BACKGROUND The ischemic preconditioning response among elderly patients is known to be lower than in adult patients. Since mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels exert preconditioning effects, we undertook this study to determine whether this attenuated activation of K(ATP) channels influences the reduced responsiveness of elderly patients to ischemic preconditioning. METHODS...

Evidences suggest that the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cerebrovascular diseases related cognitive decline in dialysis patients. As mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, we hypothesized that changes in brain mitochondria occur due to vascular calcification induced by renal failure and the opening of the mitochondrial potassium cha...

Coronary hemodynamics and vasodilatory effects on major epicardial arteries were investigated after a single dose of nicorandil in 22 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for suspected coronary artery disease. Nicorandil, 20 mg, was administered sublingually to 11 consecutive patients and 40 mg to 11 others. Systemic blood pressure decreased significantly without affecting the heart rate...

Although the acute administration of ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel agonists provides a neuroprotection, it is unclear whether similar benefits are found by modulating sympathetic innervation in chronic settings after myocardial infarction. We assessed whether K(ATP) channel agonists can attenuate the sprouting of cardiac sympathetic nerves after infarction. Male Wistar rats after lig...

Dr. Grover’s very kind and complimentary remarks about the recent review [l] on ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers during ischemia and reperfusion are much appreciated. One point, however, causes Dr. Grover considerable concern-this is the citation of (and by implication a presumed agreement with) the comments in the paper by Richer et al. [2]. This paper was critical of the conclusions of...

The coronary slow flow phenomenon is an angiographic finding characterized by delayed distal vessel opacification in the absence of significant epicardial coronary disease. Extensively studied both in the experimental and clinical setting, it was clearly associated with unfavourable clinical outcome and prognosis. Several hypotheses, including embolization of platelet-rich thrombi or atheroscle...

A study of the effect of nicorandil (N-2-(hydroxyethyl)nicotinamide nitrate, CAS 65141-46-0), a potassium channel and guanylatecyclase activator, upon preparations of rat was deferens and uterus, and guinea pig ileum was performed. Nicorandil does not modify rat isolated was deferens responses to noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and potassium. The drug exerts a non-competitive antagonist effect u...

Nicorandil is an antianginal agent with nitrate-like and ATP-sensitive potassium channel activator properties. After activation of potassium channels, potassium ions are expelled out of the cells, which lead to membrane hyperpolarization, closure of voltage-gated calcium channels, and finally vasodilation. We present a uremic case suffering from repeated junctional bradycardia, especially befor...

We report the unusual complication of penile ulceration caused by Nicorandil, a nicotinamide ester used in the treatment of symptomatic angina pectoris.

Carbon dioxide is an important regulator of vascular tone. Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)) activation, significantly blunts vasodilation in response to hypercapnic acidosis in animals. We investigated whether glibenclamide also alters the cerebral and ocular vasodilator response to hypercapnia in humans. Ten healthy male subjects were studied in a control...