Myocardial fibrosis is associated with brain microstructural alterations in patients with heart failure: A diffusion MRI study.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the changes in brain diffusion in patients with heart failure (HF) by measuring the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and to investigate the relationship between these changes and cardiac injury features.

Methods: The study included 49 patients with HF and 39 healthy controls. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Synthesis of FeO Derived from Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Sludge and Catalytic Degradation of Tetracycline.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) sludge is waste generated in the process of acid mine wastewater treatment, and the use of AMD sludge to prepare FeO to activate HO degradation pollutants is an effective means of resource utilization. In this study, the heterogeneous catalyst FeO-based composites were synthesized by a one-step method using AMD sludge as a raw material, and the FeO-based materials before and after catalysis were characterized by powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of several key factors (pH values, HO content, TC concentration, and FeO content) of tetracycline (TC) degradation were evaluated.

Age and sex differences in the effects of short- and long-term exposure to air pollution on endothelial dysfunction.

Background: The effects of air pollution on endothelial function remain unclear across populations. We aimed to use brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) to identify demographic differences in the effects of air pollution exposure on endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: We measured FMD in 850 participants from October 2016 to January 2020.

Association between patent foramen ovale morphology and clinical outcomes following transcatheter closure.

Background: Anatomic variations of the patent foramen ovale (PFO) are commonly observed, yet limited research has investigated their impact on clinical outcomes following transcatheter closure. We aimed to explore the association between PFO morphology and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Consecutive patients with cryptogenic stroke who underwent PFO closure were prospectively enrolled at a single center from September 2019 to April 2023.

Diagnostic efficacy of complexity metrics from cardiac MRI myocardial segmental motion curves in detecting late gadolinium enhancement in myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Myocardial segmental motion is associated with cardiovascular pathology, often assessed through myocardial strain features. The stability of the motion can be influenced by myocardial fibrosis. This research aimed to explore the complexity metrics (CM) of myocardial segmental motion curves, observe their correlation with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) transmural extension (TE), and assess diagnostic efficacy combined with segmental strains in different TE segments.

Deciphering the Causal Relationship between Sodium-glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibition and Cancer Risks: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study.

Controversy persists regarding the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on cancer. The underlying causal relationship remains unclear. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) strategy was employed to investigate the causal associations between SGLT2 inhibitors and 26 site-specific malignancies.

Association of prealbumin with short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Prealbumin is considered to be a useful indicator of nutritional status. Furthermore, it has been found to be associated with severities and prognosis of a range of diseases. However, limited data on the association of baseline prealbumin level with outcomes of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are available.

Protein disulfide isomerase cleaves allosteric disulfides in histidine-rich glycoprotein to regulate thrombosis.

The essence of difference between hemostasis and thrombosis is that the clotting reaction is a highly fine-tuned process. Vascular protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) represents a critical mechanism regulating the functions of hemostatic proteins. Herein we show that histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a substrate of PDI.

Practical applications of teledentistry during the Covid-19 pandemic in ASEAN member states - a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this review is to determine the utilisation and adoption of teledentistry based solutions and technologies during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Asean region.

Background: Teledentistry is a branch of telemedicine that has rapidly advanced in the last few years and has the potential to provide solutions to oral health problems of patients and locations that do not have prompt and immediate access to a dentist or dental services. The Covid-19 has increased the adaption of all digital health technologies and teledentistry is no exception.

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and endothelial dysfunction.

Background: Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a simple surrogate marker for insulin resistance (IR), has been reported as an independent predictor of arterial structural damage and future cardiovascular events. The association between TyG index and endothelial dysfunction remains uncertain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between TyG index and endothelial dysfunction.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Protein 72 Regulates Integrin Mac-1 Activity to Influence Neutrophil Recruitment.

Background: Integrins mediate the adhesion, crawling, and migration of neutrophils during vascular inflammation. Thiol exchange is important in the regulation of integrin functions. ERp72 (endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein 72) is a member of the thiol isomerase family responsible for the catalysis of disulfide rearrangement.

Cerebral hypometabolism mediates the effect of stroke volume on cognitive impairment in heart failure patients.

