Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

---

Query: UMLS:C0038454 (stroke)
147,016 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a strong, independent predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Patients with LVH are at increased risk for stroke, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Hypertension is a major influence on the development of LVH. The prognostic power of LVH is likely multifactorial. LVH represents both a manifestation of the effects of hypertension and other cardiac risk factors over time as well as an intrinsic condition causing pathologic changes in cardiac structure and function. Angiotensin II plays a central role in the development of LVH. Several antihypertensive treatments, especially angiotensin II receptor blockers, can reverse LVH and improve cardiovascular outcomes independent of blood pressure reduction. Further studies are required to determine if these agents should become first-line therapy for all patients with hypertension and LVH.
...
PMID:Ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension: prognostic elements and implications for management. 1681 Apr 70

Increased platelet activity plays a key role in atherothrombotic events. Persistent platelet activity has been reported in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) following myocardial infarction and in the chronic phase after ischemic stroke. However, platelet activity in patients with AF remains clear. This study investigated platelet reactivity (expressed by CD62p) in patients with chronic nonvalvular (NV) AF. Expression of CD62p was measured by flow cytometry in 62 consecutive patients with chronic NVAF (defined as sustained AF > 6 months) and no previous embolic events. The CD62p expression was also evaluated in 20 healthy subjects. Expression of CD62p was not different between AF patients and healthy subjects (P = 0.970). Additionally, CD62p expression did not differ between patients with and patients without the following atherosclerotic risk factors: hypertension, current smoking, and hypercholesterolemia (all P values > 0.1). Furthermore, CD62p expression did not differ between patients taking and not taking the following medications: warfarin, a statin, or an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker (all P values > 0.2). However, diabetes mellitus (DM) was strongly associated with increased CD62p expression (P < 0.0001). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that only DM independently predicted increased CD62p expression (r2 = 0.509, regression coefficient = 3.044, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, compared to healthy subjects, CD62p expression was not significantly enhanced in chronic NVAF patients. However, CD62p expression was substantially elevated in diabetic patients with chronic NVAF.
...
PMID:Platelet activation in patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. 1682 43

High blood pressure (BP) is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke and other vascular diseases. Evidence from randomized controlled trials supports the use of antihypertensive drugs to lower blood pressure for stroke prevention. There is some evidence that specific classes of antihypertensive drugs have different effects and/or their pharmacological actions differ in patient subgroups. This review evaluates the development of antihypertensive therapies and the latest studies of arterial hypertension and stroke prevention: HOPE trial (ramipril versus placebo), ALLHAT trial (CCB or/ and Angiotensin-Conventing enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-Is) versus diuretic), LIFE trial (losartan versus atenolol), and PROGRESS trial (perindopril or/and indapamide versus placebo). Despite the results of these relevant clinical trails, some aspects still remain unresolved. Future clinical trials on hypertension and stroke prevention should answer the following questions: Does lowering BP reduce stroke risk due to specific drug effect or class effect? Are angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) better than ACE-Is? Should ACE-Is and ARBs be considered routinely for either high-risk stroke patients or patients with history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, irrespective of blood pressure? What is the role of lifestyle in BP control?
...
PMID:Arterial hypertension and stroke prevention: an update. 1683 41

Atrial fibrillation is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Pooled data from trials comparing antithrombotic treatment with placebo have shown that warfarin reduces the risk of stroke by 62%, and that aspirin alone reduces the risk by 22%. Overall, in high-risk patients, warfarin is superior to aspirin in preventing strokes, with a relative risk reduction of 36%. Ximelagatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, was found to be as efficient as vitamin K antagonist drugs in the prevention of embolic events, but has been recently withdrawn because of abnormal liver function tests. The ACTIVE-W (Atrial Fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial with Irbesartan for Prevention of Vascular Events) study has demonstrated that warfarin is superior to platelet therapy (clopidogrel plus aspirin) in the prevention af embolic events. Idraparinux, a Factor Xa inhibitor, is being evaluated in patients with atrial fibrillation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor-blocking drugs hold promise in atrial fibrillation through cardiac remodelling. Preliminary studies suggest that statins could interfere with the risk of recurrence after electrical cardioversion. Finally, percutaneous methods for the exclusion of left atrial appendage are under investigation in high-risk patients.
...
PMID:Optimising stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. 1702 Apr 34

