These results demonstrate the hypotensive and bradycardic effects of CLME, as well as its potent vasodilation of rat mesenteric arteries. These effects, may in part, be due to the inhibition of extracellular Ca(2+) influx and/or inhibition of intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization from Phe-sensitive stores.

Rotundifolone is the major constituent of the essential oil of Mentha x villosa Hudson. In preliminary studies, rotundifolone induced significant hypotensive, bradycardic and vasorelaxant effects in rats. Thus, to gain more insight into the pharmacology of rotundifolone, the aim of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanism of action involved in relaxation produced by rotundifolone. The relaxant effect was investigated in rat superior mesenteric arteries by using isometric tension measurements and whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. Rotundifolone relaxed phenylephrine-induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with KCl (20 mM), charybdotoxin (10 )7 M) or tetraethylammonium (TEA 10 )3 or 3 · 10 )3 M) significantly attenuated the relaxation effect induced by rotundifolone. Additionally, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made in mesenteric smooth muscle cells and showed that rotundifolone significantly increased K + currents, and this effect was abolished by TEA (10 )3 M), suggesting the participation of BK Ca channels. Furthermore, rotundifolone inhibited the vasoconstriction induced by CaCl 2 in depolarizing nominally Ca 2+-free medium and antagonized the contractions elicited by an L-type Ca 2+ channel agonist, S(-)-Bay K 8644 (2 · 10 )7 M), indicating that the vasodilatation involved inhibition of Ca 2+ influx through L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (Ca v type-L). Additionally, rotundifolone inhibited L-type Ca 2+ currents (I Ca L), affecting the voltage-dependent activation of I Ca L and steady-state inactivation. Our findings suggest that rotundifolone induces vasodilatation through two distinct but complementary mechanisms that clearly depend on the concentration range used. Rotundifolone elicits an increase in the current density of BK Ca channels and causes a shift in the steady-state inactivation relationship for Ca v type-L towards more hyperpolarized membrane potentials.Terpenoids constitute the largest class of plant secondary metabolites and have been used in essential oils for centuries as therapeutically relevant compounds. However, little is known about their mechanism of action [1,2].The monoterpenoids, such as camphor, borneol, citronellol, alpha-terpineol or menthol, compose a group of naturally occurring organic compounds derived from two isoprene units. They are the major components of some essential oils presenting anaesthetic and analgesic activities [3,4] Rotundifolone (C 10 H 14 O 2 ; molecular weight 166) is a naturally occurring monoterpenic ketone of plant origin and an important chemical constituent of the essential oils of many Mentha species (Mentha rotundifolia, M. suaveolens, M. spicata L., M. longifolia and M. x villosa) [19,20]. A previous report from our group showed that rotundifolone induced marked hypotension and bradycardia in non-anaesthetized normotensive rats using an in vivo approach. Those effects were probably due to a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance [21], a hypothesis that was subsequently str...

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Prevalencia y factores asociados a la incontinencia urinaria de mujeres mayores RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência da queixa de Incontinência Urinária (IU) e os fatores associados em idosas no município de Petrolina/PE. Métodos: Estudo transversal e exploratório realizado em 2009 com 172 idosas nas quais se avaliaram características sociodemográficas, socioeconômicas e estilo de vida. Para investigar a IU utilizou-se o International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form" (ICIQ-SF) acrescido de questões obstétricas e de comorbidades. Dados trabalhados com intervalo de confiança a 95% utilizando o STATA ® 9.0. Resultados: A queixa de IU esteve presente em 81 (47,1%) idosas. A faixa etária maior que 75 anos de idade estava associada à IU (RP 1,57 IC95% 1,57-11,09). Na associação com ocupação notou-se que tanto as idosas aposentadas (RP 4,64 IC95% 0,98-21,98) quanto as donas de casa (RP 6,25 IC95% 1,14-34,12) tinham maior ocorrência de referir IU, mas apenas a associação com a condição dona de casa foi significante. Quanto ao diabetes, idosas que tinham a doença (RP 1,57 IC95% 1,16-2,13) tinham maior frequência de referir queixa de IU quando comparadas às idosas sem diabetes. Conclusão: Encontrou-se uma elevada prevalência de Incontinência Urinária em idosas, correspondendo a quase metade das mulheres investigadas, estando associada às idosas de maior idade, donas de casa e diabéticas.

Abstract:The pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system of yangambin, a lignan isolated from Ocotea duckei Vattimo (Lauraceae), were studied in rats using combined functional and biochemical approaches. In non-anaesthetized rats, yangambin (1, 5, 10, 20, 30 mg/kg, i.v.) induced hypotension (−3.5 ± 0.2; −7.1 ± 0.8; −8.9 ± 1.3; −14 ± 2.3, −25.5% ± 2.6%, respectively) accompanied by tachycardia (5.9 ± 0.5; 5.9 ± 1.6; 8.8 ± 1.4; 11.6, 18.8% ± 3.4%, respectively). In isolated rat atria, yangambin (0.1 µM-1 mM) had very slight negative inotropic (Emax = 35.6% ± 6.4%) and chronotropic effects (Emax = 10.2% ± 2.9%). In endothelium-intact rat mesenteric artery, yangambin (0.1 µM-1 mM) induced concentration-dependent relaxation (pD 2 = 4.5 ± 0.06) of contractions induced by phenylephrine and this effect was not affected by removal of the endothelium. Interestingly, like nifedipine, the relaxant effect induced by yangambin was OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2014, 19 6864 more potent on the contractile response induced by KCl 80 mM (pD 2 = 4.8 ± 0.05) when compared to that induced by phenylephrine. Furthermore, yangambin inhibited CaCl 2 -induced contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. This lignan also induced relaxation (pD 2 = 4.0 ± 0.04) of isolated arteries pre-contracted with S(−)-Bay K 8644. In fura-2/AMloaded myocytes of rat mesenteric arteries, yangambin inhibited the Ca 2+ signal evoked by KCl 60 mM. In conclusion, these results suggest that the hypotensive effect of yangambin is probably due to a peripheral vasodilatation that involves, at least, the inhibition the Ca 2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels.