Interleukins and inflammatory markers in in-stent restenosis after femoral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Background: Inflammatory activity may influence results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between (1) proinflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and highly sensitive C-reactive protein [CRP]); (2) type 1 T helper cell marker (IL-12); and (3) Type 2 T helper cell marker (transforming growth factor-β [TGF-β]) and in-stent restenosis, 6 months after femoral PTA with stent implantation.

Methods: We performed a single-center prospective study with 26 patients with peripheral artery disease requiring PTA and stenting.

Methylene blue administration in the compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock: hemodynamic study in pigs.

Purpose: To verify if the methylene blue (MB) administration prevents and/or reverses the compound 48/80 (C48/80)-induced anaphylactic shock in pigs.

Methods: Female Dalland pigs were anesthetized and had the hemodynamic parameters recorded during the necessary time to administer some drugs and observe their effect. The animals were randomly assigned to one of the five groups: 1) control; 2) MB: the animals received a bolus injection of MB (2 mg/kg) followed by continuous infusion of MB (2.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of three nitric oxide synthase isoforms in human saphenous vein exposed to different degrees of distension pressures.

The effect of short duration and different degrees of distension pressures was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry of the three nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the human saphenous vein conventionally harvested from 20 patients submitted to coronary artery bypass graft. The human saphenous vein distal portion was divided into four segments, each one allocated to a different group. In Group I (control group), the human saphenous vein segment was not exposed to distension pressure.

Diabetes and vascular disease: basic concepts of nitric oxide physiology, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and therapeutic possibilities.

The vascular manifestations associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) result from the dysfunction of several vascular physiology components mainly involving the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and platelets. It is also known that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress plays a role in the development of this dysfunction. This review considers the basic physiology of the endothelium, especially related to the synthesis and function of nitric oxide.

Glycol methacrylate-embedding medium to study morphological alterations of saphenous vein under brief and crescent pressurizations.

Purpose: This study sought to evaluate the efficiency of glycol methacrylate-embedding medium to detect morphological alterations of human saphenous vein submitted to brief and crescent pressurizations.

Methods: Saphenous veins of 20 CABG patients were randomly distributed into four experimental groups (control, 100, 200 and 300 mmHg pressures during 15 seconds). To quantify the percentage of endothelium spread over vein surface a microscope magnification of 100x was used for measurements.

Methylene blue improves hemodynamic shock but increases lipoperoxidation in severe acute pancreatitis pig model.

Purpose: Study hemodynamic pattern and lipoperoxidation during methylene blue (MB) treatment on taurocholate - enterokinase induced acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: Thirty pigs were equally divided in control group; MB group; AP group; MB previous AP group; and MB after 90 min of induced AP group. MB was given iv in a bolus dose (2 mg.

Plasma nitrate/nitrite (NOx) is not a useful biomarker to predict inherent cardiopulmonary bypass inflammatory response.

Background And Aim: There were strong evidences that nitric oxide has capital importance in the progressive vasodilatation associated with varied circulatory shock forms, including systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). If CPB procedures, per se, are the inciting stimulus for inflammation, plasma nitrate/nitrite (NOx) excretion would be expected to be higher in these patients rather than in patients operated without CPB. In consequence, we hypothesized that increased levels of NOx would be predictive for vasoplegic syndrome.

Compound 48/80 induces endothelium-dependent and histamine release-independent relaxation in rabbit aorta.

Compound 48/80 (C48/80) is a synthetic condensation product of N-methyl-p-methoxyphenethylamine with formaldehyde and is an experimental drug used since the 1950s to induce anaphylactic shock through histamine release. This study was carried out to further elucidate the mechanism by which this drug induces nitric oxide (NO) release. Our specific goals were: (a) to verify if C48/80's relaxation occurs through the stimulation of histamine receptors; (b) to evaluate the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by C48/80; (c) to identify NO as the endothelium-relaxing factor released by C48/80; (d) to identify the NO synthase (NOS) responsible for NO release; and (e) to verify if the relaxation induced by C48/80 is calcium and cyclic guanidine monophosphate (cGMP) dependent.

Endothelium dysfunction caused by acute pressure distension of human saphenous vein used for myocardial revascularization.

Objective: To study morphofunctional alterations induced by brief pressure increases in human saphenous veins utilized in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Method: Saphenous veins of 20 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, were distributed into four experimental groups, control, 100 mmHg, 200 mmHg and 300 mmHg, and submitted to pressure distention over 15 seconds using Krebs solution. The evaluation included CD34 immunohistochemistry and an In vitro vascular reactivity study in organ chambers.

Mechanical forces and human saphenous veins: coronary artery bypass graft implications.

Vascular endothelial cells are exposed to a variety of in vivo mechanical forces, specifically, shear stress for the blood flow, tensile stress from the compliance of the vessel wall and the hydrostatic pressure from containment of blood within inside the vasculature. Many authors studied hemodynamic, functional and morphological human saphenous veins alterations caused by these different forces with conflictant results. This review text was motivated with the specific aim of analyze literature data and some experimental data carried out in our laboratory.

In vitro pharmacological study of femoral artery vascular reactivity after inferior canine hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion: effects of in vivo nitric oxide blocker infusion.

The aim of the investigation was to study the possible effects of in vivo infusion of nitric oxide (NO) blockers upon the in vitro endothelium-dependent femoral reactivity. The experimental model tested herein was the inferior canine hindlimb global ischemia induced by infrarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping followed by reperfusion. The NO blockers employed in the tests were N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), aminoguanidine (AMG), and methylene blue (MB), which were infused immediately after the anesthesia induction.

