SNPs from BCHE and DRD3 genes associated to cocaine abuse amongst violent individuals from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Violence and drug abuse are highly destructive phenomena found world-wide, especially in Brazil. They seem to rise proportionally to one another and possibly related. Additionally, genetics may also play a role in drug abuse. This study has focused on identifying the use of cocaine within postmortem cases arriving at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Sao Paulo as well as the presence of certain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to better understand one's susceptibility to abuse the drug. Both hair and blood samples have been extracted through a simple methanol overnight incubation or a rapid dilute-and-shoot method, respectively. The samples were then analyzed using an UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and genotyped through RT-PCR. Statistical analyses were performed via SPSS software. From 105 postmortem cases, 53% and 51% of the cases shown to be positive for cocaine in hair and blood, respectively. Genetic wise, a significant difference has been observed for SNP rs4263329 from the BCHE gene with higher frequencies of the genotypes A/G and G/G seen in cocaine users (OR=8.91; 95%CI=1.58-50.21; p=0.01). Likewise, also SNP rs6280 from the DRD3 gene presented a significant association, with both genotypes T/C and C/C being more frequent in users (OR=4.96; 95% CI=1.07-23.02; p=0.04). To conclude, a rather high proportion of cocaine has been found, which may suggest a connotation between the use of the drug and risky/violent behaviors. Additionally, significant associations were also found within two SNPs related to cocaine use, however, due to several inherent limitations, these must be confirmed.

Alcohol in combination with illicit drugs among fatal injuries in Sao Paulo, Brazil: An epidemiological study on the association between acute substance use and injury.

Injury deaths have a major impact on public health systems, particularly in the Latin American region; however, little is known about how different drugs, in combination or not with alcohol, interact with each injury type. We tested an epidemiological protocol for investigating alcohol and other drug acute use among fatally injured victims taking into account the injury context for all injury causes in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Blood alcohol and drug content were fully screened and confirmed following a probability sample selection of decedents (n = 365) during 19 consecutive months (2014-2015). Drug concentrations, including benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, and opioids were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Toxicology data were interpreted in combination with injury context retrieved from police records regarding cause, place of injury, and victims' criminal history. More than half of all fatally injured victims studied were under the influence of at least one substance (55.3%). Alcohol was the leading substance consumed before a fatal injury event (30.1%), followed by cocaine (21.9%) and cannabis (14%). Illicit drug use (cocaine and cannabis) comprised more than two thirds of all drug-related deaths. Alcohol-positive deaths are over-represented among road traffic injuries, while drug-positive deaths are more prevalent among intentional injuries. Victims who had previous criminal convictions were significantly more likely to have used illicit drugs compared to those who did not have a criminal background. We estimated that one in every two fatal injuries in the city of Sao Paulo is associated with acute substance use by the victim. The health burden attributed to alcohol- and drug-related fatal injury events has reached significant higher levels in Latin American cities such as Sao Paulo compared globally.

Octopamine and Dopamine differentially modulate the nicotine-induced calcium response in Drosophila Mushroom Body Kenyon Cells.

In Drosophila associative olfactory learning, an odor, the conditioned stimulus (CS), is paired to an unconditioned stimulus (US). The CS and US information arrive at the Mushroom Bodies (MB), a Drosophila brain region that processes the information to generate new memories. It has been shown that olfactory information is conveyed through cholinergic inputs that activate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the MB, while the US is coded by biogenic amine (BA) systems that innervate the MB. In this regard, the MB acts as a coincidence detector. A better understanding of the properties of the responses gated by nicotinic and BA receptors is required to get insights on the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for memory formation. In recent years, information has become available on the properties of the responses induced by nAChR activation in Kenyon Cells (KCs), the main neuronal MB population. However, very little information exists on the responses induced by aminergic systems in fly MB. Here we have evaluated some of the properties of the calcium responses gated by Dopamine (DA) and Octopamine (Oct) in identified KCs in culture. We report that exposure to BAs induces a fast but rather modest increase in intracellular calcium levels in cultured KCs. The responses to Oct and DA are fully blocked by a VGCC blocker, while they are differentially modulated by cAMP. Moreover, co-application of BAs and nicotine has different effects on intracellular calcium levels: while DA and nicotine effects are additive, Oct and nicotine induce a synergistic increase in calcium levels. These results suggest that a differential modulation of nicotine-induced calcium increase by DA and Oct could contribute to the events leading to learning and memory in flies.

Amphetamine, cocaine and cannabinoids use among truck drivers on the roads in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Drugs are important risk factors for traffic accidents. In Brazil, truck drivers report using amphetamines to maintain their extensive work schedule and stay awake. These drugs can be obtained without prescription easily on Brazilian roads. The use of these stimulants can result in health problems and can be associated with traffic accidents. There are Brazilian studies that show that drivers use drugs. However, these studies are questionnaire-based and do not always reflect real-life situations. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the prevalence of drug use by truck drivers on the roads of Sao Paulo State, Brazil, during 2009. Drivers of large trucks were randomly stopped by police officers on the interstate roads during morning hours. After being informed of the goals of the study, the drivers gave written informed consent before providing a urine sample. In addition, a questionnaire concerning sociodemographic characteristics and health information was administered. Urine samples were screened for amphetamines, cocaine, and cannabinoids by immunoassay and the confirmation was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Of the 488 drivers stopped, 456 (93.4%) provided urine samples, and 9.3% of them (n=42) tested positive for drugs. Amphetamines were the most commonly found (n=26) drug, representing 61.9% of the positive samples. Ten cases tested positive for cocaine (23.8%), and five for cannabinoids (11.9%). All drivers were male with a mean age of 40 ± 10.8 years, and 29.3% of them reported some health problem (diabetes, high blood pressure and/or stress). A high incidence of truck drivers who tested positive for drug use was found, among other reported health problems. Thus, there is an evident need to promote a healthier lifestyle among professional drivers and a need for preventive measures aimed at controlling the use of drugs by truck drivers in Brazil.

Descripción histológica de las glándulas anexas del aparato digestivo de avestruz (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) / Histologic description of the annexed glands from the ostrich digestive system (Struthio camelus var. domesticus)

En la última década, la crianza del avestruz en Chile ha ido aumentando sustancialmente, por lo cual se ha hecho necesario incrementar los estudios para mejorar la producción de esta especie. La literatura señala sólo estudios sobre la fisiología y anatomía de esta especie. Nuestro objetivo es aportar al conocimiento de la histología normal de las glándulas anexas al aparato digestivo. Esta investigación se realizó con 6 avestruces clínicamente sanas, de las que se obtuvieron muestras representativas del hígado, pro ventrículo y páncreas. Se realizaron cortes histológicos, los que fueron teñidos y montados para su análisis comparativo bajo microscopio de luz, entre avestruz y gallina. La histología de las glándulas anexas del aparato digestivo es semejante a la descrita en la gallina. Sin embargo, en el hígado los cordones de hepatocitos se disponen en forma radial, tanto alrededor de la vena central como de los espacios porta, característica no observada en otras especies. Con respecto al pro ventrículo, en la mucosa se observan glándulas tubulares simples o ramificadas, semejantes a las glándulas fúndicas de los mamíferos. En la submucosa se observan glándulas túbuloalveolares compuestas con células parietales. El páncreas no presenta diferencias destacables.

In the last decade the upbringing of the ostrich in Chile has increased substantially, for this reason it is necessary to increase the studies to improve the production of this species. The literature only points out studies on the physiology and anatomy of this species. The purpose of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of the normal histology from the annexed glands to the digestive system. This study was carried out clinically using 6 healthy ostriches, of which representative samples of the liver, proventricle and pancreas. Histological sections were realized, mounted and stained for their comparative analysis under low light microscope to describe with those cited in the hen. The histology of the annexed glands from the digestive system is similar to the described in the hen. However, in the liver the arrangement hepatic cords so is in the central vein such as the portal spaces is radial, characteristic not observed in other species. In relation to the histology of the proventricle, the tubular glands are quite, similar to the fundic glands of the mammals. In the submucosa compound tubulosacular glands are observed, with parietal cells. The pancreas doesn't present prominent differences.

