BACKGROUND There is controversy over the potential benefits/harms of the usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) as regards the postoperative mortality of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study investigates the correlation between the in-hospital mortality of CABG and the preoperative administration of ACEI/ARB. METHODS Out...

PUPOSE Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of thromboembolism, and is also a predisposing factor to dementia. Our investigation was a retrospective observational study to evaluate whether the usage of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) could reduce the incidence of dementia in patients with AF. METHODS A total of 5221...

We tested the hypothesis that olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) devoid of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist activity, would improve whole-body insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese individuals with elevated blood pressure (BP). Sixteen individuals (8 women, 8 men; age=49.5 ± 2.9 years; body mass index=33.0 ± 1.7 kg/m2) were randomly assigned in a cros...

BACKGROUND In patients with diabetes, albuminuria is a risk marker of end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular events. An increased renin-angiotensin system activity has been reported to play an important role in the pathological processes in these conditions. We compared the effect of aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor (DRI), with that of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on albuminuria ...

OBJECTIVES To conduct a meta-analysis of studies comparing the renoprotective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) combined with either calcium channel blocker (CCB) or diuretic, but not both, in hypertensive patients. DATA SOURCES Pubmed, Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs)...

OBJECTIVE In patients with diabetic kidney disease, it is well documented that RAS blockade is associated with an improved outcome. This observational, multicenter study examined the "real-world" use of ACEI/ARB in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in China. METHOD Data from the China Cardiometabolic Registries on blood pressure, blood lipid and blood glucose in Chinese T2DM patients (CCMR...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) have a more pronounced effect on endothelial function (END) than angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB); however, whether this pronounced effect is more beneficial to patients with insulin sensitivity (IS) remains uncertain. The present study compared the effects of ACEi and ARB on END and IS in patient...

BACKGROUND Nitrates are widely used to treat coronary artery disease, but their therapeutic value is compromised by the rapid development of tolerance. Recently, the renin-angiotensin system has been suggested to play an important role in the development of nitrate tolerance. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixty-four patients with coronary spastic angina were investigated to clarify the effect of angiot...