Inhibitory effect of proteinase K against dermatophyte biofilms: an alternative for increasing the antifungal effects of terbinafine and griseofulvin.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of proteinase K on mature biofilms of dermatophytes, by assays of metabolic activity and biomass. In addition, the proteinase K-terbinafine and proteinase K-griseofulvin interactions against these biofilms were investigated by the checkerboard assay and scanning electron and confocal microscopy. The biofilms exposed to 32 µg ml-1 of proteinase K had lower metabolic activity and biomass, by 39% and 38%, respectively. Drug interactions were synergistic, with proteinase K reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration of antifungals against dermatophyte biofilms at a concentration of 32 µg ml-1 combined with 128-256 µg ml-1 of terbinafine and griseofulvin. Microscopic images showed a reduction in biofilms exposed to proteinase K, proteinase K-terbinafine and proteinase K-griseofulvin combinations. These findings demonstrate that proteinase K has activity against biofilms of dermatophytes, and the interactions of proteinase K with terbinafine and griseofulvin improve the activity of drugs against mature dermatophyte biofilms.

Anti-inflammatory kaurane diterpenoids of Erythroxylum bezerrae.

Five unusual kaurane diterpenes, designated as bezerraditerpenes A-E (1-5), along with six known ones (6-11), were isolated from the hexane extract of the stems of Erythroxylum bezerrae. Their structures were elucidated based on the interpretation of the NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The anti-inflammatory potential of the diterpenes 1-11 was screened through cellular viability and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production on murine macrophage-like cells RAW 264.7. Diterpene 6 (cauren-6ß-ol) showed potent cytotoxicity and increased ability to inhibit NO production. Diterpenes 1 (bezerraditerpene A), 2 (bezerraditerpene B), and 8 (ent-kaur-16-ene-3ß,15ß-diol) exhibited the same significant anti-inflammatory activity with NO CI50 inhibition (3.21-3.76 µM) without cytotoxicity, in addition to decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

Análise do uso de medicamentos psicotrópicos no sistema penitenciário do Estado do Ceará / Analysis of the Use of Psychotropic Medications in the Penitentiary System of the State of Ceará / Análisis del Uso de Medicamentos Psicotrópicos en el Sistema Penitenciario del Estado de Ceará

Objetivo: Avaliar a utilização de medicamentos psicotrópicos no sistema penitenciário. Metodologia: Os dados foram obtidos através de levantamento prospectivo, observacional, quantitativo e descritivo. Foram analisados 30 prontuários de indivíduos condenados por sentença judicial, coletados no Instituto Psiquiátrico Governador Stênio Gomes localizado no município de Itaitinga-CE no período de julho a setembro de 2012. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisas da Universidade de Fortaleza sob parecer n° 258/2011. Resultados: o perfil demográfico aponta para pacientes do gênero masculino, solteiro, analfabetos e fumantes. O medicamento mais utilizado no tratamento dos penitenciários com transtornos mentais foi o haloperidol (27,5%). Observou-se 58 potenciais interações medicamentosas (1,7 ± 1,85 interações por pacientes). Quanto à classificação das interações, 22,4% do tipo menor, 51,7% do tipo moderada e 24,13% do tipo maior, 74,10% com início demorado, 24,13% com início rápido, de acordo com a documentação na literatura 41,36% suspeita, 3,44% estabelecida e 53,43% possível. Dos transtornos mentais diagnosticados 40,1% apresentam Esquizofrenia paranoide, residual e não específica. A prática de homicídio foi atribuída a 29,91% dos apenados esquizofrênico, na modalidade qualificada. Outros delitos envolvendo a violência apresentaram estreita relação com este transtorno mental. Conclusão: Os pacientes esquizofrênicos foram responsáveis pela prática de homicídios em taxas maiores que aqueles que possuem outro transtorno mental e a conduta agressiva dos pacientes esquizofrênicos parece ter sido uma variável importante da prática de crimes envolvendo a violência.

Objective: To evaluate the use of psychotropic drugs in the penitentiary system. Methodology: Data were obtained through a prospective, observational, quantitative and descriptive survey. We analyzed 30 medical records of individuals convicted of a judicial sentence, collected at the Governador Stênio Gomes Psychiatric Institute located in the city of Itaitinga-CE from July to September 2012. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Fortaleza, No 258/2011. Results: The demographic profile points to male patients, single, illiterate and smokers. The most commonly used medication in the treatment of penitentiaries with mental disorders was haloperidol (27.5%). There were 58 potential drug interactions (1.7 ± 1.85 interactions per patient). As for the classification of the interactions, 22.4% of the minor type, 51.7% of the moderate type and 24.13% of the major type, 74.10% with a delayed onset, 24.13% with a rapid onset, according to documentation in the literature 41.36% suspected, 3.44% established and 53.43% possible. Of the mental disorders diagnosed, 40.1% present paranoid schizophrenia, residual and non-specific. The practice of homicide was attributed to 29.91% of the distressed schizophrenic, in the qualified modality. Other crimes involving violence were closely related to this mental disorder. Conclusion: The schizophrenic patients were responsible for homicide at rates higher than those who had another mental disorder and the aggressive behavior of schizophrenic patients seems to have been an important variable in the practice of crimes involving violence. Keywords: Psychotropic drugs. Mental disorders. Crime. Drug Interactions.

. Objetivo: Evaluar la utilización de medicamentos psicotrópicos en el sistema penitenciario. Metodología: los datos fueron obtenidos a través del levantamiento prospectivo, observacional, cuantitativo y descriptivo. Se analizaron 30 prontuarios de individuos condenados por sentencia judicial, recogidos en el Instituto Psiquiátrico Gobernador Stênio Gomes ubicado en el municipio de Itaitinga-CE en el período de julio a septiembre de 2012. El proyecto fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigaciones de la Universidad de Fortaleza bajo opinión n ° 258/2011. Resultados: El perfil demográfico apunta a pacientes del género masculino, soltero, analfabetos y fumadores. El medicamento más utilizado en el tratamiento de los penitenciarios con trastornos mentales fue el haloperidol (27,5%). Se observaron 58 posibles interacciones medicamentosas (1,7 ± 1,85 interacciones por pacientes). En cuanto a la clasificación de las interacciones, el 22,4% del tipo menor, el 51,7% del tipo moderado y el 24,13% del tipo mayor, el 74,10% con início demorado, el 24,13% con inicio rápido, documentación en la literatura 41,36% sospechosa, 3,44% establecida y 53,43% posible. De los trastornos mentales diagnosticados 40,1% presentan esquizofrenia paranoide, residual y no específica. La práctica de homicidio fue atribuida al 29,91% de los apenados esquizofrénicos, en la modalidad calificada. Otros delitos involucrando la violencia presentaron estrecha relación con este trastorno mental. Conclusión: Los pacientes esquizofrénicos fueron responsables de la práctica de homicidios en tasas mayores que aquellos que poseen otro trastorno mental y la conducta agresiva de los pacientes esquizofrénicos parece haber sido una variable importante de la práctica de crímenes involucrando la violencia.