The Role and Underlying Mechanisms of Exercise in Heart Failure.

Heart failure is a prevalent and life-threatening syndrome characterized by structural and/or functional abnormalities of the heart. As a global burden with high rates of morbidity and mortality, there is growing recognition of the beneficial effects of exercise on physical fitness and cardiovascular health. A substantial body of evidence supports the notion that exercise can play a protective role in the development and progression of heart failure and improve cardiac function through various mechanisms, such as attenuating cardiac fibrosis, reducing inflammation, and regulating mitochondrial metabolism.

Role of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor in diabetic complications.

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent disorder with multi-system manifestations, causing a significant burden in terms of disability and deaths globally. Angio-tensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) belongs to a class of medications for treating heart failure, with the benefits of reducing hospitalization rates and mortality. This review mainly focuses on the clinical and basic investigations related to ARNI and diabetic complications, discussing possible physiological and molecular mechanisms, with insights for future applications.

Empagliflozin Induces Vascular Relaxation in Rat Coronary Artery Due to Activation of BK Channels.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on diabetic coronary function.

Methods: A rat diabetic model was established by injection of streptozotocin. Rats in the treated group were administered empagliflozin by gavage and rat coronary vascular tensions were measured after eight weeks.

Glucose fluctuations aggravated the late sodium current induced ventricular arrhythmias via the activation of ROS/CaMKII pathway.

Background: Recent evidence revealed that glucose fluctuation might be more likely to cause arrhythmia than persistent hyperglycemia, whereas its mechanisms were elusive. We aimed to investigate the effect of glucose fluctuation on the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia and its mechanism.

Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were randomized to five groups: the controlled blood glucose (C-STZ) group, uncontrolled blood glucose (U-STZ) group, fluctuated blood glucose (GF-STZ) group, and GF-STZ rats with 100 mg/kg Tempol (GF-STZ + Tempol) group or with 5 mg/kg KN93 (GF-STZ + KN93) group.

Radiofrequency ablation of premature ventricular contractions guided by robotic magnetic navigation combined with pattern matching filter.

Background: This study's intent is to evaluate the usefulness of pattern matching filter (PMF) function combined with robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) in guiding the ablation of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).

Hypothesis: Assume that PMF can improve the outcomes of PVCs ablation using RMN.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed consisting of 118 consecutive patients with PVCs who underwent radiofrequency ablation guided by RMN.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using Robotic Magnetic Navigation Reduces the Incidence of Silent Cerebral Embolism.

The incidence of silent cerebral embolisms (SCEs) has been documented after pulmonary vein isolation using different ablation technologies; however, it is unreported in patients undergoing with atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using Robotic Magnetic Navigation (RMN). The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the incidence, risk predictors and probable mechanisms of SCEs in patients with AF ablation and the potential impact of RMN on SCE rates. We performed a prospective study of 166 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF who underwent pulmonary vein isolation.

Relationship between Quantitative Parameters of Echocardiography and Vascular Endothelial Function in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and Its Predictive Value for Short-Term MACE Risk.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between quantitative parameters of echocardiography and vascular endothelial function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and the predictive value of short-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Methods: From February 2018 to February 2020, 86 CHF patients in our hospital were selected as the observation group, and 46 healthy subjects were selected as the control group during the same period. Quantitative parameters of echocardiography (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular short-axis shortening rate (FS), and ratio of peak flow velocity between early and late mitral valve diastole (E/A)) and endothelial function indexes (endothelin-1 (ET-1)/nitric oxide (NO)) were compared between the two groups.

Association between CRT(D)/ICD and renal insufficiency: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy with or without a defibrillator (CRT(D)) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) may reduce the risk of arrhythmia or heart failure-specific mortality and improves the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or dialysis. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis investigating the relationship between CRT(D)/ICD and renal insufficiency. Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Pubmed were systematically searched from inception to 29 October 2019.

Blockade of β-adrenergic signaling suppresses inflammasome and alleviates cardiac fibrosis.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is an end-stage syndrome of all structural heart diseases which accompanies the loss of myocardium and cardiac fibrosis. Although the role of inflammasome in cardiac fibrosis has recently been a point of focus, the mechanism of inflammasome activation in HF has not yet been elucidated.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the expression of inflammasome proteins in a rat thoracic aorta constriction (TAC) model and cultured cardiac fibroblasts with stimulation of norepinephrine (NE).

Comparisons of efficacy, safety, and recurrence risk factors of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation catheter ablation using robotic magnetic navigation system.

Background: No data exist on comparisons of efficacy, safety, and recurrence risk factors of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using robotic magnetic navigation system (MNS), respectively.

Methods: About 151 AF patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into paroxysmal AF group (n = 102) and persistent AF group (n = 49). Circumferential pulmonary vein antrum isolation (CPVI) was performed in all patients.

The Impact of Left Atrial Size in Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using Remote Magnetic Navigation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of left atrial (LA) size for the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) using remote magnetic navigation (RMN).

Methods: A total of 165 patients with AF who underwent catheter ablation using RMN were included. The patients were divided into two groups based on LA diameter.

