Beta-blockers and the treatment of hypertension: it is time to move on tensive treatment was commenced with a beta-blocker than for those who received a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor [rela-tive risk increase (RRI) 30%, 95% CI 11–53%] or a calcium channel blocker (RRI 24%, 95% CI 11–40%). In addition, the risk of death from any cause (RRI 7%, 95% CI 0–14%) and any cardiovascular event (RRI ...

Poisoning with calcium channel blockers and beta blockers are associated with high mortality and morbidity rates, especially in children. Treatment of poisoning with these drugs includes administration of atropine, glucagon, calcium and inotropic agents as clinically needed; and newer approaches like hyperinsulinemic euglycemia and intravenous lipid emulsion therapies. We herein present two ref...

BACKGROUND beta-blockers are routinely prescribed in congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS), but the effectiveness and limitations of beta-blockers in this disorder have not been evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS The study population comprised 869 LQTS patients treated with beta-blockers. Effectiveness of beta-blockers was analyzed during matched periods before and after starting beta-blocker therap...

Placebo-Controlled Trials of Blood Pressure–Lowering Therapies for Primary Prevention of Dementia To the Editor: Hypertension at middle age is a risk factor for vascular and neurodegenerative dementia later in life.1 Because populations are aging, the number of demented patients will grow 2-fold every 20 years, from 24.3 million people in 2000 to 81.1 million by 2040, with 60% living in develop...

BACKGROUND Endothelial dysfunction (ED) frequently precedes cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and is a well-established risk factor of major adverse cardiac events. Beta-blockers are the fundamental drugs used in CVD treatment. METHODS A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials investigating influence of beta-blockers on endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In light of recent evidence suggesting that an upregulation of K+ efflux mediated by outward delayed rectifier (I(K)) channels promotes central neuronal apoptosis, we sought to test the possibility that blockers of I(K) channels might be neuroprotective against hypoxia/ischemia-induced neuronal death. METHODS Membrane currents were recorded with the use of patch clamp r...

We aimed to define the temporal trend in the initial Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) management and outcome during the last two decades in a Middle Eastern country. A total of 10,915 patients were admitted with initial AMI with mean age of 53 ± 11.8 years. Comparing the two decades (1991-2000) to (2001-2010), the use of antiplatelet drugs increased from 84% to 95%, β -blockers increased from ...

OBJECTIVE Platelet Orai1 channels mediate store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE), which is required for procoagulant activity and arterial thrombus formation. Pharmacological blockage of these channels may provide a novel way of antithrombotic therapy. Therefore, the thromboprotective effect of SOCE blockers directed against platelet Orai1 is determined. METHODS AND RESULTS Candidate inhibitors w...

AIM To investigate the effect of substituting beta-blockers with nebivolol on the erectile function of patients suffering from essential hypertension. METHODS Forty-four young and middle-aged men (31-65 years) with essential hypertension visited our outpatient clinic and took beta-blocker treatment (atenolol, metoprolol or bisoprolol) for more than 6 months. All the patients completed a quest...

High blood pressure is a well recognised major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is a primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients aged 70 years or more. A number of studies including STOP-Hypertension-1, SHEP, and MRC II have shown that by lowering blood pressure in the elderly, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced. In fact, treatment of the e...