Under stressful conditions, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis acts to promote transitory physiological adaptations that are often resolved after the stressful stimulus is no longer present. In addition to corticosteroids... more
Under stressful conditions, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis acts to promote transitory physiological adaptations that are often resolved after the stressful stimulus is no longer present. In addition to corticosteroids (e.g., cortisol), the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (3α,5α-tetrahydroprogesterone, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one) participates in negative feedback mechanisms that restore homeostasis. Chronic, repeated exposure to stress impairs the responsivity of the HPA axis and dampens allopregnanolone levels, participating in the etiopathology of psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MDD and PTSD patients present abnormalities in the HPA axis regulation, such as altered cortisol levels or failure to suppress cortisol release in the dexamethasone suppression test. Herein, we review the neurophysiological role of allopregnanolone both as a potent and positive GABAergic neuromodulator but also in its c...
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Background: This study aims to identify the association between parenting styles and behavioral changes among adolescents regarding the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine/crack. Methods: A group of ninety-nine adolescents... more
Background: This study aims to identify the association between parenting styles and behavioral changes among adolescents regarding the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine/crack. Methods: A group of ninety-nine adolescents (39 girls and 60 boys), aged 14 to 19 years (17.05 ± 1.51), who called in to a call center that provides counseling to substance users, was followed-up for 30 days. Data collection occurred between March 2009 and October 2015. The adolescents answered questions regarding parental responsiveness and demanding nature on a scale to assess parental styles and provided sociodemographic data, substance abuse consumption characteristics, and the Contemplation Ladder scale score. Results: The parental styles most reported by the adolescents were authoritative (30%) and indulgent (28%). Children who perceived their mothers as having an indulgent style and who had absent fathers presented more difficulties in making behavioral changes to avoid alcohol and coc...
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Environmental enrichment (EE) has a neuroprotective role and prevents the development of cocaine addiction behavior in rats. Studies showing the role of EE in cocaine toxicity are nonexistent. We hypothesized that rats exposed to EE are... more
Environmental enrichment (EE) has a neuroprotective role and prevents the development of cocaine addiction behavior in rats. Studies showing the role of EE in cocaine toxicity are nonexistent. We hypothesized that rats exposed to EE are protected from cocaine-induced changes in the redox profile and DNA damage after undergoing conditioned place preference (CPP). Ten male Wistar rats were placed in EE cages equipped with toys, a ladder and tunnels, and ten were provided clean, standard laboratory housing (non-EE). EE and non-EE rats were randomly allocated to the classical CPP cocaine vs. saline (COC/Saline) group, where cocaine (15 mg/kg; i.p.) was tested alternately with saline. Afterwards, intracellular reactive species and antioxidant enzymes were evaluated and the comet essay was performed in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. As expected, EE rats spent less time in the cocaine-paired chamber, and as a new result, less cocaine-induced DNA damage was observed in the t...
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Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease associated with oxidative stress, damage to biomolecules such as DNA, and neuroinflammation. Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid widespread in the brain, has neuroprotective properties that... more
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease associated with oxidative stress, damage to biomolecules such as DNA, and neuroinflammation. Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid widespread in the brain, has neuroprotective properties that might prevent tissue injury and DNA damage induced by chronic hyperglycemia. We evaluated the effects of chronic taurine treatment on oxidative stress parameters, DNA damage and inflammatory markers in the frontal cortex, and hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats displayed increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage in both areas, evidencing the pro-oxidant effects of diabetes in the brain. Moreover, this condition increased levels of several inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6, IL-12, TNF-γ, and IFN-α, more pronouncedly in the hippocampus. Supporting our hypothesis, taurine treatment reduced ROS, DNA damage, and inflammatory cytokine levels, providing evidence of its beneficial effects against genotoxicity and neuroinflammation associated with diabetes. Our data endorse the necessary clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of taurine supplementation in the prevention and treatment of neurochemical and metabolic alterations related to diabetes.
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Resumo Introdução: Sites brasileiros sobre drogas são numerosos, sendo necessária uma avaliação da confiabilidade e qualidade das informações disponibilizadas. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de informações sobre drogas de abuso em sites da... more
Resumo Introdução: Sites brasileiros sobre drogas são numerosos, sendo necessária uma avaliação da confiabilidade e qualidade das informações disponibilizadas. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de informações sobre drogas de abuso em sites da Internet. Métodos: Foi ...
