Objetivo: Avaliar a taxa proliferativa de células esfoliadas da mucosa bucal clinicamente saudável de usuários de crack. Material e Métodos: esfregaços orais foram coletados de língua e assoalho bucal de 87 indivíduos, divididos em três grupos: os usuários de crack (CRCO), n = 26; fumantes / etilistas (SA), n = 26 e controles (C ), n = 35. Lâminas histológicas foram submetidas à técnica de impregnação pela prata para quantificação do número de AgNORs/núcleo. As imagens foram obtidas por um sistema de captura de imagem adaptado a um microscópio de luz em x1000 ampliação. A média AgNOR por núcleo (mAgnor) e a percentagem de células com mais de 1,2,3 e 4 AgNORs por núcleo (pAgNOR> 1,> 2> 3 um> 4) foram calculados. Resultados: As células esfoliadas de mucosa da língua SA (3,34 ± 0,51 AgNOR / núcleo) exibiram maior taxa de proliferação celular (p <0,05) quando comparado com C (2,81 ± 0,773 AgNORs / núcleo) e CRCO (2,87 ± 0,51 AgNORs / núcleo) . Um aumento (p <0,05) da mAgnor também foi observada nas células do assoalho bucal (3,55 ± 0,57) em comparação com SA C (3,18 ± 0,53) e CRCO (3,28 ± 0,39). Dados semelhantes foram encontrados usando pAgNOR>1,>2,>3 e > 4. Conclusão: usuários de crack não apresentaram alterações na taxa proliferativa celular da mucosa bucal. Diante dos dados apresentados, o consumo de cigarro, em combinação com o consumo de álcool, continua sendo o maior fator prejudicial à mucosa bucal. / Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate cell proliferation rate of cells exfoliated from clinically healthy mucosa of crack cocaine users. Material and Methods: Oral smears were collected from tongue and floor of the mouth mucosa of 87 individuals divided into three groups: crack cocaine users (CrCo), n=26; smokers/alcohol drinkers (SA), n=26 and controls (C), n=35. Histological slides were silver-stained using AgNOR technique to evaluate cell proliferation rate. Images were obtained by an image capturing system adapted to a light microscope at x1000 magnification. Quantification considered 50 cells by smear in which the number of AgNOR dots was visually counted. Mean AgNOR numbers per nucleus (mAgNOR) and the percentage of cells with more than 1,2,3 and 4 AgNORs per nucleus (pAgNOR>1,>2>3 an>4) were calculated. Results: Cells exfoliated from tongue mucosa of SA (3.34±0.51 AgNOR/nucleus) exhibit higher cell proliferation rate (p<0.05) when compared to C (2.81±0.773 AgNORs/nucleus) and to CrCo (2.87±0.51 AgNORs/nucleus). An increase (p<0.05) in mAgNOR was also observed in floor of the mouth cells (3.55±0.57) in SA when compared to C (3.18±0.53) and CrCo (3.28±0.39). Similar findings were found using pAgNOR>1,>2,>3 e >4. Conclusion: Crack cocaine users did not present changes in cell proliferation rate of oral mucosa. Between the expositions studied here, cigarette smoking in combination with alcohol consumption remain as the most harmful factors to oral mucosa.

Objetivo: Avaliar a taxa proliferativa de células esfoliadas da mucosa bucal clinicamente saudável de usuários de crack. Material e Métodos: esfregaços orais foram coletados de língua e assoalho bucal de 87 indivíduos, divididos em três grupos: os usuários de crack (CRCO), n = 26; fumantes / etilistas (SA), n = 26 e controles (C ), n = 35. Lâminas histológicas foram submetidas à técnica de impregnação pela prata para quantificação do número de AgNORs/núcleo. As imagens foram obtidas por um sistema de captura de imagem adaptado a um microscópio de luz em x1000 ampliação. A média AgNOR por núcleo (mAgnor) e a percentagem de células com mais de 1,2,3 e 4 AgNORs por núcleo (pAgNOR> 1,> 2> 3 um> 4) foram calculados. Resultados: As células esfoliadas de mucosa da língua SA (3,34 ± 0,51 AgNOR / núcleo) exibiram maior taxa de proliferação celular (p <0,05) quando comparado com C (2,81 ± 0,773 AgNORs / núcleo) e CRCO (2,87 ± 0,51 AgNORs / núcleo) . Um aumento (p <0,05) da mAgnor também foi observada nas células do assoalho bucal (3,55 ± 0,57) em comparação com SA C (3,18 ± 0,53) e CRCO (3,28 ± 0,39). Dados semelhantes foram encontrados usando pAgNOR>1,>2,>3 e > 4. Conclusão: usuários de crack não apresentaram alterações na taxa proliferativa celular da mucosa bucal. Diante dos dados apresentados, o consumo de cigarro, em combinação com o consumo de álcool, continua sendo o maior fator prejudicial à mucosa bucal. / Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate cell proliferation rate of cells exfoliated from clinically healthy mucosa of crack cocaine users. Material and Methods: Oral smears were collected from tongue and floor of the mouth mucosa of 87 individuals divided into three groups: crack cocaine users (CrCo), n=26; smokers/alcohol drinkers (SA), n=26 and controls (C), n=35. Histological slides were silver-stained using AgNOR technique to evaluate cell proliferation rate. Images were obtained by an image capturing system adapted to a light microscope at x1000 magnification. Quantification considered 50 cells by smear in which the number of AgNOR dots was visually counted. Mean AgNOR numbers per nucleus (mAgNOR) and the percentage of cells with more than 1,2,3 and 4 AgNORs per nucleus (pAgNOR>1,>2>3 an>4) were calculated. Results: Cells exfoliated from tongue mucosa of SA (3.34±0.51 AgNOR/nucleus) exhibit higher cell proliferation rate (p<0.05) when compared to C (2.81±0.773 AgNORs/nucleus) and to CrCo (2.87±0.51 AgNORs/nucleus). An increase (p<0.05) in mAgNOR was also observed in floor of the mouth cells (3.55±0.57) in SA when compared to C (3.18±0.53) and CrCo (3.28±0.39). Similar findings were found using pAgNOR>1,>2,>3 e >4. Conclusion: Crack cocaine users did not present changes in cell proliferation rate of oral mucosa. Between the expositions studied here, cigarette smoking in combination with alcohol consumption remain as the most harmful factors to oral mucosa.

