Are obesity indices derived by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry capable of identifying postmenopausal females with high risk for coronary heart disease?

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive ability of obesity indices derived by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) regarding coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: DXA total body scans were performed on 71 consecutive postmenopausal women who were referred for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Twenty-four women with CHD diagnosed by MPI were considered as cases, whereas the remaining 47 women with normal MPI results were considered as controls.

Hypertrophic and antihypertrophic microRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their relationship to left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.

MicroRNAs regulate several aspects of physiological and pathologic cardiac hypertrophy, and they represent promising therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease. We assessed the expression levels of the microRNAs miR-1, miR-133a, miR-26b, miR-208b, miR-499, and miR-21, in 102 patients with essential hypertension and 30 healthy individuals. All patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography.

Circulating mesenchymal stem cells in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: This study examines the mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared to healthy individuals. The pathogenesis of myocardial hypertrophy in HCM is not fully understood. MSCs are involved in the process of neovascularization, fibrosis, and ventricular wall remodeling.

Increased mobilization of mesenchymal stem cells in patients with essential hypertension: the effect of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Stem cells have great clinical significance in many cardiovascular diseases. However, there are limited data regarding the involvement of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulation of MSCs in patients with essential hypertension.

MicroRNA-9 and microRNA-126 expression levels in patients with essential hypertension: potential markers of target-organ damage.

MicroRNAs (miRs), as essential gene expression regulators, modulate cardiovascular development and disease and thus they are emerging as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. We assessed the expression levels of the microRNAs miR-9 and miR-126 in 60 patients with untreated essential hypertension and 29 healthy individuals. All patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in hypertensive patients with increased arterial stiffness.

The potential association between arterial stiffening and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with essential hypertension was investigated. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was used to evaluate arterial stiffness in 24 patients with essential hypertension and 19 healthy controls. Blood samples were taken and immunostained with antibodies against the cell surface markers CD34, CD45, and CD133.

Association of sodium and potassium intake with ventricular arrhythmic burden in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: Hypertensive populations suffer from an increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. A high-salt diet appears to be a major factor involved in cardiovascular complications in hypertension. We examined the relationship between dietary salt and potassium, as indicated by urinary sodium (UNa), urinary potassium (UK), and urinary sodium/potassium ratio (UNa/K), and the arrhythmic burden in patients with essential hypertension.

TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression in peripheral monocytes in nondiabetic hypertensive patients: the effect of intensive blood pressure-lowering.

The activation of innate immune receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), participates in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The authors evaluated TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression in the peripheral monocytes of nondiabetic hypertensive patients compared with normotensive individuals and investigated the effect of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP)-lowering. Included were 43 nondiabetic hypertensive patients with essential hypertension who were randomly assigned to an intensive treatment arm, with an SBP target of <130 mm Hg, or a standard arm, with an SBP target of <140 mm Hg.

Ivabradine improves coronary flow reserve in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Although treatment with ivabradine reduces the incidence of hospital admissions for myocardial infarction and coronary revascularisation, there are no data concerning its effect on coronary circulation. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of ivabradine on coronary flow velocity and flow reserve (CFR) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: During diagnostic coronary angiography (baseline), twenty-one patients with stable CAD underwent coronary flow velocity measurements (APV cm/s) in a non-culprit vessel, using a Doppler guidewire, at rest (r) and after adenosine administration to achieve maximal hyperaemia (h).

Early cardiac gene transcript levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with untreated essential hypertension.

Objectives: To assess the expression of early cardiac genes, implicated in the hypertrophic growth response of the adult heart, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with essential hypertension and its relationship to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) parameters and to echocardiographic left ventricular mass.

Methods: Twenty-four-hour ABPM, echocardiography and blood sampling were performed in 62 untreated participants with essential hypertension. Blood samples from 38 healthy individuals were included for comparison.

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.

NT-proBNP response to dobutamine stress echocardiography predicts left ventricular contractile reserve in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and left ventricular (LV) inotropic reserve are major prognostic indexes in heart failure (HF).

Aims: To investigate the relationship between N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) changes in response to dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and the LV inotropic reserve, in HF patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DC).

Methods: We studied 41 patients with DC, LVEF 31.

Endothelial cell function during atrial fibrillation and after restoration of sinus rhythm.

Beat-to-beat variation in blood flow dynamics during atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with evidence of endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present work is to confirm endothelial dysfunction in patients with AF and test the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction is reversible upon restoration of normal sinus rhythm. Endothelium-dependent (flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) and endothelium-independent (nitroglycerin-mediated dilation [NMD]) vasodilator function of the brachial artery were measured using high-resolution ultrasound in 46 patients with persistent AF who were scheduled for internal electrical cardioversion and in 25 control subjects.

Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased neurohumoral activation and reduced exercise tolerance in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: To assess atrial fibrillation (AF) associated differences in proinflammatory cytokines, natriuretic peptide levels and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure (HF) secondary to non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDC).

Methods: We studied 147 NIDC patients, mean age 58.3+/-12.

Early effects of simvastatin versus atorvastatin on oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in hyperlipidemic subjects.

The authors investigated the time-dependent action of atorvastatin and simvastatin on oxidative stress and cytokine levels immediately after the start of treatment. These factors play a role in endothelial dysfunction. Hyperlipidemic patients (n = 132) were assigned to treatment with 40 mg atorvastatin, 40 mg simvastatin, or placebo.

Association of impaired glucose tolerance with increased heart rate and subclinical inflammation.

Introduction: This study was designed to assess possible alterations in heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and circulating serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Methods: Forty-five patients, aged 34-68 years, with IGT were compared with 28 age-matched healthy controls. Using a 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram, we calculated mean HR during daytime (HR-D), night-time (HR-N) and the entire 24-hour period (HR-24h), as well as time domain HRV parameters.

Late left ventricular color M-mode Doppler in the assessment of diastolic dysfunction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

The ratio of early (Ep) to late (Ap) color M-mode Doppler flow propagation through the left ventricle helps in the differentiation between normal and pseudonormal (PSN) filling pattern in patients with preserved systolic function. We studied the value of this index in the assessment of diastolic dysfunction for patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function. We studied 80 patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and 50 control subjects.

Long-term maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with current symptomatic atrial fibrillation: amiodarone vs propafenone, both in low doses.

Study Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of amiodarone and propafenone when used for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) and maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with refractory AF.

Design: Prospective, randomized, single-blind trial.

Setting: Tertiary cardiac referral center.

Plasma Levels of Nitrites/Nitrates in Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation are Increased after Electrical Restoration of Sinus Rhythm.

Introduction: Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) have hemodynamic changes, which impair endothelial cell function resulting in decreased nitric oxide (NO) production. The aim of this work was to assess endothelial function in AF patients before and at various time points after cardioversion.

Methods: Forty-two patients with AF and 21 normal and age-adjusted healthy controls were studied.