Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with characteristic structural and functional changes of the myocardium, termed diabetic cardiomyopathy. As a distinct entity independent of coronary atherosclerosis, diabetic cardiomyopathy is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure. A detailed understanding of diabetic cardiac dysfunction, using relevant animal models, is required for the effective prevention and treatment of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients. We investigated and compared cardiac performance in rat models of type 1 DM (streptozotocin induced) and type 2 DM (Zucker diabetic fatty rats) using a pressure-volume (P-V) conductance catheter system. Left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function was evaluated in vivo at different preloads, including the slope of the end-systolic P-V relation (ESPVR) and end-diastolic P-V relationship (EDPVR), preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW), maximal slope of the systolic pressure increment (dP/dt(max)), and its relation to end-diastolic volume (dP/dt(max)-EDV) as well as the time constant of LV relaxation and maximal slope of the diastolic pressure decrement. Type 1 DM was associated with decreased LV systolic pressure, dP/dt(max), slope of ESPVR and dP/dt(max)-EDV, PRSW, ejection fraction, and cardiac and stroke work indexes, indicating marked systolic dysfunction. In type 2 DM rats, systolic indexes were altered only to a lower extent and the increase of LV stiffness was more pronounced, as indicated by the higher slopes of EDPVR. Our data suggest that DM is characterized by decreased systolic performance and delayed relaxation (mainly in type 1 DM), accompanied by increased diastolic stiffness of the heart (more remarkably in type 2 DM). Based on the sophisticated method of P-V analysis, different characteristics of type 1 and type 2 diabetic cardiac dysfunction can be demonstrated.

IPC is the strongest independent platelet count-derived predictor of antiplatelet response to thienopyridine treatment. Given its easy availability, together with its even stronger association with on-treatment platelet reactivity compared with known predictors, including the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism, IPC may become the preferred predictor of antiplatelet response to thienopyridine treatment. (Impact of Extent of Clopidogrel-Induced Platelet Inhibition During Elective Stent Implantation on Clinical Event Rate-Advanced Loading Strategies [ExcelsiorLOAD]; DRKS00006102).

Background and purpose:Patients with diabetes mellitus exhibit generalized endothelial and cardiac dysfunction with decreased nitric oxide production. Elevated intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels contribute to an effective cardioprotection in different pathophysiological conditions. In this study, we investigated whether chronic treatment with the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor vardenafil could improve diabetic cardiovascular dysfunction by up-regulating the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway in the vessel wall and myocardium. Experimental approach: Diabetes was induced in young rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg·kg -1 ). In the treatment group, vardenafil (10 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) was given orally for 8 weeks. Diabetic control animals received vehicle for the same time. Left ventricular pressure-volume relations were measured by using a microtip Millar pressure-volume conductance catheter, and indexes of contractility, such as the slope of end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (Emax) and preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW), were calculated. In organ bath experiments for isometric tension with rings of isolated aortae, endothelium-dependent and independent vasorelaxation was investigated by using acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. Key results: When compared with the non-diabetic controls, diabetic rats showed increased myocardial and vascular transforming growth factor-b1 expression, impaired left ventricular contractility (impairment of Emax by 53%, PRSW by 40%; P < 0.05) and vascular dysfunction. Treatment with vardenafil resulted in higher cGMP levels, reduced transforming growth factor-b1 expression, significantly improved cardiac function (improvement of Emax by 95%, PRSW by 69%; P < 0.05) and greater vasorelaxation to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in aortae from diabetic animals. Conclusions and implications:Our results demonstrate that impaired vascular cGMP signalling contributes to the development of diabetic vascular and cardiac dysfunction, which can be prevented by chronic phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition. (2009) British Journal of Pharmacology

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Prasugrel 60 mg given at the start of a 2-h infusion of cangrelor can provide a sufficient platelet inhibition post-cangrelor. This approach prevents the transient gap in platelet inhibition seen with oral loading after discontinuation of cangrelor. (Impact of Extent of Clopidogrel-Induced Platelet Inhibition during Elective Stent Implantation on Clinical Event Rate - Advanced Loading Strategies [ExcelsiorLOAD2]; DRKS00009739).

This study identifies ETV1 as an important component in the pathophysiology of atrial remodeling associated with atrial arrhythmias.

Reactive oxygen species, such as myeloperoxidase-derived hypochlorite, induce oxidative stress and DNA injury. The subsequent activation of the DNA-damage-poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, circulatory shock, diabetic complications, and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effect of PARP inhibition on the impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by hypochlorite. In organ bath experiments for isometric tension, we investigated the endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation of isolated rat aortic rings using cumulative concentrations of acetylcholine and sodium nitro-prusside. Endothelial dysfunction was induced by exposing rings to hypochlorite (100-400 microM). In the treatment group, rings were preincubated with the PARP inhibitor INO-1001. DNA strand breaks were assessed by the TUNEL method. Immunohistochemistry was performed for 4-hydroxynonenal (a marker of lipid peroxidation), nitrotyrosine (a marker of nitrosative stress), and poly(ADP-ribose) (an enzymatic product of PARP). Exposure to hypochlorite resulted in a dose-dependent impairment of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation of aortic rings, which was significantly improved by PARP inhibition, whereas the endothelium-independent vasorelaxation remained unaffected. In the hypochlorite groups we found increased DNA breakage, lipidperoxidation, and enhanced nitrotyrosine formation. The hypochloride-induced activation of PARP was prevented by INO-1001. Our results demonstrate that PARP activation contributes to the pathogenesis of hypochlorite-induced endothelial dysfunction, which can be prevented by PARP inhibitors.

Testing of P2Y-receptor antagonist effects can support clinical decision-making. However, most platelet function assays use only ADP as agonist which is not P2Y-receptor specific. For this reason P2Y-receptor specific assays have been developed by adding prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) to reduce ADP-induced platelet activation via the P2Y-receptor. The present study sought to evaluate a P2Y-receptor specific assay for determination of pharmacodynamic and clinical outcomes. This study enrolled 400 patients undergoing coronary stenting after loading with clopidogrel or prasugrel. ADP-induced platelet reactivity was assessed by whole blood aggregometry at multiple time points with a standard ADP assay (ADPtest) and a P2Y-receptor specific assay (ADPtest HS, both run on Multiplate Analyzer, Roche Diagnostics). Patients were clinically followed for 1 month and all events adjudicated by an independent committee. In total, 2084 pairs of test results of ADPtest and ADPtest HS were available showing a strong correlation between results of both assays (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). These findings prevailed in multiple prespecified subgroups (e.g., age; body mass index; diabetes). Calculated cutoffs for ADPtest HS and the established cutoffs of ADPtest showed a substantial agreement for prediction of ischemic and hemorrhagic events with a Cohen's κ of 0.66 and 0.66, respectively. The P2Y-receptor specific ADPtest HS assay appears similarly predictive for pharmacodynamic and clinical outcomes as compared to the established ADPtest assay indicating its applicability for clinical use. Further evaluation in large cohorts is needed to determine if P2Y-receptor specific testing offers any advantage for prediction of clinical outcome.