Does pregabalin act in pain control after lateral pharyngoplasties and tonsillectomies? A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have pointed to gabapentinoids as promising medications in postoperative pain control. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin in reducing postoperative pain in tonsillectomy and lateral pharyngoplasties. STUDY DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary care center. METHODS: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients undergoing tonsillectomies and lateral pharyngoplasties between Aug 29, 2017, and Oct 31, 2020. Data of interest such as opioid consumption, pain scores, and adverse outcomes such as dizziness, nausea, headache, and sedation within 7 days following surgeries were analyzed. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in pain scores and opioid consumption between the groups studied in the pilot project. The use of pregabalin was associated with lower incidence of dizziness compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Gabapentinoids, especially pregabalin, are drugs whose potential for controlling pain after pharyngeal surgery, such as tonsillectomy and sleep apnea surgery, still needs to be more fully evaluated. After the conclusion of the present study, we hope to answer this question about the role of pregabalin in oropharyngeal surgeries.

Characterization of two peptides isolated from the venom of social wasp Chartergellus communis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): Influence of multiple alanine residues and C-terminal amidation on biological effects.

Chatergellus communis is a wasp species endemic to the neotropical region and its venom constituents have never been described. In this study, two peptides from C. communis venom, denominated Communis and Communis-AAAA, were chemically and biologically characterized. In respect to the chemical characterization, the following amino acid sequences and molecular masses were identified: Communis: Ile-Asn-Trp-Lys-Ala-Ile-Leu-Gly-Lys-Ile-Gly-Lys-COOH (1340.9Da) Communis-AAAA: Ile-Asn-Trp-Lys-Ala-Ile-Leu-Gly-Lys-Ile-Gly-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Val-Xle-NH2 (1836.3Da). Furthermore, their biological effects were compared, accounting for the differences in structural characteristics between the two peptides. To this end, three biological assays were performed in order to evaluate the hyperalgesic, edematogenic and hemolytic effects of these molecules. Communis-AAAA, unlike Communis, showed a potent hemolytic activity with EC50=142.6µM. Moreover, the highest dose of Communis-AAAA (2nmol/animal) induced hyperalgesia in mice. On the other hand, Communis (10nmol/animal) was able to induce edema but did not present hemolytic or hyperalgesic activity. Although both peptides have similarities in linear structures, we demonstrated the distinct biological effects of Communis and Communis-AAAA. This is the first study with Chartegellus communis venom, and both Communis and Communis-AAAA are unpublished peptides.

Cellular immune response evaluation of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients cells stimulated with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis antigenic fractions before and after clinical cure.

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a disease where susceptibility or resistance is dependent on T cell response. This is characterized by an increased in CD4⁺ T cells, capable of inducing opposite disease profiles, and CD8⁺ T cells, that are related to immuno protection. We characterized T lymphocytes from patients before and after treatment, patients that spontaneously healed and controls, also evaluating their production of IL-10, IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ, after stimulation with soluble/insoluble antigenic fractions of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. We observed the production of suppressive cytokines in the early phase of leishmaniasis with significant presence CD4⁺ T cells, suggesting their connection with disease progression. After healing, the immune pattern observed was a type 1 response, what seems to be associated with cure and/or protection in the ACL. The results also showed that both fractions induced a specific immune response, contributing to the search for relevant antigens in this disease.

Structural investigation of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones allows the identification of agents with efficacy in infected mice.

We modified the thiazolidinic ring at positions N3, C4, and C5, yielding compounds 6-24. Compounds with a phenyl at position N3, 15-19, 22-24, exhibited better inhibitory properties for cruzain and against the parasite than 2-iminothiazolidin-4-one 5. We were able to identify one high-efficacy trypanocidal compound, 2-minothiazolidin-4-one 18, which inhibited the activity of cruzain and the proliferation of epimastigotes and was cidal for trypomastigotes but was not toxic for splenocytes. Having located some of the structural determinants of the trypanocidal properties, we subsequently wished to determine if the exchange of the thiazolidine for a thiazole ring leaves the functional properties unaffected. We therefore tested thiazoles 26-45 and observed that they did not inhibit cruzain, but they exhibited trypanocidal effects. Parasite development was severely impaired when treated with 18, thus reinforcing the notion that this class of heterocycles can lead to useful cidal agents for Chagas disease.

Perfil de adultos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência Humana (HIV) em ambulatório de referência em doenças sexualmente transmissíveis no norte de Minas Gerais / Profile of adults infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sexually transmissible diseases reference ambulatory, in the North of Minas Gerais

Introdução: o perfil epidemiológico de pacientes infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana sofreu diferentes mudanças, notando-se aumento da transmissão pelo contato heterossexual e aumento da prevalência da infecção entre mulheres. Objetivos: analisar o perfil epidemiológico desse grupo de pacientes atendidos no norte de Minas. Métodos: a partir de estudo transversal descritivo foi analisado o perfil desses pacientes pela aplicação de questionário padronizado que abordava variáveis sociodemográficas e variáveis relacionadas à infecção pelo vírus. Resultados: a relação homem/mulher foi de 1:1; a maioria dos pacientes se declarou heterossexual; pouco mais da metade dos pacientes não tinha união estável; prevaleceram as classes econômicas mais baixas e houve predomínio dos baixos graus de escolaridade. Conclusão: a epidemia de AIDS nessa região evolui com características semelhantes à epidemia no Brasil, de modo geral, apresentando aumento de incidência entre mulheres e heterossexuais.

Introduction: the epidemiological profile of patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus underwent different changes, noting the increase of the transmission by heterosexual contact and the increasing prevalence among women. Objectives: to analyze the epidemiological profile of this patients? group assisted in the North of Minas. Methods: from the descriptive cross-sectional study these patients? profiles were analyzed through the standardized questionnaire that addressed sociodemographic variables and the virus Infection-related variables. Results: the relationship man/woman was 1:1; most patients declared to be heterosexual; little more than half of patients did not have stable sexual unions; lower income classes prevailed and there was predominance of the lower educational level. Conclusion: AIDS epidemic in this region develops with similar characteristics to the epidemic in Brazil, in general, presenting increasing incidence among women and heterosexual patients.