bromochloroacetic-acid and Hypertension

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) represent a model of hypertension and vascular injury. In the past decade, SHR were also considered as a model of vascular dementia. Several studies have shown that cerebrovascular changes in SHR may mimic brain vascular diseases of hypertensive individuals. Vascular and cerebrovascular changes during hypertension are often linked to inflammatory processes. Inflammation frequently affects vascular endothelium, perivascular astrocytes that form blood brain barrier. This inflammatory reaction may lead to neuro-inflammation with consequent damage of brain tissue. A significant brain atrophy, a reduction of white matter volumes, and BBB dysfunction were found in SHR. Micro- and macrogliosis in deep cortical regions were also observed. Based on these findings, this study was designed to define neuroinflammation entity in SHR, using immunohistochemistry technique for different inflammatory markers.. Thirty-two-week-old SHR and age-matched Wistar Kyoto rats were used. Brain was processed for immunohistochemistry. Astrogliosis markers for astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and microglia (isolectin IB4) were used. The pro-inflammatory interleukins (IL-1b, IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) expression were also evaluated.. In SHR brain, an obvious glial reaction was found both for GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes and for microglia. The pro-inflammatory IL-1b was significantly increased in CA1 sub-field of SHR hippocampus. The TNFa expression was higher in frontal cortex of SHR compared to WKY.. The above neuromorphological evidences indicate that SHR are predictive animal models for vascular brain disorders and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, this model may be useful to evaluate anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of different molecules.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Brain; Disease Models, Animal; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Glycoproteins; Hypertension; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Lectins; Male; Neuroglia; Rats; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Wistar; Versicans

We describe a case of primary pulmonary paraganglioma, a tumor that has not been reported in sufficient detail in previous literature. The patient was a 55-year-old woman with hypertension accompanied by an elevated serum norepinephrine level (2651 pg/mL; normal 100-450 pg/mL). Computed tomography revealed a well-circumscribed solid mass, 3.5 cm in diameter, located in the lower lobe of the left lung. In the lobectomy specimen, the tumor had invaded the B8 bronchus and hilar lymph nodes with microscopic metastasis to the mediastinal nodes. The tumor showed histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural features of paraganglioma: argyrophilic cells arranged in a nesting (Zellballen) or anastomosing trabecular pattern within an arcuate vascular network. Neoplastic chief cells positive for neuroendocrine markers (CD56, synaptophysin, chromogranin A) were surrounded by sustentacular cells positive for S-100 protein. Neurofilament protein was positively stained, but cytokeratins were totally negative. On electron microscopy, chief cells possessed abundant dense core granules with an eccentric halo ("norepinephrine-type" granules). The patient's blood pressure began to decline soon after the resection, and her serum norepinephrine promptly returned to almost normal. On the basis of our experience, our case is a bona fide primary pulmonary paraganglioma, a tumor heretofore subject to considerable skepticism.

Topics: CD56 Antigen; Chromogranin A; Chromogranins; Cytoplasmic Granules; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Keratins; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neurofilament Proteins; Norepinephrine; Paraganglioma; S100 Proteins; Synaptophysin

The case of a 62-year-old woman with severe post-menopausal hirsutism is described. Her clinical history revealed regular menstrual periods until menopause at the age of 50, hysterectomy for fibromatosis at 58 years, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, severe hirsutism, which had developed in the previous 3 years, with a deeping of the voice. Examination showed android obesity, hypertension and severe hirsutism involving the face and the trunk. Endocrine evaluation pointed out regular adrenal function, serum total and free-testosterone in the adult male range, with normal androstenedione, DHEAS and 17OHP levels. Estradiol was slightly increased and LH and FSH were inappropriately low for her post-menopausal age. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed regular adrenal glands, and a radio-labeled cholesterol scan was negative. A further pelvic transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a small cystic formation near the right ovary and a slight increase in the size of the left ovary. The patient underwent bilateral ovariectomy. Histological examination showed a lipoid cell tumor within the left ovary. Immunohistochemical studies were positive for inhibin and cytokeratin. After surgery, serum testosterone fell to normal levels, gonadotropins increased to menopausal levels, confirming that the tumor was able to produce both LH, and FSH-inhibiting factors, and hirsutism greatly improved. Periodic hormonal tests remained normal and CT of the abdomen and pelvic ultrasonography did not show alterations at a 3 years follow-up.

