Chios mastic gum decreases renin levels and ameliorates vascular remodeling in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Chios mastic gum (CMG) exerts robust anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and it affects pathways that are implicated in the pathophysiology of endothelial and vascular inflammation. Aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that CMG administration lowers blood pressure (BP) and improves hypertension-induced target organ damage. 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats were treated with CMG (40 mg/kg body weight/day) for 2-weeks after the establishment of hypertension.

A sirtuin 1/MMP2 prognostic index for myocardial infarction in patients with advanced coronary artery disease.

Background: Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) appears to play a protective role against endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Instead, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) is involved in acute coronary events, by promoting tissue remodeling. This study sought to determine the clinical value of a prognostic index arising from the combination of these two biomarkers for myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with advanced coronary artery disease.