Peripheral microvascular dysfunction is also present in patients with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA).

BACKGROUND: In patients with ischemia and no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA), coronary microvascular dysfunction is associated with higher rate of major adverse cardiovascular events. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate if microvascular dysfunction present in coronary microcirculation of patients with INOCA may be detected noninvasively in their peripheral circulation. METHODS: 25 patients with INOCA and 25 apparently healthy individuals (controls) were subjected to nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) and venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) to evaluate peripheral microvascular function and blood collection for biomarkers analysis, including soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Red blood cell velocity (RBCV) before and after ischemia (RBCVmax) were significantly lower in patients with INOCA (p = 0.0001). Time to reach maximal red blood cell velocity (TRBCVmax) was significantly longer in INOCA group (p = 0.0004). Concerning VOP, maximal blood flow (p = 0.004) and its relative increment were significantly lower in patients with INOCA (p = 0.0004). RBCVmax showed significant correlations with sVCAM-1 (r = -0.38, p < 0.05), ET-1 (r = -0.73, p < 0.05) and CRP (r = -0.33, p < 0.05). Relative increment of maximal post-ischemic blood flow was significantly correlated with sVCAM-1 (r = -0.42, p < 0.05) and ET-1 (r = -0.48, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The impairment of microvascular function present in coronary microcirculation of patients with INOCA can be also detected in peripheral microcirculation.

Effects of concurrent training associated with N-acetylcysteine on bone density of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract Aim: The present study aimed to analyze the effects of N-acetylcysteine supplementation associated with concurrent training on the bone mineral density of spontaneously hypertensive elderly rats. Methods: For the present study, 28 male spontaneously hypertensive rats, six months old, were distributed in the following groups: control (C, n=7); control + N-acetylcysteine (CNAC, n=7); concurrent training (T, n=7); and concurrent training+N-acetylcysteine (TNAC, n=7). The concurrent training was composed of aerobic training on a treadmill and resistance training in the same training session, three times a week. Animals of the NAC groups received a dose equivalent to 120 mg/kg/day orally for eight weeks. The animals in the trained groups underwent training for eight weeks. The animals were evaluated at the beginning and end of the experiment. After euthanasia, the tibias and femurs were submitted to bone densitometry analysis in an X-ray dual emission device. Results: Lower weight variation was observed in the trained animals and a reduction in pressure values in all groups, but without a statistical difference (p> 0.05). The animals in the T and TNAC groups presented a better performance in the physical tests (p <0.05). In relation to bone, the NAC groups demonstrated a decrease in femoral bone density when compared to groups C and T. Finally, all experimental groups demonstrated an increase in tibial bone density, but with no statistical difference (p>0.05). Conclusion: The animals in group T demonstrated better performance in the physical tests. In addition, the NAC caused a reduction in the bone mineral density of the femur.

Evaluation of endothelial function by VOP and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with arterial hypertension.

Hypertension is associated with microcirculatory impairment. Our objectives were to evaluate endothelial function and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with resistant (RH) and mild to moderate (MMH) arterial hypertension in comparison to normotensives (control group-CG). Three groups, 25 patients each, have been investigated, by anamnesis, venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) and serum determination of adhesion molecules (VCAM, ICAM), adiponectin, endothelin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Patients not using statins and with or without blood pressure control were also analyzed. RH group showed smaller percentage increase of maximum forearm blood flow (FBF) (endothelial-dependent vasodilatation) than controls (p < 0.05), but no significant difference could be detected between MMH and CG groups on maximum FBF and minimum vascular resistance post-ischemia. RH and MMH groups showed higher resistance averages compared to controls (p < 0.05). Uncontrolled BP in hypertensive patients showed worse results for blood flow and resistance. Endothelial-independent vasodilatation was not affected. Endothelin levels were higher in RH and MMH groups (p < 0.05) not using statins. CRP was significantly higher only in RH compared to CG (p < 0.05). In conclusion patients with severe hypertension and lack of blood pressure control showed greater impairment of endothelial function with higher CRP and endothelin levels.

