system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Animals, Antimetabolites, Antioxidants, Ascorbic Acid, Blotting, Western, Enzyme Activation, Hypertension, Male, Membrane Glycoproteins, Microscopy, Electron, Myocytes, Cardiac, NADPH Oxidase 2, NADPH Oxidases, Nuclear Proteins, Protein Kinase C, Rats, Rats, Inbred WKY, Vitamins, Zidovudine.
user
Does vitamin C prevent zidovudine-induced NAD ( P ) H oxidase activation and hypertension in the rat? Context: Cardiovascular risk is increased among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy due to the development of hypertension and metabolic abnormalities. In this study, we investigated the effects of long-term treatment with zidovudine (AZT) and vitamin C, alone and in combination, on blood pressure and on the chain of events linking oxidative stress to cardiac damage in the rat. Six adult Wistar Kyoto rats received AZT (1 mg/ml) in the drinking water for 8 months, six vitamin C (10 g/kg of food) and AZT, six vitamin C alone, and six served as controls. AZT increased systolic blood pressure, expression of gp91(phox) and p47(phox) subunits of NAD(P)H oxidase, and protein kinase C (PKC) delta activation and reduced antioxidant power of plasma and cardiac homogenates. AZT also caused morphological alterations in cardiac myocyte mitochondria, indicative of functional damage. All of these effects were prevented by vitamin C.
assistant
Chronic AZT administration increases blood pressure and promotes cardiovascular damage through a NAD(P)H oxidase-dependent mechanism that involves PKC delta. Vitamin C antagonizes these adverse effects of AZT in the cardiovascular system. Final Decision: yes