Clinical trials have reported reduced cardiovascular events with certain antihypertensive agents at a rate that could not be predicted by changes in brachial arterial pressure alone. These findings may be explained, in part, by pleiotropic effects of these agents and modulation of central blood pressures. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which calcium channel blockers exert pleiotropic ...

Successful treatment of hypertension entails not only normalizing high blood pressure, but also addressing the associated risk factors that increase the likelihood of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension often occurs in a setting of insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and a prothrombotic state. A number of epidemiologic studies have shown that the clustering of t...

Fibrosis is a major player in cardiovascular disease, both as a contributor to the development of disease, as well as a post-injury response that drives progression. Despite the identification of many mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular fibrosis, to date no treatments have emerged that have effectively reduced the excess deposition of extracellular matrix associated with fibrotic conditio...

Hypertension is one of the most important and widespread risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Once, combination therapy was traditionally reserved as a third-line or fourth-line approach in the management of hypertension. However, several major intervention trials in high-risk patient populations have shown that an average of 2-4 antihypertensive agents are required to ac...

BACKGROUND The renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is a hormonal cascade that functions in the homeostatic control of arterial pressure, tissue perfusion, and extracellular volume. Dysregulation of the RAAS plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal disorders. OBJECTIVES To review the role of the RAAS in the development of hypertensive cardiovascular disea...

Many epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of dietary polyphenolic compounds is beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Xanthones are a class of polyphenolic compounds that commonly occur in plants and have been shown to have extensive biological and pharmacological activities. Recently, the pharmacological properties of xanthones in the cardiovascular system have a...

Diabetes and atypical antipsychotic agents John Newcomer (St. Louis, MO) discussed changes in adiposity and insulin sensitivity with the atypical antipsychotic agents ziprasidone, risperidone, aripiprazole, quetiapine, clozapine, and olanzapine, addressing the diabetes risk seen during treatment. Among persons with schizophrenia, approximately half are obese, half to three-quarters smoke, 10– 1...

There has been significant progress in the development of new anticancer therapies over the last decade.Targeted therapies, including anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 agents, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have been important components of current treatment strategies. However, many of these therapies have been associated with chemoth...

A trial natriuretic factor (ANF), a 28-amino acid peptide hormone synthesized and secreted from atrial myocytes, has been suggested to play an important role in the regulation of extracellular fluid volume and arterial pressure. Physiological and pharmacological doses of this peptide have been shown to produce natriuresis and diuresis, vasorelaxation, and inhibition or antagonism or both of imp...