Objective: To compare plasma concentrations of cannabidiol (CBD) following oral administration of two formulations of the drug (powder and dissolved in oil), and to evaluate the effects of these distinct formulations on responses to emotional stimuli in healthy human volunteers. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design, 45 healthy male volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups of 15 subjects that received either 150 mg of CBD powder; 150 mg of CBD dissolved in corn oil; or placebo. Blood samples were collected at different times after administration, and a facial emotion recognition task was completed after 150 min. Results: There were no significant differences across groups in the subjective and physiological measures, nor in the facial emotion recognition task. However, groups that received the drug showed statistically significant differences in baseline measures of plasma CBD, with a significantly greater difference in favor of the oil formulation. Conclusion: When administered as a single 150-mg dose, neither formulation of oral CBD altered responses to emotional stimuli in healthy subjects. The oil-based CBD formulation resulted in more rapid achievement of peak plasma level, with an approximate fourfold increase in oral bioavailability.

Current pharmacotherapy of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is palliative and unable to modify the progression of neurodegeneration. Treatments that can improve patients’ quality of life with fewer side effects are needed, but not yet available. Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychotomimetic constituent of cannabis, has received considerable research attention in the last decade. In this context, we aimed to critically review the literature on potential therapeutic effects of CBD in PD and discuss clinical and preclinical evidence supporting the putative neuroprotective mechanisms of CBD. We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed) for indexed articles published in English from inception to 2019. The following keywords were used: cannabis; cannabidiol and neuroprotection; endocannabinoids and basal ganglia; Parkinson’s animal models; Parkinson’s history; Parkinson’s and cannabidiol. Few studies addressed the biological bases for the purported effects of CBD on PD. Six preclinical studies showed neuroprotective effects, while three targeted the antidyskinetic effects of CBD. Three human studies have tested CBD in patients with PD: an open-label study, a case series, and a randomized controlled trial. These studies reported therapeutic effects of CBD on non-motor symptoms. Additional research is needed to elucidate the potential effectiveness of CBD in PD and the underlying mechanisms involved.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCI/MS/MS) was validated for the determination of etoricoxib in human plasma using antipyrin as internal standard, followed by on-line solid-phase extraction. The method was performed on a Luna C18 column and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile:water (95:5, v/v)/ammonium acetate (pH 4.0; 10 mM), run at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. The method was linear in the range of 1-5000 ng/mL (r²>0.99). The lower limit of quantitation was 1 ng/mL. The recoveries were within 93.72-96.18%. Moreover, method validation demonstrated acceptable results for the precision, accuracy and stability studies.

A carbocisteína é um agente mucolítico utilizado como adjuvante no tratamento de infecções do trato respiratório. A qualidade, segurança e eficácia do medicamento durante o seu prazo de validade são responsabilidades da indústria farmacêutica. A validade pode ser determinada através de estudos de estabilidade acelerados, nos quais fatores extrínsecos provocam a degradação do produto. De acordo com Arrhenius, existe uma relação entre temperatura e cinética química. Desta forma, amostras do produto foram expostas a condições drásticas: 40, 50, 60 e 70 ºC. O método de doseamento do xarope de carbocisteína foi validado podendo ser aplicado nas avaliações de rotina do controle de qualidade e no estudo de estabilidade deste produto. O prazo de validade proposto para o xarope de carbocisteína, calculado através da equação de Arrhenius, para a temperatura de 25 ºC foi de 240,9 dias. No entanto, foi observada diferença entre o prazo proposto e a validade usualmente praticada para este produto. Este estudo, ainda, demonstrou a presença de picos endógenos, que precisam ser melhor estudados a fim de se confirmar a presença de produtos de degradação.

Carbocysteine is a mucolytic agent in adjunctive therapy of respiratory tract infections. The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for quality, safety and efficiency of the product during its shelf life. Shelf life can be determinated through an accelerated stability study where the degradation of the drug is managed with the extrinsic factors. According to Arrhenius, there is a relationship between temperature and chemical kinetic, so, the samples were exposed to drastic conditions at 40, 50, 60 and 70 ºC. The syrup assay method has been validated and it may be applied to analysis of carbocysteine syrup in routine quality control and stability studies. Through Arrhenius equation the proposed shelf life of carbocysteine syrup was 240.9 days when the dosage form is stored in appropriated conditions, 25 ºC. However difference was found between the proposed shelf life and the usual shelf life of this drug. In addition, this study has showed the presence of endogenous peaks that must be better evaluated to confirm or not the presence of degradation products.

Avaliaram-se os efeitos do valdecoxibe, um inibidor seletivo da cicloxigenase-2 (COX-2), sobre os parâmetros sangüíneos da coagulação em ratos Wistar utilizando-se paralelamente a aspirina. Os animais foram divididos em grupos e submetidos à administração oral diária de 10 mg/kg animal para o valdecoxib, 100 mg/kg animal para a aspirina e veículo para o grupo controle, durante quatro semanas. A coleta do sangue foi efetuada após uma, duas, três e quatro semanas, e as concentrações plasmáticas do valdecoxibe determinadas por cromatografia líquida, obtendo-se valores médios de 101,1 - 113,5 - 164 e 184,6 ng/ml, respectivamente. As amostras de plasma foram também usadas para as análises hematológicas e os resultados comparados aos dos controles. O valdecoxibe apresentou redução significativa no TTPA (18%) após duas semanas, e redução do TP (12,2%) após três semanas (P<0.05). Os efeitos observados na contagem de plaquetas e nos níveis plasmáticos de fibrinogênio não foram significativos. As atividades anti-fator Xa e anti-fator IIa apresentaram redução, porém os resultados foram significativos somente para o anti-fator Xa na terceira semana (6,7%). Os resultados experimentais com as concentrações plasmáticas alcançadas demonstram que o valdecoxibe pode induzir alterações nos parâmetros hematológicos dos ratos. Esses dados poderão contribuir para a melhor compreensão dos efeitos colaterais e uso do fármaco com segurança.

The effects of the cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitor, valdecoxib, on blood coagulation parameters were evaluated, along with aspirin in male Wistar rats. Groups of animals were administered a daily oral dose of 10 mg/kg rat of valdecoxib, 100 mg/kg rat of aspirin and the vehicle alone during 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected at the end of 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of administration period and the plasma concentrations of valdecoxib were determined by RP-HPLC giving mean values of 101.1, 113.5, 164.0 and 184.6 ng/mL, respectively. The same plasma samples were used for the analysis of hematological parameters and the results compared to the controls. Valdecoxib induced significant activated partial thromboplastin time reduction (18%) after 2 weeks and prothrombin time reduction (12.2%) after 3 weeks (P<0.05). There were no significant changes in the platelet count and fibrinogen levels. The anti-factor Xa and anti-factor IIa activities showed slight reductions, but only significant for the anti-factor Xa on the 3rd week (6.7%). The results showed that valdecoxib at the dose tested with the plasmatic concentrations induced some changes in the hemostatic function of rats, which can be helpful to understand the side effects and the safe use of the drug.

Realizou-se a identificação do fator estimulador da colônia de granulócitos humanos recombinante em produtos farmacêuticos por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida não redutora e imunodetecção com anticorpos específicos, que apresentaram banda única na região de, aproximadamente, 19 kDa. A avaliação de potência baseada na contagem do número de neutrófilos em camundongos com neutropenia forneceu valores entre 88,4 - 122,4 % em relação à potência declarada. A precisão expressa pela ponderação, calculada nos ensaios independentes, forneceu valores entre 141 e 432. As amostras lote-a-lote cumpriram os requisitos dos testes de toxicidade e endotoxinas bacterianas. Os resultados dos ensaios biológicos e imunológicos demonstram a qualidade dos produtos farmacêuticos em uso clínico, e as especificações sugeridas contribuem para assegurar a inocuidade e eficácia terapêutica dos produtos biológicos.

The identification of rhG-CSF was carried out in pharmaceutical preparations by non-reducing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting with specific antibodies, showing a single band in the 19 kDa region. The potency was assessed by the neutropenia mouse bioassay giving values between 88.4 and 122.4% of the stated potency. The precision index expressed by weight was between 141 and 432 for the independent assays. Batch-to-batch, the samples met the requirements for the safety test and bacterial endotoxins test. The biological and immunological results showed the quality of the products in clinical use and the specifications established contribute to assuring the safety and efficacy of biological medicines.

Realizou-se a avaliação biológica de potência de heparinas convencionais contra o 5º Padrão Internacional de heparina suína pelos ensaios preconizados da inibição da coagulação do plasma ovino (ICPO), tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativada (TTPA) e anti-fator Xa. Correlacionaram-se os resultados, demonstrando que o ICPO fornece potências em média 10,72%, significativamente superiores aos outros procedimentos. Analisou-se a influência de diferentes lotes de plasma sobre o resultado do ensaio do ICPO observando-se variação de até 7,32%. Como alternativa, padronizou-se o ensaio do anti-fator IIa e efetuou-se a determinação de potência das amostras obtendo-se valores reprodutíveis, comparáveis ao método do anti-fator Xa, que demonstram a viabilidade da inclusão como ensaio harmonizado para o controle da qualidade. Os resultados de potência, fornecidos lote a lote, em geral, cumprem as especificações farmacopéicas e demonstram a qualidade que garante a segurança e eficácia clínica dos medicamentos.

The biological evaluation of unfractionated heparins was carried out against the 5th International Standard of porcine heparin using the pharmacopoeial-recommended assays: the sheep plasma coagulation inhibition assay (SPCIA), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and anti-factor Xa activity. The SPCIA method gave mean potencies which were 10.72% significantly higher than the other procedures. The effect of differences in plasma batches revealed potency variations of up to 7.32%. The anti-factor IIa assay was standardized as an alternative method for the potency assessment of heparin samples. The values obtained were in good agreement with the anti-factor Xa assay results, demonstrating the feasibility of the method as a harmonized assay for the quality control of medicines. Analysis of the potency estimates showed that generally batch-to-batch variations complied with pharmacopoeial specifications, demonstrating the overall quality of the products and assuring their safety and clinical efficacy.