The intrarenal renin–angiotensin system (RAS) has many well-documented pathophysiologic functions in both blood pressure regulation and renal disease development. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the major bioactive product of the RAS. It induces inflammation, renal cell growth, mitogenesis, apoptosis, migration, and differentiation
There is much uncertainty about the eff ects of early lowering of elevated blood pressure (BP) after acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Our aim was to assess the safety and effi ciency of this treatment, as a run-in phase to a larger trial.
Significant advances in our understanding of the ability of nitric oxide synthases (NOS) tomodulate cardiac function have provided key insights into the role NOS play in the regulation of excitation–contraction (EC) coupling in health and disease. Through both cGMP-dependent and cGMP-independent (e.g. S-nitrosylation) mechanisms, NOS have the ability to alter intracellular Ca2+ handling an…
The American and European expert documents recommend transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for inoperable or high-surgical-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. In comparison, efficacy of TAVR is relatively less studied in low- to intermediate-surgical-risk patients. We sought to discover whether TAVR can be as effective as surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low- to inter…
Aortic Valve Disease (AVD) is the most common Valvular Heart Disease (VHD), affecting millions of people worldwide. Severe AVD is treated in most cases with prosthetic aortic valve replacement, which involves the substitution of the native aortic valve with a prosthetic one. In this review we will discuss the different types of prosthetic aortic valves available for implantation and the challe…
Advances in medical care, particularly cardiac surgery, over the past half century have led to significant improvements in outcomes for children with chronic medical conditions. Children with structural heart defects, both genetic and acquired, have seen a profound improvement in survival.1,2 With anticipated adult survival for most children with cardiovascular conditions, an increasing number…
The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) is known to be activated systemically and in local organs in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and other chronic diseases, as well as with age. This activation is strongly associated with organ damage. Many studies have reported the role of RAS activation in cardiovascular disease, and angiotensin II (Ang II) in particular has been identified as a…
Adverse events associated with angiotensin II were infrequent; however, exacerbation of asthma and congestive heart failure and one fatal cerebral hemorrhage were reported. This systematic review supports the notion that angiotensin II has an acceptable safety profile for use in humans
Endothelial dysfunction in coronary arteries is the main pathogenetic mechanism in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF). Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism has important effects on endothelial function. However, angiographic studies investigating the relation between the ACE and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATIIR1) insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism and SCF is…
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as an alteration of kidney function and/or structure lasting for more than 3 months and is a major public health issue. Histo-logically, the severity of CKD correlates with the magni-tude of kidney cortical interstitial fibrosis. Estimation of kidney fibrosis is crucial to assess prognosis and guide therapy in both native and allograft kidneys. Biopsy is …