The global population above 60 years has been growing exponentially in the last decades, which is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of age-related chronic diseases, highlighting cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure. Aging is the main risk factor for these diseases. Such susceptibility to disease is explained, at least in part, by the increase of oxidative stress, in which it damages cellular components such as proteins, DNA, and lipids. In addition, the chronic inflammatory process in aging “inflammaging” also contributes to cell damage, creating a stressful environment which drives to the development of CVDs. Taken together, it is possible to identify the molecular connection between oxidative stress and the inflammatory process, especially by the crosstalk between the transcription factors Nrf-2 and NF-κB which are mediated by redox signalling and are involved in aging. Therapies that control this process are key targets in the prevention/combat of age-related CVDs. In this review, we show the basics of inflammation and oxidative stress, including the crosstalk between them, and the implications on age-related CVDs.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are bioproducts of cellular metabolism. There is a range of molecules with oxidizing properties known as ROS. Despite those molecules being implied negatively in aging and numerous diseases, their key role in cellular signaling is evident. ROS control several biological processes such as inflammation, proliferation, and cell death. The redox signaling underlying these cellular events is one characteristic of the new generation of scientists aimed at defining the role of ROS in the cellular environment. The control of redox potential, which includes the balance of the sources of ROS and the antioxidant system, implies an important target for understanding the cells’ fate derived from redox signaling. In this review, we summarized the chemical, the redox balance, the signaling, and the implications of ROS in biological aging.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and/or maintain penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual relations, and aging is one of the main risk factors involved. The D-(+)-Galactose aging model is a consolidated methodology for studies of cardiovascular aging; however, its potential for use with ED remain unexplored. The present study proposed to characterize a new experimental model for ED, using the D-(+)-Galactose aging model. For the experiments, the animals were randomly divided into three groups receiving: vehicle (CTL), D-galactose 150 mg/kg (DGAL), and D-(+)-galactose 150 mg/Kg + sildenafil 1.5 mg/Kg (DGAL+SD1.5) being administered daily for a period of eight weeks. All of the experimental protocols were previously approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals at the Federal University of Paraíba n° 9706070319. During the treatment, we analyzed physical, molecular, and physiological aspects related to the aging process and implicated in the development of ED. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that D-(+)-Galactose-induced aging represents a suitable experimental model for ED assessment. This was evidenced by an observed hyper-contractility in corpora cavernosa, significant endothelial dysfunction, increased ROS levels, an increase in cavernous tissue senescence, and the loss of essential penile erectile components.

O presente artigo consiste em avaliar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes com enteroparasitoses atendidos no Laboratório de Análises Clínicas do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley. A coleta de dados foi realizada diariamente, pela manhã, no laboratório do referido hospital. A amostra avaliada foi constituída por 40 pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 18 a 59 anos e que apresentaram solicitação para exames de fezes. Todos foram convidados por meio de uma abordagem individual e em seguida receberam um questionário para ser respondido, o questionário de Qualidade de Vida SF-36. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se um modelo de regressão logística considerando como resposta a variável resultado do exame, em que 1 seria positivo e 0 negativo. Essa análise foi feita com o auxílio do software R. Foram considerados neste trabalho 06 dos 08 domínios que compõem o questionário, pois 02 deles apresentaram problemas. Dos 06, dois foram estatisticamente significativos, Estado Geral de Saúde e Saúde Mental. Ao analisar as variáveis foi possível concluir que um indivíduo com bom estado geral de saúde, porém com sua saúde mental fragilizada, tende a ser mais susceptível a ter uma enteroparasitose.

Aim: To evaluate the cardiovascular effect of carvacrol treatment in a D(+)galactose accelerated aging model, investigating effects on vascular reactivity, oxidative stress, and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Methodology: Eight-week-old male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used for oral treatment for eight weeks. Organ baths were used for vascular reactivity studies (FEN, ACh, and NPS), fluorescence microscopy to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS, using DHE probe), and Tail-Cuff for systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements. Non-linear regression was used to create the concentration-response curves. Emax denotes the tissue's maximum response. Results: The aged rats showed a significant increase in fluorescence intensity by the DHE probe compared to the CTL group (CTL=100 ± 3.6%, n=5 and Dgal=167.7 ± 7.9%, n=5, respectively). However, the levels of ROS in the carvacrol-treated groups were significantly attenuated in the Dgal+C50 (138.8 ± 4.5%, n=5) and Dgal+C100 (130.0 ± 5.5%, n=5) groups. The animals of the Dgal group presented hypertension through the significant increase in SBP compared to the CTL group (CTL=135.9 ± 3.9 mmHg, n=6, Dgal=170.9 ± 2.0 mmHg, n=9, respectively). The increased SBP of Dgal rats could be reversed by treatment with carvacrol (Dgal+C50=137.9 ± 2.7 mmHg, n=5, and Dgal+C100=124.6 ± 8.2 mmHg, n=5, respectively. On the other hand, carvacrol was unable to restore the ACh-induced vasorelaxation effect found in CTL (Emax=100.0 ± 3.9%), Dgal (Emax=84.9 ± 4.4%), Dgal+C50 (Emax=84.9 ± 4.4%) and Dgal+C100 (Emax=82.1 ± 6.2 %). Conclusion: Carvacrol shows protective antioxidant effects capable of reducing SBP in aged animals, being an important tool in promoting healthy aging.