The PI3K-Akt-eNOS pathway is involved in aortic hyporeactivity to Phenylephrine associated with late pregnancy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt), on aortic hyporeactivity to Phenylephrine (Phe) and nitric oxide bioavailability associated with pregnancy in hypertensive rats.

Main Methods: The intact aortic rings of pregnant and non-pregnant Wistar or spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were stimulated with Phe (1nmol/L to 10mmol/L) before and after incubation with Wortmannin (10nmol/L, 30min). Western blot experiments analyzed the expression of phosphorylated PI3K [p85-PI3K], Akt [p-Akt (Ser 473)] and eNOS [p-eNOS (Ser 1177)] in aorta homogenates of pregnant and non-pregnant Wistar rats or SHRs.

[The results of training of informal caregivers on the quality of life of the ederly with a déficit in self-care].

The elderly population in Brazil has been growing apace, and this demographic transition has increasingly led to a situation where the elderly are dependent upon their relatives. However, the development of a training program could contribute to an improvement in the services provided by these caregivers, enhancing quality of life for the elderly. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a Training Program for Informal Caregivers on the quality of life of elderly people with a deficit in self-care.