Ethanol withdrawal increases blood pressure and vascular oxidative stress: a role for angiotensin type 1 receptors

We evaluated the possible mechanisms underlying the oxidative stress induced by ethanol withdrawal. With this purpose, we verified the role of AT₁ receptors in such response. Male Wistar rats were treated with ethanol 3%–9% (vol./vol.) for 21 days. Ethanol withdrawal was induced by abrupt discontinuation of the treatment. Experiments were performed 48 hours after ethanol discontinuation. Increased plasma levels of angiotensin II were detected after ethanol withdrawal. Losartan (10 mg/kg; p.o. gavage), a selective AT₁ receptor antagonist, impeded the increase in blood pressure induced by ethanol withdrawal. Increased lipoperoxidation and superoxide anion (O₂^?) levels were detected in aortas after ethanol withdrawal, and losartan prevented these responses. Decreased hydrogen peroxide and nitrate/nitrite concentration were detected in aortas after ethanol withdrawal, and losartan prevented these effects. Nitrotyrosine immunostaining in the rat aorta was increased after ethanol withdrawal, and AT₁ blockade impeded this response. Increased expression of PKCδ and p47^phox was detected after ethanol withdrawal, and treatment with losartan prevented these responses. Our study provides novel evidence that ethanol withdrawal increases vascular oxidative stress and blood pressure through AT₁-dependent mechanisms. These findings highlight the importance of angiotensin II in ethanol withdrawal–induced increase in blood pressure and vascular oxidative damage.     

Animal models of prenatal immune challenge and their contribution to the study of schizophrenia: a systematic review

Prenatal immune challenge (PIC) in pregnant rodents produces offspring with abnormalities in behavior, histology, and gene expression that are reminiscent of schizophrenia and autism. Based on this, the goal of this article was to review the main contributions of PIC models, especially the one using the viral-mimetic particle polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly-I:C), to the understanding of the etiology, biological basis and treatment of schizophrenia. This systematic review consisted of a search of available web databases (PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, PsycINFO, and ISI Web of Knowledge) for original studies published in the last 10 years (May 2001 to October 2011) concerning animal models of PIC, focusing on those using poly-I:C. The results showed that the PIC model with poly-I:C is able to mimic the prodrome and both the positive and negative/cognitive dimensions of schizophrenia, depending on the specific gestation time window of the immune challenge. The model resembles the neurobiology and etiology of schizophrenia and has good predictive value. In conclusion, this model is a robust tool for the identification of novel molecular targets during prenatal life, adolescence and adulthood that might contribute to the development of preventive and/or treatment strategies (targeting specific symptoms, i.e., positive or negative/cognitive) for this devastating mental disorder, also presenting biosafety as compared to viral infection models. One limitation of this model is the incapacity to model the full spectrum of immune responses normally induced by viral exposure.     

Hipertensão arterial na grávida: o atual estado da arte

Hypertension complicates 6-8% of pregnancies and includes the following four conditions: hypertension preceding pregnancy or documented before the 20th week of gestation; pre-eclampsia (PE) / eclampsia; chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia; and gestational hypertension. The latter is defined as a significant rise in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy in previously normotensive women, to over 140/90 mmHg. When blood pressure remains above 160/110 mmHg, it is considered severe. PE is defined as the presence of proteinuria (≥300 mg/24 h) in pregnant women with hypertension. The hypertensive syndromes of pregnancy are among the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality and anti-hypertensive treatment is part of the therapeutic arsenal used to prevent serious complications. Although the role of utero-placental insufficiency due to deficient migration of trophoblasts to the spiral arteries is universally accepted, the pathophysiology of PE remains largely unknown and is the subject of debate. No effective ways of predicting or preventing PE have been found, which highlights the need for further research in this field. This review aims primarily to evaluate recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of gestational hypertension and especially PE, and new ways of predicting PE. Additionally, we present a brief review on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of PE.     

DECREASING PREVALENCE OF THE ACUTE/SUBACUTE CLINICAL FORM OF PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS IN MATO GROSSO DO SUL STATE,BRAZIL

With the objective to evaluate the behavior of paracoccidioidomycosis in the last three decades, clinical and epidemiological data of 595 patients admitted to clinical services of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul from 1980 to 2009 were investigated. Gender, age distribution, clinical form, comorbidity with tuberculosis or AIDS, and mortality were compared by decades of clinical admission. It was shown that during the three decades there was a decrease in women percentage, and the same manner occurred a reduction in participants in the age group of 20 to 39 years. Moreover, the acute/subacute forms have been diminished in the period. These fluctuations are closely related and can be simultaneously analyzed. Increased AIDS co-infection prevalence from the first to the second decade was also revealed, coinciding with the appearance of the retroviral epidemic and stabilizing during the third decade. No change in the tuberculosis co-infection rate was observed (overall = 6.9%). It reinforces the importance of this co-morbidity. The overall mortality rate remained steady at 6.7%, not varying significantly from one decade to another. The persistent mortality rate calls attention to the importance of this neglected disease.     

Acute effects of aerobic exercise on mood and hunger feelings in male obese adolescents: a crossover study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the acute effects of exercise intensity on anxiety, mood states and hunger in obese adolescents. METHODS: Subjects were eight male obese adolescents (age 15.44 +/- 2.06y; BMI 33.06 +/- 4.78 kg/m2). Each subject underwent three experimental trials: 1) Control, seated for 30 min; 2) Low intensity exercise (LIE) - exercise at 10% below ventilatory threshold (VT); 3) High intensity exercise (HIE) - exercise at 10% above VT. Anxiety (STAI Trait/State), mood (POMS) and hunger (VAS) were assessed before and immediately after the experimental sessions. Comparisons between trials and times were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests, respectively. Associations between variables were described using a Spearman test. RESULTS: The largest increase in hunger was observed after LEI (914.22%). Both exercise sessions increased anxiety, fatigue and decreased vigor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acute exercise bouts are associated with negative changes in anxiety and mood, and with increases in hunger in obese adolescents.