Anti-Diabetic Therapy, Heart Failure and Oxidative Stress: An Update.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) are two chronic disorders that affect millions worldwide. Hyperglycemia can induce excessive generation of highly reactive free radicals that promote oxidative stress and further exacerbate diabetes progression and its complications. Vascular dysfunction and damage to cellular proteins, membrane lipids and nucleic acids can stem from overproduction and/or insufficient removal of free radicals.

Atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients: An update on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system pathway blockade as a therapeutic and prevention target.

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are two cardiovascular (CV) entities that affect millions of individuals worldwide and their prevalence is translated into a significant impact on health care systems. The common pathophysiological pathways that these two share have created an important clinical interrelation, as the coexistence of HF and AF is associated with worse prognosis and treatment challenges. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a critical mechanism in blood pressure (BP) control, was proved to be involved in the pathogenesis of both conditions contributing to their further coexistence.

Pharmacologic Rate versus Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure Patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and Heart failure (HF) constitute two frequently coexisting cardiovascular diseases, with a great volume of the scientific research referring to strategies and guidelines associated with the best management of patients suffering from either of the two or both of these entities. The common pathophysiological paths, the adverse outcomes, the hospitalization rates, and the mortality rates that occur from various reports and trials indicate that a targeted therapy to the common background of these cardiovascular conditions may reverse the progression of their interrelating development. Among other optimal treatments concerning the prevalence of both AF and HF, the introduction of rhythm and rate control strategies in the guidelines has underlined the importance of sinus rhythm and heart rate control in the prevention of deleterious complications.

Digoxin Impact on Heart Failure Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside, derived from the plant Digitalis purpurea. For many years digitalis has been widely used in the treatment of heart failure (HF), owing to its cardiotonic and neurohormonal effects and atrial fibrillation (AF), due to its parasympathomimetic effect on the AV node.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the available evidence on the safety and efficacy of digoxin in patients with HF and AF, by reviewing the pertinent literature.

Prevalence and Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Prognosis in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Patients.

The purpose of this review is to describe the impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the cardiovascular outcomes and prognosis in patients with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC). The pathophysiological basis of TTC is set on the release of catecholamines, occurring post an emotional or stressful event. The cardiovascular system of patients with TTC is affected by the high concentrations of catecholamines, creating the ideal background for the development of AF: inflammation, myocardial stress, and excessive sympathetic activity.

Biomarkers in the clinical management of patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are two cardiovascular diseases with an increasing prevalence worldwide. These conditions share common pathophysiologiesand frequently co-exit. In fact, the occurrence of either condition can 'cause' the development of the other, creating a new patient group that demands different management strategies to that if they occur in isolation.

Atrial fibrillation in patients with systolic heart failure: pathophysiology mechanisms and management.

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) demonstrate a constantly increasing prevalence during the 21 century worldwide, as a result of the aging population and the successful interventions of the clinical practice in the deterioration of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. HF and AF share common risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms, creating the base of a constant interrelation. AF impairs systolic and diastolic function, resulting in the increasing incidence of HF, whereas the structural and neurohormonal changes in HF with preserved or reduced ejection fraction increase the possibility of the AF development.