AMPK Prevents Palmitic Acid-Induced Apoptosis and Lipid Accumulation in Cardiomyocytes.

Palmitic acid, a main fatty acid (FA) in human nutrition, can induce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. However, a specific combination of palmitic, myristic and palmitoleic acid (CoFA) has been reported to promote beneficial cardiac growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of CoFA for cardiac growth and to delineate the underlying signaling pathways of CoFA and palmitic acid treatment.

Arrhythmia causes lipid accumulation and reduced glucose uptake.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by irregular contractions of atrial cardiomyocytes and increased energy demand. The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of arrhythmia on glucose and fatty acid (FA) metabolism in cardiomyocytes, mice and human left atrial myocardium. Compared to regular pacing, irregular (pseudo-random variation at the same number of contractions/min) pacing of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes induced shorter action potential durations and effective refractory periods and increased diastolic [Ca(2+)]c.

Renal denervation: effects on atrial electrophysiology and arrhythmias.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Currently, atrial endocardial catheter ablation, mainly targeting focal discharges in the pulmonary veins, is the most widely used interventional treatment of drug-refractory AF. Despite technical improvements, results are not yet optimal.

The mineralocorticoid receptor promotes fibrotic remodeling in atrial fibrillation.

We studied the role of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the signaling that promotes atrial fibrosis. Left atrial myocardium of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) exhibited 4-fold increased hydroxyproline content compared with patients in sinus rhythm. Expression of MR was similar, as was 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which also increased.

Anxiety, depression, quality of life and stress in patients with resistant hypertension before and after catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation.

Aims: This study analysed quality of life (QoL), anxiety and depression, headache and stress tolerance in patients with resistant hypertension before and after renal denervation (RDN).

Methods And Results: RDN was performed in 119 patients (age 62 ± 11 years, 55% male) with resistant hypertension (office blood pressure [BP] 165/91 ± 22/15 mmHg), treated with 5.7 ± 0.

Orthostatic function after renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension.

Introduction: Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) reduces local and whole-body sympathetic activity and blood pressure (BP) in patients with resistant hypertension. However, safety concerns exist concerning the development of orthostatic dysfunction after RDN.

Methods And Results: In 36 patients (65 ± 7.

Effects of renal sympathetic denervation on arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics in patients with resistant hypertension.

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RD) on central hemodynamics in patients with resistant hypertension.

Background: High central blood pressure (BP) increases cardiovascular events and mortality independently of peripheral BP. The effect of RD on central BP is unclear.

Heart rate reduction by If-inhibition improves vascular stiffness and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in a mouse model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: In diabetes mellitus, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is a significant comorbidity. No therapy is available that improves cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to characterize myocardial function and ventricular-arterial coupling in a mouse model of diabetes and to analyse the effect of selective heart rate (HR) reduction by If-inhibition in this HFPEF-model.

Update on myocarditis.

Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart frequently resulting from viral infections and/or post-viral immune-mediated responses. It is one of the important causes of dilated cardiomyopathy worldwide. The diagnosis is presumed on clinical presentation and noninvasive diagnostic methods such as cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Heart-focused anxiety in the general population.

Objective: Heart-focused anxiety is a common phenomenon that is related to psychological disorders and cardiac diseases. We investigated heart-focused anxiety in the general population and provided standard values using the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). Furthermore, we assessed the reliability of the CAQ and investigated the influence of social variables on heart-focused anxiety.

Cardiorespiratory response to exercise after renal sympathetic denervation in patients with resistant hypertension.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the effects of interventional renal sympathetic denervation (RD) on cardiorespiratory response to exercise.

Background: RD reduces blood pressure at rest in patients with resistant hypertension.

Methods: We enrolled 46 patients with therapy-resistant hypertension as extended investigation of the Symplicity HTN-2 (Renal Denervation With Uncontrolled Hypertension) trial.

Hotline sessions and clinical trial updates presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm 2010.

This article gives an overview on several novel clinical trials in the field of cardiovascular (CV) medicine which were presented during the hotline sessions and clinical trial updates at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 28th August to 1st September 2010. The data have been presented by leading experts in the accordant field with relevant positions in the trials. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data as the analysis may change in the final publications.

Metabolic switch and hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes following treatment with angiotensin II are prevented by AMP-activated protein kinase.

Angiotensin II induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, but its consequences on cardiomyocyte metabolism and energy supply are not completely understood. Here we investigate the effect of angiotensin II on glucose and fatty acid utilization and the modifying role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key regulator of metabolism and proliferation. Treatment of H9C2 cardiomyocytes with angiotensin II (Ang II, 1 microm, 4 h) increased [(3)H]leucine incorporation, up-regulated the mRNA expression of the hypertrophy marker genes MLC, ANF, BNP, and beta-MHC, and decreased the phosphorylation of the negative mTOR-regulator tuberin (TSC-2).