Euterpe Oleracea Mart. (Açaí) Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves Energetic Metabolism in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats / Euterpe Oleracea Mart. (Açaí) Reduz o Estresse Oxidativo e Melhora o Metabolismo Energético da Lesão de Isquemia-Reperfusão Miocárdica Em Ratos

Abstract Background: Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) is a fruit with high antioxidant capacity and could be an adjuvant strategy to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Objective: To evaluate the influence of açaí in global ischemia-reperfusion model in rats. Methods: Wistar rats were assigned to 2 groups: Control (C: receiving standard chow; n = 9) and Açaí (A: receiving standard chow supplemented with 5% açaí; n = 10). After six weeks, the animals were subjected to the global ischemia-reperfusion protocol and an isolated heart study to evaluate left ventricular function. Level of significance adopted: 5%. Results: There was no difference between the groups in initial body weight, final body weight and daily feed intake. Group A presented lower lipid hydroperoxide myocardial concentration and higher catalase activity, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase than group C. We also observed increased myocardial activity of b-hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, complex I, complex II and ATP synthase in the A group as well as lower activity of the lactate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase enzymes. The systolic function was similar between the groups, and the A group presented poorer diastolic function than the C group. We did not observe any difference between the groups in relation to myocardial infarction area, total and phosphorylated NF-kB, total and acetylated FOXO1, SIRT1 and Nrf-2 protein expression. Conclusion: despite improving energy metabolism and attenuating oxidative stress, açai supplementation did not decrease the infarcted area or improve left ventricular function in the global ischemia-reperfusion model.

Resumo Fundamento: Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) é uma fruta com alta capacidade antioxidante e pode ser uma estratégia adjuvante para atenuar a lesão de isquemia-reperfusão. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência do açaí no modelo global de isquemia-reperfusão em ratos. Metodologia: Ratos Wistar foram divididos em 2 grupos: Controle (C: recebendo ração padrão; n = 9) e Açaí (A: recebendo ração padrão suplementada com 5% de açaí; n = 10). Após seis semanas, os animais foram submetidos ao protocolo global de isquemia-reperfusão e a estudo do coração isolado para avaliar a função ventricular esquerda. Nível de significância adotado: 5%. Resultados: Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto ao peso corporal inicial e final, e a ingestão diária de ração. O grupo A apresentou menor concentração miocárdica de hidroperóxido lipídico e maior atividade de catalase, superóxido dismutase e glutationa peroxidase do que o grupo C. Também observamos aumento da atividade miocárdica da b-hidroxiacil coenzima-A desidrogenase, piruvato desidrogenase, citrato sintase, complexo I, complexo II e ATP sintase no grupo A, bem como menor atividade das enzimas lactato desidrogenase e fosfofructoquinase. A função sistólica foi semelhante entre os grupos, e o grupo A apresentou função diastólica pior que C. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos em relação à área de infarto do miocárdio, e expressão proteica de NF-kB total e fosforilado, e das proteínas FOXO1, SIRT1 e Nrf-2. Conclusão: apesar de melhorar o metabolismo energético e atenuar o estresse oxidativo, a suplementação de açaí não diminuiu a área infartada nem melhorou a função ventricular esquerda no modelo global de isquemia-reperfusão.

Euterpe Oleracea Mart. (Açaí) Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves Energetic Metabolism in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) is a fruit with high antioxidant capacity and could be an adjuvant strategy to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of açaí in global ischemia-reperfusion model in rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were assigned to 2 groups: Control (C: receiving standard chow; n = 9) and Açaí (A: receiving standard chow supplemented with 5% açaí; n = 10). After six weeks, the animals were subjected to the global ischemia-reperfusion protocol and an isolated heart study to evaluate left ventricular function. Level of significance adopted: 5%. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in initial body weight, final body weight and daily feed intake. Group A presented lower lipid hydroperoxide myocardial concentration and higher catalase activity, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase than group C. We also observed increased myocardial activity of b-hydroxyacyl coenzyme-A dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, complex I, complex II and ATP synthase in the A group as well as lower activity of the lactate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase enzymes. The systolic function was similar between the groups, and the A group presented poorer diastolic function than the C group. We did not observe any difference between the groups in relation to myocardial infarction area, total and phosphorylated NF-kB, total and acetylated FOXO1, SIRT1 and Nrf-2 protein expression. CONCLUSION: despite improving energy metabolism and attenuating oxidative stress, açai supplementation did not decrease the infarcted area or improve left ventricular function in the global ischemia-reperfusion model.

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açai) Supplementation Attenuates Acute Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug used successfully for years, could induce cardiotoxicity. Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açai) is a fruit high in antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity prevention after açai administration. METHODS: A total of 64 male Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups: control (C), açai (A), doxorubicin (D) and açai-doxorubicin (DA). Rats received regular chow (C and D groups) or chow supplemented with açai 5% (A and DA groups) for 4 weeks. Subsequently, rats received doxorubicin 20 mg/kg (D and DA groups) or saline (C and A groups). Euthanasia was performed 48 hours after doxorubicin injection. Left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography in vivo and by isolated heart study ex vivo. Oxidative stress, myocardial metabolism and nitric oxide metabolite were evaluated by spectrophotometry, MMP-2 activity by zymography and caspase-3 and Bcl-2 protein expression by Western blot. RESULTS: Doxorubicin induced decreases in body weight, food and water ingestion. We observed decreases in left ventricular fractional shortening in rats treated with doxorubicin. Additionally, the same rats showed lower +dP/dt and -dP/dt during isolated heart study than those who did not receive doxorubicin. Doxorubicin injection increased caspase-3 protein expression, myocardium lipid hydroperoxide concentration, MMP-2 activity, phosphofructokinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity, and decreased ß-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, complex I, complex II and ATP synthase activity in myocardium. Açai supplementation improved left ventricular fractional shortening, decreased myocardium lipid hydroperoxide concentration, MMP-2 activity, and improved ß-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase, citrate synthase, complex II and ATP synthase enzymatic activities. We did not observe differences in nitric oxide metabolite concentrations between groups. CONCLUSION: Doxorubicin induced left ventricular dysfunction, increases in oxidative stress, changes in myocardium metabolism and MMP-2 activation. Açai supplementation was able to prevent these alterations.

