Cardiac sympathetic innervation is critically involved in the regulation of circulatory dynamics. However, the molecular mechanism for the innervation patterning has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that nardilysin (NRDC, Nrdc), an enhancer of ectodomain shedding, regulates cardiac sympathetic innervation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: An increased cardiac troponin T (cTnT) level identifies a high-risk group in patients with end-stage renal disease; however, the mechanism of cTnT elevation remains unclear in such patients without acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, we explored the relationship between cTnT levels and the hemodynamic parameters and the prognostic potential of cTnT in stable patients with chronic hemodialysis (HD).
Methods: We included consecutive 174 patients with HD who were referred for coronary angiography due to stable coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), or heart failure (HF).
Mortality among the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains high because of the very high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as coronary artery disease, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure. Identifying CVD in patients with CKD/ESRD remains a significant hurdle and the early diagnosis and therapy for CVD is crucial in these patients. Therefore, it is necessary for the better management to identify and utilize cardiovascular (CV) biomarkers in profiling CVD risk and enabling stratification of early mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Many methods have been used to assess mitochondrial function. Technetium-99m sestamibi ((99m)Tc-MIBI), a lipophilic cation, is rapidly incorporated into myocardial cells by diffusion and mainly localizes to the mitochondria. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether measurement of (99m)Tc-MIBI signals in animal models could be used as a tool to quantify mitochondrial membrane potential at the organ level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetastasis-associated protein, S100A4 is suggested as a marker for fibrosis in several organs. It also modulates DNA binding of p53 and affects its function. However, the functional role of S100A4 in the myocardium has remained unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling plays an important role in many biological processes. The class IA isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is an important downstream effector of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of persistent activation of PI3K on gene expression and markers of cellular senescence in murine hearts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeart failure is associated with a change in cardiac energy metabolism. SIRT1 is a NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylase, and important in the regulation of cellular energy metabolism. To examine the role of SIRT1 in cardiac energy metabolism, we created transgenic mice overexpressing SIRT1 in a cardiac-specific manner, and investigated cardiac functional reserve, energy reserve, substrate uptake, and markers of mitochondrial function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cachexia, namely body wasting, is a common complication in cases of congestive heart failure (CHF). Although, neurohumoral and immune abnormalities are associated with the condition, precisely how the imbalance of catabolism and anabolism is responsible for the wasting process is not known.
Methods: We analyzed markers of cachexia in Dahl salt-sensitive rats which show marked hypertension with preserved systolic function at 11 weeks and CHF at 17-19 weeks of age.
Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We previously reported renal parenchymal damage in autopsy subjects with stroke or abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between renal histology and clinical characteristics of patients with myocardial infarction (MI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with a change in cardiac energy metabolism. However, the mechanism by which this change is induced and causes the progression of CHF is unclear.
Methods And Results: We analyzed the cardiac energy metabolism of Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a high-salt diet, which showed a distinct transition from compensated left ventricular hypertrophy to CHF.
Background: Heart failure is a typical age-associated disease. Although age-related changes of heart are likely to predispose aged people to heart failure, little is known about the molecular mechanism of cardiac aging.
Methods And Results: We analyzed age-associated changes in murine heart and the manner in which suppression of the p110alpha isoform of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity modified cardiac aging.
Background: Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a diagnostic and prognostic marker in heart failure (HF). Although renal function is reported as an important clinical determinant, precise evaluations of the relationships of renal function with hemodynamic factors in determining BNP have not been performed. Therefore, we evaluated the association of plasma BNP concentrations with LV end-diastolic wall stress (EDWS) in a broad range of HF patients including those with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Primary aldosteronism (PA) may account for as much as 6-20% of cases of refractory hypertension referred to hypertension clinics. Because antihypertensive agents affect the physiologic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, screening diagnostic tests for PA are generally performed after antihypertensive agents are discontinued. However, such tests can be dangerous for patients with severe hypertension or other cardiovascular complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Although the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels may be a strong marker of long-term mortality in HD patients, what plasma BNP levels reflect is not well known in this setting. Therefore, we examined the relationship between plasma BNP levels and the presence and severity of stable CAD based on coronary angiography (CAG) in chronic HD patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Suppressed plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been reported in obese individuals with heart failure (HF). However, the precise mechanism and significance of this relationship in the clinical setting of HF are unknown. Recently, we reported a close association between BNP levels and left ventricular end-diastolic wall stress (EDWS) as the underlying mechanism of BNP secretion; therefore, we investigated the relationship between BMI and plasma BNP levels in HF while adjusting for EDWS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have recognized marked effectiveness for intermittent claudication with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis in two cases of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO). The Case 1 was a 73-year-old man with intermittent claudication of both lower extremities (Fontaine class II), digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed complete obstruction of the left common iliac artery, formation of a collateral to the peripheral portion of the left common iliac artery, and diffuse stenosis of the peripheral portion of the right common iliac artery. Ten sessions of LDL apheresis (LDL-A) improved the walking distance from 100 m before to 600 m after LDL-A treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 69-year-old man had been suffering from recurrent syncope induced by laughter since the age of 58. His syncope was reproduced by head-up tilt testing with isoproterenol infusion and we concluded that his laughter-induced syncope was one type of neurally mediated syndrome (NMS). His daughter also had NMS and her syncope was treated with propranolol.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report a 27-year-old woman with renovascular hypertension, renal infarction, and hepatic artery aneurysm due to fibromuscular dysplasia. The patient was first noted to have renal artery aneurysm and hepatic artery aneurysm at the age of 17. The renal infarction was asymptomatic and was incidentally detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination.
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