PACAP-38 and PAC1 Receptor Alterations in Plasma and Cardiac Tissue Samples of Heart Failure Patients.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP-38) is a multifunctional neuropeptide, which may play a role in cardioprotection. However, little is known about the presence of PACAP-38 in heart failure (HF) patients. The aim of our study was to measure the alterations of PACAP-38 like immunoreactivity (LI) in acute ( = 13) and chronic HF ( = 33) and to examine potential correlations between PACAP-38 and HF predictors (cytokines, NT-proBNP).

Influencing Factors of Cardiac Adaptation in Adolescent Athletes.

Endurance training-induced changes in left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular parameters have been investigated extensively in adolescent athletes. Our aim was to examine the parameters for adolescent athletes (n=121, 15.1±1.

PACAP-38 in Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Humans and Pigs: A Translational Study.

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a cardioprotective neuropeptide expressing its receptors in the cardiovascular system. The aim of our study was to examine tissue PACAP-38 in a translational porcine MI model and plasma PACAP-38 levels in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Examination of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) as a Potential Biomarker in Heart Failure Patients.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic and multifunctional neuropeptide having neurotrophic, neuroprotective, and general cytoprotective actions in a variety of tissues based on its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Several studies have demonstrated its cardioprotective effects in vitro and in various animal models. However, few data are available on the presence of PACAP in human cardiac tissues and its role in the pathomechanism and progression of different cardiac disorders, particularly heart failure.

Effectiveness and safety of anti-ischemic trimetazidine in patients with stable angina pectoris and Type 2 diabetes.

Unlabelled: Aim & methods: This 6-month prospective, observational, noninterventional, open-label clinical study assessed the effectiveness/safety of trimetazidine in 737 patients with stable angina pectoris and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (OGYI/51534-1/2014).

Results: Trimetazidine-based therapy was effective in stable coronary artery disease, with significant improvements from baseline (p < 0.05) in: number of angina attacks/week (2.

Safety and effectiveness of combined antihypertensive and cholesterol-lowering therapy in high-/very high-risk patients.

Aim: Controlling cardiovascular (CV) risk factors is paramount in reducing atherosclerotic events. This 6-month prospective noninterventional trial assessed the safety and effectiveness of fixed-combination lisinopril-amlodipine plus rosuvastatin.

Patients & Methods: Patients with mild/moderate hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, at high-/very high-CV risk, received lisinopril-amlodipine (10/5, 20/5 or 20/10 mg/day) plus rosuvastatin (10 or 20 mg/day).

Comparison of arterial stiffness parameters in patients with coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus using Arteriograph.

Recently an expert consensus document advised to standardize user procedures and a new cut-off value for carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in daily practice. Our aim was to observe aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIXao) in two high cardiovascular risk groups: patients with verified coronary artery disease (CAD) or with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We also aimed to determine the cut-off values for PWVao, AIXao in CAD and T2DM patients using oscillometric device (Arteriograph).

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in RAW264.7 macrophages of malvidin, a major red wine polyphenol.

Background: Red wine polyphenols can prevent cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Resveratrol, the most extensively studied constituent, is unlikely to solely account for these beneficial effects because of its rather low abundance and bioavailability. Malvidin is far the most abundant polyphenol in red wine; however, very limited data are available about its effect on inflammatory processes and kinase signaling pathways.

PACAP immunoreactivity in human malignant tumor samples and cardiac diseases.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic and multifunctional neuropeptide having important roles in various physiological processes. Recent trends in PACAP research point to the clinical introduction of PACAP or its analogs/fragments possibly in the near future. Recently, we have shown the presence of PACAP in human plasma, milk, placenta, and follicular fluid samples.

BGP-15, a PARP-inhibitor, prevents imatinib-induced cardiotoxicity by activating Akt and suppressing JNK and p38 MAP kinases.

In this study, we investigate the cardiotoxic effects of the well-known cytostatic agent imatinib mesylate (Gleevec), and presented evidence for the cardioprotective effect of BGP-15 which is a novel insulin sensitizer. The cardiotoxic effect of imatinib mesylate was assessed in Langendorff rat heart perfusion system. The cardiac high-energy phosphate levels (creatine phosphate (PCr) and ATP) were monitored in situ by (31)P NMR spectroscopy.

Comparison of aortic and carotid arterial stiffness parameters in patients with verified coronary artery disease.

Background: Arterial stiffness parameters are commonly used to determine the development of atherosclerotic disease. The independent predictive value of aortic stiffness has been demonstrated for coronary events.

Hypothesis: The aim of our study was to compare regional and local arterial functional parameters measured by 2 different noninvasive methods in patients with verified coronary artery disease (CAD).

The effect of clopidogrel besylate and clopidogrel hydrogensulfate on platelet aggregation in patients with coronary artery disease: a retrospective study.

Background: Recently several alternative forms of the original clopidogrel hydrogensulfate (CHS) were spread worldwide. A large amount of such drugs turned out to be clopidogrel besylate (CB). Only three studies, involving healthy volunteers, investigated the antiplatelet effect of CB, whereas its attribute remained unexplored in the case of patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Prolactin-releasing peptide regulates cardiac contractility.

High levels of specific prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) binding sites have been found in the myocardium; however, the functional importance of PrRP in the regulation of cardiac function is unknown. In isolated perfused rat hearts, infusion of PrRP (1-100 nM) induced a dose-dependent positive inotropic effect. Inhibition of cAMP catabolism by IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, failed to augment the contractile effect of PrRP.

Human heart mitochondria do not produce physiologically relevant quantities of nitric oxide.

Previous studies raised the possibility that nitric oxide synthase is present in heart mitochondria (mtNOS) and the existence of such an enzyme became generally accepted. However, original experimental evidence is rather scarce and positive identification of the enzyme is lacking. We aimed to detect an NOS protein in human and mouse heart mitochondria and to measure the level of NO released from the organelles.

A novel SOD-mimetic permeability transition inhibitor agent protects ischemic heart by inhibiting both apoptotic and necrotic cell death.

In ischemia-reperfusion injuries, elevated calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT), which plays a pivotal role in mediating damages and cell death. Inhibition of mPT decreases necrotic cell death; however, during reperfusion, the continuous production of ROS may contribute to the temporary opening of the pore and thus the onset of the delayed apoptotic cell death. Based on amiodarone structure, we developed the first SOD-mimetic mPT inhibitor (HO-3538) that can eliminate ROS in the microenvironment of the permeability pore.

[Kinetics of aluminum absorption and serum concentration in chronic renal insufficiency].

After administration of a single dose of an aluminium containing antacid (Tisacid) to eight non dialysis patients in various stages of chronic renal insufficiency, the kinetics of serum aluminium absorption was studied. Serum aluminium peaked at two points of time, aluminium absorption being biphasic in renal patients comparing with monophasic kinetic in controls. At the same time, already at 24 hrs after Tisacid ingestion, the aluminium concentration was almost twice as high as initially even in mild renal insufficiency.