Vascular Congestion (vascular + congestion)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Stereology of the myocardium in Leontopithecus (Lesson, 1840) callitrichidae , primates

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2003
A. Pissinatti
Abstract: Rare morphological features of the Leontopithecus cardiovascular system have been reported in the literature. The samples analyzed in this study came from 33 specimens of Leontopithecus from the collection of the Center of Primatology of Rio de Janeiro-FEEMA (CPRJ-FEEMA). Morphometry and stereological data were obtained from all animals. Adult body weights of L. rosalia were the lowest, the greatest being those of L. chrysopygus caissara; body weights of L. chrysomelas and L. c. chrysopygus were similar and in between those of the two former species. Cardiomyocytes (left ventricular myocardium) were bigger in adults than in infants. The myocardium of L. rosalia showed focal fibrosis, fatty vacuoles, and hyalinization. In L. chrysomelas the myocardium showed areas of fibrosis and presence of mononuclear cells. Fibrosis and areas of congestion were observed in L. c. chrysopygus; areas of disorganization and vascular congestion were found in L. c. caissara. In L. rosalia infants, a greater density of vessels per myocardial area and a greater length density of vessels were observed as compared with those of L. chrysomelas. In adults, L. chrysomelas showed greater density of connective tissue in the myocardium than L. c. chrysopygus and L. c. caissara did. In L. rosalia, cardiomyocyte nuclei had a greater area density than those of the other forms of Leontopithecus. These characteristics may explain the faster development of L. rosalia infants as compared with that of L. chrysomelas and L. c. chrysopygus kept under the same handling conditions at the CPRJ-FEEMA. [source]


Conjunctival effects of a selective nasal pollen provocation

ALLERGY, Issue 9 2010
I. Callebaut
To cite this article: Callebaut I, Spielberg L, Hox V, Bobic S, Jorissen M, Stalmans I, Scadding G, Ceuppens JL, Hellings PW. Conjunctival effects of a selective nasal pollen provocation. Allergy 2010; 65: 1173,1181. Abstract Background:, Several clinical and experimental observations suggest that allergen deposition in the nose may partially be responsible for the induction of conjunctival symptoms in allergic rhinitis. The aims of this study were to evaluate the induction of conjunctival symptoms by selective nasal allergen provocation and to assess the feasibility of the different tools for evaluation of conjunctival allergic inflammation. Methods:, Grass pollen allergic subjects with rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms during the pollen season (n = 12) underwent a nasal sham and grass pollen provocation extra-seasonally. Nasal and conjunctival symptoms were scored using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) system at baseline, 15 min, 1 h and 24 h after provocation. In addition to Peak Nasal Inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurements, conjunctival inflammation and vascular congestion were evaluated and histamine and substance P levels in tear fluid were measured. Results:, Selective nasal grass pollen provocation induced ocular pruritus, lacrimation and conjunctival vascular congestion. PNIF values correlated inversely with lacrimation (r = ,0.71, P < 0.001) and ocular pruritus (r = ,0.41, P < 0.05). Four out of 11 patients showed a conjunctival eosinophilic inflammation and levels of histamine (r = 0.73, P < 0.05) and substance P (r = 0.67, P = 0.05) in tear fluid correlated with conjunctival symptoms. Conclusion:, Selective nasal grass pollen provocation induced conjunctival inflammation, ocular pruritus and lacrimation, which correlated with histamine and substance P levels in tear fluid and inversely with the PNIF values. These data show a naso-ocular interaction in allergic rhinitis and offer objective tools for evaluation of conjunctival inflammation in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. [source]


Effects of melatonin on the oxidant/antioxidant status and lung histopathology in rabbits exposed to cigarette smoke

RESPIROLOGY, Issue 4 2006
Mehmet UNLU
Objectives and background: To evaluate the effects of cigarette smoking on the histopathology and the oxidant/antioxidant status of the lungs and to test the potential antioxidant benefits of melatonin on these induced changes. Methodology: Rabbits were exposed to cigarette smoke in a glass chamber for 1 h daily for 1 month with or without intraperitoneal melatonin injection. A melatonin control group was given intraperitoneal melatonin only. A control group was exposed to clean air only. At the end of 1 month, animals were sacrificed and lung tissues were examined histopathologically. Blood levels of protein sulphydryls, carbonyls, prostaglandin F2, (PGF2,), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Results: Intraparenchymal vascular congestion and thrombosis, intraparenchymal haemorrhage, respiratory epithelial proliferation, number of macrophages in the alveolar and bronchial lumen, alveolar destruction, emphysematous changes and bronchoalveolar haemorrhage scores were significantly increased in rabbits exposed to cigarette smoke compared with the control group. Protein sulphydryls and SOD levels were significantly decreased; carbonyls, PGF2, and MDA levels were significantly increased in the smoke exposed rabbits. Administration of melatonin to rabbits exposed to cigarette smoke caused a reduction in the bronchoalveolar haemorrhage score and blood carbonyls levels. Other parameters were unaffected by melatonin. Conclusion: Exposure to cigarette smoke causes severe histopathological changes and negatively affects the oxidant/antioxidant status in the lungs of rabbits. A low daily dose of melatonin has some protective effects on histopathological changes and oxidant/antioxidant status of the lungs in smoke exposed rabbits. [source]


