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Summary: Increasing cohort studies have examined the link between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with inconsistent findings. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to July 11, 2023 and used a random-effects model to calculate summary hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). This systematic review and meta-analysis included 8 articles encompassing 29 studies with 646,398 participants. Individuals with the lowest mtDNA-CN had a summary HR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.02–1.59) for CVD, 1.18 (95% CI 0.92–1.50) for coronary heart disease (CHD), 1.10 (95% CI 0.89–1.37) for stroke, and 1.30 (95% CI 1.07–1.56) for heart failure (HF). Decreased mtDNA-CN is linked to an increased risk of CVD and HF but not CHD and stroke. These findings suggest mtDNA-CN from leukocytes may be a potential early biomarker for CVD. However, more prospective studies with long follow-up are needed.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the impact of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on fetal heart structure and function using a technique called fetal heart quantification (Fetal HQ), with a focus on mitochondrial dynamics, which employs advanced imaging technology for comprehensive analysis.MethodsA total of 180 fetuses with normal heart structures, aged 24–40 weeks of gestation, were examined. A 2–3 s cine loop in the standard four-chamber oblique view was captured and analyzed using the speckle-tracking technique with Fetal HQ. Various echocardiographic parameters were evaluated, including four-chamber view (4CV), global spherical index (GSI), global longitudinal strain (GLS), 24-segment spherical index (SI), ventricular fractional area change (FAC), cardiac output (CO), and stroke volume (SV). These parameters were compared between the GDM group and the control group during two gestational periods: 24+0 to 28+0 weeks and 28+1 to 40+1 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to identify significant differences.ResultsTwenty fetuses from mothers with GDM and 40 from the control group were recruited at 24+0 to 28+0 weeks. At 28+1 to 40+1 weeks, 40 fetuses from mothers with GDM and 80 from the control group were recruited. The fetal left ventricular global longitudinal function was similar between the GDM and control groups. However, compared to the controls, right ventricular function in the GDM group was lower only at 28+1 to 40+1 weeks. In the GDM group, the global spherical index (GSI) was lower than in the control group at 28+1 to 40+1 weeks (1.175 vs. 1.22; p = 0.001). There were significant decreases in ventricular FAC (38.74% vs. 42.83%; p < 0.0001) and 4CV GLS for the right ventricle (−22.27% vs. −26.31%; p = 0.005) at 28+1 to 40+1 weeks.ConclusionOur findings suggest that GDM is associated with decreased right ventricular function in the fetal heart, particularly during the later stages of pregnancy (28+1 to 40+1 weeks), compared to fetuses from healthy pregnancies. The Fetal HQ technique represents a valuable tool for evaluating the structure and function of fetal hearts affected by GDM during the advanced stages of pregnancy.

Load behaviors significantly impact the planning, dispatching, and operation of the modern power systems. Load classification has been proved as one of the most effective ways of analyzing the load behaviors. However, due to the issues of data collection, transmission, and storage in current power systems, data missing problems frequently occur, which prevents the load classification tasks from precisely identifying the load classes. Simultaneously, because of the diversities of the load categories, different loads contribute various amounts of data, which causes the class imbalance issue. The traditional load data classification algorithms lack the ability to solve the aforementioned issues, which may deteriorate the load classification accuracy. Therefore, this study proposed an improved deep learning algorithm based on the load classification approach in terms of raising the classification performances with solving the data missing and class imbalance issues. First, the LATC (low-rank autoregressive tensor completion) algorithm is used to solve the data missing issue to improve the quality of the training dataset. A Borderline-SMOTE algorithm is further adopted to improve the class distribution in the training dataset to improve the training performances of biGRU (bidirectional gated recurrent unit). Afterward, to improve the classification accuracy in the classification task, the biGRU algorithm, combined with the attention mechanism, is used as the underlying infrastructure. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in various biological processes of human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of circ_0002113 in regulating cancer progression and adriamycin (ADM) resistance of breast cancer (BC). The quantification of circ_0002113, microRNA-653-5p (miR-653-5p) and Spindlin 1 (SPIN1) was performed via reverse transcriptionquantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Cell sensitivity was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Colony formation assay and EdU assay were used to determine cell proliferation. Apoptosis detection was conducted through flow cytometry. Western blot was carried out to measure protein levels. Tumor xenograft model was established for in vivo research. The interaction analysis was implemented using dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Circ_0002113 was highly expressed in ADM-resistant BC tissues and cells. Downregulation of circ_0002113 suppressed ADM resistance and BC cell proliferation but promoted apoptosis. ADM sensitivity was enhanced by silencing of circ_0002113 in vivo. Circ_0002113 exhibited target interaction with miR-653-5p, and the regulatory roles of circ_0002113 were partly achieved by targeting miR-653-5p. SPIN1 served as a target of miR-653-5p and circ_0002113 incurred the expression regulation of SPIN1 by sponging miR-653-5p. SPIN1 overexpression attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-653-5p on ADM resistance and tumor development of BC cells. Circ_0002113 regulated the level of SPIN1 via miRNA sponging function for miR-653-5p, thus promoting ADM resistance and cancer progression of BC cells.