Cardiology Letters, 2014 (vol. 23), issue 6
Experimental study
The effect of ivabradine administration on heart rate, blood pressure, and secretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and corticosterone during stress response in rats
Hegedušová N, Ondičová K, Miková L, Lejavová K, Horváthová L, Tillinger A, Mravec B
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(6):390-396 
Aim: The extent and duration of neuroendocrine stress response is regulated also by afferent signals from visceral organs. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of ivabradine-induced reduction of afferent signalization from the heart on neuroendocrine stress response. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 - 300 g) were injected with ivabradine (5 mg/kg body weight) or saline. Thirty minutes after ivabradine or saline administration animals were exposed to stressors (handling, restraint, or immobilization). Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded in rats by telemetry method. Moreover, blood samples were collected and plasma levels...
The effect of oxidative stress on acetylcholine-induced relaxation in deendothelized arteries
Berényiová A, Kristek F, Dovinová I, Drobná M, Čačányiová S
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(6):397-404
Aim: Nitric oxide (NO) participates in the local control of the cardiovascular system, causing dilation of smooth muscle cells in the vascular wall. NO production is realized via endothelial cells in response to vasorelaxants (such as acetylcholine). The endothelial layer was regarded as the primary source of NO: however, it was found that the smooth muscle cells of endothelium-denuded arteries expressed functional NO synthase and are capable of production. We hypothesized that the destruction of the anatomical integrity induced by mechanical denudation of endothelial layer induces an insensibility of vessels to the vasodilators as a consequence of...
Educational study
Troponins and heart failure
Murín J, Pernický M
Cardiology Letters 2014, 23(6):405-409
Heart failure is a chronic disease. Important here is the monitoring of serum levels of troponins (gold standard of acute myocardial infarction diagnostics). During the course of heart failure troponin serum level can also be increased, usually if hs (high sensitivity) troponin is used. Then a heart failure patient usually has a worse prognosis. We deal here with acute and chronic forms of heart failure, with a focus on troponin serum levels. We discuss causes of increased troponin serum levels, cardiac and non-cardiac. In clinical practice we put troponin serum levels into context with a clinical picture of heart failure. We look for possible causes...