Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents) - Volume 6, Issue 4, 2008

Sodium ion transporters in sarcolemma are involved in numerous vital cell functions, such as excitability, excitationcontraction coupling, energy metabolism, pH and volume regulation, development and growth. In a number of cardiac pathologies, the intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) is elevated. Since [Na+]i and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) are coupled through the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger, these c Read More

The metabolic syndrome (MS) has become a worldwide health problem. It is difficult for patients to follow a diet/exercise regime that would improve their symptoms, therefore the investigation of agents that may deal with its more serious aspects is an important medical field for research. The cardiovascular consequences associated with the syndrome and some of the therapeutic approaches are discussed. The Read More

Rationale. The goal of antihypertensive treatment is to reduce risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Apart from blood pressure lowering per se, also reducing the activities of the renin-angiotensin system and sympathetic nervous system appears to be important. Angiotensin II receptor blocker drugs (ARBs) have provided a useful class of anti-hypertensive drugs. Eprosartan is a relatively new ARB which is chemi Read More

The Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system is dynamic and complex, involving many binding proteins, binding-proteinrelated proteases, and receptors. It has emerged in time as a powerful defence to life processes of many cytotypes, tissues and systems. Mainly in body metabolism, diabetes and cardiovascular system, but also in brain and kidney, IGF-1 plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis, increasing progenit Read More

Investigation of the mechanisms of atherosclerosis has determined that inflammation plays a central role in the development, progression, and outcome of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels increase in patients with ACS. CPR is an important prognostic marker in ACS, following angioplasty, and in the long-term management of post-infarction patients. Although CRP will remain over time Read More

The anthracyclines constitute a group of drugs widely used for the treatment of a variety of human tumors. However, the development of irreversible cardiotoxicity has limited their use. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity can persist for years with no clinical symptoms. However, its prognosis becomes poor after the development of overt heart failure, possibly even worse than ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyo Read More

Weight adapted low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment is recommended as initial anticoagulant therapy of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, in patients with myocardial ischemia or when oral anticoagulation (OAC) must be interrupted peri- operatively. Traditionally unfractioned heparin (UFH) was used as standard short acting anticoagulant, with the therapy monitored by frequent laboratory testing. Read More

Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is one of the key enzymes of the nitric-oxide (NO)/cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway. Located in virtually all mammalian cells, it controls the vessel tone, smooth muscle cell growth, platelet aggregation, and leukocyte adhesion. In vivo sGC activity is mainly regulated by NO which in turn is released from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthases. One of the main diseases of the car Read More

Dimethylated L-arginine analogs have been attracting the attention of both basic researchers and clinicians for 15 years since 1992 when Vallance et al. were first to observe several fold elevations of asymmetric and symmetric dimethyl-L-arginine levels (ADMA and SDMA, respectively) in plasma of hemodialyzed patients. ADMA - in contrast to SDMA - competes with L-arginine at the level of NO synthase with consequent in Read More

Dual antiplatelet therapy represents an important advance for patients with established coronary artery disease. It is an important strategy for patients with acute coronary syndromes and those undergoing percutaneous transcatheter coronary interventions. Clopidogrel effectively inhibits ADP-induced platelet activation and aggregation by selectively and irreversibly blocking the P2Y12 receptor on the platelet membrane. Read More

Physiologic clotting is a defensive action. The new cell-based model of hemostasis proposes three steps - initiation, amplification and propagation - occurring on specific cell surfaces to generate a thrombus in a tightly regulated manner. The initiation phase relies on key players including tissue factor (TF), factor VIIa (fVIIa), platelets, Ca2+, phospholipids, and factor X/Xa (fX/fXa). Exposure of TF on sub-endothelial and other bloo Read More

The sense of touch is one of the most vital; still, it is incompletely understood. We review the afferent function that allows for the relay of sensory information from the periphery (the skin) to the central nervous system. Within this afferent function, we examine the different integrating levels including several candidates for cutaneous transducers, the conduction of the information via the afferent nervous fibres and the trans Read More

Angiogenesis is a complex process that is regulated by pro- and antiangiogenic factors. These factors can emanate from diverse sources including cancer cells, stromal cells, blood and extracellular matrix. Their relative contribution is likely to change with tumor type and tumor site. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is now well confirmed as the primary and the most potent inducer of angiogenesis. To activate cellular Read More

Most cardiac Na+ channels open transiently within milliseconds upon membrane depolarization and are responsible for the excitation propagation. However, some channels remain active during hundreds of milliseconds, carrying the so-called persistent or late Na+ current (INaL) throughout the action potential plateau. INaL is produced by special gating modes of the cardiac-specific Na+ channel isoform. Experimental data accu Read More