Amparo Ayuso Moya

Intravenous BQ-123 and phosphoramidon reduce ventricular ectopic beats and myocardial infarct size in dogs submitted to coronary occlusion and reperfusion.

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of endothelin on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in anaesthetized dogs. Animals were submitted to left thoracotomy and 120 min of left anterior descending coronary occlusion, followed by 180 min of reperfusion. Arterial blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded in order to analyze heart rate (HR)-pressure product and production of ectopic beats. Infarcted areas were identified by a macroscopic staining method and infarct size was expressed as percentage of risk zone. To inhibit the effects of endothelin in a group of animals, we administered intravenously an endothelin synthesis inhibitor (phosphoramidon) and in another group, an endothelin-1 A receptor blocker (BQ-123). Phosphoramidon decreased the HR-pressure product during reperfusion period, and both, phosphoramidon and BQ-123 decreased infarct size by 40% and the number of ventricular ectopic beats by 88% and 68%, respectively, as compared to the saline treated dogs. In conclusion, endothelin seems to play a deleterious role on the myocardium submitted to ischemia and reperfusion.

Flow cytometric analysis of peroxidative activity in granulocytes from coronary and peripheral blood in acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in dogs: Protective effect of methionine

BACKGROUND Methionine has shown protective effects in experimental models of myocardial infarction and is highly reactive to oxidative compounds produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), which in turn have been associated with myocardial damage. We have investigated the effect of methionine administration on spontaneous leukocyte peroxidative activity in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. METHODS In anesthetized dogs, with coronary occlusion (90 min) and reperfusion (90 min), PMN activation was measured by flow cytometric determination of H(2)O(2) with dihydrorhodamine 123, and correlated to hemodynamic parameters and infarct presence. To assess a possible direct effect of methionine, H(2)O(2) and superoxide were measured by flow cytometry in dog leukocyte suspensions following in vitro stimulation with f-MLP. RESULTS PMN peroxidative activity in saline-treated dogs increased significantly after coronary occlusion and after reperfusion. These changes were greater in coronary venous blood than in femoral blood. Methionine administration (150 mg/kg, i.v.) before occlusion totally suppressed PMN activation, both after occlusion and reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS PMN are promptly activated in myocardial ischemia, and methionine administration prevents such activation. However, methionine has no direct effect on spontaneous peroxidative activity, and f-MLP induced peroxidative activity. These in vivo effects of methionine, may additionally contribute to explain its protective role in experimental -788-877-7QQ8-8-7-88-8-8778--8Q78-----8--8-Q-7-Q7----- --------------8888 888888-7777777777777777777777777777777----------------888888888888888888 8877777--87--------8-----------------7-8888-887-----------8----8-8-87777 7777777------------------------------------------------------T7OW

The Valencia Port Authority (VPA): environmental information in the annual report

In recent years, most companies are participating in the disclosing of information on the impact of their potential activities on the environment. In 2002, Spain developed its legislation on environmental information in annual reports. The port industry has a potential environmental and economic impact. In this context, it is important to know how it disclosure environmental information in the annual reports. The case of study shows the disclosure information characteristics of Valencia Port Authority (VPA) and the relationships with the environment. The results concluded that VPA has adapted its information not only the standards but as a mean of legitimation.