Perivascular adipose tissue protects against the vascular dysfunction induced by acute ethanol intake: Role of hydrogen peroxide.

Aim: We investigated the consequences of acute ethanol intake on the anti-contractile effect of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT).

Methods: The effects of a single dose of ethanol (1 g/kg; p.o.

Dysregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase and matrix metalloproteinase in ethanol-induced cavernosal dysfunction.

We evaluated the effects of ethanol consumption on the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and metalloproteinases (MMP) pathways in the rat cavernosal smooth muscle (CSM). Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (20% v/v) for 6 weeks. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction experiments showed that ethanol consumption did not alter mRNA levels of p38MAPK, SAPK/JNK, ERK1/2, MMP-2, or MMP-9 in the rat CSM.

NADPH Oxidase Plays a Role on Ethanol-Induced Hypertension and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in the Vasculature.

Aims: Investigate the role of NADPH oxidase on ethanol-induced hypertension and vascular oxidative stress.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (20% v/v).

Results: Apocynin (10 mg/kg/day, i.

Relationship between Arginase 1 and Arginase 2 levels and genetic polymorphisms with erectile dysfunction.

Arginase 1 and Arginase 2 are homologous enzymes that convert l-Arginine to Urea and l-ornithine and compete with nitric oxide synthases for l-Arginine. Increased Arginase 1 and 2 activity may reduce nitric oxide production by the endothelium in disease states, including erectile dysfunction (ED). Here we aimed at assessing whether Arginase 1 and 2 plasma levels, plasma arginase activity, or genetic factors are associated with ED risk and severity.

Chronic ethanol consumption induces erectile dysfunction: Role of oxidative stress.

Aims: Investigate the effects of chronic ethanol consumption on erectile function and on the corpus cavernosum (CC) reactivity to endothelin-1 (ET-1).

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol (20% v/v) for six weeks.

Key Findings: Ethanol-treated rats showed impaired erectile function represented by decreased intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) responses.

Hypertension and chronic ethanol consumption: What do we know after a century of study?

The influences of life habits on the cardiovascular system may have important implications for public health, as cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of shorter life expectancy worldwide. A link between excessive ethyl alcohol (ethanol) consumption and arterial hypertension was first suggested early last century. Since then, this proposition has received considerable attention.

nNOS polymorphisms are associated with responsiveness to sildenafil in clinical and postoperative erectile dysfunction.

Aim: Sildenafil potentiates the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway. Since neuronal NOS is very important in the penis, we assessed whether NOS1 polymorphisms are associated with altered responsiveness to sildenafil in erectile dysfunction (ED).

Materials & Methods: Patients (n = 137) were divided as clinical ED or postoperative ED.

Vascular oxidative stress: a key factor in the development of hypertension associated with ethanol consumption.

The observation that the excessive consumption of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is associated with high blood pressure is nearing its centennial mark. Mechanisms linking ethanol consumption and hypertension are complex and not fully understood. It is established that chronic ethanol consumption leads to hypertension and that this process is a multimediated event involving increased sympathetic activity, stimulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with a subsequent increase in vascular oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.

The relationship between training status, blood pressure and uric acid in adults and elderly.

Background: Hypertension can be generated by a great number of mechanisms including elevated uric acid (UA) that contribute to the anion superoxide production. However, physical exercise is recommended to prevent and/or control high blood pressure (BP). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between BP and UA and whether this relationship may be mediated by the functional fitness index.

Low nitric oxide bioavailability is associated with better responses to sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a multifactorial disease associated with vascular dysfunction, low nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and oxidative stress. However, it is not known whether low NO bioavailability and oxidative stress affect the responsiveness of ED patients to sildenafil. We tested this hypothesis by studying 28 healthy subjects (control group), 26 patients with ED without comorbidities (ED group), and 18 patients with ED and diabetes mellitus (ED/DM group).

Doxycycline prevents acute pulmonary embolism-induced mortality and right ventricular deformation in rats.

Purpose: Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a critical cardiopulmonary condition associated with right ventricular (RV) failure and death. While pharmacological inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) attenuated APE-induced hemodynamic alterations, no previous study has evaluated whether this approach decreases APE-induced mortality and RV deformation. We tested this hypothesis in rats.

Recombinant human matrix metalloproteinase-2 impairs cardiovascular β-adrenergic responses.

Growing evidence supports the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases. Particularly, imbalanced MMP-2 activity apparently plays a critical role in cardiovascular remodelling. While some studies have suggested that MMP-2 may affect the vascular tone and impair β-adrenoreceptor function, no previous study has examined the acute haemodynamic effects of MMP-2.

Interethnic differences in the distribution of clinically relevant vascular endothelial growth factor genetic polymorphisms.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a homodimeric glycoprotein produced mostly in endothelial cells and its transcription is regulated by a variety of growth factors and cytokines. VEGF plays many relevant roles, and three functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of the VEGF gene (C-2578A, G-1154A, and G-634C) have been associated with disease conditions. Although some studies suggest that interethnic differences exist in the distribution of these variants, no previous study has examined this hypothesis in admixed populations.