The cytoprotective effect of a nitric oxide donor drug on gastric mucous membrane of rats treated with ketoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are considered today a very important group of medication, with a wide variety of therapeutic use, in different areas of modern medicine. Despite their beneficial effects on the patient, these drugs show a high incidence of side effects, mainly in the gastrointestinal tract. The physiopathological mechanisms of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induced lesions and the gastric mucosa defense mechanism became an important source for medical research, especially those which try to evaluate the role of nitric oxide as a cytoprotective agent.

Hemodynamic and vascular endothelium function studies in healthy pigs after intravenous bolus infusion of methylene blue.

Objective: Clinical benefit of methylene blue (MB) treating NO-induced vasoplegia has been reported in sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in cardiac surgery and anaphylactic shock, but its safety is sometimes questioned, mainly regarding its hemodynamic effects and the possibility of causing endothelium dysfunction. To examine the nitric oxide plasma levels and cardiovascular effects of the infusion of MB in vivo and its effects on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent in vitro vascular relaxation.

Methods: The study protocol included two experimental groups of female pigs: Group I (Control) - the animals (n=6) did not receive MB; Group II (MB)--the animals received 3 mg/kg of MB intravenous bolus infusion.

Acetylcholine-induced aortic relaxation studied in salbutamol treated rats.

It has been proposed that the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of the rat aorta is entirely mediated by endothelium derived-nitric oxide (NO). However, some authors have reported that indomethacin pretreatment attenuates ACh-induced relaxation of rat aortic ring preparations. Moreover, it has also been suggested that cAMP accumulation may regulate either nitric oxide synthase (NOS) or cyclooxygenase (COX) expression in different tissues.

[Is the mitochondrial respiratory activity a good parameter for hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury?].

Background: Mitochondrial respiratory activity is associated with hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Aim: To determine in vitro whether hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury may be detected regardless mitochondrial respiratory activity.

Material And Methods: Twenty-four heartworm-free mongrel dogs of either sex were randomized in the following groups: control, sham-operated dogs; I60, dogs subjected to 60 min of liver ischemia; I30/R60, dogs subjected to 30 min of ischemia e 60 min of reperfusion of liver; I45/R120 animals subjected to 45 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion of liver.

The use of methylene blue in the treatment of anaphylactic shock induced by compound 48/80: experimental studies in rabbits.

In this study, the isolated use of methylene blue (MB) in the treatment of anaphylactic shock induced by Compound 48/80 (C48/80), a potent histamine releaser, was examined, and the study of the effects of MB on the function of the aorta artery endothelium was accomplished in vitro. MB was used in a single 3.0 mg/kg dose, and C48/80 was used in a single 4.

Methylene blue: an effective treatment for contrast medium-induced anaphylaxis.

Background: The purpose of this paper is to propose methylene blue as a lifesaving alternative drug for the treatment of contrast-induced anaphylaxis.

Case Report: In a cardiovascular catheterization laboratory invasive hemodynamic monitoring was used to document the lifesaving effect of IV bolus injections of 1.5-2 mg/Kg methylene blue solution to treat three patients for anaphylactic shock following radiocontrast injection during coronary angiography.

The role of magnesium in the endothelial dysfunction caused by global ischemia followed by reperfusion: in vitro study of canine coronary arteries.

Objective: To study the role of magnesium in the endothelial dysfunction of canine coronary arteries caused by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) global ischemia followed by reperfusion.

Design: Segments of canine coronary arteries were suspended in organ chambers to measure isometric contraction by prostaglandin F (2alpha), and relaxed by acetylcholine (ACh), sodium fluoride (NaF), calcium ionophore (A23187) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in crescent concentrations. The investigation protocol had groups with six dogs: CONTROL group (without CPB), CPB group (105 min of CPB without aortic cross-clamping), ISCH group (45 min of CPB with aortic cross-clamping), ISCH/REP group (45 min of aortic cross-clamping followed by 60 min of reperfusion).

Endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to poly-L-arginine in canine coronary arteries: implications about hyperpolarization as a mechanism of vasodilatation.

Objective: To study the mechanism by which poly-L-arginine mediates endothelium-dependent relaxation.

Methods: Vascular segments with and without endothelium were suspended in organ chambers filled with control solution maintained at 37 C and bubbled with 95% O2 / 5% CO2. Used drugs: indomethacin, acetycholine, EGTA, glybenclamide, ouabain, poly-L-arginine, methylene blue, N G-nitro-L-arginine, and verapamil and N G-monomethyl-L-arginine.

Effect of arginine vasopressin on the canine epicardial coronary artery: experiments on V1-receptor-mediated production of nitric oxide.

Objective: To determine whether arginine vasopressin releases endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) from the epicardial coronary artery.

Methods: We studied segments of canine left circumflex coronary arteries suspended in organ chambers to measure isometric force. The coronary artery segments were contracted with prostaglandin F2alpha (2 x 10-6M) and exposed to a unique, strong arginine vasopressin concentration (10-6M) or titrated concentrations (10-9 a 10-5 M).

Catastrophic cardiovascular adverse reactions to protamine are nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate dependent and endothelium mediated: should methylene blue be the treatment of choice?

Clinical and experimental observations prove that heparin-neutralizing doses of protamine increase pulmonary artery pressures and decrease systemic BP. Protamine also increases myocardial oxygen consumption, cardiac output, and heart rate, and decreases systemic vascular resistance. These cardiovascular effects have clinical consequences that have justified studies in this area.