Effects of Vitamin C on the Prevention of Ischemia-Reperfusion Brain Injury: Experimental Study in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Reperfusion syndrome after carotid endarterectomy is a complication associated with cerebrovascular self-regulation in a chronically hypoperfused cerebral hemisphere, leading to severe neurological damage. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in brain metabolism that has shown some neuroprotective actions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential effects of vitamin C on cerebral reperfusion in comparison with placebo (saline) in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: (i) Sham (n = 4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control (n = 4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control (n = 4), animals exposed to carotid arteries dissection without clamping; (ii) Control (. RESULTS: Rats treated with vitamin C presented with a similar behavior as compared to the Sham group in all the three tests (p > 0.05), but it was significantly different from controls (p > 0.05), but it was significantly different from controls (p > 0.05), but it was significantly different from controls (. CONCLUSION: In the present study, vitamin C was associated with behavioral and motor preservation as well as decreased cerebral MDA levels after induced cerebral ischemia in rats.

Prevalence of carotid artery calcifications detected on panoramic radiographs and confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography: Their relationship with systemic conditions.

CONTEXT: Atherosclerosis affects large and medium caliber arteries by forming calcific atheromas, precursors of cerebral vascular disease. Diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension are considered as risk factors of atherosclerosis. Panoramic radiographs can display images suggestive of carotid artery calcifications (CACs). AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of images suggestive of CAC in panoramic radiographs of the jaws (PRJs) and confirm them by Doppler ultrasonography. To evaluate their anatomic locations and relationships between systemic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and obesity) and the presence of unilateral or bilateral CAC detected on PRJ or by Doppler ultrasonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 723 routinely performed PRJ in patients over 40 years at the Radiology Center in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, 21 PRJ containing images suggestive of CAC were selected in this cross-sectional study. The findings from the PRJ were confirmed by Doppler sonography. RESULTS: Images suggestive of CAC was detected in 21 (2.9%) of the PRJ evaluated, consisting of 11 (52.4%) hypertensive, 7 (33.3%) diabetics, and 9 (42.9%) obese. There was a higher prevalence of hypertensive patients in the unilateral CAC group (100%) and bilateral CAC (60%) compared to patients without CAC (25%). CONCLUSIONS: CACs can be detected in PRJs, and are more frequent in common carotid arteries. No significant associations were detected between the presence of unilateral or bilateral CAC in PRJ and hypertension, diabetes, or obesity.