Impairment of electron transfer chain induced by acute carnosine administration in skeletal muscle of young rats.

Serum carnosinase deficiency is an inherited disorder that leads to an accumulation of carnosine in the brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, skeletal muscle, and other tissues of affected patients. Considering that high levels of carnosine are associated with neurological dysfunction and that the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in serum carnosinase deficiency remain poorly understood, we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats. We observed a significant decrease of complexes I-III and II activities in animals receiving carnosine acutely, as compared to control group. However, no significant alterations in respiratory chain complexes, citric acid cycle enzymes, and creatine kinase activities were found between rats receiving carnosine chronically and control group animals. As compared to control group, mRNA levels of NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM were unchanged. The present findings indicate that electron transfer through the respiratory chain is impaired in skeletal muscle of rats receiving carnosine acutely. In case these findings are confirmed by further studies and ATP depletion is also observed, impairment of bioenergetics could be considered a putative mechanism responsible for the muscle damage observed in serum carnosinase-deficient patients.

Plantas medicinais: percepção, utilização e indicações terapêuticas de usuários da estratégia saúde da família do município de Criciúma- SC vinculados ao PET- Saúde / Medicinal plants: perception, utilization and therapeutic indications of users of the family health strategy of the city of Criciúma-SC linked to PET- Saúde

Introdução - Apesar dos avanços da medicina, a utilizaçãode plantas medicinais (PM) se mantém no cotidianodas pessoas e a incorporação da fitoterapia no âmbito daSaúde Pública é uma recomendação da OMS. Objetivo- Reconhecer a utilização da fitoterapia pelos usuáriosda Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). Metodologia -Trata-se de um estudo exploratório transversal de caráterdescritivo utilizando como técnica de coleta de dadosa entrevista estruturada, realizado com 672 usuários deESF do município de Criciúma/SC que são vinculadasao PET-Saúde. Resultados - Dos entrevistados, 69% afirmaramo uso de PM, principalmente, para afecções nossistemas digestório, nervoso e respiratório, sendo as PMmais citadas o boldo, hortelã e camomila. Por ser consideradonatural, 51% dos usuários não acreditam que ouso de PM pode fazer mal a saúde. E 90% têm interesseem receber informações sobre PM por profissionais desaúde. Conclusão - Fica evidenciado neste estudo, a necessidadede ampliação de informações para a utilizaçãoracional das PM. Considerando que, existe interesse dosusuários a utilização de tal opção terapêutica sugere-secapacitação dos profissionais de saúde, além de um planejamentode ações com intuito de implantar a fitoterapiano município, de forma articulada com a ESF.

Introduction - Despite advances of the medicine, theutilization of medicinal plants (MP) remains in people?sdaily life, being that incorporation of the phytotherapy inthe ambit Public Health is a OMS recommendation andofficial in our country in 2006 by the National Policyof Medicinal Plants and phytotherapics. Objective -To identify the use of phytotherapy by the users of theFamily Health Strategy (FHS). Methods - This is an exploratorystudy transverse of descriptive character usingtechnical data collection the structured interview, realizedwith 672 users of four FHS of the city of Criciúma/ SC that are linked to PET-Saúde. Results - Of the interviewed,69% affirmed the use of MP, mainly, forafections in digestive system, nervous and respiratory,being the MP the most cited bilberry, mint and chamomile.Being considered natural, 51% of users do not believethat the use of MP can harm health. And 90% areinterested in receiving information about MP by healthprofessionals. Conclusions - It?s evident the need for expansion of informations for the rational use of MP andconsidering that, there are user interest in the use of MPit is suggested that capacitation of health professionals,beyond as action planning with the intention to implantthe phytotherapy in the city, in articulated with the FHS.