Tânia Alves Amador

Analgesic activity of Psychotria colorata (Willd. ex R. & S.) Muell. Arg. alkaloids

An ethnopharmacological survey showed that home remedies prepared with flowers, fruits and roots of Psychotria colorata (Wild. ex R. & S.) Muell. Arg. (RUBIACEAE) are used by Amazonian caboclos as pain killers. These data led to the evaluation of analgesic activity of extracts of P. colorata, using the formalin, writhing and tail-flick methods. This paper reports the Naloxone reversible opioid-like analgesic activity of alkaloids present in leafs and flowers of P. colorata.

Involvement of nmda receptors in the analgesicproperties of psychotridine

We have previously reported that the alkaloid extract of Psychotria colorata (Willd. ex R. & S.) Muell. Arg., had marked dose-dependent, opioid-like activity. Phytochemical analyses of P. colorata flowers and leaves identified several pyrrolidinoindoline alkaloids, including psychotridine. To further investigate the activity and mechanism of action of Psychotria alkaloids, we studied the effects of psychotridine on thermal and chemical models of analgesia. In the tail-flick model, psychotridine presents a dose-dependent analgesic effect; the effect is not reversed by prior treatment with naloxone. Psychotridine dose-dependently decreased capsaicin-induced pain. Performance in the rotarod test showed that psychotridine does not induce motor deficits at doses effective in analgesia models. Psychotridine inhibited [3H]MK-801 (dizocilpine) binding to cortex membranes in a dose-dependent manner. Binding is completely abolished at 300 nM. The data rule out opioid activity, and the inhibition of capsaicin-induced pain and of radioligand binding strongly suggest the participation of NMDA receptors in psychotridine-induced analgesia.

Effects of Psychotria colorata alkaloids in brain opioid system.

An ethnopharmacological survey showed that home remedies prepared with flowers and fruits ofPsychotria colorata are used by Amazonian peasants as pain killers. Psychopharmacological in vivo evaluation of alkaloids obtained from leaves and flowers of this species showed a marked dose-dependent naloxone-reversible analgesic activity, therefore suggesting an opioid-like pharmacological profile. This paper reports an inhibitory effect ofP. colorata flower alkaloids on [3H]naloxone binding in rat striata as well as a decrease in adenylate cyclase basal activity. The alkaloids did not affect [3H] GMP-PNP binding. These findings provide a neurochemical basis for the opioid-like activity previously detected in vivo and point toPsychotria alkaloids as a potential source of new bioactive opiate derivatives.

O medicamento na rotina de trabalho dos agentes comunitários de saúde da unidade básica de saúde Santa Cecília, em Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

Desde o estabelecimento do Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS), busca-se enfatizar a atencao basica e a saude familiar. Uma das estrategias que vem sendo utilizada e o Programa de Saude da Familia (PSF) constituido por equipes de profissionais que incluem os agentes comunitarios de saude. Entre os diversos problemas enfrentados pelas equipes de saude da familia esta o uso irracional dos medicamentos. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de examinar o papel do medicamento na rotina dos agentes, estabelecer sua percepcao em relacao aos servicos da farmacia de uma unidade basica de saude e identificar as necessidades de informacao sobre medicamentos para elaboracao de treinamento. Para tanto, foi realizada uma sessao utilizando-se a tecnica grupo nominal, em que oito de onze agentes de saude participaram respondendo a quatro perguntas. O medicamento foi considerado importante, com valorizacao das acoes preventivas. A percepcao em relacao aos servicos da farmacia foi positiva. Segundo os agentes, as duvidas sobre medicamentos, frequentemente relatadas pela populacao, refletem falhas na consulta e na aquisicao dos medicamentos. O agente de saude e reconhecido pela populacao como o profissional que pode auxilia-la no uso de medicamentos, promovendo o seu uso racional.

Educational level, socio-economic status and relationship with quality of life in elderly residents of the city of Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o indice de qualidade de vida de idosos participantes de grupos de convivencia, de diferentes estratos socioeconomicos do municipio de Porto Alegre/RS. A pesquisa seguiu um modelo de estudo transversal e utilizou para coleta de dados o questionario SF-36. A amostragem foi do tipo intencional e foi composta por: 61 idosos na classe A, 80 na classe C e de 84 na classe E. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comite de Etica em Pesquisa da UFRGS. Em relacao a qualidade de vida, a classe A apresentou escores melhores que a classe C e E nos dominios dor, vitalidade, aspecto social e saude mental. Houve diferenca significativa de qualidade de vida no ensino superior completo, em relacao aos demais estratos de escolaridade, nos dominios dor, vitalidade, saude mental e aspecto social. A qualidade de vida e um conceito complexo de ser estudado, mas essencial para que haja melhora na percepcao de saude e do bem-estar pelos idosos.

