Manejo perioperatório dos novos anticoagulantes orais / Perioperative management of new oral anticoagulants

Os novos anticoagulantes orais revolucionaram a terapia de anticoagulação ao propiciar maior comodidade posológica e utilizar doses fixas, sem necessidade de acompanhamento do efeito com séries de exames laboratoriais e com menor risco de interações medicamentosas e alimentares. Porém, por serem medicamentos relativamente novos na prática clínica e, até recentemente, não existirem antídotos específicos para a reversão do seu efeito, o manejo no contexto perioperatório sempre gerou certo receio e questionamentos. O manejo adequado dos novos anticoagulantes no perioperatório envolve a avaliação cuidadosa do risco de tromboembolismo a que o paciente está sujeito na eventualidade da suspensão desses agentes em comparação com o risco de sangramento associado à manutenção; essa avaliação precisa abordar a susceptibilidade tanto de fatores relacionados com o paciente quanto do próprio tipo da cirurgia. Publicações recentes conseguiram reunir as evidências mais atuais que norteiam as estratégias de manejo desses medicamentos na eventualidade de um procedimento cirúrgico

The new oral anticoagulants have revolutionized anticoagulant therapy by providing greater dosage convenience, using fixed doses, without the need to monitor the effect with series of laboratory tests, and with a lower risk of drug and food interactions. However, because they are relatively new medications in clinical practice, and because until recently they did not have specific antidotes to reverse their effect, their handling in the perioperative context has always generated a certain fear and questioning. The proper management of the new anticoagulants in the perioperative period involves a careful evaluation of the thromboembolic risk to which the patient is subject in the event of suspension of these agents, compared with the risk of bleeding associated with their maintenance; this evaluation must address the susceptibility of both patient-related factors and the type of surgery. Recent publications have been able to gather the most recent evidence, which guides the strategies for handling these drugs in the event of a surgical procedure

Hypovitaminosis D and Obesity - Coincidence or Consequence?

Vitamin D has attracted much scientific interest in recent years, mostly due to its newly described roles in metabolism regulation and cell proliferation. Along with hypovitaminosis D, the incidence of obesity has risen and has become a public health concern. The association between these two conditions is not merely coincidence and is being deeply investigated regarding its prevalence, mechanism, and even a possible causal relation. The data are still inconclusive but there is important evidence indicating that vitamin D is involved with fat accumulation, the responsible mechanism however still the principal question. The three main hypotheses are: adipose tissue sequestration, genetic modulation, such as polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), or an organism evolutionary adaptation to cold weather. In conclusion, more evidence is needed to determine what the correct direction of this connection is and the possible therapeutic strategies of vitamin D replenishment and obesity control.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) extract does not alter serum lipid levels.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of eggplant extract on serum lipid levels with that of lovastatin. METHODS: The study included 21 individuals of both sexes, with total cholesterol (TC) levels > 200 mg/dL, no diabetes, no contraindication for the use of statins, and no use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, divided into the following 3 groups: 1) the eggplant group (B), in which the patients drank 1 glass of eggplant extract with orange juice before breakfast each morning; 2) the statin group (E), in which the patients received 20 mg of lovastatin in the evening after dinner; 3) control group (C), in which the patients received no treatment. Total cholesterol and fractions (HDL, LDL), and triglycerides were measured 3 times at 3-week intervals. RESULTS: The baseline lipid levels were similar in the 3 groups. After 6 weeks, a significant reduction in TC levels (from 245.29 +/- 41.69 to 205.71 +/- 46.45; P=0.02) and in LDL-cholesterol levels (from 170.83 +/- 41.76 to 121.29 +/- 44.90; P=0.008) was observed in group E. In group B, total cholesterol (from 230.60 +/- 19.30 to 240.20 +/- 16.22; P=0.27) and LDL-cholesterol (from 139.60 +/- 21.49 to 154.40 +/- 9.66; P=0.06) showed no statistically significant variation, as in group C. No significant variation was observed in the HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the 3 groups throughout the study. CONCLUSION: The eggplant extract with orange juice is not to be considered an alternative to statins in reducing serum levels of cholesterol.

O suco de berinjela (Solanum melongena) não modifica os níveis séricos de lípides

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do suco de berinjela sobre os lípides plasmáticos em comparação à lovastatina. MÉTODOS: Estudados 21 indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com colesterol total (CT) > 200 mg/dl, sem diabetes, ou contra-indicação para o uso de estatinas ou em uso de drogas hipocolesterolêmicas, divididos em 3 grupos: o grupo berinjela (B), um copo de suco de berinjela com laranja pela manhã, em jejum; grupo estatina (E), 20 mg de lovastatina pela manhã; grupo controle (C) nenhum tratamento. Foram feitas três dosagens de CT, frações (HDL, LDL) e triglicérides, com intervalos de três semanas. RESULTADOS: Os três grupos possuíam níveis lipídicos basais semelhantes. Após 6 semanas ocorreu uma diminuição significativa do CT (245,29 ± 41,69 para 205,71 ± 46,45, p=0,02) e do LDL-colesterol (170,83 ± 41,76 para 121,29 ± 44,90, p=0,008) no grupo E. No grupo B, o colesterol total (230,60 ± 19,30 para 240,20 ± 16,22, p=0,27) e o LDL-colesterol (139,60 ± 21,49 para 154,40 ± 9,66, p=0,06) não apresentaram variação significativa, como ocorrido no grupo C. Não houve variação significativa, em nenhum dos três grupos, nos valores de HDL-colesterol e triglicérides ao longo do estudo. CONCLUSAO: O suco de berinjela com laranja não pode ser considerado uma alternativa às estatinas na redução dos níveis séricos de colesterol.