Acid-related disorders are common, chronic conditions that have considerable impact on a patient's quality of life. In a study conducted by Majumdar et al. (2003:2411) the prevalence of chronic acid-related disorders was 2.3%. Acid-related disorders represent a major financial consideration with respect to the costs of drug prescribing (Whitaker, 1998:6). Health care cost increases each year. This leads to an increased interest in economic evaluation of health care and medical technologies (Anell & Svarvar, 2000:175). Health care providers no longer make treatment decisions independent of the consideration of the resultant cost. The treatment provided must not only provide value but the value must be documented to justify spending money. Economic evaluation research has emerged to offer guidance to policy makers, practitioners, health plans and institutions facing difficult treatment and coverage decisions (Ellis era/., 2002:271). The main objectives of this study were to investigate the prescribing patterns and cost of acid reducing medicine with special reference to proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists in a section of the private health care sector of South Africa from 2001 to 2006. A longitudinal retrospective drug utilisation study was done on acid reducing medicine items claimed through a national medicine claims database. The five study years were 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. All the study years stretched from 1 January to 31 December. It was determined that acid reducing medicine items prescribed decreased from 2.74% during 2001 to 2.50% during 2006 of all medicine items claimed. The same decreasing trend was observed regarding the cost of acid reducing medicine items. The cost percentage decreased from 4.89% (2001) to 3.72% (2006). However, the average cost per medicine item for the acid reducers increased by 5.35% from 2001 (R230.04 ± 176.29) to 2002 (R243.72 ± 184.18) and then decreased by 15.23% from 2002 to 2004. It again decreased with 15.05% from 2004 (R206.19 ± 179.42) to 2006 (R175.70 ± 172.55). The changes in the average cost of acid reducers were of no practical significance. Proton pump inhibitors represented about half of the acid reducing medicine items prescribed and more than 70% of the total cost of acid reducing medicine items during the study years. The average cost of PPIs revealed a practical significant decrease (d > 0.8) from 2002 (R372.42 ± 156.62) to 2006 (R241.56 ± 177.21). H2RAs contributed between 15.00% and 18.26% of all acid reducing medicine items while contributing to between 9.68% and 16.85% of the total cost of all acid reducers. The active ingredient most often prescribed was lansoprazole during 2001 and 2002, esomeprazole during 2004 and omeprazole during 2005 and 2006. Lanzor® 30mg was the acid reducer with the highest cost from 2001 to 2005, while Pariet® 20mg took the lead in 2006. Zantac® 150mg effervescent tablets were the H2RA, with the highest cost, during the five study years. The percentage innovator items decreased by 4.50% from 2001 to 2002, increased by 1.01% from 2002 to 2004 and decreased again by 31.06% from 2004 to 2006. The slight increase in the percentage innovator medicine items claimed from 2002 to 2004 may be explained by the introduction of Nexiam® (esomeprazole) into the market in 2002. The total number of generic medicine items claimed contributed between 9.62% (n = R1 788 242.25) in 2001 and 30.75% (n = R3 196 163.34) in 2006 of the total cost of acid reducing medicine items. The average cost per day of innovator medicine items was higher than the average cost per day of generic medicine items. This might be explained by a lower average cost for generic medicine items. It was also determined that the prevalence of the two-drug regimens was the highest during the five study years. The Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication treatments, which included different antibiotics, increased from 2.72% in 2001 to 5.05% in 2006. The PDD for most of the active ingredients of H2RAs and PPIs remained stable during the study years. However, it appears that the PDDs, of the PPIs, active ingredients were more constant than the PDDs, or the H2RAs, active ingredients. The median of the different PPI active ingredients was reasonably more constant than the median of the different H2RA active ingredients. Thus the changes between the PPIs' and H2RAs' active ingredients might be explained by the variation in the median (the number of days the relevant medicine item was claimed for). It is then also recommended that the aspects of generic substitution as well as the usage of H2RAs as prescribed vs. self medication should be further investigated to increase possible cost savings. