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
Dipeptidyl Amino-Peptidase 3 (DPP3) in Cardiogenic Shock
Dipeptidyl amino-peptidase 3 (DPP3) is an aminopeptidase that is released into circulation upon cell death. DPP3 is involved in the degradation of angiotensins, enkephalines, and endomorphines. It has been shown that circulating DPP3 (cDPP3) plasma concentration increases in cardiogenic shock (CS) patients and correlates with high mortality risk. Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening syndrome associated with organ hypoperfusion. One of the common causes of CS is acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
  • 339
  • 10 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Hypertensive Heart Failure
Hypertension (HTN) is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide, which largely surpasses other important factors of mortality such as smoking and metabolic diseases. HTN is the most important risk factor for heart failure (HF) development, with recent evidence indicating that HTN is present in 76% of incident HF cases, and the lifetime risk of HF is almost twice as high in people with HTN as in those with normal blood pressure (BP).
  • 318
  • 09 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Lipids and Lipoproteins in Pregnancy
Inflammation and oxidative stress are essential components in a myriad of pathogenic entities that lead to metabolic and chronic diseases. Moreover, inflammation in its different phases is necessary for the initiation and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Therefore, an equilibrium between a necessary/pathologic level of inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy is needed to avoid disease development. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are important for a healthy pregnancy and a good neonatal outcome. Their role in fetal development during challenging situations is vital for maintaining the equilibrium. 
  • 400
  • 08 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Thromboembolic and Bleeding Events in Transthyretin Amyloidosis
Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a group of diseases caused by the deposition of insoluble fibrils derived from misfolded transthyretin, which compromises the structure and function of various organs, including the heart. Thromboembolic events and increased bleeding risk are among the most important complications of ATTR, though the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Transthyretin plays a complex role in the coagulation cascade, contributing to the activation and regulation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation, cardiac mechanical dysfunction, and atrial myopathy in patients with ATTR may contribute to thrombosis, though such events may also occur in patients with a normal sinus rhythm and rarely in properly anticoagulated patients. Haemorrhagic events are modest and mainly linked to perivascular amyloid deposits with consequent capillary fragility and coagulation anomalies, such as labile international-normalised ratio during anticoagulant therapy. 
  • 426
  • 06 Nov 2023
Topic Review
The Liver in Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome due to heart dysfunction, but in which other organs are also involved, resulting in a complex multisystemic disease, burdened with high mortality and morbidity. This article focuses on the mutual relationship between the heart and liver in HF patients. Any cause of right heart failure can cause hepatic congestion, with important prognostic significance. Cardiac biomarkers have been studied extensively in cardiology as a non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring tool for HF. However, their usefulness in assessing liver congestion in HF patients is still being researched. On the other hand, several prognostic scores based on liver biomarkers in patients with HF have been proposed in recent years, recognizing the important burden that liver involvement has in HF.
  • 480
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Role of Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) causes a progressive decline in renal function, leading to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and increases the likelihood of cardiovascular events and mortality. The introduction of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor has been a game changer in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and congestive heart failure (CHF). These agents not only slow down the progression of kidney disease but also have cardioprotective benefits, including for patients with congestive heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Some evidence suggests that they can decrease the risk of stroke as well.
  • 401
  • 20 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Prevention and Treatment of Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disorder affecting 4–10% of all expectant women. It greatly increases the risk of maternal and foetal death. Although the main symptoms generally appear after week 20 of gestation, scientific studies indicate that the mechanism underpinning PE is initiated at the beginning of gestation. It is known that the pathomechanism of preeclampsia is strongly related to inflammation and oxidative stress, which influence placentation and provoke endothelial dysfunction in the mother.
  • 359
  • 18 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Reentry Arrhythmia in Cardiac Tissue Models
Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Many arrhythmias are caused by reentry, a phenomenon where excitation waves circulate in the heart. Optical mapping techniques have revealed the role of reentry in arrhythmia initiation and fibrillation transition, but the underlying biophysical mechanisms are still difficult to investigate in intact hearts.
  • 575
  • 17 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Connective Tissue Diseases
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe vascular complication of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Patients with CTD may develop PH belonging to diverse groups: (1) pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), (2) PH due to left heart disease, (3) secondary PH due to lung disease and/or hypoxia and (4) chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). PAH most often develops in systemic scleroderma (SSc), mostly in its limited variant. PAH-CTD is a progressive disease characterized by poor prognosis. Therefore, early diagnosis should be established.
  • 538
  • 13 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Left Ventricle Unloading in VA ECMO
Impressively increasing availability of mechanical circulatory/cardiac support systems (MCSs) worldwide, together with the deepening of the knowledge of critical care medical practitioners, has inevitably led to the discussion about further improvements of intensive care associated to MCS. An appealing topic of the left ventricle (LV) overload related to VA ECMO support endangering myocardial recovery is being widely discussed within the scientific community. Unloading of LV leads to the reduction in LV end-diastolic pressure, reduction in pressure in the left atrium, and decrease in the LV thrombus formation risk. Consequently, better conditions for myocardial recovery, with comfortable filling pressures and a better oxygen delivery/demand ratio, are achieved. The combination of VA ECMO and Impella device, also called ECPELLA, seems to be a promising strategy that may bring the improvement of CS mortality rates.
  • 544
  • 07 Oct 2023
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