Impact of the Gastrointestinal Tract Microbiota on Cardiovascular Health and Pathophysiology
Abstract: The microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is an extremely diverse community of microorganisms, and their collective genomes (microbiome) provide a vast arsenal of biological activities, particularly enzymatic ones, which are far from being fully elucidated. The study of the microbiota (and the microbiome) is receiving great interest from the biomedical community because it carries the potential to improve risk prediction models, refine primary and secondary prevention efforts, and also design more appropriate and personalized therapies, including pharmacological ones. A growing body of evidence, alth...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - July 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research

Efficacy and Safety of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients With Coronary Artery Diseases Receiving Oral Antiplatelet Agents and/or Anticoagulants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) plus antithrombotic strategy in patients with coronary artery diseases compared with antithrombotic strategy alone. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese Biomedical Medical Literature databases to retrieve randomized controlled trials investigating PPIs combined with antithrombotic strategy in coronary artery diseases. The primary efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The primary safety outcome was gastrointestinal events. Secondary outc...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - July 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Review Article Source Type: research

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Vitamin K Antagonists for the Treatment of Left Ventricular Thrombus: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials
Abstract: Left ventricular thrombi (LVTs) increase the risk of stroke, systemic embolism, and subsequent death. Current guidelines recommend vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) as first-line treatment for LVT. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used as alternatives to warfarin for the treatment of LVT. However, the efficacy and safety of DOACs versus VKAs remain controversial. Thus, we conducted an updated meta-analysis of DOACs versus VKAs for LVT treatment. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant articles published before December 11, 2021. The ...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Hydrogen Sulfide Diminishes Activation of Adventitial Fibroblasts Through the Inhibition of Mitochondrial Fission
In conclusion, our results suggested that exogenous H2S attenuates TGF-β1–induced AF activation through suppression of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission in a Rho-associated protein kinase 1–dependent fashion. (Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology)
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

CFTR Suppresses Neointimal Formation Through Attenuating Proliferation and Migration of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells
In conclusion, our results indicated that CFTR may attenuate neointimal formation by suppressing PDGF-BB–induced activation of serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 and the JNK/p38/ERK signaling pathway. (Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology)
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Dapagliflozin Attenuates Contrast-induced Acute Kidney Injury by Regulating the HIF-1α/HE4/NF-κB Pathway
Abstract: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) causes clinically acquired nephropathy in patients who undergo coronary interventions. Hypoxic injury to proximal tubular epithelial cells is a pathological mechanism of CI-AKI. Previous studies have shown that hypoxia activates HIF-1α/HE4/NF-κB to enhance renal fibrosis, and the SGLT-2 inhibitor luseogliflozin inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression to reduce the progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of SGLT-2 inhibitors on CI-AKI are unclear. We explored the role of the HIF-1α/HE4/NF-κB pathway in...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Bretschneider Solution and Two Antianginal Drugs Protect Peripheral Tissue in an Animal Model of Hemorrhagic Shock
The objective of the current study is to compare, in a hemorrhagic shock and standard resuscitation animal model, organ damage parameters between placebo and treatment with TMZ, ALO, or HTK. Shock was induced in Wistar rats by controlled arterial bleeding, maintaining mean arterial pressure between 38 and 42 mm Hg for 60 minutes; then, drawn blood was reinfused. Animals were divided into: Sham (n = 4), Control (n = 6), TMZ (n = 7), ALO (n = 9), and HTK (n = 7). At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and tissue harvested. TMZ, ALO and HTK decreased histopathologic damage in heart [Control: 1.72 (1.7–1.77); ...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Knockdown of circ_CDYL Contributes to Inhibit Angiotensin II–Induced Podocytes Apoptosis in Membranous Nephropathy via the miR-149-5p/TNFSF11 Pathway
Abstract: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been verified as vital regulators in various diseases, including membranous nephropathy (MN). Therefore, the role of circ_CDYL in podocyte apoptosis and MN was investigated. The real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression of circ_CDYL, microRNA-149-5p (miR-149-5p), and tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11) in podocytes. In addition, angiotensin II (Ang II) was used to induce apoptosis of podocytes. The apoptosis-related protein expression was quantified by western blot assay. The apoptosis of podocytes was evaluated by ...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