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Acid-related disorders are common, chronic conditions that have considerable impact on a patient's quality of life. In a study conducted by Majumdar et al. (2003:2411) the prevalence of chronic acid-related disorders was 2.3%. Acid-related disorders represent a major financial consideration with respect to the costs of drug prescribing (Whitaker, 1998:6). Health care cost increases each year. This leads to an increased interest in economic evaluation of health care and medical technologies (Anell & Svarvar, 2000:175). Health care providers no longer make treatment decisions independent of the consideration of the resultant cost. The treatment provided must not only provide value but the value must be documented to justify spending money. Economic evaluation research has emerged to offer guidance to policy makers, practitioners, health plans and institutions facing difficult treatment and coverage decisions (Ellis era/., 2002:271). The main objectives of this study were to investigate the prescribing patterns and cost of acid reducing medicine with special reference to proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists in a section of the private health care sector of South Africa from 2001 to 2006. A longitudinal retrospective drug utilisation study was done on acid reducing medicine items claimed through a national medicine claims database. The five study years were 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. All the study years stretched from 1 January to 31 December. It was determined that acid reducing medicine items prescribed decreased from 2.74% during 2001 to 2.50% during 2006 of all medicine items claimed. The same decreasing trend was observed regarding the cost of acid reducing medicine items. The cost percentage decreased from 4.89% (2001) to 3.72% (2006). However, the average cost per medicine item for the acid reducers increased by 5.35% from 2001 (R230.04 ± 176.29) to 2002 (R243.72 ± 184.18) and then decreased by 15.23% from 2002 to 2004. It again decreased with 15.05% from 2004 (R206.19 ± 179.42) to 2006 (R175.70 ± 172.55). The changes in the average cost of acid reducers were of no practical significance. Proton pump inhibitors represented about half of the acid reducing medicine items prescribed and more than 70% of the total cost of acid reducing medicine items during the study years. The average cost of PPIs revealed a practical significant decrease (d > 0.8) from 2002 (R372.42 ± 156.62) to 2006 (R241.56 ± 177.21). H2RAs contributed between 15.00% and 18.26% of all acid reducing medicine items while contributing to between 9.68% and 16.85% of the total cost of all acid reducers. The active ingredient most often prescribed was lansoprazole during 2001 and 2002, esomeprazole during 2004 and omeprazole during 2005 and 2006. Lanzor® 30mg was the acid reducer with the highest cost from 2001 to 2005, while Pariet® 20mg took the lead in 2006. Zantac® 150mg effervescent tablets were the H2RA, with the highest cost, during the five study years. The percentage innovator items decreased by 4.50% from 2001 to 2002, increased by 1.01% from 2002 to 2004 and decreased again by 31.06% from 2004 to 2006. The slight increase in the percentage innovator medicine items claimed from 2002 to 2004 may be explained by the introduction of Nexiam® (esomeprazole) into the market in 2002. The total number of generic medicine items claimed contributed between 9.62% (n = R1 788 242.25) in 2001 and 30.75% (n = R3 196 163.34) in 2006 of the total cost of acid reducing medicine items. The average cost per day of innovator medicine items was higher than the average cost per day of generic medicine items. This might be explained by a lower average cost for generic medicine items. It was also determined that the prevalence of the two-drug regimens was the highest during the five study years. The Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication treatments, which included different antibiotics, increased from 2.72% in 2001 to 5.05% in 2006. The PDD for most of the active ingredients of H2RAs and PPIs remained stable during the study years. However, it appears that the PDDs, of the PPIs, active ingredients were more constant than the PDDs, or the H2RAs, active ingredients. The median of the different PPI active ingredients was reasonably more constant than the median of the different H2RA active ingredients. Thus the changes between the PPIs' and H2RAs' active ingredients might be explained by the variation in the median (the number of days the relevant medicine item was claimed for). It is then also recommended that the aspects of generic substitution as well as the usage of H2RAs as prescribed vs. self medication should be further investigated to increase possible cost savings. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Heroin use and dependency is a growing concern within South Africa, individuals face difficulty in remaining abstinent from the use of heroin due to constant relapse. The opioid antagonist known as the naltrexone pellet implant offers an alternative form of aid to relapse prevention in the recovery and abstinence from heroin dependency. This qualitative study explored the subjective experiences and perceptions of heroin dependent individuals, that made use of the naltrexone pellet implant. This study was rooted in the interpretive, qualitative paradigm where a phenomenological research design was used. Participants were selected using a purposive, snowball sampling technique and four individuals who had made use of the naltrexone pellet implant for the aid in heroin dependency for a minimum of three-months were interviewed. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to extract recurrent themes across participants. The findings suggested that the use of the naltrexone pellet implant was beneficial in the aid for relapse prevention from heroin use. Furthermore, the exploration of difficulties that were faced in remaining abstinent, the attempt to make use of the naltrexone pellet implant and the physical and psychological aspects regarding the use of this alternative method of remaining abstinent were explored in this study. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology (Research Consultation))

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a multi-functional cellular compartment that functions in protein folding, lipid biosynthesis, and calcium homeostasis. Perturbations to ER function lead to the dysregulation of ER homeostasis, causing the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the cell. This is a state of ER stress. ER stress elicits a cytoprotective, adaptive signaling cascade to mitigate stress, the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). As long as the UPR can moderate stress, cells can produce the proper amount of proteins and maintain a state of homeostasis. If the UPR, however, is dysfunctional and fails to achieve this, cells will undergo apoptosis. Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by persistent high blood glucose levels. The pathogenesis of this disease involves pancreatic β-cell dysfunction: an abnormality in the primary function of the β-cell, insulin production and secretion. Activation of the UPR is critical to pancreatic β-cell survival, where a disruption in ER stress signaling can lead to cell death and consequently diabetes. There are several models of ER stress leading to diabetes. Wolcott-Rallison syndrome, for example, occurs when there is a mutation in the gene encoding one of the master regulators of the UPR, PKR-like ER kinase (PERK). In this dissertation, we show that Wolfram Syndrome 1 (WFS1), an ER transmembrane protein, is a component of the UPR and is a downstream target of two of the master regulators of the UPR, Inositol Requiring 1 (IRE1) and PERK. WFS1 mutations lead to Wolfram syndrome, a non-autoimmune form of type 1 diabetes accompanied by optical atrophy and other neurological disorders. It has been shown that patients develop diabetes due to the selective loss of their pancreatic β-cells. Here we define the underlying molecular mechanism of β-cell loss in Wolfram syndrome, and link this cell loss to ER stress and a dysfunction in a component of the UPR, WFS1. We show that WFS1 expression is localized to the β-cell of the pancreas, it is upregulated during insulin secretion and ER stress, and its inactivation leads to chronic ER stress and apoptosis. This dissertation also reveals the previously unknown function of WFS1 in the UPR. Positive regulation of the UPR has been extensively studied, however, the precise mechanisms of negative regulation of this signaling pathway have not. Here we report that WFS1 regulates a key transcription factor of the UPR, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. WFS1 expression decreases expression levels of ATF6 target genes and represses ATF6-mediated activation of the ER stress response (ERSE) promoter. WFS1 recruits and stabilizes an E3 ubiquitin ligase, HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1), on the ER membrane. The WFS1-HRD1 complex recruits ATF6 to the proteasome and enhances its ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation, leading to suppression of the UPR under non-stress conditions. In response to ER stress, ATF6 is released from WFS1 and activates the UPR to mitigate ER stress. This body of work reveals a novel role for WFS1 in the UPR, and a novel mechanism for regulating ER stress signaling. These findings also indicate that hyperactivation of the UPR can lead to cellular dysfunction and death. This supports the notion that tight regulation of ER stress signaling is crucial to cell survival. This unanticipated role of WFS1 for a feedback loop of the UPR is relevant to diseases caused by chronic hyperactivation of ER stress signaling network such as pancreatic β-cell death in diabetes and neurodegeneration.

