[Epicardial adipose tissue and its association to plasma adrenomedullin levels in patients with metabolic syndrome].

Objective: To assess the association between epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EAT) and plasma adrenomedullin plasma levels in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods: Twenty-one patients (12 females and 9 males) with MS according to the International Diabetes Federation guidelines, aged 22-58 years, were enrolled into the study and compared to 19 age-matched control subjects without MS. Plasma glucose, lipid, and adrenomedullin levels were assessed.

[Effect of sulodexide on aortic vasodilation capacity and associated morphological changes in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes].

Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is observed in patients with hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus. Recent evidences suggest the involvement of glycosaminoglycans (GSG) in ED. We evaluated the effect of sulodexide (SLD), a natural GSG used in albuminuria and ischemic diabetes treatment, on arterial relaxation and vascular morphological changes in a diabetic type I model.

[Cardiovascular responses to hypertonic NaCI injection into the anteroventral third ventricle region in rats with fructose-induced hypertension and insulin resistance].

Introduction And Objectives: To investigate the hemodynamic sympathetic response evoked by NaCI microinjection into the third ventricle anteroventral brain area (AV3V) in rats long-term fed with high fructose diet.

Methods: Twelve male rats received 60% fructose enriched diet for 6 months. Control rats (n=12) received regular diet.

Cardiovascular excitatory effect on rats of a fraction isolated from the eyestalk of shrimp: Peneaus vanameii.

The crustacean nervous system is an important source of substances with diverse biological activities, particularly affecting invertebrate cardiocirculatory physiology. However, the effects of these substances on the cardiovascular system of higher vertebrates are not very well documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a cardioexcitatory substance (CES) isolated from the eyestalk of the shrimp Peneaus vanameii on rat cardiovascular function.

[Synergistic antioxidative effect of vitamins E and C on low density lipoproteins from smokers and non-smokers subjects].

LDL-lipids peroxidation is an important step in LDL atherogenicity. Tobacco smoke, promotes oxidative stress and reduces LDL-alfa tocoferol content and plasmatic vitamin C concentration. The objective of this double-blind randomized study was to assess the effect of vitamins E and C combined administration, on oxidative susceptibility of LDL isolated from 20 smokers and 10 non-smokers healthy volunteers who received placebo for 15 days and then concomitantly received 400 mg/d vitamin E and 1000 mg/d vitamin C for 30 days.

Testosterone and nandrolone sensitization of brain anteroventral area of third ventricle to hypertonic NaCl-induced sympathetic response.

Androgenic steroids increase atherogenesis, thrombogenicity and endothelial dysfunction when administered in high doses, however their effects on NaCl sensitivity of the brain anteroventral area of the third ventricle (DeltaV3V) have not been explored. Sprague-Dawley male rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (40 mg/kg) and the femoral intra-arterial blood pressure and heart rate monitored through a strain-gauge blood pressure transducer and tachograph. DeltaV3V microinjections of (2 microl) 1.

[Decrease of affinity between arterial proteoglycans and LDL isolated from smokers and non-smokers with vitamin E and C administration].

LDL interaction with arterial proteoglycans and its oxidative modification is closely related to atherosclerosis. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of the individual administration of vitamin E and a combination of vitamin E and C on LDL affinity for arterial proteoglycans in smokers and non-smokers subjects. Twenty smokers and ten non-smokers healthy subjects received by the oral route placebos of vitamins E and C for 15 days; then vitamin E (400 mg/d) for 30 days and finally vitamin E plus vitamin C (1000 mg/d) during the following 30 days.

[Design of an impedance plethysmograph for reactive hyperemia evaluation in the forearm].

Impedance pletismography is based on the evaluation of the voltage change that occur as a consequence of blood flow variations in a particular tissue section. Current applied for the procedure should be alternating, weak and of high frequency to avoid electrically excitable cells stimulation, such as muscles and nerves. Blood volume changes can be measured by this method and has been applied in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis of limbs.

Cocaine long-term administration induces myocardial depressant effects and adrenoceptors desensitization.

Cocaine as a drug of abuse can cause many cardiovascular toxic effects. The objective of this work was to study the mechanism of the negative inotropic effect of cocaine on isolated right ventricle strips and its relationship with myocardial catecholamines desensitization after long- term cocaine administration. Right ventricle strips were incubated in oxygenated Krebs solution at 37 degrees C, and driven with 2 ms, 15 mA, 1.