Descripción histológica de los diferentes segmentos del aparato digestivo de avestruz (Struthio camelus var. domesticus) / Histologic description of the different segments from the ostrich digestive system (Struthio camelus var. domesticus)

Struthio camelus domesticus (Swart, 1987) es descrita como reflejo del híbrido natural de avestruces de granja en Sudáfrica, la que actualmente se conoce como avestruz de cuello negro o African Black. Esta ave fue desarrollada mediante programas de mejoramiento genético, con el objetivo de aumentar el valor comercial de la especie. Se caracteriza por ser de menor talla y más fértil que las otras subespecies, estructura del plumaje bien desarrollada, carácter dócil, y de fácil crianza en granjas, ya que es tremendamente curiosa y amigable con los humanos (Deeming, 2001; Camiruaga, 2004). En relación a las características anatómicas generales del tracto digestivo, Camiruaga & Simonetti, (2003) señalan que el avestruz presenta semejanzas y diferencias, tanto con otras aves, como con los rumiantes y otros herbívoros (equinos). Del análisis comparativo con la gallina, presenta ciertas diferencias anatómicas, una de ellas es no presentar buche, órgano almacenador de alimento que existe en otras aves. El proventrículo y el estómago muscular (molleja), en el avestruz, pueden cumplir dicha función (Angel, 1996). No presentan vesícula biliar, por lo que el vaciamiento de la bilis se realiza directamente al intestino delgado. Además, el intestino grueso del avestruz, a diferencia de otras especies, representa el 50 % del largo total del tubo digestivo y el intestino delgado corresponde sólo al 35,5%. (Camiruaga, 2004). En el presente trabajo se analizó la histología normal de los diferentes segmentos del tubo digestivo del avestruz: esófago, proventrículo, estómago muscular (molleja o ventrículo), intestino delgado (duodeno, yeyuno e íleon) e intestino grueso (ciego, colon y recto), y se analizó comparativamente con especies a las que se le asocia morfológicamente, como las aves domésticas, rumiantes, seudo rumiantes (camélidos) y algunos otros herbívoros.

Monosialoganglioside attenuates the excitatory and behavioural sensitization effects of ethanol.

The effects of long-term monosialoganglioside GM1 treatment on the acute excitatory effects of ethanol and behavioural sensitization to this effect were studied, using locomotion frequency of mice observed in an open field as an experimental parameter. GM1 (30 mg/kg, once a day, for 21 days) did not modify mouse behaviour but decreased both the acute excitatory (1.8 g/kg) and the behavioural sensitization effects of ethanol (1.8 g/kg, once a day for 21 days, 30 min after GM1 injections). GM1 administered acutely 30 min or 24 h before ethanol did not modify the ethanol-induced increase in locomotion frequency. These results agree with previous reports in which ganglioside treatment modified both dopaminergic plasticity and other behavioural and biochemical effects of ethanol.

O controle biologico laboratorial da exposicao de trabalhadores e substancias quimicas. A medicina do trabalho e a prevencao da intoxicacao. / Biological laboratorial control of exposure of workers to chemical substances. Occupational medicine and the prevention of poisoning

Neste trabalho os autores discutem a relacao entre Medicina do Trabalho e Toxicologia Ocupacional; informam sobre os meios de pesquisa utilizados a fim de obter o conhecimento toxicologico, para finalmente, discorrerem a respeito do importante tema do uso dos Indicadores Biologicos de Exposicao (IBEs) e dos Limites de Tolerancia Biologicos (LTBs) no controle biologico de exposicao de trabalhadores a substancias quimicas. E apresentada, ainda, uma extensa relacao de IBEs e LTBs propostos