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The relationship between cardiovascular disease and the metabolic syndrome is now well known but is not yet fully elucidated. In this review, Yuji Matsuzawa discusses the role of intra-abdominal visceral fat accumulation and the release of bioactive substances termed adipocytokines in the development of disorders contributing to the metabolic syndrome.
Disease markers for cardiovascular disease have radically altered thinking about diagnosis and monitoring of disease course. Although a substantial amount of information seems available already, new data are emerging all the time. This review provides a snapshot of the current status of biomarkers in heart failure and acute coronary syndromes.
Several gene mutations in ryanodine receptors, affecting channel gating, have been associated with certain arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy. In this review, the authors highlight the role of the ryanodine receptor, a Ca2+-release channel, in the pathogenesis of fatal arrhythmia and heart failure. They discuss also the possibility of this receptor as a new therapeutic target.