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The present study aimed to analyze the effects of neonatal stimulation on species-specific behaviors (defensive reactions to a predator and social interactions) in adult male and female rats. Handling and an unpredictable sequence of... more
The present study aimed to analyze the effects of neonatal stimulation on species-specific behaviors (defensive reactions to a predator and social interactions) in adult male and female rats. Handling and an unpredictable sequence of aversive stimuli were applied to male and female pups from the 1st to the 10th day after delivery; behavioral inhibition, aggression, and sexual behavior were evaluated in adulthood. Results showed that either neonatal handling or aversive stimulation decreased behavioral inhibition in a novel and potentially harmful situation (open field with a predator) in both male and female rats and increased maternal aggressive behavior. Sexual behavior in both males and females decreased, which could affect reproductive capability. The results could cast doubts on the generalization of beneficial effects of neonatal stimulation on the behavior of adult rats.
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Three experiments were performed in order to find if carbamazepine interacts with dopaminergic systems. In the first experiment carbamazepine itself did not induce stereotypy but it potentiated the apomorphine-elicited stereotypy. The... more
Three experiments were performed in order to find if carbamazepine interacts with dopaminergic systems. In the first experiment carbamazepine itself did not induce stereotypy but it potentiated the apomorphine-elicited stereotypy. The potentiation was no longer seen in the second experiment with carbamazepine given chronically. Moreover, stereotyped behaviour was reduced when apomorphine was administered alone after chronic carbamazepine administration. In the third experiment it was shown that carbamazepine together with chronic haloperidol administration or with rapid eye movement-sleep deprivation prevented the development of dopaminergic supersensitivity. These experiments support the hypothesis of a dopaminergic effect of carbamazepine.
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Psychopharmacology (1996) 125:379-384 © Springer-Verlag 1996 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONHelena MT Barros Klaus A. Miczek Withdrawal from oral cocaine in rats ... after a 12 to 48-h "binge", and they have been interpreted to reflect... more
Psychopharmacology (1996) 125:379-384 © Springer-Verlag 1996 ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONHelena MT Barros Klaus A. Miczek Withdrawal from oral cocaine in rats ... after a 12 to 48-h "binge", and they have been interpreted to reflect an "an-hedonic state" (Markou and Koob ...
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1. It has been reported that sodium valproate induces a morphine-like withdrawal syndrome in rats. The effects of acute or chronic treatment with sodium valproate on rat behavior was studied in the open-field test. 2. Acute sodium... more
1. It has been reported that sodium valproate induces a morphine-like withdrawal syndrome in rats. The effects of acute or chronic treatment with sodium valproate on rat behavior was studied in the open-field test. 2. Acute sodium valproate (320 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) decreases the frequency of, and the time spent in grooming even when not modifying locomotion, rearing or defecation (N = 15), either 15 or 60 min after an acute treatment. This effect was not modified (N = 10) by concomitant administration of morphine (2 mg/kg) or naloxone (1 mg/kg). 3. Interruption of prolonged (30 days) valproate treatment with increasing doses of 40 to 320 mg/kg, by gavage, twice daily (N = 10) did not modify rat behavior in the open-field, from the first to the fourteenth day of the test. 4. We conclude that the decreased novelty-induced grooming does not depend on the opioid system and may be related to an anti-anxiety effect of valproate.
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Central nervous system is not spared from the deleterious effects of diabetes, since several studies have described neuropsychological and neurobehavioral changes in diabetic subjects, suggesting that diabetic encephalopathy should be... more
Central nervous system is not spared from the deleterious effects of diabetes, since several studies have described neuropsychological and neurobehavioral changes in diabetic subjects, suggesting that diabetic encephalopathy should be recognized as a complication of this complex metabolic disorder. In fact, psychiatric manifestations may accompany this encephalopathy, since the prevalence of depression in diabetic patients is much higher than in the general population. Furthermore, evidences from preclinical and clinical studies suggest that GABA plays a role both in the pathophysiology of the diabetic encephalopathy-related depression. So, this review addresses the GABAergic modulation in diabetic encephalopathy-related depression. Data presented from literature support the association between GABA and depressive- like behaviors in diabetic encephalopathy, being this neurotransmitter a potential target for the treatment of diabetes, depression and related comorbidities.
