Effect of Joint National Committee VII report on hospitalizations for hypertensive emergencies in the United States.

Approximately 1% to 2% of patients with hypertension will have a hypertensive emergency at some time in their life. However, no data are available on the frequency of hospitalizations for a hypertensive emergency after the publication of the Seventh Joint National Committee (JNC7) on the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure. We sought to explore the changes in the frequency of hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality for hypertensive emergencies before and after the JNC7 report.

LOX-1 and obesity.

Obesity is one of the most common lifestyle-related diseases. Being closely associated with insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia, it is also a component of metabolic syndrome and is involved in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular and renal ailments. Obesity is also accompanied with a state of chronic inflammation.

LOX-1 and angiotensin receptors, and their interplay.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in regulating blood pressure, water-salt balance and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the physiologically active mediator and mediates the main pathophysiological actions in RAS. Ang II exerts the effects by activating its receptors, primarily type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R).

LOX-1: a critical player in the genesis and progression of myocardial ischemia.

Myocardial ischemia is the most common cause of mortality and morbidity in the developed countries and rapidly becoming a common malady in the developing countries. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), encoded by the OLR1 gene, is a scavenger receptor that plays a fundamental role in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis and its complications. LOX-1 has been identified as a major receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in endothelial cells, cardiomyocytes and fibroblast.

LOX-1: a new target for therapy for cardiovascular diseases.

There is much interest in the role of oxidant stress in an ever-increasing list of disease states. However, the precise mediator of oxidant stress and the stressor molecule/s have not been identified. Accordingly, trials of inhibitors of oxidant stress in animal models of disease states have met only limited success.

LOX-1 transcription.

The importance of the lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor (LOX-1) gene in cardiovascular and other diseases is slowly being revealed. LOX-1 gene expression appears to be a "canary in a coal mine" for atherogenesis, being strongly up-regulated early on in a number of cell types when they are activated, and predicting the sites of future disease. From this early time point the LOX-1 protein often participates in the disease process itself.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein and atherosclerosis implications in antioxidant therapy.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol is important for cellular function, but in high concentrations, it can lead to atheroma formation. Over the past several decades, it has become abundantly evident that the oxidized form of LDL-cholesterol (ox-LDL) is more important in the genesis and progression of atherosclerosis than native unmodified LDL-cholesterol. Ox-LDL leads to endothelial dysfunction, an initial step in the formation of an atheroma.

Potential involvement of LOX-1 in functional consequences of endothelial senescence.

Numerous studies have described the process of senescence associated with accumulation of oxidative damage, mutations and decline in proliferative potential. Although the changes observed in senescent cells are likely to result in significant phenotypic alterations, the studies on consequences of endothelial senescence, especially in relation to aging-associated diseases, are scarce. We have analyzed effects of senescence on the functions of endothelial cells relevant to the development of atherosclerosis including angiogenesis, adhesion, apoptosis and inflammation.

Oxidized LDL receptor 1 (OLR1) as a possible link between obesity, dyslipidemia and cancer.

Recent studies have linked expression of lectin-like ox-LDL receptor 1 (OLR1) to tumorigenesis. We analyzed microarray data from Olr1 knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice for genes involved in cellular transformation and evaluated effects of OLR1 over-expression in normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF10A) and breast cancer cells (HCC1143) in terms of gene expression, migration, adhesion and transendothelial migration. Twenty-six out of 238 genes were inhibited in tissues of OLR1 KO mice; the vast majority of OLR1 sensitive genes contained NF-κB binding sites in their promoters.

Triad of metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and coronary heart disease with a focus on microalbuminuria death by overeating.

Coronary heart disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and its incidence is rising worldwide. Because atherosclerosis is a chronic process, and it is often associated with certain lifestyle and risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, much emphasis is being placed on lifestyle modification and control of risk factors. It is being recognized that some lifestyle patterns such as overeating result in metabolic syndrome, which may play a role in the development of chronic kidney disease and coronary heart disease.

Prior exposure to oxidized low-density lipoprotein limits apoptosis in subsequent generations of endothelial cells by altering promoter methylation.

Oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) plays a critical role in atherogenesis, including apoptosis. As hypercholesterolemia causes epigenetic changes resulting in long-term phenotypic consequences, we hypothesized that repeated and continuous exposure to ox-LDL may alter the pattern of apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We also analyzed global and promoter-specific methylation of apoptosis-related genes.

Oxidative stress and lectin-like ox-LDL-receptor LOX-1 in atherogenesis and tumorigenesis.

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) has been identified as a major receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in endothelial cells, monocytes, platelets, cardiomyocytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells. Its expression is minimal under physiological conditions but can be induced under pathological conditions. The upregulation of LOX-1 by ox-LDL appears to be important for physiologic processes, such as endothelial cell proliferation, apoptosis, and endothelium remodeling.

Review of contemporary antiarrhythmic drug therapy for maintenance of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common rhythm disturbance seen in clinical practice, and its prevalence and incidence are rising rapidly as the population ages with its attendant complications. Management of AF involves anticoagulation, and fortunately new drugs for long-term anticoagulation are now available. Maintenance of sinus rhythm, though intuitively better than rate control strategy, has not been shown to offer mortality benefit.

Change in mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke in Arkansas (1979 to 2007).

Coronary heart disease (CHD)- and stroke-related mortality rates have been greater in the Southern states than in the rest of the United States. Although a sustained decrease in mortality from CHD and stroke has occurred in the United States during the past 3 decades, it is not known whether a similar decrease occurred in the Southern states. We examined CHD- and stroke-related deaths from 1979 to 2007 in Arkansas and observed a marked and steady decrease in both death rates.

Role of genomics in cardiovascular medicine.

As all branches of science grow and new experimental techniques become readily accessible, our knowledge of medicine is likely to increase exponentially in the coming years. Recently developed technologies have revolutionized our analytical capacities, leading to vast knowledge of many genes or genomic regions involved in the pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases, which are often associated with other genetic syndromes, coronary artery disease and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies and channelopathies. The knowledge-base of the genesis of cardiovascular diseases is likely going to be further revolutionized in this new era of genomic medicine.

Aspirin resistance: Fact or fiction? A point of view.

Aspirin is a wonder drug that has been used for well over 100 years for its analgesic and antipyretic effects. For the past three decades, it has increasingly been used for the prevention of primary and secondary cardiovascular events. Lately, it has been suggested that a significant number of individuals taking aspirin have become resistant to this drug.

Statins and renal disease: friend or foe?

The role of statins in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes, diabetes, or stroke, is well established. However, there are still some questions regarding the role of statins in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dyslipidemia is a known cardiovascular risk factor in individuals without CKD.

Management of dyslipidemia in the elderly population.

The elderly population is increasing worldwide. Despite a major decrease in deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD), this malady remains the major cause of death in elderly men and women. In this paper, we review the role of dyslipidemia as a major known risk factor in the pathogenesis of CHD, age-related changes in lipoprotein metabolism, and differences in changes in lipids that occur in men and women during aging.

Angiostatic effects of aspirin in hypoxia-reoxygenation are linked to modulation of TGFβ1 signaling.

Hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR) is a major driver for angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaques and tumors. Angiogenesis is a multistep process requiring stimulation of proliferation and migration of endothelial cells in response to a number of growth factors, including transforming growth factor (TGFβ1). Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has been shown to reduce atherosclerosis-related events as well as development of certain tumors.

Antiangiogenic and antimitotic effects of aspirin in hypoxia–reoxygenation modulation of the LOX-1-NADPH oxidase axis as a potential mechanism.

Hypoxia–reoxygenation (HR) is a primary driver of angiogenesis in both atherogenesis and tumorigenesis. The main target of hypoxia-driven proangiogenic signaling is adherens junctions responsible for contact inhibition of endothelial cells. We analyzed the effects of hypoxia (8–12 hours) followed by a brief period of reoxygenation (2 hours) (HR) on angiogenesis and integrity of adherens junction in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells as well as the effects of aspirin on modulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells' response to HR.

AAV/hSTAT3-gene delivery lowers aortic inflammatory cell infiltration in LDLR KO mice on high cholesterol.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disorder of arteries. Signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3), an important signal transduction molecule, responds to a number of interleukins (IL) including IL-10, and has a significant immunosuppressive phenotype. Several studies have suggested a correlation of STAT3 expression with a lower state of inflammation.