The impact of flavonoids in arterial stifness,in endothelium and in inflammatory biomarkers

Smoking is associated with impaired vascular function. Concord grape juice (CGJ), a rich source of flavonoids, can modify cardiovascular risk factors. Endothelial function and arterial stiffness are surrogate markers of arterial health. We examined the impact of CGJ on arterial wall properties in healthy smokers.We studied the effect of a 2-week oral treatment with CGJ in 26 healthy smokers on three occasions (day 0: baseline, day 7 and day 14) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design. Measurements were carried out before (pSm) and 20 min after (Sm20) cigarette smoking. Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were measured as markers of inflammatory and fibrinolytic status, respectively.Treatment with CGJ reduced pSm sICAM-1 levels (p < 0.001), while placebo had no impact on ICAM-1 levels (p = 0.31). Moreover, treatment with CGJ decreased pSm values of PAI-1 (p < 0.001) while placebo had no impact on PAI-1 levels (p = 0.89). Smoking induced an elevation in PAI-1 levels after smoking compared to pro-smoking levels in all study days and in both arms (CGJ and placebo) of the study (p < 0.001 for all). Interestingly, CGJ compared to placebo, attenuated the acute smoking increase in sICAM-1 and PAI-1 levels (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005 respectively).We studied the effect of a 2-week oral treatment with CGJ in 26 healthy smokers on 3 occasions (day 0 (baseline), day 7, and day 14) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Measurements were taken before (pSm), immediately after (Sm0), and 20 minutes after (Sm20) cigarette smoking. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of aortic stiffness.Compared with placebo, treatment with CGJ resulted in a significant improvement in pSm values of FMD (P = 0.02) and PWV (P = 0.04). At baseline, smoking decreased FMD in both the CGJ group (P < 0.001) and the placebo group (P < 0.001). Compared with placebo, CGJ treatment prevented the acute smoking-induced decrease in FMD on day 7 (P = 0.02) and day 14 (P < 0.001). Moreover, at baseline, smoking induced a significant elevation in PWV in both the CGJ group (P = 0.02) and the placebo group (P = 0.04). Treatment with CGJ prevented the smoking-induced elevation in PWV on day 7 (P = 0.003) and day 14 (P < 0.001).CGJ consumption improved endothelial function and vascular elastic properties of the arterial tree in healthy smokers and attenuated acute smoking-induced impairment of arterial wall properties.Το κάπνισμα είναι ένας ανεξάρτητος παράγοντας θνητότητας και νοσηρότητας. Προκαλεί: α) αθηρογένεση, β) αλλαγή στο λιπιδαιμικό προφίλ, γ)αυξάνει την γλοιότητα του αίματος, δ) προκαλεί αλλαγές στην αιμοπεταλιακή λειτουργία ή προάγει την θρόμβωση, ε) προκαλεί αδρενεργική δραστηριότητα και αγγειοκινητική απάντηση-αγγειοσυστολή, στ) αυξάνει την σκληρότητα των αγγείων [843-846]. Συνοπτικά, μέσω των παραπάνω μηχανισμών προκαλεί ενδοθηλιακή δυσλειτουργία. Έχει αποδειχτεί ότι τόσο το παθητικό όσο και το ενεργητικό κάπνισμα σχετίζεται με αύξηση της καρδιακής συχνότητας, του καρδιακού δείκτη, της συστολικής και διαστολικής πίεσης κυρίως τα πέντε πρώτα λεπτά της επιρροής του καπνού ενώ προκαλείται μείωση των ελαστικών ιδιοτήτων της αορτής στα 20 λεπτά από το κάπνισμα [847-851].Τα φλαβονοειδή αποτελούν μια μεγάλη ομάδα πολυφαινολικών ενώσεων που απαντώνται στα φρούτα, τα λαχανικά, στην μαύρη σοκολάτα, τον καφέ, το τσάι, το κρασί και τον χυμό σταφυλιού [852]. Η κατανάλωση τροφών πλούσιων σε φλαβονοειδή φαίνεται να συνδέεται με μειωμένο κίνδυνο για νόσηση από διάφορες χρόνιες ασθένειες [853, 854]. Επιπρόσθετα, η κατανάλωση του χυμού σταφυλιών φαίνεται να έχει αντιθρομβωτικές και αγγειοδιασταλτικές ιδιότητες λόγω των αντιοξειδωτικών δράσεων του και λόγω αυξημένης βιοδιαθεσιμότητα του ΝΟ [855]. Οι δυνητικοί μηχανισμοί με τους οποίους οι πολυφαινόλες του χυμού από σταφύλια φαίνεται να ασκούν καρδιοπροστατευτική δράση περιλαμβάνουν: μείωση του οξειδωτικού στρες, την διαφοροποίηση της φλεγμονώδους απόκρισης, την βελτίωση της αγγειακής ενδοθηλιακής λειτουργίας και την προστασία ενάντια στα αθηροθρομβωτικά επεισόδια συμπεριλαμβανομένης της μυοκαρδιακής ισχαιμίας [856-858].Η ενδοθηλιακή λειτουργία έχει δεσπόζουσα σημασία για την εύρρυθμη λειτουργία του καρδιαγγειακού συστήματος και αποτελεί τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες (έχοντας μελετηθεί σε ένα μεγάλο αριθμό φυσιολογικών και παθολογικών καταστάσεων [859-862]) ένα πεδίο αυξημένης και συστηματικής έρευνας. Επιπλέον η εκτίμηση της ενδοθηλιακής λειτουργίας μέσω της μέτρησης της ροο-εξαρτώμενης/ενδοθηλιοξαρτώμενης αγγειοδιαστολής (FMD) είναι πλέον διεθνώς αναγνωρισμένος προγνωστικός δείκτης εμφάνισης καρδιαγγειακών συμβαμάτω

