Cardioprotection of Rosuvastatin Pre-conditioning on Myocardial Ischemia / Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotection of rosuvastatin pre-conditioning (R-Pre) in a rat model of myocardial ischemia / reperfusion (I/R). Male SD rats were assigned into three groups: sham group, I/R group and R-Pre group. Rats in I/R group and R-Pre group received ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 2 h. In R-Pre group, rats received intragastrical administration with rosuvastatin at 5 mg/kg once daily for 1 week. After 2-h reperfusion, the cardiac function was detected by ultrasonography; the blood was collected for biochemical analysis; the heart was collected for the TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry for Bcl-2 and Bax. Our results showed rosuvastatin pre-conditioning for 1 week could significantly reduce the infarct ratio and improve the cardiac function after myocardial I/R injury, in which attenuation of oxidative stress and cell apoptosis played an important role. Our study provides evidence on the cardioprotection of rosuvastatin pre-conditioning and highlight the use of rosuvastatin before cardiopulmonary bypass.

Circulating microparticles and central blood pressure according to antihypertensive strategy

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomized, open-label study aimed to compare the effects of antihypertensive treatment based on amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide on the circulating microparticles and central blood pressure values of hypertensive patients. METHODS: The effects of treatments on circulating microparticles were assessed during monotherapy and after the consecutive addition of valsartan and rosuvastatin followed by the withdrawal of rosuvastatin. Each treatment period lasted for 30 days. Central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity were measured at the end of each period. Endothelial, monocyte, and platelet circulating microparticles were determined by flow cytometry. Central blood pressure values and pulse wave velocity were recorded at the end of each treatment period. RESULTS: No differences in brachial blood pressure were observed between the treatment groups throughout the study. Although similar central blood pressure values were observed during monotherapy, lower systolic and diastolic central blood pressure values and early and late blood pressure peaks were observed in the amlodipine arm after the addition of valsartan alone or combined with rosuvastatin. Hydrochlorothiazide-based therapy was associated with a lower number of endothelial microparticles throughout the study, whereas a higher number of platelet microparticles was observed after rosuvastatin withdrawal in the amlodipine arm. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar brachial blood pressure values between groups throughout the study, exposure to amlodipine was associated with lower central blood pressure values after combination with valsartan, indicating a beneficial interaction. Differences between circulating microparticles were modest and were mainly influenced by rosuvastatin withdrawal in the amlodipine arm.

Avaliação do impacto das novas diretrizes no uso de estatinas / Assessing the impact of new guidelines on the use of statins

Fundamentos: A doença arterial coronariana é a principal causa de morte no Brasil e possui relação direta com a dislipidemia. Objetivo: Analisar o padrão do uso de estatinas antes e após a publicação das novas diretrizes de dislipidemia em pacientes com doença cardiovascular aterosclerótica prévia. Métodos: Estudo transversal, retrospectivo. Foram avaliados, aleatoriamente, 515 pacientes consecutivos com doença aterosclerótica, atendidos no ambulatório do Instituto de Cardiologia de Santa Catarina, SC, Brasil , entre2011 e 2015. Destes, apenas 76,9% faziam uso de alguma estatina. Foram coletados dados de história clínica, fatores de risco para doença cardiovascular, dados laboratoriais referentes aos valores de colesterol (HDL-c e LDL-c) e triglicerídeos (TG), tratamento referente à escolha das estatinas e suas doses, antes e depois de outubro de 2013,data de publicação das novas diretrizes. Resultados: Após a publicação das novas diretrizes, 477 pacientes utilizavam estatinas, representando 92,6% da amostra avaliada (p=0,0001). Quanto à escolha da estatina, o uso de sinvastatina diminuiu para 69,2% (p=0,02),o de atorvastatina aumentou para 25,2% (p=0,003) e o de rosuvastatina foi 5,7% (p=ns). Antes da divulgação das novas diretrizes, as doses médias de sinvastatina, atorvastatina e rosuvastatina eram 33,6±9,4mg, 32,1±18,9mg,13,1±7,9mg, respectivamente. Após a publicação, essas doses médias aumentaram para: sinvastatina 36,7±7,9mg(p=0,0001) e atorvastatina 36,8±16,2mg (p=0,0001). Conclusões: As taxas de uso de estatinas na amostra estudada aumentaram após a publicação da nova Diretriz ACC/AHA e da V Diretriz brasileira de dislipidemia, no entanto atingiu um número limitado de pacientes, associado a doses abaixo do preconizado e metas numéricas inadequadas de colesterol, o que pode gerar implicações prognósticas desfavoráveis.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in Brazil and has a direct connection with dyslipidemia. Objective: To analyze the pattern of use of statins before and after the publication of the new guidelines on dyslipidemia in patients with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Methods: Cross-sectional retrospective study. In this study, 515 consecutive patients with atherosclerotic were randomly evaluatedat the outpatient facility of Instituto de Cardiologia de Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil, between 2011 and 2015. Of these, only 76.9%were using statins. Data relating to clinical history, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, laboratory data for cholesterol levels (HDL-c and LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG) were collected, as well as treatment concerning the choice of statins and their doses before and after October 2013, when the new guidelines were published. Results: After the publication of the new guidelines, 477 patients used statins, representing 92.6% of the study sample (p=0.0001). As to the choice of statin, the use of simvastatin declined to 69.2% (p=0.02), atorvastatin increased to 25.2% (p=0.003) and rosuvastatin was 5.7% (p=ns). Before the release of the new guidelines, the average doses of simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were 33.6±9.4mg, 32.1±18.9mg, 13.1±7.9mg, respectively. After publication, these average doses increased to: simvastatin 36.7±7.9mg (p=0.0001) and atorvastatin 36.8±16.2mg (p=0.0001). Conclusions: The statin use rates in the study sample increased after the publication of the new ACC/AHA Guidelines and theV Brazilian Guidelines on Dyslipidemia. However, they reached a limited number of patients, associated with doses below there commended and improper numerical targets of cholesterol, which can generate unfavorable prognostic implications.

Accidente isquémico transitorio de causa hemodinámica / Transient ischemic attack of hemodynamic cause

El síncope es una perdida súbita y transitoria del estado de conciencia y el tono postural con restitución completa. Según su etiología se clasifica como reflejo (neuromediado), cardíaco, neurológico (isquemia vertebrobasilar) o indeterminado. Los síncopes neurológicos se observan en contexto de accidente cerebrovascular isquémico o accidente isquémico transitorio; frecuentemente se asocian a signos deficitarios focales. Presentamos el caso de un síncope no neurológico con signos deficitarios focales en una paciente con marcada enfermedad ateromatosa. (AU)

Syncope is the abrupt and transient loss of consciousness associated with absence of postural tone, followed by complete and usually rapid spontaneous recovery. In terms of etiology, syncope is classified as reflex (neurally mediated), cardiac, neurologic (vertebrobasilar ischemia) or indeterminate. The neurologic syncope occurs in the setting of stroke or transient ischemic attack, being most frequently associated with focal neurologic symptoms. We report a case of non-neurologic syncope followed with focal neurologic symptoms in a patient with atherosclerosis disease. (AU)