Objetivo: Comparar o efeito da terapia da fotocoagulação panretiniana (PFC) associada à injeção intravítrea de Ranibizumabe (RBZ) versus terapia isolada com PFC em pacientes com retinopatia diabética proliferativa (RDP) precoce, virgens de tratamento, com ou sem edema macular diabético (DME) durante 6 meses de acompanhamento. Projeto: Estudo prospectivo intervencionista, randomizado e controlado. Métodos: Sessenta olhos de 30 pacientes com RDP bilateral precoce foram randomizados para o grupo de estudo (GE) que foram tratados com PFC associado a duas injeções de RBZ intravítreo (0.5mg/0.05ml) ou para o grupo controle (GC) tratados apenas com PFC. Mudanças na acuidade visual (AV) corrigida, na sensibilidade ao contraste (SC) e na espessura foveal (EF) foram comparados no início, e nos 1, 3 e 6 meses após o tratamento. Resultados: No GE, a diferença na média da AV do baseline para o mês 6 teve um aumento significativo de + 3,4 letras (p = 0,006) e uma diminuição significativa na EF de - 47.6um (p < 0,001). No GC, a diferença na média da AV teve uma diminuição de - 3,4 letras (p = 0,04) e uma mudança na EF de -3.8 um (p = 0,96). Com relação ao teste de SC dentre os 28 olhos do GE, houve uma melhora no mês 6 em relação ao baseline nos ciclos: 1,5 (p < 0.001) e 3,0 ciclo (p=0.023). Dentre os 30 olhos do GC, não houve uma diferença estatística nos momentos estudados. Conclusão: A injeção intravítrea de RBZ associado com PFC pode ser um tratamento eficaz em olhos de pacientes com RDP precoce e EMD / Purpose: To compare the efficacy of therapy with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and intravitreal ranibizumab (RBZ) injection versus PRP alone in patients with treatment-naive bilateral non-high risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with and without diabetic macular edema (DME) with a 6-month follow-up. Design: Prospective, interventional, randomized controlled trial. Methods: Sixty eyes of 30 patients with bilateral non-high risk PDR were randomized either to the study group (SG) receiving PRP plus two intravitreal ranibizumab injections (0.5mg/0.05ml), the first one week before and the second four weeks after the PRP or to the control group (CG) receiving PRP alone. Mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity (CS) and central macular thickness (CMT) were compared at baseline and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. Results: Changes from baseline to 6 months showed in the SG an increased in the BCVA by + 3.4 letters (p= 0.006) with a decrease in CMT by - 47.6um (p < 0.001). In the CG, a decrease by - 3.4 letters (p = 0.04) and an decrease by -3.8um (p= 0.96). Regarding the CS in the SG, there was an improvement compared to baseline for the sixth month in the 1.5 (p < 0.001) and 3.0 cycles (p = 0.023). The CG did not show significant results from baseline to month 6. Conclusion: Intravitreal RBZ associated with PRP can be an effective treatment in eyes with non-high risk PDR and DME

INTRODUÇÃO: O presente estudo avaliou o tratamento com injeções intravítreas de Bevacizumabe (IVB) associadas à panfotocoagulação (PFC) da retina na retinopatia diabética proliferativa (RDP) de alto risco com ou sem edema macular (EM). MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico randomizado, prospectivo, aberto e mascarado composto por pacientes com Diabetes melitos (DM) tipo 2. A acuidade visual (AV) foi medida com a tabela Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study e a sensibilidade ao contraste (SC) pela da tabela Vistech Consultants Incorporation 6500. Os pacientes foram submetidos a exame de angiofluoresceinografia para observação de neovascularização retiniana e isquemia macular e à tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT), para se obter a espessura foveal (EF) e o volume macular (VM). Após os exames, um dos olhos do mesmo paciente foi randomizado para realizar somente PFC, grupo controle (GC), e o outro para PFC associado a injeções IVB, grupo de estudo (GE). A hemorragia vítrea (HV) e a presença de complicações também foram avaliadas. RESULTADOS: Dos 42 pacientes incluídos, 35 completaram o estudo. A média de