Objetivo: Avaliar a taxa proliferativa de células esfoliadas da mucosa bucal clinicamente saudável de usuários de crack. Material e Métodos: esfregaços orais foram coletados de língua e assoalho bucal de 87 indivíduos, divididos em três grupos: os usuários de crack (CRCO), n = 26; fumantes / etilistas (SA), n = 26 e controles (C ), n = 35. Lâminas histológicas foram submetidas à técnica de impregnação pela prata para quantificação do número de AgNORs/núcleo. As imagens foram obtidas por um sistema de captura de imagem adaptado a um microscópio de luz em x1000 ampliação. A média AgNOR por núcleo (mAgnor) e a percentagem de células com mais de 1,2,3 e 4 AgNORs por núcleo (pAgNOR> 1,> 2> 3 um> 4) foram calculados. Resultados: As células esfoliadas de mucosa da língua SA (3,34 ± 0,51 AgNOR / núcleo) exibiram maior taxa de proliferação celular (p <0,05) quando comparado com C (2,81 ± 0,773 AgNORs / núcleo) e CRCO (2,87 ± 0,51 AgNORs / núcleo) . Um aumento (p <0,05) da mAgnor também foi observada nas células do assoalho bucal (3,55 ± 0,57) em comparação com SA C (3,18 ± 0,53) e CRCO (3,28 ± 0,39). Dados semelhantes foram encontrados usando pAgNOR>1,>2,>3 e > 4. Conclusão: usuários de crack não apresentaram alterações na taxa proliferativa celular da mucosa bucal. Diante dos dados apresentados, o consumo de cigarro, em combinação com o consumo de álcool, continua sendo o maior fator prejudicial à mucosa bucal. / Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate cell proliferation rate of cells exfoliated from clinically healthy mucosa of crack cocaine users. Material and Methods: Oral smears were collected from tongue and floor of the mouth mucosa of 87 individuals divided into three groups: crack cocaine users (CrCo), n=26; smokers/alcohol drinkers (SA), n=26 and controls (C), n=35. Histological slides were silver-stained using AgNOR technique to evaluate cell proliferation rate. Images were obtained by an image capturing system adapted to a light microscope at x1000 magnification. Quantification considered 50 cells by smear in which the number of AgNOR dots was visually counted. Mean AgNOR numbers per nucleus (mAgNOR) and the percentage of cells with more than 1,2,3 and 4 AgNORs per nucleus (pAgNOR>1,>2>3 an>4) were calculated. Results: Cells exfoliated from tongue mucosa of SA (3.34±0.51 AgNOR/nucleus) exhibit higher cell proliferation rate (p<0.05) when compared to C (2.81±0.773 AgNORs/nucleus) and to CrCo (2.87±0.51 AgNORs/nucleus). An increase (p<0.05) in mAgNOR was also observed in floor of the mouth cells (3.55±0.57) in SA when compared to C (3.18±0.53) and CrCo (3.28±0.39). Similar findings were found using pAgNOR>1,>2,>3 e >4. Conclusion: Crack cocaine users did not present changes in cell proliferation rate of oral mucosa. Between the expositions studied here, cigarette smoking in combination with alcohol consumption remain as the most harmful factors to oral mucosa.

Brain is one of the safe sanctuaries for HIV and, in turn, continuously supplies active viruses to the periphery. Additionally, HIV infection in brain results in several mild-to-severe neuro-immunological complications termed neuroAIDS. One-tenth of HIV-infected population is addicted to recreational drugs such as opiates, alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, etc. which share common target-areas in the brain with HIV. Interestingly, intensity of neuropathogenesis is remarkably enhanced due to exposure of recreational drugs during HIV infection. Current treatments to alleviate either the individual or synergistic effects of abusive drugs and HIV on neuronal modulations are less effective at CNS level, basically due to impermeability of therapeutic molecules across blood-brain barrier (BBB). Despite exciting advancement of nanotechnology in drug delivery, existing nanovehicles such as dendrimers, polymers, micelles, etc. suffer from the lack of adequate BBB penetrability before the drugs are engulfed by the reticuloendothelial system cells as well as the uncertainty that if and when the nanocarrier reaches the brain. Therefore, in order to develop a fast, target-specific, safe, and effective approach for brain delivery of anti-addiction, anti-viral and neuroprotective drugs, we exploited the potential of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) which, in recent years, has attracted significant importance in biomedical applications. We hypothesize that under the influence of external (non-invasive) magnetic force, MNPs can deliver these drugs across BBB in most effective manner. Accordingly, in this dissertation, I delineated the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of MNPs bound anti-opioid, anti-HIV and neuroprotective drugs for delivery in brain. I have developed a liposome-based novel magnetized nanovehicle which, under the influence of external magnetic forces, can transmigrate and effectively deliver drugs across BBB without compromising its integrity. It is expected that the developed nanoformulations may be of high therapeutic significance for neuroAIDS and for drug addiction as well.