[Positive influence on cardiovascular risk factor by blocking the endocannabinoid system]. / Positive Beeinflussung kardiovaskulärer Risikofaktoren durch Blockade des Endocannabinoidsystems.

Intra-abdominal fat mass, or central adiposity, and cardiovascular risk are strongly correlated. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that secretes hormones and cytokines influencing appetite, energy metabolism, and atherosclerosis. Rimonabant is the first selective blocker of the cannabinoid-1 receptor in development for the treatment of obesity, diabetes mellitus typ 2, and cardiometabolic risk factors. This article provides an review of efficacy of rimonabant the first selective blocker of the cannabinoid-1 receptor.

[Primary stenting of thrombotic occluded main coronary artery in cardiogenic shock]. / Primäre Stentversorgung eines thrombotisch verschlossenen Hauptstammes im kardiogenen Schock.

Acute left main coronary artery (LMCA) occlusion is associated with a high mortality rate. The majority of patients with this clinical condition die suddenly or from cardiogenic shock. We report a case of cardiogenic shock resulting from acute main coronary occlusion. Emergency cardiac catheterization was performed and coronary angiography showed a totally occluded LMCA. Prompt revascularization by means of primary LMCA stenting was successful and the patient was discharged 16 days later without neurological deficit or clinical signs of heart failure. We suggest that the rapid coronary angiography followed by angioplasty and primary stent implantation was instrumental in saving this patient's life.