Autophagy promotes apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells under inflammatory microenvironment.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely applied to treat various inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory cytokines can induce both apoptosis and autophagy in MSCs. However, whether autophagy plays a pro- or con-apoptosis effect on MSCs in an inflammatory microenvironment has not been clarified.

Antihypertensive treatment improves left ventricular diastolic function in patients with chronic kidney disease.

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension (HP) is associated with the development of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. However, the impact of antihypertensive treatment on LV diastolic function has not been well studied in CKD patients. Recently, two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) has emerged as a sensitive and quantitative assessment of LV diastolic function.

Evaluation of left atrial function by real-time 3-D echocardiography in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Left atrial function plays a key role in maintaining an optimal cardiac output. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction has been reported in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but its effect on left atrial function has been largely overlooked. Our aim was to assess left atrial performance using real-time 3-D echocardiography (RT3DE) technology in patients with SLE.

Reduction of connexin 37 expression by RNA interference decreases atherosclerotic plaque formation.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of connexin 37 (Cx37) interference on atherosclerotic plaques. Lentiviruses expressing small interfering RNA (siRNA) of Cx37 were constructed, and were shown to significantly knockdown the mRNA and protein expression of Cx37 in vitro. Sixty pigs on a high‑fat diet were randomly divided into three treatment groups of saline, mock or Cx37 siRNA, to induce plaque formation.

Effects of atorvastatin on serum lipids, serum inflammation and plaque morphology in patients with stable atherosclerotic plaques.

Statin treatment in patients with coronary heart disease is associated with a reduced incidence of short-term adverse events and endpoint cardiac events. However, the effects of statin treatment on atherosclerotic plaques, particularly stable plaques, remain poorly defined. In total, 228 consecutive patients with stable atherosclerotic plaques who had undergone coronary arteriography (CAG) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were randomly assigned to receive placebo (placebo group, n=54) or atorvastatin (ATOR) at a single daily dose of 10 mg (ATOR 10 mg group, n=47), 20 mg (ATOR 20 mg group, n=45), 40 mg (ATOR 40 mg group, n=43) or 80 mg (ATOR 80 mg group, n=39).

[Changes of open probability of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in diabetic coronary smooth muscle cells of rats].

Objective: To investigate the changes of open probability (Po) of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK channel) in diabetic coronary smooth muscle cells and elucidate the underlying cellular electrophysiology mechanisms of coronary dysfunction.

Methods: Rat coronary smooth muscle cells were isolated from control group and diabetic group. BK single channel currents were recorded by patch clamp technique in inside-out configuration.

Molecular mechanisms of diabetic coronary dysfunction due to large conductance Ca2⁺-activated K⁺ channel impairment.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with coronary dysfunction, contributing to a 2- to 4-fold increase in the risk of coronary heart diseases. The mechanisms by which diabetes induces vasculopathy involve endothelial-dependent and -independent vascular dysfunction in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of vascular large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channel activities in coronary dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

[Evaluation of left ventricular function and twist in patients with diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy by speckle tracking imaging].

Objective: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) function and twist in patients with diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI).

Methods: STI was performed in 56 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (35 with DM only: group A, 21 with CAN: group B) and 34 normal subjects (Control) from LV short-axis view. LV peak systolic, peak early (E') and peak late (A') diastolic circumferential strain in 18 myocardial segments were measured at the levels of mitral annulus, papillary muscle and apex and the rotation at mitral annulus and apex levels were also measured.

[Mechanism related to docosahexaenoic acid induced large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel currents increase in coronary smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of enhanced large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel currents (BK) in coronary smooth muscle cells (SMCs) by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Methods: Coronary SMCs were isolated by enzyme digestion. Potassium channels in coronary SMCs were identified by applications of different potassium blockers.

[Clinical characteristics of severe chronic heart failure patients with normal blood B-type natriuretic peptide].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of severe chronic heart failure patients with normal B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Methods: A total of 57 patients with severe chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association class III and IV) were included in this prospective control study from Dec. 2002 to Oct.

[Changes of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels on coronary smooth muscle cells from diabetic rats].

Objective: To investigate the changes of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK channel) on coronary smooth muscle cells from diabetic rats.

Methods: Streptozotocin-induced rat diabetic animal model was used. Coronary smooth muscle cells were isolated by enzyme digestion.

[Regulation of vascular tension in diabetic coronary artery by large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel in rats].

Objective: to investigate the regulation in vascular tension of diabetic coronary artery by large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BK channel) and to elucidate the mechanisms of coronary dysfunctions due to diabetes.

Methods: regulation of vascular tension in normal coronary artery was evaluated by videomicroscopy system. Streptozotocin-induced rat diabetic animal model was established successfully by intraperitoneal injection.

[Time distribution of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome].

Objective: To study the characterization of time distribution of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) using Holter monitoring and ICD follow-up.

Methods: Patients with BrS [all male, mean age (41.07 +/- 11.

[The electrophysiological study and implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy for the patients with Brugada syndrome].

Objective: Clinical observation of electrophysiological study and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in patients with Brugada syndrome.

Methods: Ten patients (all male) with Brugada wave (spontaneous or propafenone test positive in ECG) underwent electrophysiological study (EPS). The mean age was (41 +/- 10) years.