Entorn de suport al diagnòstic d'estenosi de caròtida

L’objectiu d’aquest projecte és ampliar la plataforma Starviewer integrant els mòduls necessaris per donar suport al diagnòstic de l’estenosi de caròtida permetent interpretar de forma més fàcil les imatges Angiografia per Ressonància Magnètica (ARM). La plataforma Starviewer és un entorn informàtic que integra funcionalitats bàsiques i avançades pel processament i la visualització d’imatges mèdiques. Està desenvolupat pel Grup d’Informàtica Gràfica de la Universitat de Girona i l’Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge (IDI) de l’hospital Dr. Josep Trueta. Una de les limitacions de la plataforma és el no suportar el tractament de lesions del sistema vascular. Per això ens proposem a corregir-ho i ampliar les seves extensions per a poder diagnosticar l’estenosi de caròtida

Uso de la matriz extracelular como material para ingeniería de tejidos

Introducción: La evaluación de injertos vasculares de submucosa de intestino delgado para la regeneración de vasos sanguíneos ha producido una permeabilidad variable (0-100%) que ha sido concurrente con la variabilidad en las técnicas de fabricación. Metodología: Investigamos los efectos de fabricación en permeabilidad y regeneración en un diseño experimental de 22factorial que combino: 1) preservación (P) o remoción (R) de la capa estratum compactum del intestino, y 2) deshidratada (D) o hidratada (H), dentro de cuatro grupos de estudio (PD, RD, PH, RH). Los injertos fueron implantados en las Arterias Carótidas de porcinos (ID 4.5mm, N=4, 7d). Permeabilidad, trombogenicidad, reacción inflamatoria, vascularización, infiltración de fibroblastos, perfil de polarización de macrófagos y fuerza tensil biaxial fueron evaluadas. Resultados: Todos los injertos PD permanecieron permeables (4/4), pero tuvieron escasa vascularización e infiltración de fibroblastos. El grupo RD permaneció permeable (4/4), presentó una extensa vascularización e infiltración de fibroblastos, y el mayor número del fenotipo de macrófagos (M2) asociado a regeneración. El grupo RH presentó menor permeabilidad (3/4), una extensa vascularización e infiltración de fibroblastos, y un perfil dominante de M2. El grupo PH presentó el menor grado de permeabilidad, y a pesar de mayor infiltración celular que PD, exhibió un fenotipo de macrófagos dominante adverso. La elasticidad de los injertos R evolucionó de una manera similar a las Carótidas nativas (particularmente RD, mientras que los injertos P mantuvieron su rigidez inicial. Discusión: Concluimos que los parámetros de fabricación afectan drásticamente los resultados, siendo los injertos RD los que arrojaron mejores resultados.

Nox2 B-loop peptide, Nox2ds, specifically inhibits the NADPH oxidase Nox2

In recent years, reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from the vascular isoforms of NADPH oxidase, Nox1, Nox2, and Nox4, have been implicated in many cardiovascular pathologies. As a result, the selective inhibition of these isoforms is an area of intense current investigation. In this study, we postulated that Nox2ds, a peptidic inhibitor that mimics a sequence in the cytosolic B-loop of Nox2, would inhibit ROS production by the Nox2-. but not the Noxl- and Nox4-oxidase systems. To test our hypothesis, the inhibitory activity of Nox2ds was assessed in cell-free assays using reconstituted systems expressing the Nox2-, canonical or hybrid Nox1- or Nox4-oxidase. Our findings demonstrate that Nox2ds, but not its scrambled control, potently inhibited superoxide (O(2)(center dot-)) production in the Nox2 cell-free system, as assessed by the cytochrome c assay. Electron paramagnetic resonance confirmed that Nox2ds inhibits O(2)(center dot-) production by Nox2 oxidase. In contrast, Nox2ds did not inhibit ROS production by either Nox1- or Nox4-oxidase. These findings demonstrate that Nox2ds is a selective inhibitor of Nox2-oxidase and support its utility to elucidate the role of Nox2 in organ pathophysiology and its potential as a therapeutic agent. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of isoproterenol treatment for 7 days on inflammatory mediators in the rat aorta

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of overstimulation of beta-adrenoceptors on vascular inflammatory mediators. Wistar rats were treated with the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (0.3 mg(.)kg(-1.)day(-1) sc) or vehicle (control) for 7 days. At the end of treatment, the right carotid artery was catheterized for arterial and left ventricular (LV) hemodynamic evaluation. Isoproterenol treatment increased LV weight but did not change hemodynamic parameters. Aortic mRNA and protein expression were quantified by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Isoproterenol enhanced aortic mRNA and protein expression of IL-1 beta (124% and 125%) and IL-6 (231% and 40%) compared with controls but did not change TNF-alpha expression. The nuclear-to-cytoplasmatic protein expression ration of the NF-beta B p65 subunit was increased by isoproterenol treatment (51%); in addition, it reduced the cytoplasmatic expression of I kappa B-alpha (52%) in aortas. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed using the aorta, and increased NF-kappa B DNA binding (31%) was observed in isoproterenol-treated rats compared with controls (P < 0.05). Isoproterenol treatment increased phenylephrine-induced contraction in aortic rigs (P < 0.05), which was significantly reduced by superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml) and sodium salicylate (5 mM). Cotreatment with thalidomide (150 mg(.)kg(-1.)day(-1) for 7 days) also reduced hyperreactivity to phenylephrine induced by isoproterenol. In conclusion, overstimulation of beta-adrenoceptors increased proinflammatory cytokines and upregulated NF-kappa B in the rat aorta. Moreover, local oxidative stress and the proinflammatory state seem to play key roles in the altered vascular reactivity of the rat aorta induced by chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Resistência da artéria carótida e autônima funcional em mulheres idosas

High carotid artery resistance indices in the elderly arise mainly as a result of harmful daily lifestyle behavior and poor eating habits. The aim of this multidisciplinary study was to assess and correlate carotid artery resistance and functional autonomy in elderly women. A descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample comprising 27 women, enrolled in pastoral programs in the city of Teresina, Brazil. Carotid artery resistance was assessed by a high-resolution Doppler ultrasound device and functional autonomy was evaluated through five protocol tests of the Latin American Development Group for the Elderly (GDLAM), simulating activities of daily life. The data were analyzed by the Shapiro-Wilk test and the correlation by Spearman s test, considering a p-value of <0.05. The sample consisted of women with mean age and standard deviation of (68.67 ± 4.52) years, respectively and carotid resistance index of (0.71 ± 0.07). The general index value of functional autonomy classified the elderly of the study group as weak in the performance of activities of daily living (30.46 ± 6.31). The general index of functional autonomy showed a high level of sedentary behavior in the group studied (p < 0.01). The sample was classified as weak in the performance of activities of daily life. The correlation coefficient between the carotid resistance index and the general GDLAM index was r = 0.998 and p = 0.000, showing a significant correlation. The elderly women assessed had a high carotid artery resistance index and low functional autonomy; a positive correlation was found between the dependent variables studied. To perform this study we formed a team composed of a nurse, who helped in organizing the sample and performing the examinations; a radiologist, who conducted the Doppler examinations; an angiologist, who collaborated in interpreting examination data; in addition to two physical education professors and two physical therapists, who applied the functional autonomy tests and conducted the 34 research along elderly health lines, contributing thus to the multidisciplinary character, fundamental for carrying out the study

Exercício aeróbico, resistência de artéria carótidae autonomia funcional em mulheres idosas

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of an aerobic exercise program on the internal right carotid resistive index (IRCRI) and the functional autonomy levels of elderly women. The sample was composed of 25 elderly sedentary women, aged between 60 and 75 years, allocated into two groups: an experimental group consisting of 14 women submitted to aerobic treatment and a control group (n=11). Carotid artery resistance assessment was conducted using Doppler ultrasound and functional autonomy by the following tests: 10m walk (10mW), rising from a sitting position (RSP), rising from a chair and moving about the house (RCMH), rising from the ventral decubitus position (RVDP) and putting on and removing a t-shirt (PRTS). Aerobic training consisted of walking 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, for 3 months. To control the intensity of the walk, the index of perceived exertion was used, with standardized Borg scale values corresponding to 13-15 points, characterized as slightly tiring exercise with training heart rate (TRH) between 50% and 80% of heart rate reserve (HRR). Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Compared to the control, the experimental group obtained a statistically significant decrease in right internal carotid resistance (p = 0.021) and a significant increase in the following tests: 10mW (p=0.000), RSP (p=0.035) and RCMH (p=0.016). These results suggest that engaging in aerobic exercises was effective in decreasing IRCRI and improving functional autonomy inelderly women

Time course of training-induced microcirculatory changes and of vegf expression in skeletal muscles of spontaneously hypertensive female rats

