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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of human mortality worldwide. Despite Western medicine having made encouraging results in the clinical management of CVD, the morbidity, mortality, and disability rates of the disease remain high. Modern pharmacology has confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), characterized by its multi-component, multi-target, and integrity, plays a positive and important role in the prevention and treatment of various CVDs in China, which has notable advantages in stabilizing disease, improving heart function, and enhancing the quality of life. Importantly, TCM is gradually being accepted by the international community due to its low cost, high safety, versatile bioactivity, and low toxicity. Unfortunately, comprehensive studies on the therapeutic effect of TCM on CVD and its mechanisms are very limited, which may restrict the clinical application of TCM in CVD. Therefore, this review is performed to analyze the pathogenesis of CVD, including inflammatory response, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, dysbiosis of gut microbiota, etc. Moreover, we summarized the latest progress of TCM (formulas, extracts, and compounds) in curing CVD according to published literature from 2018 to 2023, as well as its mechanisms and clinical evidence. In conclusion, this review is expected to provide useful information and reference for the clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CVD and further drug development of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echocardiography is a reliable and non-invasive method for assessing cardiac structure and function in both clinical and experimental settings, offering valuable insights into disease progression and treatment efficacy. The successful application of echocardiography in murine models of disease has enabled the evaluation of disease severity, drug testing, and continuous monitoring of cardiac function in these animals. However, there is insufficient standardization of echocardiographic measurements for smaller animals. This article aims to address this gap by providing a guide and practical tips for the appropriate acquisition and analysis of echocardiographic parameters in adult rats, which may also be applicable in other small rodents used for scientific purposes, like mice. With advancements in technology, such as ultrahigh-frequency ultrasonic transducers, echocardiography has become a highly sophisticated imaging modality, offering high temporal and spatial resolution imaging, thereby allowing for real-time monitoring of cardiac function throughout the lifespan of small animals. Moreover, it allows the assessment of cardiac complications associated with aging, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, as well as the monitoring of cardiotoxicity induced by therapeutic interventions in preclinical models, providing important information for translational research. Finally, this paper discusses the future directions of cardiac preclinical ultrasound, highlighting the need for continued standardization to advance research and improve clinical outcomes to facilitate early disease detection and the translation of findings into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The heart is a contractile organ with the ability to generate its own signals. Because of the excitable nature of heart cells, they may be impacted by external impulses or stimuli. The purpose of this research is to use electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements to ascertain the effects of exposure to an extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic field (ELF-PEMF) at 1 milli Tesla (mT) and 5 mT intensity on the heart's electrical stimulation system. Materials and Methods: Eighteen Wistar Albino rats, weighing 200-250g and aged 8 weeks, were randomly allocated into three groups, with six rats in each group: sham, 1 milli Tesla (1 mT), and 5 mT exposure groups. Rats were subjected to ELF-PEMF for 4-hours each day, 5-days per week for 8-weeks. The rats in the sham group were kept under the same condition, but the exposure system was turned off. Results: The findings indicate that ELF-PEMF exposure at 1 mT and 5 mT intensities did not affect common ECG parameters used to evaluate cardiac rhythmic activity, including heart rate, P-wave amplitude, PR interval, QRS interval, R amplitude, and QT interval. Conclusion: The 8-week exposure to ELF-PEMF at the 1 mT and 5 mT intensities didn’t show any effect on ECG parameters in rats, at least according to the design applied in this study. The effects of these magnetic fields are also directly related to exposure durations and intensity. Therefore, more research is required to ascertain how varied application intensities and durations affect cardiac function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: There is a complex relationship between asthma and cardiac functions. According to speckle-tracking echocardiography studies, asthma, especially severe asthma, was associated with left and right ventricular subclinical dysfunction. The literature lacks data comparing the cardiac functions during exacerbations and stable periods in patients with asthma. In this study, we aimed to investigate cardiac functions using speckle-tracking echocardiography during exacerbations and in the stable phase in female patients with asthma. Material and method: A total of 51 female adult asthma patients who were admitted to our center due to asthma exacerbations were included in this study. All participants had a previous diagnosis of asthma. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed both during hospitalization and after the asthma exacerbation was stabilized. Echocardiographic findings, including left ventricular longitudinal strain, in the two periods were compared. All patients were discharged in good condition after their asthma attacks stabilized. Results: White blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher during exacerbation than in the stable phase. Regarding echocardiographical findings, isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT) was significantly longer and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) was significantly lower during exacerbation compared to the stable phase [median (IQR), 70 (61–76) msec vs. 66 (57–72) msec, p=0.011 and -12.9 (-13.8 – -12.1) vs. -14.2 (-14.8 – -13.2), p<0.001, respectively]. According to the multivariate analysis, IVCT, LVGLS, and WBC were independently associated with asthma exacerbation. Conclusion: Our study showed that asthma exacerbations might have an oppressive and adverse impact on cardiac functions, particularly when analyzed by STE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a congenital heart disease characterized by thickening of the hearts left ventricle (LV) wall that can lead to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Ventricular wall thickening affects the motion of cardiac walls and blood flow within the heart. Because abnormal cardiac blood flow in turn could lead to detrimental remodeling of heart walls, aberrant ventricular flow patterns could exacerbate HCM progression. How blood flow patterns are affected by hypertrophy and inter-patient variability is not known. To address this gap in knowledge, we present here strategies to generate personalized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the heart LV from patient cardiac magnetic resonance (cMR) images. We performed simulations of CFD LV models from three cases (one normal, two HCM). CFD computations solved for blood flow velocities, from which flow patterns and the energetics of flow within the LV were quantified. We found that, compared to a normal heart, HCM hearts exhibit anomalous flow patterns and a mismatch in the timing of energy transfer from the LV wall to blood flow, as well as changes in kinetic energy flow patterns. While our results are preliminary, our presented methodology holds promise for in-depth analysis of HCM patient hemodynamics in clinical practice.

Background Xylene, a common solvent in painting, printing, and shoemaking, enters the body through inhalation of vapors. Methods This observational analytic study aimed to examine the relationship between xylene concentration, xylene RQ, and liver function in industrial workers in Surabaya, especially in shoe industries. The chi-square method was utilized for data analysis. To ensure the validity and reliability of the study results, air and blood sampling procedures were implemented. Air sampling was conducted to measure xylene concentrations in the workplace environment, while blood samples were collected from workers to assess Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) levels. The study was conducted in five regions in Surabaya, namely Kalijudan, Ketintang, Jemursari, AUP, and Romokalisari. The population includes a total of 90 workers with 77 of them taken as samples using the accidental sampling method. Results The results show that there is a relationship between xylene concentration and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) levels (p> 0.05); (r = 0,65) and there is no relationship between xylene concentrations and Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) levels (p> 0.05); (r = -0,12). There was no relationship between RQ and SGOT levels (p> 0.05) and there was no relationship between RQ and SGPT levels (p> 0.05). However, from the calculation of the prevalence ratio, workers with unsafe RQ (RQ>1) have a 7.09x greater chance of experiencing damage to SGOT levels and a 1.06x greater chance of experiencing damage to SGPT levels. Conclusions Xylene exposure (concentration & RQ) affects liver enzyme levels (SGOT/SGPT) in workers. Industries should consider providing nutritious food to aid xylene removal and stricter safety policies are needed. This study highlights the importance of a holistic approach to worker health and safety when dealing with hazardous chemicals.