De-escalation of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Updated Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of 21 Studies and 38,741 Patients
Abstract: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended among patients with established acute coronary syndrome. In this meta-analysis, we sought to compare the clinical outcomes between de-escalation versus unchanged DAPT based on both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events for observational studies and net clinical events for RCTs. Four RCTs and 17 observational studies with a total of 38,741 patients were included. Net clinical events were more common with unchanged DAPT than with de-escalation in RCTs [odd ratio (OR): 1.71; 95% ...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Sacubitril/Valsartan Improves Sexual Function and Fibrosis of the Clitoral and Vaginal Tissues in Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Abstract: Female sexual dysfunction is common in hypertension. The effects of sacubitril/valsartan (SAC/VAL) as a potential therapy for hypertension and heart failure have not been studied in relation to sexual function and genital fibrosis in female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Thirty female SHRs were administered VAL, SAC/VAL, or saline. Ten normotensive female Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were included in the control group. We assessed estrous cyclicity and sexual behavior in the female rats. In addition, the morphology of clitoral and vaginal tissues was evaluated by histological analyses. Western blotting ...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Molecular Mechanism of Sevoflurane Preconditioning Based on Whole-transcriptome Sequencing of Lipopolysaccharide-induced Cardiac Dysfunction in Mice
In this study, we performed whole-transcriptome profile analysis in the myocardium of lipopolysaccharide-induced septic mice after sevoflurane pretreatment. RNA transcriptome sequencing showed that 97 protein coding RNAs (mRNAs), 64 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 27 microRNAs (miRNAs) were differentially expressed between the lipopolysaccharide and S_L groups. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that target genes for the differentially expressed mRNAs between the 2 groups participated in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, antigen processing and presentation, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase si...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Ameliorative Role of Fluconazole Against Abdominal Aortic Constriction–Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats
This study demonstrates that fluconazole protects against left ventricular hypertrophy, and it highlights the potential repurposing of fluconazole as a mid-chain HETEs forming enzymes' inhibitor for the protection against cardiac hypertrophy. (Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology)
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

The Adenylate Cyclase Activator Forskolin Potentiates the Positive Inotropic Effect of the Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Milrinone But Not of the Calcium Sensitizer Levosimendan nor of Its Hemodynamically Active Metabolites: An Apparent Conundrum
Abstract: OR-1855 and OR-1896 are 2 hemodynamically active metabolites of the inodilator levosimendan, with calcium sensitizing activity, but their mechanism of action is still not fully understood. It has been previously reported that the positive inotropic effect of levosimendan is not potentiated by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, whereas forskolin does potentiate the effects of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor milrinone. To ascertain whether the active metabolites follow the same pattern of levosimendan, the positive inotropic effects of OR- 1855 and OR-1896 were studied in guinea-pig-isolated papil...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Histone Deacetylase 1 Depletion Alleviates Coronary Heart Disease Via the MicroRNA-182–Mediated Transforming Growth Factor β/Smad Signaling Pathway
Abstract: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) determines the acetylation status of histones, thereby regulating gene expression. HDAC inhibitors have been demonstrated to suppress cardiomyocyte growth in vitro and in vivo. We assessed here whether HDAC1 exerts an aggravating effect on coronary heart disease (CHD). Epigenetic probe array revealed that HDAC1 was overexpressed in patients with CHD. HDAC1 was then downregulated in rat cardiomyocytes, and microRNA microarray analysis was performed to detect downstream targets of HDAC1, followed by chromatin immunoprecipitation validation. HDAC1 inhibited miR-182 expression through d...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Intravenous to Oral Transition of Amiodarone (IOTA): Effect of Various Durations of Overlap on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Cardiothoracic Surgery
The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of varying durations of overlap when amiodarone IV infusion is transitioned to oral administration in cardiothoracic surgery patients. This retrospective, observational, single-center study included cardiothoracic surgery patients who were initiated on IV amiodarone for supraventricular arrhythmia and subsequently transitioned to oral amiodarone. The primary outcome was AF recurrence within 24 hours after IV amiodarone discontinuation. Safety outcomes include occurrence of bradycardia or hypotension while on amiodarone. A total of 184 patients were include...
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology - June 1, 2022 Category: Cardiology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research