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Background In recent years, studies have demonstrated the use of ultrasound speckle tracking techniques for the early evaluation of subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, long-term exposure to hyperglycemia severely damages the microvascular system. However, the interaction between diabetic microvascular complications and subclinical LV systolic function has not been fully understood. Objective To investigate the relationship between subclinical LV systolic function and diabetic microvascular complications in patients with T2DM. Methods A total of 150 patients with T2DM who were admitted to the Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from June to December 2021 were selected in the cross-sectional study and all underwent conventional echocardiography, pulsed tissue Doppler echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE). The 2D global longitudinal strain (GLS) of LV was obtained to assess the subclinical LV systolic function. Diabetic microvascular complications were defined as combined diabetic retinopathy, diabetic kidney disease or peripheral neuropathy. The subjects were divided into the T2DM alone group (T2DM alone group, n=76), the T2DM with 1 complication group〔T2DM+C (1) group, n=37〕 and the T2DM with 2 to 3 complications group〔T2DM+C (2 to 3) group, n=37〕 according to the cumulative number of microvascular complications. The general demographic characteristics and biochemical indices of patients in the three groups were compared. The relationship between microvascular complications and subclinical LV systolic function was assessed by using Spearman correlation analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Results GLS was lower in the T2DM+C (1) and T2DM+C (2 to 3) groups than in the T2DM alone group (P

The proficiency of English teachers in accurately understanding their roles and employing diverse teaching skills is crucial for enhancing the quality of English instruction. This study utilizes the Rasch model, a component of the Item Response Theory (IRT), to develop assessment scales aimed at evaluating English teachers’ role orientation and teaching skill levels. We selected 267 English teachers from higher education institutions in X province as participants. The assessment instruments, designed around these scales, were disseminated via the Questionnaire Star platform and analyzed using Excel and SPSS software. This research examines the application of the Rasch model in assessing the role orientation and teaching skills of English teachers. It specifically investigates the scales’ unidimensionality, goodness of fit, and scoring quality across various levels. The results from the unidimensionality test of teachers’ role orientation skills yielded weighted fit values ranging from 0.90 to 0.97, with logit results for teachers’ role orientation skills spanning from -2.065 to 4.651. Furthermore, the loadings for teacher skill levels remained within the acceptable range of ±0.6. Interestingly, the discrepancy between the logit values of the strictest and most lenient teacher raters was significantly smaller (1.189 logits) compared to that of student raters, which was 2.562 logits. The findings suggest that employing the Rasch model to analyze English teachers’ role orientation and skill levels can significantly support the enhancement of teachers’ capability to grasp their educational roles and improve their teaching skills.

Objective To investigate the relationship between left atrial strain and microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 165 T2DM patients who admitted to in the Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from February to December 2023 were collected. The age, sex, duration of diabetes mellitus, use of rapid-acting insulin, use of long-acting insulin were collected, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) were detected, left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left atrial storage strain during reservoir phase (LASr), left atrial strain during conduit phase (LAScd), left atrial strain during contraction phase (LASct) were examined by two-dimensional spot tracking echocardiography. According to the number of microvascular complications of T2DM, the patients were divided into simple T2DM group (group A, 54 patients), T2DM with one complication group (group B, 69 patients), and T2DM with 2-3 complications group (group C, 42 patients). One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the baseline information, medication characteristics and biochemical indicators among the three groups. The relationship between left atrial strain parameters and microvascular complications of T2DM was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis. Results The LASr, LAScd, and LVGLS of patients in group C were lower than those in group A and group B, and the LASr, LAScd, LASct, and LVGLS of patients in group B were lower than those in group A (P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus were negatively correlated with left atrial strain parameters LASr (r=-0.381, P<0.001) and LAScd (r=-0.385, P<0.001), but not with LASct (r=-0.151, P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for age, sex, duration of diabetes mellitus, use of rapid-acting insulin, use of long-acting insulin, HbA1c, TC, UACR, and LVGLS, compared with group A, LASr (OR=0.932, 95%CI 0.871-0.998), LAScd (OR=0.910, 95%CI 0.840-0.987) in group B and LASr (OR=0.886, 95%CI 0.799-0.983) and LAScd (OR=0.823, 95%CI 0.719-0.942) in group C were influencing factors associated with complications (P<0.05). Conclusion The number of microvascular complications in T2DM patients was negatively correlated with left atrial strain parameters LASr and LAScd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Calcium channel gene variations have been reported to be associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in family, but the relationship between calcium channel gene variations and HCM remains undefined in the population. Methods: A total of 719 HCM unrelated patients were initially enrolled. Finally, 371 patients were identified based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, including 145 patients with gene negative, 28 patients with a single rare calcium channel gene variation (calcium gene variation), 162 patients with a single pathogenic/likely pathogenic sarcomere gene variation (sarcomere gene variation) and 36 patients with a single pathogenic/likely pathogenic sarcomere gene variation and a single rare calcium channel gene variation (double gene variations). Then the demographic, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and follow-up data were collected. Results: Patients with double gene variations were at an earlier age and had more percent of family history of HCM, and had thicker walls, higher left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient, more pathological Q waves, and more bundle branch blocks as compared with those with single sarcomere gene variation. During the follow-up period, patients with double gene variations had more primary endpoints than the other three groups (p = 0.0013). Multivariate analysis showed that double gene variations were the independent predictor of primary endpoint events in patients (HR: 4.82, 95% CI: 1.77–13.2; p = 0.002). Conclusion: We found that patients with double gene variations had more severe HCM phenotype and prognosis. The pathogenesis effects of sarcomere gene variation and calcium channel gene variation may be cumulative in HCM populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]