Emerging roles of urotensin-II in cardiovascular disease

Urotensin-II (UII) is a highly potent endogenous peptide within the cardiovascular system. Through stimulation of Galphaq-coupled UT receptors, UII mediates contraction of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation, and positive inotropy in human right atrium and ventricle. A pathogenic role of the UT receptor system is emerging in cardiovascular disease states, with evidence for upregulation of the UT receptor system in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary hypertension, cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and chronic renal failure. In vitro and in vivo studies show that under pathophysiological conditions, UII might contribute to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, extracellular matrix production, enhanced vasoconstriction, vascular smooth muscle cell hyperplasia, and endothelial cell hyper-permeability. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the UII gene may also impart a genetic predisposition of patients to diabetes. Therefore, the UT receptor system is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of cardiac, pulmonary, and renal diseases. UT receptor antagonists are currently being developed to prevent and/or reverse the effects of over-activated UT receptors by the endogenous ligand. This review describes UII peptide and converting enzymes, and UT receptors in the cardiovascular system, focusing on pathophysiological roles of UII in the heart and blood vessels. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved,

Perindopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, in pulmonary hypertensive rats: comparative effects on pulmonary vascular structure and function

1 Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats (10% O-2, 4 weeks) is characterized by changes in pulmonary vascular structure and function. The effects of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril (oral gavage, once daily for the 4 weeks of hypoxia) on these changes were examined. 2 Perindopril (30 mg kg(-1) d(-1)) caused an 18% reduction in pulmonary artery pressure in hypoxic rats. 3 Structural changes (remodelling) in hypoxic rats included increases in (i) critical closing pressure in isolated perfused lungs (remodelling of arteries (50 mu m 0.d.) and (ii) medial wall thickness of intralobar pulmonary arteries, assessed histologically (vessels 30-100 and 101-500 mu m o.d.). Perindopril 10 and 30 mg kg(-1) d(-1) attenuated remodelling in vessels less than or equal to 100 mu m (lungs and histology), 30 mg kg(-1) d(-1) was effective in vessels 101-500 mu m but neither dose prevented hypertrophy of main pulmonary artery. 3 mg kg(-1) d(-1) was without effect. 4 Perindopril (30 mg kg(-1) d(-1)) prevented the exaggerated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response seen in perfused lungs from hypoxic rats but did not prevent any of the functional changes (i.e. the increased contractions to 5-HT, U46619 (thromboxane-mimetic) and K+ and diminished contractions to angiotensins I and II) seen in isolated intralobar or main pulmonary arteries. Acetylcholine responses were unaltered in hypoxic rats. 5 We conclude that, in hypoxic rats, altered pulmonary vascular function is largely independent of remodelling. Hence any drug that affects only remodelling is unlikely to restore pulmonary vascular function to normal and, like perindopril, may have only a modest effect on pulmonary artery pressure.

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type Ii: Identification Of 30 Novel Mutations Among Latin American Patients.

In this study, 103 unrelated South-American patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) were investigated aiming at the identification of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) disease causing mutations and the possibility of some insights on the genotype-phenotype correlation The strategy used for genotyping involved the identification of the previously reported inversion/disruption of the IDS gene by PCR and screening for other mutations by PCR/SSCP. The exons with altered mobility on SSCP were sequenced, as well as all the exons of patients with no SSCP alteration. By using this strategy, we were able to find the pathogenic mutation in all patients. Alterations such as inversion/disruption and partial/total deletions of the IDS gene were found in 20/103 (19%) patients. Small insertions/deletions/indels (<22 bp) and point mutations were identified in 83/103 (88%) patients, including 30 novel mutations; except for a higher frequency of small duplications in relation to small deletions, the frequencies of major and minor alterations found in our sample are in accordance with those described in the literature.

Phtx-ii A Basic Myotoxic Phospholipase A2 From Porthidium Hyoprora Snake Venom, Pharmacological Characterization And Amino Acid Sequence By Mass Spectrometry.

