Biomedical subjects

L Spieker

Publications and source records attributed to L Spieker.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Coffee--poison or medicine?].

Intake of coffee, one of the most common beverages worldwide, has often been discussed as a potential cardiovascular risk factor. However, definitive data about this topic are missing and newer studies even point out for a favorable rather than hazardous effect. Despite many studies no clear association between coffee and the risk of hypertension, myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases was found. Recent publications suggest that moderate coffee intake does not represent a health hazard, but may even be associated with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and diabetes.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2005

[The sweet secret of dark chocolate].

For centuries dark chocolate has been known for its taste as well as its beneficial effects on health. Mainly polyphenols, a heterogeneous group of molecules, have been associated with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Furthermore they inhibit primary hemostasis and pathways associated with platelet activation and aggregation.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

[Pathophysiologic cardiovascular changes in stress and depression].

Fear, anger, and grief may precipitate myocardial ischemia and infarction. The prognosis of patients with inducible ischemia during mental stress is worse than in those without inducible ischemia. The sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in stress-associated changes in cardiovascular regulation and contributes to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by inducing vasoconstriction and tachycardia, as well as arrhythmia. Hostility--previously termed type A personality--is often associated with sympathetic hyperreactivity to mental stress and carries an increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease. As endothelial dysfunction is an early manifestation of atherosclerosis, the impact of mental stress on endothelial function is also important. Acute mental stress induces prolonged endothelial dysfunction in healthy volunteers, which is prevented by selective endothelin A receptor antagonism. This represents an important link between mental stress and atherosclerotic vascular disease. In addition, patients with depression show hypercortisolemia, and changes in platelet function leading to a prothrombotic state. These findings help to explain the increased cardiovascular risk in patients with depression.

Arousal↗

PubMed1998

I1-imidazoline agonist moxonidine decreases sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in hypertensives.

Moxonidine is an I1-imidazoline receptor agonist that reduces blood pressure in hypertensives. Experimental data suggest that moxonidine inhibits central sympathetic activity. However, whether such a mechanism is involved in vivo in humans is still unclear. We investigated the effects of 0.4 mg moxonidine orally on muscle sympathetic nerve activity and heart rate in an open study in 8 healthy volunteers. Furthermore, we studied the effects of 0.4 mg moxonidine on muscle sympathetic nerve activity, heart rate, blood pressure, 24-hour blood pressure profile, and hormone plasma levels in 25 untreated hypertensives in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Moxonidine decreased muscle sympathetic nerve activity in both healthy volunteers (P<0.05 versus baseline) and hypertensives (P<0.02 versus placebo). Plasma norepinephrine also decreased (P<0. 01), whereas plasma epinephrine and renin levels did not change (P=NS). Furthermore, moxonidine decreased systolic (P<0.0001) and diastolic (P<0.001) blood pressure. Heart rate decreased after moxonidine in healthy subjects (P<0.05); in hypertensives, heart rate decreased during the night hours (P<0.05) but not during daytime (P=NS). Plasma levels of LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol were not influenced by the drug (P=NS). Moxonidine decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure by inhibiting central nervous sympathetic activity. This makes this new drug suitable for the treatment of human hypertension and possibly for other cardiovascular diseases with increased sympathetic nerve activity, ie, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.

Adult↗