RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of spironolactone (SPL) on indexes of metabolic syndrome (MS) and further investigate the mechanisms underlying its protective effects. METHODS: A rat model of MS was established by administering a fat- and salt-enriched diet (FS diet). The occurrence of MS was examined by measurement of blood pressure (BP), aldosterone (ALD) content, blood lipid (BL), glucose and insulin levels. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Pancreatic gland tissue injury was assessed by ß-cell apoptosis. Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity, phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase/Akt (PI3-K/Akt), and phosphorylation of p38MAPK (Pp38MAPK) in pancreatic gland tissue were evaluated by western blot analysis. RESULTS: SPL prevented hypertension, and dyslipidemia during MS induced by the intake of FS diet, but had no effect on K+ and Na+ disturbances. Furthermore, SPL significantly attenuated ALD and MR expression levels after FS diet. Finally, SPL inhibited phosphorylation protein kinase B (p- PKB) activation in the pancreatic gland tissue, a downstream target of PI3-K, and phosphorylation of p38MAPK pathway, critical for cellular apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that SPL exerts a protective effect on hypertension and dyslipidemia. This protective effect may depend, at least in part, on MAPK and PI3-K pathways.
Assuntos
Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Síndrome Metabólica/prevenção & controle , Cloreto de Sódio na Dieta/efeitos adversos , Espironolactona/uso terapêutico , Aldosterona/biossíntese , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Dislipidemias/prevenção & controle , Hipertensão/prevenção & controle , Células Secretoras de Insulina/efeitos dos fármacos , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP Quinases/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/fisiologia , Fosforilação/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt/antagonistas & inibidores , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Receptores de Mineralocorticoides/biossínteseAssuntos
Valva Aórtica , Próteses Valvulares Cardíacas , Valva Mitral , Adulto , Ecocardiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Fonocardiografia , Trombose/diagnósticoRESUMO
A case of infective endocarditis due to Chlamydia trachomatis immunotype F is reported. Multiple negative blood cultures were a major deterrant from the initial clinical diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Postmortem ultrastructural identification of Chlamydia in the aortic valve vegetation led to an intensive retrospective study of retrieved serum samples utilizing microimmunofluorescent tests. Likewise an unusual echocardiographic finding was discovered to be the ultrasonic visualization of an aortic ring abscess. No similar case could be found in the literature. Clinicopathologic correlations are presented.