Effects of Growth Hormone on Cardiac Remodeling During Resistance Training in Rats / Efeitos do Hormônio do Crescimento na Remodelação Cardíaca Durante Treinamento Resistido em Ratos

Abstract Background: Although the beneficial effects of resistance training (RT) on the cardiovascular system are well established, few studies have investigated the effects of the chronic growth hormone (GH) administration on cardiac remodeling during an RT program. Objective: To evaluate the effects of GH on the morphological features of cardiac remodeling and Ca2+ transport gene expression in rats submitted to RT. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 7 per group): control (CT), GH, RT and RT with GH (RTGH). The dose of GH was 0.2 IU/kg every other day for 30 days. The RT model used was the vertical jump in water (4 sets of 10 jumps, 3 bouts/wk) for 30 consecutive days. After the experimental period, the following variables were analyzed: final body weight (FBW), left ventricular weight (LVW), LVW/FBW ratio, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CSA), collagen fraction, creatine kinase muscle-brain fraction (CK-MB) and gene expressions of SERCA2a, phospholamban (PLB) and ryanodine (RyR). Results: There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference among groups for FBW, LVW, LVW/FBW ratio, cardiomyocyte CSA, and SERCA2a, PLB and RyR gene expressions. The RT group showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in collagen fraction compared to the other groups. Additionally, the trained groups (RT and RTGH) had greater CK-MB levels compared to the untrained groups (CT and GH). Conclusion: GH may attenuate the negative effects of RT on cardiac remodeling by counteracting the increased collagen synthesis, without affecting the gene expression that regulates cardiac Ca2+ transport.

Resumo Fundamento: Apesar de os efeitos benéficos do treinamento resistido (TR) sobre o sistema cardiovascular estarem bem estabelecidos, poucos estudos têm investigado os efeitos crônicos da administração de hormônio do crescimento (GH) sobre a remodelação cardíaca durante um programa de TR. Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos do GH sobre a remodelação cardíaca em suas características morfológicas e na expressão dos genes do trânsito de Ca2+ em ratos submetidos ao TR. Métodos: Ratos Wistar machos foram divididos em 4 grupos (n = 7 por grupo): controle (CT), GH, TR e TR com GH (TRGH). A dose de GH foi de 0,2 UI/kg, a cada dois dias, por 30 dias. O modelo de TR utilizado foi o salto vertical em água (4 séries de 10 saltos, 3 vezes/semana) durante 30 dias consecutivos. Após o período experimental, as seguintes variáveis foram analisadas: peso corporal final (PCF), peso do ventrículo esquerdo (PVE), razão PVE/PCF, área seccional de cardiomiócitos (ASC), fração de colágeno, creatina quinase fração músculo-cérebro (CK-MB) e expressão gênica de SERCA2a, fosfolambam (PLB) e rianodina (RyR). Resultados: Não houve diferença significativa (p > 0,05) entre os grupos para PCF, PVE, razão PVE/PCF, ASC, e expressão gênica de SERCA2a, PLB e RyR. O grupo TR mostrou um significativo aumento (p < 0,05) da fração de colágeno em comparação aos outros. Além disso, os grupos treinados (TR e TRGH) apresentaram maiores níveis de CK-MB em comparação aos não treinados (CT e GH). Conclusão: Esses resultados indicam que o GH pode atenuar os efeitos negativos do TR na remodelação cardíaca por contrabalançar o aumento da síntese de colágeno, sem afetar a expressão de genes que regulam o trânsito de Ca2+ cardíaco.

Effects of Growth Hormone on Cardiac Remodeling During Resistance Training in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Although the beneficial effects of resistance training (RT) on the cardiovascular system are well established, few studies have investigated the effects of the chronic growth hormone (GH) administration on cardiac remodeling during an RT program. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of GH on the morphological features of cardiac remodeling and Ca2+ transport gene expression in rats submitted to RT. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 7 per group): control (CT), GH, RT and RT with GH (RTGH). The dose of GH was 0.2 IU/kg every other day for 30 days. The RT model used was the vertical jump in water (4 sets of 10 jumps, 3 bouts/wk) for 30 consecutive days. After the experimental period, the following variables were analyzed: final body weight (FBW), left ventricular weight (LVW), LVW/FBW ratio, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (CSA), collagen fraction, creatine kinase muscle-brain fraction (CK-MB) and gene expressions of SERCA2a, phospholamban (PLB) and ryanodine (RyR). RESULTS: There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference among groups for FBW, LVW, LVW/FBW ratio, cardiomyocyte CSA, and SERCA2a, PLB and RyR gene expressions. The RT group showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in collagen fraction compared to the other groups. Additionally, the trained groups (RT and RTGH) had greater CK-MB levels compared to the untrained groups (CT and GH). CONCLUSION: GH may attenuate the negative effects of RT on cardiac remodeling by counteracting the increased collagen synthesis, without affecting the gene expression that regulates cardiac Ca2+ transport.

