Resveratrol and grape juice differentially ameliorate cardiovascular autonomic modulation in L-NAME-treated rats.

Polyphenols consumption detected in red wine and grape juice may prevent or help in the treatment of hypertension. However, cardiovascular autonomic effects of polyphenols were poorly studied. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of resveratrol and grape juice treatments in hemodynamics, baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability and cardiac redox parameters. Male Wistar rats were divided in 3 groups (n=7/each) and treated for 30 days: only L-NAME-treated (60 mg/kg/day by oral gavage), L-NAME+resveratrol (L-NAME+R) and L-NAME+grape juice (L-NAME+G). BP signal was directly recorded and pulse interval (PI) and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) variability were analyzed in time and frequency domains. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was determined by the alpha index. Oxidized and reduced glutathione concentrations were determined in cardiac tissue. L-NAME increased BP with no differences among groups (mean BP: L-NAME=124±4, L-NAME+R=126±3 and L-NAME+G=125±4 mmHg). PI and SAP variability expressed by total variance were also similar among groups. However, normalized low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) components of PI variability were lower and higher, respectively, in both R and G-treated groups when compared to only L-NAME group. Interestingly, sympathetic modulation to the vessels (LF from SAP variability) and BRS were decreased and increased, respectively, only in L-NAME+R rats. Additionally, GSH/GSSG ratios were higher in L-NAME+R and L-NAME+G than in L-NAME group. Our results indicate that resveratrol and grape juice treatments can modulate autonomic function and promote cardiac redox benefits even when nitric oxide is decreased. Moreover, resveratrol influences not only cardiac but also vascular autonomic modulation.

Gênero e manifestação de stress em hipertensos / Gender and the manifestation of stess in patients hypertensive

Embora estudos sustentem maior vulnerabilidade ao stress na população feminina, há escassez de dados sobre a população de hipertensos. Realizou-se um estudo transversal para verificar a diferença na prevalência de sintomas de stress entre os gêneros, por meio da aplicação do Inventário de Sintomas de Stress de Lipp e de um questionário de dados sociodemográficos. Os resultados não mostram diferença estatisticamente significativa concernente à presença de sintomas de stress entre as amostras masculina (n=33) e feminina (n=70). Contudo, mais homens apresentaram escores na fase de resistência (60,6 por cento), enquanto a fase de quase-exaustão preponderou entre as mulheres: 41,4 por cento versus 15,2 por cento dos homens. Considerando sintomas físicos e psicológicos no geral, independente de predominância de fase, as mulheres relataram ter significativamente mais sintomas psicológicos de stress nos escores referentes às fases de resistência, quase-exaustão e à fase de exaustão (p<0,05). Esses achados podem auxiliar no planejamento de abordagens de controle de stress.

Even though studies support the idea of greater vulnerability to stress in the female population, there is a dearth of studies related to hypertensive patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of verifying the difference in the prevalence of stress symptoms in a male and female sample of hypertensive patients, using Lipp's Adult Stress Symptoms Inventory and a socio-demographic questionnaire. There was no statistically significant difference in respect of the presence of stress symptoms between males (n=33) and females (n=70). However, men obtained higher scores in the resistance phase (60.6 percent), while women obtained higher scores in the near-exhaustion phase (41.4 percent versus 15.2 percent of men). Considering overall physical and psychological symptoms, irrespective of the predominant phase, women reported significantly higher psychological stress symptoms than men in terms of the scores in the resistance and near-exhaustion phases, as well as the scores in the exhaustion phase (p<0.05). These findings may help in the planning of stress-management strategies.

Gênero e manifestação de stress em hipertensos / Gender and the manifestation of stess in patients hypertensive

Embora estudos sustentem maior vulnerabilidade ao stress na população feminina, há escassez de dados sobre a população de hipertensos. Realizou-se um estudo transversal para verificar a diferença na prevalência de sintomas de stress entre os gêneros, por meio da aplicação do Inventário de Sintomas de Stress de Lipp e de um questionário de dados sociodemográficos. Os resultados não mostram diferença estatisticamente significativa concernente à presença de sintomas de stress entre as amostras masculina (n=33) e feminina (n=70). Contudo, mais homens apresentaram escores na fase de resistência (60,6 por cento), enquanto a fase de quase-exaustão preponderou entre as mulheres: 41,4 por cento versus 15,2 por cento dos homens. Considerando sintomas físicos e psicológicos no geral, independente de predominância de fase, as mulheres relataram ter significativamente mais sintomas psicológicos de stress nos escores referentes às fases de resistência, quase-exaustão e à fase de exaustão (p<0,05). Esses achados podem auxiliar no planejamento de abordagens de controle de stress.(AU)

Even though studies support the idea of greater vulnerability to stress in the female population, there is a dearth of studies related to hypertensive patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of verifying the difference in the prevalence of stress symptoms in a male and female sample of hypertensive patients, using Lipp's Adult Stress Symptoms Inventory and a socio-demographic questionnaire. There was no statistically significant difference in respect of the presence of stress symptoms between males (n=33) and females (n=70). However, men obtained higher scores in the resistance phase (60.6 percent), while women obtained higher scores in the near-exhaustion phase (41.4 percent versus 15.2 percent of men). Considering overall physical and psychological symptoms, irrespective of the predominant phase, women reported significantly higher psychological stress symptoms than men in terms of the scores in the resistance and near-exhaustion phases, as well as the scores in the exhaustion phase (p<0.05). These findings may help in the planning of stress-management strategies.(AU)