Stem cells in cardiovascular diseases: turning bad days into good ones.

During the past decade, several types of stem cells have been investigated as promising therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Among them, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were the most investigated stem cell population. Hundreds of clinical trials later, results remain disappointing and far from the revolutionary improvements expected for heart function. In the present review, we address strategies under investigation to boost MSC therapy for CVDs. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are also intended to reach clinical applications for CVDs, but here we suggest that, in the short term, the major impact of PSCs in the cardiovascular field might be at the bench and not the bedside.

Avaliação das alterações cardiotóxicas decorrentes do uso da doxorrubicina: estudo experimental em ratos / Clinical evaluation of the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity: experimental study in rats

A doxorrubicina é um dos quimioterápicos mais utilizados no tratamento de tumores sólidos e hematopoiéticos, embora possa causar reações adversas, especialmente cardiomiopatia secundßria. Apesar do potencial cardiotóxico, a doxorrubicina ainda é amplamente utilizada devido a sua alta eficßcia e baixo custo. esse trabalho objetiva-se estudar a sintomatologia associada ao uso da doxorrubicina em ratos, para elucidar seus efeitos cardiotóxicos. Dez ratos Wistar machos foram distribuidos em dois grupos: tratado, o qual recebeu 5mg/kg de doxorrubicina em 1,0mL de salina, via intraperitoneal a cada sete dias, durante quatro se- manas; e controle, o qual recebeu apenas 1,0 mL de salina nas mesmas condições descritas. Realizou-se eletrocardiograma antes dos tratamentos e após quatro semanas, juntamente com ecocardiograma. Os animais do grupo tratado apresentaram apatia, emagrecimento, desidratação e fezes diarreicas com muco, indicando disfunção metabólica decorrente da toxicidade do quimioterßpico. Em dois animais, o quadro clínico evoluiu para óbito, 19 dias após início do tratamento. No eletrocardiograma detectou-se aumento na amplitude das ondas P e R, sugerindo sobrecarga atrial e ventricular esquerda, respectivamente. A onda T apresentou amplitude superior à onda R, provavelmente devido a alterações eletrolíticas secundßrias ao quadro de desidratação e diarreia. Arritmias atriais e ventriculares, contudo, não foram detectadas. Foi diagnosticada disfunção ventricular nos animais que receberam doxorrubicina, quando avaliados por ecocardiografia de deformação miocßrdica (velocidade e deslocamento radiais do ventrículo esquerdo). Conclui-se que a doxorrubicina provoca cardiotoxicidade dose-dependente com redução progressiva da função ventricular esquerda, a qual pode ser diagnosticada precocemente com a ecocardiografia strain...

Doxorubicin is one of lhe most common drugs used in lhe treatment of solid and emopoietic tumors; however it causes a dose-dependet adverse effects, mainly cardiomyopathy. Despite the obvious cardiac toxicity potential, doxorubicin is still widely used due t0 its high efficiency and low cost. Therefore, this research aims to study the sytmptoms associated with the use of doxorubicin in rats, in order to elucidate its cardiac toxicity. Ten male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: treated, which received 5mg/kg of doxorubicin in 1.0 mL saline intraperitoneal weekly, for four weeks, and control, which received only 1.0 mL of saline under lhe same conditions described. Electrocardiography was performed before treatment and atter four weeks when echocardiography was done as well. The treated group showed apathy, weight loss, dehydration and diarrheal stools with mucus, indicating metabolic dystunction due to the toxicity of chemotherapy. Two animals died, 19 days after lhe beginning of the experiment The electrocardiogram detected an increase in the amplitude of P. R and S waves, suggesting atrial and ventricular overload, respectively. The greater amplitude of the T-wave when compared to the R wave occurred probably due to electrolyte alterations caused by dehydration and diarrhea. Nevertheless, atrial and ventricular ar- rhythmias were not detected. Ventricular dysfunction was diagnosed in animais that received doxorubicin when evaluated by strain echocardiography (left ventricular radial velocity and displacement). It was concluded that doxorubicin causes a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, with a progressive left ventricular dysfunction which may be early detected using the strain echocardiography...