idade foi de 56±8 anos, com predominância do gênero masculino 21 (60%). Vinte e seis (74%) pacientes eram portadores de Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica com média de duração de 9±10 anos. A média de duração do DM foi de 18±9 anos sendo 23 (66%) usuários de insulina e 21 (68,5%), fácicos. A AV e a SC não demonstraram diferença entre os grupos no total da amostra. O GE demonstrou melhora em comparação ao GC na EF no 1º mês, e no VM nos 1° e 3º meses de seguimento. Quanto aos 12 pacientes com EM bilateral somente a EF demonstrou redução no GE no 1º mês de seguimento. Ao se avaliar os grupos separadamente, o GC apresentou agravamento da AV e SC durante todo seguimento. Houve também aumento da EF nos 1º e 6º meses e VM nos 1º , 3º e 6º meses de seguimento. O GE demonstrou estabilização da AV, SC, EF e VM. Correlacionado às funções visuais, AV com a SC, toda vez que houve piora da AV esta foi acompanhada pelo agravamento da SC em todos os momentos no GC e GE. Quando correlacionadas as AV e SC com as EF e VM, toda vez que a espessura macular aumentava, havia piora da função visual. Dos sete pacientes excluídos do estudo por apresentarem HV, cinco integravam o GC e dois o GE. Não houve aparecimento de catarata, endoftalmite e/ou aumento significativo da pressão ocular. CONCLUSÃO: Na RDP de alto risco, o uso adjuvante de injeções intravítreas de Bevacizumabe associadas à panfotocoagulação da retina pode estabilizar a AV, SC, EF e VM, diminuir a incidência de HV e reduzir a da espessura macular. Em relação à correlação entre as variáveis, quando houve piora da AV, esta foi acompanhada da piora da SC e o aumento da EF e VM causaram piora da AV e SC / INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the treatment with intravitreal injections of Bevacizumab (IVB) associated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with or without diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: Prospective, open and masked, randomized clinical trial, composed of patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). The visual acuity (VA) was measured with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts and the contrast sensitivity (CS) through the chart of Vistech Consultants Incorporation 6500. Patients were submitted to a fluorescein angiography examination to observe retinal neovascularization and macular ischemia and to an optical coherence tomography (OCT) to obtain the foveal thickness (FT) and macular volume (MV). After the tests, one of the eyes from the same patient was randomized to realize only the PRP, the control group (CG), and the other for PRP associated to IVB injections, the study group (SG). Vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and presence of complications were also evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-five of the forty-two patients included, completed the study. The mean age was 56±8 years, with a predominance of 21 (60%) males. Twenty-six (74%) patients had systemic hypertension with a mean duration of 9±10 years. The mean duration of DM was 18±9 years, of which 23 (66%) were insulin users and 21 (68.5%) were phakic. The VA and CS showed no difference between groups in the total sample. The SG showed improvement compared to the CG in FT for the 1st month, and in MV for the 1st and 3rd month of follow-up. As for the 12 patients with bilateral ME, only the FT showed a reduction in the SG for the 1st month of follow-up. When evaluating the groups separately, the CG showed worsening of VA and CS at all times. There was also an increase of FT for the 1st and 6th months and of MV for the 1st, 3rd and 6th month follow-up. The SG showed stabilization of VA, CS, FT and MV. When correlated to visual functions, VA and CS, a worsening of the VA was accompanied every time by a worsening of the CS in both the CG and SG. When VA and CS are correlated to FT and MV, there was worsening of visual function whenever macular thickness increased. Of the seven patients excluded from the study by presenting VH, 5 belonged to the CG and the 2 to the SG. There was no incidence of cataracts, endophthalmitis and/or significant increase in intraocular pressure. CONCLUSION: In high-risk PDR, intraocular injections of Bevacizumab as an adjuvant treatment to PRP, can stabilize VA, CS, FT and MV, reduce of the incidence of VH and decrease the macular thickness. Regarding the correlation between variables, when there was a worsening of VA, this was accompanied by a worsening of the CS, and an increase in FT and MV caused the worsening of the VA and CS

