Discrepancies between general and central obesity in arterial stiffness: observational studies and Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Obesity has been linked to arterial stiffness, while no consensus was reached on the association. We aimed to clarify the association of general and central obesity with arterial stiffness by combining observational studies and Mendelian randomization (MR) study.

Methods: Two cross-sectional studies were performed in UK Biobank and Fuqing Cohort, respectively.

Influencing and prognostic factors of end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: End-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ES-HCM) is a disease with severe complications and a poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the influencing and prognostic factors of ES-HCM.

Methods And Results: A total of 1282 patients with HCM who were hospitalized for the first time at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between 1 January 2013 and 30 September 2021 were recorded.

Association of pulse pressure and aortic root diameter in elderly Chinese patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: High pulse pressure (PP) and aortic root diameter (AoD) are hallmarks of arterial stiffness or vascular aging and they are considered as risk factors for age-related cardiovascular disease, including heart failure (HF). However, the relationship between PP and AoD in patients with heart failure (HF) is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between PP and AoD in the middle-aged and the elderly with HF.

Loss of Endothelial Annexin A1 Aggravates Inflammation-Induched Vascular Aging.

Chronic inflammation is increasingly considered as the most important component of vascular aging, contributing to the progression of age-related cardiovascular diseases. To delay the process of vascular aging, anti-inflammation may be an effective measure. The anti-inflammatory factor annexin A1 (ANXA1) is shown to participate in several age-related diseases; however, its function during vascular aging remains unclear.

Vitamin D/vitamin D receptor pathway in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has emphasized the therapeutic role of vitamin D in NAFLD, but the specific mechanism remains to be investigated.

Areas Covered: This review summarized the roles of vitamin D/VDR (vitamin D receptor) pathway in different types of liver cells (such as hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, liver macrophages, T lymphocytes, and other hepatic immune cells) in case of NAFLD.

Evaluation the value of HFPEF score and HFA-PEFF step E score in the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Clinical diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains challenging. The aim of the study is to evaluate the value of the HFPEF score and HFA-PEFF step E score in the diagnosis of HFpEF.

Methods: 319 hospitalised patients with 'shortness of breath' or 'dyspnoea' were retrospectively collected and scored with the above two scores, respectively.

The positive correlation between brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and aortic diameter in Chinese patients with diabetes.

Aortic dilation is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Increased brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a hallmark of vascular aging and arterial stiffness, as well as an important risk factor for vascular disease. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the correlation between baPWV and aortic diameter (AoD) of inpatients with diabetes.

Clinical outcomes of severe sepsis and septic shock patients with left ventricular dysfunction undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.

Baseline left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is associated with subsequent risks of acute kidney injury (AKI) and mortality in patients with sepsis. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in hemodynamically unstable patients with severe sepsis and septic shock combined with LV dysfunction. In this multicenter retrospective study, severe sepsis and septic shock patients with LV dysfunction were classified into one of two groups according to the timing of CRRT: the early group (before AKI was detected) or the control group (patients with AKI).

HDL and Lipid Metabolism.

Mediating reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is the most classic function of HDL. HDL and HDL-C participate in the entire process of RCT, including cholesterol removal from cells, cholesterol transport in circulation, and cholesterol excretion. As cholesterol is a component of lipid rafts and lipid droplets in cells, HDL and RCT can influence cell activity.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing and Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin Using Sequencing Reveals Cellular and Molecular Dynamics of Aortic Aging in Mice.

Objective: The impact of vascular aging on cardiovascular diseases has been extensively studied; however, little is known regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related vascular aging in aortic cellular subpopulations. Approach and Results: Transcriptomes and transposase-accessible chromatin profiles from the aortas of 4-, 26-, and 86-week-old C57/BL6J mice were analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing. By integrating the heterogeneous transcriptome and chromatin accessibility data, we identified cell-specific TF (transcription factor) regulatory networks and open chromatin states.

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Elevated Arterial Stiffness in Chinese Patients With Diabetes Using Machine Learning.

Background: Arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The incidence of cardiovascular events remains high in diabetics. However, a clinical prediction model for elevated arterial stiffness using machine learning to identify subjects consequently at higher risk remains to be developed.

Adropin-based dual treatment enhances the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells in rat myocardial infarction.

Both weak survival ability of stem cells and hostile microenvironment are dual dilemma for cell therapy. Adropin, a bioactive substance, has been demonstrated to be cytoprotective. We therefore hypothesized that adropin may produce dual protective effects on the therapeutic potential of stem cells in myocardial infarction by employing an adropin-based dual treatment of promoting stem cell survival in vitro and modifying microenvironment in vivo.

Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy by Inferior Vena Cava Ultrasonography-Guided Hydration in Chronic Heart Failure Patients.

