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PloS One 2024The left ventricular (LV) changes which occur in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) are incompletely understood.
BACKGROUND
The left ventricular (LV) changes which occur in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) are incompletely understood.
METHODS
Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed using a 1.5T scanner in subjects with FRDA who are homozygous for an expansion of an intron 1 GAA repeat in the FXN gene. Standard measurements were performed of LV mass (LVM), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Native T1 relaxation time and the extracellular volume fraction (ECV) were utilised as markers of left ventricular (LV) diffuse myocardial fibrosis and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was utilised as a marker of LV replacement fibrosis. FRDA genetic severity was assessed using the shorter FXN GAA repeat length (GAA1).
RESULTS
There were 93 subjects with FRDA (63 adults, 30 children, 54% males), 9 of whom had a reduced LVEF (<55%). A LVEDV below the normal range was present in 39%, a LVM above the normal range in 22%, and an increased LVM/LVEDV ratio in 89% subjects. In adults with a normal LVEF, there was an independent positive correlation of LVM with GAA1, and a negative correlation with age, but no similar relationships were seen in children. GAA1 was positively correlated with native T1 time in both adults and children, and with ECV in adults, all these associations independent of LVM and LVEDV. LGE was present in 21% of subjects, including both adults and children, and subjects with and without a reduced LVEF. None of GAA1, LVM or LVEDV were predictors of LGE.
CONCLUSION
An association between diffuse interstitial LV myocardial fibrosis and genetic severity in FRDA was present independently of FRDA-related LV structural changes. Localised replacement fibrosis was found in a minority of subjects with FRDA and was not associated with LV structural change or FRDA genetic severity in subjects with a normal LVEF.
Topics: Humans; Friedreich Ataxia; Male; Female; Adult; Gadolinium; Heart Ventricles; Child; Adolescent; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Contrast Media; Stroke Volume; Fibrosis; Frataxin
PubMed: 38814901
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303969 -
Food Chemistry: X Jun 2024The feasibility of defatted grape seed powder (DGSP) stabilizing Pickering emulsion gels as butter substitute was investigated. The Pickering emulsion gel was...
The feasibility of defatted grape seed powder (DGSP) stabilizing Pickering emulsion gels as butter substitute was investigated. The Pickering emulsion gel was constructed using DGSP through high-speed homogenization, and the effects of particle concentration () and oil-phase (Medium chain triglyceride) volume fraction () on its structure and properties were investigated. Its application as a butter substitute was also evaluated. The results showed that DGSP had various particle shapes, a wide particle size distribution (3-130 μm), and a three-phase contact angle of 128.9 ± 2.3°. The O/W Pickering emulsion gels with ≥ 60% could be obtained at ≥ 2%. The droplet diameter was negatively correlated with and positively correlated with , while the gel strength was positively related to and . The resulting emulsion gel demonstrated solid-like viscoelastic behavior and pseudoplasticity, and had the potential to serve as a butter substitute. The results can promote the application of grape seeds in food.
PubMed: 38813458
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101476 -
Acta Biochimica Polonica 2024To evaluate the clinical efficacy of different androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) based on dynamic-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging...
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of different androgen deprivation therapies for prostate cancer (PCa) based on dynamic-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).
METHODS
104 patients with PCa were studied, all of whom were treated with androgen deprivation therapy. The patients were divided into a continuous group (continuous androgen deprivation therapy) and an intermittent group (intermittent androgen deprivation therapy) by random number table method, 52 cases/group. The therapeutic effect and DCE-MRI indices were compared and the relationship between DCE-MRI indices and clinical efficacy and the evaluation value of therapeutic efficacy were analyzed.
