Resveratrol against Cardiac Fibrosis: Research Progress in Experimental Animal Models

Cardiac fibrosis is a heterogeneous disease, which is characterized by abundant proliferation of interstitial collagen, disordered arrangement, collagen network reconstruction, increased cardiac stiffness, and decreased systolic and diastolic functions, consequently developing into cardiac insufficiency. With several factors participating in and regulating the occurrence and development of cardiac fibrosis, a complex molecular mechanism underlies the disease. Moreover, cardiac fibrosis is closely related to hypertension, myocardial infarction, viral myocarditis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, which can lead to serious complications such as heart failure, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death, thus seriously threatening human life and health. Resveratrol, with the chemical name 3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, is a polyphenol abundantly present in grapes and red wine. It is known to prevent the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it may resist cardiac fibrosis through a variety of growth factors, cytokines, and several cell signaling pathways, thus exerting a protective effect on the heart.

Takotsubo syndrome (stress-induced cardiomyopathy) in the practice of a nurse

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a disease that entails a transient violation of the systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricular myocardium with subsequent enlargement of the heart chambers, akinesia of the apical and middle segments and normo- or hyperkinesia of the basal segments in the absence of pronounced hemodynamic stenosis of the coronary arteries. To date, there is no reliable information about the pathogenesis, methods of therapy and possible prognosis of this disease, so there is a need for further research.

Evaluation of the diastolic functions of the heart in patients with heart failure after Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

Improvement in systolic functions after CRThas been well-established, but the effect on Left Ventricular (LV) diastolic functions is variable and not well established. The aim of this study is to analyze the improvement in diastolic functions of the heart after CRT. Total 67 cases of Heart Failure (HF) eligible for CRT (mean age, 62.5 ± 11.73 years; 54 males and 13 females) with Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≤35% or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II, III / Ambulatory IV (IVA) were included in the study. LVEF, pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) derived transmitral filling indices (E and A wave velocities, E/A ratio), and peak early diastolic longitudinal myocardial velocity (E´) wave by tissue doppler were measured pre and post CRT and were compared. Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) increased >5% (responders) in 42 of 67 patients (62.6%) which was also associated with a reduction in pulsed-wave Doppler (PWD) derived indices that is E velocity, E/A ratio and E/E’ ratio while in non-responders (LVEF<5%) the E velocity, E/A ratio, E’ did not show significant change but E/E’ reduced significantly after CRT. Left Ventricular Diastolic functions improved significantly after CRT in responders but not in non responders.

Role of the cardiac extracellular matrix in the onset and progression of heart failure

Any cardiovascular disease leads to heart failure (HF) — a complex clinical syndrome, the course of which is probably specified by the influence of cardiovascular factors on cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM).The presented literature data indicate that the cardiac ECM is an important pathophysiological link in the onset and progression of HF. The morphological and electrical remodeling negatively affects the systolic and diastolic functions of the heart. Impaired myocardial blood delivery, cellular maladaptation, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are additional mechanisms of the influence of myocardial fibrosis on HF course.Understanding this role of ECM and the development of algorithms for verifying the individual status of ECM in cardiovascular patients can provide additional data on the course of HF, help to assess the risk of adverse cardiovascular events and effectively control the ongoing pharmacological and non-drug therapy.

Systolic and Diastolic Functions After a Brief Acute Bout of Mild Exercise in Normobaric Hypoxia

Acute hypoxia (AH) is a challenge to the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system, especially during exercise. Research in this area is scarce. We aimed to ascertain whether echocardiographic, Doppler, and tissue Doppler measures were able to detect changes in systolic and diastolic functions during the recovery after mild exercise in AH. Twelve healthy males (age 33.5 ± 4.8 years) completed a cardiopulmonary test on an electromagnetically braked cycle-ergometer to determine their maximum workload (Wmax). On separate days, participants performed randomly assigned two exercise sessions consisting in 3 min pedalling at 30% of Wmax: (1) one test was conducted in normoxia (NORMO) and (2) one in normobaric hypoxia with FiO2 set to 13.5% (HYPO). Hemodynamics were assessed with an echocardiographic system. The main result was that the HYPO session increased parameters related to myocardial contractility such as pre-ejection period and systolic myocardial velocity with respect to the NORMO test. Moreover, the HYPO test enhanced early transmitral filling peak velocities. No effects were detected for left ventricular volumes, as end-diastolic, end-systolic, and stroke volume were similar between the NORMO and the HYPO test. Results of the present investigation support the hypothesis that a brief, mild exercise bout in acute normobaric hypoxia does not impair systolic or diastolic functions. Rather, it appears that stroke volume is well preserved and that systolic and early diastolic functions are enhanced by exercise in hypoxia.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Premenopause: Endothelial and Diastolic Functions With Hyperparathyroidism

The authors have requested that this preprint be withdrawn due to erroneous posting.