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Agonists acting at benzodiazepine, gamma-aminobutyric acidA, barbiturate and neurosteroid recognition sites were studied for their attenuation of separation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) in rat pups. The behavioral effects of the... more
Agonists acting at benzodiazepine, gamma-aminobutyric acidA, barbiturate and neurosteroid recognition sites were studied for their attenuation of separation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) in rat pups. The behavioral effects of the neuroactive steroid 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone) were assessed when the drug was administered alone and in combination with agonists and antagonists acting at the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor complex. At 7 days postpartum, male and female Long-Evans rat pups were separated from the dam and littermates, and placed on a 20 degrees C surface for 2 min. Allopregnanolone (1-30 mg/kg s.c.), alprazolam (0.03-1 mg/kg s.c.), diazepam (0.1-3 mg/kg s.c.), muscimol (0.03-0.3 mg/kg s.c.) and pentobarbital (1-30 mg/kg s.c.) dose-dependently decreased USV. Pretreatment with flumazenil (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) antagonized alprazolam's and diazepam's USV-suppressive effects; bicuculline (2 mg/kg s.c.) reversed muscimol's USV-supp...
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Capítulo V – Modelos animais de dependência a drogas e etanol.
The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood and it can persist into adulthood. In adults, the most common comorbidity of ADHD is Substance Use Disorder. Cocaine abuse... more
The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood and it can persist into adulthood. In adults, the most common comorbidity of ADHD is Substance Use Disorder. Cocaine abuse and dependence are more precocious in ADHD patients. Because females are more vulnerable to the effects of cocaine, our objective was to evaluate the self-administration of cocaine in male and female rats in a model to ADHD. Male (M) and female (F) Wistar rats, PN 4, were randomized to intrathecal 6-OHDA (100µg free base) or SHAM 10µL (0.1% ascorbic acid). When 30 days old the rats were placed daily in operant conditioning sessions (3 hours, FR1) for oral sucrose self-administration added or not with cocaine (0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg/ml), for 28 days. Horizontal activity was estimated on PN 21 and post cocaine 0,2 mg, 0,3 mg and 0,4 mg. For analysis of reinforcement and of locomotion a Two Way ANOVA was used, considering lesion and sex as factors. Tukey te...
1. This study compared the effects of the antimanic drugs, lithium and valproic acid, on GABA and glutamine CSF concentration and on head-shakes during hyponatremia. 2. Hyponatremic and normonatremic rats were treated with 2 mEq/kg... more
1. This study compared the effects of the antimanic drugs, lithium and valproic acid, on GABA and glutamine CSF concentration and on head-shakes during hyponatremia. 2. Hyponatremic and normonatremic rats were treated with 2 mEq/kg lithium and 360 mg/kg valproic acid. Behavioral observation was conducted for 120 min after which blood and CSF collection were performed under anesthesia. 3. Peritoneal dialysis with glucose induced moderate hyponatremia and doubled glutamine CSF concentrations. Both lithium and valproic acid significantly increased GABA CSF levels in normonatremic and hyponatremic animals. Valproic acid induced head-shakes and increased CSF glutamine concentration. 4. The results suggest that both antimanic drugs have similar effects on GABA, but lithium is preferred if the increase in glutamine concentration poses a problem, either in the presence or absence of hyponatremia.
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1. It has been reported that sodium valproate induces a morphine-like withdrawal syndrome in rats. The effects of acute or chronic treatment with sodium valproate on rat behavior was studied in the open-field test. 2. Acute sodium... more
1. It has been reported that sodium valproate induces a morphine-like withdrawal syndrome in rats. The effects of acute or chronic treatment with sodium valproate on rat behavior was studied in the open-field test. 2. Acute sodium valproate (320 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) decreases the frequency of, and the time spent in grooming even when not modifying locomotion, rearing or defecation (N = 15), either 15 or 60 min after an acute treatment. This effect was not modified (N = 10) by concomitant administration of morphine (2 mg/kg) or naloxone (1 mg/kg). 3. Interruption of prolonged (30 days) valproate treatment with increasing doses of 40 to 320 mg/kg, by gavage, twice daily (N = 10) did not modify rat behavior in the open-field, from the first to the fourteenth day of the test. 4. We conclude that the decreased novelty-induced grooming does not depend on the opioid system and may be related to an anti-anxiety effect of valproate.
