Despite decreases in atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease over the last several decades, atherosclerosis remains a major cause of mortality in developed nations. One possible contributor to this residual risk is oxidant stress, which is generated by the inflammatory response of atherosclerosis. Although there is a wealth of in vitro, cellular, and animal data supporting a protective role for antioxidant vitamins and nutrients in the atherosclerotic process, the best clinical trials have been negative. This may be due to the fact that antioxidant therapies are applied "too little and too late." This review considers the role of vitamin C, or ascorbic acid in preventing the earliest inflammatory changes in atherosclerosis. It focuses on the three major vascular cell types involved in atherosclerosis: endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. Ascorbate chemistry, recycling, and function are described for these cell types, with emphasis on whether and how the vitamin might affect the inflammatory process. For endothelial cells, ascorbate helps to prevent endothelial dysfunction, stimulates type IV collagen synthesis, and enhances cell proliferation. For vascular smooth muscle cells, ascorbate inhibits dedifferentiation, recruitment, and proliferation in areas of vascular damage. For macrophages, ascorbate decreases oxidant stress related to their activation, decreases uptake and degradation of oxidized LDL in some studies, and enhances several aspects of their function. Although further studies of ascorbate function in these cell types and in novel animal models are needed, available evidence generally supports a salutary role for this vitamin in ameliorating the earliest stages of atherosclerosis.

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El trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar la activación neuronal como herramienta potenciadora de liderazgo en organizaciones universitarias. Orientándose bajo el enfoque postpositivista, paradigma cualitativo, específicamente en la fenomenología. La población estuvo conformada por tres informantes clave, que representan a universidades públicas y privadas del Municipio Maracaibo, Venezuela. En la recolección de la información se implementaron la observación, registro tecnológico (grabación/Smartphone), así como entrevistas en profundidad. Los datos analizados dejaron en evidencia que la activación neuronal es realmente una herramienta potenciadora del liderazgo, por cuanto ofrece estrategias que contribuyen a determinar su posicionamiento en cualquier área de la organización.