Aims: The present study aimed to phenotype the cerebral structural and glucose metabolic alterations in patients with heart failure (HF) using simultaneous positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) and to investigate their relationship to cardiac biomarkers and cognitive performance.

Methods And Results: Forty-two HF patients caused by ischaemic heart disease (mean age 67.2 ± 10.

AGEs promote atherosclerosis by increasing LDL transcytosis across endothelial cells via RAGE/NF-κB/Caveolin-1 pathway.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanism whereby advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accelerate atherosclerosis (AS) and to explore novel therapeutic strategies for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods And Results: The effect of AGEs on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) transcytosis across endothelial cells (ECs) was assessed using an in vitro model of LDL transcytosis. We observed that AGEs activated the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) on the surface of ECs and consequently upregulated Caveolin-1, which in turn increased caveolae-mediated LDL transcytosis and accelerated AS progression.

Caveolin-1 in endothelial cells: A potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic vascular disease characterized by lipid accumulation and the activation of the inflammatory response; it remains the leading nation-wide cause of death. Early in the progression of AS, stimulation by pro-inflammatory agonists (TNF-α, LPS, and others), oxidized lipoproteins (ox-LDL), and biomechanical stimuli (low shear stress) lead to endothelial cell activation and dysfunction. Consequently, it is crucial to investigate how endothelial cells respond to different stressors and ways to alter endothelial cell activation in AS development, as they are the earliest cells to respond.

The incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects with low and moderate cardiovascular risk.

Background: The cardiovascular risk models and subclinical atherosclerotic indicators are both recommended for cardiovascular risk stratification. The accordance between the incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis and subjects with low and moderate cardiovascular risk is unclear.

Hypothesis: Subjects with low and moderate cardiovascular risk have a lower incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis compared with subjects with high risk.

Identification of an variant in a Chinese familial hypercholesterolemia and its relation to ROS/NLRP3-Mediated pyroptosis in hepatic cells.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant hereditary disease. Its early diagnosis and intervention significantly improve the patient's quality of life. However, there are few types of research on the FH pathogenic genes in China.

Incidence, predictors and prognosis of acute kidney injury in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing emergent coronary angiography/primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary angiography (CAG) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is frequently observed, and often interpreted as contrast induced-AKI. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, predictors and outcomes of AKI in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing emergent CAG/PPCI using the control group of STEMI patients who were not exposed to contrast agents within the first 72 h.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 1670 STEMI patients.

Combination model of neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein ratio and system inflammation response index is more valuable for predicting peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetic patients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Neutrophil/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (NHR), monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR), lymphocyte/HDL ratio (LHR), platelet/HDL ratio (PHR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), system inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) have been recently investigated as novel inflammatory markers. Herein, the correlation was investigated between these inflammatory biomarkers and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the hematological parameter data of 216 T2DM patients without PAD (T2DM-WPAD) and 218 T2DM patients with PAD (T2DM-PAD) at Fontaine stages II, III or IV stage had been collected.

Remnant cholesterol is independently asssociated with an increased risk of peripheral artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: Remnant cholesterol (RC) has been correlated with a higher risk of atherosclerosis. It has been confirmed that in the general population, an elevated RC level is related to a 5-fold higher risk of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for PAD development.

Scavenger receptor a mediates glycated LDL transcytosis across endothelial cells to promote atherosclerosis.

Glycated low-density lipoprotein (G-LDL) is an established proatherosclerotic factor, but the mechanism is not completely understood. In vitro, we evaluated the uptake and transcytosis rates of N-LDL and G-LDL in endothelial cells and the uptake and transcytosis rates of G-LDL were much higher than those of N-LDL. Then, using small interfering RNAs, the receptor mediating G-LDL uptake and transcytosis was screened among eight candidate receptors, and the mechanism of the receptor regulation was thoroughly examined.

Association of vascular endothelial function and quality of life in patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Improvements are required in the quality of life (QoL) of patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA). Several patients with INOCA experience vascular endothelial dysfunction. However, the relationship between endothelial function and QoL remains unelucidated.