Impaired endothelial repair capacity of early endothelial progenitor cells in prehypertension: relation to endothelial dysfunction

Prehypertension is a highly frequent condition associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. Endothelial dysfunction is thought to promote the development of hypertension and vascular disease; however, underlying mechanisms remain to be further determined. The present study characterizes for the first time the in vivo endothelial repair capacity of early endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with prehypertension/hypertension and examines its relation with endothelial function. Early EPCs were isolated from healthy subjects and newly diagnosed prehypertensive and hypertensive patients (n=52). In vivo endothelial repair capacity of EPCs was examined by transplantation into a nude mouse carotid injury model. EPC senescence was determined (RT-PCR of telomere length). NO and superoxide production of EPCs were measured using electron spin resonance spectroscopy analysis. CD34(+)/KDR(+) mononuclear cells and circulating endothelial microparticles were examined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilations were determined by high-resolution ultrasound. In vivo endothelial repair capacity of EPCs was substantially impaired in prehypertensive/hypertensive patients as compared with healthy subjects (re-endothelialized area: 15+/-3%/13+/-2% versus 28+/-3%; P<0.05 versus healthy subjects). Senescence of EPCs in prehypertension/hypertension was substantially increased, and NO production was markedly reduced. Moreover, reduced endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs was significantly related to an accelerated senescence of early EPCs and impaired endothelial function. The present study demonstrates for the first time that in vivo endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs is reduced in patients with prehypertension and hypertension, is related to EPC senescence and impaired endothelial function, and likely represents an early event in the development of hypertension

Análise da legitimidade sociopolítica e cognitiva da controladoria no Brasil

Em diferentes partes do mundo têm sido realizados esforços na busca de legitimidade e identidade para a controladoria, a partir deste contexto emerge a pergunta de pesquisa: Qual a identidade da disciplina Controladoria no Brasil? Para responder esta pergunta, a presente pesquisa baseia-se nos estudos sobre legitimidade e tem como objetivo identificar e analisar a legitimidade sociopolítica (Zimmerman & Zeitz, 2002; Aldrich, 1999) e cognitiva (Scott, 2001; Zimmerman & Zeitz, 2002) da controladoria no Brasil. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, em relação à legitimidade sociopolítica, foram pesquisados documentos, normas e resoluções de órgãos oficiais e de representação de classe, e com a finalidade de analisar a legitimidade cognitiva, as publicações nas principais revistas de contabilidade, congressos e seminários, disciplinas de controladoria, livros e manuais. Os resultados mostram que a controladoria no Brasil apresenta legitimidade sociopolítica, ou seja, possui organismos e normas próprias, contudo, necessita melhorar os níveis de organização e desenvolvimento, assim como ocorre nos Estados Unidos e Alemanha. Observa-se também que a legitimidade cognitiva cresceu na publicação de livros e manuais, a disciplina de controladoria está presente na maioria dos cursos de Ciências Contábeis, e apresenta oportunidades de aperfeiçoamento, principalmente no que se refere a publicações em periódicos