ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in university students between 17 an 19 years of age. METHODS: A sample of 289 first year students, 144 females and 145 males, of the University of Costa Rica were included for anthropometric, biochemical and physical studies. RESULTS: One in six (17% N = 48) had total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL and it was more frequent in females. High LDL-C > 130 mg/dL was found in 26% (N = 74) whereas low HDL-C was present in only 42% (N = 121). Nearly 10% (N = 28) smoked and 38% (N = 111) did not exercise. Obesity was seen in 7% (N = 20) when the Body Mass Index was used as a criterium but only 1.4% (N = 4) by body fat. The distribution of risk factors was: one factor in 36% (N = 105), two factors in 27% (N = 77) and three or more in 13% (N = 37). The most common were sedentarism, dislipedemias and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: CHD risk factors were present in many of our adolescents. Our finding suggests the need to promote healthier lifestyles to minimize the potential of these factors to cause CHD in adulthood.
Subject(s)
Coronary Disease/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Body Mass Index , Coronary Disease/epidemiology , Exercise , Female , Humans , Male , Mexico/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Smoking , StudentsABSTRACT
The intraperitoneal administration of different extracts of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merrill (Myrtaceae) to conscious normotensive and hypertensive rats caused a depression of the central nervous system (CNS). The intensity of this depression depends on the dose. Analgesic and hypothermic effects were also observed. The total aqueous extract was more effective than the ethanolic extract and the final aqueous fraction was the most effective. The peritoneal irritation caused by the extract explains only partially the depressive effect over the CNS. When the final aqueous fraction was given orally to SDN and SHR rats during 14 days there was no observed change on the sistolic blood pressure, heart rate and weight of the animals.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Animals , Central Nervous System Depressants/administration & dosage , Female , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Male , Rats , Rats, Inbred SHR , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
The possible diuretic effect of the leaf extract of Cecropia obtusifolia, Bertol; used in Costa Rican traditional medicine, was tested on five Sprague Dawley rats in individual metabolic cages. During the control week, distilled water was administered with an intragastric cannula. During the C.obtusifolia week, the rats were given the aqueous leaf extract in a daily dosage of 500 mg/kg, intragastricly. Although, the urinary flow was increased (p < 0.05) by a 20%, there was no statistically significant difference between the following parameters: excretion in urine of osmoles, sodium and potassium; daily ingestion of food and water. The animal weights decreased when C. obtusifolia was used, but only on the fourth day the decrease was significant (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the aqueous leaf extract of C. obtusifolia has a slight diuretic effect.
Subject(s)
Diuresis/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Female , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Osmolar Concentration , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Potassium/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sodium/metabolismABSTRACT
Single and combined effects of intracerebroventricular bolus injection of Ang. II (200 ng), ACh (6 micrograms) and met-enkephalin (50 micrograms) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), was tested in Sprague-Dawley albino rats. A metallic cannula was implanted in the third ventricle according to standard stereotaxic procedures under pentobarbital anesthesia (35 mg/kg). On the third day, the animal was anesthetized again, a carotid artery was cannulated and connected to a pressure transducer for recording of MAP. Ang. II increased MAP; ACh produced a significant increase in the initial 5 minutes after injection and met-enkephalin did not induce any significant changes in MAP. The combined effect showed interesting results. Instead of a potentiation of the rise in MAP, Ang. II and ACh, when given together, did not show any significant changes. Also, met-enkephalin blocked the hypertensive response due to Ang. II, if given combined. This is compatible with an inhibitory action of met-enkephalin on an angiotensinergic neuronal system. A simplified hypothetical model that explains the findings described above is proposed as a working hypothesis.
Subject(s)
Acetylcholine/pharmacology , Angiotensin II/pharmacology , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Enkephalin, Methionine/pharmacology , Acetylcholine/administration & dosage , Angiotensin II/administration & dosage , Animals , Drug Combinations , Enkephalin, Methionine/administration & dosage , Injections, Intraventricular , Male , Rats , Rats, Inbred StrainsABSTRACT
Single and combined effects of intracerebroventricular bolus injection of Ang. II (200 ng), ACh (6 micrograms) and met-enkephalin (50 micrograms) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), was tested in Sprague-Dawley albino rats. A metallic cannula was implanted in the third ventricle according to standard stereotaxic procedures under pentobarbital anesthesia (35 mg/kg). On the third day, the animal was anesthetized again, a carotid artery was cannulated and connected to a pressure transducer for recording of MAP. Ang. II increased MAP; ACh produced a significant increase in the initial 5 minutes after injection and met-enkephalin did not induce any significant changes in MAP. The combined effect showed interesting results. Instead of a potentiation of the rise in MAP, Ang. II and ACh, when given together, did not show any significant changes. Also, met-enkephalin blocked the hypertensive response due to Ang. II, if given combined. This is compatible with an inhibitory action of met-enkephalin on an angiotensinergic neuronal system. A simplified hypothetical model that explains the findings described above is proposed as a working hypothesis.