A monomeric basic PLA2 (PhTX-II) of 14149.08 Da molecular weight was purified to homogeneity from Porthidium hyoprora venom. Amino acid sequence by in tandem mass spectrometry revealed that PhTX-II belongs to Asp49 PLA2 enzyme class and displays conserved domains as the catalytic network, Ca2+-binding loop and the hydrophobic channel of access to the catalytic site, reflected in the high catalytic activity displayed by the enzyme. Moreover, PhTX-II PLA2 showed an allosteric behavior and its enzymatic activity was dependent on Ca2+. Examination of PhTX-II PLA2 by CD spectroscopy indicated a high content of alpha-helical structures, similar to the known structure of secreted phospholipase IIA group suggesting a similar folding. PhTX-II PLA2 causes neuromuscular blockade in avian neuromuscular preparations with a significant direct action on skeletal muscle function, as well as, induced local edema and myotoxicity, in mice. The treatment of PhTX-II by BPB resulted in complete loss of their catalytic activity that was accompanied by loss of their edematogenic effect. On the other hand, enzymatic activity of PhTX-II contributes to this neuromuscular blockade and local myotoxicity is dependent not only on enzymatic activity. These results show that PhTX-II is a myotoxic Asp49 PLA2 that contributes with toxic actions caused by P. hyoprora venom.

[impact Of The Activation Of Intention To Perform Physical Activity In Type Ii Diabetics: A Randomized Clinical Trial].

Type II diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent disease among the adult Brazilian population, and one that can be controlled by interventions such as physical activity, among others. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to evaluate the impact of a traditional motivational strategy, associated with the activation of intention theory, on adherence to physical activity in patients with type II, diabetes mellitus who are part of the Unified Health System (SUS). Participants were divided into a control group (CG) and an intervention group (IG). In both groups, the traditional motivational strategy was applied, but the activation of intention strategy was only applied to the IG Group. After a two-month follow-up, statistically significant differences were verified between the groups, related to the practice of walking (p = 0.0050), number of days per week (p = 0.0076), minutes per day (p = 0.0050) and minutes walking per week (p = 0.0015). At the end of the intervention, statistically significant differences in abdominal circumference (p = 0.0048) between the groups were observed. The conclusion drawn is that the activation of intention strategy had greater impact on adherence to physical activity and reduction in abdominal circumference in type II diabetics, than traditional motivational strategy.

Compara����o da efici��ncia do processo de ozoniza����o e ozoniza����o catal��tica (Mn II e Cu II) na degrada����o de fenol

This paper discusses the results obtained with homogeneous catalytic ozonation [Mn (II) and Cu (II)] in phenol degradation. The reduction of total phenols and total organic carbon (TOC) and the ozone consumption were evaluated. The efficiency in phenol degradation (total phenol removal) at pH 3, with the catalytic process (Mn (II)), increased from 37% to 55% while the TOC removal increased from 4 to 63% in a seven-minute treatment. The ozonation process efficiency at pH 10 was 43% and 39% for phenol and TOC removal, respectively. The presence of both metallic ions (Mn2+ and Cu+2) in the ozonation process resulted in a positive effect.

Experimenta����o em qu��mica de compostos organomet��licos: prepara����o do cloreto de dicarbonilciclopentadienilferro(II)

In this work, we describe a new method for obtaining [Fe(CO)2[(eta5-C5H5)Cl] employing simple techniques and low-cost reagents. It is worth mentioning that this method is faster than others reported in the literature. It was applied in laboratory classes for undergraduate students, exploring different concepts in organometallic chemistry and discussing the steps involved in the synthetic route.

S��ntese de complexo ferro(II)-nitrog��nio: abordagem dos conceitos de reatividade e retro-doa����o para alunos de gradua����o em qu��mica

There has been a considerable interest in coordination complexes of molecular nitrogen (N2), partly due to a possible relationship between such complexes and the nitrogen activation process in nature. The present paper describes the synthesis and infrared spectroscopic characterization of an iron-nitrogen derivative with ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (edta) as an experiment for an undergraduate course. The topics covered here include synthesis, reactivity and spectroscopy.