Diabetes mellitus affects about 8% of the adult population. The estimated number of patients with diabetes, presently about 170 million people, is expected to increase by 50-70% within the next 25 years. Diabetes is an important component of the complex of 'common' cardiovascular risk factors, and is responsible for acceleration and worsening of atherothrombosis. Major cardiovascular events cause about 80% of the total mortality in diabetic patients. Diabetes also induces peculiar microangiopathic changes leading to diabetic nephropathy conducive to end-stage renal failure, and to diabetic retinopathy that may progress to vision loss and blindness. In terms of major cardiovascular events, coronary heart disease and ischaemic stroke are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Peripheral arterial disease frequently occurs, and is more likely to be conducive to critical limb ischaemia and amputation than in the absence of diabetes. Although there are a number of differences in the pathogenesis and clinical features of diabetic macroangiopathy and microangiopathy, these two entities often coexist and induce mutually worsening effects. Endothelial injury, dysfunction and damage are common starting points for both conditions. Causes of endothelial injury can be distinguished into those 'common' to nondiabetic atherothrombosis, such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking, hypercoagulability and platelet activation; and those more specific and in some cases 'unique' to diabetes and directly related to the metabolic derangement of the disease, such as (i) desulfation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of the vascular matrix; (ii) formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and their endothelial receptors (RAGE); (iii) oxidative and reductive stress; (iv) decline in nitric oxide production; (v) activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS); and (vi) endothelial inflammation caused by glucose, insulin, insulin precursors and AGE/RAGE. Prevention of major cardiovascular events with the antithrombotic agent aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is widely recommended, but reportedly underutilised in patients with diabetes. However, some data suggest that aspirin may be less effective than expected in preventing cardiovascular events and especially mortality in patients with diabetes, as well as in slowing progression of retinopathy. In contrast, a recent study found picotamide, a direct thromboxane inhibitor, to be superior to aspirin in diabetic patients. Clopidogrel was either equivalent or less active in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients, depending upon different clinical settings.Recent studies have shown that some GAG compounds are able to reduce micro- and macroalbuminuria in diabetic nephropathy, and hard exudates in diabetic retinopathy, but it is as yet unknown whether these agents also influence the natural history of microvascular complications of diabetes. Lifestyle changes and physical exercise are also essential in preventing cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. Available data on the control of the metabolic state and the main risk factors show that careful adjustment of blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin is more effective in counteracting microvascular damage than in preventing major cardiovascular events. The latter objective requires a more comprehensive approach to the whole constellation of risk factors both specific for diabetes and common to atherothrombosis. This approach includes lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes and smoking cessation and the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), which are able to correct the lipid status and to prevent major cardiovascular events independently of the baseline lipidaemic or cardiovascular status. Tight control of hypertension is essential to reduce not only major cardiovascular events but also microvascular complications. Among antihypertensive measures, blockade of the RAAS by means of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists recently emerged as a potentially polyvalent approach, not only for treating hypertension and reducing cardiovascular events, but also to prevent or reduce albuminuria, counteract diabetic nephropathy and lower the occurrence of new type 2 diabetes in individuals at risk.
...
PMID:Approaches to prevention of cardiovascular complications and events in diabetes mellitus. 1748 45

Hypertension is a high-prevalence disease that may affect several organs. In recent years, data have accumulated indicating that angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may have a supplementary effect beyond lowering blood pressure. The aim of this review is to evaluate the impact of ARBs on the most important complications of hypertension--heart, cerebrovascular and renal diseases, and metabolic complications--based on the findings from large clinical hypertension trials. The results may indicate that ARBs have a superior effect compared with placebo or other antihypertensive drugs in order to prevent left ventricular hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, stroke, renal disease and diabetes mellitus, while there appears to be no blood pressure-independent superior effect of ARBs regarding prevention of myocardial infarction or heart failure.
...
PMID:Complications of hypertension and the role of angiotensin receptor blockers in hypertension trials. 1748 70