RESULTS
The objective response rate (ORR) of the intermittent group was higher than that of the continuous group ( < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in disease control rate (DCR) between the two groups ( > 0.05). After treatment, volume transfer coefficient (K), reverse transfer constant (K), volume fraction (Ve), blood volume (BV), and blood flow (BF) in both groups were lowered, and those in the intermittent group were lower than the continuous group ( < 0.05). K, K, Ve, BF, and BV in the ORR group were lower than those in the non-ORR group ( < 0.05). K, K, Ve, BF, and BV were correlated with the therapeutic effect of PCa ( < 0.05). The AUC value of the combined detection of DCE-MRI indices in evaluating the therapeutic effect of PCa was greater than that of each index alone ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Compared with continuous androgen deprivation therapy, intermittent androgen deprivation therapy has better clinical efficacy in the treatment of PCa, and DCE-MRI indices are related to the treatment efficacy of PCa and have an evaluation value.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatic Neoplasms; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Androgen Antagonists; Aged; Middle Aged; Contrast Media; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38812492
DOI: 10.3389/abp.2024.12473 -
Cardiovascular Diabetology May 2024Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) holds greater diagnostic and prognostic value than left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the heart failure (HF)...
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) holds greater diagnostic and prognostic value than left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the heart failure (HF) patients. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index serves as a reliable surrogate for insulin resistance (IR) and is strongly associated with several adverse cardiovascular events. However, there remains a research gap concerning the correlation between the TyG index and GLS among patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
METHOD
427 CHF patients were included in the final analysis. Patient demographic information, along with laboratory tests such as blood glucose, lipids profiles, and echocardiographic data were collected. The TyG index was calculated as Ln [fasting triglyceride (TG) (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (mg/dL)/2].
RESULTS
Among CHF patients, GLS was notably lower in the higher TyG index group compared to the lower TyG index group. Following adjustment for confounding factors, GLS demonstrated gradual decrease with increasing TyG index, regardless of the LVEF level and CHF classification.
CONCLUSION
Elevated TyG index may be independently associated with more severe clinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with CHF.
Topics: Humans; Heart Failure; Male; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Triglycerides; Middle Aged; Aged; Ventricular Function, Left; Blood Glucose; Chronic Disease; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left; Biomarkers; Stroke Volume; Predictive Value of Tests; Insulin Resistance; Prognosis; Global Longitudinal Strain
PubMed: 38811950
DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02259-2 -
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders May 2024Our study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)...
OBJECTIVES
Our study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) depending on HF etiology.
METHODS
We enrolled 166 patients with optimal medical therapy-resistant HFrEF (median age 59 years, 83.7% males, median NYHA class - 2, median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) - 29.0%) who underwent CCM therapy device implantation from 2013 to 2019 in four medical centers in Russia. The HF etiology was determined based on invasive coronary angiography or cardiac MRI data. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), and NTproBNP-tests were performed at a baseline and 12 months after the implantation.
RESULTS
The ischemic etiology of HF was revealed in 100 patients (61.5%) (ICM group); the non-ischemic group (NICM) evolved 66 patients (38.5%). Patients in the ICM group were significantly older (61[57-69] vs. 55 [42.8-61], p < 0.001), more frequently had hypertension (79% vs. 42.4%, p < 0.001) and chronic kidney disease (43% vs. 22.7%, p = 0.012). Patients in the NICM group had significantly more often atrial fibrillation (AF) (58% vs. 74%, p = 0.048), larger end-diastolic volume (EDV) (249 [208-309] vs. 220 [192-271], p = 0.019) and end-systolic volume (ESV) (183 [147-230] vs. 154 [128-199], p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in mortality between ICM and NICM groups (14.4 vs. 10.8%, p = 0.51). In 12 months, there was a significant increase in LVEF in the NICM group (+ 2.0 [2-6] vs. +7.7 [2-12], p < 0.001), while the improvement in the 6MWT (+ 75 [22-108] vs. +80 [10-160], p = 0.851) and NYHA class did not reach the level of significance. The subanalysis between patients with improved NYHA class and those without improvement revealed that patients without improvement more frequently had AF (56% vs. 89%; p < 0.01), chronic obstructive lung disease (18% vs. 35% p = 0.047), higher blood pressure (110 [105-120] vs. 120[110-129]; p = 0.032).
CONCLUSION
In this multicenter retrospective study, patients with non-ischemic HFrEF showed a significantly higher improvement in LVEF and LV reverse remodeling following CCM therapy device implantation. There was no significant association between HF etiology and survival in drug-resistant HFrEF patients following CCM therapy.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Ventricular Function, Left; Stroke Volume; Aged; Treatment Outcome; Heart Failure; Myocardial Contraction; Recovery of Function; Time Factors; Russia; Exercise Tolerance; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Peptide Fragments; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Functional Status
PubMed: 38811946
DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03950-8 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Sacubitril/valsartan has been highly recognized as a treatment for Chronic heart failure (CHF). Its potential cardioprotective benefits and mechanisms, however, remain...