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Benzene and xylene are used by the chemical industry as raw materials for the manufacturing of paints, insecticides, gums, resins and other compounds. Through its myelotoxic actions, benzene produces hematologic changes ranging from... more
Benzene and xylene are used by the chemical industry as raw materials for the manufacturing of paints, insecticides, gums, resins and other compounds. Through its myelotoxic actions, benzene produces hematologic changes ranging from pancytopenia to total bone marrow aplasia. The present investigation studied the possible effects of xylene on rat peripheral blood and compared these effects to those produced by benzene. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were injected s.c. with 2 ml benzene, xylene or saline/kg body weight 3 times a week at 2-3 d intervals for 5 w. The animals were lightly anesthetized and blood was collected by puncture of the retro-orbital plexus before the first administration of the solvents on d 7, 14, 21 and 35 of dosing, and 14 d after dosing was discontinued. Xylene induced leukocytosis as an increase in absolute neutrophil numbers, whereas benzene caused leukocytopenia due to decreases in absolute lymphocyte number. The 2 solvents reduced erythrocyte counts, hematoc...
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Research Interests: Brazil, Adolescent, Humans, Child, Female, and 8 moreMale, Length of Stay, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Age Factors, University Hospitals, and Drug Utilization
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Introduction: The first days of a quit attempt represent an important challenge to long-term abstinence, especially because of the changes that take place over this period. Objective: To examine whether smokers who have recently changed... more
Introduction: The first days of a quit attempt represent an important challenge to long-term abstinence, especially because of the changes that take place over this period. Objective: To examine whether smokers who have recently changed their smoking behavior show changes in the intensity of nicotine dependence, motivational stage, or symptoms of anxiety and depression relative to smokers without recent changes in smoking behavior. Methods: Smokers attending a support group for smoking cessation in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, were invited to participate. The program consisted of four weekly sessions. Smokers answered questionnaires covering intensity of nicotine dependence, stage of motivation, and symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline and in the fourth week. Urine was collected at both time points, tested for cotinine concentration, and used to determine the final status of smokers. Results: Of the 54 smokers included in the study, 20 (37%) stopped smoking or decreased ...
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Major depression is more prevalent among women than men, and progesterone might be involved in the mechanisms that generate these differences. Progesterone is clinically used for women in several reproductive events, but its... more
Major depression is more prevalent among women than men, and progesterone might be involved in the mechanisms that generate these differences. Progesterone is clinically used for women in several reproductive events, but its antidepressant effect is unclear. Animal studies showed the interference of progesterone on depressive behaviors of rodents, but they are inconclusive, and no study compared different treatment durations. This study investigated the antidepressant effect of low doses of progesterone in male and female rats under acute or chronic administration. Male and female Wistar rats in different phases of the estrous cycle were acutely administered different doses of progesterone (0.0, 0.4. 0.8 and 1.2mg/kg) and tested in the forced swimming test (FST). The lowest dose of progesterone (0.4 mg/kg) was chronically administered during two complete estrous cycles and diestrous II female and male rats were tested in the FST. Progesterone decreased depressive-like behaviors only in chronically treated diestrous II female rats and increased immobility in male rats. This low dose of progesterone did not interfere in the hormonal cycling in female rats. Results also showed that diestrous II female rats had greater immobility than male rats in the FST. The greater immobility of diestrous II female rats shows that rats in this estrous phase present more depressive-like behaviors that may be associated with their lower serum levels of progesterone. We showed that progesterone chronically administered at low doses reverses these depressive-like behaviors and has an antidepressant effect during the diestrous II phase of the estrous cycle.
Research Interests: Physiology, Depression, Animal Studies, Biological Sciences, Progesterone, and 15 moreLow Dose, Female, Animals, Male, Major Depression, Rats, Analysis of Variance, Forced Swim Test, Estrous cycle, Psychomotor Performance, Sex Characteristics, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, Medical and Health Sciences, Male rat, and Antidepressive agents
Non-adherence should always be investigated when there is a failure in bipolar treatments, since it is known that reported non-adherence rates in bipolar disorder treatment for long-term prophylactic pharmacotherapy range from 18% to 52%,... more
Non-adherence should always be investigated when there is a failure in bipolar treatments, since it is known that reported non-adherence rates in bipolar disorder treatment for long-term prophylactic pharmacotherapy range from 18% to 52%, with a median prevalence of 44.7%. Several factors are related to the poor adherence and reduction of medication efficiency, such as the different types of bipolar disorder, the presence of side effects, medication interactions, level of patient's knowledge about the disorder and their attitude towards treatment, complexity of medical regimens and the doctor-patient relationship. Bipolar disorder outpatients under lithium treatment from the Hospital de Clínicas and Materno Infantil Presidente Vargas of Porto Alegre were recruited. All the patients had bipolar disorder and gave informed consent to participate in a clinical interview (106), answered the Lithium Attitudes Questionnaire (LAQ), Lithium Knowledge Test (LKT), Medication Adherence Rati...