Exercise-induced vessel changes modulate arterial pressure (AP) in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is important for angiogenesis of skeletal muscle. The present study evaluated the time course of VEGF and angiogenesis after short- and long-term exercise training of female SHR and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, 8-9 weeks (200-250 g). Rats were allocated to daily training or remained sedentary for 3 days (N = 23) or 13 weeks (N = 23). After training, the carotid artery was catheterized for AP measurements. Locomotor (tibialis anterior and gracilis) and non-locomotor skeletal muscles (temporalis) were harvested and prepared for histologic and protein expression analyses. Training increased treadmill performance by all groups (SHR = 28%, WKY = 64%, 3 days) and (SHR = 141%, WKY = 122%, 13 weeks). SHR had higher values of AP than WKY (174 ± 4 vs 111 ± 2 mmHg) that were not altered by training. Three days of running increased VEGF expression (SHR = 28%, WKY = 36%) simultaneously with an increase in capillary-to-fiber ratio in gracilis muscle (SHR = 19%, WKY = 15%). In contrast, 13 weeks of training increased gracilis capillary-to-fiber ratio (SHR = 18%, WKY = 19%), without simultaneous changes in VEGF expression. Training did not change VEGF expression and capillarity of temporalis muscle. We conclude that training stimulates time- and tissue-dependent VEGF protein expression, independent of pressure levels. VEGF triggers angiogenesis in locomotor skeletal muscle shortly after the exercise starts, but is not involved in the maintenance of capillarity after long-term exercise in female rats.

Prevention of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats using acetylcysteine after anesthesia with isoflurane

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da N-acetilcisteína na proteção renal contra lesão de isquemia/reperfusão, quando administrada logo após a indução anestésica, em ratos anestesiados com isoflurano. MÉTODOS: Dezoito ratos Wistar machos pesando mais que 300g foram anestesiados com isoflurano. A jugular interna direita e a carótida esquerda foram dissecadas e canuladas. Os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em GAcetil, recebendo N-acetilcisteína por via intravenosa, 300mg/kg, e GIsot, solução salina. Foi realizada nefrectomia direita e clampeamento da artéria renal esquerda por 45 min. Os animais foram sacrificados após 48h, sendo colhidas amostras sanguíneas após a indução anestésica e ao sacrifício dos mesmos para avaliar a creatinina sérica. Realizou-se histologia renal. RESULTADOS: A variação da creatinina foi 2,33mg/dL ± 2,21 no GAcetil e 4,38mg/dL ± 2,13 no GIsot (p=0,074). Dois animais apresentaram necrose tubular intensa no GAcetil, comparados a cinco no GIsot. Apenas GAcetil apresentou animais livres de necrose tubular (dois) e degeneração tubular (um). CONCLUSÃO: Após isquemia/reperfusão renais, os ratos aos quais se administrou N-acetilcisteína apresentaram menor variação na creatinina sérica e lesões renais mais leves que o grupo controle.

Aneurisma cerebral e cisto de aracnóide: a propósito de caso com hemorragia intracística

Relatamos um caso de aneurisma da bifurcação da artéria carótida interna, cuja ruptura se deu para dentro de cisto de aracnóide da fissura silviana. em revisão da literatura apenas 3 casos foram descritos. Discutimos ainda os aspectos clínicos atípicos do caso, as características dos achados cirúrgicos e uma correlação etiopatogênica entre as duas patologias.

Caroticoclinoid foramen in human skulls: incidence, morphometry and its clinical implications

The caroticoclinoid foramen is an inconstant structure, formed by the union of the anterior and middle clinoid processes. The aim of this study was to perform an incidence and morphometry of the caroticoclinoid foramen in Brazilian human skulls and discuss its clinical implications. Eighty dry human skulls with sex distinction were used, and 3 groups of incidence were determined: General, sex, and sides. The morphometry was performed using a manual caliper and the major diameter of the foramina was measured; the values were also divided in general, according to sex and sides. The incidence of skulls with at least one foramen was 8.5%. According to the sides, 8.5% of the skulls showed foramen on the right side and 2.5% on the left. We found 2.5% of the skulls with bilateral foramen and 6.25% with unilateral foramen. In relation to sex, the foramens were found in 5% of male skulls and 12.5% of female skulls. The major diameter of this structure presented on mean, values of 5.23 mm on general, 5.18 mm on the right side and 5.35 mm on the left, 5.30 mm in male skulls and 5.18 mm in female skulls. The anatomical characteristics of this foramen should be considered in view of its clinical implications associated with neurosurgery as clinoid process removal, and symptoms as headache due to internal carotid artery alterations in this region. In conclusion knowledge of this structure supports the diagnosis and treatment of clinical complications related to this variation.

