ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the modulatory properties of Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) (C. officinalis) extract on cafeteria diet-fed rats. Methods: A cafeteria diet was administered ad libitum for 45 days to induce dyslipidemia. Then, the rats were treated with the formulations containing C. officinalis in the doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg or only with the vehicle formulation; the control group received a commercial ration. Results: The cafeteria diet decreased glutathione S-transferase activity and high-density lipoprotein plasmatic levels and damaged the hepatic architecture. The C. officinalis extract was able to reduce lipid infiltration in liver tissue and to modulate oxidative stress and lipid profile markers. Conclusions: The correlations between the variables suggest a pathological connection between oxidative stress markers and serum lipid profile.

Abstract Background Patients with heart failure often experience depression, anxiety, and impacts on quality of life. Psychotherapeutic interventions have been used for chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, showing improvement in mental health. However, no studies have assessed the effects of a psychological intervention using psychoanalysis on patients with heart failure. Objective To assess the effect of short-term psychotherapy on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life of patients seen at a specialty clinic. Method A randomized clinical trial with scales to assess outcomes before and after psychotherapy, under the perspective of psychoanalysis, with 12 weekly sessions. The Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire were used. The mean initial and final scores for quality of life, anxiety, and depression were compared using Student’s t-test for independent samples when distribution was normal, or Mann-Whitney test when distribution was non-normal. A bivariate p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results This study involved 32 patients, 50% were female, mean age was 64.3±11.6, and most participants were New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I (56.3%). For anxiety (p = 0.196), there was no statistically significant difference between groups. For quality of life and depression, there was a statistical difference (p = 0.009 and 0.035, respectively), with a medium effect (Cohen’s d = 0.593) on quality of life. Conclusion Short-term psychotherapy in outpatients with heart failure showed an impact on depression and quality of life but did not improve anxiety. Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência da deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D em indivíduos com sibilância recorrente e/ou asma com idade de 0-18 anos e residentes na microrregião de Viçosa (MG) atendidos em um centro de referência e determinar sua associação com os principais fatores de risco para sibilância. Métodos: Estudo transversal utilizando um questionário semiestruturado por entrevistadores treinados, aplicado aos responsáveis pelos participantes do estudo. Foram obtidas informações sobre características gerais da sibilância recorrente, fatores sociodemográficos, ambientais e biológicos gerais e aqueles relacionados à atopia. A magnitude da associação estatística foi avaliada por meio do cálculo da OR e IC95% obtidos por regressão logística múltipla. Resultados: Foram incluídos 124 indivíduos no estudo. A prevalência da deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D na amostra foi de 57,3%. Observaram-se associações da deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D com sibilância no primeiro ano de vida, antecedentes pessoais de dermatite atópica, poluição ambiental e suplementação de vitamina D até os 2 anos de idade. Conclusões: A prevalência de deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D foi alta em nossa amostra. As concentrações de vitamina D foram associadas diretamente com a suplementação de vitamina D até os 2 anos de idade e inversamente com eventos de sibilância no primeiro ano de vida, antecedentes pessoais de dermatite atópica e poluição ambiental.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in children 0-18 years of age with recurrent wheezing and/or asthma residing in the microregion of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and treated at a referral center, and to determine its association with major risk factors for wheezing. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered by trained interviewers to the legal guardians of the study participants. Data were obtained regarding general characteristics of recurrent wheezing; general sociodemographic, environmental, and biologic factors; and atopy-related factors. The magnitude of the statistical association was assessed by calculating ORs and their corresponding 95% CIs by using multiple logistic regression. Results: We included 124 children in the study. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the sample was 57.3%. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was found to be associated with wheezing in the first year of life, personal history of atopic dermatitis, environmental pollution, and vitamin D supplementation until 2 years of age. Conclusions: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was high in our sample. Vitamin D concentrations were directly associated with vitamin D supplementation until 2 years of age and were inversely associated with wheezing events in the first year of life, personal history of atopic dermatitis, and environmental pollution.

