Role of inflammation, oxidative stress, and autonomic nervous system activation during the development of right and left cardiac remodeling in experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This study investigated the impact of experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) progression by evaluating morphometric and functional parameters, oxidative stress, autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation, and inflammation in the right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles. Male rats were first divided into two groups: monocrotaline (MCT) and control. The MCT group received a single MCT injection (60 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), while control received saline. The MCT and control groups were further divided into four cohorts based on how long they were observed: 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. Animals were submitted to echocardiographic and hemodynamic analysis. RV and LV were used for morphometric, biochemical, and histological measurements. Autonomic modulation was evaluated by cardiac spectral analysis, considering two components: low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF). Lung and liver weight was used for morphometric analysis. MCT induced 100% mortality at 4 weeks. In the RV, disease progression led to mild inflammation and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in week 1, followed by moderate inflammation, ROS production, and hypertrophy in week 2. By week 3, there was moderate inflammation, oxidative stress, and ANS imbalance, with development of right heart dysfunction. LV biochemical changes and inflammation were observed at week 3. The initial changes appeared to be related to inflammation and ROS, and the later ones to inflammation, oxidative stress, and ANS imbalance in MCT animals. This study reinforces the severity of the disease in the RV, the late effects in the LV, and the role of ANS imbalance in the development of heart dysfunction.

Analysis of conditions sensitive to primary care in a successful experience of primary healthcare expansion in Brazil, 1998-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze trends in expansion of coverage of the family health strategy and hospitalization for conditions sensitive to primary care (CSPC) in a successful experience of primary healthcare expansion in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: Ecological study with data from the Brazilian National Health Information System. METHODS: CSPC were analyzed between 1998 and 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by cause groups. Trends, variation, and correlation between indicators in the period were evaluated. RESULTS: Most of the cause groups showed a reduction in hospitalization rate, particularly cardiovascular diseases and asthma, but an increase was seen for obstetric causes. The main causes of hospitalization were heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases, and bacterial pneumonia. The contribution of vaccine-preventable diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic lung diseases to the total number of hospitalizations was seen to decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis demonstrates that the family health strategy, as access to the healthcare system, decreases the majority of CSPC hospitalization rates.

Epitestosterone and testosterone have similar nonclassical actions on membrane of Sertoli cells in whole seminiferous tubules.

Epitestosterone is the 17α-epimer of testosterone. This steroid possesses antiandrogenic activities. The mechanism of action of epitestosterone has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the nonclassical effect of epitestosterone on the membrane of Sertoli cells in proliferative phase (rats aged 15 days) and in nonproliferative phase (rats aged 21 and 35 days). The membrane potential of Sertoli cells was recorded using a standard single microelectrode technique. Epitestosterone (0.5, 1, and 2 µM) or testosterone (1 µM) was administered alone and after infusion with flutamide (1 µM), verapamil (100 µM), or U-73122 (2 µM). The testes of rats aged 12-15 days were preincubated with 45Ca2+ with or without flutamide (1 µM) and incubated with epitestosterone (1 µM) or testosterone (1 µM). Epitestosterone and testosterone produced a depolarization in the membrane potential and increased the membrane input resistance on Sertoli cells from rats of all 3 ages. The effect of epitestosterone did not change after perfusion with flutamide. Epitestosterone increased 45Ca2+ uptake within 5 min and this effect was not inhibited by flutamide. The absence of an effect by flutamide suggests that epitestosterone acts independently of the intracellular androgen receptor. The depolarizing effect was inhibited by verapamil, a voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker, and by U-73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor. These results indicate that epitestosterone acts on the membrane via a nonclassical signaling pathway; the effect was similar to the testosterone action on membrane of Sertoli cells in whole seminiferous tubules from rat testes.

[Healing of zygomatic arch fractures in rats with lesions of the median hypothalamic eminence]. / Estudo do processo de reparo em fratura de arco zigomático, em ratos lesados na eminéncia mediana do hipotálamo.

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of hypothalamic median eminence lesion on healing process in fracture of anterior portion of zygomatic arch, in rats, by histologic evaluation. The animals were killed in number of 5 for each periods at 6, 12, 24 and 36 days post-lesion. Our results showed morphologic changes and tinctorial in all considered periods, with more evidence at 12 and 24 days post-fracture and evidents signals of hipomineralization. This disfunction appeared only after a mean period of 12 days post-lesion.

[One-and-a-half syndrome: anatomo-clinical considerations apropos of a case]. / Síndrome 'one-and-a-half': considerações Anatomoclínicas a propósito de um caso.

A 36 years-old man was admitted in September 1987. For 5 years he suffered from 4 recurrent episodes of throbbing headache, tinnitus, nausea, diplopia and divergent strabismus to which a facial palsy was recently added. In all episodes, the symptoms disappeared spontaneously and completely. A neuro-ophthalmological examination at admission disclosed an exotropia of the right eye, gaze paralysis to the left, paralysis of adduction of the left eye and preserved right eye abduction which triggered a rhythmic horizontal nystagmus. The upward and downward gazes and the convergence were well preserved. Moreover, there was a left peripheral facial palsy, and Babinski sign at the right side. Auditory evoked potentials were slowed at the mesencephalopontine transition. CT scan showed a low-density area with no contrast enhancement at the left pontine tegmentum and a left anterolateral atrophy of the pons. CSF examination showed increase in protein content and increase in the IgG content. Additional investigation included a dopplerometry of the cervical arteries, a panangiography and a bidimensional echocardiography which were normal. Diagnosis of one-and-a-half syndrome was made, possibly secondary to multiple sclerosis, and immunossuppressive therapy was initiated.

[Relationship between the renal electrical impedance variations with glomerular filtration rate changes in dogs (author's transl)]. / Relação entre as variações da impedância elétrica renal com alterações da taxa de filtração glomerular em cães

Records of the electrical impedance were obtained by means of surface electrodes placed on ventral and dorsal sides of the left kidney of anesthetized dogs. Changes of the renal electrical impedance resulted from alterations of the glomerular filtration rate caused by decrease of blood renal pressure to 80 and 50 mm Hg either due to constriction of the aorta or bleeding. The relation were established also by using physiological solution's infusion. The results showed that changes of the means of renal electrical impedance were in opposite direction to changes in glomerular filtration rate. The electrodes employed were constituted of two parts: one fixed and another adjustable and flexible, possibiliting a good contact with the renal surface independently of the kidney size.

[Influence of calcium and potassium ions on the parasympathetic stimulation secretory response of the isolated and perfused submandibular gland (author's transl)]. / Influência dos íons cálcio e potássio na resposta secretora da glândula submandibular isolada d perfundida, à estimulação parassimpática

The effects of the submandibular gland perfusion with blood, Tyrode's solution, Tyrode's solution without calcium, and Tyrode's solution without potassium were studied. The effects on sodium, potassium, and calcium concentration in the saliva were studied in 11 dogs during electrical stimulation of the chorda tympani nerve. According to the statistical analysis we assume that: 1) the perfusion of the salivary gland with blood or Tyrode's solution does not alter sodium, potassium, and calcium concentration in the saliva; 2) the salivary perfusion with calcium free Tyrode's solution does not alter the chemical composition of the saliva; 3) the perfusion of the salivary gland with potassium free Tyrode's solution produce a decrease of the concentration of this ion in the saliva composition.