[Association of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody and sperm motility in human semen].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA) and semen parameters. Methods： The semen samples of 820 male patients who were treated in the Reproductive Medicine Center of Taiyuan Central Hospital from August 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The levels of AT1-AA and Ang Ⅱ of semen were detected by ELISA, and the function of AT1-AA was detected by cardiomyocyte beating assay in suckling rats.

Epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with impaired left ventricular strain in patients with metabolic syndrome: the mediating role of myocardial energetic efficiency.

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) has been linked to cardiac dysfunction in metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether myocardial energetic efficiency partially explains the relationship between EATV and impaired left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain in MetS patients using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: A total of 225 patients with MetS and 68 age - and sex - matched controls underwent CMR.

Large artery atherosclerotic versus cardioembolism subtypes of large hemispheric infarction in the middle cerebral artery.

Background: Large hemispheric infarction (LHI) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is linked to high mortality and morbidity. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and cardioembolism subtypes of LHI in MCA.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 70 patients with LHI hospitalized at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from May 2019 to May 2021.

The adverse effects of metabolic disorder on left ventricular myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency and dysfunction in ischemic cardiomyopathy: insight from a cardiac MRI study.

Purpose: Metabolic risk factors (MetF) have emerged as the leading drivers of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) worldwide. However, in patients who have already experienced myocardial ischemia/infarction, whether and in what pattern the MetF act on the heart needs to be further elucidated. This study aims to determine the adverse effects of MetF on left ventricular (LV) indexed myocardial mechano-energetic efficiency (MEEi) and dysfunction in patients with ICM, and further clarify which MetF classification is more clinically significant.

Comparison of right ventricular function and clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients with and without obstructive coronary artery disease: insights from a CMR study.

Background: Obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) marks a high-risk group within patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), underscoring the need for tailored prevention and management strategies. However, limited data exist on right ventricular (RV) function and clinical outcomes in T2DM patients with versus without OCAD. This study aimed to investigate the differences in RV function and clinical outcomes between these two groups.

The adverse effect of metabolic syndrome on left ventricular global strains and myocardial energetic efficiency in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular dysfunction; however, its impact on left ventricular (LV) global strains and myocardial energetic efficiency in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) remains inadequately understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of MetS on LV dysfunction in NIDCM patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Methods: A total of 557 NIDCM patients (378 without MetS and 179 with MetS) who underwent CMR examination were included.

Higher hemoglobin levels are associated with impaired left ventricular global strains in metabolic syndrome: a 3.0 T CMR feature tracking study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a known contributor to increased cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality. Recent literatures suggested that higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels were associated with Mets, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and adverse events in general population. This study aimed to assess the associations between Hb levels and LV global strains in patients with MetS.

Association of body composition with left ventricular remodeling and outcomes in diabetic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: assessment of sarcopenic obesity using cardiac MRI.

Background: Obesity is common in the heart failure (HF) population and is regarded as an important risk factor for developing HF. Greater skeletal muscle mass has shown to be the underlying protective factor against cardiac failure. Since diabetic mellitus (DM) can impair muscle protein metabolism, leading to skeletal muscle wasting, accompanied by adipose tissue accumulation, sarcopenic obesity (SO) may be a high-risk phenotype with poor outcomes in this specific population, especially in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Anti-fibrosis effect and its mechanism of atractylenolide III on post-traumatic extending knee joint contracture in rats.

Objectives: Atractylenolide III (ATL III) is the major bioactive component found in Atractylodes macrocephala, which has shown a range of benefits in pharmacological studies, including neuroprotection, anti-neuroinflammatory properties, antioxidant effects, anti-allergic effects, anti-cancer properties and antifibrotic abilities. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of ATL III in the treatment of post-traumatic joint contracture (PTJC) in rat knees.

Methods: The rat PTJC model and TGF-β1-induced a primary synovial fibroblast model were used to observe several fibrotic markers (α-SMA、TGF-β1、FGF2、COL1A1and COL3A1) using histological staining, immunofluorescence and western blot.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave and Melatonin Alleviate Joint Capsule Fibrosis after Knee Trauma in Rats by Regulating Autophagy.

Background: Joint contracture is a common clinical problem affecting joint function. Capsule fibrosis plays a pivotal role in the progression of joint contracture. Previous studies have reported that autophagy plays a regulatory role in visceral fibrosis.

Sex differences in clinical profile, left ventricular remodeling and cardiovascular outcomes among diabetic patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: a cardiac-MRI-based study.

Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. Evidence has shown that sex differences may be an important contributor to phenotypic heterogeneity in patients with HFrEF. Although diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently coexists with HFrEF and results in a worse prognosis, there remains a need to identify sex-related differences in the characteristics and outcomes of this population.