Excessive water consumption is an extremely rare and potential asthma risk factor with very few cases reported in the literature. Common triggers of asthma include genetic factors, smoking, allergens, and viral respiratory infections. The adult patient with asthma reportedly drank too much water and was unable to get relief from his asthma while hospitalized. The patient's asthma was better controlled with the use of diuretics and control of the patient's fluid intake and output. This case explores asthma induced by excessive drinking of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the effects of sufentanil on cardiac function and apoptosis of myocardial cells in rats with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) based on fatty acid synthase (Fas)/fatty acid synthase ligand (FasL) signaling pathway. Methods Totally 108 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, lowdose sufentanil group, high-dose sufentanil group, high-dose sufentanil +Fas negative control group, high-dose sufentanil + Fas lentivirus group, with 18 rats in each group. In the model group, low-dose sufentanil group, high-dose sufentanil group, high-dose sufentanil + Fas negative control group, high-dose sufentanil + Fas lentivirus group, we established AMI models by ligation of left anterior descending branch of coronary artery; the steps of the control group were the same as those of AMI model except that the left anterior descending coronary artery was not lapped. Rats in the low-dose sufentanil group and high-dose sufentanil group were intraperitoneally injected with 0. 1 and 1 µg/kg sufentanil, respectively. After AMI models were successfully made, rats in the high-dose sufentanil + Fas negative control group and high-dose sufentanil + Fas lentivirus group were injected with 1 µg/kg sufentanil intraperitoneally,200 nmol/kg NC shRNA lentivirus or 200 nmol/kg Fas lentivirus intravenously, respectively; while rats in the control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline. The tail venous blood of rats was collected at 72 h after operation, and the serum troponin T was detected by ELISA. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shortening fraction (LVFS), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd) were measured by echocardiography. After the cardiac function of the rats was detected, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta and serum TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. All the rats were decapitated and their hearts were taken, the heart tissues of six rats were randomly collected and TTC staining was performed to detect the myocardial infarction size; the cardiac tissues of six rats was randomly selected, HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of myocardial tissues, and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method; the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3 and Fas/FasL signaling pathways were detected in the heart tissues of the remaining six rats by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, the serum troponin T level increased, LVEDd and LVESd increased, LVEF and LVFS decreased, serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels increased, myocardial infarction area increased, apoptosis rate and protein expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3, Fas and FasL increased, Bcl-2 protein expression decreased in the model group (all P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the myocardial cells in the model group were blurred, the texture disappeared, the arrangement was disordered, the small blood vessels between the myocardium were dilated, the number of cells decreased, and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated. Compared with the model group, serum troponin T level, LVEDd and LVESd decreased, LVEF and LVFS increased, serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels decreased, and myocardial infarction size decreased, the apoptosis rate and the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3, Fas and FasL decreased, while the expression of Bcl-2 increased in the low-dose sufentanil group and high-dose sufentanil group (all P<0. 05). Compared with the model group, the morphology, texture, arrangement, vasodilation, cell number and inflammatory cell infiltration of cardiomyocytes in the low-dose and high-dose sufentanil groups were significantly improved. Compared with the highdose sufentanil + Fas negative control group, serum troponin T level, LVEDd and LVESd increased, LVEF and LVFS decreased, serum TNF- α and IL-6 levels increased, myocardial infarction size increased, the apoptosis rate and the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3, Fas and FasL increased, while the expression of Bcl-2 decreased in the high-dose sufentanil + Fas lentivirus group (all P<0. 05). Compared with the high-dose sufentanil + Fas negative control group, the cardiomyocytes in high-dose sufentanil + Fas lentivirus group had blurred morphology, disappeared texture, disordered arrangement, dilated small blood vessels between myocardium, reduced cell number, and obvious inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusion Sufentanil can improve cardiac function and inhibit myocardial cell apoptosis in AMI rats, and the effect of 1 µg/kg sufentanil is better than that of 0. 1 µg/kg sufentanil. Inhibition of Fas/FasL signaling pathway may be one of its mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of aortic valve stenosis (AS) is increasing due to an ageing population. Despite that right ventricular function has prognostic value for postoperative outcome, the right ventricle (RV) is not extensively studied and often not routinely assessed in AS. Our aim was to explore the relation between severe AS and RV function in a surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) cohort, comparing two imaging modalities for RV evaluation. Methods: Patients with severe AS, underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before SAVR. RV dysfunction was defined as one or more of the following: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) < 17 mm, RV free wall strain (RVFWS) > −20% by TTE and RV ejection fraction (RVEF) <50% by CMR. Results: Sixteen (33%) patients were found to have RV dysfunction. Patients with RV dysfunction showed significantly lower indexed aortic valve area, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction as well as RV and LV stroke volumes compared to patients with maintained RV function. All patients with reduced RVEF also had changes in TAPSE or RVFWS and a larger number of patients had a reduced longitudinal RV function despite a normal RVEF. Conclusion: In a SAVR cohort one‐third of the patients had RV dysfunction, defined by RVEF, TAPSE or RVFW strain. Echocardiography detected subtle changes in RV function before RVEF was reduced. It is likely that the more pronounced the AS, the more frequent the occurrence of RV dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveLevosimendan and Sacubitril/Valsartan are both potent pharmacotherapeutic agents in the clinical management of heart failure characterized by reduced ejection fraction. However, the limited efficacy of monotherapy and the lack of extensive clinical experience with combination therapy necessitate further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combining levosimendan with sacubitril/valsartan on chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, specifically through a meta-analysis of studies conducted in China.MethodsCochrane systematic evaluation method was used to complete data retrieval from the following related databases: (1) Wanfang database; (2) CNKI China Academic Journal Network; (3) Wipo Full-text Database of Chinese Sci-tech journals; (4) PubMed; (5) Medline; (6) Chinese Biomedical Literature Database; (7) Web of Science; and (8) Google Scholar database. We searched for studies published up to December 2021. Data were extracted from applicable articles. Meta-analyses were performed to assess the left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) level, NT-proBNP level, Clinical efficacy, and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) level outcomes, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.ResultsA total of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 398 patients were included, half of the patients for levosimendan combined with Sacubitril/Valsartan and half of the patients for control groups. The effective rate in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group [Peto-OR = 3.08, 95% CI (1.83, 5.19), P

Liver transplant (LT) candidates undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before surgery to assess cardiac function and evaluate the echocardiographic probability of pulmonary hypertension (PHT). The improvement of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PAPS) after transplant is associated with higher survival rates in patients with mild or moderate PHT. Although studies analyze the outcomes of LT in patients treated for PHT, the prognostic value of PAPS in patients without PHT in the follow-up is unknown. The aim of our study is to evaluate pre- and post-LT cardiac function, right ventricular function, pulmonary artery pressure, and their association with long-term mortality. 102 patients who underwent LT between 2011 and 2018 were compared for echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters pre- and post-LT. After LT, systolic blood pressure, heart rate (HR), and PASP significantly increased, while tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/PAPS decreased. Moreover, the higher difference in HR and PASP between pre- and post-LT was highlighted in those patients who died during the follow-up period after LT. Among all the parameters tested, in the multi-variable Cox regression for mortality, left ventricular ejection fraction and PASP difference were predictors of mortality. This study highlights the importance of TTE in LT screening as a tool to stratify patients at higher risk of death due to advanced cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and the importance of the change of echocardiographic parameters, in particular right and left ventricular hemodynamics, during the follow-up period. These parameters could be used to guide a more aggressive therapy.

