Aleksandar Kibel

By Ivana Jukic, Mihael Mišir, Martina Mihalj, Zrinka Mihaljevic, Sanela Unfirer, Dijana Kibel and Aleksandar Kibel

The mechanisms by which HBO exerts its potentially beneficial effects are not completely clear. Interactions of mechanisms affecting endothelial dysfunction, NO synthesis, EETs and HETE formation, CYP expression changes, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system changes, and multiple effects on inflammation take place that might be considered as mediating factors for the observed positive (or negative) clinical effects in diabetes mellitus (for instance in chronic diabetic wounds). Studies on vasculature in diabetic animal models can provide us with more information that can help us understand its effects on blood vessel function. This chapter discusses the most relevant studies that have assessed the potential mechanisms of HBO-induced vascular functional changes in diabetic animal models.

Part of the book: Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment in Research and Clinical Practice

By Vedran Đambić, Đorđe Pojatić, Anto Stažić and Aleksandar Kibel

The renin-angiotensin system, in both its circulating and local tissue roles, is intertwined with multiple other regulatory and signalling mechanisms in various tissues and organ systems. It plays a central role in the normal regulation of arterial blood pressure and in the development of hypertension, which is an immense global public health burden and a crucial modifiable risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The renin-angiotensin system plays also important roles in a range of other clinical conditions such as heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes mellitus and others. Therapeutic interventions within the renin-angiotensin system include the use of medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists, which are well established and have been invaluable as clinically effective tools during many years of practical use. Additionally, numerous other therapeutic approaches targeting components of the renin-angiotensin system have been developed or are currently in development. This chapter will discuss details of the roles of this system in the most relevant clinical conditions.

Part of the book: Selected Chapters from the Renin-Angiotensin System

By Vedran Đambić and Aleksandar Kibel

The kidneys play an important role in controlling arterial blood pressure by regulating extracellular fluid volume, through excretion of sodium and water, which is called pressure natriuresis, or diuresis. Sodium and water homeostasis is controlled by the integrated physiological functions of organ systems, including renal mechanisms, but also with an influence of the renal and non-renal sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system (renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cardiac natriuretic peptides, antidiuretic hormone, and oxytocin). Pressure natriuresis represents the basal level for arterial blood pressure dysregulation. The imbalance of complex renal and non-renal hemodynamic and neurohumoral mechanisms leads to the disruption of antidiuretic mechanisms, which results in the development of arterial hypertension. Knowledge of all mechanisms enables an integrated understanding of the regulation of arterial blood pressure, which is a key step in the targeted and individual treatment of one of the most common diseases today.

Part of the book: Selected Topics in Blood Pressure Physiology