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potentials of microRNAs in Heart Failure

MicroRNAs are a class of evolutionarily small non-coding RNAs of 19 to 25 nucleotides in length, that represent one of the most exciting areas of current medical science as they can regulate a complex regulatory network of gene expression and physiologic processes including differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis in a highly context dependent fashion. Recently, their role in cardiovascular disease and in the regulation of cardiomyocyte size and function, in the action potential, in angiogenesis and in mitochondrial function was recognized. Importantly, they have been evaluated for their prognostic and diagnostic role in heart failure and modification of specific microRNAs levels has been tested as a therapeutic option in experimental heart failure models. In this review article we refer the most emerging evidence, concerning the role of microRNAs in myocardial development in heart failure pathophysiology and prognosis, and their therapeutic implications

MicroRNAs in Cardiovascular Therapeutics

Recent research reveals the crucial role microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis and progression of many pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. It is widely documented that miRNAs represent critical regulators of cardiovascular function and participate in almost all aspects of cardiovascular biology. In particular, they are involved in several pathophysiological pathways of various manifestations of cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. In the present article we review the available literature regarding to the role of miRNAs in certain cardiovascular conditions. Moreover, we discuss the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for treating cardiovascular diseases and we attempt to highlight future directions

The impact of dietary flavonoid supplementation on smoking-induced inflammatory process and fibrinolytic impairment

Background and aims: Smoking is associated with increased inflammatory process and impairment of fibrinolytic status. Concord grape juice (CGJ), a rich source of flavonoids, can modify cardiovascular risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the impact of CGJ on smoking-induced impairment of inflammatory and fibrinolytic status in healthy smokers. Methods: We studied the effect of a 2-week oral treatment with CGJ in 26 healthy smokers on three occasions (day 0: baseline, day 7 and day 14) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design. Measurements were carried out before (pSm) and 20 min after (Sm20) cigarette smoking. Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were measured as markers of inflammatory and fibrinolytic status, respectively. Results: Treatment with CGJ reduced pSm sICAM-1 levels (p &lt; 0.001), while placebo had no impact on ICAM-1 levels (p = 0.31). Moreover, treatment with CGJ decreased pSm values of PAI-1 (p &lt; 0.001) while placebo had no impact on PAI-1 levels (p = 0.89). Smoking induced an elevation in PAI-1 levels after smoking compared to pro-smoking levels in all study days and in both arms (CGJ and placebo) of the study (p &lt; 0.001 for all). Interestingly, CGJ compared to placebo, attenuated the acute smoking increase in sICAM-1 and PAI-1 levels (p &lt; 0.001 and p = 0.005 respectively). Conclusions: CGJ consumption improved inflammatory and fibrinolytic status in healthy smokers and attenuated acute smoking induced increase in ICAM-1 and PAI-1 levels. These findings shed further light on the favorable effects of flavonoids in cardiovascular health. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

MicroRNAs: Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Atherosclerosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an emerging class of highly conserved, non-coding small RNAs that regulate gene expression on the post-transcriptional level by inhibiting the translation of protein from mRNA or by promoting the degradation of mRNA. The involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, cell cycle progression and proliferation, oxidative stress, platelet activation, endothelial function, angiogenesis and plaque formation and rapture indicates important roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In the light of this evidence we will review the role of miRNAs in atherosclerosis