Hyperpolarized C and P MRS detects differences in cardiac energetics, metabolism, and function in obesity, and responses following treatment.

Obesity is associated with important changes in cardiac energetics and function, and an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Multi-nuclear MRS and MRI techniques have the potential to provide a comprehensive non-invasive assessment of cardiac metabolic perturbation in obesity. A rat model of obesity was created by high-fat diet feeding.

Endurance training and hydroxyurea have synergistic effects on muscle function and energetics in sickle cell disease mice.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an hemoglobinopathy resulting in the production of an abnormal Hb (HbS) which can polymerize in deoxygenated conditions, leading to the sickling of red blood cells (RBC). These alterations can decrease the oxygen-carrying capacity leading to impaired function and energetics of skeletal muscle. Any strategy which could reverse the corresponding defects could be of interest.

Relationship of cardiac remodeling and perfusion alteration with hepatic lipid metabolism in a prediabetic high fat high sucrose diet female rat model.

Background And Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is known to be linked with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, but few studies assessed this relationship in prediabetes, especially among women, who are at greater risk of CVD. We aimed to evaluate cardiac alterations and its relationship with hepatic lipid metabolism in prediabetic female rats submitted to high-fat-high-sucrose diet (HFS).

Methods And Results: Wistar female rats were divided into 2 groups fed for 5 months with standard or HFS diet.

Traction mechanical characterization of porcine mitral valve annulus.

The Mitral Annulus (MA) is an anisotropic, fibrous, flexible and dynamical structure. While MA dynamics are well documented, its passive mechanical properties remain poorly investigated to complete the design of adequate prostheses. Mechanical properties in traction on four sections of the MA (aortic, left, posterior and right segments) were assessed using a traction test system with a 30 N load cell and pulling jaws for sample fixation.