LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE REVERSES FACIAL MECHANICAL ALLODYNIA IN A RAT MODEL OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a type of neuropathic pain characterized by intense pain; although anticonvulsants are used as an option to relieve pain, adverse side effects can decrease patient adherence. In this context, a low dose of naltrexone is effective in relieving pain in other pain conditions. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of low-dose naltrexone on facial mechanical allodynia in a rat model of TN, as well as its effect(s) on biomarkers in the central nervous system (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], interleukin [IL]-10, and toll-like receptor-4). Fifty-nine adult male Wistar rats (CEUA-HCPA#2017-0575) were allocated to following groups: control; sham-pain + vehicle; sham-pain + carbamazepine (100 mg/kg); sham-pain + naltrexone (0.5 mg/kg); pain + vehicle; pain + carbamazepine; and pain + naltrexone. TN was induced using chronic constriction of the infraorbital nerve. Facial allodynia was assessed using von Frey test. Drugs were administered by gavage 14 days after surgery for 10 days. At baseline, the mechanical threshold was similar between groups (P > 0.05; generalized estimating equation). Seven days after surgery, facial allodynia was observed in sham-TN and pain-TN groups (P < 0.05). Fourteen days after surgery, only pain-TN groups exhibited facial allodynia. The first dose of low-dose naltrexone or carbamazepine partially reversed facial allodynia. After 10 days of treatment, both drugs completely reversed it. Spinal cord levels of BDNF and IL-10 were modulated by low-dose naltrexone. Thus, low-dose naltrexone may be suitable to relieve TN; however, the exact mechanisms need to be clarified.

Questões fonoaudiológicas e odontológicas na percepção de idosos que acessam serviços do Sistema Único de Saúde / Speech therapy and oral health issues in the perception of the older adults that access the Unified Health System

RESUMO: Modelo de estudo: Estudo observacional e transversal com dados coletados a partir de questionários aplicados aos idosos em visitas domiciliares, sobre acesso a serviços de saúde. Objetivo: Analisar a percepção de idosos independentes sobre questões fonoaudiológicas e odontológicas nos serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde do Sistema Único de Saúde. Métodos: Foram analisadas frequências absolutas das variáveis de estudo relacionadas a questões fonoaudiológicas e odontológicas através do teste do Qui-quadrado e Teste Exato-de-Fisher, ambos com nível de 0,05% de significância. Resultados: Os idosos entrevistados foram predominantemente mulheres (76,5%), cor branca (73,5%), com no mínimo ensino médio de escolaridade (64,7%). Destes idosos, 92,6% afirmaram não possuir dificuldades para se alimentar, apesar de 51,5% nunca ter feito uma avaliação fonoaudiológica. Houve maior proporção indicando que os idosos não necessitaram de consulta com fonoaudióloga (73,5%). Quanto à utilização de serviços da atenção primária, 68,7% utilizavam o sistema público e desses, 94,1% autoperceberam sua condição de saúde bucal como regular/ruim. Conclusão: Sugere-se o fortalecimento do cuidado dos idosos de forma interdisciplinar e integral, a fim de abranger as necessidades e especificidades dessa população. A baixa percepção da importância do cuidado sugere a necessidade do fortalecimento dos serviços de fonoaudiologia para a saúde da população idosa brasileira. (AU)

ABSTRACT: Study design: Cross-sectional study with data collected from questionnaires applied to older adults at domiciliary visits regarding access to health services. Objective: Analyzing the perception of independent elderly about speech-language and dental issues in the Primary Health Care Services of the Unified Health System/SUS. Methods: Absolute frequencies of the study variables related to speech-language and dental questions were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact Test, both with a 0.05% significance level. Results: The elderly interviewed were predominantly women (76.5%), white (73.5%), with at least high school education (64.7%). Of these, 92.6% said they had no difficulty in eating, although 51.5% never had a speech therapist evaluation. There was also a higher proportion indicating that the elderly did not need an appointment with the speech therapist (73.5%). Regarding the use of primary care services, 68.7% used the public system, and of these, 94.1% self-perceived their oral health condition as fair/poor. Conclusion: It is suggested to strengthen the care of the elderly in an interdisciplinary and integral way to cover the needs and specificities of this population. The low perception of the importance of care suggests the need for strengthening speech therapy services for the health of the elderly Brazilian population. (AU)