Summary

Hypertension is a major public health concern worldwide because of its rising prevalence and concomitant risks of cardiovascular diseases. Coping strategies may encompass a full spectrum of clinical, epidemiological, experimental, and technological factors to inspire front-line practices and shape critical thinking. This entry collection aims to assemble entries of wealthy topics related to clinical, therapeutic, and population sciences of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases that could inform research scientists and healthcare professionals.

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Entries
Topic Review
Broad Electrocardiogram Syndromes Spectrum
Electrocardiogram (ECG) still remains a very useful diagnostic method in modern cardiology. Its broad availability, noninvasiveness and good sensitivity explain why it plays a capital role in the very beginning of the process of diagnosis for every patient, with or without cardiac-related complaints. For the practitioner, good training in ECG interpretation is mandatory. Sometimes, the ECG trace reveals particular aspects that may cause confusion and complicate decision-making. Several less common situations underlying the general context and ECG features are presented. The syndromes studied have a high pathological significance and may range from acute emergencies that call for a rapid therapeutical response to chronic syndromes that require prolonged observation, monitoring and risk stratification.
  • 418
  • 30 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Diagnostic Method for Cardiac Malposition
A significant number of patients with dextrocardia and other cardiac malpositions have other congenital heart defects (CHDs). The incidence of CHDs in subjects with cardiac malpositions is significantly greater than that in normal children, and the prevalence varies with the associated visceroatrial situs. The most useful approach to diagnosis is segmental analysis. Firstly, dextroposition should be excluded. In segmental analysis, the visceroatrial situs, ventricular location, status of atrioventricular connections, the great artery relationship, and conotruncal relationship are determined with the use of electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and echocardiographic studies, and, when necessary, other imaging studies, including angiography. Following identification of the afore-mentioned segments, the associated defects in the atrial and ventricular septae, valvar and vascular stenosis or atresia may be determined by a review of the historical information, physical examination, and analysis of chest roentgenogram, ECG, and echocardiographic studies. Along the way, a pictorial rendition of the terminology and diagnosis of cardiac malpositions is undertaken.
  • 486
  • 30 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Epicardial Adipose Tissue
The epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active organ recently associated with heart failure and atrial fibrillation and classified as an independent risk factor for subclinical coronary artery disease. Some evidence suggests as the assessment of EAT using coronary artery calcium (CAC) might represent an additional tool to quantify patients’ cardiovascular risk.
  • 619
  • 28 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Hypertensive Nephropathy
Hypertension is one of the most common risk factors for developing chronic cardiovascular diseases, including hypertensive nephropathy. Within the glomerulus, hypertension causes damage and activation of mesangial cells (MCs), eliciting the production of large amounts of vasoactive and proinflammatory agents. Accordingly, the activation of AT1 receptors by the vasoactive molecule angiotensin II (AngII) contributes to the pathogenesis of renal damage, which is mediated mostly by the dysfunction of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) signaling. Similarly, inflammation entails complex processes, where [Ca2+]i also play crucial roles. Deregulation of this second messenger increases cell damage and promotes fibrosis, reduces renal blood flow, and impairs the glomerular filtration barrier. In vertebrates, [Ca2+]i signaling depends, in part, on the activity of two families of large-pore channels: hemichannels and pannexons. Interestingly, the opening of these channels depends on [Ca2+]i signaling. 
  • 2.5K
  • 23 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Health
High consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PU FAs), specifically omega-3 FAs (Ω3FAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), results in low plasma cholesterol levels and minimal coronary heart disease (CHD). Furthermore, as elevated triglycerides (TGs) appear to be a causal factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD)(ASCVD) and possibly for premature all-cause mortality, more so when they are associated with genetic variants, PUFAs can reduce TG levels by decreasing lipoproteins with high amounts of TGs, such as very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, chylomicrons, and their remnants.
  • 468
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Coagulation System in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic disease with a large-scale impact on the economy and global health. Histopathological analysis and some clinical studies conducted on atherosclerotic plaques testify to the existence of different types of plaques. Likely, the role of coagulation in each specific type of plaque can be an important determinant in the histopathological composition of atherosclerosis and in its future stability.
  • 451
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Heart Failure and Cardiorenal Syndrome
In cardiorenal syndrome (CRS), heart failure and renal failure are pathophysiologically closely intertwined by the reciprocal relationship between cardiac and renal injury. Type 1 CRS is most common and associated with acute heart failure. A preexistent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and contributes to acute kidney injury (AKI) in CRS type 1 patients (acute cardiorenal syndrome). The remaining CRS types are found in patients with chronic heart failure (type 2), acute and chronic kidney diseases (types 3 and 4), and systemic diseases that affect both the heart and the kidney (type 5). Establishing the diagnosis of CRS requires various tools based on the type of CRS, including non-invasive imaging modalities such as TTE, CT, and MRI, adjuvant volume measurement techniques, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and biomarkers.
  • 718
  • 19 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Biomarkers in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe medical condition characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), right ventricular (RV) failure, and death in the absence of appropriate treatment. The progression and prognosis are strictly related to the etiology, biochemical parameters, and treatment response. The gold-standard test remains right-sided heart catheterization, but dynamic monitoring of systolic pressure in the pulmonary artery is performed using echocardiography. 
  • 392
  • 14 Dec 2022
Topic Review
The Complex Relation between Atrial Cardiomyopathy and Thrombogenesis
Heart disease, as well as systemic metabolic alterations, can leave a ‘fingerprint’ of structural and functional changes in the atrial myocardium, leading to the onset of atrial cardiomyopathy. As demonstrated in various animal models, some of these changes, such as fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fatty infiltration, can increase vulnerability to atrial fibrillation (AF), the most relevant manifestation of atrial cardiomyopathy in clinical practice. Atrial cardiomyopathy accompanying AF is associated with thromboembolic events, such as stroke. The interaction between AF and stroke appears to be far more complicated than initially believed. AF and stroke share many risk factors whose underlying pathological processes can reinforce the development and progression of both cardiovascular conditions. 
  • 519
  • 01 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Buckwheat and Cardiometabolic Health
Buckwheat (BW) is suggested to have beneficial effects, but evidence on how it affects cardiometabolic health (CMH) is not yet established. Buckwheat is a gluten-free pseudograin rich in fiber and bioactive compounds, and has been suggested to positively affect cardiometabolic health.
  • 453
  • 02 Dec 2022
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