Differential effect of telmisartan and amlodipine on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma gene expression in peripheral monocytes in patients with essential hypertension.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) play a significant role in monocyte activation, vascular inflammation, and atherogenesis. Angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers are antihypertensive drugs with established efficacy and a favorable safety profile. We investigated the effect of telmisartan--an angiotensin receptor blocker with PPAR-γ agonist activity--and amlodipine on the activation state of peripheral blood monocytes with respect to MCP-1 and PPAR-γ gene expression in hypertensives.

Oxidative stress changes after stent implantation: a randomized comparative study of sirolimus-eluting and bare metal stents.

Background: Although oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathophysiology of restenosis, its role following the implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) is unknown.

Methods: We examined the relation between total peroxides (TP), a marker of oxidative stress, and in-stent late luminal loss over a 6-month follow-up in patients with stable coronary artery disease and compared the results from SES with those from bare metal stents (BMS). We enrolled 75 consecutive patients, who underwent successful PCI and were randomly allocated to SES (n=37) or BMS (n=38).

Extracellular matrix alterations in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation: biochemical assessment of collagen type-I turnover.

Objectives: We investigated whether the serum markers of collagen turnover differed in various forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) and in sinus rhythm (SR) in humans.

Background: Structural alterations and fibrosis have been implicated in the generation and perpetuation of AF.

Methods: Serum C-terminal propeptide of collagen type-I (CICP), C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type-I (CITP), matrix metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 were measured as markers of collagen synthesis and degradation in 70 patients with AF and 20 healthy control subjects in SR.

Vascular endothelial growth factor protein levels and gene expression in peripheral monocytes after stenting: a randomized comparative study of sirolimus: eluting and bare metal stents.

Aims: Although previous studies have indicated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in the vascular-healing process after stent implantation, its effect on in-stent restenosis is unclear. We assessed VEGF serum protein levels and gene expression in peripheral monocytes in relation to in-stent restenosis after implantation of sirolimus-eluting (SES) and bare metal stents (BMS) in a non-blinded, randomized study.

Methods And Results: Forty-two patients (28 men, age 62 +/- 11 years) with stable angina, who underwent elective single-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention, were randomized to SES (n = 21) or BMS (n = 21) implantation.

Reduced systemic inflammatory response to implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Stent implantation causes significant injury to the vascular wall, resulting in inflammatory activation. Although sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) have anti-inflammatory properties, their effect on periprocedural systemic inflammatory response has not been sufficiently investigated. Eighty-one patients with stable coronary artery disease involving severe stenosis of one major epicardial coronary artery underwent coronary angioplasty with stent implantation and randomly received either SES or bare metal stents (BMS).

Amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide predicts ventricular arrhythmogenesis in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Study Objectives: Even in high-risk population groups, not all patients have the same risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Given the emerging data about the amino-terminal fragment of the brain natriuretic peptide prohormone (NT-proBNP) value in heart failure, we planned to evaluate the importance of NT-proBNP levels in predicting the occurrence of malignant arrhythmias in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

Design: Prospective study.