European journal of clinical investigation
-
The adult mammalian heart contains a large population of pericytes that play important roles in homeostasis and disease. In the normal heart, pericytes regulate microvascular permeability and flow. Myocardial diseases are associated with marked alterations in pericyte phenotype and function. ⋯ Pericytes may also be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure, by regulating inflammation, fibrosis, angiogenesis and myocardial perfusion. Pericytes are also important targets of viral infections (such as SARS-CoV2) and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiac complications of COVID19. Considering their role in myocardial inflammation, fibrosis and angiogenesis, pericytes may be promising therapeutic targets in myocardial disease.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Apr 2024
ReviewMineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in kidney transplantation.
The fundamental role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension and proteinuria is well established in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are among the primary options for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockage, along with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. ⋯ Even though initial results regarding the role of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist therapy for kidney transplant recipients are promising, there is clear need for large-scale randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up data.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Apr 2024
Review Meta AnalysisThe effect of subcutaneous dulaglutide on weight loss in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Dulaglutide, a subcutaneously administered glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, has been hypothesized to lead to weight loss in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the consequences of its prescription on body weight (BW) and other anthropometric indices, for example, body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC), have not been completely clarified. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effects of subcutaneous dulaglutide administration on BW, BMI and WC values in T2DM subjects by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. ⋯ Subcutaneous dulaglutide administration in T2DM reduces BW, BMI and WC. The decrease in BW and WC was influenced by the dose and the duration of dulaglutide administration. The reduction in BMI was only influenced by the dosage of dulaglutide. Moreover, T2DM patients who suffered from obesity experienced a notable decrease in BW versus T2DM subjects without obesity.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Apr 2024
Review Meta AnalysisChanges in lipid profile and glucose metabolism following administration of bupropion alone or in combination with naltrexone: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis.
Considering the conflicting effects of bupropion on parameters related to metabolic syndrome including glucose metabolism and lipid profile, in this meta-analysis study, we investigated the effects of this drug alone or in combination with naltrexone on glucose metabolism and lipid profile. ⋯ The addition of combination therapies such as bupropion and naltrexone to lifestyle modification can significantly improve glucose metabolism and some lipid parameters.
-
Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Apr 2024
Atrial fibrosis heterogeneity is a risk for atrial fibrillation in pigs with ischaemic heart failure.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Ischaemic heart failure (IHF) remains one of the most common causes of AF in clinical practice. However, ischaemia-mediated mechanisms leading to AF are still incompletely understood, and thus, current treatment approaches are limited. To improve our understanding of the pathophysiology, we studied a porcine IHF model. ⋯ Our results suggest that left atrial cross-regional fibrosis difference rather than overall fibrosis level is associated with IHF-related AF susceptibility, presumably by establishing local conduction disturbances and heterogeneity.