Publications by authors named "Lucette Whittom"
Background: We investigated cardiac proinflammatory, mitogenic, and apoptotic signaling events, and plasma biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in de novo adult cardiac transplant (CTX) patients receiving tacrolimus (TAC) or cyclosporine A (CsA).
Methods: One hundred CTX recipients were randomized 1:1 to TAC/CsA in a prospective, randomized open-label multicenter study. Biomarkers of inflammation, immunity, oxidative stress, and cardiac signaling underlying growth and inflammation (extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases [MEK] 1/2 and 3/6, c-Src), and apoptosis and survival (c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases [JNK], Bax/Bcl2, Akt) were assessed at 2, 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks post-CTX.
Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) provide similar biologic effects in model systems and similar clinical impacts in humans. The changes in the cardiac angiotensin system signaling pathways in the human heart in response to ACE inhibitors versus ARBs have been incompletely studied.
Objective: To investigate the effects of ACE inhibitors versus valsartan on the angiotensin II signal transduction pathways in the transplanted human heart.
Article Synopsis
- This study examines how certain genetic variations affect the response to the drug candesartan, which is used alongside ACE inhibitors for heart failure treatment.
- The research focused on the AGTR1 A1166C genetic polymorphism and found that homozygotes for the AGTR1 A1166 allele had a greater initial decrease in blood pressure, while C1166 allele carriers showed better reductions in certain biomarkers after six months.
- Ultimately, the findings suggest that genetic factors like the AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism might help identify patients who could benefit more from adding an ARB like candesartan to their heart failure treatment.
Background: We assessed the effects of candesartan in addition to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on N-terminal pro-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP), systemic markers of inflammation and oxidative stress as well as on glucose regulation in patients with heart failure (HF).
Methods And Results: Eighty patients with HF ages 62.5 +/- 8.
In the present study, we evaluated circulating pro-inflammatory mediators and markers of oxidative stress in patients with decompensated CHF (congestive heart failure) and assessed whether clinical recompensation by short-term inotropic therapy influences these parameters. Patients with worsening CHF (n=29, aged 61.9+/-2.
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