Assessment of subclinical LV myocardial dysfunction in T2DM patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most prevalent complication of diabetes, and has been demonstrated to be independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. This aim of this study was to investigate the subclinical left ventricular (LV) myocardial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without DPN.

Methods: One hundred and thirty T2DM patients without DPN, 61 patients with DPN and 65 age and sex-matched controls who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were included, all subjects had no symptoms of heart failure and LV ejection fraction ≥ 50%.

Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Left Atrioventricular Coupling and Left Atrial Deformation in Patients with Essential Hypertension: An MRI Feature Tracking Study.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are both associated with left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) structural and functional abnormalities; however, the relationship between the left atrium and ventricle in this population is unclear.

Purpose: To identify differences between hypertensive patients with and without T2DM as the basis for further investigation the atrioventricular coupling relationship.

Study Type: Cross-sectional, retrospective study.

Glycemic control and clinical outcomes in diabetic patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: insight from ventricular remodeling using cardiac MRI.

Background: Glycemic control, as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), is an important biomarker to evaluate diabetes severity and is believed to be associated with heart failure development. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) commonly coexist, and the combination of these two diseases indicates a considerably poorer outcome than either disease alone. Therefore, glycemic control should be carefully managed.

The worsening effect of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation on left ventricular function and deformation in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a 3.0 T cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular death, overall mortality and heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study investigated the additive effects of paroxysmal AF on left ventricular (LV) function and deformation in T2DM patients with or without AF using the cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) technique.

Methods: The present study encompassed 225 T2DM patients differentiated by the presence or absence of paroxysmal AF [T2DM(AF+) and T2DM(AF-), respectively], along with 75 age and sex matched controls, all of whom underwent CMR examination.

Reduced thoracic skeletal muscle size is associated with adverse outcomes in diabetes patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: quantitative analysis of sarcopenia by using cardiac MRI.

Background: Sarcopenia is frequently found in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is associated with reduced exercise capacity, poor quality of life and adverse outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that axial thoracic skeletal muscle size could be used as a surrogate to assess sarcopenia in HFrEF. Since diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common comorbidities with HFrEF, we aimed to explore the potential association of axial thoracic skeletal muscle size with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and determine its prognostic significance in this condition.

Additional Impact of Aortic Regurgitation on Left Ventricular Strain and Remodeling in Essential Hypertension Patients Evaluated Using MRI.

Background: Understanding the impact of aortic regurgitation (AR) on hypertensive patients' hearts is important.

Purpose: To assess left ventricular (LV) strain and structure in hypertensive patients and investigate the relationship with AR severity.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Assessment of left atrioventricular coupling and left atrial function impairment in diabetes with and without hypertension using CMR feature tracking.

Purpose: The study was designed to assess the effect of co-occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension on the deterioration of left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) and left atrial (LA) function in comparison to individuals suffering from DM only.

Methods: From December 2015 to June 2022, we consecutively recruited patients with clinically diagnosed DM who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) at our hospital. The study comprised a total of 176 patients with DM, who were divided into two groups based on their blood pressure status: 103 with hypertension (DM + HP) and 73 without hypertension (DM-HP).

Biventricular Dysfunction and Ventricular Interdependence in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension: A 3.0-T Cardiac MRI Feature Tracking Study.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) results in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, subsequently leading to left ventricular (LV) impairment. The mechanism underlying ventricular interdependence is largely uninvestigated.

Purpose: To explore the biventricular dysfunction and the ventricular interdependence in PH patients.

Subclinical left ventricular deformation and microvascular dysfunction in T2DM patients with and without peripheral neuropathy: assessed by 3.0 T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) has been shown to be independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate changes in left ventricular (LV) microvascular perfusion and myocardial deformation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without DPN, as well as to investigate the association between myocardial perfusion and LV deformation.

Methods: Between October 2015 and July 2022, one hundred and twenty-three T2DM patients without DPN, fifty-four patients with DPN and sixty age‑ and sex‑matched controls who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging were retrospectively analyzed.

The right ventricular dysfunction and ventricular interdependence in patients with DM: assessment using cardiac MR feature tracking.

Background: To investigate the difference of right ventricular (RV) structural and functional alteration in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the ventricular interdependence in these patients, using cardiac MR (CMR) feature tracking.

Methods: From December 2016 to February 2022, 148 clinically diagnosed patients with DM who underwent cardiac MR (CMR) in our hospital were consecutively recruited. Fifty-four healthy individuals were included as normal controls.

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: Research Progress and Current Implementation.

Cardiovascular diseases pose a significant health and economic burden worldwide, with coronary artery disease still recognized as a major problem. It is closely associated with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet, and excessive alcohol consumption, which may lead to macro- and microvascular abnormalities in the heart. Coronary artery stenosis reduces the local supply of oxygen and nutrients to the myocardium and results in reduced levels of myocardial perfusion, which can lead to more severe conditions and irreversible damage to myocardial tissues.