Efeitos agudos nos parâmetros cardiorrespiratórios da ventilação mecânica não invasiva e do incentivador respiratório no pós-operatório de revascularização miocárdica / Acute effects of non-invasive ventilation and of incentive spirometry to volume in post-surgery patients of myocardium revascularization

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar e comparar os efeitos agudosde dois recursos fisioterapêuticos nos parâmetros cardiovasculares erespiratórios em pacientes no pós-operatório de revascularização miocárdica.Métodos: A amostra foi constituída de 20 pacientes que foram divididosem: Grupo 1 - submetido à ventilação mecânica não invasiva com pressãopositiva contínua (VMNI/CPAP) - e Grupo 2 - submetido ao incentivadorrespiratório a volume (IR). Os pacientes foram avaliados antes, durante eapós o protocolo quanto aos parâmetros cardiorrespiratórios: frequênciarespiratória (FR), frequência cardíaca (FC), saturação de oxigênio (SpO2) epressão arterial (PA) e duplo produto (DP). Os resultados foram expressosem média ± desvio padrão. Resultados: O Grupo 1 obteve média de idadede 66 ± 10,30 anos, tempo de circulação extracorpórea (CEC) 91,4 ± 18,22minutos. O Grupo 2 obteve média de idade de 63,2 ± 4,18 anos, tempo deCEC 83,6 ± 10,12 minutos. Ao comparar os dois grupos, a VMNI apresentouefeito significativo na SpO2 aos 5 minutos e aos 10 minutos de aplicação datécnica. Efetuando a análise isolada de ambos os grupos, apenas a VMNIapresentou diferença significativa na SpO2 quando comparada a avaliação deantes da técnica aos 5 minutos (p = 0,0154) e aos 10 minutos com o término dotratamento (p = 0,0278). Conclusão: Nesta amostra, os recursos terapêuticosaplicados demonstraram resultados similares em relação ao comportamentohemodinâmico, o que demonstra que na fase I de reabilitação são técnicasseguras e que podem ser indicadas para reversão ou prevenção das possíveiscomplicações pulmonares...

The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the acute effectsof two different therapeutic procedures in the cardio-respiratory parameters formyocardium revascularization in post-surgery patients. Methods: Twenty patientshave been divided into: Group 1 submitted to continuous non-invasive ventilationwith continuous pressure (NIMV/CPAP) and Group 2 has been submitted toincentive spirometry by volume (IR). Patients were evaluated before, duringand after the protocol procedures of cardio-respiratory parameters: respiratoryfrequency (RF), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2) and arterial pressure(AP) and double product (DP). Results are expressed in average ± standarddeviation. Results: Group 1 had the average age of 66- +10.30, extra-corporealcirculation time (ECC) 91.4 + 18.33 minutes. Group 2 had average age of63.2 ± 4.18, ECC time of 83.6 ± 10.12 minutes. When two groups were compared,NIMV presented a significant effect in SpO2 at 5 minutes and at 10 minutes aftertechniques were applied. By performing isolated analysis of both groups, onlyNIMV presented significant deviation as compared to the evaluation previouslymade at 5 minutes (p = 0,0154) and the difference at 10 minutes at the end of thetreatment in a significant way (p = 0,0278). Conclusion: The therapeutic resourcesapplied in the study demonstrated similar results in relation to hemodynamicbehavior, proving that in phase I of the treatment, the techniques are secure andcan be indicated to reverse or prevent possible pulmonary complications...

Evaluation of the degree of vascular inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is defined as a set of cardiovascular risk factors related to visceral obesity and insulin resistance that lead to an increase in general mortality, especially cardiovascular. The inflammatory markers are considered emergent risk factors and can be potentially used in the clinical stratification of cardiovascular diseases, establishing prognostic values. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at evaluating which components of the MS present an increase of IL-6 and hs-CRP, identifying the marker that better expresses the degree of inflammation and which isolate component presents a higher degree of interference on the studied inflammatory markers, in order to identify other important risk factors when determining arterial inflammation. METHODS: A total of 87 hypertensive, diabetic and dyslipidemic patients were selected, aged 26 to 85 years, who met the necessary criteria for the positive diagnosis of MS. The patients were assessed through 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and underwent hs-CRP and IL-6 measurements, among other metabolic variables. RESULTS: The patients that presented CRP > 0.3mg/dl showed a significant correlation (p<0.05) with abdominal perimeter >102/88 cm in 83.7%, glycemia > 110mg/dl in 88% and BMI > 30kg/m(2) in 60.5% of the studied individuals. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the CRP was the inflammatory marker with the highest expression regarding the studied variables, with smoking, albuminuria, previous personal history of cardiopathy, BMI, abdominal perimeter and hyperglycemia being the ones with the highest statistical significance. Interleukin-6 did not present a correlation with any of the studied variables.

