Annelisa Farah da Silva

Azastilbene analogs as tyrosinase inhibitors: new molecules with depigmenting potential.

This research has been an effort to develop synthetic resveratrol analogs in order to improve the depigmenting potential of natural resveratrol. Six resveratrol analogs were synthesized and tested for tyrosinase inhibitory activity in vitro, by qualitative and quantitative steps. The results showed the analog C as being the most powerful tyrosinase inhibitor (IA50 = 65.67 ± 0.60 μg/mL), followed by the analogs B, E, F, A, and D, respectively. The analog C presented a tyrosinase inhibition potential better than natural resveratrol (P < 0.001). The best depigmenting activity was provided by the presence of hydroxyl in the orthoposition on the second phenolic ring.

In vitro inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion by Xylitol

This study evaluated, in vitro, the antimicrobial activity and the anti-adherent property of xylitol (0.5, 2.5 and 5.0%, w/v) on two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains (ATCC 9027 and clinical). The assay of antimicrobial activity was performed to determine a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the adhesion test was performed, by which the parameters regarding, growth in the culture medium, number of colony forming units (CFUs) released and slide evaluation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were analyzed. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was employed for statistical analysis. Results showed that xylitol had no antimicrobial activity on these strains; however, the inhibition of bacterial adherence was observed in microphotographs obtained by SEM. These results indicated that xylitol could be a future alternative to combat bacterial colonization.

In vitro inhibition of adhesion of Escherichia coli strains by Xylitol

The present study aimed to evaluate xylitols antimicrobial and anti-adherence activities on Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) and on another clinical strain enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). In vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test and adhesion assays were performed using 0.5, 2.5 and 5.0% xylitol. It was found that xylitol did not have antimicrobial properties on these strains. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the slides treated with xylitol had a significant reduction in the number of bacilli and the inhibition of microbial adhesion was probably the xylitols mechanism of action. Xylitol could be a possible alternative on the control of E. coli infections.

Problemas relacionados aos medicamentos em idosos fragilizados da Zona da Mata Mineira, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To identify major health problems, drug usage profile and drug-related problems (DRPs) involved in the treatment of frail elderly people of Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. METHODS: The study assessed 260 medical records of elderly patients served by Centro Mais Vida, Juiz de Fora-MG, between August and September 2010. The diseases were grouped according to the International Classification of Diseases - 10th review, the drugs according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System and the DRPs according to the Dader method. RESULTS: It was observed that 73.8% of the elderly people were female and 42.7% were aged 60-69 years. We found 1,300 diseases, of which 31.07% were of circulatory system, 19.85% endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and 13.46% of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. Among the 1,737 drugs, the ones of cardiovascular system (42.8%), followed by alimentary tract and metabolism (23.7%) and nervous system (18.2%) were the most prevalent. Among all drugs, 53.9% presented some DRPs, being DRP 1 (not using the drug needed) the most frequent (37.4%). CONCLUSION: The results highlight the need to review drug regimens of elderly patients, aiming to encourage rational and effective use of medicines. The data also show the need for more complete studies about the evaluation of DRP risks in the elderly population.

Medical Applications of Xylitol: An Appraisal

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol, normally produced by mammal metabolism, which has a great (and increasing) applicability in food and pharmaceutical industries due to its intriguing and proper characteristics. The most explored area is oral health, due to its non- and anti-cariogenic properties, followed by its use as a sweetener. Moreover, some other applicabilities in the medical area can be found in literature and patents, such as the use in the treatment and/or prevention of acute otitis media, respiratory diseases, parenteral nutrition, atopic dermatitis, wound repairing, gastrointestinal infections, osteoporosis, anti-aging and inflammatory processes. Market usage of xylitol for over 20 years, accompanied by toxicological studies, corroborated its safety for medical purposes. A great number of recent studies demonstrate that xylitol can be used to develop pharmaceutical products. Especially because of its activity against microorganisms, xylitol medical applications are still an important point for studies, with potential for novel medical applications in the upcoming years.