracts. Based on these findings, this extract was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography, affording nine fractions then resulting in three purified prenylated benzophenones - 7-epi-clusianone (1), garciniaphenone (2) and guttiferone-a (3). They showed significant activity on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, and little toxicity for mammalian cells. Structure-activity relationships were evaluated showing that the IC(50) value displayed is dependent of prenyl groups and phenolic hydroxyls number, and inversely proportional to the hydrophobicity. Our results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.