Sepsis progression is linked to the imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes. Sepsis affects multiple organs, but when associated with a chronic inflammatory disease, such as obesity, it may be exacerbated. We hypothesized that obesity could aggravate the oxidative damage to peripheral organs of rats submitted to an animal model of sepsis. Male Wistar rats aged 8 weeks received hypercaloric nutrition for 2 months to induce obesity. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) procedure, and sham-operated rats were considered as control group. The experimental groups were divided into sham + eutrophic, sham + obese, CLP + eutrophic, and CLP + obese. Twelve and 24 h after surgery, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated in the liver, lung, kidney, and heart. The data indicate that obese rats subjected to sepsis present oxidative stress mainly in the lung and liver. This alteration reflected an oxidative damage to lipids and proteins and an imbalance of SOD and CAT levels, especially 24 h after sepsis. It follows that obesity due to its pro-inflammatory phenotype can aggravate sepsis-induced damage in peripheral organs.

Sepsis is a severe clinical syndrome in which a system-wide inflammatory response follows initial attempts to eliminate pathogens. It is not novel that in sepsis the brain is one of the first organs affected which causes an increase in morbidity and mortality and its consequences may be exacerbated when associated with a diagnosis of chronic inflammation, such as in obesity. Thus, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the susceptibility to brain damage after sepsis in obese rats. During two months, Wistar rats, 60 days, 250-300g received hypercaloric nutrition to induce obesity. Sepsis was submitted to the cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) procedure and sham-operated rats was considered control group. The experimental groups were divided into Sham + Eutrophic, Sham + Obesity, CLP + Eutrophic and CLP + Obesity. Twelve and twenty four hours after surgery the blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability, nitrite/nitrate concentration, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated in the hippocampus, cortex and prefrontal cortex. The data indicate that in obese rats subjected to sepsis occurs an increase of BBB permeability in different brain regions compared to eutrophic septic rats. This alteration reflected an increase of MPO activity, concentration of nitrite/nitrate, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins and an imbalance of SOD and CAT especially 24 hours after sepsis. It follows that obesity due to its pro-inflammatory phenotype can aggravate or accelerate the sepsis-induced damage in rat brain.

The study evaluates the role of Ebselen (Eb), an organoselenium compound in animal model of acute lung injury induced by carrageenan (CG). Wistar rats received saline or 2 % λ-carrageenan in the pleural cavity, and treatment with Eb (50 mg/kg intragastrically) or dexamethasone (Dx) (0.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal) after CG administration. After 4 h, rats were euthanized and the pleural exudate removed for analysis of the total cell count, total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, and nitrite/nitrate. Moreover, lung tissue were removed to verify the myeloperoxidase activity and oxidative damage. Eb showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting leukocyte influx, myeloperoxidase activity, and nitrite/nitrate concentration. Eb presented with an anti-inflammatory activity similar to Dx and an antioxidant activity better than Dx. This study suggests that Eb plays an important role against the oxidative damage associated with anti-inflammatory activity in animal model of acute lung injury, proving to be similar or potentially more effective than Dx.

Using psychiatric drugs to treat drug dependence and its comorbidities is very common. The objective of this study was to analyze the interactions between prescribed drugs for patients treated at a specialized mental health-care center for persons who use drugs, located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted on secondary data collected from 2010 to 2018. We reviewed the medical records of patients aged 18 years or older who took psychotropic drugs and had any type of substance dependence. The analysis of psychotropic drug interactions was conducted in three databases: Medscape, Drug Interactions Checker, and Micromedex. We included 1,022 of the 2,322 patients attending the care center during the study period. Psychotropic drug interactions were found in 779 (76.4%) study participants, and they presented 2,292 (100%) interactions, out of which 136 (6.0%) had minor clinical risk, 537 (23.4%) had moderate risk, and 1,619 (70.6%) had major risk for the patient, totaling 172 incompatible combinations between two psychotropic drugs. Of the total number of interactions, 128 were pharmacokinetic and 44 were pharmacodynamic. The high number of psychotropic drug interactions is a serious public health issue. Psychopharmacological treatment should be carefully addressed to be safe for the patient.

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