Platelet-Derived Drug Targets and Biomarkers of Ischemic Stroke-The First Dynamic Human LC-MS Proteomic Study.

(1) Objective: The aim of this dynamic LC-MS (liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry) human platelet proteomic study was to identify the potential proteins candidates for biomarkers of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), their changes during the acute phase of stroke and to define potential novel drug targets. (2) Methods: A total of 32 patients (18-80 years old) were investigated that presented symptoms of AIS lasting less than 24 h from the onset, confirmed by neurological examination and/or new cerebral ischemia visualized in the CT (computed-tomography) scans. The analysis of platelet proteome was performed using LC-MS at baseline, and then on the third and seventh day from the onset of symptoms.

Effect of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Reactivity on Endothelial Function and Modulative Role of Valsartan in Male Subjects with Essential Hypertension.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system activity and reactivity, and the endothelial function profile in normotensive subjects (N), and in essential hypertensives (H), followed by analysis of the modulatory role of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB): valsartan, administered in the management of hypertension.

Methods: A total of 101 male subjects were enrolled to the study: 31H and 70N. The nitric-oxide (NO) bioavailability (l-Arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), endothelial vasodilative function (flow mediated dilation (FMD)), oxidative-stress markers (malonyldialdehyde (MDA), thiol index (GSH/GSSG), nitrotyrozine (-Tyr)), and pro-inflammatory/angiogenic parameters (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, PAI-1, sE-selectin, PAI-1, thromboxane -B2) were assessed at baseline, then after intravenous -l-arginine administration, which was repeated after the 4-day acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) administration (75 mg/24 h).

Cardiovascular risk factors and the concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine.

Background: The most commonly recognized cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) include smoking cigarettes, manifestation of arterial hypertension (AH), hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, manifestation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and the presence of overweight or obesity. In recent years, investigations have documented the significance of asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration (ADMA) in the pathogenesis of diseases affecting the cardiovascular system.

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the number of CVRF and blood ADMA concentration.

Endothelial Function in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) May Reflect the Clinical Outcome.

Endothelial dysfunction is a common feature of early complications of hemato-oncologic therapy. The aim of our study was to assess the profile of endothelial function at diagnosis time, then during initial treatment phase of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and to verify the presence of its correlation with early clinical outcome (ECO). 28 ALL children and 18 healthy age-matched control ones were recruited.

Interactions between the Cyclooxygenase Metabolic Pathway and the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Systems: Their Effect on Cardiovascular Risk, from Theory to the Clinical Practice.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke are the most common and serious long-term complications of hypertension. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) significantly reduces their incidence and cardiovascular mortality. The RAAS activation plays an important role in pathogenesis of CVD, resulting in increased vascular resistance, proliferation of vascular-smooth-muscle-cells, and cardiac hypertrophy.

Corrigendum to "Low-Level Laser Irradiation Exerts Antiaggregative Effect on Human Platelets Independently on the Nitric Oxide Metabolism and Release of Platelet Activation Markers".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/6201797.].

Low-Level Laser Irradiation Exerts Antiaggregative Effect on Human Platelets Independently on the Nitric Oxide Metabolism and Release of Platelet Activation Markers.

Aim: The goal of the study is to develop a model allowing to investigate precisely the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on platelet aggregation and to verify the hypothesis regarding the role of the nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and platelet activation markers in modulating platelet aggregation.

Methods: A total of 41 healthy volunteers at the age of 21-45 years were investigated. At first, platelet aggregation in response to three agonists (TRAP, ADP, and collagen) was evaluated following previous exposure to different doses of laser radiation ( = 662 nm) to assess the dose-response effect.

Effect of electromagnetic field accompanying the magnetic resonance imaging on human heart rate variability - a pilot study.

The effect of electromagnetic field on cardiovascular system in the literature is defined in ambiguous way. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electromagnetic field on the heart rate variability (HRV) during the examination with magnetic resonance. Forty-two patients underwent Holter ECG heart monitoring for 30 minutes twice: immediately before and after the examination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Effect of endovascular coronary low-level laser therapy during angioplasty on the release of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 are potentially significant factors contributing to the pathogenesis of post-angioplasty restenosis. It may be postulated that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can favorably influence the process of restenosis by affecting those factors.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of LLLT applied during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the factors participating in the homeostasis of vascular tone - NO and endothelin-1.

Effect of Regular Aerobic Activity in Young Healthy Athletes on Profile of Endothelial Function and Platelet Activity.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of regular professional sports activity on the endothelial and platelet function in young men. The studied group were 79 young men (18-40 y, 25 athletes and 54 without any regular physical activity). The nitric oxide (NO) metabolic pathway intermediates, oxidative stress markers, mediators of inflammation, and platelet aggregation were measured.

Effect of the transdermal low-level laser therapy on endothelial function.

The effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the cardiovascular system is not fully established. Since the endothelium is an important endocrine element, establishing the mechanisms of LLLT action is an important issue.The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of transdermal LLLT on endothelial function.