Optimizing the Response From a Passively Controlled Biventricular Assist Device

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 5 2010
Nicholas Richard Gaddum
Abstract Recent studies into rotary biventricular support have indicated that inadequate left/right flow balancing may lead to vascular congestion and/or ventricular suckdown. The implementation of a passive controller that automatically adjusts left/right flow during total and partial cardiac support would improve physiological interaction. This has encouraged the development of a biventricular assist device (BiVAD) prototype that achieves passive control of the two rotary pumps' hydraulic output by way of a nonrotating double pressure plate configuration, the hub, suspended between the ventricular assist device (VAD) impellers. Fluctuations in either the VAD's inlet or outlet pressure will cause the hub to translate, and in doing so, affect each pump's hydraulic outputs. In order to achieve partial support, the floating assembly needed to respond to pathologic blood pressure signals while being insensitive to residual ventricular function. An incorporated mechanical spring,mass,damper assembly affects the passive response to optimize the dynamic interaction between the prototype and the supported cardiovascular system. It was found that increasing the damping from a medium to a high level was effective in filtering out the higher frequency ventricular pressure signals, reducing a modified amplitude ratio by up to 72%. A spring response was also identified as being inherent in the passive response and was characterized as being highly nonlinear at the extremes of the floating assembly's translation range. The results from this study introduce a new means of BiVAD control as well as the characterization of a fully passive mechanical physiological controller. [source]


Reduction of carbon tetrachloride-induced nephropathy by melatonin administration

CELL BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION, Issue 2 2005
Murat Ogeturk
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of melatonin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced renal damage in rats. A total of 24 animals were divided into three equal groups: the control rats received pure olive oil subcutaneously, rats in the second group were injected with CCl4 (0.5,ml,kg,1, s.c. in olive oil) and rats in the third group were injected with CCl4 (0.5,ml,kg,1) plus melatonin (25,mg,kg,1, s.c. in 10% ethanol) every other day for 1 month. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. The kidneys were removed and weighed. Urea and creatinine levels were determined in blood samples. Histopathological examination of the kidney was performed using light microscopic methods. Administration of CCl4 significantly increased relative kidney weight (g,per,100,g body weight) and decreased serum urea levels compared to controls (p,<,0.01). Melatonin treatment significantly (p,<,0.01) reduced relative kidney weight, and it produced a statistically equal (p,=,0.268) relative weight with the kidneys of control rats. CCl4 administration alone also caused histopathologically prominent damage in the kidney compared to the control group. Glomerular and tubular degeneration, interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis, vascular congestion around the tubules, and interstitial haemorrhage in perivascular areas were observed in the renal cortex and cortico-medullary border. However, the affect of CCl4 on the medulla was limited. Melatonin provided protection against CCl4 -induced renal toxicity as was evident by histopathological evaluation. In view of the present findings, it is suggested that melatonin protects kidneys against CCl4 toxicity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


INTRAPERITONEAL GLYCEROL INDUCES OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RAT KIDNEY

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Elenara Rieger
SUMMARY 1Glycerol has been used for the treatment of intracranial hypertension, cerebral oedema and glaucoma. Experimentally, intramuscular administration of hypertonic glycerol solution is used to produce acute renal failure. In this model, glycerol causes rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria, resulting in the development of renal injury. The pathogenesis is thought to involve vascular congestion, the formation of casts and oxidative stress. However, the effect of glycerol itself independent of rhabdomyolysis has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of i.p. glycerol on some biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in the kidney of young rats. 2Rats received 10 mL/kg, i.p., hypertonic glycerol solution (50% v/v) or saline (NaCl 0.85 g%) followed by 24 h water deprivation. Twenty-four hours after the administration of glycerol, rats were killed. Creatinine levels and the activity of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in the plasma. In addition, CK, pyruvate kinase and LDH activity and oxidative stress parameters (free radical formation, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation) were measured in renal tissue. 3Glycerol did not alter plasma CK activity and increased plasma creatinine levels, suggesting renal insufficiency and the absence of rhabdomyolysis. Renal CK and pyruvate kinase activity was decreased, suggesting diminution of energy homeostasis in the kidney. Plasma and renal LDH activity was decreased, whereas the formation of free radicals, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation were increased, suggesting oxidative stress. 4These results are similar to those described after the intramuscular administration of glycerol. Therefore, it is possible that glycerol may provoke renal lesions by mechanisms other than those induced by rhabdomyolysis. [source]