O treinamento aeróbico (TA) traz benefícios para os asmáticos, porém os mecanismos antiinflamatórios não são conhecidos. Estudos experimentais de asma têm mostrado que o TA reduz a inflamação pulmonar alérgica crônica (IPAC) e a reposta Th2, no entanto, nenhum estudo explicou quando os efeitos protetores são iniciados e qual é a principal via anti-inflamatória desencadeada. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do TA ao longo do tempo em um modelo murino de asma visando identificar quando são iniciados os efeitos anti-inflamatórios e a reversão do remodelamento brônquico (RB). Métodos: BALB/c (160 animais) foram divididos em 4 grupos: Controle (CT): não induzidos à IPAC e não treinados; Treinamento Aeróbico (TA): não induzidos à IPAC e treinados; OVA: induzidos à IPAC e não treinados; OVA+TA: induzidos à IPAC e treinados. Em seguida foram criados outros subgrupos 1, 3, 7, 15 e 30 dias de TA, ou seja, cada grupo foi repetidos 5 vezes para investigação do efeito do TA ao longo do tempo. Os grupos OVA foram sensibilizados com i.p. (OVA+HidroxAlum), após foram induzidos à IPAC com aerosol de OVA (1-3%) iniciado no dia 21 (3 x semana; 30 min./sessão). A adaptação ao TA foi realizada entre os dias 21 a 23, no dia 25 foi realizado o teste físico, no dia 28 o TA foi iniciado (50% intensidade, frequência 5 x, por 4 semanas). Vinte quatro horas da ultima sessão de TA (1, 3, 7, 15 e 30 dias) os animas foram anestesiados, eutanizados e coletados o lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) (contagem celular total e diferencial), sangue para quantificação das imunoglobulinas (IgE e IgG1) por técnica de reação de anafilaxia cutânea passiva (PCA), o tecido pulmonar para avaliação dos mediadores: IL-4, IL-5, eotaxina, RANTES, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TGF-b, VEGF, Osteopontina (OPN), NF-kB, FOXP3, receptor de glicocorticóide (RG) e anti-inflamatórias IL-10 e IL-1ra (imunohistoquímica e quantificação por morfometria) e foi coletado também o músculo quadríceps para avaliação da produção das miocinas (IL-10, IL-1ra e IL-6) (imunohistoquímica e quantificado por análise de imagem). O RB (músculo liso, epitélio, deposições das fibras de colágeno e elástica e produção de muco) também foi avaliado por análise de imagem. Resultados: Não foi observada produção das miocinas (p>0,05). Os níveis de IgE, IgG1, migração celular, produção dos mediadores inflamatórios e o RB foram aumentados nos grupos OVA (p<0,05), que ainda mostraram redução da produção do RG (p<0,05). O TA aumentou o RG no músculo liso das vias aéreas, as produções de IL-10 e IL- 1ra aumentaram a partir do 7º dia por células peribrônquicas, ao mesmo tempo que foram reduzidos o NF-kB, IL-4, IL-5, eotaxina, RANTES, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VEGF, eosinófilos no LBA e foram revertidos o espessamento do músculo liso, do epitélio e as deposições de fibras de colágeno (p<0,05). Curiosamente, a diminuição de TFG-b ocorreu após o 3º dia, enquanto OPN, elástica e muco ocorreram após 15 dias de TA, enquanto IgE, IgG1 e neutrófilos apenas foram reduzidas ao final de 30 dias (p<0,05). Conclusão: A partir do 3º dia do TA foi iniciado o mecanismo anti-inflamatório pelo aumento do RG no músculo liso das vias aéreas, seguido pelo aumento de IL-10 e IL-1ra e pela redução de NF-kB a partir do 7º dia do TA, efeitos que reverteram a inflamação alérgica crônica e o RB / The aerobic training (AT) promotes benefits for asthmatics, but the anti-inflammatory mechanisms are not known. Experimental studies of asthma have shown that AT reduces the pulmonary allergic chronic inflammation (PACI) and response Th2, however no study has ever explained when the protective effects are initiated and which is the main