Sex differences in cognition, anxiety-phenotype and therapeutic effect of metformin in the aged apoE-TR mice.

Background: Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression, and anxiety, which were reported to improve after the administration of metformin. However, sex influence on the effect of ApoE4 and metformin on cognition and mental health is poorly understood.

Methods: ApoE3-TR and apoE4-TR mice of both sexes were randomly assigned to the normal saline and metformin groups from 13 months to 18 months of age.

Investigation of Left Ventricular Strain and Its Morphological Basis During Different Stages of Diastolic and Systolic Dysfunction in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial strain could detect early systolic abnormalities when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is preserved. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of left ventricular multidirectional strain during different stages of heart dysfunction and the possible morphological basis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Methods: SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were randomly divided into cages and observed for 3-25 months.