Introduction: This study's objective was to evaluate the antioxidant and toxic effects of E. edulis on cardiac and renal tissues of Wistar rats fed with cafeteria diet. Methods: Catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in cardiac muscle and renal tissue of 60 animals, which were randomly assigned for 10 equal groups. Half of the rats were fed with cafeteria diet and the other half with commercial chow, combined or not to E. edulis lyophilized extract, E. edulis deffated lyophilized extract or E. edulis oil. Data were evaluated using ANOVA, followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test. Results: Data showed a significant increase of CAT activity in cardiac tissue of animals from the groups fed with cafeteria diet associated to E. edulis lyophilized extract at 5%, E. edulis lyophilized extract at 10% and E. edulis deffated lyophilized extract at 10%. In addition, the same result was found in animals from the groups fed with commercial chow and commercial chow combined with E. edulis lyophilized extract at 10% in comparison to the group fed exclusively with cafeteria diet. GST and SOD enzyme activity showed significant increase in the heart tissue of animals nourished with commercial chow when compared to the groups fed with cafeteria diet. On the other hand, there were no significant differences enzymatic levels in renal tissues. Conclusion: The oil and the extract of E. edulis had an important role promoting an increase of antioxidant enzymes levels in cardiac muscle, which prevent the oxidative damage resulting from the cafeteria diet in Wistar rats. There were no evidenced signs of lipid peroxidation in renal or in cardiac tissue of the animals studied, indicating that the E. edulis use did not promote any increase in malondialdehyde cytotoxic products formation. This show that both E. edulis oil and extracts evaluated in this study were well tolerated in the studied doses.

Introducción: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos antioxidantes y tóxicos de E. edulis en los tejidos cardiacos y renales de ratas Wistar alimentadas con dieta de cafetería. Métodos: catalasa (CAT), glutatión-S-transferasa (GST), superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y malondialdehído (MDA) se midieron en el músculo cardiaco y el tejido renal de 60 animales, que fueron asignados aleatoriamente para 10 grupos iguales. La mitad de las ratas fueron alimentadas con dieta de cafetería y la otra mitad con ración comercial, combinados o no con E. edulis extracto liofilizado, E. edulis GMD obtenidas de extracto liofilizado o aceite de E. edulis. Los datos se evaluaron mediante ANOVA, seguido por el test de Student-Newman-Keuls. Resultados: los datos mostraron un aumento significativo de la actividad de CAT en el tejido cardiaco de los animales de los grupos alimentados con dieta de cafetería asociada a E. edulis extracto liofilizado en un 5%, E. edulis extracto liofilizado en un 10% y E. edulis GMD obtenidas de extracto liofilizado de 10%. Además, el mismo resultado se encuentra en los animales de los grupos alimentados con chow chow comercial y comercial combinado con extracto liofilizado E. edulis en 10% en comparación con el grupo alimentado exclusivamente con dieta de cafetería. La actividad de GST y la enzima SOD mostró un aumento significativo en el tejido del corazón de los animales alimentados con pienso comercial en comparación con los grupos alimentados con dieta de cafetería. Por otro lado, se observaron diferencias significativas en los niveles enzimáticos en los tejidos renales. Conclusión: el aceite y el extracto de E. edulis tuvieron un papel importante al promover un aumento de los niveles de enzimas antioxidantes en el músculo cardiaco, que previenen el daño oxidativo resultante de la dieta de cafetería en ratas Wistar. Los signos de la peroxidación lipídica evidenciados en los riñones o en el tejido cardiaco de los animales estudiados indican que el uso de E. edulis no promovió ningún aumento en la formación de productos citotóxicos malondialdehído, un marcador reconocido de la acción de los radicales libres.

A despeito dos avanços no tratamento e das campanhas de prevenção e de controle da malária nos distintos continentes nos quais a moléstia grassa, a entidade mórbida permanece com significativa relevância no mundo contemporâneo. O Plasmodium falciparum é o grande responsável pela malária grave, caracterizada por distúrbios em diferentes órgãos e sistemas, com possibilidade de evolução ao óbito. Embora incipientes, os estudos proteômicos na malária têm trazido boas perspectivas para melhor compreensão dos aspectos biológicos do Plasmodium, assim como dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos, diagnósticos, terapêuticos e profiláticos da enfermidade. Desse modo, o objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar uma breve revisão das aplicações da análise proteômica na malária por P. falciparum.

Despite advances in treatment and campaigns for prevention and control of malaria on the various continents where it is still rampant, this disease remains significantly relevant to the contemporary world. Plasmodium falciparum is the organism that is mainly responsible for severe malaria, which is characterized by disturbances in different organs and systems, with possibly fatal outcomes. Although incipient, proteomic studies of malaria have yielded favorable prospects for elucidating the biological aspects of Plasmodium as well as the pathophysiological, diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic mechanisms of the disease. Thus, the aim of the present article is to present a brief review of the applications of proteomic analysis in P. falciparum malaria.