Avaliação do grau de inflamação vascular em pacientes com síndrome metabólica / Evaluation of the degree of vascular inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome

FUNDAMENTO: A síndrome metabólica é definida com um conjunto de fatores de risco cardiovasculares relacionados à obesidade visceral e resistência insulínica, que levam a um aumento da mortalidade geral, especialmente cardiovascular. Os marcadores inflamatórios são considerados fatores de risco emergentes e podem ser potencialmente utilizados na estratificação clínica das doenças cardiovasculares estabelecendo valores prognósticos. OBJETIVO: Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo avaliar quais componentes da síndrome metabólica apresentam aumento de IL-6 e PCR-AS, identificando o marcador que melhor expressa o grau de inflamação, e qual componente isoladamente apresenta maior interferência nos marcadores inflamatórios estudados, a fim de identificar outros fatores de risco importantes na determinação da inflamação arterial. METODOLOGIA: Foram selecionados 87 pacientes, entre 26 e 85 anos, hipertensos, diabéticos e dislipidêmicos que obedecessem aos critérios necessários ao diagnóstico de certeza da síndrome metabólica. Os pacientes foram avaliados através da MAPA de 24h e submetidos a dosagens de PCR-AS e IL-6, entre outras variáveis metabólicas. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes que apresentaram PCR > 0,3mg/dl mostraram correlação significativa (p<0,05) com perímetro abdominal >102/88 cm em 83,7 por cento; glicemia > 110mg/dl em 88 por cento; e IMC > 30kg/m² em 60,5 por cento dos indivíduos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: Concluiu-se que a PCR foi o marcador inflamatório de maior expressão em relação às variáveis estudadas, sendo tabagismo, albuminúria, história de cardiopatia pessoal prévia, IMC, perímetro abdominal e hiperglicemia as de maior relevância estatística. A interleucina-6 não mostrou correlação com nenhuma variável estudada.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is defined as a set of cardiovascular risk factors related to visceral obesity and insulin resistance that lead to an increase in general mortality, especially cardiovascular. The inflammatory markers are considered emergent risk factors and can be potentially used in the clinical stratification of cardiovascular diseases, establishing prognostic values. OBJECTIVE: This study aims at evaluating which components of the MS present an increase of IL-6 and hs-CRP, identifying the marker that better expresses the degree of inflammation and which isolate component presents a higher degree of interference on the studied inflammatory markers, in order to identify other important risk factors when determining arterial inflammation. METHODS: A total of 87 hypertensive, diabetic and dyslipidemic patients were selected, aged 26 to 85 years, who met the necessary criteria for the positive diagnosis of MS. The patients were assessed through 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and underwent hs-CRP and IL-6 measurements, among other metabolic variables. RESULTS: The patients that presented CRP > 0.3mg/dl showed a significant correlation (p<0.05) with abdominal perimeter >102/88 cm in 83.7 percent, glycemia > 110mg/dl in 88 percent and BMI > 30kg/m²in60.5 percent of the studied individuals. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the CRP was the inflammatory marker with the highest expression regarding the studied variables, with smoking, albuminuria, previous personal history of cardiopathy, BMI, abdominal perimeter and hyperglycemia being the ones with the highest statistical significance. Interleukin-6 did not present a correlation with any of the studied variables.

Clastogenicity of Piper cubeba (Piperaceae) seed extract in an in vivo mammalian cell system

The plant Piper cubeba is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and is used medically for various purposes but has not yet been evaluated for genotoxicity. We used male and female Swiss mice and Wistar rats and the comet assay and micronucleus test to investigate the mutagenic potential of a crude extract of P. cubeba seeds. The rodents were administered 0.5 g kg-1, 1.0 g kg-1 and 1.5 g kg-1 of the extract by gavage. For the Swiss mice, peripheral blood was collected 24 h after treatment for the comet assay, and at 48 and 72 h for the micronucleus test. For the Wistar rats, peripheral blood and hepatic cells were collected for the comet assay and bone marrow cells were collected for the micronucleus test 24 h after treatment. At 1.5 g kg-1, the highest dose tested, the extract induced a statistically significant increase in both the mean number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and the level of DNA damage in the rodent cell types analyzed. Under our experimental conditions, the P. cubeba seed extract was genotoxic in vivo when administered orally to mice and rats.

Associação de marcadores inflamatórios e níveis tensionais em indivíduos hipertensos com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Inflammatory markers and blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes

A hipertensão arterial e o diabetes mellitus são fatores de risco que predispõem à aterosclerose.A capacidade funcional do endotélio vascular é exercida basicamente pela células endoteliais, que são sensíveis às mudanças das forças hemodinâmicas, liberando diversas substâncias, entre elas a Interleucina 6 (IL menos 6) e a Proteína C Reativa (PCR).Essa última é sintetizada pelo fígado e liberada pela estimulação pró-inflamatória da IL menos 6.Objetivo: verificar associação entre níveis elavados de pressão arterial e marcadores inflamátórios...