Sacubitril/valsartan has been highly recognized as a treatment for Chronic heart failure (CHF). Its potential cardioprotective benefits and mechanisms, however, remain to be explored. Metabolomics can be used to identify the metabolic characteristics and related markers, as well as the influence of drugs, thereby opening up the new mechanism for sacubitril/valsartan therapy in CHF disease. In this study, the ligation of left anterior descending and exhaustive swimming were used to induce a rat model of CHF after myocardial infarction. The efficacy was appraised with echocardiography, serum NT-proBNP, and histopathologica. UPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis approach were used to analyze the effect of sacubitril/valsartan on CHF rats. RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to investigate the tryptophan/kynurenine metabolism pathway. Accordingly, the basal cardiac function were increased, while the serum NT-proBNP and collagen volume fraction decreased in CHF rats with sacubitril/valsartan. Sacubitril/valsartan regulated the expression of kynurenine et.al 8 metabolomic biomarkers in CHF rats serum, and it contributed to the cardioprotective effects through tryptophan metabolism pathway. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in the myocardial tissue of CHF rats, were down-regulated by sacubitril/valsartan, which was the same with the IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, COX-2, and IL-6 mRNA expression, and IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α expression in serum. In conclusion, sacubitril/valsartan can ameliorate cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in CHF rats, at least in part through inhibition of tryptophan/kynurenine metabolism.
Topics: Animals; Aminobutyrates; Valsartan; Drug Combinations; Biphenyl Compounds; Ventricular Remodeling; Kynurenine; Heart Failure; Rats; Tryptophan; Male; Tetrazoles; Inflammation; Disease Models, Animal; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
PubMed: 38811632
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62472-7 -
Circulation Journal : Official Journal... May 2024There are no sex-specific guidelines for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). This retrospective study examined sex-specific differences and propose treatment criteria...
Sex-Specific Left Ventricular and Aorta Size Cut-Off Values for Hemodynamically Significant Chronic Aortic Regurgitation - Implications for Treatment in Asian Populations.
BACKGROUND
There are no sex-specific guidelines for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). This retrospective study examined sex-specific differences and propose treatment criteria from an Asian AR cohort.Methods and Results: Consecutive 1,305 patients with moderate-severe AR or greater at 3 tertiary centers in Taiwan and Japan (2008-2022) were identified. Study endpoints were aortic valve surgery (AVS), all-cause death (ACD), and cardiovascular death (CVD). The median follow up was 3.9 years (interquartile range 1.3-7.1 years). Compared with men (n=968), women (n=337) were older, had more advanced symptoms, more comorbidities, larger indexed aorta size (iAorta) and indexed left ventricular (LV) end-systolic dimension (LVESDi; P<0.001 for all). Symptomatic status was poorly correlated with the degree of LV remodeling in women (P≥0.18). Women received fewer AVS (P≤0.001) and men had better overall 10-year survival (P<0.01). Ten-year post-AVS survival (P=0.9) and the progression of LV remodeling were similar between sexes (P≥0.16). Multivariable determinants of ACD and CVD were age, advanced symptoms, iAorta, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LVESDi, LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi), and Taiwanese ethnicity (all P<0.05), but not female sex (P≥0.05). AVS was associated with better survival (P<0.01). Adjusted LVEF, LVESDi, LVESVi, and iAortacut-off values for ACD were 53%, 24.8 mm/m, 44 mL/m, and 25.5 mm/m, respectively, in women and 52%, 23.4 mm/m, 52 mL/m, and 23.2 mm/m, respectively, in men.
CONCLUSIONS
Early detection and intervention using sex-specific cut-off values may improve survival in women with AR.
