Formulations containing Ephedra sinica Stapf. (Ephedraceae) and Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae) are consumed worldwide for body weight control. Considering the related adverse effects and the risk potential, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the thermogenic compounds ephedrine, p-sinephrine, E. sinica and C. aurantium in the female reproductive system through the uterotrophic assay in immature female rats. The animals (n = 6-7) received E. sinica 85.5 and 855.0 mg/kg/day, C. aurantium 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg/day, ephedrine 5.0 mg/kg/day and p-synephrine 50.0 mg/kg/day for three consecutive days by oral gavage. For detection of antiestrogenicity, tamoxifen 20.0 mg/kg/day, E. sinica 855.0 mg/kg/day, C. aurantium 50.0 mg/kg/day, ephedrine 5.0 mg/kg/day and p-synephrine 50.0 mg/kg/day were administered to estrogen-treated females. Macroscopical alterations were evaluated in liver, kidneys, adrenals and uterus. All analyzed substances showed an antiestrogenic potential, but only ephedrine at 0.5 mg/kg/day presented a significative antiestrogenic effect (P < 0.01). Adrenals relative mass were reduced (P < 0.01) in all tested compounds when compared to the control, which seems to be related to the alfa-1-adrenoceptor agonist activity, which promote a vasoconstriction and reduction of the liquid in the organ. The endocrine system is highly complex and there are a number of ways in which a chemical may interfere with it, other in vivo and in vitro assays are being necessary to support this mechanism of action.

No abstract

Acetaminophen has been combined with caffeine for therapeutic purpose, but the effect of co-ingestion of acetaminophen and caffeine on exercise performance has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of isolated and combined ingestion of caffeine and acetaminophen on performance during a 4-km cycling time-trial. In a double-blind, crossover design, eleven men, accustomed to cycling recreationally, completed a 4-km cycling time-trial one hour after the ingestion of cellulose (PLA), acetaminophen (20 mg . kg -1 body mass, ACT), caffeine (5 mg . kg -1 body mass, CAF) or combined acetaminophen and caffeine (20 and 5 mg . kg -1 body mass, respectively, ACTCAF). The perception of pain and rating of perceived exertion were recorded every 1-km, and electromyography and oxygen uptake were continually recorded and averaged each 1-km. Plasma lactate concentration was measured before and immediately after the trial. The time and mean power during the 4-km cycling time-trial was significantly improved (

Levamisole has been increasingly used as an adulterant of cocaine in recent years, emerging as a public health challenge worldwide. Levamisole-associated toxicity manifests clinically as a systemic vasculitis, consisting of cutaneous, hematological, and renal lesions, among others. Purpura retiform, cutaneous necrosis, intravascular thrombosis, neutropenia, and less commonly crescentic nephritis have been described in association with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and other autoantibodies. Here we report the case of a 49-year-old male who was a chronic cocaine user, and who presented spontaneous weight loss, arthralgia, and 3 weeks before admission purpuric skin lesions in the earlobes and in the anterior thighs. His laboratory tests on admission showed serum creatinine of 4.56 mg/dL, white blood count 3,800/μL, hemoglobin 7.3 g/dL, urinalysis with 51 white blood cells/μL and 960 red blood cells/μL, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio 1.20. Serum ANCA testing was positive (>1:320), as well as serum anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-proteinase 3 antibodies. Urine toxicology screen was positive for cocaine and levamisole, with 62.8% of cocaine, 32.2% of levamisole, and 5% of an unidentified substance. Skin and renal biopsies were diagnostic for leukocytoclastic vasculitis and pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis, respectively. The patient showed a good clinical response to cocaine abstinence, and use of corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide. Last serum creatinine was 1.97 mg/dL, white blood cell count 7,420/μL, and hemoglobin level 10.8 g/dL. In levamisole-induced systemic vasculitis, the early institution of cocaine abstinence, concomitant with the use of immunosuppressive drugs in severe cases, may prevent permanent end organ damage and associate with better clinical outcomes.