Introduction: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common complication resulting from the administration of contrast media. This study was designed to determine whether inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasonography (IVCU)-guided hydration can reduce the risk of CIN in chronic heart failure patients undergoing coronary angiography or coronary angiography with percutaneous coronary intervention compared with standard hydration.

Methods: This prospective clinical trial enrolled 207 chronic heart failure patients from February 2016 to November 2017, who were randomly assigned to either the IVCU-guided hydration group (n = 104) or the routine hydration group (n = 103).

Recombinant Extracellular Domain (p75ECD) of the Neurotrophin Receptor p75 Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting the p-JNK/Caspase-3 Signaling Pathway in Rat Microvascular Pericytes.

Background Pro-NTs (precursor of neurotrophins) and their receptor p75 are potential targets for preventing microvascular dysfunction induced by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). p75ECD (ectodomain of neurotrophin receptor p75) may physiologically produce neurocytoprotective effects by scavenging pro-NTs. We therefore hypothesized that p75ECD may have a cardioprotective effect on IRI through microvascular mechanisms.

Hypertension accelerates age-related intrarenal small artery (IRSA) remodelling and stiffness in rats with possible involvement of AGEs and RAGE.

Objectives: To study changes in morphology, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and the AGEs receptor, RAGE, that occur with ageing in intrarenal small arteries (IRSAs) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and to investigate the possible roles of hypertension, AGEs and RAGE in the progression of IRSA remodelling and stiffness with ageing in rats.

Methods: Ageing SHRs and ageing normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were studied. The minimal renal vascular resistance (minRVR) was measured.

Mechanical Property Tests and Strength Formulas of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Recycled Aggregate Concrete.

In order to investigate the influence of basalt fibers (BFs) on the mechanical performance of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), some groups of RAC specimens were first tested involving different types of fibers such as carbon fibers, steel fibers, polypropylene fibers and hybrid fibers. The main four indices for the investigation consisted of cube compressive strengths, axial compressive strengths, splitting tensile strengths and Young's modulus. The effects of fiber volume fractions on the RAC slumps were also discussed.

Withdrawal of oral anticoagulants 3 months after successful radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis.

Background: The best anticoagulation therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) remains a challenge.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Ovid, and Cochrane Library was conducted identifying at clinical trials which evaluated the differences between thromboembolism (TE) and hemorrhage in an off-oral anticoagulants (OACs) treatment group (the observation group) and an on-OACs treatment group (the control group), at 3 months after successful RFCA. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide promotes brain aging and cognitive impairment in mice.

Gut microbiota can influence the aging process and may modulate aging-related changes in cognitive function. Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite of intestinal flora, has been shown to be closely associated with cardiovascular disease and other diseases. However, the relationship between TMAO and aging, especially brain aging, has not been fully elucidated.

Ageing-related aorta remodelling and calcification occur earlier and progress more severely in rats with spontaneous hypertension.

Unlabelled: The effects of hypertension on vascular remodelling, ageing and calcification are not fully understood. In this study, we monitored the dynamic changes of aorta remodelling, senescence and calcification in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) during ageing.

Results: Vascular remodelling and senescence cells occurred in SHR aortas at 24 weeks.

Gut flora-dependent metabolite Trimethylamine-N-oxide accelerates endothelial cell senescence and vascular aging through oxidative stress.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), gut microbiota-dependent metabolites, has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between TMAO and vascular aging. Here, we observed a change in TMAO during the aging process and the effects of TMAO on vascular aging and endothelial cell (EC) senescence.

Upregulation of TRPC1/6 may be involved in arterial remodeling in rat.

Background: Hypertension and its complications are associated with arterial remodeling. Transient receptor potential cationic channels (TRPCs) are important nonselective cationic channels that regulate calcium homeostasis in mammalian cell membranes. We aimed to study the expression of various TRPC isoforms in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) carotid arterial remodeling and explore the relationship between SHR carotid arterial remodeling and TRPC expression.

TRPC1, CaN and NFATC3 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis and progression of left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was used to study left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and its dynamic change after the interventions with Telmisartan and Amlodipine. The results showed that the expression of TRPC1, CaN and NFATC3 increased gradually with the pathogenesis and progression of LVH. Telmisartan reduced blood pressure and LVH, and down-regulated the expression of TRPC1, CaN and NFATC3 in left ventricle of SHR.

Association of microRNA polymorphisms with the risk of myocardial infarction in a Chinese population.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes, such as inflammation. Dysregulation of miRNAs have been implicated in many human disease, including cardiovascular diseases. Polymorphisms in miRNA genes may affect the miRNA biogenesis and function, and thus cause changes in the expression of thousands of genes.