Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 15, Issue 10, 2009

Nowadays, there is no doubt that cardiovascular risk factors, how ever they may be identified - and there is considerable evidence that permits to assess their role to cause, maintain and potentiate cardiovascular events - are continuously increasing in number and new pathogenetic mechanisms of damage are continuously recognised. The degree of cardiovascular damage caused by risk factors depends on isolated Read More

Cigarette smoking (CS) is a major health hazard particularly for the cardiovascular system and cancer. The mechanisms involved in CS-related cardiovascular dysfunction have been largely debated. CS increases inflammation, thrombosis, and oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. Recent experimental and clinical data support the hypothesis that cigarette smoke exposure increases oxidative stress as a potential mechanis Read More

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the developed world in both men and women. Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are strong and independent vascular risk factors in both genders. Statins effectively decrease LDL-C levels, reduce vascular morbidity and mortality and are an essential component of CHD preventive strategies. However, women are less likely to be pr Read More

The rapid increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide represents a serious health hazard. Obesity predisposes to increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, renal failure. Direct mechanisms link visceral adiposity and the atherosclerosis process through the action of adipose-derived proinflammatory cytokines. In particular, hypertension can be considered the most important cardiovascular risk factor linking obesity t Read More

A large body of evidence supports that the dietary intake of polyphenols - particularly of flavonoids and the specific class of flavonoids named flavanols - might be able to exert some beneficial vascular effects and reduce the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The review of epidemiological and mechanistic studies supports the role of flavonoids, particularly cocoa and tea flavanols, in protecting the cardiovas Read More

Aspirin is the cornerstone of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease. However, several studies investigating the in vitro response of platelets to the administration of aspirin showed this response to be variable, with some patients exhibiting non-responsiveness or resistance. Aspirin resistance may be categorised as either ‘laboratory’ or ‘clinical’. Laboratory aspirin resistance is defined as the failure of aspirin Read More

Atherosclerosis is now generally accepted as an inflammatory disease, characterized by degenerative changes and extracellular accumulation of lipid and cholesterol. The evolving inflammatory reaction plays an important role in the initiation of atherosclerotic plaques and their destabilization, converting a chronic process into an acute disorder with an ensuing thrombo-embolism. Neovascularization has been, also, recognized Read More

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are bone marrow-derived cells, contributing to endothelial cell regeneration of injured vessels as well as neovascularization of ischemic lesions. EPC levels and function are inversely correlated with cardiovascular risk factors, can predict the occurrence of adverse events and atherosclerotic disease progression. Ischemia and inflammation are the primary triggers for EPC mo Read More

In this paper the authors deal with the main imaging techniques available to clinical cardiologists, with a brief overview of biophysical and biological aspects which are of relevance for the assessment of health effects related to the exposure of patients to both ionizing and non ionizing radiation. A main contribute is the reviewing published evidence on biological effects of radiation, trying to compose a balanced issue in order to incr Read More

Imaging and laboratory biomarkers are an essential support to modern practice of medicine, allowing a better identification, severity titration, staging and follow-up of atherosclerosis and heart failure disease. This review provides an overview of imaging, biochemical and genetic biomarkers used in clinical practice and for research purposes in order to evaluate the 4 different aspect of patient vulnerability to cardi Read More

Cardiovascular diseases represent a relevant problem worldwide. Data from World Health Organization (W.H.O.) demonstrate that they are one of the principle causes of death: 30% of all losses of human life throughout the world are due to heart diseases. Such data buries a substantial economic cost considering both the direct component, first of all the national health expense, and the indirect part, such as absenteeis Read More