ObjectiveSeptic cardiomyopathy (SCM), a prevalent and critical condition in individuals suffering from sepsis and septic shock, remains elusive in terms of its intricate pathogenesis, thereby lacking definitive diagnostic standards. Current clinical management predominantly revolves around addressing the underlying disease and alleviating symptoms, yet mortality rates persist at elevated levels. This research endeavors to delve into the effects of low molecular weight heparin on Heparanase (HPA) levels in SCM patients, while assessing the clinical significance of HPA as a diagnostic marker in this patient population.MethodA comprehensive cohort of 105 patients diagnosed with SCM was recruited from the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University, spanning the period from September 2022 to October 2023, serving as the primary research subjects for this investigation. A prospective, randomized controlled trial was undertaken, wherein 53 SCM patients were randomly allocated to a control group receiving standard therapy, while 52 patients were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving conventional treatment augmented with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). On the 1st, 3rd, and 7th days post-treatment, the following parameters were measured and documented: HPA levels, syndecan-1 levels, IL-6, TNF-α, CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio, anti-Xa factor, antithrombin III (AT-III) levels, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), fractional shortening (FS), E/e’ ratio, stroke volume (SV), cardiac performance index (CPI), global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin I (CTnI), heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), lactate (Lac) levels, central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, ICU length of stay, and 28-day mortality rate.ResultsIn comparison to the control group, the LMWH group demonstrated significantly lower levels of HPA and syndecan-1 (p

Introduction: Erythropoietin (EPO) acts primarily in regulating red blood cell production mediated by high EPO receptor (EPOR) expression in erythroid progenitor cells. EPO activity in non-erythroid tissue is evident in mice with EPOR restricted to erythroid tissues (ΔEPORE) that become obese, glucoseintolerant, and insulin-resistant. In animal models, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) contributes to EPO activities including erythropoiesis, neuroprotection, and cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, we found that extended EPO treatment to increase hematocrit compromised heart function, while the loss of neuronal NOS (nNOS) was protective against the deleterious activity of EPO to promote heart failure. Methods: Wild-type (WT) mice, ΔEPORE mice, and nNOS-knockout mice (nNOS-/-) were placed on a high-fat diet to match the ΔEPORE obese phenotype and were treated with EPO for 3 weeks. Hematocrit and metabolic response to EPO treatment were monitored. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography and ultrasonography. Results: ΔEPORE mice showed a decrease in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) peak velocity, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening, showing that endogenous non-erythroid EPO response is protective for heart function. EPO treatment increased hematocrit in all mice and decreased fat mass in male WT, demonstrating that EPO regulation of fat mass requires non-erythroid EPOR. EPO treatment also compromised heart function in WT mice, and decreased the pulmonary artery peak velocity (PA peak velocity), LVOT peak velocity, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening, but it had minimal effect in further reducing the heart function in ΔEPORE mice, indicating that the adverse effect of EPO on heart function is not related to EPO-stimulated erythropoiesis. ΔEPORE mice had increased expression of heart failure-associated genes, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-related genes, and sarcomeric genes that were also elevated with EPO treatment in WT mice. Male and female nNOS-/- mice were protected against diet-induced obesity. EPO treatment in nNOS-/- mice increased the hematocrit that tended to be lower than WT mice and decreased the PA peak velocity but did not affect the LVOT peak velocity, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening, suggesting that nNOS is required for the adverse effect of EPO treatment on heart function in WT mice. EPO treatment did not change expression of heart failure-associated gene expression in nNOS-/- mice. Discussion: Endogenous EPO has a protective effect on heart function. With EPO administration, in contrast to the protective effect to the cardiac injury of acute EPO treatment, extended EPO treatment to increase hematocrit in WT mice adversely affected the heart function with a corresponding increase in expression of heart failure-associated genes. This EPO activity was independent of EPO-stimulated erythropoiesis and required EPOR in non-erythroid tissue and nNOS activity, while nNOS-/- mice were protected from the EPO-associated adverse effect on heart function. These data provide evidence that nNOS contributes to the negative impact on the heart function of high-dose EPO treatment for anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocardiogram (ECG) can now be measured using mobile devices. Mobile ECG devices, which are defined as devices capable of recording and transmitting non-standard ECGs, offer numerous advantages such as cost-effectiveness and being user-friendly. Mobile ECG can also extend recording lengths (e.g., 2 days, 14 days), which is necessary to capture important intermittent events (e.g., cardiac arrhythmias) and evaluate prognostic risk markers (e.g., prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval). Some mobile ECG devices can even connect to broadband networks allowing patients to remotely transmit their ECG to a clinician. This article systematically examines different mobile ECG devices used in prior studies and provides a detailed assessment of five diverse yet commonly used mobile ECG devices: AliveCor KardiaMobile; AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L; iRhythm ZioPatch; Apple Smartwatch ECG; and CardioSecur System. These mobile ECG devices are diverse in the number of leads measured and the duration of monitoring. Similar to their diversity, there has been a wide range of clinical applications of mobile ECG devices. Despite significant progress, questions regarding data quality, and clinican and patient acceptance and compliance persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Elevated blood glucose has been linked to unfavorable outcomes among individuals with heart failure (HF). Nevertheless, evidence is scarce regarding the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and the likelihood of readmission within one year for elderly patients. To address this gap, a retrospective cohort study was conducted, integrating electronic health records of restricted health data from PhysioNet. Methods The study focused on HF patients aged 60 years and older, utilizing baseline data, comorbidities, and laboratory test results as covariates. A total of 374 patients were included in the study. The relationship between 1-year readmission rates and various glucose levels was assessed using Kaplan-Meier plots. The analysis employed three multivariate Cox regression models to examine patients with varying glucose levels. Results Following adjustments for relevant factors, an association was observed between FBG levels and the rate of readmission in elderly patients with HF (HR=1.0264 [95% CI 0.9994–1.0541]). The diabetes group faced a higher risk of readmission compared to the normal group. However, this difference in outcome events was not statistically significant, with hazard ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals of 1.2134 (0.9811~1.5007), 1.2393 (0.9993~1.5371), and 1.1905 (0.9570~1.4809), respectively. The robustness of the model was further demonstrated through risk models with subgroup analysis, revealing that FBG levels consistently exerted a stable effect on outcome events, unaffected by covariates such as age, gender, body mass index, glomerular filtration rate, and brain natriuretic peptide. Conclusion These findings suggest a notable association between elevated FBG at the time of initial hospitalization and the likelihood of readmission within one year among elderly patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP) has been used to optimize donor organs before heart transplantation. However, cardiac function often deteriorates with the development of myocardial edema. The use of dialysis during ESHP could assist in cardiac preservation. Methods: Male Yorkshire pig hearts were subjected to ESHP for 8 hours with or without dialysis. Hearts were supported during nonworking mode and working mode, and pressure-volume loops and coronary vasomotor function were evaluated. Finally, tissue biopsies were assessed for mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Results: Adding dialysis to ESHP significantly enhanced cardiac function, with improved preload recruitable stroke work at 4 hours (64.09 ± 20.13 vs 35.08 ± 13.52, p = 0.010) and 8 hours (64.31 ± 9.08 vs 23.30 ± 19.25, p = 0.0002), maximal elastance at 8 hours (24.67 ± 10.75 vs 10.62 ± 8.471, p = 0.0477), and end diastolic pressure volume relationship at 8 hours (644.7 ± 566.68 vs 86.63 ± 72.05, p = 0.0187). Coronary vasomotor function improved in the dialysis group in endothelium dependent (LogIC50 −7.39 ± 0.25 vs −2.22 ± 0.76, p

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular aerobic exercise on cardiovascular health factors and heart function in sedentary male office workers. METHODS To achieve this aim, 20 individuals were selected as subjects: 10 in the exercise group (who have been regularly exercising for over 5 years, more than 4 times per week, for 1 hour or more per workout) and 10 in the control group (defines sedentary behavior more of moderate-intensity exercise for 30 minutes or longer, at least three days a week). For data processing, the average and standard deviation were calculated using the SPSS 21.0 statistical program, and the difference in the mean value change between groups was verified by performing an independent t-test. RESULTS There were significant differences between groups in factors related to cardiovascular health, such as resting heart rate, maximum systolic blood pressure, maximum oxygen intake, and exercise duration. Regarding heart function, there were significant differences between both groups in peak velocities of early and atrial fillings, as well as in early and late diastolic annulus velocities. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, regular aerobic exercise appears to have a positive impact on cardiovascular health factors and heart function in sedentary male office workers.

