Endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the development of vascular disease, and it precedes clinically obvious vascular pathology. Abnormal activation of the RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway has been found to elevate vascular tone through unbalancing the production of vasodilating and vasoconstricting substances. Inhibition of the RhoA/ROCK pathway can prevent endothelial dysfunction in a variety of pathological conditions. This review, based on recent molecular, cellular, and animal studies, focuses on the current understanding of the ROCK pathway and its roles in endothelial dysfunction.

Mortality and morbidity are still high in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury leading to myocardial infarction is one of the most frequent causes of the death in humans. Atherosclerosis and generation of reactive oxygen species through oxidative stress is the major risk factor for CVD. From the literature collection, it has been identified that moderate consumption of red wine helps in preventing CVD through several mechanisms, including increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol plasma levels, decreasing platelet aggregation, by antioxidant effects, and by restoration of endothelial function. The aim of this review is to discuss the accumulating evidence that suggests that red wine possesses a diverse range of biological actions and may be beneficial in the prevention of CVD.

Background and Aim: Rheumatic fever is still a common cause of acquired heart disease in children and young adult in many developing countries. The aim was to investigate the role of myocardial involvement in the hemodynamic changes in patients with acute rheumatic fever using cardiac troponin assay and echocardiography. Design: A prospective cohort study was designed. Patients and Methods: Thirty-four children with acute rheumatic fever, 20 with carditis, and 14 without carditis. Level of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and echocardiographic measurement of left ventricular function were the main outcome measure. Results: The level of cardiac troponin in children with carditis was 0.051 ± 0.01 ng/dL, and it was 0.039 ± 0.02 ng/dL in those without carditis. The difference is not significant. In addition, there was no significant difference between the children with carditis and those without carditis regarding left ventricular ejection and shortening fractions. Conclusion: There are no significant echocardiographic measurements abnormalities or cTnT levels elevation suggesting clinically relevant hemodynamic abnormalities due to myocardial involvement during acute rheumatic fever.

Background: To investigate the methods of percutaneous transcatheter interventions for combined congenital heart disease and to evaluate its efficacy in children. Materials and Methods: Thirty cases (ages 3 days-13.5 years, body weight 3-35 kg) that underwent two multiple transcatheter interventions for combined or solitary congenital heart disease were retrospectively analyzed and presented. Results: A total of 61 transcatheter interventions were performed in 30 patients as combined procedures. In 29 patients, two different procedures were combined in the same session, in remaining one patient, combination of three interventions were performed in the same catheter session. Interventions performed in combined procedures were as follows: Coarctation balloon angioplasty in 12 cases, pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty in 10, PDA coil embolization in 10, aortic balloon valvuloplasty in 8, VSD closure in 5, ASD closure in 4, ductal stent implantation in 4, palliative pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty in 3, recanalization and angioplasty of the systemic-pulmonary shunt in 2, balloon atrial septostomy in one, aortic coarctation stent implantation in one, coil embolization of a pulmonary lobar sequestration in one and pulmonary valve perforation plus pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty in one were performed as first or second procedure. There was no mortality or major morbidity in relation to combined procedures. Conclusion: Multiple transcatheter interventions in the same session are feasible, safe and effective with satisfactory good results. Second intervention may be performed as complementary procedure or independently to the first intervention.

Background and Aim: Increased xanthine oxidase (XO) activity may contribute to heart failure pathophysiology. This study evaluated whether a XO inhibitor, allopurinol produces clinical and functional benefits in patients with New York Heart Association functional class III to IV heart failure due to systolic dysfunction receiving optimal medical therapy as estimated by global left myocardial function. Patients and Methods: Fifty-nine patients with a diagnosis of chronic heart failure due to coronary heart disease or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 20 healthy controls who attended the outpatient clinic of cardiology were subjected to full echocardiographic study including left ventricular diastolic and systolic function, and the combined index of myocardial performance [Tei index: isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) + isovolumetric contraction time (ICT)/ejection time (ET)]. Patients were randomized to allopurinol (300 mg/day) or placebo. Improvement at 36 weeks was assessed using a composite end point comprising global left cardiac function as well as heart failure morbidity and mortality. Results: The percentage of patients characterized as improved, unchanged, or worsened did not differ between those receiving allopurinol or placebo. Allopurinol reduced serum uric acid (SUA) by 1.5 mg/dL (P = 0.001). In a subgroup analysis, patients with elevated SUA (more than 7mg/ dL) responded favorably to allopurinol whereas those with SUA less than 7mg/dL exhibited a trend toward no change. In addition, SUA reduction to allopurinol correlated with favorable clinical and functional response. Within the entire allopurinol patient cohort, those characterized as either improved or unchanged had significantly greater reductions in SUA compared with patients who did not change (P = 0.0007). In placebo patients, lower baseline SUA, but not change in SUA, correlated with improved clinical outcome. Conclusions: Allopurinol did not produce significant clinical and functional improvement in unselected patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure. However, it is suggested that it is useful in patients with elevated SUA in a manner according to degree of SUA reduction. SUA may serve as a valuable biomarker to target heart failure therapy.

