Search

Abstract Background Changes in vascular function are closely associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a potential indicator of vascular dysfunction; it allows noninvasive assessment of arterial stiffness. Currently, evidence for the effects of different classes of antidiabetic drugs on arterial stiffness remains limited. In this study, a network meta‐analysis (NMA) was performed to explore the associations between changes in arterial stiffness and first‐line antidiabetic drugs by evaluating PWV in patients with different metabolic abnormalities. Methods We systematically searched several electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from inception until 25 August 2022, without language restrictions. The primary outcome was the change in PWV (ΔPWV) in all included studies; subgroup analysis was performed for patients with abnormal glucose metabolism, including prediabetes and diabetes mellitus. NMA was performed to calculate the mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as effect sizes to evaluate the ΔPWV. Results Among the 2257 candidate articles identified in the initial search, 18 RCTs were eventually included in the analysis. In all studies, two classes of new antidiabetic drugs, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonists and sSodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT‐2) inhibitors, improved arterial stiffness by decreasing PWV compared with placebo (MD = −1.11, 95% CI: −1.94 to 0.28) and (MD = −0.76, 95% CI: −1.45 to −0.08). A conventional antidiabetic drug, metformin, also showed similar efficacy compared with placebo (MD = −0.73, 95% CI: −1.33 to −0.12). Finally, in subgroup studies of patients with abnormal glucose metabolism diseases, GLP‐1R agonists (MD = −1.06, 95% CI: −2.05 to −0.10) significantly decreased PWV compared with placebo. Conclusion Three classes of antidiabetic drugs—GLP‐1R agonists, SGLT‐2 inhibitors, and metformin—have the potential to improve arterial stiffness. Among the six classes of antidiabetic drugs analyzed, GLP‐1R agonists constitute the only class of drugs that improves arterial stiffness in patients with abnormal glucose metabolism diseases.

Abstract Aims Some studies support the occurrence of nerve regeneration in renal arteries after renal denervation (RDN). But it is unclear whether inhibiting reinnervation after RDN is beneficial to enhancing the effect of RDN on chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods and results Chronic heart failure Sprague Dawley rats induced by transverse aortic constriction were administered with the analogue of Nogo‐B (Nogo group) or its antagonist (NEP group) respectively after RDN. Echocardiography, messenger RNA, and protein expression of calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) in renal artery and nerves surrounding renal artery were detected. Relative protein expression of CGRP was significantly decreased in the Nog group compared with the RDN group (0.64 ± 0.51 vs. 1.68 ± 1.07, P = 0.048). The number of nerves surrounding renal artery was higher in the NEP group than in the Nog group. Left ventricular end‐systolic volume and diameter (LVVs and LVDs) were greatly decreased, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS) increased significantly in the RDN, Nog and NEP groups when compared with the HF group (all P

Abstract To date, multicopters have mainly been used in the entertainment and information‐gathering fields, but can potentially be used to transport payloads. Specifically, multicopters are more suited for manoeuvring tough terrains and delivering payloads to areas unaccessible by other means. The authors propose a control method to achieve cooperative transport with a plural multicopter system and address the problem of delivering a payload being suspended via cables from multicopters. In cooperative transport using a multicopter system, disturbance (weight, wind, and inertia force) may cause destabilization. A consensus algorithm is used to coordinate flight of helicopters in a formation and to ensure that the payload follows a virtual leader. Disturbances (such as wind and cable tension) are primary causes of destabilization and, in the multicopter setting, they are suppressed by an adaptive robust control, Robust Integral of Sign of the Error control. It is shown that the proposed control design can achieve not only convergence under the ideal setting but also robust operation under significant disturbances. In addition, additional control objectives such as cable tension, payload attitude, and collision avoidance can be integrated and achieved. As an auxiliary method, cable tension control, maintaining a horizontal payload attitude, and collision avoidance are considered. The usefulness of the proposed method was verified by simulations and laboratory flight testing demonstrations.