Current Vascular Pharmacology - Volume 12, Issue 4, 2014

Although the brain has long been considered an insulin-independent organ, recent research has shown that insulin has significant effects on the brain, where it plays a role in maintaining glucose and energy homeostasis. To avoid peripheral insulin resistance, the brain may act via hypoinsulinemic responses, maintaining glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity within its own confines; however, brain insulin resista Read More

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a world-wide epidemic disease associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Treatment strategies include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods, with varying degrees of success rate all over the world. Pharmaceutical interest in this field is growing, together with patients’ requests for supplementary (or “alternative”) treatments. The knowledge of nutraceuticals beneficial ef Read More

In humans uric acid (UA) is the end product of degradation of purines. The handling of UA by the renal system is a complex process which is not fully understood. To date, several urate transporters in the renal proximal tubule have been identified. Among them, urate transporter 1 (URAT1) and a glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9) are considered of greater importance, as potential targets for treatment of hyperuricemia and the Read More

In 2003, the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure established a definition of a new category of BP levels called ‘prehypertension’ (preHT) that included individuals with a systolic BP of 120–139 mm Hg or a diastolic BP of 80–89 mm Hg. Patients with preHT were considered to be at increased risk for progression to hypertension and in Read More

This review considers drug combinations and newer treatment strategies for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia. Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with an atherogenic metabolic profile and in most studies with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia also have increased incidence of pancreatitis. All types of severe hypertriglyceridemia are associated with a reduct Read More

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance together with progressive loss of beta-cell function. After recognition of gluco- and lipo-toxicity, attention was focused on the preservation and/or restoration of beta cell function, especially at the early stages of the diabetes, with better beta-cell reserve and in the absence of complications. Early treatment of glucotoxicity with insulin was searched by early insulin treatme Read More

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of dyslipidaemia, central obesity, hypertension and/or insulin resistance, is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) type 2 diabetes risk. Different diagnostic criteria for MetS have been proposed but in 2009 a joint statement by several scientific societies was released. Apart from the diagnostic criteria, MetS has also been associated with other risk factors includi Read More

Screening is the systematic use of a test for a health problem or risk factor when no recognized signs or symptoms would indicate the presence of that problem or risk factor. Abnormal glucose metabolism can be documented years before the onset of overt diabetes. Nowadays, prediabetes can be subdivided into impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Substantial number of subjects with either will progress t Read More

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering with statins have had a profound impact on cardiovascular (CV) event rates and accordingly have become an integral component of strategies designed to reduce CV risk. The finding of a residual clinical risk, despite LDL cholesterol lowering, supports the need to develop additional therapeutic strategies for CV prevention. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that targeting the Read More

There is a global epidemic of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance (IR) is etiologic for both metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. IR induces a broad range of toxic systemic effects, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, increased production of advanced glycosylation end products, increased inflammatory tone, as well as a prothrombotic and pro-oxidative state. Pa Read More