The vascular endothelium plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of vascular homeostasis, mediated by vasoactive molecules produced by endothelial cells. The balance between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator biomolecules is what guarantees this equilibrium. Therefore, an increase in the bioavailability of vasoconstrictors along with a reduction in vasodilators may indicate a condition known as endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is marked by an inflammatory process and reduced activity of vasoprotective enzymes, being characterized by some factors like the reduction of the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), pro-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor molecules. This condition is a predictive marker of several cardiovascular diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes). Research is affected by the scarcity of suitable in vitro models that simulate endothelial dysfunction. The goal of this study was to induce an in vitro condition to mimic endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting NO synthesis in cells. Thymus-derived endothelial cells (tEnd.1) were treated with different concentrations of L-NAME (from 1 to 1,000 μM) for different times (12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h without and with retreatment every 24 h). Cell viability, nitrite concentration, p22phox, NOX2, NOX4, IL-6, and ACE genes expression and lipid peroxidation were evaluated. The results indicate that the treatment with 100 μM L-NAME for 72 h without retreatment reduced NO concentration and NOX4 gene expression while increasing ACE expression, thus mimicking reduced vascular protection and possibly increased vasoconstriction. On the other hand, treatment with 100 μM L-NAME for 96 h with retreatment reduced the concentration of NO and the expression of the p22phox gene while increasing the expression of the IL-6 and ACE genes, mimicking the increase in inflammation and vasoconstriction parameters. Based on these results, we thus propose that both 100 μM L-NAME for 72 h without retreatment and 100 μM L-NAME for 96 h with retreatment may be used as models for in vitro endothelial dysfunction according to the purpose of the study to be conducted.
This study is focused on the dropout phenomenon and the variable academic performance in undergraduate courses at the University of Brasilia Ceilandia Campus-UNB / Ceilândia. Objective: To analyze the dropout phenomenon in five undergraduate courses in the health area, UNB / Ceilandia, from 2008/2 to 2014/2 and implement intervention strategies to improve the academic performance in the first four disciplines of living module in two semesters of 2015. Method: The study is exploratory and descriptive, study design case of a qualitative nature, about evasion in courses-Nursing, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Public Health, this institution, from 2008 / 2 to 2014/2, and a short course for monitors students from disciplines from Atom Life; Cell to systems; Biophysics and Chemistry Applied Inorganic Pharmacy in 2015/1 and 2. Results: Student profile, which evades the university, are women aged 16 to 20 years and the main output causes the abandonment of higher education 25%; course change to 24%; or academic performance 16%. The dropout rates in the half of 2013/1 to 2014/2 were 65.7%, 53.4%, 56% and 27.9%, respectively. Regarding the intervention of the subjects monitoring system: in two half of 2015, 31% increase was found in the participation in this activity from one half to another, and more than 70% of students achieved satisfactory performance. Conclusion: The elements identified here point to the need for institutional managers hone the monitoring system to make it more attractive especially for students with low academic performance, so try and reduce dropout by low academic performance.
Arterial hypertension is a worldwide public health problem and the search for new medicines is one of the biggest challenges for the treatment of this pathology. Secondary metabolites of plants exhibit pharmacological properties of great phyto therapeutic interest. Cerrado is one of the largest biomes in Brazil and research with Cerrado plants as therapeutic resources is of growing interest. Our objective was to compile data regarding the Cerrado plants that already have some of their active compounds described and may potentially be used to treat arterial hypertension. We concluded that flavonoids, tannins, steroids and saponins exhibit important properties to low blood pressure. Thus, the species from Cerrado Brazilian such as pau-paraíba (Simarouba versicolor), pau-santo (Kielmeyera coriacea), abiu-do-cerrado (Pouteria torta), guarandi (Calophyllum brasiliense), bacaba (Oenocarpus bacaba), puçá-amarelo (Mouriri elliptica), fava-de-anta (Dimorphandramollis), murici (Byrsonima crassifolia) and cereja-do-cerrado (Eugenia calycina) are strong candidates for future herbal studies in this field.
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