Paracoccidioidomycosis presents a variety of clinical manifestations and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis can reach many tissues, most importantly the lungs. The ability of the pathogen to interact with host surface structures is essential to its virulence. The interaction between P. brasiliensis and epithelial cells has been studied, with particular emphasis on the induction of apoptosis. To investigate the expression of different apoptosis-inducing pathways in human A549 cells, we infected these cells with P. brasiliensis Pb18SP (subcultured) and 18R (recently isolated from cell culture and showing a high adhesion pattern) samples in vitro. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bak and caspase 3 were analysed by flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation using the TUNEL technique. Apoptosis of human A549 cells was induced by P. brasiliensis in a sample and time-dependent manner. Using an in vitro model, our data demonstrates that caspase 3, Bak, Bcl-2 and DNA fragmentation mediate P. brasiliensis-induced apoptosis in A549 cells. The overall mechanism is a complex process, which may involve several signal transduction pathways. These findings could partially explain the efficient behaviour of this fungus in promoting tissue infection and/or blood dissemination.

Vários estudos relatam a ocorrência de morbi-mortalidade relacionada com medicamentos. Quanto às estratégias para reduzir possíveis riscos à terapia medicamentosa é de suma importância a necessidade de reorientação da atividade farmacêutica, uma vez que o profissional farmacêutico tem potencial para se constituir em uma parte essencial para a solução dos problemas relacionados à utilização de medicamentos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi demonstrar que o fator subdosagem terapêutica e a contaminação microbiana podem estar diretamente envolvidos com a manipulação inadequada dos medicamentos mantidos nas residências. Medicamentos líquidos contendo dipirona comercializados no Brasil e armazenados em residências em Araraquara (SP) foram avaliados no que se refere a análises quantitativa e microbiológica. Somente em 57% das 128 amostras analisadas a quantidade de fármaco estava de acordo. Além disso, 26,2% das 128 amostras analisadas apresentaram S. aureus, E. coli e Salmonella sp. Esses resultados demonstraram clara queda na qualidade dos mesmos, assim como a presença de fungos e/ou bactérias em alguns dos medicamentos, que ainda estavam dentro de seus prazos de validade, demonstrando a importância do profissional farmacêutico na orientação quanto ao uso e ao armazenamento correto do medicamento.

Many studies had described the morbi-mortality related to medicines. As for the strategies to reduce the possible risks for medicine therapy is very important to readvise the pharmaceutical activity, once the pharmacist has potential for constitute an essential part for the solution of problems related to the utilization of medicines. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate that the therapeutic subdosage and the microbiological contamination may be directly involved with the inappropriate manipulation of medicines stored in residences. Liquid dosage forms containing dipyrone market in Brazil and stored at homes in Araraquara (SP) were analyzed regarding quantitative and microbiological analysis. Only in 57% from 128 samples analyzed the drug quantity was in accordance. Moreover, 26.2% from 128 samples analyzed presented S. aureus, E. coli and Salmonella sp. These results demonstrated clear reduction in their quality, as well as the presence of molds and/or bacteria in some medicines that still agreed with the expirations dates, showing the importance of the pharmacist in advising the correct use and store of medicines.