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.

Challenges in the treatment of dysthymia: a narrative review.

INTRODUCTION: Despite its milder severity, the chronic nature of dysthymia leads to significant impairments and functional limitations. The treatment of dysthymia has received considerably less research attention compared to major depressive disorder (MDD). AREAS COVERED: The authors have conducted a comprehensive review on the treatment of dysthymia. Their primary objective was to identify therapeutic options that have demonstrated genuine efficacy. To do this, they searched the PubMed database, without any time restrictions, to retrieve original studies. The samples were exclusively comprised individuals diagnosed with dysthymia according to the diagnostic criteria outlined in DSM-III, DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, or DSM-IV-TR. EXPERT OPINION: Within the realm of dysthymia treatment, several antidepressants, including imipramine, sertraline, paroxetine, minaprine, moclobemide, and amineptine, in addition to the antipsychotic agent amisulpride, have demonstrated superiority over placebo. In certain studies, psychotherapeutic interventions did not distinguish themselves significantly from pharmacological treatments and failed to exhibit greater efficacy than a placebo. However, these findings remain inconclusive due to the limited number of studies and substantial methodological limitations prevalent in a significant proportion of them. Limitations include factors like small sample sizes, the absence of placebo comparisons, and a lack of study blinding.

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. (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.