Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 22, Issue 23, 2015

Improved outcomes of acute cardiac conditions, population aging, prevalent lifestyle-related risk factors, and advances in heart failure (HF) therapy, all have led to an ever-increasing prevalence of HF, currently considered a public health priority in developed countries and a major noncommunicable syndrome in developing regions. Heart failure is a complex syndrome with a host of pathophysiological mechanisms i Read More

Hyperlipidemia is characterized by abnormally increased plasma of any or all lipids and /or lipoproteins and is a confirmed risk factor for the formation of atherosclerosis. Inflammation plays a crucial role in the formation and progression of atherosclerosis and consequently on cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, the effective role of the immune system and subsequently of systemic inflammation is well establish Read More

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an inflammatory disease caused by atherosclerosis. It has been demonstrated that PAD is related to chronic inflammation. While conventional risk factors lead to the pathogenesis and progression of PAD, the role of novel inflammatory biomarkers in relation to PAD is being increasingly recognized. The novel biomarkers for PAD may allow for earlier screening and detection, suppressio Read More

Over the last years, ample data have demonstrated the pivotal role of low-grade inflammation in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It is well established that inflammatory activation, serving either as a substrate, in the chronic phase of atherosclerotic disease, or as a trigger, in the acute phase, increases cardiovascular events. Considering hypertension, the inflammatory process is impl Read More

Inflammation plays a critical role in the atherosclerotic process in various vascular beds, starting from endothelial dysfunction and counting all stages of plaque development. The significant contribution of inflammation in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis has been documented over many years but its contribution to the development of other cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Inflammatory pr Read More

Inflammation has been established as an important determinant of cardiovascular disease progression. Currently, clinical examination, laboratory and imaging tests are invaluable for the diagnosis, prognosis and disease monitoring. Novel inflammatory biomarkers are also used to better restratify patients in risk groups but their potential to guide treatment decisions and management of patients has not been extensively e Read More

Kidney disease, whether acute or chronic, represents a major health hazard. Acute kidney injury (AKI) detection is based mainly on serum creatinine, which is considered to delay prompt diagnosis and management, thus increasing substantially patient morbidity and mortality and prolonged hospitalization. Several biomarkers have been evaluated as early prognostic markers of AKI. However, the vast majority of th Read More

Case-reports have made it evident that both inhaled, percutaneous, intranasal, intraarticular and ophthalmic administered glucocorticoids have the potential to cause life threatening adrenal insufficiency. With few and sometimes conflicting data and study methodology the prevalence of adrenal insufficiency secondary to locally applied glucocorticoids is not clear. Adrenal insufficiency can only be correctly evaluated by a stimulati Read More