Ultrasound-mediated microbubble cavitation (UMMC) induces therapeutic angiogenesis to treat ischemic diseases. This study aimed to investigate whether diagnostic UMMC alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and, if so, through which mechanisms. DCM model was established by injecting streptozocin into rats to induce hyperglycemia, followed by a high-fat diet. The combined therapy of cation microbubble with low-intensity diagnostic ultrasound (frequency = 4 MHz), with a pulse frequency of 20 Hz and pulse length (PL) of 8, 18, 26, or 36 cycles, was given to rats twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Diagnostic UMMC therapy with PL at 8, 18, and 26 cycles, but not 36 cycles, dramatically prevented myocardial fibrosis, improved heart functions, and increased angiogenesis, accompanied by increased levels of PI3K, Akt, and eNOS proteins in the DCM model of rats. In cultured endothelial cells, low-intensity UMMC treatment (PL = 3 cycles, sound pressure level = 50%, mechanical index = 0.82) increased cell viability and activated PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling. The combination of diagnostic ultrasound with microbubble destruction dose-dependently promoted angiogenesis, thus improving heart function through PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling in diabetes. Accordingly, diagnostic UMMC therapy should be considered to protect the heart in patients with diabetes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbin.11918 | DOI Listing |
Pediatr Surg Int
December 2024
Division of Paediatric & Neonatal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common clinical condition with significant health risks for patients and is widely recognised as a major public health concern. Laboratory medicine plays a crucial role in both diagnosing and managing CKD, as diagnosis and staging rely on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and evaluating albuminuria (or proteinuria). It was evident that the laboratory assessment of CKD in Malaysia is not standardised.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHealth Serv Insights
December 2024
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
One of the main challenges in breast cancer management is health system literacy to provide optimal and timely diagnosis and treatments within complex and multidisciplinary health system environments. Digitalised patient navigation programs have been developed and found to be helpful in high- and low-resource settings, but gaps remain in finding cost-effective navigation in the public sector in Malaysia, where resources are scarce and unstable. Hence, we set out to develop a virtual patient navigation application for breast cancer patients to enhance knowledge about cancer diagnosis and treatments and provide a tracking mechanism to ensure quality care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pediatr Psychol
December 2024
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA.
Objective: This study examined the role of central sensitization in the experience of pain among adolescents and young adults with the most severe genotypes of sickle cell disease (SCD). We hypothesized that adolescents and young adults with chronic SCD pain would demonstrate a higher perceptual response to repeated stimulation of identical intensity (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
November 2024
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia
Objective: Both changes in body composition and increased fall risk occur with increasing age. While weight management may be considered a component of falls prevention, the long-term consequences of changes in weight, however, remain uncertain. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between weight and body composition changes over 5 years with fall occurrence.
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