Increased Na,K,Cl cotransporter and Na, K-ATPase activity of vascular tissue in two-kidney Goldblatt hypertension.

The properties of the Na/K pump and Na,K,Cl cotransporter were studied in vascular tissue of two-kidney Goldblatt hypertensive rats. These transport systems were measured as ouabain-sensitive and bumetanide-sensitive 86Rb/K uptake in aortic rings, left ventricular muscle and soleus skeletal muscle fibers of control and hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rats. A dramatic increment in Na/K pump activity was observed in intact aortic rings from the hypertensive group. The same was true for the Na,K,Cl cotransporter. The transport parameters related to the left ventricular muscle and soleus skeletal muscle were not significantly altered in the hypertensive rats. Measurements of the catalytic isoforms of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase in the aortic rings indicated that both isoforms (alpha 1 and alpha 2) were elevated in the same proportion in the hypertensive rats. The results also indicate that the endothelium plays an important role in both transport systems: in the absence of endothelium, a much lower 86Rb/K uptake was observed than in intact aortic rings, either from control or hypertensive vascular tissue. Nevertheless, when the 86Rb/K transport activity was measured in denuded aortic rings, a significantly higher ouabain and bumetanide sensitive 86Rb/K uptake was also observed in the hypertensive rats. These data also show no alteration in the endothelium of the hypertensive rats as compared to control animals. The presence of endothelium had a more striking effect on the alpha 2 catalytic isoform activity than on the alpha 1 isoform. We conclude that there is a significant increment in the Na/K pump and Na,K,Cl cotransporter in two kidney-Goldblatt hypertension, that is specific for vascular smooth muscle.

[Comparison of the efficacy of intraarticular and intraarterial injections of two betamethasone preparations in patients with osteoarthritis or epicondilytis]. / Comparación de la eficacia clínica de una inyección intraarticular o intralesional de dos preparados de betametasona en pacientes con artrosis o epicondilitis.

BACKGROUND: Local infiltration with corticoids is a simple therapy for rheumatic disorders devoid of systemic adverse reactions. AIM: To compare the efficacy of two betametasone preparations from two different pharmaceutical laboratories in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis or epicondylitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourty patients with knee osteoarthritis and 12 patients with epicondylitis were studied. Using a double blind protocol, one of the two betametasone preparations was used for local infiltration of the lesions. The change in a global score of clinical variables including pain and disability was assessed after 30 days of the infiltration. RESULTS: In patients with osteoarthritis, the global score decreased significantly with both preparations, but no differences were observed between preparations (7.3 +/- 1.8 to 3.9 +/- 2.3 with preparation A and 7.8 +/- 1.9 to 3.6 +/- 2.3 with preparation B). In patients with epicondylitis, pain was also significantly reduced but no differences between preparations was observed (7 +/- 2.1 to 1.4 +/- 2.5 for preparation A and 4.6 +/- 2.8 to 1.2 +/- 1.6 for preparation B). CONCLUSIONS: Local infiltration with both betametasone preparations was equally effective in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis or epicondilytis.