Despite the substantial evidence of the benefits of lowering blood pressure, conventional treatment does not normalize the burden of major cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension. Data now suggest that the nature of the antihypertensive agent used may have an important impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes, including stroke. Optimal treatment should provide powerful 24-hour blood pressure control, including during the early morning hours when the risk of stroke is highest. In addition, antihypertensive therapies selected should have positive blood pressure-independent effects on stroke risk. In contrast to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) provide consistent benefits in stroke protection beyond blood pressure lowering. The ARB telmisartan has a particularly interesting profile for stroke management. Selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade and 24-hour blood pressure control with telmisartan provide the potential for improved stroke prevention. This will be investigated in the Prevention Regimen for Effectively Avoiding Second Strokes (PROFESS) study.
...
PMID:Prevention of stroke in patients with hypertension. 1766 93

Heart disease and stroke are the most life-threatening consequences of diabetes mellitus, with mortality rates up to two to four times higher for persons with diabetes vs. those without and accounting for up to 65% of deaths. The cardiometabolic syndrome is a potent indicator of future risk of type 2 diabetes and concomitant increased potential for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Pharmacologic treatment is usually necessary to improve blood pressure and lipids, thereby decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The reduction of cardiovascular and renal risk with type 2 diabetes and elevated blood pressure are compelling indications for thiazide diuretics, blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers. Nevertheless, most patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated blood pressure will require two or more agents to lower blood pressure to the recommended goal of <130/80 mm Hg, and combination therapy may be beneficial. In patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome without type 2 diabetes, the present goal is to maintain BP <140/90 mm Hg, although recent data suggest potential decrease in the progression of prehypertension to hypertension with antihypertensive medication. Furthermore, blockers of the renin-angiotensin system may actually prevent newonset diabetes. It is reasonable for patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease to achieve an optional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal <70 mg/dL, and statin therapy should be considered regardless of baseline LDL-C level. In patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome without type 2 diabetes and calculated moderately high-risk status (two or more risk factors; 10-year risk, 10%-20%), the present goal for LDL-C is <130 mg/dL, with perhaps a therapeutic option of <100 mg/dL, and in patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome at lower risk, the LDL-C goal remains <160 mg/dL. Multifactorial management must be utilized to prevent progression of cardiovascular risk with the cardiometabolic syndrome and the ravages of cardiovascular disease in persons with type 2 diabetes, including antiplatelet therapy with aspirin.
...
PMID:Management of cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as a component of the cardiometabolic syndrome. 1767 32

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability. Inflammation of the vessel wall following neutrophil adhesion to vascular endothelium may contribute to ischemic damage. We studied the effect of a platelet inhibitor and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist: alone or in combination, on the adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cell line in stroke patients. Neutrophils were collected from 12 patients with ischemic stroke within 48 h. Six patients with previous stroke and six healthy volunteers served as control. Neutrophils were incubated with dipyridamole, candesartan or both and allowed to adhere to human endothelial cell line (ECV-304). Adhesion and expression of adhesion molecules (AM) were determined using fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS). Dipyridamole and the combination of dipyridamole and candesartan inhibited significantly the adhesion of neutrophils from ischemic stroke patients as compared to controls with a prominent additive effect. No inhibition was seen in the control groups. These drugs also reduced significantly the expression of the AM Mac-1. Both candesartan and dipyridamole inhibited the adhesion of neutrophils to vascular endothelium in ischemic stroke patients but not in chronic stroke patients or healthy persons. This effect may be related to specific downregulation of Mac-1 by these drugs or other intracellular events.
...
PMID:Modification of neutrophil adhesion to human endothelial cell line in acute ischemic stroke by dipyridamole and candesartan. 1821 78

Antiplatelet effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker have been suggested, but satisfactory results in clinical settings are lacking. We investigated spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) and CD62P levels in patients with hypertension and chronic-stage ischemic stroke. The study comprised 35 patients assigned to losartan (50 mg/day) or telmisartan (40 mg/day) for 4 weeks randomly. SPA was evaluated using laser-scattered light aggregometry and CD62P levels using whole blood flow cytometry before and after treatment. SPA was not significantly reduced after losartan or telmisartan treatment. CD62P was significantly reduced after losartan treatment (P = .016), but no significant differences were noted with telmisartan. These findings suggest that standard doses of losartan display antiplatelet effect as measured by CD62P levels.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis
PMID:Antiplatelet effect of losartan and telmisartan in patients with ischemic stroke. 1784 21


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>

---