Omeprazole nanoparticles suspension: Development of a stable liquid formulation with a view to pediatric administration.

Omeprazole (OME) is often used to treat disorders associated with gastric hypersecretion in children but a liquid pediatric formulation of this medicine is not currently available. The aim of this study is to develop OME loaded nanoparticles with a view to the obtention of a liquid pharmaceutical dosage form. Eudragit® RS100 was selected as the skeleton material in the inner core and pH-sensitive Eudragit® L100-55 was used as the outer coating of the nanoparticles prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. Pharmacological activity was evaluated by induction of ethanol ulcers in mice. The OME nanoparticles exhibited mean diameters of 174 nm (±17), polydispersity index of 0.229 (±0.01), zeta potential values of -13 mV (±2.60) and encapsulation efficiency of 68.1%. The in vivo pharmacological assessment showed the ability of nanoparticles to protect mice stomach against ulcer formation. The prepared suspension of OME nanoparticles represents effective therapeutic strategy in a liquid pharmaceutical form with the possibility of pediatric administration.

Análise da qualidade de prescrições de antimicrobianos comercializados em uma drogaria da Região Norte do Rio Grande do Sul / Analysis of the quality of the prescriptions for antimicrobials marketed in a drugstore in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul

como: uso abusivo de antimicrobianos, automedicação, falta de conhecimento e/ou descumprimento por parte dos profissionais envolvidos no tratamento. Frente a isso, a Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) criou a Resolução de Diretoria Colegiada (RDC) 20/2011 com a finalidade de facilitar a dispensação e controlar o consumo de antimicrobianos. O presente estudo tem a finalidade de analisar prescrições de antimicrobianos orais do ano de 2014 em uma drogaria no município de Erechim-RS, avaliando a sazonalidade climática, a prescrição pela Denominação Comum Brasileira (DCB) e a adequação das prescrições frente a RDC 20/2011. O total de prescrições analisadas foi de 2761. O antimicrobiano mais prescrito foi a Amoxacilina sendo prescrita 1069 vezes, destas 630 estavam em associação com Ácido Clavulânico. Apenas 36,28% das prescrições (1002) estavam com os antimicrobianos descritos pela DCB. Do total de prescrições, 97,57% das mesmas não estavam de acordo com a RDC 20/2011, apresentando a falta de vários itens como idade, sexo, DCB, nome completo do paciente, entre outros. É necessário elaborar mais estudos, campanhas de conscientização tanto para pacientes como para profissionais envolvidos no tratamento, e ter um maior controle tanto na prescrição como na dispensação destes medicamentos.

Avaliação dos níveis séricos de colesterol total em indivíduos atendidos em um laboratório universitário / Assessment of total cholesterol levels in individuals attended in a university laboratory

Objetivo: Avaliar os níveis séricos de colesterol total em indivíduos atendidos em um laboratório universitário de análises clínicas, localizado em Erechim, RS. Métodos: Níveis de colesterol total foram obtidos a partir de uma análise retrospectiva transversal com indivíduos de ambos os sexos e idade entre 20-79 anos, entre 2010 a 2013. Resultados: Os níveis de colesterol total de 1.475 pacientes, incluindo 479 homens e 996 mulheres, foram analisados. Na população feminina, 46,89% das participantes apresentaram valores normais de colesterol total, e este índice para a população masculina correspondeu a 50,31%. Foi encontrada uma correlação significativa entre a idade e o colesterol total nos participantes do sexo feminino (p=0,019). Em ambos os sexos foi observado um aumento nos níveis de colesterol total durante as primeiras décadas de vida, seguido por estabilização a partir da quinta e sexta décadas de vida, respectivamente para homens e mulheres. Conclusão: A prevalência de hipercolesterolemia foi elevada na população do estudo, o que indica a necessidade de apropriadas estratégias de intervenção para profilaxia de risco cardiovascular

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia amongadults attended in a university laboratory, localized in Erechim/RS. Methods: Cholesterol total levels were obtained from s transversal retrospective analysis with individuals of both genders and age between 20-79 years, from 2010 to 2013. Results: The total cholesterol levels of 1.475 patients, including 479 men and 996 women were analyzed. In female gender 46.89% of participants showed normal total cholesterol levels, and this value in masculine population corresponded to 50.31%. Was found a significantly correlation between age and total cholesterol in female participants (p=0.019). In both genders was observed a increase in total cholesterol levels during the first life decades, followed by stabilization from fifth and sixth life decade, respectively for men and women. Conclusion: The prevalence hypercholesterolemia was high in study population, which necessitates appropriate intervention strategies to prevent cardiovascular risk.

Circulating Double-Stranded DNA in Plasma of Hemodialysis Patients and its Association with Iron Stores.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by oxidative stress, and most of the adverse effects of CKD are mediated by iron-catalyzed ROS generation. The DNA, in particular, is more susceptible to attack by ROS than other proteins and membrane lipids. Considering the evidence on the relationship between CKD, iron metabolism, and DNA damage, the purpose of this study was to evaluate cell-free DNA in the plasma of HD patients and its association with iron status biomarkers and kidney function. METHODS: Measurements of the circulating cell-free DNA in plasma, iron, ferritin, transferrin and other biochemical parameters were performed in 40 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients and 40 healthy controls. Blood samples were also collected 1 hour before and 1 hour after the HD session to check whether a single HD session would be able to promote an increase in cell-free DNA in the plasma. RESULTS: Cell-free DNA in plasma was significantly increased in HD patients in comparison with healthy controls (p = 0.0017), and significant correlations were observed between cell-free DNA and GFR and ferritin. Our findings showed that a single HD session was not able to promote an increase in cell-free DNA. It was reported that increased ferritin levels and reduced GFR were associated with higher circulating cell-free DNA. CONCLUSIONS: The HD patients presented increased ceIl-free DNA. In addition, the increase of ferritin levels and the decrease of GFR were associated with DNA damage. We also observed that a single HD session was not able to promote an increase in cell-free DNA.

Evaluation of ischemia-modified albumin in anemia associated to chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent, with increasing numbers of patients affected by the disease world-wide, and anemia is a common finding in patients with CKD. Anemia impacts negatively on cardiovascular disease, exercise capacity, and quality of life, resulting in significant mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of ischemia-modified albumin and lactate in patients with established anemia associated with CKD and its correlations with hemoglobin levels. Hematocrit, hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, albumin, creatinine, lactate, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) were measured in 17 patients with established anemia associated to CKD and 19 controls by standard methods. The results of hematocrit, hemoglobin, iron, and albumin were lower in the anemia group than in the control group. Ferritin, creatinine, and lactate levels were higher in anemia of the CKD group than the control group. IMA increase in the anemia group (0.8115+/-0.1304 absorbance units [ABSU]) compared to control (0.4951+/-0.0393 ABSU). Significant correlations between IMA and lactate, IMA and hemoglobin, IMA and creatinine, and hemoglobin and lactate were observed. IMA and lactate increase during anemia and this elevation could be associated to hypoxia due to low hemoglobin levels. However, our data suggest that lactate is more sensitive to anemia compared to IMA.