Selective COX-2 inhibitors were developed to minimise the adverse gastrointestinal effects seen with conventional NSAIDs and have provided effective pain relief for millions of arthritis patients. Long-term, high dosage use of some COX-2 inhibitors, however, was found to be associated…
Blog Archives
Reprogramming a Heartbeat
Once damaged, heart muscle has very limited capacity for regeneration but scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases have now discovered how to reprogram structural fibroblasts into functioning cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). The team explored the effects of transcription…
Oestrogen – Better Out than In for Cardiovascular Health
Although oestrogen replacement lowers cardiovascular risk in post-menopausal women, treatment is associated with an increased risk of uterine and breast cancer. The increased cancer risk is linked to oestrogen’s action at nuclear receptors but researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center…
Regulating Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol is an essential component of all cellular membranes and is also required for synthesis of vitamin D and steroid hormones. Since it is poorly soluble in water, it is mainly transported through the bloodstream within lipoproteins – complex spherical…
Chymase Inhibitors Could Improve Outcomes for Heart Failure Patients
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are widely used for the treatment of hypertension and heart failure. The beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors in heart failure are believed to be linked to reduced local production of the potent vasopressor, angiotensin II…
Controlling Fat Distribution
Extreme accumulation of fat in muscle tissue is associated with cardiovascular disease and is a contributory factor in insulin resistance and type II diabetes. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms by which fat is taken up from the…
Role for ROCK in Cavernous Malformation
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are irregular clusters of dilated, leaky capillaries found in the central nervous system in around 0.5% of the general population. Although many of those with the condition will never be aware of the fact, for others…
Battle of the Bulge
An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body, which results from weakening of the artery wall. The majority of these occur in the portion of the aorta that passes through the abdomen…
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Linked to Atherosclerotic Damage
Atherosclerosis is caused by a build up of lipids, cholesterol, calcium, and cellular debris within the artery, resulting in plaque formation. This restricts the flow of blood and decreases oxygen supply to target organs, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases…
New Drug Target for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive, debilitating disease characterised by increased resistance in pulmonary arteries, placing additional workload on the right ventricle of the heart. Untreated, the disease frequently results in right ventricular failure and death. Until the 1990s…
