5,058 research outputs found
p66 Shc as the engine of vascular aging.
No full textThe present work is addressing the latest advances made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of vascular aging. Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the common denominator of vascular aging, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. ROS are generated by different intracellular molecular pathways. In view of its role in determining the redox state of the cells and their responses to free radicals, mitochondrial p66Shc protein has been regarded as part of a putative transduction pathway relevant to endothelial integrity. Future efforts should translate our knowledge of the mechanisms of aging and its interaction with risk factors into the development of new therapeutic strategies to prevent age-associated cardiovascular disease
2013 ESC/EASD guidelines on the management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: Established knowledge and evidence gaps.
No full textAdvanced glycation endproducts and plaque instability: A link beyond diabetes
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Is there any memory effect of blood pressure lowering in diabetes?
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[Metformin and left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications]
No full textDespite clear advances in reperfusion therapy and pharmacological treatment, a large proportion of patients with an acute myocardial infarction will die of its consequences. In this regard, it is very important to understand the molecular processes underpinning ischemia-reperfusion injury and occurrence of left ventricular dysfunction, with the aim to develop mechanism-based therapeutic strategies. Experimental evidence indicates that metformin, a biguanide often used in the treatment of diabetes, has favorable effects on left ventricular function. This effect is largely mediated by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key molecule orchestrating many biochemical processes such as glucose uptake, glycolysis, oxidation of free fatty acids and mitochondrial biogenesis. These processes significantly contribute to raise ATP levels and restore myocardial contractile efficiency. AMPK also activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase and promotes autophagy, thus preventing inflammation and cellular death. These basic studies prompted many researchers to test the cardioprotective effects of metformin in the clinical setting. In diabetic patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), retrospective analyses showed that metformin is associated with reduced infarct size as compared to non-metformin-based strategies, implicating beneficial effects beyond glucose control. A recent randomized trial, the GIPS-III study, has postulated that metformin may improve left ventricular function following STEMI even in patients without diabetes. Metformin (500 mg twice/day), administered 3h after percutaneous coronary intervention, did not result in improved left ventricular ejection fraction after 4-month follow-up. Based on these results, it remains unclear whether metformin exerts a cardioprotective effect regardless of glycemic control. Further randomized studies in diabetic and nondiabetic patients are required to address these important questions. The present review critically discusses established knowledge and evidence gaps on the effects of metformin on left ventricular function in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with myocardial infarction
Obesity-induced impairment of pluripotent stem cells: novel insights into vascular repair strategies
No full textTargeting chromatin remodeling to prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetes
No full textDiabetes is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and its prevalence is rapidly increasing worldwide. Despite clear advances in developing effective glucose-lowering drugs, clinical trials have recently shown that intensive glycemic control failed to reduce cardiovascular events in the diabetic population. These findings support the concept that the hyperglycemic environment may be remembered in the cardiovascular system. This phenomenon has been recently defined as "metabolic memory" and may contribute to explain the progression of diabetic vascular complications despite achievement of target HbA1c levels. In this regard, epigenetic changes of DNA/histone complexes are emerging as important modulators of oxidant and inflammatory genes, thus leading to persistent cardiac and vascular dysfunction. Over the last few years, the rapid development of many compounds (i.e. histone deacetylase and histone acetyltransferase inhibitors) able to erase adverse chromatin signatures led to the perception that reverting hyperglycemic damage might be possible and represents an attractive challenge. Here we critically discuss recent evidence supporting the concept that chromatin alterations are key drivers of cardiovascular disease and describe the emerging potential of chromatin modifying agents for the reprogramming of detrimental epigenetic signatures in patients with cardiometabolic disturbances
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