Abstract Hydrogels are interesting for use in the treatment of topical wounds due to their virtually zero toxicity, and capacity for extended release of pharmaceuticals. Silver sulfadiazine (SSDZ) is the drug of choice in the treatment of skin burns. The aim of the study was to determine cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and stability of a PVA hydrogel with integrated silver sulfadiazine. SSDZ-hydrogels were prepared using 10% (w/w) PVA (either 89% or 99% hydrolyzed) and 1% (w/w) silver sulfadiazine. Cellular viability was assessed via MTS assays, antimicrobial activity via disk-diffusion and accelerated stability tests were carried out with analysis at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days of storage at 40 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 75 ± 5%. The parameters evaluated included organoleptic characteristics, moisture, swelling ability, mechanical strength, FTIR, XRD, TGA and DSC, and silver release patterns via XRD and potentiometry. Cell viability tests indicated some cytotoxicity, although within acceptable levels. After 90 days of storage, SSDZ hydrogel samples exhibited a brown coloration, probably due to the formation of Ag or Ag2O nanoparticles. The SSDZ-loaded hydrogels suffered visual and physical changes; however, these changes did not compromise its use as occlusive wound dressings or its antimicrobial properties.

RESUMO Cateteres centrais de inserção periférica (CCIP) são amplamente utilizados em neonatos internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UTIN). O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as características físicas de CCIP, por meio da aplicação das normas ABNT NBR ISO 10555-1: 2003 e ABNT NBR ISO 10555-3: 2003, e comparar os resultados produzidos na análise de CCIP no início de seu processo de produção (somente catéteres extrusados) com os obtidos na análise do produto acabado. Testes experimentais foram realizados em CCIP fabricados por um fabricante nacional entre os anos de 2011 e 2012. Os dados foram coletados a partir de testes realizados em ambos os catéteres que foram apenas extrusados, ou seja, sem pintar as demarcações, cortes e outros processos relacionados com garantia de qualidade, e catéteres após a conclusão do processo geral de fabricação. No presente estudo, incluiram-se todos os estágios do processo de produção do catéter que podem gerar algum tipo de modificação no produto que poderia gerar riscos aos pacientes que necessitam utilizá-los. Os catéteres foram analisados quanto à resistência à ruptura, radiopacidade, características de fluxo, vazamento de fluido sob pressão e ocorrência de vazamento de ar na montagem do tubo de sucção, conforme preconizado pelas normas NBR ISO 10555-1: 2003 e NBR ISO 10555-3: 2003. Os resultados obtidos foram satisfatórios em todas as análises realizadas, com exceção da resistência à ruptura, que não atendeu às especificações preconizadas pelos padrões para catéteres de silicone. Examinaram-se também catéteres feitos de poliuretano, que por sua vez cumpriram os padrões no que diz respeito à resistência à ruptura. Como as normas não especificam pontos importantes a serem levados em conta para a realização detestes inequivocamente, foram feitas sugestões para a revisão dessas normas.

ABSTRACT Peripherally-inserted central catheters (PICC) are widely used in neonates hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). The aim of the study entertained herein was to evaluate the physical characteristics of PICC, through application of the standards ABNT NBR ISO 10555-1:2003 and ABNT NBR ISO 10555-3:2003, and compare the results produced in the analysis of PICC at the beginning of their production process (extruded catheters only) with those obtained in the analysis of the finished product. Experimental tests were performed in PICC manufactured by a domestic manufacturer between the years 2011 and 2012. The data was gathered from tests performed on both catheters that were just extruded, i.e. without painting the demarcations, cutting and other processes related with quality assurance, and on catheters after completion of the overall manufacturing process. In the present study, one included all stages of the catheter production process that can generate some type of modification in the product that could impart risks to the patients needing to use them. The catheters were analyzed for strength to rupture, radiopacity, flow characteristics, leakage of fluid under pressure, and occurrence of air leak in the suction tube assembly, as advocated by the NBR ISO 10555-1:2003 and NBR ISO 10555-3:2003 standards. The results obtained were satisfactory in all analysesperformed, except for the resistance to rupture, which did not meet the specifications advocated by the standards for catheters made of silicone. One has also examined catheters made of polyurethane, which in turn did meet the standards with regard to resistance to rupture. As standards do not specify important points to be taken into account for conducting tests unequivocally, suggestions were made for revision of those standards.

