Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery (Discontinued) - Volume 2, Issue 2, 2007

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) size seems to be an important predictor of cardiovascular events and progression of coronary artery disease and the predominance of small dense LDL have been accepted as an emerging cardiovascular risk factor by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. We recently showed increased LDL size or higher levels of small, dense LDL in different categories of patients Read More

Advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) are unavoidable byproducts of various metabolic pathways. They are formed by reactive metabolic intermediates such as methylglyoxal (MG), glyoxal, and 3-deoxyglucosone. These reactive intermediates bind to proteins, DNA, and other molecules and disrupt their structures and functions, which leads to different diseases such as vascular complications of diabetes, atherosclerosis, Read More

Obesity is an increasing health problem not only in the industrialized western countries but, also in the developing countries like India. The adipose tissue specific obese (ob) gene and its peptide product leptin were discovered in 1994. Leptin binding to specific receptors in the hypothalamus results in altered expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides that regulate neuroendocrine functions and energy homeost Read More

In excitable cells such as skeletal and cardiac myocytes excitation-contraction coupling is an important intermediate step between initiation of the action potential and induction of contraction. This process is predominantly controlled by Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via the ryanodine receptor. This very large protein (MW 560 kDa) exists as a homotetramer (∼2.2 MDa) and is expressed in three isoforms: RyR Read More

In recent years male sexual research has increasingly centered on molecular mechanisms operating from the central nervous system to peripheral end-organ levels involved in the penile erectile response. Major progress has been made in the field, and currently a whole host of neurotransmitters, chemical effectors, growth factors, second-messenger molecules, ions, intercellular proteins, and hormones have be Read More

The heart is an aerobic organ, and most of the energy required for the contraction and maintenance of ion gradients comes from oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology associated with atherosclerosis, neoplasia and neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, a great deal of attention has focused on the naturally occurring antioxidant phytochemicals as Read More

Hypothenar Hammer syndrome' (HHS) describes the symptoms and signs produced by thrombosis or aneurysm of the ulnar artery as a consequence of repeated blunt trauma to the hypothenar eminence [1]. We describe a case report of a man presenting with symptoms of ulnar artery thrombosis as result of blunt trauma secondary to his occupation and related patents. Radiological findings and management opti Read More

Objective: To establish a yielding criterion for porcine thoracic aorta. Methods: The thoracic aortas of three healthy pigs were used in order to form three testing groups: Group D, included aortic Dactyl tissues (n=8); Group C, included aortic Circumferential tissues (n=8); and Group L included aortic Longitudinal tissues (n=8). These groups were tested in a uniaxial tension device in order to determine the mechanical properties Read More

The human lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), encoded by the OLR1 gene, is a scavenger receptor that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. LOX-1 activation is an important mechanism that contributes to plaque instability and subsequent development of acute coronary syndromes. Association studies have implicated OLR1 gene variants in myocardial infarction (MI) suscep Read More

Although their specific mechanisms of action are incompletely understood, beta blockers are most likely lower blood pressure and provide target organ protection by several different mechanisms, including inhibition of renin-angiotensine system by decreasing renin release by the jugstaglomerular cells of the kidney, central inhibition of sympathetic nervous system outflow and slowing of heart rate with a decrease Read More

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