Efeito do extrato aquoso de cabelo de milho (Zea mays L.) sobre a excreção renal de água e eletrólitos e pressão arterial em ratos Wistar anestesiados

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação de dois modelos experimentais de isquemia e reperfusão cerebral em ratos com oclusão temporária carotídea associada ou não à oclusão vertebral

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a reprodutibilidade de dois modelos experimentais de isquemia e reperfusão cerebral. MÉTODOS: 60 ratos foram distribuídos, aleatoriamente, em três grupos experimentais, com 20 animais cada: I - pinçamento temporário de artéria carótida esquerda; II - cauterização prévia das artérias vertebrais e pinçamento temporário da artéria carótida esquerda; simulado - sem isquemia nem reperfusão. Todos os animais tiveram oclusão definitiva de artéria carótida direita e os três grupos foram subdivididos em dois períodos de reperfusão: A - 60 minutos e B - 120 minutos. Os parâmetros verificados foram: medidas de pressão arterial média sistêmica e fluxo sangüíneo carotídeo; medida de malondialdeído cerebral através do teste TBARS e avaliação histológica do hemisfério cerebral submetido à isquemia e reperfusão. Foi feito também um estudo complementar com angiografia cerebral em 5 animais adicionais. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferenças significativas nas dosagens de malondialdeído cerebral e na freqüência e gravidade das alterações histológicas cerebrais entre os três grupos. Nos grupos GI e GII, a PAM foi significantemente maior no período de isquemia. O fluxo sangüíneo entre os períodos pré e pós-pinçamento aumentou nos grupos IA e IIB, diminuiu no grupo IB e no grupo IIA manteve-se inalterado. As angiografias do estudo complementar mostraram aporte sangüíneo para cérebro através de circulação colateral. CONCLUSÃO: Os modelos de isquemia e reperfusão estudados não demonstraram alterações consistentes de marcadores de lesão cerebral, seja quanto à produção de lipoperóxidos ou de lesões histológicas.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor expression from transduced vascular smooth muscle cells provides sustained neutrophil increases in rats

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) regulates granulocyte precursor cell proliferation, neutrophil survival, and activation. Cyclic hematopoiesis, a disease that occurs both in humans and grey collie dogs is characterized by cyclical variations in blood neutrophils. Although the underlying molecular defect is not known, long-term daily administration of recombinant G-CSF eliminates the severe recurrent neutropenia, indicating that expression of G-CSF by gene therapy would be beneficial. As a prelude to preclinical studies in affected collie dogs, we monitored hematopoiesis in rats receiving vascular smooth muscle cells transduced to express G-CSF. Cells transduced with LrGSN, a retrovirus expressing rat G-CSF, were implanted in the carotid artery and control animals received cells transduced with LASN, a retrovirus expressing human adenosine deaminase (ADA). Test animals showed significant increases in neutrophil counts for at least 7 weeks, with mean values of 3,670 +/- 740 cells/mu l in comparison to 1,870 +/- 460 cells/mu l in controls (p < 0.001). Thus, in rats G-CSF gene transfer targeted at vascular smooth muscle cells initiated sustained production of 1,800 neutrophils/mu l, a cell number that would provide clinical benefit to patients. Lymphocytes, red cells and platelets were not different between control and test animals (p > 0.05). These studies indicate that retrovirally transduced vascular smooth muscle cells can provide sustained clinically useful levels of neutrophils in vivo.

Effect of passive pneumoperitoneum on oesophageal pressure, cardiovascular parameters and blood gas analysis in horses

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

About the arterial blood vessels pelvic opossum's (Didelphis albiventris) behaviour

The work consists of the study of 20 opossums (Didelphis albiventris); 7 females and 13 males, adults, natives of Jaboticabal county proceeding to a canulation and injection of the arterial system with neoprene latex-650 in the aorta artery (full-blooded). Right away the preparations were fixed by a 10% formaldehyde aqueous solution and afterwards dissected and formed a scheme. The analysis of the pieces showed that in the opossum, the end of the aorta always divides in the common iliac artery, right and left sides, both originating the external and internal iliac artery, on the right and left sides. The medium sacral artery results, medianly, from the aorta division's angle in 2 common iliac arteries in 8 cases (40% - 6 males and 2 females); this vessel comes from the left common iliac artery in 7 animals (35% - 5 males and 2 females) or comes from the right common iliac artery, in 5 preparations (25% - 3 females and 2 males). The deep iliac circumflex artery is born by the common iliac artery from the right side in 10 preparations (50% - 6 males and 4 females), can appear as well, concomitantly with the external and internal iliac artery, from the right side in 9 pieces (45% - 6 males and 3 females) and further from the right this vessels can emerge from the external iliac artery, in 1 case only (5% - 1 male).