Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Extract Increased Topoisomerase IIß, Improved Antioxidant Defense, and Attenuated Cardiac Remodeling in an Acute Doxorubicin Toxicity Model.

Experimental studies have shown the action of green tea in modulating cardiac remodeling. However, the effects of green tea on the cardiac remodeling process induced by doxorubicin (DOX) are not known. Therefore, this study is aimed at evaluating whether green tea extract could attenuate DOX-induced cardiac remodeling, assessed by cardiac morphological and functional changes and associated with the evaluation of different modulators of cardiac remodeling. The animals were divided into four groups: the control group (C), the green tea group (GT), the DOX group (D), and the DOX and green tea group (DGT). Groups C and GT received intraperitoneal sterile saline injections, D and DGT received intraperitoneal injections of DOX, and GT and DGT were fed chow supplemented with green tea extract for 35 days prior to DOX injection. After forty-eight hours, we performed an echocardiogram and euthanasia and collected the materials for analysis. Green tea attenuated DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by increasing cardiac function and decreasing the concentric remodeling. Treatment with DOX increased oxidative stress in the heart, marked by a higher level of lipid hydroperoxide (LH) and lower levels of antioxidant enzymes. Treatment with green tea increased the antioxidant enzymes' activity and decreased the production of LH. Green tea extract increased the expression of Top2-ß independent of DOX treatment. The activity of ATP synthase, citrate synthase, and complexes I and II decreased with DOX, without the effects of green tea. Both groups that received DOX presented with a lower ratio of P-akt/T-akt and a higher expression of CD45, TNFα, and intermediate MMP-2, without the effects of green tea. In conclusion, green tea attenuated cardiac remodeling induced by DOX and was associated with increasing the expression of Top2-ß and lowering oxidative stress. However, energy metabolism and inflammation probably do not receive the benefits induced by green tea in this model.

The role of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in cardiac remodelling induced by cigarette smoke exposure.

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the alterations in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance are mechanisms presented in cardiac remodelling induced by the toxicity of cigarette smoke. Male Wistar rats were assigned to the control group (C; n = 12) and the cigarette smoke-exposed group (exposed to cigarette smoke over 2 months) (CS; n = 12). Transthoracic echocardiography, blood pressure assessment, serum biochemical analyses for catecholamines and cotinine, energy metabolism enzymes activities assay; HOMA index (homeostatic model assessment); immunohistochemistry; and Western blot for proteins involved in energy metabolism were performed. The CS group presented concentric hypertrophy, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and higher oxidative stress. It was observed changes in energy metabolism, characterized by a higher HOMA index, lower concentration of GLUT4 (glucose transporter 4) and lower 3-hydroxyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity, suggesting the presence of insulin resistance. Yet, the cardiac glycogen was depleted, phosphofructokinase (PFK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased, with normal pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity. The activity of citrate synthase, mitochondrial complexes and ATP synthase (adenosine triphosphate synthase) decreased and the expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) increased. In conclusion, exposure to cigarette smoke induces cardiac remodelling and dysfunction. The mitochondrial dysfunction and heart damage induced by cigarette smoke exposure are associated with insulin resistance and glucose metabolism changes.

Perioperative complications and mortality in elderly patients following surgery for femoral fracture: prospective observational study / Complicações perioperatórias e mortalidade em pacientes idosos submetidos a cirurgia para correção de fratura de fêmur: estudo prospectivo observacional

Abstract Background and objectives: Perioperative management of femoral fractures in elderly patients has been studied to determine modifiable causes of complications and death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mortality rate and its causes in the elderly population with FF. We also evaluated perioperative complications and their association with postoperative mortality. Method: In this prospective and observational study, we evaluated 182 patients, by questionnaire and electronic medical record, from the moment of hospitalization to one year after surgery. Statistical analyzes using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier curves were performed to detect independent mortality factors. Results: Fifty-six patients (30.8%) died within one year after surgery, and the main cause of death was infection followed by septic shock. The main complication, both preoperatively and postoperatively, was hydroelectrolytic disorder. For every one-unit (one-year) increase in age, the odds ratio for death increased by 4%. With each new preoperative complication, the odds ratio for death increased by 28%. Patients ASA III or IV had a 95% higher odds ratio for death than patients ASA I or II. Conclusions: Increasing age and number of preoperative complications, in addition to ASA classification III or IV, were independent factors of increased risk of death in the population studied. The mortality rate was 30.8%, and infection followed by septic shock was the leading cause of death.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: O manejo perioperatório das fraturas de fêmur em pacientes idosos tem sido estudado com o intuito de determinar causas modificáveis de complicações e óbito. Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar taxa de mortalidade e suas causas na população idosa com fraturas de fêmur. Avaliamos também complicações perioperatórias e sua associação com mortalidade pós-operatória. Método: Neste estudo prospectivo e observacional, avaliamos 182 pacientes, por questionário e prontuário eletrônico, desde o momento da internação até um ano após a cirurgia. Análises estatísticas pelo modelo multivariado de riscos proporcionais de Cox e curvas de Kaplan-Meier foram feitas para detectar fatores independentes de mortalidade. Resultados: Cinquenta e seis pacientes (30,8%) obituaram em até um ano de pós-operatório, sendo que a principal causa determinada de óbito foi infecção seguida de choque séptico. A principal complicação, tanto pré quanto pós-operatória, foi distúrbio hidroeletrolítico. Para cada aumento de uma unidade (em ano) na idade, a razão de chance de vir a óbito aumentou em 4%. A cada nova complicação pré-operatória apresentada, a razão de chance de óbito aumentou em 28%. Os pacientes ASA III ou IV apresentaram razão de chance de óbito, em um ano, 95% maior do que aqueles ASA I ou II. Conclusões: O aumento da idade e do número de complicações pré-operatórias, além da classificação de ASA III ou IV, foram fatores independentes de risco aumentado de óbito na população estudada. A taxa de mortalidade foi de 30,8%, sendo que a infecção seguida de choque séptico foi a principal causa determinada de óbito.

[Perioperative complications and mortality in elderly patients following surgery for femoral fracture: prospective observational study]. / Complicações perioperatórias e mortalidade em pacientes idosos submetidos a cirurgia para correção de fratura de fêmur: estudo prospectivo observacional.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perioperative management of femoral fractures in elderly patients has been studied to determine modifiable causes of complications and death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mortality rate and its causes in the elderly population with FF. We also evaluated perioperative complications and their association with postoperative mortality. METHOD: In this prospective and observational study, we evaluated 182 patients, by questionnaire and electronic medical record, from the moment of hospitalization to one year after surgery. Statistical analyzes using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier curves were performed to detect independent mortality factors. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients (30.8%) died within one year after surgery, and the main cause of death was infection followed by septic shock. The main complication, both preoperatively and postoperatively, was hydroelectrolytic disorder. For every one-unit (one-year) increase in age, the odds ratio for death increased by 4%. With each new preoperative complication, the odds ratio for death increased by 28%. Patients ASA III or IV had a 95% higher odds ratio for death than patiets ASA I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing age and number of preoperative complications, in addition to ASA classification III or IV, were independent factors of increased risk of death in the population studied. The mortality rate was 30.8%, and infection followed by septic shock was the leading cause of death.