Introdução: o aumento no consumo de plantas medicinais em todo o mundo tem sido atribuído a fatores como o alto custo dos medicamentos industrializados, a falta de acesso da população às assistências médica e farmacêutica e a tendência dos consumidores em utilizar produtos de origem natural. No Brasil, a inserção da fitoterapia no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), a partir da Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares, vem ao encontro da estratégia mundial de incentivo ao emprego de plantas medicinais e fitoterápicos no tratamento dos distúrbios da saúde. Objetivo: este trabalho pretende apresentar um breve histórico da legislação brasileira referente à fitoterapia e discutir a eficácia destas diretrizes na implantação da fitoterapia no SUS. Métodos: a pesquisa focou-se na análise da legislação brasileira em relação às plantas medicinais e aos fitoterápicos. Resultados: Verificou-se que, apesar de existir um direcionamento do governo às políticas relacionadas às plantas medicinais e aos fitoterápicos, a legislação decorrente do processo não assegura, por si só, instrumentos para a melhoria da qualidade nos produtos. Conclusão: ainda existe a necessidade de se estabelecer processos bem definidos para a implantação da fitoterapia no atendimento à população como uma alternativa mais acessível aos cuidados da saúde.

Introduction: the worldwide increase in the use of medicinal plants has been attributed to factors like the high cost of industrial drugs, the lack of public access to health and pharmaceutical care, and the tendency of consumers to use natural products. Phytotherapy has been included in the Brazilian Unified Health System in compliance with the National policy on integrated and complementary practices and as part of the global strategy to foster the use of medicinal plants and phytomedicines in the treatment of health disorders. Objective: present a brief history of Brazilian legislation on herbal medicine and discuss the effectiveness of those guidelines for the application of phytotherapy within the Unified Health System. Methods: the study focused on the analysis of Brazilian legislation on medicinal plants and herbal medicines. Results: it was found that although there is a trend in government policies toward the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines, the resulting legislation does not provide the instruments required to improve product quality. Conclusions: well-defined procedures should be established for the implementation of phytotherapy within the general care of the population as a more affordable health care alternative.

Introducción: el aumento en el consumo de las plantas medicinales en todo el mundo se ha atribuido a factores como el alto costo de los medicamentos industrializados, la falta de acceso público a la asistencia médica y farmacéutica y la tendencia de los consumidores a utilizar productos naturales. En Brasil, la inclusión de la fitoterapia en el Sistema Único de Salud, a partir de la Política nacional de prácticas integrativas y complementarias, se suma a la estrategia global para fomentar el uso de las plantas medicinales y los fitoterápicos para el tratamiento de trastornos de la salud. Objetivo: presentar una breve historia de la legislación brasileña en relación con la medicina sobre la base de hierbas y discutir la eficacia de estas directrices en la aplicación de la fitoterapia en el sistema único de salud. Métodos: la investigación se centró en el análisis de la legislación brasileña sobre las plantas medicinales y los medicamentos herbarios. Resultados: se encontró que, si bien existe una orientación de las políticas gubernamentales relacionadas con las plantas medicinales y medicamentos herbarios, la legislación resultante del proceso no garantiza los instrumentos para la mejora de la calidad del producto. Conclusão: todavía existe la necesidad de establecimiento de procesos bien definidos para la implementación de la fitoterapia en el servicio a la población, como una alternativa más asequible al cuidado de la salud.

A propriedade do óleo de copaíba como agente promotor de penetração cutânea do despigmentante ácido kójico foi avaliada utilizando-se sistema de difusão in vitro com fluxo estático, membrana de pele da serpente cascavel - Crotalus durissus terrificus e solução salina a 34±2 ºC como fluido receptor. As quantidades liberadas do ácido kójico no fluido receptor foram determinadas por espectrofotometria em 268 nm em intervalos de 1:30 h. As membranas pré-tratadas com óleo de copaíba a 25 e 50% v/v apresentaram valores de fluxo de 8,0 e 12,7 µg/cm²/h, permeabilidade de 2,0 e 3,3 cm×10-4/h, e fatores de promoção de 4,1 e 3,7, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que o óleo de copaíba, nas duas concentrações estudadas, apresentou capacidade de promoção da penetração do ácido kójico.