Spondias mombin supplementation attenuated cardiac remodelling process induced by tobacco smoke.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Spondias mombin (SM) supplementation on the cardiac remodelling process induced by exposure to tobacco smoke (ETS) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: group C (control, n = 20) comprised animals not exposed to cigarette smoke and received standard chow; group ETS (n = 20) comprised animals exposed to cigarette smoke and received standard chow; group ETS100 (n = 20) received standard chow supplemented with 100 mg/kg body weight/d of SM; and group ETS250 (n = 20) received standard chow supplemented with 250 mg/kg body weight/d of SM. The observation period was 2 months. The ETS animals had higher values of left cardiac chamber diameters and of left ventricular mass index. SM supplementation attenuated these changes. In addition, the myocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) was lower in group C compared with the ETS groups; however, the ETS250 group had lower values of CSA compared with the ETS group. The ETS group also showed higher cardiac levels of lipid hydroperoxide (LH) compared with group C; and, groups ETS100 and ETS250 had lower concentrations of LH compared with the ETS group. Regarding energy metabolism, SM supplementation decreased glycolysis and increased the ß-oxidation and the oxidative phosphorylation. There were no differences in the expression of Nrf-2, SIRT-1, NF-κB, interferon-gamma and interleukin 10. In conclusion, our results suggest that ETS induced the cardiac remodelling process. In addition, SM supplementation attenuated this process, along with oxidative stress reduction and energy metabolism modulation.

Pamidronate Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Energetic Metabolism Changes but Worsens Functional Outcomes in Acute Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity is the major side effect of doxorubicin. As mechanisms that are involved in cardiotoxicity are ambiguous, new methods for attenuating cardiotoxicity are needed. Recent studies have shown that bisphosphonates can decrease oxidative stress. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pamidronate on preventing acute doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS: Sixty-four male Wistar rats were allocated into four groups: the control group (C), the pamidronate group (P), the doxorubicin group (D) and the doxorubicin/pamidronate group (DP). The rats in the P and DP groups received pamidronate injections (3 mg/kg, IP). After 24 hours, the rats in the D and DP groups received doxorubicin injections (20 mg/kg, IP). Forty-eight hours after doxorubicin injection, the rats were killed. Echocardiography, isolated heart study and biochemical analysis were performed. RESULTS: Doxorubicin-induced acute cardiotoxicity showed increased matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 activation, oxidative damage and induced alterations in myocardial energetic metabolism. Pamidronate did not inhibit MMP-2 activation but attenuated oxidative stress and improved myocardial energetic metabolism. Regarding cardiac function, the DP group exhibited a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction in the echocardiography and a decrease in +dP/dt in the isolated heart study compared with other groups. The same DP group presented serum hypocalcaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its ability to reduce oxidative stress and improve energy metabolism in the heart, pamidronate worsened systolic function in rats treated with doxorubicin, and therefore we cannot recommend its use in conjunction with anthracycline chemotherapy.

Caracterização do transporte de pacientes críticos na modalidade intra-hospitalar / Characterization of the intrahospital transport of critically ill patients

Objetivo: Caracterizar o transporte de pacientes críticos em unidade de terapia intensiva adulto. Métodos: Estudo transversal onde foram incluídos 459 transportes de pacientes críticos na modalidade intrahospitalar. Os dados foram coletados nos prontuários clínicos dos pacientes e em um formulário com a descrição dos materiais e equipamentos necessários ao procedimento, descrição de ocorrências adversas e da equipe que realizou. Resultados: Foram realizados 459 transportes de 262 pacientes críticos com média de 51 transportes por mês. Eram pacientes em suporte ventilatório (41,3%) e 34,5% em uso de drogas vasoativas. Em 9,4% dos transportes ocorreram eventos adversos sendo 77,3% das equipes compostas por médico, enfermeiro e técnico de enfermagem. Conclusão: Os transportes de pacientes críticos ocorreram no período da manhã, para realização de tomografia computadorizada, com pacientes dependentes de suporte ventilatório e drogas vasoativas. Os equipamentos durante o transporte estavam funcionando e, os eventos adversos ocorridos foram atribuídos a alterações clínicas dos pacientes. .

Objective: Characterizing the transport of critically ill patients in an adult intensive care unit. Methods: Cross-sectional study in which 459 intra -hospital transports of critically ill patients were included. Data were collected from clinical records of patients and from a form with the description of the materials and equipment necessary for the procedure, description of adverse events and of the transport team. Results: A total of 459 transports of 262 critically ill patients were carried out, with an average of 51 transports per month. Patients were on ventilatory support (41.3 %) and 34.5 % in use of vasoactive drugs. Adverse events occurred in 9.4% of transports and 77.3 % of the teams were composed of physicians, nurses and nurse technicians. Conclusion: The transport of critically ill patients occurred in the morning period for performing computerized tomographies (CT scans) with patients dependent on mechanical ventilation and vasoactive drugs. During the transports the equipment was functioning, and the adverse events were attributed to clinical changes of patients. .