Ernestina Hernández-García

Oxidative stress induced by morphine in brain of rats fed with a protein deficient diet.

The objective of the study is to determine the damage by oxidative stress induced by morphine in brain of rats fed with a protein-deficient diet. Twenty-eight malnourished male Wistar rats, 30 days old, were used in the study. The animals were divided into four groups of 7 rats per group. Group I received NaCl and the groups II; III and IV intraperitoneally received 3, 6 and 12 mg/kg of morphine sulphate, respectively, in a single dose. Animals were sacrificed and the levels of glutathione (GSH), dopamine, tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) as well as, Na+/K+ ATPase and total ATPase activity in the brain were measured. Tryptophan levels and Na+/K + ATPase activity showed non-significant changes in the experimental group. Levels of 5-HIAA decreased significantly (p = .03) in animals that received 12 mg/kg of morphine and in animals that received 3 mg/kg, levels of GSH and dopamine were found to have a significant decrease (p < .05), but a significant increase in the group that received 12 mg/kg of morphine (p < .05). Total ATPase activity increased significantly in the groups that received 3 mg/kg (p = .015) and 6 mg/kg (p = .0001) of morphine. The results show that malnutrition induces changes in cellular regulation and biochemical responses to oxidative stress caused by morphine sulphate.

Prescription and consumption of solid oral drugs dispensed as unitary doses in a third level hospital.

Background: The knowledge about the pattern of prescription and consumption of solid oral drugs dispensed as unitary doses (UD) in Mexico is sparing. Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of prescription and consumption of solid oral drugs dispensed as unitary doses (UD) in a third level private hospital of Mexico. A retrospective study of a 60-month period (from 2007 to 2011) was carried out to know the pattern of drugs dispensed as UD in a third level hospital. Results: Among the principal drugs consumed were analgesic, antihypertensive, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antiepileptic, and diuretics. The dispensation of drugs per year was as follows: 181 drugs with 85,167 UD in 2007; 199 with 90,519 UD in 2008; 193 with 101,479 UD in 2009; 195 with 100,798 UD in 2010; and 198 with 103,913 UD in 2011. Conclusion: The findings confirmed that prescription and consumption of unitary doses in the hospitalization service increased, and revealed the extensive use of analgesics as the principal prescribed drug in this kind of hospital.