Hepatitis C remedy can fight zika virus, study indicates

The research, reported in the journal Scientific Reports, found that the drug not only succeeded in restoring the neural cells infected by zika, but also blocked the transmission of the virus to the fetus. aiming to use existing drugs in the treatment of zika, the scientists analyzed the genome of Zika in comparison to other known viruses in search of similarities.

In this way, they were able to identify similarities in the polymerases (enzymes that synthesize RNA molecules during viral replication) of the Hepatitis C virus and the zika virus. Then they started looking for medicines already used to inactivate the enzyme. Among the drugs tested, Sofosbuvir showed the best results.

For the analysis, the researchers tested the drug first on mini-brains - structures obtained from stem cells that emulate brain function. Then the medication was tested on mice. According to the survey, the success rate was 100% in both cases.

The Sofosbuvir remedy is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US regulatory agency for medicines, and clinical trials to better analyze the efficacy against zika should begin this year in Ecuador.

In Brazil, treatment with Sofosbuvir is offered in the SUS and costs, per patient, around R $ 13,000 to the Ministry of Health, according to the American company Gilead Sciences , the manufacturer of the medicinal product. The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) is still studying the development of generic drugs to reduce the price.

Zika virus outbreak in Brazil

Zika virus (ZKV) is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes Aedes aegypti (even transmitting dengue fever and chikungunya fever) and Aedes albopictus. In Brazil, the first cases of the disease were reported in 2015, in Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia. According to the Ministry of Health bulletin released in early 2018, probable cases of zika decreased over time: in 2016, 216.07 probable cases were recorded; in 2017, that number dropped to 17,452.

Athletes 'Oral Health Can Affect Performance

According to the statement published online on September 28, athletes' diet and intense training may increase the risk of developing oral problems. To maintain performance, athletes often resort to carbohydrate-rich diets, as well as sugar-rich energy drinks, which may contribute to the development of caries and acid erosion of the teeth.

(Health)

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: it is possible to have quality of life

Receiving a diagnosis of an Inflammatory Bowel Disease ) is not easy news. The most frequent IBDs are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In general, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases cause symptoms that may interfere with social coexistence. To talk about this subject, we talked with the gastroenterologist Marta Brenner, National President of the National Association of Crohn's Disease and Colitis, and with the gastroenterologist Andrea Vieira, Head of the Gastroenterology Clinic of Santa Casa de São Paulo and Professor of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo.

(Health)