Echocardiography is a reliable and non-invasive method for assessing cardiac structure and function in both clinical and experimental settings, offering valuable insights into disease progression and treatment efficacy. The successful application of echocardiography in murine models of disease has enabled the evaluation of disease severity, drug testing, and continuous monitoring of cardiac function in these animals. However, there is insufficient standardization of echocardiographic measurements for smaller animals. This article aims to address this gap by providing a guide and practical tips for the appropriate acquisition and analysis of echocardiographic parameters in adult rats, which may also be applicable in other small rodents used for scientific purposes, like mice. With advancements in technology, such as ultrahigh-frequency ultrasonic transducers, echocardiography has become a highly sophisticated imaging modality, offering high temporal and spatial resolution imaging, thereby allowing for real-time monitoring of cardiac function throughout the lifespan of small animals. Moreover, it allows the assessment of cardiac complications associated with aging, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, as well as the monitoring of cardiotoxicity induced by therapeutic interventions in preclinical models, providing important information for translational research. Finally, this paper discusses the future directions of cardiac preclinical ultrasound, highlighting the need for continued standardization to advance research and improve clinical outcomes to facilitate early disease detection and the translation of findings into clinical practice.

The interconnection between cardiac function and circadian rhythms is of great importance. While the role of the biological clock gene Timeless (Tim) in circadian rhythm has been extensively studied, its impact on cardiac function remains largely been unexplored. Previous research has provided experimental evidence for the regulation of the heart by adipose tissue and the targeting of miR-276a/b on Timeless. However, the extent to which adipose tissue regulates cardiac Timeless genes trans-organically through miR-276a/b, and subsequently affects cardiac function, remains uncertain. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential trans-organ modulation of the Timeless gene in the heart by adipose tissue through miR-276a/b. We found that cardiac-specific Timeless knockdown and overexpression resulted in a significant increase in heart rate (HR) and a significant decrease in Heart period (HP), diastolic intervals (DI), systolic intervals (SI), diastolic diameter (DD), and systolic diameter (SD). miR-276b systemic knockdown resulted in a significant increase in DI, arrhythmia index (AI), and fractional shortening (FS) significantly increased and SI, DD and SD significantly decreased. Adipose tissue-specific miR-276a/b knockdown and miR-276a overexpression resulted in a significant increase in HR and a significant decrease in DI and SI, which were improved by exercise intervention. This study presents a novel finding that highlights the significance of the heart circadian clock gene Timeless in heart function. Additionally, it demonstrates that adipose tissue exerts trans-organ modulation on the expression of the heart Timeless gene via miR-276a/b. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac conduction abnormalities are disorders in metabolic syndrome (MetS), however, their mechanisms are unknown. Although ventricular arrhythmia reflects the changes in QT‐interval of electrocardiograms associated with the changes in cardiomyocyte action potential durations (APDs), recent studies emphasize role of intercellular crosstalk between cardiomyocytes and nonmyocytes via passive (electrotonic)‐conduction. Therefore, considering the possible increase in intercellular interactions of nonmyocytes with cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized an early‐cardiac‐remodeling characterized by short QT‐interval via contributions and modulations of changes by nonmyocytes to the ventricular APs in an early‐stage MetS hearts. Following the feeding of 8‐week‐old rats with a high‐sucrose diet (32%; MetS rats) and validation of insulin resistance, there was a significant increase in heart rate and changes in the electrical characteristics of the hearts, especially a shortening in action potential (AP) duration of the papillary muscles. The patch‐clamp analysis of ventricular cardiomyocytes showed an increase in the Na+‐channel currents while there were decreases in l‐type Ca2+‐channel (LTCC) currents with unchanged K+‐channel currents. There was an increase in the phosphorylated form of connexin 43 (pCx43), mostly with lateral localization on sarcolemma, while its unphosphorylated form (Cx43) exhibited a high degree of localization within intercalated discs. A high‐level positively‐stained α‐SMA and CD68 cells were prominently localized and distributed in interfibrillar spaces of the heart, implying the possible contributions of myofibroblasts and macrophages to both shortened APDs and abnormal electrical conduction in MetS hearts. Our data propose a previously unrecognized pathway for SQT induction in the heart. This pathway includes not only the contribution of short ventricular‐APDs via ionic mechanisms but also increasing contributions of the electrotonic‐cardiomyocyte depolarization, spontaneous electrical activity‐associated fast heterogeneous impulse conduction in the heart via increased interactions and relocations between cardiomyocytes and nonmyocytes, which may be an explanation for the development of an SQT in early‐cardiac‐remodeling. Significance Statement: What is the central question of this study? Does an early cardiac remodeling characterized by short QT (SQT) include a coupling between passive electrical conduction by nonmyocytes and Cx43 and cardiomyocyte electrical activity (APs) as a mixed coupling mechanism composed of electrotonic conduction and the electrical impulses generated as action potentials (APs) of individual cardiomyocytes in the heart? What is the main finding and its importance? The early‐stage Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) heart undergoes significant electrical and structural changes, leading to a distinctive SQT pattern on electrocardiograms. These changes seem to be influenced by several factors, including the involvement of nonmyocyte cells like myofibroblasts and macrophages in electrical conduction. Additionally, there is an elevated presence of phosphorylated Connexin 43 (pCx43), mainly localized along the longitudinal cell membranes of cardiomyocytes, which can contribute to the shortening of APs in cardiomyocytes. AP shortening can be likely driven by an increased current through voltage‐dependent Na+‐channels and reduced currents through l‐type Ca2+‐channels (LTCC). The decreased LTCC currents may be a result of an enhanced colocalization of a zinc transporter ZnT1 with LTCC within the T‐tubules of cardiomyocytes without any changes in their protein expression levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in ketones as a cardiac "super fuel" has grown significantly following reports of a marked increase in cardiac output after exogenous ketone administration in heart failure. However, the extent to which this increase in cardiac output is related to changes in cardiac contractility, and dependent on the presence of heart failure, remains incompletely understood. Therefore, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral ketone ester in young healthy volunteers. Baseline cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed and repeated every 15 min for 60 min after ketone and