Papers by Francisca Mosele
Trials, 2011
Background Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk... more Background Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk and is an intermediate stage for full hypertension, which develops in an annual rate of 7 out of 100 individuals with 40 to 50 years of age. Non-drug interventions to prevent hypertension have had low effectiveness. In individuals with previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the use of BP-lowering agents reduces
International Journal of Cardiology and Lipidology Research, 2015
Atherosclerosis, the pathophysiological substrate for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is the final ... more Atherosclerosis, the pathophysiological substrate for cardiovascular disease (CVD), is the final stage of an inflammatory cascade. During the process, endothelial dysfunction ensues and the inflammatory state is perpetuated. A number of traditional risk factors, as obesity and insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, are characterized by a proinflammatory state as well, with increased levels of cytokines, interleukins, vasoactive peptides and enhanced expression of specific cellular receptors. The anti-inflammatory properties of physical exercise and its positive effects as a strategy for obesity and insulin resistance have already been shown in terms of cardiovascular protection and survival.
International Journal of Cardiology and Lipidology Research, 2015
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has already been demonstrated to be related to a chronic and complex... more Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has already been demonstrated to be related to a chronic and complex inflammatory process, in which the loss of endothelial protective properties -the so-called endothelial dysfunction -plays a central role. A number of different approaches, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have been tested with inconclusive results so far. One field of special interest is the impact of the different macronutrients and dietary patterns in the inflammatory response that, ultimately, leads to endothelial dysfunction and increased cardio-metabolic risk. Although apparently simple, interventions regarding dietary habits have complex implications and involve a number of covariates that may interfere in the final results. To date, results about the protective effects of diet -in generalregarding cardio-metabolic risk remain to be fully proven.
1. This study investigates the time course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to monocr... more 1. This study investigates the time course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to monocrotaline (MCT) and its association with cardiac function and oxidative stress markers in the left ventricle (LV). 2. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: 7 days, 21 days, and 31 days for both control and MCT groups. Following echocardiographic analysis, the heart was removed. The LV was separated and homogenized to analyze oxidized-to-total glutathione ratio and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity as well as hydrogen peroxide (H(2) O(2) ) and ascorbic acid levels. 3. There was significant (P < 0.01) cardiac and right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy and pulmonary congestion in the MCT 21 day and 31 day groups. Echocardiography showed a change in the flow wave of the pulmonary artery at 21 days after MCT treatment. There was an increase in the LV ejection time (P < 0.05) at 31 days after MCT. The LV H(2)O(2) concentration was increased (P < 0.05) in the MCT 21 day and MCT 31 day groups compared with controls. There was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the LV ascorbic acid concentration and an increase (P < 0.05) in TrxR activity in the MCT 31 day rats. 4. Our findings showed RV changes due to pulmonary hypertension at 21 days after MCT injection. There was a correlation between the degree of dysfunction and the morphometry of the heart chambers, along with impairment of the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in the LV 31 days after the beginning of the protocol. This study suggests that LV changes follow RV dysfunction subsequent to pulmonary hypertension.
Trials, 2011
Background: Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk... more Background: Blood pressure (BP) within pre-hypertensive levels confers higher cardiovascular risk and is an intermediate stage for full hypertension, which develops in an annual rate of 7 out of 100 individuals with 40 to 50 years of age. Non-drug interventions to prevent hypertension have had low effectiveness. In individuals with previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes, the use of BP-lowering agents reduces the incidence of major cardiovascular events. In the absence of higher baseline risk, the use of BP agents reduces the incidence of hypertension. The PREVER-prevention trial aims to investigate the efficacy, safety and feasibility of a populationbased intervention to prevent the incidence of hypertension and the development of target-organ damage. Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, with participants aged 30 to 70 years, with pre-hypertension. The trial arms will be chlorthalidone 12.5 mg plus amiloride 2.5 mg or identical placebo. The primary outcomes will be the incidence of hypertension, adverse events and development or worsening of microalbuminuria and of left ventricular hypertrophy in the EKG. The secondary outcomes will be fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, evidence of new sub-clinical atherosclerosis, and sudden death. The study will last 18 months. The sample size was calculated on the basis of an incidence of hypertension of 14% in the control group, a size effect of 40%, power of 85% and P alpha of 5%, resulting in 625 participants per group. The project was approved by the Ethics committee of each participating institution.
