Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Interaction between Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 16250
Special Issue Editors
Interests: thrombosis; platelets; coagulation; extracellular vesicles; neurotrophins; oxidative stress; animal models; cellular models; behavioural and psychological factors; vascular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: psychiatric disorders; neurodegenerative diseases; stress; physical exercise; neurotrophins; epigenetic mechanisms; inflammation; animal models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Neurocardiology is an emerging specialty that addresses the bidirectional interaction between brain and heart. Accumulating clinical and experimental evidence has shown that the concomitant presence of neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular diseases worsens the patient clinical prognosis. In particular, stress, anxiety, and depression can predispose to the development of heart disease. Similarly, a mutual relationship between brain damage and heart dysfunction was found, suggesting a cross-talk between the nervous and the cardiovascular systems.
The adrenergic system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, by releasing hormones and neurotransmitters, exert a major influence on brain circuits involved in the regulation of mood, reactivity to stressful experiences, self-control, motivation, drive, and cognitive performance. These systems and molecules act also at cardiovascular level influencing blood pressure, heart rate, but also endothelial and platelet function, and the coagulation cascade. On the other hand, cardiovascular pathologies, including metabolic associated ones (e.g.hypo- or hypertension), may lead to cognitive impairments and/or stroke-related brain damage.
This Special Issue will cover the (patho)physiological interplays of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the cross-talk between brain and heart (dys)functions. Particular emphasis will be given to the role of soluble factors in these processes, as well as the impact of genetic and epigenetic modifications and the effect of therapeutic approaches able to modify these comorbidities. Papers analysing the impact of sex-difference in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and/or neuropsychiatric disorders comorbidity are strongly encouraged. Finally, papers describing new animal models, technical methods, and the development of ex-vivo approaches will be also considered.
Dr. Silvia Stella Barbieri
Dr. Alessandro Ieraci
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Stroke
- Mood disorders
- Sex difference
- Environmental factors
- Coagulation factors
- Neurotrophins
- Neurotransmitters
- Plasma biomarkers
- Genetic and epigenetic modifications
- Therapeutic treatments
- Physical exercise
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