anti-inflammatory pathway triggered. Aim: To evaluate the effect of AT over time in a murine model of asthma to identify when the anti-inflammatory effects is started and reverse bronchial remodeling (BR). Methods: BALB/c (160 mice) were divided into 4 groups: Control (CT): not induced to PACI and untrained; Aerobic Training (TA): not induced to PACI and trained; OVA: induced to PACI and untrained; OVA + TA: induced to PACI and trained. After that were created others subgroups 1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days AT, that is, each group was repeated 5 times to investigate the effect of AT over time. The OVA groups were sensitized with i.p. OVA (OVA+AlumHidrox), and then the mice were induced after the PACI with aerosol of OVA (1-3%) started on the 21st day (3 x week, 30 min./Session). Adaptation to TA was held between 21-23, on the 25th day the physical test was performed, and on day 28 AT was begun (50% intensity, frequency x 5 for 4 weeks). Twenty four hours of the after last session of AT (1, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days) the mice were anesthetized, euthanized and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected (BALF) (Total and differential cell count) and blood was used to quantify immunoglobulins (IgE and IgG1) by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction (PCA) technique, the pulmonary tissue was removed and used to evaluate the mediators IL-4, IL-5, eotaxin, RANTES, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, TGF-b, VEGF, osteopontin (OPN), NF-kB, FOXP3, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and antiinflammatory IL-10 and IL-1ra (immunohistochemistry and quantified by morphometry), was also the quadriceps muscle to assess the expression of myokines (IL-10, IL-1ra and IL-6) (by immunohistochemistry and image analyses). The BR (smooth muscle, epithelium, collagen and elastic fibers deposition, and mucus production) was also evaluated by image analysis. Results: It was not observed any production of myokines (p>0.05). The levels of IgE and IgG1, cell migration, production of inflammatory mediators, and the BR were increased in the OVA groups (p<0.05); that still showed a decreased production of the GR (p<0.05). The AT promoted an increase of GR in the airway smooth muscle from the 3rd day, the production of IL-10 and IL- 1ra were increased from day 7 for cells peribronchial, while NF-kB, IL-4, IL-5, eotaxin, RANTES, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, VEGF, eosinophil counting in BALF were reduced, and reversed the smooth muscle thickening, epithelium and deposition of collagen fibers too (p<0.05). Interestingly, the decreasing of TGF-b occurred in the 3rd day, and OPN, elastic fibers, mucus occurred after 15 days of AT, while IgE and IgG1, and neutrophils were reduced only after 30 days (p<0.05). Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory mechanism by increasing the GR on the smooth muscle of the airways was initiated from the 3rd day of the AT, followed by an increase of IL-10 and IL-1ra and a reduction of NF-kB from the 7th day of the AT, reversed the effects of chronic allergic inflammation and bronchial remodeling

Noventa e seis pacientes com diabetes melito do tipo 2 foram randomizados para receberem ou não abciximab durante o implante eletivo de stent coronário, com o objetivo de determinar se esse inibidor da glicoproteína IIb/IIIa reduz a hiperplasia intimal intra-stent, avaliada pelo ultra-som intracoronário, aos seis meses de evolução. A análise volumétrica mostrou que o abciximab não reduz o volume de obstrução intra-stent nestes pacientes [41,3% (DP21,0%) versus 40,5% (DP18,3%), p=0,853]. / Ninety-six type 2 diabetics were randomly assigned to receive abciximab or no abciximab at the time of elective stent implantation to determine whether this IIb/IIIa glycoprotein inhibitor would reduce in-stent intimal hyperplasia, measured by intravascular ultrasound, at 6-month follow-up. Volumetric analysis showed that abciximab was not associated with a reduction of in-stent volume obstruction in diabetic patients [41.3% (DP21.0%) versus 40.5% (DP18.3%), p=0.853).

Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by positive, negative and cognitive symptoms with poor functional outcomes, placing an enormous burden on the individual, caregivers and society. Although deficits in cognition are an integral part of the disease and the best predictor of functional outcomes, there is as yet no established treatment addressing them. Avoidance of a hidden place on a continuously rotating arena (Carousel) requires cognitive control and is a rodent model of cognitive coordination of information from dissociated spatial frames, which is impaired in acute pharmacological and neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Cognitive training on the Carousel during adolescence alleviates adult cognitive deficit in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia and improves neural coordination (oscilations in the beta and gamma band), which is thought to be necessary for cognition. We examined if cognitive training during adolescence eliminates the deficit in neuronal coordination observed in adult rats after acute systemic NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg). During adolescence, rats were either trained in spatial avoidance on Carousel or merely handled. As adults, rats received two 5-min exploration sessions in the same (A/A) or in two distinct...

Sepsis is the leading cause of death among critically ill patients and the 10th most common cause of death overall in the United States. The mortality rates increase with severity of the disease, ranging from 15% for sepsis to 60% for septic shock. Patient with sepsis can present varied clinical symptoms depending on the personal predisposition, causal microorganism, organ system involved, and disease severity. To facilitate sepsis diagnosis, the first sepsis consensus definitions was published in 1991 and then updated in 2001. Early recognition of a sepsis patient followed with timely and appropriate treatment and management strategies have been shown to significantly reduce sepsis-related mortality, and allows care to be provided at lower costs. Despite the rapid progress in the knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms of sepsis and its treatment in the last two decades, identifying patient with sepsis and therapeutic approaches to sepsis and its complications remains challenging to critical care clinicians. Hence, the objectives of this thesis were to 1) evaluate the test characteristics of the two sepsis consensus definitions and delineate the differences in patient profile among patients meeting or not meeting sepsis definitions; 2) determine the relationship between the changes in several physiological parameters before sepsis onset and sepsis, and to determine whether these parameters could be used to identify sepsis in critically ill adults; 3) evaluate the effect of corticosteroids therapy on patient mortality. Data used in this thesis were prospectively collected from an electronic medical record system for all the adult patients admitted into the seven critical care units (ICUs) in a tertiary medical center. Besides analyzing data at the ICU stay level, we investigated patient information in various time frames, including 24-hour, 12-hour, and 6-hour time windows. In the first study of this thesis, the 1991 sepsis definition was found to have a high sensitivity of 94.6%, but a low specificity of 61.0%. The 2001 sepsis definition had a slightly increased sensitivity but a decreased specificity, which was 96.9% and 58.3%, respectively. The areas under the ROC curve for the two consensus definitions were similar, but less than optimal. The sensitivity and area under the ROC curve of both definitions were lower at the 24-hour time window level than those of the unit stay level, though the specificity increased slightly. At the time window level, the 1991 definitions performed slightly better than the 2001 definition. In the second study, minimum systolic blood pressure performed the best, followed by maximum respiratory rate in discriminating sepsis patients from SIRS patients. Maximum heart rate and maximum respiratory rate can differentiate sepsis patients from non-SIRS patients fairly well. The area under ROC of the combination of five physiological parameters was 0.74 and 0.90 for comparing sepsis to non-infectious SIRS patients and comparing sepsis to non-SIRS patients, respectively. Parameters typically performed better in 24-hour windows compared to 6-hour or 12-hour windows. In the third study, significantly increased hospital mortality and ICU mortality were observed in the group treated with low-dose corticosteroids than the control group based on the propensity score matched comparisons, and multivariate logistic regression analyses after adjustment for propensity score alone, covariates, or propensity score (in deciles) and covariates. This thesis advances the existing knowledge by systemically evaluating the test characteristics for the 1991 and 2001 sepsis consensus definitions, delineating physiological signs and symptoms of deterioration in the preceding 24 hours prior to sepsis onset, assessing the prediction performances of single or combined physiological parameters, and examining the use of corticosteroids treatment and survival among septic shock patients. In addition, this thesis sets an innovative example on how to use data from electronic medical records as these surveillance systems are becoming increasingly popular. The results of these studies suggest that a more parsimonious set of definitional criteria for sepsis diagnosis are needed to improve sepsis case identification. In addition, continuously monitored physiological parameters could help to identify patients who show signs of deterioration prior to developing sepsis. Last but not least, caution should be used when considering a recommendation on the use of low dose corticosteroids in clinical practice guidelines for the management of sepsis.