Possible mechanisms involved in the vasorelaxant effect produced by clobenzorex in aortic segments of rats

Clobenzorex is a metabolic precursor of amphetamine indicated for the treatment of obesity. Amphetamines have been involved with cardiovascular side effects such as hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the direct application of 10-9-10-5 M clobenzorex on isolated phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings produces vascular effects, and if so, what mechanisms may be involved. Clobenzorex produced an immediate concentration-dependent vasorelaxant effect at the higher concentrations (10-7.5-10-5 M). The present outcome was not modified by 10-6 M atropine (an antagonist of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors), 3.1×10-7 M glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker), 10-3 M 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; a voltage-activated K+ channel blocker), 10-5 M indomethacin (a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor), 10-5 M clotrimazole (a cytochrome P450 inhibitor) or 10-5 M cycloheximide (a general protein synthesis inhibitor). Contrarily, the clobenzorex-induced vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated (P<0.05) by 10-5 M L-NAME (a direct inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase), 10-7 M ODQ (an inhibitor of nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase), 10-6 M KT 5823 (an inhibitor of protein kinase G), 10-2 M TEA (a Ca2+-activated K+ channel blocker and non-specific voltage-activated K+ channel blocker) and 10-7 M apamin plus 10-7 M charybdotoxin (blockers of small- and large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels, respectively), and was blocked by 8×10-2 M potassium (a high concentration) and removal of the vascular endothelium. These results suggest that the direct vasorelaxant effect by clobenzorex on phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings involved stimulation of the NO/cGMP/PKG/Ca2+-activated K+ channel pathway.

Tuberculosis intestinal perforada y embarazo / Perforated intestinal tuberculosis and pregnancy

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: el abdomen representa el sexto lugar más frecuente de manifestación extrapulmonar de la tuberculosis; esta enfermedad puede afectar cualquier parte del tubo gastrointestinal, peritoneo y sistema hepatobiliar. OBJETIVO: reportar una variante adicional de tuberculosis intestinal, enfermedad reconocida como "la gran simuladora", relacionada con el embarazo. CASO CLÍNICO: paciente primigesta de 17 años de edad, sin antecedentes de importancia para el padecimiento actual, asintomática, sin afectación inmunológica, con tuberculosis intestinal y múltiples perforaciones y hallazgos transcesárea. El diagnóstico se estableció luego de efectuar estudios microbiológicos e histopatológicos. La evolución de la madre y el recién nacido fue satisfactoria y ambos continuaron con tratamiento antifímico. CONCLUSIÓN: pese a los grandes avances en medicina, la tuberculosis sigue siendo un grave problema de salud pública con una alta tasa de morbilidad y mortalidad. El hallazgo transcesárea, la fuerte sospecha de tuberculosis y el tratamiento oportuno limitaron la morbilidad y mortalidad de nuestra paciente.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The abdominal cavity its considerate the 6th most frequent extrapulmonary presentation of tuberculosis. This disease can affect other anatomy sites of gastrointestinal tract, peritoneum and hepatobiliary system. OBJECTIVE: To report an infrequent variant of intestinal tuberculosis, an illness known as the "great simulator", related to pregnancy. CLINICAL CASE: a 17-year-old primigravidum patient without previous history, asymptomatic, non-immunological involvement, with intestinal tuberculosis and multiple perforations, whose were identified during cesarean section. The diagnosis was established after of microbiological and histopathological studies. The evolution of the mother and the newborn were satisfactory and continued with antiphimic treatment. CONCLUSION: Despite great advances in medicine, tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem with a high rate of morbimorbidity. The transcesarean finding, the strong suspicion of tuberculosis and early treatment limited the morbimorbidity of our patient.