PubMed: 38811198
DOI: 10.1253/circj.CJ-24-0095 -
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy Apr 2024Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy, in which a radiation source is placed directly or close to a tumor. It is commonly used to treat skin cancer, and enables... (Review)
Review
Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy, in which a radiation source is placed directly or close to a tumor. It is commonly used to treat skin cancer, and enables precise irradiation treatment of affected area (planning target volume - PTV) while minimizing exposure dose to surrounding healthy tissue (organs at risk - OARs). Recently, the use of 3D printing has begun revolutionizing brachytherapy, as it allows manufacturing of custom-designed applicators for unique shape of skin topography, tumor, and surrounding tissues. Outcome of the combination of 3D printing and brachytherapy has several advantages over traditional treatment planning methods. Some of the advantages are intuitive, whereas others can be concluded from a literature overview as follows: 1) Possibility of developing patient-specific applicators that precisely match the shape of tumor area; 2) Reduction of the time required for applicator production, especially when custom-made devices are needed; 3) Reduction of manufacturing costs; 4) Treatment procedures improvement; 5) Improvement of safety measures accelerated by the development of smart materials (e.g., polymer filaments with admixture of heavy elements); 6) Possibility of nearly instant adjustment into tumor treatment (applicators can be changed as the tumor is changing its shape); and 7) Applicators designed to securely fit to treatment area to hold radioactive source always in the same place for each fraction. Consequently, tumor-provided dose is accurate and leads to effective treatment. In this review paper, we investigated the current state-of-the-art of the application of 3D printing in brachytherapy. A number of existing reports were chosen and reviewed in terms of printing technology, materials used, treatment effectiveness, and fabrication protocols. Furthermore, the development of future directions that should be considered by collaborative teams bridging different fields of science, such as medicine, physics, chemistry, and material science were summarized. With the indicated topics, we hope to stimulate the innovative progress of 3D printing technology in brachytherapy.
PubMed: 38808207
DOI: 10.5114/jcb.2024.137357 -
The Journal of Innovations in Cardiac... May 2024Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a novel pacing strategy that uses the conduction system distal to the left bundle branch block level for direct activation of...
Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a novel pacing strategy that uses the conduction system distal to the left bundle branch block level for direct activation of the left bundle and right ventricular myocardium. Our meta-analysis compared the structural, electrophysiological, clinical, and procedural outcomes of LBBAP and biventricular pacing (BVP). The meta-analysis included two randomized controlled trials and showed significant reductions in the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic volumes with LBBAP compared to BVP, together with statistically significant reductions in the QRS duration, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations. The fluoroscopic time was also significantly shorter in the LBBAP group. However, no significant change in the LV ejection fraction was noted. Procedural complications were slightly higher in the LBBAP group, albeit not to a statistically significant degree. Our findings suggest that LBBAP may be a superior alternative to standard BVP in improving the structural, electrophysiological, and clinical components of cardiomyopathy, including the NYHA class and HF hospitalizations. LBBAP is a more physiological pacing strategy that results in normal ventricular activation and may be a viable alternative to BVP for cardiac synchronization therapy.
PubMed: 38808170
DOI: 10.19102/icrm.2024.15053 -
Reproductive Medicine and Biology 2024To investigate whether seminal plasma (SP)/serum ratios of multiple trace elements (TEs) can classify patients with male subfertility.
PURPOSE
To investigate whether seminal plasma (SP)/serum ratios of multiple trace elements (TEs) can classify patients with male subfertility.
METHODS
SP/serum ratios of 20 TEs (lithium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, rubidium, strontium, molybdenum, cesium, barium, and thallium) were calculated for healthy volunteers ( = 4) and those consulting for male subfertility ( = 245). Volunteer semen samples were collected by split ejaculation into early and subsequent fractions, and SP/serum ratio data were compared between fractions. The patients' SP/serum ratio data were used in an unsupervised clustering analysis and qualitatively compared with the data from the fractions of ejaculation from the volunteers. Semen quality parameters and pregnancy outcomes were compared between patient clusters.
RESULTS
The early fraction of volunteers was characterized by lower phosphorus and arsenic and 18 other higher TEs than the subsequent fraction. Cluster analysis classified patients into four distinct clusters, one sharing characteristics with the early fraction and another with the subsequent fraction. One cluster with the early fraction characteristics had significantly lower semen volume and higher pregnancy rates from spontaneous pregnancies or intrauterine insemination.
CONCLUSIONS
Classification of patients based on SP/serum ratios of multiple TEs represents the dominance of fractions of ejaculation samples.
PubMed: 38807752
DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12584