Leguminosae, Papilionoideae no Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, Brasil. II: ��rvores e arbustos escandentes

This work is a floristic survey of arboreous and climbing shrub taxa of Papilionoideae in a semideciduos forest at Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, eastern Minas Gerais State. Field work was carried out from April/1998 to May/1999, when montly visits were conducted to collect botanical material along trails and of the main road. The floristic survey resulted in 22 taxa belonging to eight genera. An identification key, descriptions, illustrations and comments on the analyzed taxa are presented.

Qualidade de vida de portadores de Diabetes Mellitus tipo II frente ��s oscila����es no n��vel de atividade f��sica, aspectos socioecon��micos e presen��a de comorbidades

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educa����o F��sica

Avalia����o da posi����o condilar e disfun����o temporomandibular em pacientes com m�� oclus��o de Classe II submetidos �� protrus��o mandibular ortop��dica

OBJETIVO: avaliar a participa����o da protrus��o mandibular ortop��dica e da posi����o condilar na preval��ncia de sinais e sintomas de disfun����o temporomandibular (DTM). METODOLOGIA: a amostra foi composta por 60 indiv��duos divididos em 3 grupos, sendo o grupo I correspondente a indiv��duos n��o tratados; o grupo II composto por jovens em tratamento com o Bionator; e o grupo III por jovens j�� tratados com este aparelho. Os indiv��duos da amostra responderam a um question��rio relativo aos principais sintomas de DTM, permitindo a classifica����o dos mesmos de acordo com a presen��a e severidade dessas disfun����es. Esses jovens tamb��m se submeteram �� avalia����o da movimenta����o mandibular, palpa����o dos m��sculos mastigat��rios e inspe����o de ru��dos articulares. Radiografias transcranianas padronizadas das ATMs direita e esquerda foram realizadas, para obten����o do grau de concentricidade condilar. RESULTADOS: os testes ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis e qui-quadrado foram utilizados para an��lise dos dados. De acordo com os resultados do question��rio anamn��sico, 66,67% da amostra foram classificados com aus��ncia de DTM; 30% com DTM leve e apenas 3,33% com DTM moderada, sem diferen��a entre os grupos estudados (p > 0,05). Quanto �� concentricidade condilar, o grupo II apresentou os valores de menor concentricidade (c��ndilos mais anteriorizados), com diferen��a estatisticamente significante em rela����o ao grupo I (p < 0,05). Uma associa����o entre a concentricidade condilar e a preval��ncia de DTM, no entanto, n��o foi encontrada. CONCLUS��O: a protrus��o ortop��dica, apesar de alterar a posi����o dos c��ndilos, n��o aumentou a preval��ncia de DTM na popula����o estudada.

Efeitos do aparelho Jasper Jumper no tratamento da m�� oclus��o de Classe II

OBJETIVO: o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos esquel��ticos e dentoalveolares do tratamento de pacientes com m�� oclus��o de Classe II com o aparelho Jasper Jumper associado ao aparelho ortod��ntico fixo, comparados a um grupo controle n��o-tratado. M��TODOS: a amostra foi constitu��da por 47 indiv��duos, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1, contendo 25 pacientes com idade m��dia de 12,72 anos, tratados com o aparelho Jasper Jumper por um tempo m��dio de 2,15 anos; Grupo 2 (controle), composto por 22 indiv��duos com idade m��dia de 12,67 anos, n��o-submetidos a tratamento ortod��ntico e com m�� oclus��o de Classe II, observados por um per��odo m��dio de 2,12 anos. Foram avaliadas as telerradiografias ao in��cio e ao final do tratamento ortod��ntico para o Grupo 1 e do per��odo de observa����o para o Grupo 2. As vari��veis cefalom��tricas iniciais, finais e as altera����es com o tratamento foram comparadas entre os grupos por meio do teste t independente. RESULTADOS: em compara����o ao grupo controle, o grupo Jasper Jumper apresentou maior restri����o do deslocamento anterior da maxila e maior retrus��o maxilar, melhora da rela����o maxilomandibular, diminui����o da convexidade facial, maior protrus��o e intrus��o dos incisivos inferiores e maior extrus��o dos molares inferiores, al��m de maior diminui����o dos trespasses horizontal e vertical e maior melhora da rela����o molar. CONCLUS��O: a corre����o da Classe II no grupo tratado com o Jasper Jumper e aparelhagem fixa se deu principalmente devido �� restri����o do crescimento maxilar, protrus��o e intrus��o dos incisivos inferiores e extrus��o dos molares inferiores.

