Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker dihydropyridine that has been used in the treatment of hypertension. The production of reactive species and calcium overload are the main contributors to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I / R) injury. We investigated the ability of novel dihydropyridines (DHPs) to improve the effect of protecting against the injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion in cardioblasts when compared to nifedipine. Forty three DHPs were created varying the fatty chains derived from palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acids and aromatic moiety in addition to the addition of chemical elements such as chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, furfural, hydroxyl and methoxy. Cytotoxicity and inhibition of linoleic oxidation were evaluated for all new DHPs and also for nifedipine. The alpha-tocopherol and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as antioxidants controls. The compounds with the best antioxidant potential were used in the ischemia and reperfusion (I / R) induction test in cardioblasts (H9c2). Cardioblasts were treated 24 h after assembly of plates and submitted to the ischemia simulation (30 min), after which, normoxia and cellular nutrition conditions were reestablished, simulating reperfusion (additional 30 min). Right after, cell viability, apoptosis, necrosis, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated. Cell viability during I / R was not altered in cells treated with nifedipine, BHT and the new DHP composed of palmitic acid with hydroxyl group in the aromatic substituent. The other new DHPs increased cell viability during I / R simulation and reduced levels of reactive species compared to the I / R group, demonstrating the antioxidant capacity of the new DHPs. Therefore, DHPS with palmitic and oleic acids in the C3 and C5 position with NO2 or Cl in aromatic moiety, presented the highest antioxidant potential (linoleic oxidant test). The new DHPs increased cell viability during I / R simulation and reduced levels of reactive species compared to the ischemia and reperfusion group, demonstrating the antioxidant capacity of the new DHPs. Taken together, these results indicate that those new DHPs have a greater cardioprotective antioxidant capacity to face the damages of ischemia and reperfusion.

In this study, three fatty dihydropyridines, were tested for their anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective properties. Dihydropyridines 2c, 8c, and 9a contain the oleic chain and the nitro unit, the oleic chain and the chlorine unit, and the palmitic chain and the chlorine unit, respectively. For the experiments, animals were treated with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to induce hypertension and after treated with the new dihydropyridine compounds and the standard drug nifedipine. Then, the heart was removed and subjected to global ischemia and reperfusion. Analyses of cardiac parameters were performed to monitor cardiac functionality; lactate dehydrogenase values were quantified in perfusates. After ischemia and reperfusion were performed, analyses to check the oxidative status and lipid damage. The results of the present study suggest that the new fatty DHPs have anti-hypertensive effects offering protection against ischemia to the heart of rats, accomplished by increasing antioxidants that defend and prevent the decline in cardiac function.

The ongoing global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 has been a public health emergency of international concern. Countries have adopted several restriction measures. Because of this fateful moment, it was possible to assess the effect of anthropogenic activities on air pollutants in an unprecedented way. This work aims to outline changes in the air quality levels of several cities worldwide after the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on the criteria pollutants found in these cities before and during the pandemic were used to evaluate air quality performance. The collection of most of the data was possible thanks to the constant monitoring methods applied in some countries. The severe limitation of people’s movements significantly reduced pollutants concentration, mainly due to the traffic of vehicles. Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter 2.5 μm, and particulate matter 10 μm (CO, SO2, NO2, PM2.5, and PM10) concentration reductions were observed due to more restrictive or flexible lockdowns. In almost all cities evaluated, WHO’s air quality guidelines have been achieved, except for tropospheric ozone, which has been increasing with the reduction of nitric oxides (NOx) emissions. The increment in the concentrations of the pollutants immediately after the end of the restrictions is an indication that control strategies must be implemented to improve air quality.