Incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 is increased in patients with acute-phase ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with a primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a pilot study
ObjectivesThe incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is assumed to have a cardioprotective effect. It is not known whether GLP-1 levels are increased in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We investigated the GLP-1 levels in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Patients and methodsGLP-1 serum level samples were obtained in 12 consecutive patients presenting with acute STEMI before and 24, 72 h, and 90 days after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
ResultsThe mean GLP-1 levels increased significantly within 24 h after PCI from 27±7.1 to 39.5±11.4 (P (Source:...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - November 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Endothelin receptor blocker bosentan inhibits hypertensive cardiac fibrosis in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats
AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bosentan (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) on left ventricular contractile function, cardiac fibrosis, and oxidative stress in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats.
MethodsMale rats (200–250 g) were assigned into various groups, namely, sham, aortic constriction, aortic constriction+bosentan (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), and sham+bosentan (100 mg/kg). Myocardial hypertrophy was produced by constriction of the abdominal aorta. Four weeks after treatment with bosentan (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg perorally), the left ventricular contractile function was measured using a Mil...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - November 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Renal denervation: an 'upstream therapy' for metabolic disease?
Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) was introduced as a promising technique for the treatment of patients with true drug-resistant hypertension. Increased sympathetic firing has been considered a pivotal pathophysiological mechanism underlying adverse cardiovascular adaptations and metabolic derangements. The cause–effect relationship between metabolic disease and sympathetic overactivity has not been fully understood. It has been hypothesized that reduction of efferent sympathetic drive might be associated with beneficial effects on metabolic surrogates and especially on insulin resistance beyond blood pressure lowering...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - November 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
Human and equine cardiovascular endocrinology: beware to compare
In conclusion, these species differences corroborate that extrapolation of cardiac biomarker data should always be performed with caution and species-specific data should be applied whenever possible. (Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology)
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - November 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis after administration of an intravenous infusion of amiodarone
Amiodarone is a commonly used treatment modality for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, with a well-documented side effect of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT). Most reports on AIT included patients on long-term oral maintenance therapy. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports in the literature of thyrotoxicosis after intravenous infusion of amiodarone. Here, we report the case of a 52-year-old Chinese woman diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who reverted to normal sinus rhythm after an intravenous infusion of amiodarone (1050 mg) and after 4 days developed hyperthyroidism. She was discharged on oral propr...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - August 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Case report Source Type: research
Growth hormone axis in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction
We investigated the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/growth hormone (GH) axis in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). This was a prospective study that was carried out in 2010. The study included an analysis of levels of GH, insulin, IGF-1, and its binding protein (IGFBP-3) in 43 patients with STEMI, 30 patients with NSTEMI, and 30 healthy individuals (control group). Blood samples for all analyses were taken within 24 h of admission. We found lower IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels and higher GH, C-reactive protein, glucose, and glycol glycosylated hemogl...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - August 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Short report Source Type: research
Cardiac function in offspring of women with diabetes using fetal ECG, umbilical cord blood pro-BNP, and neonatal interventricular septal thickness
ConclusionIncreased umbilical cord blood pro-BNP is associated with echocardiographic signs of cardiomyopathy and with lower umbilical cord blood pH. (Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology)
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - August 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
Estriol, a stimulator of nitric oxide synthesis in platelets, and its role as the powerful inhibitor of platelet aggregation
Women, before menopause, are known to be resistant to the development of acute ischemic heart disease (AIHD). As the inhibition of platelet aggregation is reported to prevent incidences of AIHD, the effects of estradiol and estriol on ADP-induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma were determined. It was found that it was not estradiol, the most potent estrogenic hormone, but estriol, less potent than estradiol, that had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.6 nmol/l for 100% inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. In contrast, the MIC of estradiol was 2.0 nmol/l (P (Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology)
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - August 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
The cardiovascular complications of licorice
Licorice is a US Food and Drug Administration approved food supplement present in various forms without strict policies to regulate its consumption and to prevent toxicity. It is widely utilized as a sweetener, a thirst quencher, in various candies and drinks, and has some medicinal applications. The health benefits of licorice are minor compared to the adverse outcomes of chronic use which is never justified nor recommended. The long-established belief among the community that licorice is a natural healthy substance free of side effects promotes its liberal consumption and predisposition to toxicity. This merits further n...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - August 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
Circulating signal peptides: more than just a bus ticket?
It is well documented that signal peptides (SPs) play an important role in the cellular processing and secretion of peptides and proteins. During translation-associated translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum, SP are cleaved from the nascent proprotein and, with a few notable exceptions, it has been generally assumed that the SP is then destroyed or recycled. Thus, like a bus ticket, the SP is considered to have served its purpose in the endoplasmic reticulum, allowing protein transport and secretion to proceed and is of no real further use. In this short review, we present evidence that this view may require reassess...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - August 10, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review articles Source Type: research
On the nature of depression: cardiovascular light for a shady condition
No abstract available (Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology)
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - May 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Viewpoint Source Type: research
Dural sinus thrombosis due to hormonal contraception
Headache is a common complaint encountered in outpatient clinics and emergency rooms. It can be due to a wide variety of causes, ranging from a simple tension headache to more serious intracranial pathologies. Dural sinus thrombosis is an uncommon cause of headache that rarely complicates the use of hormonal contraception. Herein, we present a 42-year-old woman with a 2-month history of headache resistant to usual treatment regimens. The recent introduction of monthly injections of combined estrogen and progesterone for contraception provoked further workup that confirmed the presence of dural sinus thrombosis. Warfarin th...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - May 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Short report Source Type: research
Stress cardiomyopathy in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
We report on a 13-year-old boy who presented with severe DKA and developed chest pain, with elevated cardiac enzymes and ST-segment changes on ECG on the third day of hospitalization. Cardiac MRI suggested stress cardiomyopathy. The patient was discharged home after complete uneventful recovery and on follow-up remains asymptomatic with normal echocardiogram results and cardiac enzyme levels. Although rare, stress cardiomyopathy may occur with severe DKA, and it is important that physicians remain vigilant in this regard. (Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology)
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - May 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Case report Source Type: research
Prevalence of and trends in metabolic syndrome and associated cardiovascular risk factors among US adolescents between 1999 and 2008
We examined the prevalence of and trends in MetS and its associated CVD risk factors in a nationally-representative sample of adolescents in the USA between 1999 and 2008.
Methods: Eleven thousand and twenty four adolescents aged between 10 and 18 years (49% girls, 15% African–American, 17% Hispanic) were included from five 2-year survey periods of the cross-sectional 1999–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We examined the prevalence of MetS according to a modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition, requiring three or more of the following criteria to be ful...
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - May 17, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original article Source Type: research
The association between hemoglobin A1C values and deep sternal wound infections in diabetes patients undergoing cardiac surgery
Conclusion: In cardiac surgery patients with DM, despite standardized control of immediate postoperative hyperglycemia, a high preoperative A1C was associated with an increased incidence of DSWI. (Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology)
Source: Cardiovascular Endocrinology - February 26, 2013 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research
