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Advances in Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiological Insights, Therapeutic Strategies and Future...
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Advances in Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiological Insights, Therapeutic Strategies and Future Directions

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 1948

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Azizah Ugusman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Interests: blood pressure; endothelial dysfunction; nitric oxide; atherosclerosis; vascular function; perivascular adipose tissue; natural product; hypertension
Dr. Wan Amir Nizam Wan Ahmad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biomedicine Programme, School of Health Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Malaysia
Interests: animal model; non-communicable diseases; medicine; compound; drugs
Dr. Dharmani Devi Murugan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Interests: oxidative stress; endothelial dysfunction; natural product-based therapeutics for metabolic diseases; cellular and molecular mechanism of drug action; renin-angiotensin system; endoplasmic reticulum stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, encompassing conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Despite significant advancements in diagnostics and therapeutic strategies, the global burden of CVDs continues to rise, highlighting the urgent need for deeper insights into their complex pathophysiology and the development of more effective, accessible, and personalized treatment approaches.

This Special Issue aims to bring together original research and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding and offer emerging perspectives in the field of cardiovascular medicine. We welcome contributions that explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying CVDs, and novel pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, including those from complementary and alternative medicine, preclinical and clinical studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to address persistent challenges in CVD management.

By integrating diverse perspectives and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this Special Issue seeks to enhance our collective knowledge and promote innovative, evidence-based solutions that bridge the gap between bench and bedside in cardiovascular disease management worldwide.

Dr. Azizah Ugusman
Dr. Wan Amir Nizam Wan Ahmad
Dr. Dharmani Devi Murugan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cardiovascular disease
  • pathophysiology
  • therapeutic strategies
  • translational research
  • complementary medicine

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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16 pages, 3920 KB  
Article
17βH-Neriifolin Improves Cardiac Remodeling Through Modulation of Calcium Handling Proteins in the Heart Failure Rat Model
by Rajasegar Anamalley, Yusof Kamisah, Nurhanan Murni Yunos and Satirah Zainalabidin
Biomedicines 2025, 13(9), 2115; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13092115 - 29 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Background: Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin have been commonly used for patients with heart failure; however, their toxicity remains a main concern. 17βH-neriifolin (SNA209), a cardiac glycoside compound, has been recently isolated from Ceberra odollum Gaertn and was shown to improve the [...] Read more.
Background: Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin have been commonly used for patients with heart failure; however, their toxicity remains a main concern. 17βH-neriifolin (SNA209), a cardiac glycoside compound, has been recently isolated from Ceberra odollum Gaertn and was shown to improve the heart’s pumping ability in failing hearts ex vivo. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the potential use of SNA209 as a treatment for isoprenaline (ISO)-induced heart failure in rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Heart failure was induced by isoprenaline (ISO, 10 mg/kg/s.c) for 14 days daily, followed by SNA209 treatment (5 mg/kg; p.o) for another 14 days daily. Control rats were given saline as a vehicle for ISO and DMSO as a vehicle for SNA209. Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) in all ISO-treated groups were significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and SNA209 treatment managed to reduce the SBP and DBP. Additionally, SNA209 treatment significantly increased the heart rate and normalized the ECG parameters in ISO-treated rats. Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin T level, a cardiac injury markers, was remarkably reduced by SNA209 in the ISO-treated group. Cardiac hypertrophy was evident in increased cardiomyocyte size in ISO groups; however, SNA reduced the cardiomyocyte size. The left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) in ISO treated with SNA209 was significantly raised, indicating a chronotropic effect. Cardiac Na+/K+-ATPase expression of the α1 subunit, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a), and sodium–calcium exchanger subunit were significantly increased in the SNA treatment groups. Conclusions: The SNA 209 treatment improved cardiac function and structure, likely via modulating intracellular calcium management, so underscoring its potential as an adjuvant therapy for heart failure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiological Insights, Therapeutic Strategies and Future Directions)
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20 pages, 3967 KB  
Article
Targeting the Opioid System in Cardiovascular Disease: Liver Proteomic and Lipid Profile Effects of Naloxone in Atherosclerosis
by Kinga Jaskuła, Agata Nawrocka, Piotr Poznański, Aneta Stachowicz, Marzena Łazarczyk, Mariusz Sacharczuk, Zbigniew Gaciong and Dominik S. Skiba
Biomedicines 2025, 13(8), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13081802 - 23 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: The endogenous opioid system plays a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes and is implicated in a range of diseases, including atherosclerosis, a condition contributing to nearly 50% of deaths in Western societies. Objectives: This study investigates the effects of opioid receptor [...] Read more.
Background: The endogenous opioid system plays a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes and is implicated in a range of diseases, including atherosclerosis, a condition contributing to nearly 50% of deaths in Western societies. Objectives: This study investigates the effects of opioid receptor blockade, using naloxone, on the plasma lipid profile and atherosclerosis progression. Methods: ApoE−/− mice with advanced atherosclerosis were treated with naloxone for seven days, and the effects on atherosclerotic plaque development and liver steatosis were evaluated. Results: A proteomic analysis of liver samples post-treatment identified 38 proteins with altered abundance. The results revealed that naloxone treatment led to an increase in HDL cholesterol, a lipid fraction associated with protective cardiovascular effects. Furthermore, naloxone did not influence the progression of atherosclerotic plaques or the development of liver steatosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, while short-term naloxone treatment in mice with advanced atherosclerosis does not alter overall atherosclerotic plaque progression or liver steatosis, the observed elevation in HDL cholesterol and the extensive changes in liver protein abundance underscore the complex and multifaceted role of the opioid system in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health. These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of opioid receptor antagonists as modulators of lipid profiles and potential contributors to cardiovascular therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiological Insights, Therapeutic Strategies and Future Directions)
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Other

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14 pages, 1019 KB  
Systematic Review
The Effects of High-Fat Diet on the Molecular Pathways in Cardiac Tissue: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Rodent Studies and Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis
by Muhammad Syaffuan Ahmad Najib, Marjanu Hikmah Elias, Norsham Juliana, Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Effendi Ibrahim and Nazefah Abdul Hamid
Biomedicines 2025, 13(9), 2071; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13092071 - 26 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The global high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is attributed to the high prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, the impact of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the expression of genes in cardiac tissue remains poorly understood. Methods: A thorough literature [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The global high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is attributed to the high prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, the impact of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the expression of genes in cardiac tissue remains poorly understood. Methods: A thorough literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect databases. The Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms such as “high-fat diet”, “gene expression” and “cardiac tissue” were used as the keywords in all fields. Results: A total of 1608 studies were retrieved, and only in vivo experimental studies to identify cardiac tissues differentially expressed genes (DEGs) or proteins (DEPs) in rodents fed with HFD were selected. After screening, 14 studies were selected, 159 DEGs and DEPs were extracted from the data and further analysis was conducted employing DAVID, STRING, and Cytoscape 3.10.3 software. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network revealed a total of 159 genes and proteins from the selected DEGs containing 100 nodes and 292 edges with a PPI enrichment p-value of < 1.0 × 10−16 and an average local clustering coefficient of 0.447 with an average node degree of 5.84. Six significant clusters with high intermolecular interactions from the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network complex reveal significant molecular pathways, including the glucose metabolic process, fatty acid metabolic process, and inflammatory response (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The identification of the critical link between obesity and HFD-induced CVDs in cardiac tissue highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling gene expression in cardiac tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiological Insights, Therapeutic Strategies and Future Directions)
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