Decline in estrogen levels promotes endothelial dysfunction and, consequently, the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases in menopausal women. The use of natural therapies such as pomegranate can change these results. Pomegranate [Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae)] is widely used as a phytotherapeutic agent worldwide, including in Brazil. We hypothesized that treatment with pomegranate hydroalcoholic extract (PHE) would improve coronary vascular reactivity and cardiovascular parameters. At the beginning of treatment, spontaneously hypertensive female rats were divided into Sham and ovariectomized (OVX) groups, which received pomegranate extract (PHE) (250 mg/kg) or filtered water (V) for 30 days by gavage. Systolic blood pressure was measured by tail plethysmography. After euthanasia, the heart was removed and coronary vascular reactivity was assessed by Langendorff retrograde perfusion technique. A dose-response curve for bradykinin was performed, followed by L-NAME inhibition. The protein expression of p-eNOS Ser1177, p-eNOS Thr495, total eNOS, p-AKT Ser473, total AKT, SOD-2, and catalase was quantified by Western blotting. The detection of coronary superoxide was performed using the protocol of dihydroethidium (DHE) staining Plasma nitrite measurement was analyzed by Griess method. Systolic blood pressure increased in both Sham-V and OVX-V groups, whereas it was reduced after treatment in Sham-PHE and OVX-PHE groups. The baseline coronary perfusion pressure was reduced in the Sham-PHE group. The relaxation was significantly higher in the treated group, and L-NAME attenuated the relaxation in all groups. The treatment has not changed p-eNOS (Ser1177), total eNOS, p-AKT (Ser473) and total AKT in any groups. However, in Sham and OVX group the treatment reduced the p-eNOS (Thr495) and SOD-2. The ovariectomy promoted an increasing in the superoxide anion levels and the treatment was able to prevent this elevation and reducing oxidative stress. Moreover, the treatment prevented the decreasing in plasmatic nitrite. We observed a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL in the Sham-PHE group. The treatment with PHE enhances the endothelium-dependent coronary relaxation and improves cardiovascular parameters, which suggests a therapeutic role of PHE.

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O sistema de distribuição de energia elétrica é composto por diferentes equipamentos e, para efetuar serviços programados ou de emergência, os eletricistas devem ser treinados de maneira efetiva para aprender sobre a rede de distribuição, como operar os equipamentos e as práticas de segurança para evitar acidentes. Contudo, nem todo procedimento ou condição que podem encontrar na rede de distribuição é possível de ser exercitado nos treinamentos convencionais em sala de aula e nos centros de treinamento por conta dos riscos envolvidos e das limitações presentes nestes centros de treinamento. Para oferecer um treinamento mais rico e abrangente, este artigo apresenta um projeto de pesquisa cujo principal produto será um simulador em realidade virtual para a capacitação de eletricistas para atuarem em redes de distribuição de energia elétrica, contendo situações realísticas muitas vezes não vivenciadas nos treinamentos tradicionais. Para o desenvolvimento do simulador, foram realizadas pesquisas com eletricistas, instrutores, técnicos de segurança e outros atores envolvidos nos treinamentos atuais. Os resultados até o presente momento comprovam o potencial do simulador proposto para aprimorar as práticas dos treinamentos atuais e, por conseguinte, melhorar os níveis de qualidade dos serviços prestados pelos eletricistas.