Honokiol ameliorates angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy by promoting dissociation of the Nur77-LKB1 complex and activating the AMPK pathway.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a key contributor to heart failure, and the molecular mechanisms underlying honokiol (HNK)-mediated cardioprotection against this condition remain worth further exploring. This study aims to investigate the effect of HNK on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced myocardial hypertrophy and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to Ang II infusion, followed by HNK or vehicle treatment for 4 weeks.

Myocardial Injury in Rats Exposed to High-Intensity Exercise Evaluated by 2-D Speckle Tracking Imaging.

Objective: The aim of the work described here was to evaluate strain and morphological change of the left ventricle in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats at different exercise intensities by 2-D speckle tracking imaging (STI).

Methods: Seventy-two 8-wk-old SD rats were divided into four groups on the basis of exercise intensity: sedentary (SED), low-intensity running, medium-intensity running (MIR) and high-intensity running (HIR). Each group was further sub-divided into three groups of different exercise lengths: 1, 4 and 8 wk.

Segmental and global myocardial work in hypertensive patients with different left ventricular geometry.

Background: Myocardial work acquired by echocardiography has emerged as a novel method to evaluate myocardial function. We investigated global and segmental myocardial work in hypertension (HT) among patients with different patterns of left ventricular (LV) geometry in order to analyze the contribution of segmental myocardial work to global myocardial work.

Methods And Results: One hundred twenty-five patients with HT were divided into 4 groups: normal geometry (NG), concentric remodeling (CR), concentric hypertrophy (CH) and eccentric hypertrophy (EH).

Segmental and global myocardial work in hypertensive patients with different left ventricular ejection fraction: what's the role of the apex played?

We investigated myocardial work in hypertension (HT) among patients with different left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to analyze the contribution of segmental myocardial work to global myocardial work. 114 patients with HT were divided into 4 groups: HTsnEF ("supra-normal" EF, > 65%); HTnEF ("normal" EF, 60-65%); HTmEF (designed as "middle" EF, 50-60%, within an abnormal LV geometry); HTrEF (reduced EF, < 50%). Longitudinal strain (LS) and myocardial work indices were obtained by echocardiography: myocardial work index (MWI), constructive work (MCW), wasted work (MWW), myocardial work efficiency (MWE), and percentages of apical work were calculated (P, P).

The Value of Multimodal Ultrasonic Scoring System in the Diagnosis of Carotid Vulnerable Plaque: A Comparative Study With Pathology.

Background And Aims: Vulnerable plaques are closely related to ischemic stroke. To investigate the diagnostic value of multimodal plaque vulnerability ultrasound scoring system (PV-USS) using histopathology as the gold standard.

Methods: A total of 45 subjects who would be underwent carotid endarterectomy were recruited.

[Adverse cardiovascular effects of antiretrovirals in female mice during gestation].

To evaluate the effects of antiretrovirals on cardiovascular function and some biochemical indexes in gestational female rats. Nineteen 9-week-old female and six 10-week-old male SD rats were divided into normal control group (CON) and highly active antiretroviral therapy group (HARRT), 9/10 female rats and 3 male rats were combined into one cage, totally 2 cages. Female rats in CON group were intragastrically given with normal saline (NS, 10 ml/kg) every morning and evening, while female rats in HARRT group were treated with equal volume antiretrovirals (AZT 31.

The value of transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of extra-cardiac lesions.

Objective: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is generally recognized as the top choice for detecting myocardial and cardiac cavity lesions. Sonographers mostly focus on myocardium, cardiac cavity and cardiac hemodynamics, whereas the abnormal extra-cardiac lesions are easily remain unrecognized. The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrasonic image features in abnormal extra-cardiac lesions and the value of TTE in the detection of extra-cardiac lesions.

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.

Dapagliflozin: a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, attenuates angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrotic remodeling by regulating TGFβ1/Smad signaling.

Background: Cardiac remodeling is one of the major risk factors for heart failure. In patients with type 2 diabetes, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of the first hospitalization for heart failure, possibly through glucose-independent mechanisms in part, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to shed light on the efficacy of dapagliflozin in reducing cardiac remodeling and potential mechanisms.

Retinoid X receptor agonists attenuates cardiomyopathy in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes through LKB1-dependent anti-fibrosis effects.

Diabetic cardiac fibrosis increases ventricular stiffness and facilitates the occurrence of diastolic dysfunction. Retinoid X receptor (RXR) plays an important role in cardiac development and has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of RXR agonist treatment on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the underlying mechanism.

[Significance and Expressions of MMP-1, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 in Valve Tissue of Rheumatic Heart Disease].

Objectives: To explore expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in valve tissue of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and to analyzed their roles in RHD.

Methods: The expressions of MMP-1, TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 proteins and mRNAs were tested by Western blot and RT-PCR methods in valve tissues in participants with (experimental group, =30) and without RHD (control group, =15). Collagen fibers were detected by Masson staining, and collagen volume fraction (CVF) was caculated.

Investigation on left ventricular multi-directional deformation in patients of hypertension with different LVEF.

Background: This study is aimed at investigating myocardial multi-directional systolic deformation in hypertensive with different left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and exploring its contribution to LVEF.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients with primary hypertension (HT) were divided into group A (LVEF ≥ 55%), group B (45% ≤ LVEF < 50%, or 50% ≤ LVEF < 55% + LVEDVI ≥ 97 ml/m), and group C (LVEF < 45%). Two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE) including LV longitudinal strain (SL), radial strain (SR) and circumferential strain (SC) were measured.

Value of segmental myocardial strain by 2-dimensional strain echocardiography for assessment of scar area induced in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Objectives: Two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE) technique has enabled accurate quantification of regional myocardial function. This experimental study was aimed to investigate the value of 2DSE in detection of segmental regional myocardial dysfunction induced by fibrosis following myocardial infarction in a small animal (rat) model.

Methods: A rat model of myocardial infarction was established by ligation of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in 17 SD rats.

Clinical application of tissue Doppler imaging in patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiographic imaging of mitral and tricuspid annulus has been applied to assess right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) function in many cardiac diseases, but its clinical application, including response to long-term targeted therapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (PH), has not been addressed.

Methods: Seventy patients with idiopathic PH were compared with 35 age-matched control subjects to examine myocardial velocities by TD. Of these, 35 patients underwent repeat imaging after long-term targeted therapy.

Usefulness of isovolumic and systolic ejection signals by tissue Doppler for the assessment of left ventricular systolic function in ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Echocardiography is the imaging modality most frequently used to assess left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). However, the accuracy of the EF can be limited by the technical quality of the examination and observer variability. Recently, tissue Doppler was applied to acquire signals of myocardial systolic function, including systolic ejection velocity (S(a)) and the systolic isovolumic acceleration rate (IVA).

Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function by early diastolic mitral annulus peak acceleration rate: experimental studies and clinical application.

We sought to examine the hemodynamic determinants and clinical application of the peak acceleration rate of early (Ea) diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus by tissue Doppler. Simultaneous left atrial and left ventricular (LV) catheterization and Doppler echocardiography were performed in 10 dogs. Preload was altered using volume infusion and caval occlusion, whereas myocardial lusitropic state was altered with dobutamine and esmolol.

Effect of age on left ventricular systolic function in humans: a study of systolic isovolumic acceleration rate.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of age on left ventricular (LV) systolic function in normal healthy adults. Eighty consecutive subjects without cardiovascular disease underwent standard and tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiographic imaging. LV systolic function was assessed by load-dependent indices as ejection fraction (EF) and myocardial systolic velocities by TD as well as by the load-independent index, systolic isovolumic acceleration rate (IVA).