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
Matrix Metalloproteinases and Cardiovascular Disease
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of 25 proteolytic enzymes (zinc-dependent endopeptidases) present in the extracellular matrix whose known role is to degrade its structural components. A primary role of these proteases has been that of cleaving extracellular matrix proteins under certain physiological and pathological conditions. Physiologically, they are involved in different processes, mediating different activities of cell proliferation and differentiation and tissue repair, as well as in the mechanisms of apoptosis and angiogenesis, or cell migration.
  • 318
  • 02 Aug 2023
Topic Review
PCSK6 in Cardiovascular Biology and Disease
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 6 (PCSK6) is a secreted serine protease expressed in most major organs, where it cleaves a wide range of growth factors, signaling molecules, peptide hormones, proteolytic enzymes, and adhesion proteins. In the cardiovascular system, PCSK6 acts as a key modulator in heart formation, lipoprotein metabolism, body fluid homeostasis, cardiac repair, and vascular remodeling. To date, dysregulated PCSK6 expression or function has been implicated in major cardiovascular diseases.
  • 458
  • 02 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Redo-TAVR
Within the last two decades, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has transformed the treatment strategy for symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS), representing a less invasive alternative to traditional open-chest surgery. With time, advances in device features, imaging planning, and implantation techniques have contributed to an improvement in safety as well as a reduction in procedural complications. This has led to the expansion of TAVR to lower-risk patients, where TAVR has shown favorable outcomes compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). As TAVR expands to younger and lower-risk patients with longer life expectancies, the need for reintervention for failing transcatheter heart valves is expected to increase. Redo-TAVR has gained increasing relevance in the lifetime management of AS as one of the treatment strategies available for structural valve dysfunction (SVD).
  • 329
  • 28 Jul 2023
Topic Review
HIF2α/ARNT Expression for Ischemic Heart Disease Therapy
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with novel therapeutic strategies urgently needed. Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of IHD, contributing to its development and progression. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are transcription factors activated in response to low oxygen levels, playing crucial roles in various pathophysiological processes related to cardiovascular diseases.
  • 388
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Prejunctional 5-HT Receptors/Mechanisms and Modulation of Neurovascular Transmission
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), or serotonin, plays a crucial role as a neuromodulator and/or neurotransmitter of several nervous system functions. Its actions are complex, and depend on multiple factors, including the type of effector or receptor activated. Briefly, 5-HT can activate: (i) metabotropic (G-protein-coupled) receptors to promote inhibition (5-HT1, 5-HT5) or activation (5-HT4, 5-HT6, 5-HT7) of adenylate cyclase, as well as activation (5-HT2) of phospholipase C; and (ii) ionotropic receptor (5-HT3), a ligand-gated Na+/K+ channel. Regarding blood pressure regulation (and beyond the intricacy of central 5-HT effects), this monoamine also exerts direct postjunctional (on vascular smooth muscle and endothelium) or indirect prejunctional (on autonomic and sensory perivascular nerves) effects. At the prejunctional level, 5-HT can facilitate or preclude the release of autonomic (e.g., noradrenaline and acetylcholine) or sensory (e.g., calcitonin gene-related peptide) neurotransmitters facilitating hypertensive or hypotensive effects. Hence, we cannot formulate a specific impact of 5-HT on blood pressure level, since an increase or decrease in neurotransmitter release would be favoured, depending on the type of prejunctional receptor involved.
  • 398
  • 14 Jul 2023
Biography
Carlos M. Villalón
Carlos M. Villalón was born in Mexico City on November 2, 1959. He completed his studies in Chemistry & Pharmacy (Pharmacist) in 1983 at the National School of Biological Sciences (IPN), and his postgraduate studies at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Cinvestav (M.Sc. in 1986 and Ph.D. in 1988). Between 1988 and 1991 he did a postdoctoral stay at the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterd
  • 483
  • 18 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Multidetector CT Imaging Biomarkers in Shock
A severe mismatch between the supply and demand of oxygen is the common sequela of all types of shock, which present a mortality of up to 80%. Various organs play a protective role in shock and contribute to whole-body homeostasis. The ever-increasing number of multidetector CT examinations in severely ill and sometimes unstable patients leads to more frequently encountered findings leading to imminent death, together called “hypovolemic shock complex”. Features on CT include dense opacification of the right heart and major systemic veins, venous layering of contrast material and blood, densely opacified parenchyma in the right hepatic lobe, decreased enhancement of the abdominal organ, a dense pulmonary artery, contrast pooling in dependent lungs, and contrast stasis in pulmonary veins. These findings are biomarkers and prognostic indicators of paramount importance which stratify risk and improve patient outcomes.
  • 281
  • 11 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Biomarkers of Diagnosis of Acute Cardiorenal Syndrome
An increasing number of patients have suffered from combined heart and kidney dysfunction largely known as cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). A panel of new biomarkers (in plasma and/or urine) and artificial intelligence support systems could aid in the early identification of CRS patients at risk of developing adverse outcomes.
  • 337
  • 03 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Pathophysiology of  Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is an inherited kidney disease which leads to progressive kidney failure. About 5–10% of patients requiring renal replacement therapy are affected by ADPKD. Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients with ADPKD; arterial hypertension (AH) is the first symptom with a very early onset. Anyway, some other cardiovascular abnormalities have been reported in ADPKD regardless of the presence of AH.
  • 394
  • 29 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Etiology of Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects more than 230 million people worldwide. PAD patients suffer from reduced quality of life and are at increased risk of vascular complications and all-cause mortality. Despite its prevalence, impact on quality of life and poor long-term clinical outcomes, PAD remains underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to myocardial infarction and stroke. PAD is due to a combination of macrovascular atherosclerosis and calcification, combined with microvascular rarefaction, leading to chronic peripheral ischemia. Novel therapies are needed to address the increasing incidence of PAD and its difficult long-term pharmacological and surgical management.
  • 333
  • 13 Jun 2023
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