Background: Although hypertension is, in most cases, a controllable major risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, studies have demonstrated that hypertension remains poorly controlled in Portugal. Our aim was to evaluate the covariates associated with poor blood pressure (BP) control in a Portuguese hypertensive population. Patients and Results: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a hospital hypertension outpatient clinic, located in the Eastern Central Region of Portugal. Patients attending the clinic from July to September 2009 were asked to participate in a structured interview including medication adherence and knowledge about hypertension. Eligible participants were all adults aged 18 or over with an established diagnosis of arterial hypertension and had been on antihypertensive drug treatment for at least 6 months. Exclusion criteria were dementia, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Detailed clinical information was prospectively obtained from medical records. A total of 197 patients meeting the inclusion criteria and consenting to participate completed the interview. Of these, only 33.0% had their BP controlled according to the JNC 7 guidelines. Logistic regression analysis revealed three independent predictors of poor BP control: living alone (OR = 5.3, P = 0.004), medication nonadherence (OR = 4.8, P < 0.001), and diabetes (OR = 4.4, P = 0.011). Predictors of medication nonadherence were: unawareness of target BP values (OR = 3.7, P < 0.001), a report of drug side effects (OR = 3.7, P = 0.002), lack of BP monitoring (OR = 2.5, P = 0.015) and unawareness of medication indications (OR = 2.4, P = 0.021), and of hypertension risks (OR = 2.1, P = 0.026). Conclusions: Poor medication adherence, lack of information about hypertension, and side effects should be considered as possible underlying causes of uncontrolled BP and must be addressed in any intervention aimed to improve BP control.

The very unusual case of a 35-year-old obese male patient with a left ventricular (LV) thrombus secondary to a silent myocardial infarction and resultant shower emboli to multiple arterial sites is described. His presentation with acute limb ischemia led to arterial imaging and the identification of the underlying cardiac pathology in addition to splenic and bilateral renal infarcts. He was also found to suffer from previously undiagnosed hypertension. He underwent femoral embolectomy and multiple arterial revascularization attempts but required bilateral above knee amputations and a prolonged intensive care unit stay. This rare and extreme example of a LV thrombus in a young male emphasizes the potential sequellae of the condition. Furthermore, with the increasing incidence of obesity this case demonstrates the importance of considering undiagnosed cardiovascular risk factors when assessing obese patients.

Aortico-left ventricular tunnel is extremely rare congenital paravalvar communication between the aorta and the left ventricle. Usually it is treated surgically. In addition to the surgery the tunnel can be closed by percutaneous transcatheter intervention in appropriate patients. We present in this paper 7 months, 10 years, and 1,5 months old three male cases with aortico-left ventricular tunnel that were surgically treated and followed up within 7 years in our clinic.

Modification of atrioventricular node is a usual and necessary operation to cure atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). In this operation, atrioventricular block is the most severe complication and its prevention is of our great concern. This complication always occurs under some special circumstances with potential risk. So, it is very important to realize such conditions, as in this paper. A patient with paroxysmal palpitation for 10 years, aggravating to shortness of breath with chest distress for 1 year; cardiac electrophysiological examination found slow conduction in both antegrade and retrograde paths of reentrant loop, and typical AVNRT could be induced. During effective ablation there was no junctional rhythm. In some special cases, modification of atrioventricular node should not only rely on the junctional rhythm to determine the ablation effect, but also on the time of cardiac electrophysiological examination, as such to avoid the severe complication of atrioventricular block caused by excessive ablation.