No abstract

27Acetaminophen has been combined with caffeine for therapeutic purpose, but the effect 28 of co-ingestion of acetaminophen and caffeine on exercise performance has not been 29 investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of isolated and combined 30 ingestion of caffeine and acetaminophen on performance during a 4-km cycling time-trial. In a 31 double-blind, crossover design, eleven men, accustomed to cycling recreationally, completed a 32 4-km cycling time-trial one hour after the ingestion of cellulose (PLA), acetaminophen (20 33 mg . kg -1 body mass, ACT), caffeine (5 mg . kg -1 body mass, CAF) or combined acetaminophen 34 and caffeine (20 and 5 mg . kg -1 body mass, respectively, ACTCAF). The perception of pain and 35 rating of perceived exertion were recorded every 1-km, and electromyography and oxygen 36 uptake were continually recorded and averaged each 1-km. Plasma lactate concentration was 37 measured before and immediately after the trial. The time and mean power during the 4-km 38 cycling time-trial was significantly improved (P < 0.05) in CAF (407.9 ± 24.5 s, 241.4 ± 16.1 39 W) compared to PLA (416.1 ± 34.1 s, 234.1 ± 19.2 W) and ACT (416.2 ± 26.6 s, 235.8 ± 19.7 40 W). However, there was no difference between ACTCAF (411.6 ± 27.7 s, 238.7 ± 18.7 W) and 41 the other conditions (P > 0.05). The perception of pain, rating of perceived exertion, 42 electromyography, oxygen uptake, and plasma lactate were similar across the conditions (P > 43 0.05). In conclusion, caffeine but not acetaminophen increases power output ultimately 44 increasing performance during a 4-km cycling time-trial. 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 3 54 Introduction 55 56During a self-paced, high-intensity cycling time-trial (e.g., 4-km cycling TT), the 57 exercise intensity must be strictly regulated to avoid an exacerbated early accumulation of 58 metabolites that can lead to fatigue [1][2][3]. A disturbance in the intramuscular metabolic milieu 59 (i.e., accumulation of the H + , ADP, AMP and Pi) at the beginning of a high-intensity cycling 60 TT, provoked by increased muscle recruitment (as inferred from electromyography signals, 61 EMG) ultimately increasing power output (PO) [2,3], will activate peripheral sensory nerve 62 terminals [4,5]. These increased afferent signals might result in increased perception of pain 63 [6], leading to a reduction in PO [2,3]. 64 65Acetaminophen (commonly known as paracetamol) has recently been introduced as a 66 potential pharmacological agent to increase exercise performance due to its analgesic 67 proprieties [7-9]. The mechanism by which acetaminophen reliefs pain feelings in humans is 68 not fully known, but it has been attributed to the inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes [10-69 13], potentiation of descending serotoninergic pathways [14,15], and modulation of opioid and 70 cannabinoid CB 1 receptors [11,16]. Although there is not a consensus [17,18], several studies 71 have reported improved performance during high-intensity exercises after a single clinical dose 72(1-1.5 ...

No abstract

ResumoEste estudo tem como objetivo investigar a relação entre a perda auditiva e a exposição ocupacional ao ruído e ao tolueno. A população em estudo foi composta por 73 trabalhadores de curtume. Para conhecer a história clínica e ocupacional dos trabalhadores, aplicou-se um questionário. Para avaliação da exposição ocupacional, realizaram-se avaliações ambiental e biológica do tolueno e avaliações audiológica e dos níveis de ruído. Os valores obtidos na avaliação ambiental e biológica estavam abaixo dos limites estabelecidos pelas NR 7 e 15. Os níveis de ruído em diversos setores da indústria foram superiores ao máximo permitido pela NR 15, chegando a 97.8 dB(A). As perdas auditivas encontradas no grupo ruído (GR) e no grupo ruído e agente químico (GRAQ) foram significativas quando comparadas ao grupo controle através da análise estatística SPSS ® , T-Test p<0,01. Este estudo demonstrou fatores de impacto na saúde e na qualidade de vida dos trabalhadores. Portanto, fazem-se necessárias a revisão dos programas e a implementação de medidas que reduzam os riscos de forma a prevenir e evitar danos à saúde do trabalhador. Palavras