Class II malocclusion occlusal severity description

OBJECTIVES: It is well known that the efficacy and the efficiency of a Class II malocclusion treatment are aspects closely related to the severity of the dental anteroposterior discrepancy. Even though, sample selection based on cephalometric variables without considering the severity of the occlusal anteroposterior discrepancy is still common in current papers. In some of them, when occlusal parameters are chosen, the severity is often neglected. The purpose of this study is to verify the importance given to the classification of Class II malocclusion, based on the criteria used for sample selection in a great number of papers published in the orthodontic journal with the highest impact factor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was performed in PubMed database for full-text research papers referencing Class II malocclusion in the history of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO). RESULTS: A total of 359 papers were retrieved, among which only 72 (20.06%) papers described the occlusal severity of the Class II malocclusion sample. In the other 287 (79.94%) papers that did not specify the anteroposterior discrepancy severity, description was considered to be crucial in 159 (55.40%) of them. CONCLUSIONS: Omission in describing the occlusal severity demands a cautious interpretation of 44.29% of the papers retrieved in this study.

Caracter��sticas oclusais de pacientes com Classe II, divis��o 1, tratados sem e com extra����es de dois pr��-molares superiores

OBJETIVOS: o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar caracter��sticas oclusais iniciais de pacientes Classe II, divis��o 1, tratados sem e com extra����es de dois pr��-molares superiores. M��TODOS: foram selecionados 62 pacientes que apresentavam m�� oclus��o de Classe II, divis��o 1, os quais foram divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com a forma de tratamento proposta, sendo o grupo 1 constitu��do de 42 pacientes (23 do sexo feminino e 19 do sexo masculino), com idade m��dia de 12,7 anos, tratados sem extra����es e com aparelho fixo combinado com extrabucal; e o grupo 2, composto de 20 pacientes (6 do sexo feminino e 14 do sexo masculino), com idade m��dia de 13,5 anos, tratados tamb��m com aparelho fixo combinado com uso de extrabucal, mas que tiveram indica����o de extra����es de dois pr��-molares superiores em seus planos de tratamento. Para observar as caracter��sticas oclusais iniciais e finais, assim como suas altera����es com o tratamento, foi utilizado o ��ndice de Prioridade de Tratamento (IPT). Os valores dos ��ndices foram submetidos �� an��lise estat��stica pelo teste t independente, para comparar as vari��veis entre os grupos. RESULTADOS E CONCLUS��ES: os resultados demonstraram que o grau de m�� oclus��o inicial foi diferente nos dois grupos quando avaliados pelo IPT, sendo maior no grupo tratado com extra����es de dois pr��-molares superiores

Classe II divis��o 1 associada �� defici��ncia transversal maxilar. Tratamento com disjuntor tipo Hyrax e aparelho de Herbst: relato de caso cl��nico

A m�� oclus��o de Classe II divis��o 1 de Angle ��, frequentemente, acompanhada da atresia maxilar. Esse problema transversal da maxila deve ser corrigido, sempre que poss��vel, antes da corre����o anteroposterior, sendo que os aparelhos de expans��o r��pida s��o os mais utilizados para isso. Para a corre����o da Classe II, atualmente, os aparelhos funcionais fixos s��o os mais estudados e empregados, por serem aparelhos intrabucais e necessitarem de menor colabora����o do paciente. O objetivo deste estudo �� demonstrar a estabilidade dos resultados obtidos ap��s seis anos de tratamento com expansor tipo Hyrax, seguido do aparelho funcional fixo de Herbst e aparelho fixo. Ap��s uma revis��o da literatura, ser�� apresentado um caso cl��nico, com atresia maxilar e m�� oclus��o de Classe II divis��o 1, tratado com essa terapia. O tratamento foi realizado em um curto per��odo de tempo, com resultados funcionais e est��ticos satisfat��rios e mantidos ao longo dos anos.