Topics: Androgens; Biomarkers, Tumor; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Hirsutism; Humans; Hypertension; Inhibins; Keratins; Luteinizing Hormone; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Gonadal Tissue; Obesity; Ovarian Neoplasms; Ovariectomy; Virilism

We hypothesized that placental cytokeratin (CK) 18 expression and serum levels of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), a surrogate marker for CK 18, are increased among women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).. Serum levels of TPA were measured in 46 women with PIH and 46 controls, matched for gestational age and parity, using an immunoradiometric assay. Immunohistochemical detection of CK 18 was assessed in placental specimens of 24 women with PIH and 20 controls. Results were correlated to clinical data.. Cytokeratin 18 expression was found in the syncytiotrophoblast of 7 of 20 (35%) and 18 of 24 (75%) placental specimens of controls and women with PIH, respectively (p = 0.008). Median serum levels of TPA in controls and women with PIH were 93.0 U/L (range: 12.5-281.6) and 154.2 U/L (range: 37.3-496.6), respectively (p = 0.001). Serum levels of TPA significantly influenced the odds of presenting with PIH, as well as the odds of developing severe disease (p = 0.003, and p = 0.001, respectively). TPA values were significantly higher among women with severe PIH compared with women with mild PIH and controls, independent of gestational age (p = 0.004). Among women with severe PIH, serum TPA was inversely correlated with fetal birth weight (r = -0.3; p = 0.001). Cytokeratin 18 is overexpressed in the syncytiotrophoblast of women with PIH. Serum levels of TPA are elevated among women with PIH and correlate with disease severity and low fetal birth weight.

Topics: Adult; Birth Weight; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Immunohistochemistry; Keratins; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Prognosis; Tissue Polypeptide Antigen

In this study, we compared the clinical and endocrinological characteristics, neuroimaging findings, surgical outcome, and conventional histological findings (including immunohistochemistry) with the electron microscopic appearance of 31 growth hormone (GH)-producing adenomas. By electron microscopy, these 31 tumors were divided into 23 densely granulated somatotroph adenomas (DG adenomas) and 8 sparsely granulated somatotroph adenomas (SG adenomas). SG adenomas more frequently affected younger women, but no significant correlation was found between the adenoma type and the characteristic signs and symptoms of acromegaly, the incidence of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, or the basal serum GH and insulin-like growth factor I levels. A distinct response of GH to thyrotropin-releasing hormone, bromocriptine, or GH-releasing hormone was significantly more common in patients with DG adenomas than in those with SG adenomas, whereas the incidence of a response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone or oral glucose was not significantly different between the two groups. An analysis of neuroimaging findings and surgical results indicated that SG adenomas were more likely to be macroadenomas with suprasellar extension or invasive tumors and had a lower surgical cure rate. However, postoperative radiotherapy seemed to be similarly effective in both types of adenoma to prevent a tumor recurrence and to reduce postoperative GH basal level in serum. Light microscopy showed that DG adenomas were mainly acidophilic and were immunopositive not only for GH but also for prolactin (43%), the beta subunit of thyroid-stimulating hormone (26%), and the alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormone (87%), whereas SG adenomas were almost all chromophobic and only revealed immunopositivity for GH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adenoma; Adenoma, Chromophobe; Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Bromocriptine; Cytoplasmic Granules; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Growth Hormone; Humans; Hypertension; Keratins; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; Treatment Outcome