Effective statin therapy is associated with a marked reduction of cardiovascular events. However, the explanation for full benefits obtained for LDL cholesterol targets by combined lipid-lowering therapy is controversial. Our study compared the effects of two equally effective lipid-lowering strategies on markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption. A prospective, open label, randomized, parallel design study, with blinded endpoints, included 116 subjects. We compared the effects of a 12-week treatment with 40 mg rosuvastatin or the combination of 40 mg simvastatin/10 mg ezetimibe on markers of cholesterol absorption (campesterol and β-sitosterol), synthesis (desmosterol), and their ratios to cholesterol. Both therapies similarly decreased total and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B, and increased apolipoprotein A1 (P < 0.05 vs baseline for all). Simvastatin/ezetimibe increased plasma desmosterol (P = 0.012 vs baseline), and decreased campesterol and β-sitosterol (P < 0.0001 vs baseline for both), with higher desmosterol (P = 0.007) and lower campesterol and β-sitosterol compared to rosuvastatin, (P < 0.0001, for both). In addition, rosuvastatin increased the ratios of these markers to cholesterol (P < 0.002 vs baseline for all), whereas simvastatin/ezetimibe significantly decreased the campesterol/cholesterol ratio (P = 0.008 vs baseline) and tripled the desmosterol/cholesterol ratio (P < 0.0001 vs baseline). The campesterol/cholesterol and β-sitosterol/cholesterol ratios were lower, whereas the desmosterol/cholesterol ratio was higher in patients receiving simvastatin/ezetimibe (P < 0.0001 vs rosuvastatin, for all). Pronounced differences in markers of cholesterol absorption and synthesis were observed between two equally effective lipid-lowering strategies.

Foram realizadas 114 coletas de embriões em éguas mestiças das raças Bretã e Campolina, distribuídas ao acaso em dois tratamentos: T1 - fluxo interrompido, método tradicional que utiliza filtro de embrião (n=56) e T2 - fluxo direto, sem interrupção do fluxo e sem utilização do filtro (n=58). O meio utilizado nas lavagens foi o Ringer lactato. Não houve diferenças entre tratamentos em relação à taxa de recuperação de embriões (58,9 e 44,8%), à qualidade dos embriões (3,56 e 3,53), à taxa de recuperação do meio de coleta (98,1% e 98,1%) e à taxa de gestação (52,9 e 81,8%), respectivamente, para T1 e T2. Observaram-se diferenças entre tratamentos quanto ao tempo de duração da coleta (10,3 e 7,4 minutos) e ao intervalo de tempo da coleta à inovulação (39,5 e 65,7 minutos).

One hundred and fourteen embryo collections were performed in donor mares of crossbred Breton and Campolina breeds randomly allotted to two treatments: T1 - interrupted flushing (n=56), embryo flushing system whereby an embryo filter was inserted in the recovery line, and T2 - direct flushing (n=58), without flushing interruption. The flushing medium was the Ringer lactate. No differences between T1 and T2 were observed for the embryo recovery rate (58.9% and 44.8%), for the quality of the embryos (3.56 and 3.53), for the recovery medium from the uterus (1962.10ml, 98.1% and 1962.39ml, 98.1%) and for the pregnancy rate of the transferred embryo (52.9% and 81.8%). Also, no differences between T1 and T2 for length of collection (10.3 and 7.4 minutes), and for interval from the collection to transference (39.5 and 65.7 minutes) were observed.

Vinte e quatro novilhas foram utilizadas para avaliar o efeito de diferentes fontes dietéticas lipídicas associadas ou não ao hCG sobre o níveis de progesterona e de metabólitos lipidícos e sobre a função luteal cíclica de novilhas. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, em um esquema fatorial de 2 × 3, (com e sem injeção de hCG e três dietas isoprotéicas). A concentração sérica de progesterona do sexto ao 12º dia pós-estro foi maior nas novilhas alimentadas com dietas hiperlipídicas em relação à da dieta-controle. As dietas hiperlipídicas interferiram no perfil metabólico lipídico, especialmente do sexto ao nono dia após o início do estro. Observou-se interação entre aplicação de hCG e dietas hiperlipídicas. Os metabólitos lipídicos que melhor indicaram alterações metabólicas foram o colesterol total e as lipoproteínas de alta densidade (HDL). Houve correlação positiva entre colesterol total, HDL e concentração de progesterona na fase luteal do ciclo estral. Colesterol total e HDL interferem na função luteal de novilhas, provavelmente como precursores na síntese esteroidogênica do ovário.

Twenty-four heifers were allotted in a randomized block design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (with or without the injection of hCG, three isoproteic diets) to evaluate the effect of different dietary lipid sources associated or not to hCG on the progesterone and lipid metabolite levels, and the cyclic luteal function of heifers in six different treatments. The progesterone concentration from the sixth to the 12th day postestrus were higher in heifers fed on hyperlipidemic diets than those fed on control diet. The hyperlipidemic diets were important in the lipidic metabolism profile, mainly from sixth to the ninth day after the onset of estrus because the interaction between the hCG and hyperlipidemic diets. The best lipidic metabolites to detect the lipometabolic alterations were the total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL). There was a positive correlation between the total cholesterol, HDL and progesterone concentration in postestrus animals. Total cholesterol and HDL probably can modify the luteal cyclic function of heifers and be the precursors in the esteroidogenic sinthesis in the ovary.