Resistant Hypertension.

Resistant hypertension is a severe medical condition which is estimated to appear in 9-18% of hypertensive patients. Due to higher cardiovascular risk, this disorder requires special diagnosis and treatment. The heterogeneous etiology, risk factors and comorbidities of resistant hypertension stand in need of sophisticated evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and select the best therapeutic options, which should consider lifestyle modifications as well as pharmacological and interventional treatment.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration in persons with essential hypertension.

Introduction: The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentration and development of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Moreover, an attempt was made to define independent risk factors of LVDD in patients with EH.

Material And Methods: A group of 106 individuals with EH was obtained (mean age: 47.

Kidney microcirculation response to adenosine stimulation in renal artery stenosis.

The purpose of this study was to assess the vasoconstrictive effects of adenosine in the kidney microcirculation in hypertensive patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). Twelve patients with resistant hypertension and moderate RAS were selected for the study. In all patients, systolic, diastolic and mean translesional pressure gradients, distal pressure (Pd), aortic pressure (Pa) and Pd/Pa ratio were measured using a pressure guidewire at baseline and after intrarenal bolus administration of 400 μg adenosine.

Endothelial dysfunction in young healthy men is associated with aspirin resistance.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between endothelial dysfunction and aspirin response in a young healthy population (102 men aged 18-40). Initial concentrations of the NO pathway metabolites (ADMA, l-arginine, SDMA), cardiovascular risk markers, oxidative stress markers (MDA, thiol index), sICAM1, sVCAM1, PAI-1, sE-selectin, sP-selectin, VEGF, thromboxane B2, 6-keto-PGF1α and arachidonate-induced platelet aggregation (to separate aspirin resistant from sensitive group) were measured. Flow-mediated-vasodilation (FMD) was measured before and after intravenous infusion of 16.

The Use of Low-Level Energy Laser Radiation in Basic and Clinical Research.

Laser radiation has specific attributes: monochromaticity, high coherence and polarization. These properties result in the extensive use of lasers in medicine. Laser devices can be assigned into three basic groups by means of their level of energy: high, medium and low energy.

Effects of intravascular low-level laser therapy during coronary intervention on selected growth factors levels.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravascular low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on selected growth factor levels in subjects undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Background Data: Restenosis remains the main problem with the long-term efficacy of PCI, and growth factors are postulated to play a crucial role in the restenosis cascade.

Materials And Methods: In a randomized prospective study, an 808 nm LLLT (100 mW/cm2, continuous wave laser, 9 J/cm2, illuminated area 1.

Renal artery stenosis in patients with resistant hypertension.

The aim of the study was to assess the significance of renal translesional pressure gradients in predicting improvement in resistant hypertension after stenting for moderate renal artery stenosis (RAS). In 37 patients with RAS and resistant hypertension subjected to renal stenting, translesional pressure gradients both at rest and hyperemic were measured using a pressure guidewire. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements were performed in all patients on admission and 3 months after the intervention.

Influence of low-power laser illumination on pro-inflammatory response in human endothelial cells stimulated with interleukin-1a.

Background: Regarding recent findings on the proven influence of laser light on healing and endothelial regeneration processes, this study was conducted in order to examine the influence of low-power laser illumination on the endothelial inflammatory response.

Materials And Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) isolated from umbilical cord, cultured in standard conditions, were harvested and passaged in 24-well plates. Laser influence on HUVEC inflammatory response was measured by stimulating them with Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) followed by laser light illumination.

Effect of the intravascular low energy laser illumination during percutaneous coronary intervention on the inflammatory process in vascular wall.

The angioplasty procedure is associated with a release of numerous factors triggering the local inflammatory reaction in vascular wall and leading thus to the restenosis. In this study, we hypothesize that the low-energy laser irradiation may exert beneficial effect by limiting this process. A group of 101 subjects (75 men and 26 women, mean age: 59.

Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine predicts restenosis after coronary angioplasty.

Introduction: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Asymmetric dimethylarginine may influence the process of restenosis after coronary angioplasty. The aim of the study was to determine if initial plasma ADMA level could predict restenosis after coronary angioplasty and stenting.

Subclavian artery stenosis as a cause of acute coronary syndrome in a patient after coronary artery bypass grafting.

We described a case of a 74-year-old man who suffered from acute coronary syndrome 7 years after coronary artery bypass grafting. The patient underwent angioplasty of the obtuse marginal branch of the left coronary artery from venous graft access, which did not result in relief of ailments. Only angioplasty of the narrowed subclavian artery caused an improvement in the patient's condition.

[Thrombosis within the area of muscle bridge as a cause of myocardial infarction].

Muscle bridge with concomitant sclerotic lesions may cause myocardial infarction (MI). We present a case of 70 year-old woman, who suffered from MI due to sclerotic lesion located within the anterior descending artery, right above the muscle bridge. Implanting two drug eluting stents resulted in restoration of proper flow through the vessel, widening the sclerotic lesion and the area of muscle bridge.