Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology
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J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Sep 2015
Autonomic Remodeling: How Atrial Fibrillation Begets Atrial Fibrillation in the First 24 Hours.
The mechanism(s) of how atrial fibrillation (AF) sustains itself in the first 24 hours is not well understood. ⋯ AF resulted in progressive autonomic remodeling, manifesting as nerve sprouting, sympathetic and vagal hyperinnervation. Autonomic remodeling may play an important role in sustaining AF in the first 24 hours.
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J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Sep 2015
Protein Kinase C Isoforms Distinctly Regulate Propofol-induced Endothelium-dependent and Endothelium-independent Vasodilation.
Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms improve endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and contractile Ca sensitivity in blood vessels. These actions may have opposite effects on propofol-induced vasodilation. This study examines the hypothesis that propofol induces relaxation by enhancing the PKC-mediated nitric oxide synthesis in endothelium and/or inhibiting the PKC-regulated Ca sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle (VSM). ⋯ Downregulation of novel isoforms not only reduced the norepinephrine-elicited contraction but also decreased the magnitude of propofol-induced relaxation. In vascular smooth muscle cells, propofol prevented norepinephrine-elicited phosphorylation of myosin light chain. Propofol can increase the PKC-mediated availability of nitric oxide but inhibit the novel PKC-regulated Ca-sensitization, which provides a novel explanation for the mechanism of propofol-induced vasodilation.
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J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. · Sep 2015
Review Meta AnalysisNeutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin in the Prediction of Contrast-induced Nephropathy: A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis.
The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). ⋯ Plasma/serum and urinary NGAL levels seem to be useful biomarkers in the early prediction of CIN. Moreover, urinary NGAL levels perform better than plasma/serum NGAL.