Topic Review
Honey
Honey is one of the most prized medicinal remedies used since ancient times. There is evidence that indicates honey can function as a cardioprotective agent in cardiovascular diseases.
  • 947
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Coriandrum sativum L.
Coriandrum sativum (C. sativum), belonging to the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family, is widely recognized for its uses in culinary and traditional medicine. C. sativum contains various phytochemicals such as polyphenols, vitamins, and many phytosterols, which account for its properties including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and analgesic effects.
  • 942
  • 13 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cardiovascular Effects of Vasopressin and Oxytocin
Oxytocin (Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2; OXY) and arginine vasopressin (Cys-Tyr-Phe-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2; AVP) are nonapeptides, differing only in two aminoacids.  The secretion of OXY and AVP is influenced by changes in body fluid osmolality, blood volume, blood pressure, hypoxia, and stress. AVP and OXY receptors are present in several regions of the brain (cortex, hypothalamus, pons, medulla, and cerebellum) and in the peripheral organs (heart, lungs, carotid bodies, kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, uterus, thymus). Hypertension, myocardial infarction, and coexisting factors, such as pain and stress, have a significant impact on the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin and on the expression of their receptors.
  • 931
  • 10 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Polymeric Nanoparticles in Cardiovascular Diseases
Nanoparticles, including biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles, are able to increase the efficiency and reduce the degradability of natural polyphenols, thus increasing their beneficial abilities in the target tissues. Resveratrol-, quercetin-, or curcumin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles have been shown to markedly reduce reactive oxygen species formation, the inflammatory process, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, cardiac hypertrophy, and even to delay myocardium injury due to ischemia/reperfusion. Thus, polymeric nanoparticles represent a promising tool for the delivery of natural polyphenols to target tissues and enhance their desirable effects in the cardiovascular system.
  • 921
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is considered an autoimmune, thrombo-inflammatory disease characterized by vascular thrombosis in the setting of one or more antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) such as lupus anticoagulant (AL), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and anti-β2-glycoprotein1 antibodies (aβ2GPI).
  • 916
  • 07 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Gla-Rich Protein in CKD
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect more than 10% of the global population and represents an increasing health and economic burden for the society. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most important complication of CKD and the primary cause of death in these patients. Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), which is a common complication of CKD patients, involves changes in mineral ion homeostasis, bone quality and turnover, cardiovascular and soft tissue calcifications, highly contributing for cardiovascular outcomes. Vascular calcification (VC) is one of the strongest predictors of cardiovascular risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. New diagnostic/prognostic tools are required for early detection of VC allowing interventional strategies. Gla-rich protein (GRP) is a cardiovascular calcification inhibitor, whose clinical utility still remained unknown. The present clinical study including a cohort of 80 diabetic patients with mild to moderate CKD (stages 2–4) explored, for the first time, correlations between levels of GRP in serum with CKD developmental stage, mineral metabolism markers, VC and pulse pressure (PP). The results shown an association between GRP, renal dysfunction and CKD-MBD. The relationship between low levels of GRP and vascular calcifications suggests a potential clinical utility for GRP as an early marker of vascular damage in CKD.
  • 914
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Marfan Cardiomyopathy and Arrhythmia
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a heritable systemic connective tissue disease with important cardiovascular involvement, including aortic root dilatation and mitral valve prolapse. Life expectancy in patients with MFS is mainly determined by cardiovascular complications, among which aortic dissection or rupture are most dreaded. In recent years, heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia have drawn attention as extra-aortic cardiovascular manifestations and as additional reported causes of death. Imaging studies have provided data supporting a primary myocardial impairment in the absence of valvular disease or cardiovascular surgery, while studies using ambulatory ECG have demonstrated an increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia.
  • 909
  • 22 Feb 2021
Topic Review
C-reactive protein (CRP) apheresis
Almost every kind of inflammation in the human body is accompanied by rising C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. This can include bacterial and viral infection, chronic inflammation and so-called sterile inflammation triggered by (internal) acute tissue injury. CRP is part of the ancient humoral immune response and secreted into the circulation by the liver upon respective stimuli. Its main immunological functions are the opsonization of biological particles (bacteria and dead or dying cells) for their clearance by macrophages and the activation of the classical complement pathway. This not only helps to eliminate pathogens and dead cells, which is very useful in any case, but unfortunately also to remove only slightly damaged or inactive human cells that may potentially regenerate with more CRP-free time. CRP action severely aggravates the extent of tissue damage during the acute phase response after an acute injury and therefore negatively affects clinical outcome. CRP is therefore a promising therapeutic target to rescue energy-deprived tissue either caused by ischemic injury (e.g., myocardial infarction and stroke) or by an overcompensating immune reaction occurring in acute inflammation (e.g., pancreatitis) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS; e.g., after transplantation or surgery). Selective CRP apheresis can remove circulating CRP safely and efficiently. We explain the pathophysiological reasoning behind therapeutic CRP apheresis and summarize the broad span of indications in which its application could be beneficial with a focus on ischemic stroke as well as the results of this therapeutic approach after myocardial infarction.
  • 901
  • 17 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Cardiovascular Diseases and Stem Cells
This entry provides an update on previous and current research in the field of Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a class of disorders affecting the heart or blood vessels. Despite progress in clinical research and therapy, CVDs still represent the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The hallmarks of cardiac diseases include inflammation, fibrosis, scar tissue, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, abnormal ventricular remodeling, and cardiomyocyte death, which is an irreversible process that induces heart failure with progressive and dramatic consequences. Both genetic and environmental factors pathologically contribute to the development of CVDs, but the precise causes that trigger cardiac diseases and their progression are still largely unknown. In this scenario, the possibility to generate patient-specific cardiac cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represents a powerful platform for the investigation of these life-threatening disorders.
  • 898
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Age-Related Diseases
Aging is a multifactorial dynamic process that is influenced by a variety of external and internal variables, including environmental, demographic, and biopsychosocial factors, to determine the development and progression of age-related diseases, rather than being a solely static intrinsic process of cellular alterations.
  • 873
  • 15 Apr 2021
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