placebo ingestion to assess changes in left ventricular function. As expected, circulating b-hydroxybutyrate increased rapidly after ketone ingestion, but did not change with placebo (interaction: P < 0.001). Consistent with prior investigations, ketone ingestion resulted in an average 1 L/min increase in cardiac output after 60 min that did not occur with placebo (interaction: P = 0.026). This increase in cardiac output was primarily driven by an increase in heart rate after ketone ingestion (interaction: P = 0.018), with only a modest increase in stroke volume (interaction: P = 0.037). Changes in left ventricular strain and twist mechanics were limited. Taken together, the increase in cardiac output following an acute elevation in circulating b-hydroxybutyrate is primarily driven by changes in cardiac chronotropy, with minimal inotropic contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Excessive intensity exercises can bring irreversible damage to the heart. We explore whether heart sounds can evaluate cardiac function after high-intensity exercise and hope to prevent overtraining through the changes of heart sound in future training. Methods: The study population consisted of 25 male athletes and 24 female athletes. All subjects were healthy and had no history of cardiovascular disease or family history of cardiovascular disease. The subjects were required to do high-intensity exercise for 3 days, with their blood sample and heart sound (HS) signals being collected and analysed before and after exercise. We then developed a Kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) model that can distinguish the state of heart by using the pre- and post-exercise data. Results: There was no significant change in serum cardiac troponin I after 3 days of load cross-country running, which indicates that there was no myocardial injury after the race. The statistical analysis of time-domain characteristics and multi-fractal characteristic parameters of HS showed that the cardiac reserve capacity of the subjects was enhanced after the cross-country running, and the KELM is an effective classifier to recognize HS and the state of the heart after exercise. Conclusion: Through the results, we can draw the conclusion that this intensity of exercise will not cause profound damage to the athlete's heart. The findings of this study are of great significance for evaluating the condition of the heart with the proposed index of heart sound and prevention of excessive training that causes damage to the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Increased physical activity (PA) may mitigate the negative cardiovascular health effects of sedentary behavior in adolescents. However, the relationship of PA and sedentary time from childhood with cardiac function in adolescence remains underexplored. Therefore, we investigated the associations of cumulative sedentary time and PA from childhood to adolescence with cardiac function in adolescence. Methods and Results Participants were 153 adolescents (69 girls) who were aged 6 to 8 years at baseline, 8 to 10 years at 2‐year follow‐up, and 15 to 17 years at 8‐year follow‐up. Cumulative sedentary time and PA exposure between baseline and 2‐year follow‐up and between baseline and 8‐year follow‐up were measured using a combined accelerometer and heart rate monitor. Cardiac function was assessed using impedance cardiography at 8‐year follow‐up. The data were analyzed using linear regression analyses adjusted for age and sex. Cumulative moderate to vigorous PA (standardized regression coefficient [β]=−0.323 [95% CI, −0.527 to −0.119]) and vigorous PA (β=−0.295 [95% CI, −0.508 to −0.083]) from baseline to 8‐year follow‐up were inversely associated with cardiac work at 8‐year follow‐up. Conversely, cumulative sedentary time had a positive association (β=0.245 [95% CI, 0.092−0.398]). Cumulative vigorous PA from baseline to 8‐year follow‐up was inversely associated with cardiac work index at 8‐year follow‐up (β=−0.218 [95% CI, −0.436 to 0.000]). Conclusions Higher levels of sedentary time and lower levels of PA during childhood were associated with higher cardiac work in adolescence, highlighting the importance of increasing PA and reducing sedentary time from childhood.

Objectives: There are many available pharmaceutical and surgical management for Coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. However, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the preferred treatment modality for CAD patients with low ejection fraction (EF) in view of the more favorable outcomes. This study aimed to determine the associated factors of poor outcomes post-CABG for heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction who underwent on-pump and off-pump CABG. Methods: A retrospective review of CAD patients who underwent isolated on-pump CABG (ONCAB) or off-pump CABG (OPCAB) in Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 2013 to March 2021. Only those with confirmed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% on preoperative echocardiography were included. By analyzing the clinical and surgical data, postoperative mortality and morbidity, as well as major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events (MACCE) as endpoints, certain risk factors of the postoperative complications were identified. Results: Out of the 500 patients, 64 developed MACCE, of which 14 (13.6%) occurred in the ONCAB group and 50 (14.0%) in the OPCAB group. Univariate COX regression analysis showed that age ≥65 years, history of diabetes, and preoperative renal insufficiency were independent risk factors for postoperative primary endpoint events in CAD patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Following the multivariate COX regression analysis, in addition to the above three risk factors, a history of previous percutaneous coronary angiography (PCI) intervention was also a risk factor for the occurrence of the primary endpoints post-CABG. Conclusion: Based on the analysis, significant predictors of post-CABG MACCE in patients with HFrEF included being older than 65 years old, having diabetes, preoperative renal insufficiency, and having previous PCI.

Abstract Background Several software tools have been developed for gated PET imaging that use distinct algorithms to analyze tracer uptake, myocardial perfusion, and left ventricle volumes and function. Studies suggest that different software tools cannot be used interchangeably in humans. In this study, we sought to compare the left ventricular parameters in gated 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in mice by three commercially available software tools: PMOD, MIM, and QGS. Methods and results Healthy mice underwent ECG-gated 18F-FDG imaging using a small-animal nanoPET/CT (Mediso) under isoflurane narcosis. Reconstructed gates PET images were subsequently analyzed in three different software tools, and cardiac volume and function (end-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic volumes (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF)) were evaluated. While cardiac volumes correlated well between PMOD, MIM, and QGS, the left ventricular parameters and cardiac function differed in agreement using Bland–Altman analysis. EDV in PMOD vs. QGS: r = 0.85; p 0.9 underlining repeatability in using PMOD, MIM, and QGS for cardiac volume and function assessment. Conclusions All three commercially available software tools are feasible in small animal cardiac volume assessment in gated 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. However, due to software-related differences in agreement analysis for cardiac volumes and function, PMOD, MIM, and QGS cannot be used interchangeably in murine research.

