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
Effects of Finerenone’s Mechanism of Action
Finerenone is a novel, selective, nonsteroidal MRA that is efficacious in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Steroidal MR antagonists (MRAs) are included in treatment paradigms for resistant hypertension and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, while the nonsteroidal MRA finerenone was shown to reduce renal and cardiovascular outcomes in two large phase III trials (FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD) in patients with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes, respectively.
  • 645
  • 02 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Cardiac Complications of Hypertensive Emergency
While mortality in patients with hypertensive emergency has significantly improved over the past decades, the incidence and complications associated with acute hypertension-mediated organ damage have not followed a similar trend. Hypertensive emergency is characterized by an abrupt surge in blood pressure, mostly occurring in people with pre-existing hypertension to result in acute hypertension-mediated organ damage. Acute hypertension-mediated organ damage commonly affects the cardiovascular system, and present as acute heart failure, myocardial infarction, and less commonly, acute aortic syndrome. Elevated cardiac troponin with or without myocardial infarction is one of the major determinants of outcome in hypertensive emergency. 
  • 785
  • 01 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Statins in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) morbidity and mortality are decreasing in high-income countries, but ASCVD remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in high-income countries. Over the past few decades, major risk factors for ASCVD, including LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), have been identified. Statins are the drug of choice for patients at increased risk of ASCVD and remain one of the most commonly used and effective drugs for reducing LDL cholesterol and the risk of mortality and coronary artery disease in high-risk groups. Unfortunately, doctors tend to under-prescribe or under-dose these drugs, mostly out of fear of side effects. The latest guidelines emphasize that treatment intensity should increase with increasing cardiovascular risk and that the decision to initiate intervention remains a matter of individual consideration and shared decision-making.
  • 1.9K
  • 31 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Pathophysiolocigal and Molecular Mechanisms in Vascular Aging
Vascular aging, characterized by structural and functional alterations of the vascular wall, is a hallmark of aging and is tightly related to the development of cardiovascular mortality and age-associated vascular pathologies. 
  • 537
  • 29 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism during Pregnancy
Many of the symptoms and signs reported in almost 50% of women during physiological pregnancy, such as shortness of breath or lower limb oedema—especially as pregnancy advances through the third trimester—may suggest the possibility of a pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
  • 456
  • 29 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Osteopontin in Heart Failure
The matricellular protein osteopontin modulates cell–matrix interactions during tissue injury and healing. A complex multidomain structure of osteopontin enables it not only to bind diverse cell receptors but also to interact with various partners, including other extracellular matrix proteins, cytokines, and growth factors. Numerous studies have implicated osteopontin in the development and progression of myocardial remodeling in diverse cardiac diseases. Osteopontin influences myocardial remodeling by regulating extracellular matrix production, the activity of matrix metalloproteinases and various growth factors, inflammatory cell recruitment, myofibroblast differentiation, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and myocardial vascularization. The exploitation of osteopontin loss- and gain-of-function approaches in rodent models provided an opportunity for assessment of the cell- and disease-specific contribution of osteopontin to myocardial remodeling.
  • 620
  • 26 Aug 2022
Topic Review
KCNJ5 Mutation in Aldosterone Producing Adenoma
The discovery of the KCNJ5 somatic mutation in aldosteroene producing adenoma (APA) in 2011 and the development of specific CYP11B2 antibodies in 2012 have greatly advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of primary aldosteronism. PA leads to abnormalities in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and is known to increase the incidence of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke by 3.52, 2.05, and 2.58 times compared to hypertension due to essential hypertension.
  • 569
  • 26 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Natriuretic Peptides and Troponins for HFpEF
Heart failure (HF) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a complex syndrome, often participated by several cardiac and extracardiac conditions, including chronic kidney disease, pulmonary disease, anaemia and advanced age. Circulating biomarkers reflecting pathophysiological pathways involved in HFpEF development and progression may assist clinicians in early diagnosis and management of this condition. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are cardioprotective hormones released by cardiomyocytes in response to pressure or volume overload and in response to activation of neuro-endocrine-immune system. The relevance of B-type NP (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type NP (NT-proBNP) for diagnosis and risk stratification has been extensively demonstrated, and these biomarkers are emerging tools for population screening and as guides to the start of treatment in subclinical HF. On the contrary, conflicting evidence exists on the value of NPs to guide HF therapy. Among the other biomarkers, high-sensitivity troponins and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 are the most promising biomarkers for risk stratification, predicting outcome independently from NPs. 
  • 364
  • 25 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Allicin on Cardiovascular Diseases
Allicin, a sulfur compound naturally derived from garlic, has shown beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors through the modulation of cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways. Garlic is especially rich in sulfur-containing compounds; thus, many of these compounds can be responsible for its therapeutic effects. Recent studies have shown that allicin, a garlic-derived sulfur compound, has beneficial effects on different cell types that could be useful for the management of CVD or its risk factors. 
  • 996
  • 19 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Practical Echocardiographic Approach of Regurgitant Mitral Valve Assessment
Mitral regurgitation is the second-most frequent valvular heart disease in Europe after degenerative aortic stenosis. The mitral valve is a complex anatomical structure whose physiological functioning relies on the biomechanical properties and structural integrity of its components. Their compromise can lead to mitral valve dysfunction. Assessing its morphology can reveal various normal and abnormal features, which can be associated with deteriorating clinical outcomes. Transthoracic echocardiography is the first diagnosis approach that should be performed to assess the valve disfunction, giving a complete morphological description of the structures, the regurgitant mechanism, and etiology.
  • 622
  • 22 Aug 2022
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