ABSTRACT Membrane/lipid rafts (MLRs) are plasmalemmal microdomains that are essential for neuronal signaling and synaptic development/stabilization. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase (statins) can disable the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor through disruption of MLRs and, in turn, decrease NMDA-mediated anxiety. This hypothesis will contribute to understanding the critical roles of simvastatin in treating anxiety via the NMDA receptor.

Simvastatin is one of many hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme-A reductase inhibitors that are prescribed to lower cholesterol. Some emerging evidence indicates that classical music can serve as an effective adjuvant in rats treated with simvastatin. Moreover, simvastatin and classical music have been shown to influence some cognitive functions. To further understand the mechanisms of action, we exposed rats to classical music for 1 month, and then treated them orally with simvastatin. The behavioral experiments suggested that exposure to subchronic simvastatin (1 or 10 mg/kg/day) reduced anxiety levels in the elevated plus-maze and open-field test in rats exposed to Mozart music. The recognition object test results indicated that simvastatin altered non-spatial working memory only at the 1 mg/kg/day dose and improved both short- and long-term object recognition. No significant differences were found between Mozart music and silence in the object recognition test, suggesting that music did not significant affect learning and memory in adult rats. We hypothesize that the anxiolytic, but not object-recognition memory, effects of simvastatin and classical music occur through similar mechanisms, providing an important foundation for future preclinical and clinical research.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a associação entre a administração pré-operatória de estatina e o delírium pós-operatório em uma corte prospectiva de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados pacientes adultos internados na unidade de terapia intensiva após cirurgia cardíaca entre janeiro e junho de 2011. A triagem para delirium foi realizada utilizando o Confusion Assessment Method para analisar delirium em uma unidade de terapia intensiva (CAM-ICU) e Delirium Screening Checklist para terapia intensiva (ICDSC) durante a internação na terapia intensiva RESULTADOS: Cento e sessenta e nove pacientes foram submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca eletiva, dos quais 40,2% estavam utilizando estatina no pré-operatório. Delirium foi identificado em 14,9% dos pacientes que não utilizavam estatina comparado com 11,8% dos que utilizavam (p=0,817) quando avaliados pelo CAM-ICU. Utilizando o ICDSC 18,8% dos pacientes que não usam estatina comparado com 10.3% dos que usam (p=0,191). CONCLUSÃO: Não há relação entre uso de estatinas com a ocorrência de delirium em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the preoperative administration of statins and postoperative delirium in a prospective cohort of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: All adult patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit following cardiac surgery between January and June 2011 were included. Delirium was screened during the postoperative period using the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). RESULTS: A total of 169 patients underwent elective cardiac surgery, and 40.2% of the patients were treated preoperatively with statins. Delirium was identified using the CAM-ICU in 14.9% of patients not taking preoperative statins in comparison with 11.8% of the patients taking statins (p = 0.817). Using the ICDSC, delirium was identified in 18.8% of patients not taking statins in comparison with 10.3% of the patients taking statins (p = 0.191). CONCLUSION: The use of preoperative statins is not correlated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.