The capacity of copaíba oil to act as a skin penetration enhancer for the depigmenting agent kojic acid was evaluated using an in vitro diffusion system with static flux and shed rattlesnake skin membrane, Crotalus durissus terrificus, in saline solution at 34±2 ºC as the fluid receptor. The quantities of kojic acid liberated into the fluid receptor were determined by spectrophotometry at 268 nm with intervals of one and a half hours. The membranes, pretreated with copaíba oil at 25% and 50% v/v, gave flux values of 8.0 and 12.7 µg/cm²/h, permeability values of 2.0 and 3.3 cm×10-4/h, and promotion factors of 4.1 and 3.7, respectively. These results indicate that copaíba oil, at the two concentrations studied, has the capacity to promote penetration of kojic acid.

A flow injection method for the quantitative analysis of ketoconazole in tablets, based on the reaction with iron (III) ions, is presented. Ketoconazole forms a red complex with iron ions in an acid medium, with maximum absorbance at 495 nm. The detection limit was estimated to be 1×10--4 mol L-1; the quantitation limit is about 3×10--4 mol L-1 and approximately 30 determinations can be performed in an hour. The results were compared with those obtained with a reference HPLC method. Statistical comparisons were done using the Student's t procedure and the F test. Complete agreement was found at the 0.95 significance level between the proposed flow injection and the HPLC procedures. The two methods present similar precision, i.e., for HPLC the mean relative standard deviation was ca. 1.2% and for FIA ca. 1.6%.

Este artigo objetiva mostrar como uma política de pesquisa, pautada na intervenção para o fortalecimento dos cursos de graduação, pode auxiliar na institucionalização da pesquisa universitária. No caso da Universidade de Sorocaba, a resposta positiva da área de Ciências Farmacêuticas a esta política, associada à Política Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia e à demanda regional para o desenvolvimento da área de saúde, levou à implementação do Programa de Pós-Graduação stricto sensu em Ciências Farmacêuticas.

The purpose of this article is to show how research policies focused on strengthening undergraduate programs can contribute to the institutionalization of university research. In the case of the University of Sorocaba, the positive response from the Pharmaceutical Sciences area to such policy, along with the National Science and Technology Policy and the regional demand for development in the health area, made possible the implementation of the stricto sensu Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic employed in the treatment of infections caused by certain methicillin-resistant staphylococci. It is indicated also for patients allergic to penicillin or when there is no response to penicillins or cephalosporins. The adequate vancomycin concentration levels in blood serum lies between 5 and 10 mg/L. Higher values are toxic, causing mainly nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Various analytical methods are described in the literature: spectrophotometric, immunologic, biologic and chromatographic methods. This paper reviews the main analytical methods for vancomycin determination in biological fluids and in pharmaceutical preparations.

Polarizability correlates well with organic ion stabilization in solution and can be defined as a measure of the relative ease of the distortion of the electronic cloud of a dipolar system exposed to an external electric field. The effective atomic polarizability, alphad, has a fundamental influence on chemical reactivity in the gas phase and in solution. In terms of chemical reactivity the charge is generated within the molecule as a positive charge due to protonation, ionization or resulting from the attack of a nucleophilic anion. In this paper, lipoidal diaminedithiol (DADT) perfusion radioligands based on 99Tc m and possessing an alkylamine side chain have been used to check the influence of alphad on their brain uptake. Some new DADT derivatives, respectively DADT-DIPA (diaminedithiol - diisopropylamine), DADT DIBA (diaminedithiol diisobutylamine), DADT-PR (diaminedithiol - branched pyperidine), have been designed to have high nitrogen alkylamine alphad values. In spite of the fact of higher alphad values having been correlated to higher brain uptakes, there isn't a clear mechanism able to trap these radioligands into the brain space.