Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) are used extensively in the treatment of arterial hypertension. There is a widespread belief that these drugs contraindicated patients with underlying aortic stenosis due to their vasodilatory effect, which could result hypotension syncope. Nonetheless, may significantly benefit such proven cardioprotect...

In this issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, Mursu et al. have reported the association between flavonoid intake, cardiovascular mortality and ischaemic stroke among a group of participants in the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. After following up 1950 Finnish men for an average time of 15·2 years, they ascertained 102 ischaemic strokes and 153 CVD deaths. They found no ...

DPP4 inhibitors (DPP4i) are a class of newly developed antidiabetic drugs which preserve incretin hormones and promote postprandial insulin secretion. Although the cardiovascular effect of DPP4 inhibition has been substantially studied, the exact role of DPP4 in cardiovascular disease especially in humans remains elusive. Previous small studies and meta-analyses have suggested a benefit in both...

Background. Based on epidemiological data, clinical trials, and meta-analytic reviews, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) seem to be a biological link between depression and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Presentation. Involvement of n-3 PUFAs in depression and CVDs may be associated with a chronic, low-grade, inflammation. We hypothesize that n-3 PUFAs link depression and CVDs vi...

Hydrogen sulfide, an endogenous signaling molecule, plays an important role in the physiology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. Using a mouse model of myocardial infarction, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of the H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). The results demonstrated that the administration of NaHS improved survival, preserved left ventri...

C ardiovascular disease is the main complication experienced by elderly individuals with diabetes (1). Despite randomized trials showing the benefits of individual (2–4) or combined (5) pharmacological treatments of cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes, observational studies have shown suboptimal use of medications (6–8). However, little is known about the use of cardioprotective medication ...

The effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone, also known as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), on the cardiovascular system have been intensively researched since its discovery. Moreover, the actions of urocortin (Ucn) I on the cardiovascular system have also been intensively scrutinized following the cloning and identification of its receptor, CRF receptor type 2 (CRFR2), in peripheral ti...

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. One way to prevent them is by implementing new healthy lifestyle habits such as Mediterranean diet, notable for its cardioprotective properties, attributed extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Objectives: To evaluate beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease. assess importance polyphenols contained in Methodology:...

Plasma levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein)-cholesterol are strongly and inversely correlated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Both clinical and epidemiological studies have reported an inverse and independent association between serum HDL-cholesterol levels and CHD (coronary heart disease) risk. The cardioprotective effects of HDLs have been attributed to several mechanisms, in...

To examine the role of oral Ganoderma spore oil in cardiovascular disease, we used transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice to model pressure overload-induced cardiomyopathy. Our preliminary results demonstrated a potential cardioprotective role for spore oil extracted from Ganoderma. We found that Ganoderma treatment normalized ejection fraction and corrected the fractional shortening gene...