No abstract

The objective of the present study was to outline the profile of psychoactive substanceusers treated at a clinic for chemical dependence. This is a transversal observational study developedwith users of psychoactive substances treated at the Clinic for Addictive Disorder with Emphasis onChemical Dependence of the Brazilian Red Cross, State of Rio Grande do Sul branch, from 2005 to2010. Data collection was developed through the analysis of the patients’ records (n=1,469), based onsurveys on demographic, socio-economic and drug use data. Frequency, average, standard deviationand χ2 test were used in the statistical analysis, with a significance level of p<0.05. The predominantprofile of psychoactive substance users was: young, in the age range between 21 and 30 years, malegender, single, Caucasian, low school and socioeconomic levels, as well as unemployed. Amongthe licit drugs, the main one was tobacco (86.0%); and for illicit drugs, the main one was crack(83.3%). The use of tobacco, marijuana and inhaled drugs has shown to be significantly related toyounger people. The results contribute for the development of intervention programs approachinga multidisciplinary articulation, as an offensive against the problem of drugs misuse.

RESUMO Este trabalho visa a caracterizar cuidadores de idosos da região metropolitana de Porto Alegre quanto a: capacitação para a profissão, seus sentimentos frente ao idoso, sobrecarga de trabalho, estado cognitivo e condição física. Entre janeiro e fevereiro de 2015, 20 participantes responderam a um questionário sobre idade, gênero, escolaridade, estado civil, breve investigação de estado de saúde e sentimentos frente ao cuidado e à Escala de Zarit Burden Interview, Escala de Depressão Geriátrica Abreviada, Mini Exame do Estado Mental, Escala de Avaliação do Equilíbrio e da Marcha de Tinneti. Verificou-se que as participantes nunca fizeram capacitação e apresentam perdas de saúde.

Introduction Our goal was to demonstrate the effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs on oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage in health professionals who manipulate and administer antineoplastic drugs in a University Hospital in Southern Brazil. Methods The case-control study with a longitudinal design, involved 64 individuals, 29 of them pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurses who were occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs and 35 professionals who were not exposed. Gene mutations were determined by micronucleus from salivary fluid; DNA damage by comet assay and oxidative stress parameters in whole blood were also evaluated. Results All workers exposed to antineoplastic drugs used personal protective equipment (PPE). It was demonstrated that the total nonprotein thiol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels showed interaction between group and time, with higher levels one week after handling/administration of antineoplastic drugs in the exposed group (GEE, p ≤ 0.0001 and p = 0,013, respectively). Additionally, there was a group effect on the activities of the catalase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant enzymes (GEE, p = 0.027 and p ≤ 0.0001, respectively), and workers occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs had higher enzyme activities compared to those not exposed. No genotoxic damage was demonstrated through the evaluated parameters. Conclusions Despite the correct use of PPE, professionals occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs were more susceptible to oxidative stress than those not exposed. The evaluation of the studied parameters is especially important for the definition of conducts and practices in the area, always in search of guaranteeing the establishment of a rational policy to protect workers' health.