Light and moderate doses of ethanol in chemical carcinogenesis of the colon in rats.

The aberrant crypt foci (ACF), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) are putative biomarkers for colon cancer. To study the association between light (1 g of ethanol/kg bw) and moderate (3 g of ethanol/kg bw) doses of ethanol with the chemical carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. The colon fragments were collected for histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses, and the liver samples were collected for oxidative stress analysis, with products of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde), antioxidant enzymes (glutathione), and vitamin E. The association of light and moderate doses of ethanol with MNNG did not present differences in the oxidative parameters. However, a reduction in vitamin E levels in the carcinogen groups was observed. The association induced a reduction of the COX-2 and PCNA expression. The number of ACF in the group that received a light dose of ethanol had lower rates, while the group that received a moderate dose had the highest rates compared to the control MNNG, demonstrating that the light dose of ethanol could have a protective effect, while the moderate dose could represent a risk during chemical carcinogenesis in rats.

Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation improves endothelial function and arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients with hypertriglyceridemia and high cardiovascular risk.

Association between hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular (CV) disease is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare omega-3 and ciprofibrate effects on the vascular structure and function in low and high CV risk hypertensive patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Twenty-nine adults with triglycerides 150-499 mg/dL were divided into low (<7.5%) and high (≥7.5%) CV risk, randomized to receive omega-3 fatty acids 1800 mg/d or ciprofibrate 100 mg/d for 12 weeks. Treatment was switched after 8-week washout. Clinical evaluation and vascular tests were assessed at baseline and after intervention. Peripheral (131 ± 3 to 125 ± 3 mm Hg, P < .05) and aortic (124 ± 3 to 118 ± 2 mg/dL, P < .05) systolic blood pressure were decreased by ciprofibrate in low-risk patients. In high-risk patients, pulse wave velocity was reduced (10.4 ± 0.4 to 9.4 ± 0.3 m/s, P < .05) and flow-mediated dilation was increased (11.1 ± 1.6 to 13.5 ± 1.2%, P < .05) by omega-3. In conclusion, omega-3 improved arterial stiffness and endothelial function, pointing out the beneficial effect of this therapy on vascular aging, in high-risk patients.

Vitamin E supplementation in chemical colorectal carcinogenesis: a two-edged knife.

This work investigated the effects of Vitamin E (VE) on aberrant crypt foci (ACF) incidence, oxidative stress parameters (serum and hepatic VE concentration, and homocysteine, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels), and expression of both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) and proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) in experimental colorectal carcinogenesis. Male Wistar rats received subcutaneous injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) twice a week, for two weeks (40 mg/kg), except for the Control group. Animals were separated into groups that received different amounts of VE in the diet: 0 IU (0×), 75 IU (recommended daily intake, RDI), 225 IU (3× RDI), or 1500 IU (20× RDI), during (dDMH) or after (aDMH) administration of carcinogen. The 0×dDMH and 3×dDMH groups showed decreased serum VE levels. Hepatic VE concentration was higher in 3×aDMH as compared with the other groups. All the groups, except the Control and the 0×aDMH groups, had reduced GSH levels. The 0×dDMH, 0×aDMH, and 20×aDMH groups exhibited increased MDA levels. The aDMH groups had higher ACF incidence and PCNA expression. The 0×aDMH group presented higher ACF rate, followed by 20×aDMH. Moreover, the 3×aDMH group displayed reduced ACF incidence and COX2 expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that GSH modulated homocysteine levels and COX2. These results suggested that 1500 IU of VE is hazardous, whereas 225 IU of VE has beneficial effects on chemical colorectal carcinogenesis.

Análise qualitativa e quantitativa do padrão alimentar de uma população hipertensa com síndrome metabólica / Qualitative and quantitative analysis of dietary patterns in a hypertensive population with metabolic syndrome

Fundamentos: É indispensável o conhecimento dos principais fatores de risco que contribuem para o surgimento da síndrome metabólica(SM), destacando-se a composição do plano alimentar. Objetivo: Analisar o consumo alimentar, quantitativo e qualitativo, de hipertensos com e sem SM atendidos em um hospital universitário. Métodos: Noventa e quatro pacientes hipertensos foram sequencialmente selecionados e estratificados em dois grupos , conforme a presença ou não de SM , de acordo com os critérios preconizados pela I Diretriz Brasileira para SM. Foram avaliados parâmetros clínicos, antropométricos, nutricionais e laboratoriais. Resultados: Os grupos foram homogênios em relação à idade (58,1 +- 9,8 vs 57,6 +- 8,7 anos). O grupo com SM (n=60) apresentou média da pressão arterial diastólica significativamente maior (94,7 +-8,7mmHg vs 90,6 +- 9,7mmHg, p >0,05) em relação ao grupo sem SM (n=34). A recomendação quantitativa para macronutrientes foi atingida, porém a qualitataiva apresentou excessos importantes...