Horizons In World Cardiovascular Research

Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Stratification in Heart Failure -The Potential Role of Biomarkers Part 1

Abstract Although there has been significant recent progress in the management of heart failure its associated mortality remains high. A large proportion of these patients die suddenly, termed sudden cardiac death (SCD), mostly from potentially reversible malignant cardiac arrhythmias. Despite the availability of a highly effective treatment in the form of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator […]

Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Stratification in Heart Failure -The Potential Role of Biomarkers Part 2

Serum Biomarkers to Predict Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure The value of serum biomarkers to predict SCD in heart failure has been specifically evaluated in two prospective studies (Table 1) [83,84]. One enrolled patients with chronic heart failure of ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiology [83], and the other post-MI patients [84]. Both demonstrated a significant […]

Pharmacological Therapy in Children with Congenital Long-QT Syndrome

Summary The congenital long QT syndrome (CLQTS) is a genetic channelopathy that affects sodium and calcium kinetics, resulting in prolonged ventricular repolarization. This channelopathy is associated with increased propensity to syncope, malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden arrhythmic death in children with normal cardiac structure. Recently, the published data from the International LQTS Registry have established […]

The Promise of Biological Pacemakers

Introduction In modern day cardiology practice the insertion of electrical pacemaker devices is routine, with an estimated 434 devices being inserted per million people in the United States each year. Although the development of modern pacing devices revolutionised cardiology towards the end of the 20th century, electrical devices remain a palliation, rather than a cure, […]

Stem Cells and Repair of the Heart-Current Limitations and Future Perspectives of Cell-Releasing Epicardial Scaffolds

Chronic heart failure(CHF) has emerged as a major worldwide epidemic. Recently, a fundamental shift in the underlying etiology of CHF is becoming evident, in which the most common cause is no longer hypertension or valvular disease, but rather long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI)[1,2]. The costs of this syndrome, both in economic and personal […]

Cardiovascular Abnormalities as a Consequence of Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischaemia Part 1

Abstract Cerebral hypoxia-ischaemia (HI) results in a multi-faceted complex cascade of events causing cell death and neurological dawmage to the central nervous system. Furthermore, cerebral ischaemia results in cardiovascular complications that can further confound the prognostic outcome of patients. This topic addresses the cardiovascular changes that occur subsequent to an ischaemic insult, regulation of the […]

Cardiovascular Abnormalities as a Consequence of Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischaemia Part 2

Release of Oxidative Stress Markers Anti-oxidant defence mechanisms play an important role in the maintenance of cellular function and survival; aberrations in oxidative capacity have been implicated in conditions of ageing, inflammation and ischaemic reperfusion (IR) injury [53; 92]. The production of free radicals has been recognised to occur following cerebral ischaemia and known anti-oxidants […]

Cardiovascular Abnormalities as a Consequence of Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischaemia Part 3

Circulating Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines Interleukin-4 and IL-10 are mainly secreted by Th2 lymphocytes and monocytes / macrophages and have anti-inflammatory properties [203], possibly by providing a negative feedback mechanism to limit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines following cerebral ischaemia and HI. Previously, IL-10 has been shown to inhibit monocyte / macrophage synthesis of IL-6 and TNF-a […]

The Origin and Role of N-Homocysteinylated Proteins in Cardiovascular Disease Part 1

Abstract The non-protein amino acid homocysteine (Hcy), a metabolite of the essential amino acid methionine, is implicated in the pathology of human cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to its elimination by the remethylation and transsulfuration pathways, Hcy is also metabolized to the thioester Hcy-thiolactone in an error-editing reaction in protein biosynthesis when Hcy is […]

The Origin and Role of N-Homocysteinylated Proteins in Cardiovascular Disease Part 2

Hcy-Thiolactone is Synthesized by Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase in Human Cells As discussed above, the biosynthesis of Hcy-thiolactone via the Hcy editing pathway has been originally discovered in microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli [73] and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae [52]. The first indication that Hcy-thiolactone is a significant component of Hcy metabolism in mammals, including humans, came […]