Conhecimento dos pacientes sobre medicamentos prescritos por odontólogos no sul do Brasil

This study sought to establish the degree of patients’ knowledge regarding medication prescribed by public dental services in Porto Alegre and verify the frequency of verbal prescription by dentists and individual sources of information on medication. It involved a cross-sectional study conducted in two emergency services using a structured questionnaire applied after dental consultation. Of the 286 respondents, 164 (57%) were female, with an average age of 35 and mean family income of 3.5 minimum salaries. It was revealed that 10% of the patients received a verbal prescription and, of the 258 who were questioned regarding knowledge of medication from written prescriptions, 86% knew the name of the medication, 85% knew the dosage frequency, 66% knew the therapeutic indication and 65% the correct dosage. Only 20% and 9%, respectively, were aware of contra-indications and side effects. Based on the scoring system used, 55% of the patients displayed fair knowledge, 34% insufficient awareness and 11% good knowledge of the treatment. The main source of information about medication was the leaflet (40.7%). Most patients revealed a satisfactory level of knowledge about the core information regarding the treatment, but would have difficulty deciding precisely what to do in the event of complications.

Perfil de gastos com medicamentos entre idosos em diferentes grupos socioeconômicos

The increase in the elderly population is associated with increased health care costs. The objective of the present study was to describe the results of research conducted in groups of elderly persons from different socioeconomic classes in Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and to compare the drugs spending profiles of different groups. A cross-sectional study was performed using a sample of individuals aged 60 years or older who participated in community groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey test were used to analyze the difference in costs of drugs among different socioeconomic classes. A total of 225 seniors were interviewed and females were predominant in all Palavras-chave: saúde, doenças; renda. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1809-98232016019.150038The increase in the elderly population is associated with increased health care costs. The objective of the present study was to describe the results of research conducted in groups of elderly persons from different socioeconomic classes in Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and to compare the drugs spending profiles of different groups. A cross-sectional study was performed using a sample of individuals aged 60 years or older who participated in community groups. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey test were used to analyze the difference in costs of drugs among different socioeconomic classes. A total of 225 seniors were interviewed and females were predominant in all classes. The most common chronic diseases included hypertension, which occurred in 21.0%, 36.0% and 38.0% of elderly persons in social classes A, C and E, respectively. The average number of medications was 5.34 (±2.64) in social class A, 4.07 (±2.73) in social class C and 4.28 (±2.39) in social class E. The share of household income spent on medication for elderly persons in classes A, C and E was 4.0%, 5.7% and 10.0%, respectively. The drugs with the highest monthly cost for each patient in class A, C and E, respectively, were antipsychotic and anti-Parkinsons medication, diabetes medicine, and medication for the treatment of bone disease. It was concluded that there are specific differences in the cost and expenses incurred on spending on medication for the elderly of different socioeconomic classes.

CONHECIMENTO AUTO-REFERIDO SOBRE O TRATAMENTO FARMACOLÓGICO DE IDOSOS INSERIDOS EM GRUPOS NO MUNICÍPIO DE PORTO ALEGRE/RS

O envelhecimento esta correlacionado com o aumento da utilizacao dos medicamentos, e a falta de conhecimento sobre estes contribui para o uso inadequado dos mesmos. O objetivo deste trabalho e avaliar o conhecimento autoreferido dos idosos sobre os medicamentos utilizados com prescricao. Trata-se de estudo transversal, com aplicacao de questionario estruturado e amostragem intencional. O projeto foi aprovado pelo CEP da UFRGS. A coleta de dados foi realizada no periodo de marco a julho de 2007, com 225 idosos, sendo: 61 de classe A, 80 de classe C e 84 de classe E. A media de medicamentos por idoso foi de 4,2. O conhecimento auto-referido foi classificado como de acordo (A), parcialmente de acordo (PA) e desacordo (D), e foram obtidos os seguintes resultados nas respectivas classes: A (A=60%; PA=12%; D=28%), C (A=71%; PA=7,5%; D=21,5%) e E (A=66,6%; PA=4%; D=29,4%). Observou-se um nivel adequado de conhecimento sobre os medicamentos prescritos.