Current Medicinal Chemistry - Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents - Volume 3, Issue 1, 2005

Bloodfeeding (hematophagous) parasites have evolved effective means of inhibiting mammalian thrombosis, thereby facilitating the acquisition and digestion of a bloodmeal. To date, specific inhibitors of coagulation and platelet function have been identified from numerous invertebrate species, representing an impressive array of convergent functional strategies. These parasite antithrombotics, in addition to playing a critical rol Read More

The Natriuretic Peptide (NP) family, especially its best-characterized member Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure homeostasis and salt and water balance. Besides their action in cardiovascular physiology, NPs have been described as anti-inflammatory regulators of macrophage function: they have been reported to inhibit the induction of inflammatory mediators, su Read More

The renin-angiotensin system is a key target for drugs combating cardiovascular disease. Angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor type-1 (AT1 receptor) blockers are well known. However, angiotensin peptides can be generated through a number of pathways besides the classic system. This review outlines some of these pathways, their relation to the classic system and the likely effe Read More

Bradykinin and Lys-bradykinin are potent peptide mediators implicated in several physiopathological effects in mammals. They act through activation of G-protein-coupled constitutive B2 or inducible kinin B1 receptors linked to signaling pathways involving increased intracellular Ca++ concentrations and / or release of mediators including arachidonic acid metabolites, NO and EDHF. In the cardiovascular system, the kall Read More

Many women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) smoke; in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), one of the largest interventional studies on HRT to date and which recently had to be discontinued, 50% of the 8,500 women on HRT had smoked before or continued to smoke during the study. Remarkably, there is little knowledge about the impact smoking has on the efficacy and side effects of HRT. However, it has been Read More

Recently published guidelines recognize the relevance of the development of chronic kidney disease in the stratification of risk of the hypertensive patient. Adequate assessment of renal function, including estimation of glomerular filtration rate, is mandatory in order to ensure an adequate evaluation of global cardiovascular risk in the hypertensive patient. The presence of subtle elevations of serum creatinine concentration Read More

Angiotensin II plays a significant role in cell growth and proliferation in model systems and in humans. Numerous studies have shown that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) increases the risk of coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke or transient ischemic attack; all-cause deaths, and sudden death. The use of angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) has provi Read More

Dopamine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension by regulating epithelial sodium transport and reactive oxygen and by interacting with vasopressin, renin-angiotensin, and the sympathetic nervous system. Decreased renal dopamine production and / or impaired dopamine receptor function have been reported in hypertension. Disruption of any of the dopamine receptors (D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5) Read More