Effects of terlipressin and naloxone compared with epinephrine in a rat model of asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of terlipressin and naloxone in cardiac arrest. METHODS: Cardiac arrest in rats was induced by asphyxia and maintained for 3.5 minutes. Animals were then resuscitated and randomized into one of six groups: placebo (n = 7), epinephrine (0.02 mg/kg; n = 7), naloxone (1 mg/kg; n = 7) or terlipressin, of which three different doses were tested: 50 µg/kg (TP50; n = 7), 100 µg/kg (TP100; n = 7) and 150 µg/kg (TP150; n = 7). Hemodynamic variables were measured at baseline and at 10 (T10), 20 (T20), 30 (T30), 45 (T45) and 60 (T60) minutes after cardiac arrest. Arterial blood samples were collected at T10, T30 and T60. RESULTS: The mean arterial pressure values in the TP50 group were higher than those in the epinephrine group at T10 (165 vs. 112 mmHg), T20 (160 vs. 82 mmHg), T30 (143 vs. 66 mmHg), T45 (119 vs. 67 mmHg) and T60 (96 vs. 66.8 mmHg). The blood lactate level was lower in the naloxone group than in the epinephrine group at T10 (5.15 vs. 10.5 mmol/L), T30 (2.57 vs. 5.24 mmol/L) and T60 (2.1 vs. 4.1 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: In this rat model of asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest, terlipressin and naloxone were effective vasopressors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and presented better metabolic profiles than epinephrine. Terlipressin provided better hemodynamic stability than epinephrine

Pleiotropic effects of ezetimibe/simvastatin vs. high dose simvastatin

Background: In the setting of stable coronary artery disease (CAD), it is not known if the pleiotropic effects of cholesterol reduction differ between combined ezetimibe/simvastatin and high-dose simvastatin alone. Objective: We sought to compare the anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects of ezetimibe 10 mg/simvastatin 20 mg (E10/S20) with simvastatin 80 mg (S80). Methods and results: CAD patients (n = 83, 63 +/- 9 years, 57% men) receiving S20, were randomly allocated to receive E10/S20 or S80, for 6 weeks. Lipids, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, soluble CD40 ligand and oxidized LDL), and platelet aggregation (platelet function analyzer [PFA]-100) changes were determined. Baseline lipids, inflammatory markers and PFA-100 were similar between groups. After treatment, E10/S20 and S80 patients presented, respectively: (1) similar reduction in LDL-C (29 +/- 13% vs. 28 +/- 30%, p = 0.46), apo-B (18 +/- 17% vs. 22 +/- 15%, p = 0.22) and oxidized LDL (15 +/- 33% vs. 18 +/- 47%, p = 0.30); (2) no changes in inflammatory markers; and, (3) a higher increase of the PFA-100 with E10/S20 than with S80 (27 +/- 43% vs. 8 +/- 33%, p = 0.02). Conclusions: These data suggest that among stable CAD patients treated with S20, (1) both E10/S20 and S80 were equally effective in further reducing LDL-C; (2) neither treatment had any further significant anti-inflammatory effects; and (3) E10/S20 was more effective than S80 in inhibiting platelet aggregation. Thus, despite similar lipid lowering and doses 4x less of simvastatin, E10/S20 induced a greater platelet inhibitory effect than S80. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Astra ZenecaAstraZenecaMerck/Schering PloughMerck/Schering PloughPfizerPfizerSao Paulo Research FoundationSao Paulo Research Foundation [FAPESP/05/57710-3

A“Dirty” Footprint: Macroinvertebrate diversity in Amazonian Anthropic Soils

International audienceAmazonian rainforests, once thought to be pristine wilderness, are increasingly known to have been widely inhabited, modified, and managed prior to European arrival, by human populations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils found throughout the Amazon Basin, created by pre-Columbian societies with sedentary habits. Much is known about the chemistry of these soils, yet their zoology has been neglected. Hence, we characterized soil fertility, macroinvertebrate communities, and their activity at nine archeological sites in three Amazonian regions in ADEs and adjacent reference soils under native forest (young and old) and agricultural systems. We found 673 morphospecies and, despite similar richness in ADEs (385 spp.) and reference soils (399 spp.), we identified a tenacious pre-Columbian footprint, with 49% of morphospecies found exclusively in ADEs. Termite and total macroinvertebrate abundance were higher in reference soils, while soil fertility and macroinvertebrate activity were higher in the ADEs, and associated with larger earthworm quantities and biomass. We show that ADE habitats have a unique pool of species, but that modern land use of ADEs decreases their populations, diversity, and contributions to soil functioning. These findings support the idea that humans created and sustained high-fertility ecosystems that persist today, altering biodiversity patterns in Amazonia