Topic Review
Alterations in Vascular Chloride Channels and Transporters
Blood pressure is determined by cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, and mediators that induce vasoconstriction will increase systemic vascular resistance and thus elevate blood pressure. While peripheral vascular resistance reflects a complex interaction of multiple factors, vascular ion channels and transporters play important roles in the regulation of vascular tone by modulating the membrane potential of vascular cells. In vascular smooth muscle cells, chloride ions (Cl−) are a type of anions accumulated by anion exchangers and the anion–proton cotransporter system, and efflux of Cl− through Cl− channels depolarizes the membrane and thereby triggers vasoconstriction. Among these Cl− regulatory pathways, emerging evidence suggests that upregulation of the Ca2+-activated Cl− channel TMEM16A in the vasculature contributes to the increased vascular contractility and elevated blood pressure in hypertension. A robust accumulation of intracellular Cl− in vascular smooth muscle cells through the increased activity of Na+–K+–2Cl− cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) during hypertension has also been reported. Thus, the enhanced activity of both TMEM16A and NKCC1 could act additively and sequentially to increase vascular contractility and hence blood pressure in hypertension.
  • 357
  • 22 Sep 2022
Topic Review
An Inherited Cardiomyopathy: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited heart muscle disease, which is characterized by fibro-fatty replacement of predominantly the right ventricle (RV). The disease can result in ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
  • 338
  • 10 Mar 2022
Topic Review
An Updated Classification of Cardiorenal Syndrome
Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is defined as progressive, combined cardiac and renal dysfunction. Here, the pathomechanisms and clinical hallmarks of both chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease are presented, and an updated classification of CRS is proposed.
  • 494
  • 10 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Anatomical-MRI Correlations in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Adults and Children
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most frequent hereditary cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young individuals. Advancements in CMR imaging have allowed for earlier identification and more accurate prognosis of HCM. CMR has been validated as a technique with high sensitivity and specificity, very few contraindications, a low risk of side effects, and is overall a good tool to be employed in the management of HCM patients.
  • 1.2K
  • 11 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Anderson–Fabry Disease
Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) is a lysosome storage disorder resulting from an X-linked inheritance of a mutation in the galactosidase A (GLA) gene encoding for the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A (α-GAL A). This mutation results in a deficiency or absence of α-GAL A activity, with a progressive intracellular deposition of glycosphingolipids leading to organ dysfunction and failure. Cardiac damage starts early in life, often occurring sub-clinically before overt cardiac symptoms. Left ventricular hypertrophy represents a common cardiac manifestation, albeit conduction system impairment, arrhythmias, and valvular abnormalities may also characterize AFD. Even in consideration of pleiotropic manifestation, diagnosis is often challenging. Thus, knowledge of cardiac and extracardiac diagnostic “red flags” is needed to guide a timely diagnosis.
  • 123
  • 04 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Angina in 2022
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and ischemic heart disease is responsible for approximately half of these deaths. Angina is the main symptom of ischemic heart disease; mirroring a mismatch between oxygen supply and demand.
  • 430
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
AngiomiRs in Cancer
Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel formation through the migration, growth, and differentiation of endothelial cells.
  • 351
  • 21 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Diabetic Neuropathy
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is becoming increasingly prevalent and currently affects approximately 14.3% of the adult US population. Moreover, a further 38.0% of the adult US population has prediabetes, i.e., impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Diabetic neuropathy is a frequent complication of both T2DM and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and it is present in approximately 3.5–9.4% of patients who havehad T1DM for 1–5 years and in 28% of patients who havehad T2DM for > 4 –7 years. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are the antihypertensive agents of choice for hypertensive patients with diabetes mellitus (along with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ACE-I). ARBs act by inhibiting the binding of angiotensin II (which is produced by the cleavage of angiotensin I by the angiotensin-converting enzyme) to angiotensin receptor I, thereby promoting vasodilation and inhibiting aldosterone secretion.
  • 353
  • 03 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Angiotensin Regulation of Vascular Homeostasis
Extensive research has been conducted to elucidate and substantiate the crucial role of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in the pathogenesis of hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, and renal diseases. Furthermore, the role of oxidative stress in maintaining vascular balance has been well established. It has been observed that many of the cellular effects induced by Angiotensin II (Ang II) are facilitated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase.
  • 149
  • 09 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Ankyrin/Spectrin in Cardiac Conduction
The cardiac conduction system is an extended network of excitable tissue tasked with generation and propagation of electrical impulses to signal coordinated contraction of the heart. The fidelity of this system depends on the proper spatio-temporal regulation of ion channels in myocytes throughout the conduction system. Importantly, inherited or acquired defects in a wide class of ion channels has been linked to dysfunction at various stages of the conduction system resulting in life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia. Members of the ankyrin and spectrin families have emerged as important nodes for normal expression and regulation of ion channels in myocytes throughout the conduction system. Human variants impacting ankyrin/spectrin function give rise to a broad constellation of cardiac arrhythmias. Furthermore, chronic neurohumoral and biomechanical stress promotes ankyrin/spectrin loss of function that likely contributes to conduction disturbances in the setting of acquired cardiac disease.
  • 480
  • 12 May 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 89