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Luis Fernando Valladales-Restrepo,1– 3 María Camila Oyuela-Gutiérrez,3 Ana Camila Delgado-Araujo,1 Juliana Calvo-Salazar,1 Daniel Osorio-Bustamante,3 Cesar Eduardo Lerma-Barco,3 Jorge Enrique Machado-Alba1 1Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira-Audifarma S.A, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia; 2Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Colombia; 3Semillero de Investigación en Farmacología Geriátrica, Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas, Pereira, Risaralda, ColombiaCorrespondence: Jorge Enrique Machado-Alba, Grupo de Investigación en Farmacoepidemiología y Farmacovigilancia, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira-Audifarma S.A, Calle 105 # 14-140, Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia, Tel +57 3108326970, Fax +57 63137822, Email machado@utp.edu.coPurpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects millions of people around the world. Poor adherence to treatment contributes to increased severity of symptoms, morbidity, and mortality. The objective of this study was to establish the adherence of patients diagnosed with COPD by their devices for inhalation in a group of patients, Colombia.Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients treated in the Colombian health system. Adherence to inhalation devices was evaluated with the TAI-10 instrument (Inhaler Adherence Test). A score of 50 points was considered good adherence.Results: A total of 500 patients from 84 cities were identified, with a median age of 79.0 years, and 59.2% were women. A total of 45% had GOLD B COPD, and 56.6% had good adherence. Average adherence was 47.4± 5.3 points, and no significant differences were found according to inhalation devices (p=0.949). Training performed by specialist physicians (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.17– 2.62), use of an inhaler for less than 1 year (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.04– 2.43), use of short-acting β 2-adrenergic agonists (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.05– 2.38) and increased satisfaction with the inhalation device (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04– 1.14) were associated with good adherence, while those from the central region (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.36– 0.83), who had a COPD evolution time of less than 5 years (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.37– 0.98) and had diabetes mellitus (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.37– 0.98) had lower adherence.Conclusion: Adherence to treatment with inhaled bronchodilators and glucocorticoids were not very high, with no significant differences by type of inhalation device. Satisfaction and training by specialists increased adherence.Keywords: pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive, medication adherence, bronchodilator agents, devices, inhalation, pharmacoepidemiology

Ricardo José Tofano,1,2 Leticia Maria Pescinni-Salzedas,1 Eduardo Federighi Baisi Chagas,2 Claudia Rucco Penteado Detregiachi,2 Elen Landgraf Guiguer,1– 3 Adriano Cressoni Araujo,1,2 Marcelo Dib Bechara,1 Claudio José Rubira,1 Sandra Maria Barbalho1– 3 1Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Marília, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, UNIMAR, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil; 3School of Food and Technology of Marilia (FATEC), Marilia, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Sandra Maria BarbalhoDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Av. Higino Muzzi Filho 1001, Marília 15525-902, São Paulo, BrazilTel +55 14 99655-3190Email smbarbalho@gmail.comAim: To evaluate the association between parameters of hyperferritinemia (HF) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients at cardiovascular risk.Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical observational study that included 269 patients who attended a cardiology unit. Biochemical and anthropometric parameters were evaluated to identify the presence of HF and MS. The presence of MS was evaluated according to NCEP ATP III. Biochemical parameters (glycemia, triglycerides, HDL-c) were assessed according to the manufacturer’s protocols. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure measurements were made by a trained professional. The chi-square (X2) test, odds ratio, normality distribution (verified by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test), and Levene’s test were used to analyze the variables. To evaluate the effect of MS, HF, and the interaction between MS and HF, two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed based on the homogeneity of the variances, followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc comparisons. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between quantitative variables. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the effect of covariables. A logistic regression model was built to analyze the variables that contribute significantly to predict the outcome (HF) using the backward method.Results: Our results showed that 57% of men and 49.5% of women presented with MS; 44% of men and 11% of women presented with HF. The presence of MS and hypertriglyceridemia increase the probability of having HF by up to 2.1 and 1.88 times, respectively, while for male sex it is increased by 6.2 times. Patients with HF have higher values of C-reactive protein, ferritin, and transferrin saturation, regardless of the presence of MS. The linear regression analysis model indicated that the variables considered in this study explain less than 30% of the variation in ferritin and that the presence of MS in men is responsible for 22% of the variation in the probability of the occurrence of HF.Conclusion: Our results show that hyperferritinemia is closely associated with the components of MS (positive correlation with glycemia, triglycerides levels, blood pressure, and waist circumference, and negative correlation with HDL-c values) in the studied population.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, hyperferritinemia, iron overload syndrome, metabolic syndrome

Amanda CM Saúde,1 Alicia S Ombredane,1 Osmar N Silva,1 João ARG Barbosa,1,2 Susana E Moreno,3 Ana Claudia Guerra Araujo,4 Rosana Falcão,4 Luciano P Silva,4 Simoni C Dias,1 Octávio L Franco1,3 1Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, FD, Brazil; 2Laboratório de Biofísica-Departamento de Biologia Celular-IB, Universidade de Brasília – UNB, DF, Brazil; 3Universidade Católica Dom Bosco – UCDB, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; 4Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – EMBRAPA – Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, DF, Brazil Abstract: Controlling human pathogenic bacteria is a worldwide problem due to increasing bacterial resistance. This has prompted a number of studies investigating peptides isolated from marine animals as a possible alternative for control of human pathogen infections. Clavanins are antimicrobial peptides isolated from the marine tunicate Styela clava, showing 23 amino acid residues in length, cationic properties, and also high bactericidal activity. In spite of clear benefits from the use of peptides, currently 95% of peptide properties have limited pharmaceutical applicability, such as low solubility and short half-life in the circulatory system. Here, nanobiotechnology was used to encapsulate clavanin A in order to develop nanoantibiotics against bacterial sepsis. Clavanin was nanostructured using EUDRAGIT® L 100-55 and RS 30 D solution (3:1 w:w). Atomic force, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering showed nanoparticles ranging from 120 to 372 nm in diameter, with a zeta potential of -7.16 mV and a polydispersity index of 0.123. Encapsulation rate of 98% was assessed by reversed-phase chromatography. In vitro bioassays showed that the nanostructured clavanin was partially able to control development of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, nanostructures did not show hemolytic activity. In vivo sepsis bioassays were performed using C57BL6 mice strain inoculated with a polymicrobial suspension. Assays led to 100% survival rate under sub-lethal sepsis assays and 40% under lethal sepsis assays in the presence of nanoformulated clavanin A until the seventh day of the experiment. Data here reported indicated that nanostructured clavanin A form shows improved antimicrobial activity and has the potential to be used to treat polymicrobial infections. Keywords: peptides, antimicrobial, nanoparticles, nanobiotechnology