Research Interests: Bipolar Disorder, Lithium, Adolescent, Adhesion, Knowledge, and 15 moreHumans, Female, Male, Attitudes, Patient Compliance, Attitude, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, Doctor patient relationship, Lithium Carbonate, Erythrocytes, Drug treatment, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
Poor adherence to lithium is very common in bipolar patients and it is a frequent cause of recurrence during prophylactic treatment. Several reports suggest that attitudes of bipolar patients interfere with adherence to lithium. The... more
Poor adherence to lithium is very common in bipolar patients and it is a frequent cause of recurrence during prophylactic treatment. Several reports suggest that attitudes of bipolar patients interfere with adherence to lithium. The Lithium Attitudes Questionnaire (LAQ) is a brief questionnaire developed as a means of identifying and grouping the problems patients commonly have with taking lithium regularly. The original version is validated in patients, but a validated version in Portuguese is not yet available. One-hundred six patients with bipolar disorder (DSM-IV criteria) criteria under lithium treatment for at least one month were assessed using LAQ. LAQ is a brief questionnaire administered under interview conditions, which includes 19 items rating attitudes towards prophylactic lithium treatment. We analysed the internal consistency, concurrent validity, sensitivity and specificity of the Portuguese version of LAQ. The internal consistency, evaluated by Cronbach's alpha ...
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Adherence problems are a common feature among bipolar patients. A recent study showed that lithium knowledge was the main difference between adherent and non adherents bipolar patients. The Lithium Knowledge Test (LKT), a brief... more
Adherence problems are a common feature among bipolar patients. A recent study showed that lithium knowledge was the main difference between adherent and non adherents bipolar patients. The Lithium Knowledge Test (LKT), a brief questionnaire, was developed as a means of identifying aspects of patients' practical and pharmacological knowledge which are important if therapy is to be safe and effective. The original English version is validated in psychiatric population, but a validated Portuguese one is not yet available. One hundred six patients selected were diagnosed with bipolar disorder (I or II) according to DSM-IV criteria and had to be on lithium treatment for at least one month. The LKT was administered on only one occasion. We analysed the internal consistency, concurrent validity, sensitivity and specificity of the LKT for the detection of the knowledge about lithium treatment of bipolar patients. The internal consistency, evaluated by Cronbach's alpha was 0.596. Th...
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INTRODUCTION: Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant medication used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. However, it has also been used for non-medical purposes, e.g. to produce euphoria, to... more
INTRODUCTION: Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant medication used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. However, it has also been used for non-medical purposes, e.g. to produce euphoria, to increase self-esteem, and to achieve the so-called neurocognitive enhancement, decreasing the feeling of tiredness and increasing focus and attention. OBJECTIVE: To describe, from theoretical and contextual points of view, the potential for abuse and non-medical use of methylphenidate. METHOD: The PubMed, SciELO and Cochrane databases were searched using the following keywords in Portuguese: metilfenidato, transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade, facilitadores dos processos cognitivos or agentes nootrópicos, and abuso de substâncias; and in English: methylphenidate, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, cognitive enhancement or nootropic agents, and substance abuse. Studies published between 1990 and 2010 were selected for review. RESU...
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Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with higher risk for depression. Diabetic rats present depressive-like behaviors and taurine, one of the most abundant free amino acids in the brain, reverses this depressive behaviors.... more
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with higher risk for depression. Diabetic rats present depressive-like behaviors and taurine, one of the most abundant free amino acids in the brain, reverses this depressive behaviors. Because taurine is a GABAA agonist modulator, we hypothesize that its antidepressant effect results from the interaction on this system by changing α2 GABAA receptor subunit expression, beside changes on BDNF mRNA, and memory in diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-diabetic and non-diabetic Wistar rats were daily injected with 100mg/kg of taurine or saline, intraperitoneally, for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, rats were exposed to the novel object recognition memory. Later they were euthanized, the brains were weighed, and the hippocampus was dissected for α2 GABAA subunit and BDNF mRNA expression. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed that diabetic rats presented lower α2 GABAA subunit and BDNF mRNA expression than non-diabetic rats and taurin...