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 2010
The study was designed to test whether the ingestion grape juice (GJ) could modulate monocrotalin... more The study was designed to test whether the ingestion grape juice (GJ) could modulate monocrotaline (MCT)-induced Cor pulmonale resulting from antioxidant properties. Three-week-old male Wistar rats received GJ (10 mL/kg/day) by gavage for 6 weeks. A single injection of MCT (60 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally) was administered at the end of the third week. Animals were divided in four groups: control, MCT, GJ, and GJ + MCT. MCT promoted a significant increase in right ventricle (36%) and lung (70%) weight to body weight ratio. There was an increase in the right systolic (38%) as well as in the end diastolic (70%) ventricular pressures. MCT caused a significant decrease in lung endothelial nitric oxide synthase (20%) but increase in lipid peroxidation (13%) and catalase (43%). MCT-induced decrease in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase and increase in the right ventricular end diastolic pressure were prevented by GJ, whereas right systolic ventricular pressure and lung weight to body weight ratio were corrected only partially. MCT-induced increase in heart and right ventricle to body weight ratios was not changed by GJ. GJ blunted MCT-induced increase in lipid peroxidation but had no effect on the changes in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. GJ appears to offer some protection against MCT-induced Cor pulmonale and right ventricle function changes.
Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 2012
The effects of purple grape juice (PGJ) pretreatment in signaling proteins involved in cardiac re... more The effects of purple grape juice (PGJ) pretreatment in signaling proteins involved in cardiac remodeling in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) induced by monocrotaline (MCT) were investigated. Male Wistar rats (control, MCT, PGJ, and MCT + PGJ groups) were treated for 6 weeks with water or PGJ (10 mL·kg(-1)·d(-1)) by gavage. In the third week, they were administered a single dose of MCT (60 mg/kg i.p.). Pulmonary vascular resistance was determined by echocardiography, and hemodynamic analysis was performed in the right ventricle (RV). Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and lipid peroxidation were quantified and thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1), p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2, p-Akt/Akt, p-JNK/JNK, and cleaved caspase-3 were detected at RV by Western blot. Pretreatment with PGJ attenuated pulmonary vascular resistance and improved hemodynamic parameters in MCT-induced PAH. PGJ and MCT groups exhibited increased H2O2 levels, which were reduced to baseline in MCT + PGJ. ERK1/2 phosphorylation showed the same profile of H2O2 changes. No changes in p-JNK/JNK and p-Akt/Akt expressions were found. An enhanced cleaved caspase-3 immunodetection was induced by the model, which was reversed in the MCT + PGJ group and associated with increased Trx-1 and reduced lipid peroxidation. Improvement in functional parameters mediated by PGJ pretreatment may be associated with the induction of Trx-1, influencing the expression of proteins involved in RV remodeling.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
1. This study investigates the time course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to monocr... more 1. This study investigates the time course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) due to monocrotaline (MCT) and its association with cardiac function and oxidative stress markers in the left ventricle (LV). 2. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: 7 days, 21 days, and 31 days for both control and MCT groups. Following echocardiographic analysis, the heart was removed. The LV was separated and homogenized to analyze oxidized-to-total glutathione ratio and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity as well as hydrogen peroxide (H(2) O(2) ) and ascorbic acid levels. 3. There was significant (P < 0.01) cardiac and right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy and pulmonary congestion in the MCT 21 day and 31 day groups. Echocardiography showed a change in the flow wave of the pulmonary artery at 21 days after MCT treatment. There was an increase in the LV ejection time (P < 0.05) at 31 days after MCT. The LV H(2)O(2) concentration was increased (P < 0.05) in the MCT 21 day and MCT 31 day groups compared with controls. There was a reduction (P < 0.05) in the LV ascorbic acid concentration and an increase (P < 0.05) in TrxR activity in the MCT 31 day rats. 4. Our findings showed RV changes due to pulmonary hypertension at 21 days after MCT injection. There was a correlation between the degree of dysfunction and the morphometry of the heart chambers, along with impairment of the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in the LV 31 days after the beginning of the protocol. This study suggests that LV changes follow RV dysfunction subsequent to pulmonary hypertension.
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Papers by Francisca Mosele