Rocuronium-Induced Dilated Nonreactive Pupils in a Patient With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report.

We report the clinical case of a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who had recently undergone neurosurgery and presented with dilated nonreactive pupils during continuous rocuronium infusion, which was reversible with the suspension of the drug. Both the neurosurgical procedure and possible disruption of the blood-brain barrier due to COVID-19 infection may have led to the action of rocuronium in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, clinicians must remember that neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) can cause dilated nonreactive pupils in patients with COVID-19.

Lung Atelectasis Promotes Immune and Barrier Dysfunction as Revealed by Transcriptome Sequencing in Female Sheep.

Background: Pulmonary atelectasis is frequent in clinical settings. Yet there is limited mechanistic understanding and substantial clinical and biologic controversy on its consequences. The authors hypothesize that atelectasis produces local transcriptomic changes related to immunity and alveolar-capillary barrier function conducive to lung injury and further exacerbated by systemic inflammation.

Microvascular Effects of Echinodorus grandiflorus on Cardiovascular Disorders.

is a semiaquatic plant native to Brazil and belongs to the Alismataceae family. Infusion preparations of the leaves of this plant are often used due to its diuretic, blood pressure lowering, and anti-inflammatory properties. Our aim was to investigate the effects of chronic treatment with the crude hydroalcoholic extract of on central and peripheral microvascular changes induced in a model of hypertension and diabetes.

Cerebral microvascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome is exacerbated by ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular diseases, including cerebral ischemia. Microvascular dysfunction is an important feature underlying the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impacts of ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury on the cerebral microvascular function of rats with high-fat diet-induced MetS.

Effect of continuous and interval aerobic exercise training on baroreflex sensitivity in heart failure.

Introduction: The ability of continuous aerobic exercise training (AET) to increase baroreflex control and cardiac function in heart failure (HF) has been well described, but the comparison between continuous and interval AET on these functions is inconclusive.

Objectives: To compare the effects of continuous and interval AET on cardiac function and baroreflex sensitivity (BrS) in an experimental model of HF.

Methods: Rats were divided into the following groups: continuous training (HF-CT), intense interval training (HF-IIT), moderate interval training (HF-MIT), sedentary group (HF-SED), and sham sedentary (SHAM-SED).

Mechanisms Involved in Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection: A Systematic Review.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Furthermore, research has shown that exercise, in addition to reducing cardiovascular risk factors, can also protect the heart against injury due to ischemia and reperfusion through a direct effect on the myocardium. However, the specific mechanism involved in exerciseinduced cardiac preconditioning is still under debate.

Delta opioid receptors: the link between exercise and cardioprotection.

This study investigated the role of opioid receptor (OR) subtypes as a mechanism by which endurance exercise promotes cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Wistar rats were randomly divided into one of seven experimental groups: 1) control; 2) exercise-trained; 3) exercise-trained plus a non-selective OR antagonist; 4) control sham; 5) exercise-trained plus a kappa OR antagonist; 6) exercise-trained plus a delta OR antagonist; and 7) exercise-trained plus a mu OR antagonist. The exercised animals underwent 4 consecutive days of treadmill training (60 min/day at ∼70% of maximal oxygen consumption).

Physical exercise restores microvascular function in obese rats with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Obesity and metabolic syndrome are related to systemic functional microvascular alterations, including a significant reduction in microvessel density. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise training on functional capillary density in the skeletal muscle and skin of obese rats with metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We used male Wistar-Kyoto rats that had been fed a standard commercial diet (CON) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 32 weeks.

Acute Chagas disease induces cerebral microvasculopathy in mice.

Cardiomyopathy is the main clinical form of Chagas disease (CD); however, cerebral manifestations, such as meningoencephalitis, ischemic stroke and cognitive impairment, can also occur. The aim of the present study was to investigate functional microvascular alterations and oxidative stress in the brain of mice in acute CD. Acute CD was induced in Swiss Webster mice (SWM) with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi (T.

Aerobic interval exercise training induces greater reduction in cardiac workload in the recovery period in rats.

Background: Aerobic interval exercise training has greater benefits on cardiovascular function as compared with aerobic continuous exercise training.

Objective: The present study aimed at analyzing the effects of both exercise modalities on acute and subacute hemodynamic responses of healthy rats.

Methods: Thirty male rats were randomly assigned into three groups as follows: continuous exercise (CE, n = 10); interval exercise (IE, n = 10); and control (C, n = 10).

Cardiac microvascular rarefaction in hyperthyroidism-induced left ventricle dysfunction.

Objective: The pathophysiology underlying hyperthyroidism-induced left ventricle (LV) dysfunction and hypertrophy directly involves the heart and indirectly involves the neuroendocrine systems. The effects of hyperthyroidism on the microcirculation are still controversial in experimental models. We investigated the effects of hyperthyroidism on the cardiac function and microcirculation of an experimental rat model.

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system improves cerebral microcirculatory perfusion in diabetic hypertensive rats.

We examined the functional and structural microcirculatory alterations in the brain, skeletal muscle and myocardium of non-diabetic spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and diabetic SHR (D-SHR), as well as the effects of long-term treatment with the angiotensin AT1-receptor antagonist olmesartan and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril. Diabetes was experimentally induced by a combination of a high-fat diet with a single low dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection). D-SHR were orally administered with olmesartan (5 mg/kg/day), enalapril (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 28 days, and compared with vehicle-treated non-diabetic SHR or normotensive non-diabetic Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Microvascular effects of centrally acting antihypertensive drugs in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We investigated the effects of oral long-term antihypertensive treatment using centrally acting sympathoinhibitory drugs on capillary density in the skin, skeletal muscle, and heart in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as normotensive control groups. Functional capillary density was assessed using intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy and structural capillary density with histochemical analysis.

Antihypertensive effects of crude extracts from leaves of Echinodorus grandiflorus.

The antihypertensive action of a crude ethanolic extract (EEEG) from leaves of Echinodorus grandiflorus (Alismataceae) was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats. The intraperitoneal injection of increasing doses of EEEG (300-1000 mg/kg) elicited dose-dependent reductions in mean arterial pressure (MAP) that were paralleled by reductions of cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, reaching the maximum of 23 +/- 5%, 13 +/- 3% and 18 +/- 4%, respectively (n = 5, P < 0.05).

Pharmacological mechanisms involved in the vasodilator effects of extracts from Echinodorus grandiflorus.

We investigated the vascular effects of a crude aqueous extract (AEEG) of Echinodorus grandiflorus (Alismataceae) using the in vitro experimental models of the rabbit isolated aorta and perfused kidney. Echinodorus grandiflorus, a native semi-aquatic plant widely distributed in Brazil, has been extensively used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of high blood pressure and inflammatory diseases. The bolus injection of AEEG (0.

Acute cardiodepressant effects induced by bolus intravenous administration of amiodarone in rabbits.

Amiodarone is a potent anti-arrhythmic with a large pharmacological spectrum that shares the mechanisms of action of all classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs. Originally used in the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias, it has also been used to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The recent inclusion of amiodarone in the Advanced Cardiac Life Support protocols warrants the characterization of the hemodynamic profile resulting from the rapid venous administration of the drug.