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INTRODUÇÃO: O abuso de drogas é um problema importante de saúde pública, e intervenções telefônicas são utilizadas como uma modalidade de tratamento. Objetivou-se descrever o perfil sociodemográfico, o padrão de consumo e a dependência de... more
INTRODUÇÃO: O abuso de drogas é um problema importante de saúde pública, e intervenções telefônicas são utilizadas como uma modalidade de tratamento. Objetivou-se descrever o perfil sociodemográfico, o padrão de consumo e a dependência de substâncias psicoativas dos usuários que buscaram auxílio em um serviço de teleatendimento para drogas de abuso. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados os dados do 1º ano de funcionamento do serviço, coletados por consultores previamente capacitados, através de protocolo informatizado. Foram aplicados instrumentos para caracterização sociodemográfica, padrão de consumo e dependência dos usuários. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva para estimar a distribuição das variáveis, e os dados apresentam-se em freqüências. RESULTADOS: No período, foram atendidas 28.257 ligações, sendo 7.956 incluídas no estudo. No total, foi encontrada maior prevalência de mulheres, estudantes, solteiros, maiores de 35 anos, com ensino fundamental incompleto e renda familiar menor que ci...
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A cessação do tabagismo traz benefícios à saúde, pois indivíduos que param de fumar evitam a maioria das doenças associadas ao tabaco. Objetiva-se revisar as características fundamentais e eficácia das intervenções farmacológicas e... more
A cessação do tabagismo traz benefícios à saúde, pois indivíduos que param de fumar evitam a maioria das doenças associadas ao tabaco. Objetiva-se revisar as características fundamentais e eficácia das intervenções farmacológicas e psicossociais para o tratamento dos tabagistas, apresentando dados de revisões tipo meta-análises e de ensaios clínico randomizados. Intervenções farmacológicas como a terapia de reposição de nicotina e a bupropiona e intervenções psicossociais como a terapia cognitivo-comportamental e a intervenção motivacional face a face e por telefone demonstram eficácia. A farmacoterapia aumenta a chance de abstinência em 2 vezes e as intervenções psicossociais face a face ou por telefone em 1,5 a 2,5 vezes em relação a tabagistas recebendo intervenções controles. Estes dados fornecem subsídios para profissionais de saúde decidirem qual o melhor tratamento para o tabagista, informando as intervenções disponíveis, sua eficácia e o benefício de sua utilização.
Os profissionais da saúde devem ser estimulados a adquirir independência própria na busca, seleção e utilização de informações para solução de problemas do dia-a-dia. Além disso, devem ser incentivados a refletir sobre os fatos vividos,... more
Os profissionais da saúde devem ser estimulados a adquirir independência própria na busca, seleção e utilização de informações para solução de problemas do dia-a-dia. Além disso, devem ser incentivados a refletir sobre os fatos vividos, visando à reconstrução da trajetória percorrida, dando-lhes um novo significado. Este texto apresenta uma experiência de aprendizagem, vivenciada por estudantes de graduação, durante o processo de avaliação de sites brasileiros sobre drogas de abuso. Mediante a identificação do grande número de informações sobre drogas de abuso e da falta de critérios para sua divulgação na internet, iniciou-se um processo de pesquisa que desencadeou a construção de um protocolo para auxiliar o processo de seleção de sites brasileiros que abordam o tema drogas de abuso.
Research Interests: Animal Behavior, Toxicology, Lactation, Linear models, Pregnancy, and 15 moreFemale, Animals, Lead, Lead Exposure, Central Nervous System, Lead Poisoning, Selection Index, Body Temperature, Acoustic analysis of speech, Rats, Body Weight, Wistar Rats, Motor activity, Acoustic Analysis, and Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Neste estudo fez-se uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a 3,4- metilenodioximetan-fetamina (MDMA), mais conhecida como "êxtase", uma droga em expansão de abuso entre os jovens. Descreve-se o histórico, desde sua síntese até seu uso... more
Neste estudo fez-se uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a 3,4- metilenodioximetan-fetamina (MDMA), mais conhecida como "êxtase", uma droga em expansão de abuso entre os jovens. Descreve-se o histórico, desde sua síntese até seu uso inicial como auxiliar em psicoterapia e, mais recentemente, como droga de abuso. Apresenta-se o perfil de uso em outros países, tentando prever o possível padrão de uso no Brasil, onde já se iniciou o abuso. O detalhamento sobre a farmacocinética da MDMA visa a justificar as conseqüências sobre a atividade farmacológica e toxicológica. Resumem-se as manifestações clínicas de toxicidade a curto e a médio prazo, descrevendo-se os efeitos na intoxicação grave com o "êxtase". São apresentados os estudos dos mecanismos de ação no sentido de justificar seus efeitos tóxicos psíquicos e físicos, detalhar os mecanismos pelos quais a droga é auto-administrada e as possibilidades terapêuticas para reverter os efeitos.