Electroacupuncture (EA) and cannabinoids have been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in animal models of arthritis. Male Wistar rats were injected with saline or zymosan (2 mg) into the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). EA (10 Hz, 30 min) was performed 2 h after or 1 h before zymosan administration. AM251 or AM630 (3 mg/kg, i.p.)were administered before EA treatment. Mechanical hypernociception was accessed after zymosan administration. Rats were sacrificed 6 h after zymosan administration and the joint was removed for histopathological analysis. The gene expression of CB₁ and CB₂ receptors was assessed after sacrifice of the TMJ arthritic animals. EA inhibited zymosan-induced hypernociception (p < 0.05). AM251 reversed significantly the antinociceptive effect of EA, suggesting that the CB₁ receptor is involved in this effect. AM630 reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of EA. CB₁ and CB₂ receptor gene expression was upregulated 6 h after zymosan-induced arthritis in the EA-treated group. We observed downregulation of CB₂ receptor gene expression in the EA group at the 24th hour compared with the 6th hour. Higher CB₁ receptor gene expression was also found compared with the 6th hour. EA produced antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, and these effects appeared to be mediated through CB₁ and CB₂ receptor activation.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are a group of conditions that result in TMJ pain, which frequently limits basic daily activities. Experimental models that allow the study of the mechanisms underlying these inflammatory and pain conditions are of great clinical relevance. The aim of this study was to evaluate nociception, inflammation and participation of the macrophage/microglia cells in the arthritis of the TMJ induced by two phlogistic agents. 84 rats were divided into 2 groups: Zy, which received zymosan intra-articularly, or Cg, which received carrageenan intra-articularly. Mechanical nociception, total leukocyte influx to the synovial fluid and histopathological analyses were evaluated in the TMJ. The participation of macrophage/microglia located in trigeminal ganglia (TG) and in the subnucleus caudalis (V-SnC) was assessed immunohistochemically. Both agents induced mechanical hyperalgesia 6h after the induction, but a more persistent algesic state was perceived in the Cg group, which lasted for 120h. Even though both groups presented increased leukocyte influx, the Zy-group presented a more intense influx. Zymosan recruited resident macrophage in the trigeminal ganglia 24h after the injection. In the V-SnC, the group Cg presented a more prolonged immunolabeling pattern in comparison with the group Zy. It can be concluded that zymosan induced a more intense infiltrate and peripheral nervous changes, while Cg lead to a moderate TMJ inflammation with prominent changes in the V-SnC.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis is a common cause of orofacial pain. In the present study, the modulatory effects of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDA-Rs) and magnesium were investigated in TMJ arthritis hypernociception. Male Wistar rats received an intra-articular injection of carrageenan (Cg) in the TMJ, and mechanical hypernociception was measured. The NMDA-R antagonist, MK-801, and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂ ) were administered before arthritis induction. Magnesium deficiency was promoted by feeding rats a synthetic magnesium-free diet for 9 d before injection of Cg. The Cg induced mechanical hypernociception that lasted for 120 h. MK-801 inhibited this hypernociceptive state. MgCl₂ pretreatment prevented Cg-induced hypernociception and altered the nociceptive threshold in the absence of Cg. Magnesium deficiency increased hypernociception and induced spontaneous hypernociceptive behavior. TMJ arthritis increased the expression of mRNA for all NMDA-R subunits and immunostaining of phosphorylated NR1 (phospho-NR1). MgCl₂ inhibited expression of NR2B mRNA and phospho-NR1 immunostaining and increased expression of NR3 mRNA. Magnesium deficiency increased expression of both NR1 and NR3 mRNAs and phospho-NR1 immunostaining in the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis. We found that magnesium modulates nociceptive behavior and induces NMDA-R subunit rearrangement in the subnucleus caudalis. The present results may lead to a better understanding of central processing in the nociceptive trigeminal pathway and the development of new approaches to treat orofacial pain with a TMJ origin.

Objetivo: Analise das interações medicamentosas potenciais em pacientes internados na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva adulta em um hospital de ensino na cidade de Sobral, região norte do Ceará. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva e retrospectiva realizada na UTI de um Hospital de ensino localizado no município de Sobral, Ceará, no ano de 2017. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado um formulário padronizado. Os fármacos utilizados pelos pacientes foram identificados a partir da análise da prescrição médica presente nos prontuários. A análise das interações medicamentosas potenciais ocorreu através das plataformas Micromedex, Drug.com e Medscape. Resultados: Foram analisados 60 prontuários e identificado 639 possíveis Interações Medicamentosas (IMs) com uma frequência de 93,33%. A IM foi identificada em maior número em indivíduos do sexo masculino com 65% e 35% feminino. Essas foram classificadas conforme a gravidade em: moderado 401 (62,75%), grave 194 (30,36%) e leve 44 (6,89%). Quanto a natureza, as IMs foram classificadas em: farmacodinâmica, 566 (88,58%), e farmacocinética, 73 (11,42%). A pesquisa identificou a presença de níveis elevados de IMs nas prescrições de pacientes internados na UTI adulta. A IM entre midazolam e fentanil, de gravidade moderada, foi a mais frequente. Conclusão: A pesquisa mostrou que os pacientes da UTI têm alta prevalência de IMs nas prescrições. Na UTI é importante a identificação das IMs buscando reduzir eventos adversos, tempo de internação e custos hospitalares.

ResumoA Morinda citrifolia, é uma pequena árvore da família Rubiaceae, do sudeste asiático, a qual possui um fruto popularmente conhecido como "Noni", que está tendo um crescente consumo pela população devido aos seus supostos benefícios à saúde.Algumas pesquisas recentes sobre a utilização dessa fruta mostram vários resultados diferentes quanto aos seus possíveis efeitos terapêuticos. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar, através de revisão da literatura, os efeitos farmacológicos e toxicológicos do "Noni". Foi realizado uma revisão bibliográfica, utilizando como Morinda citrifolia (noni): a review of their biological role. AbstractMorinda citrifolia is a Southeast Asia small tree from Rubiaceae family, that has a fruit popularly known as "Noni", which has being widely consumed by the population due to it´s therapeutic benefis properties. Some recent researches has evidenciated very diferentes roles including same results about it´s toxicity. This research aimed to identify "Noni" pharmacological and toxicological effects. This work conduced a literature review, using as researches tools the electronic databases PubMed, SciELO and Google Scholar. "Noni" consumption, by the population started with the introduction of fruit´s juice as a dietary supplement. Some phytochemical studies tried