Background Xylene is an organic solvent that is often used by industrial workers. Some industries that require xylene include the painting, printing, and shoe industries. In general, this enters the body through the inhalation pathway, namely the inhalation of xylene vapors while working. Methods Observational analytic research is conducted by looking at the relationship test with calculations using the chi-square method. The study was conducted in five regions in Surabaya, namely Kalijudan, Ketintang, Jemursari, AUP, and Romokalisari. The population includes a total of 90 workers with 77 of them taken as samples using the accidental sampling method. Results The results show that there is a relationship between xylene concentration and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) levels (p> 0.05) and there is no relationship between xylene concentrations and Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) levels (p> 0.05). There was no relationship between RQ and SGOT levels (p> 0.05) and there was no relationship between RQ and SGPT levels (p> 0.05). However, from the calculation of the prevalence ratio, workers with unsafe RQ (RQ>1) have a 7.09x greater chance of experiencing damage to SGOT levels and a 1.06x greater chance to experience damage to SGPT levels. Conclusions Based on these results, the industry is encouraged to provide nutritious food intake that can help excrete xylene from the body of the worker. Xylene concentration and RQ may play a role in the potential damage to SGOT and SGPT levels in workers.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are prevalent in autistic patients. As exercise is useful in the treatment of medical conditions, this study aimed to identify the effect of low-intensity endurance exercise (LIEE) and moderate-intensity endurance exercise (MIEE) on cardiovascular events in autistic rats. Methods: Valproic acid (VPA) was administrated once on gestational day 12.5 to pregnant rats to produce autism-like symptoms in offspring. Thirtyday-old offspring were divided into 12 groups: Male-CTL, Male-VPA, Male-CTL + LIEE, Male-CTL + MIEE, Male-VPA + LIEE, Male-VPA + MIEE, Female-CTL, Female-VPA, Female-CTL + LIEE, Female-CTL + MIEE, Female-VPA + LIEE, and Female-VPA + MIEE. LIEE and MIEE were performed 5 days a week for 30 days. Twenty-four hours after the last exercise session, electrocardiogram and hemodynamic and cardiac function indices were recorded. Results: The results indicated that +dp/dt max and contractility index (CI) decreased in the Female-VPA group compared to the Female-CTL group. LIEE increased these parameters in the Female-VPA + LIEE group. However, MIEE normalized CI in the Male-VPA + MIEE compared to the Male-VPA group. Tau increased in the Female-VPA group compared to the Female-CTL group and it decreased in the Female-VPA + MIEE group compared to the Female-VPA group. LIEE and MIEE recovered the reduction of heart rate and the increase in P, R, and T amplitudes in Male-VPA group. LIEE and MIEE increased heart rate variability in the Male-VPA and Female-VPA groups. Conclusions: The findings showed that LIEE and MIEE alleviated cardiac dysfunction and disturbances in heart rhythm in the autistic offspring. Exercise may be recommended as a routine program for autistic patients to prevent and treat the harmful cardiovascular consequences of autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the effect of surgical treatment on left and right ventricular function in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) by ultrasonic spot tracking imaging (STI). Methods The clinical data of 55 PA patients who underwent surgical treatment (the surgery group) and 55 PA patients who underwent drug treatment (the non-surgery group) matched with age, sex and course of hypertension from October 2018 to February 2022 in the Department of Endocrinology of this hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics and echocardiographic data were compared between the two groups, as well as the differences of left and right ventricular global longitudinal peak systolic strain (LVGLS, GRVLS) between the two groups.Results The postoperative blood pressure and plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) were decreased, and serum potassium level was increased in the surgery group.Compared with the non-surgery group, the absolute values of LVGLS and GRVLS in the surgery group were significantly increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). Conclusion High PAC will lead to subclinical damage to left and right ventricular function.Surgical treatment can correct hypertension, high PAC and hypokalemia in most primary aldosteronism patients, and reverse the subclinical damage of the left and right ventricular function.Early and timely diagnosis and treatment of PA can improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several software tools have been developed for gated PET imaging that use distinct algorithms to analyze tracer uptake, myocardial perfusion, and left ventricle volumes and function. Studies suggest that different software tools cannot be used interchangeably in humans. In this study, we sought to compare the left ventricular parameters in gated 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in mice by three commercially available software tools: PMOD, MIM, and QGS. Methods and results: Healthy mice underwent ECG-gated 18F-FDG imaging using a small-animal nanoPET/CT (Mediso) under isoflurane narcosis. Reconstructed gates PET images were subsequently analyzed in three different software tools, and cardiac volume and function (end-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic volumes (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF)) were evaluated. While cardiac volumes correlated well between PMOD, MIM, and QGS, the left ventricular parameters and cardiac function differed in agreement using Bland–Altman analysis. EDV in PMOD vs. QGS: r = 0.85; p < 0.001, MIM vs. QGS: r = 0.92; p < 0.001, and MIM vs. PMOD: r = 0.88; p < 0.001, showed good correlations. Correlation was also found in ESV: PMOD vs. QGS: r = 0.48; p = 0.07, MIM vs QGS: r = 0.79; p < 0.001, and MIM vs. PMOD: r = 0.69; p < 0.01. SV showed good correlations in: PMOD vs. QGS: r = 0.73; p < 0.01, MIM vs. QGS: r = 0.86; p < 0.001, and MIM vs. PMOD: r = 0.92; p < 0.001. However, EF among correlated poorly: PMOD vs. QGS: r = −0.31; p = 0.26, MIM vs. QGS: r = 0.48; p = 0.07, and MIM vs. PMOD: r = 0.23; p = 0.41. Inter-class and intra-class correlation coefficient were > 0.9 underlining repeatability in using PMOD, MIM, and QGS for cardiac volume and function assessment. Conclusions: All three commercially available software tools are feasible in small animal cardiac volume assessment in gated 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. However, due to software-related differences in agreement analysis for cardiac volumes and function, PMOD, MIM, and QGS cannot be used interchangeably in murine research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate protective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 （Rg1） on myocardial injury rats induced by sepsis and its regulation mechanism on high mobility group protein B1 （HMGB1）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） pathway. Methods: Sepsis rat model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide （LPS）, and divided into 5 groups, with 10 rats in each group, rats in sham operation group（ Sham group） were intraperitoneally injected with same dose of normal saline during modeling process. 2 h before modeling, rats in LPS+Rg1 group were given 15 mg/kg Rg1 by gavage, and NF-κB-mimic-NC was injected into coronary artery. Rats in LPS+Rg1+NF-κB-mimic group were given 15 mg/kg Rg1 by gavage, and NF-κB-mimic was injected into coronary artery. Rats in LPS+NF- κB-mimic group were given same dose of normal saline and NF- κB-mimic were injected into coronary artery. Rats in Sham group and LPS group were given same dose of normal saline intragastrically, and NF-κB-mimic-NC was injected into coronary artery. Cardiac color doppler ultrasound was used to detect left ventricular end-systolic diameter（ LVDs）, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVDd）, left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF） and short axis shortening rate （FS） of rats. TUNEL staining was used to detect myocardial apoptosis rate. Kits were used to detect contents of serum TNF- α, IL-1β, creatine kinase isoenzyme （CK-MB） and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH）. Myocardium caspase-3 expression was observed by immunofluorescence staining. Myocardium HMGB1 expression was observed by immunohistochemical staining. Western blot was used to detect expressions of HMGB1 and NF-κB in myocardial tissues. Results: Compared with Sham group, LVDs, LVDd, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate, contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, CK-MB and LDH, HMGB1 and NF-κB expressions in myocardial tissues were significantly increased in LPS group, LPS+Rg1 group, LPS+Rg1+NF- κB-mimic group and LPS+NF- κB-mimic group, LVEF and FS were significantly decreased （all P< 0.05）. Compared with LPS group, LVDs, LVDd, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate, contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, CK-MB and LDH, HMGB1 and NF-κB expressions in myocardial tissues were significantly decreased in LPS group, LPS+Rg1 group, LPS+Rg1+NF-κBmimic group, LVEF and FS were significantly increased. LVDs, LVDd, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate, contents of serum TNF- α, IL-1β, CK-MB and LDH, HMGB1 and NF- κB expressions in myocardial tissues were significantly increased in LPS+NF- κB-mimic group, LVEF and FS were significantly decreased （all P<0.05）. Compared with LPS+Rg1 group, LVDs, LVDd, cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate, contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β, CK-MB and LDH, HMGB1 and NF-κB expressions in myocardial tissues were significantly increased in LPS+Rg1+NF-κB-mimic group and LPS+NF-κB-mimic group, LVEF and FS were significantly decreased （all P< 0.05）. Conclusion: Rg1 can significantly inhibit sepsis-induced inflammatory stress in myocardial tissue, reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocyte and improve heart function, which may be related to inhibition of HMGB1/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged moderate-intensity exercise leads to a progressive upward drift in heart rate (HR) that may compromise stroke volume (SV). Alternatively, the HR drift may be related to abated SV due to impaired ventricular function. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cardiovascular drift on left ventricular volumes and in turn SV. Thirteen healthy young males completed two 60-min cycling bouts on a semirecumbent cycle ergometer at 57% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) either under placebo condition (CON) or after ingesting a small dose of β1-blockers (BB). Measurements of HR, end-diastolic volume (EDV), and end-systolic volume were obtained by echocardiography and used to calculate SV. Other variables such as ear temperature, skin temperature, blood pressure, and blood volume were measured to assess potential changes in thermoregulatory needs and loading conditions. HR drift was successfully prevented when using BB from min 10 to min 60 (128 ± 9 to 126 ± 8 beats/min, P = 0.29) but not in CON (134 ± 10 to 148 ± 10 beats/min, P < 0.01). Conversely, during the same time, SV increased by 13% when using BB (103 ± 9 to 116 ± 7 mL, P < 0.01), whereas it was unchanged in CON (99 ± 7 to 101 ± 9 mL, P = 0.37). The SV behavior was mediated by a 4% increase in EDV in the BB condition (164 ± 18 to 170 ± 18 mL, P < 0.01), whereas no change was observed in the CON condition (162 ± 18 to 160 ± 18 mL, P = 0.23). In conclusion, blocking HR drift enhances EDV and SV during prolonged exercise. These findings suggest that SV behavior is tightly related to filling time and loading conditions of the left ventricle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: Lower limb amputee veterans are at high risk of cardiovascular disease due to physical problems and depression after the accident caused by amputation. Aerobic and resistance training are effective interventions in improving heart structure and function. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of 12 weeks of aerobic and combined upper body training on structural and functional heart indices of lower limb amputation veterans. Materials & Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 45 lower limb amputees were randomly divided into 3 groups of aerobic training, combined training and control. The training groups received three sessions every week for 12 weeks and with the overload in the duration, volume and intensity of the desired intervention. Measurements of body composition BP, HR and structural and functional variables of the heart (EDD, ESD, LVEF, LVS, PWT, EF) before and after the intervention. One-way analysis of variance, Tukey's post hoc test and paired T test were used for intragroup and intergroup comparisons. Findings: Significant improvement was observed in BMI, HR, BP, EDD, ESD, LVEF and EF in the aerobic and combined exercise groups compared to the control group (P=0.05). Only ESD index, a significant improvement was observed in the combined exercise group compared to the exercise group (P=0.044). There was no significant change in the thickness of the LVS and PWT of the left ventricle (P=0.05). Conclusion: For lower limb amputation veterans, aerobic and combined exercises can have many benefits to prevent cardiovascular diseases by improving the structure and function of the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impaired microcirculation in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients manifests inadequate recovery and adverse clinical outcome. Here, we analyzed correlations between peripheral microcirculation and heart function in ACS patients. Methods: Opisthenar microvessel area (OMA) were measured with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), cardiac functional indexes (echocardiograph) were assessed 48–72 h after therapeutic interventions. Results: Results showed that OMA normalized with heart rate (OMA‐HR) were significantly greater in ACS patients with percutaneous intervention (ACS‐PCI, n = 25, stenosis >80%) compared to those with pharmacological intervention (ACS‐PI, n = 23, stenosis <50%, p =.02). Ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), which were not different between two groups, showed negative correlations with OMA‐HR in ACS‐PCI (EF: r = −0.512, p =.009; FS: r = −0.594, p =.002). Cardiac output (CO) inversely correlated with OMA‐HR in both groups (r = −0.697, p <.0001; r = −0.527, p =.01). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on admission was greater in ACS‐PCI group. NLR, which was negatively associated with EF or FS, was positively associated with OMA‐HR in all patients. The area under the curve (AUC) for OMA‐HR was 0.683 (specificity 0.696 and sensitivity 0.72, p =.02). OMA‐HR at >376.5 μm2 predicts reduced FS and CO (p =.002, p =.005, respectively). Summary OMA‐HR predicts inadequate recovery of the heart in severe ACS patients post‐PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of heart failure and also a major indication for heart transplantation. It has been reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the development of various cardiac diseases. However, the roles of lncRNAs in DCM are not fully understood. In this study, we uncovered that serum SNHG9 (small nucleolar RNA host gene 9, a lncRNA) serves as a biomarker for dilated cardiomyopathy. GEO datasets (GSE124405) were re-analyzed to identify the aberrant lncRNAs in the plasma sample of patients with heart failure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the expression alterations of the aberrant lncRNAs including SNHG9, XIST, PLCK2-AS1, KIF9-AS1, ARHGAP31-AS1, LINC00482, etc. Using the area under curve (AUC) of ROC, we found that serum SNHG9 exhibits considerable performance in distinguishing DCM from normal control and DCM stage-III from stage-I/II (New York Heart Association Class). Furthermore, we determined the serum SNHG9 expression level of the doxorubicin (Dox)-induced DCM mice model, and found that the upregulated SNHG9 is negatively associated with heart function. Besides, the deletion of SNHG9 by AAV-9 alleviated heart injury in the Dox-induced mice model. Taken together, the current results suggest that SNHG9 is a novel regulatory factor in dilated cardiomyopathy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High cervical spinal cord injuries induce permanent neuromotor and autonomic deficits. These injuries impact both central respiratory and cardiovascular functions through modulation of the sympathetic nervous system. So far, cardiovascular studies have focused on models of complete contusion or transection at the lower cervical and thoracic levels and diaphragm activity evaluations using invasive methods. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of C2 hemisection on different parameters representing vital functions (i.e., respiratory function, cardiovascular, and renal filtration parameters) at the moment of injury and 7 days post-injury in rats. No ventilatory parameters evaluated by plethysmography were impacted during quiet breathing after 7 days post-injury, whereas permanent diaphragm hemiplegia was observed by ultrasound and confirmed by diaphragmatic electromyography in anesthetized rats. Interestingly, the mean arterial pressure was reduced immediately after C2 hemisection, with complete compensation at 7 days post-injury. Renal filtration was unaffected at 7 days post-injury; however, remnant systolic dysfunction characterized by a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction persisted at 7 days post-injury. Taken together, these results demonstrated that following C2 hemisection, diaphragm activity and systolic function are impacted up to 7 days post-injury, whereas the respiratory and cardiovascular systems display vast adaptation to maintain ventilatory parameters and blood pressure homeostasis, with the latter likely sustained by the remaining descending sympathetic inputs spared by the initial injury. A better broad characterization of the physiopathology of high cervical spinal cord injuries covering a longer time period post-injury could be beneficial for understanding evaluations of putative therapeutics to further increase cardiorespiratory recovery.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Endurance training and empagliflozin were reported to have notable effects on heart structure and function. This study aimed to investigate the effect of six weeks of endurance training and empagliflozin intake on some structural and functional indicators of the heart in diabetic male rats. Material & Methods: In this study, a total of 40 male Wistar rats (mean±SD weight: 253.09±12.92 g, aged: 8-10 weeks) were randomly divided into five equal groups, 1) healthy control, 2) diabetic control, 3) diabetic+empagliflozin, 4) diabetic+endurance training, and 5) diabetic+endurance training+empagliflozin and kept in laboratory conditions. Induction of diabetes was performed in rats after completion of the familiarization protocol for two weeks and after 12 h of food deprivation by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) solution at a dose of 50 mg /kg. The glucose level of 300 mg/dL was considered diabetic. The training groups practiced endurance training, five days per week for six weeks. The drug groups also received empagliflozin (10 mg/kg) daily by gavage. The animals were anesthetized 48 h after the end of the protocol and cardiac function was recorded using echocardiography. Subsequently, cardiac tissue was isolated and dissected. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for statistical analysis of data in SPSS software (version 27) and Graph Pad Prism software (version 9). (Ethic code: LU.ECRA.2021.63) Findings: The results showed significant differences between study groups in terms of left ventricular end-systolic thickness (P=0.011) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (P=0.008). The results of the post-hoc test showed that left ventricular end-systolic thickness in the diabetic control group was significantly higher, compared to the healthy control group (P=0.012). On the other hand, left ventricular end-systolic thickness in diabetes+exercise+empagliflozin was significantly lower, compared to the diabetic control group (P=0.020). Moreover, left ventricular end-systolic volume in the diabetic control group was significantly higher, compared to healthy controls (P=0.006), and left ventricular end-systolic volume in the diabetes+exercise+empagliflozin group was significantly lower than that in the diabetic control group (P=0.017). No significant differences were observed in other structural and functional indices of the heart (P≥0.05). Discussion & Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the combination of empagliflozin use and endurance training has a positive impact on the structure and function of the heart compared to the adoption of each (empagliflozin use and training) alone.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, drug therapies that can reverse the maladaptive process and restore heart function are limited. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs) are one of the main active components of G. lucidum (Ganoderma lucidum), and they have various pharmacological effects. GLPs have been used as Chinese medicine prescriptions for clinical treatment. In this study, cardiac hypertrophy was induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. We found that GLPs ameliorate Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro and attenuate pressure overload–induced cardiac hypertrophy in vivo. Further research indicated that GLPs attenuated the mRNA levels of hypertrophic and fibrotic markers to inhibit cardiac hypertrophy through the PPARγ/PGC-1α pathway. Overall, these results indicate that GLPs inhibit cardiac hypertrophy through downregulating key genes for hypertrophy and fibrosis and attenuate pressure overload-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy by activating PPARγ. This study provides important theoretical support for the potential of using GLPs to treat pathological myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neprilysins are highly conserved ectoenzymes that hydrolyze and thus inactivate signaling peptides in the extracellular space. Herein, we focus on Neprilysin 4 from Drosophila melanogaster and evaluate the existing knowledge on the physiological relevance of the peptidase. Particular attention is paid to the role of the neprilysin in regulating feeding behavior and the expression of insulin-like peptides in the central nervous system. In addition, we assess the function of the peptidase in controlling the activity of the sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase in myocytes, as well as the underlying molecular mechanism in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur-containing amino acids are integral part of molecular mechanisms which underlie many aspects of cellular function and homeostasis, facilitated by reversible changes in oxidation states of sulfur atoms. Dysregulation of these pathways is associated with diverse pathologies, notably of the cardiovascular system, which are typically characterized by inappropriate plasma levels of sulfur-containing amino acids. The aim of this study was to assess the acute, direct effects of sulfur-containing amino acids and inorganic NaHS, as H2S donor, on cardiodynamic parameters in homocysteine treated rats. Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia did not cause significant decrease in myocardial contractility, but our findings suggest that NaHS and L-methionine cause negative effects on cardiac function in hearts of the rats treated with homocysteine, even in a single administration. Further investigations need to be carried out with purpose of better understanding and highlightening the impact of Hcy and sulphur amino acids on cardiac function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, with CVDs accounting for nearly 30% of deaths worldwide each year. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most prominent family of receptors on the cell surface, and play an essential regulating cellular physiology and pathology. Some GPCR antagonists, such as β-blockers, are standard therapy for the treatment of CVDs. In addition, nearly one-third of the drugs used to treat CVDs target GPCRs. All the evidence demonstrates the crucial role of GPCRs in CVDs. Over the past decades, studies on the structure and function of GPCRs have identified many targets for the treatment of CVDs. In this review, we summarize and discuss the role of GPCRs in the function of the cardiovascular system from both vascular and heart perspectives, then analyze the complex ways in which multiple GPCRs exert regulatory functions in vascular and heart diseases. We hope to provide new ideas for the treatment of CVDs and the development of novel drugs.

Skuld (skd) is a subunit of the Mediator complex subunit complex. In the heart, skd controls systemic obesity, is involved in systemic energy metabolism, and is closely linked to cardiac function and aging. However, it is unclear whether the effect of cardiac skd on cardiac energy metabolism affects cardiac function. We found that cardiac-specific knockdown of skd showed impaired cardiac function, metabolic impairment, and premature aging. Drosophila was subjected to an exercise and high-fat diet (HFD) intervention to explore the effects of exercise on cardiac skd expression and cardiac function in HFD Drosophila. We found that Hand-Gal4>skd RNAi (KC) Drosophila had impaired cardiac function, metabolic impairment, and premature aging. Regular exercise significantly improved cardiac function and metabolism and delayed aging in HFD KC Drosophila. Thus, our study found that the effect of skd on cardiac energy metabolism in the heart affected cardiac function. Exercise may counteract age-related cardiac dysfunction and metabolic disturbances caused by HFD and heart-specific knockdown of skd. Skd may be a potential therapeutic target for heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ginseng-containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods: Seven databases were included from establishment until 10 July 2022. Pooled data were analyzed with random-effectsmodel. The risk of bias wasmeasured by the risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). Modified Jadad scale score was used to assess the quality of including studies. Themeta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.3. Trial sequential analysiswas assessed to avoid type I errors.Wehave registered our protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42021267742). Results: Twenty-eight articles were included. The results demonstrated that compared with conventional western therapy (WT), ginseng-containing TCM combined with WT further improved clinical efficacy (RR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.20-1.29, p < 0.00001, I2 = 8%), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (MD: 5.80, 95% CI: 4.86-6.74, p < 0.00001, I2 = 89%), stroke volume (MD: 13.80, 95% CI: 12.66-14.95, p < 0.00001, I2 = 93%), 6-min walk test (MD: 53.03, 95% CI: 20.76-85.29, p = 0.001, I2 = 97%), decreased 6-month rehospitalization (RR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.18-1.11, p = 0.08, I2 = 0%), brain natriuretic peptide (MD: 188.12, 95% CI: 248.13 to -128.11, p < 0.00001, I2 = 94%), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (MD = -503.29; 95% CI: 753.18 to -253.40, p < 0.0001, I2 = 89%) and Minnesota living heart failure questionnaire scores (MD: 9.68, 95% CI: 13.67 to -5.70, p < 0.00001, I2 = 83%). The ROB2 assessment and modified Jaded scores showed most studies included were with some concerns. Conclusion: Compared with WT alone, ginseng-containing TCM is a possible way to benefit ADHF patients. However, limited by the quality of including trials, more highquality studies are needed to provide reliable evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible physiological cardiac hypertrophy of the maternal heart occurs during pregnancy and involves extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Previous mouse studies revealed that changes in ECM molecules accompany functional changes in the left ventricle (LV) during late pregnancy and postpartum. We evaluated the effect of global Timp4 deletion in female mice on LV functional parameters and ECM molecules during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Heart weights normalized to tibia lengths were increased in Timp4 knockout (Timp4 KO) virgin, pregnant, and postpartum day 2 mice compared with wild types. Serial echocardiography performed on pregnancy days 10, 12, and 18 and postpartum days (ppds) 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 revealed that both wild-type and Timp4 KO mice increased end systolic and end diastolic volumes (ESV, EDV) by mid to late pregnancy compared with virgins, with EDV changes persisting through the postpartum period. When compared with wild types, Timp4 KO mice exhibited higher ejection fractions in virgins, at pregnancy days 10 and 18 and ppd2 and ppd14. High-molecular weight forms of COL1A1 and COL3A1 proteins in LV were greater in Timp4 KO virgins, and COL1A1 was higher in late pregnancy and on ppd2 compared with wild types. With exceptions, Timp4 KO mice during late pregnancy and the early postpartum period were able to maintain stroke volume similar to wild-type mice through increased ejection fraction. Although TIMP4 deletion in females exhibited altered ECM molecules, it did not adversely affect cardiac function during first pregnancies and lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]