Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C and MAP-Kinase Activating Death Domain-Containing Gene Polymorphisms and Diastolic Heart Failure

OBJECTIVE: Myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) plays a role in ventricular relaxation. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3) gene polymorphisms and diastolic heart failure (DHF) in a human case-control study. METHODS: A total of 352 participants of 1752 consecutive patients from the National Taiwan University Hospital and its affiliated hospital were enrolled. 176 patients diagnosed with DHF confirmed by echocardiography were recruited. Controls were matched 1-to-1 by age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, renal function and medication use. We genotyped 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) according to HapMap Han Chinese Beijing databank across a 40 kb genetic region containing the MYBPC3 gene and the neighboring DNA sequences to capture 100% of haplotype variance in all SNPs with minor allele frequencies ≥ 5%. We also analyzed associations of these tagging SNPs and haplotypes with DHF and linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure of the MYBPC3 gene. RESULTS: In a single locus analysis, SNP rs2290149 was associated with DHF (allele-specific p = 0.004; permuted p = 0.031). The SNP with a minor allele frequency of 9.4%, had an odds ratio 2.14 (95% CI 1.25-3.66; p = 0.004) for the additive model and 2.06 for the autosomal dominant model (GG+GA : AA, 95% CI 1.17-3.63; p = 0.013), corresponding to a population attributable risk fraction of 12.02%. The haplotypes in a LD block of rs2290149 (C-C-G-C) was also significantly associated with DHF (odds ratio 2.10 (1.53-2.89); permuted p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: We identified a SNP (rs2290149) among the tagging SNP set that was significantly associated with early DHF in a Chinese population

Light-based technologies for management of COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

The global dissemination of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has accelerated the need for the implementation of effective antimicrobial strategies to target the causative agent SARS-CoV-2. Light-based technologies have a demonstrable broad range of activity over standard chemotherapeutic antimicrobials and conventional disinfectants, negligible emergence of resistance, and the capability to modulate the host immune response. This perspective article identifies the benefits, challenges, and pitfalls of repurposing light-based strategies to combat the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic

Adhering to a Tai Chi Chuan Exercise Program Improves Vascular Resistance and Cardiac Function

Background: Cardiac function is an important predictor for life expectancy in elderly subjects. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is a generalized tolerable exercise for the aged population. The current study evaluated the effects of TCC on the vascular compliance and resistance as well as cardiac function of a general healthy elderly population. Materials and methods: A total of 122 consecutive subjects were enrolled from the general population. Yang style TCC was practiced three times a week for 1 hour each session for a duration of 5 months. Subjects were categorized as “adherents” (n=33) if they participated in >48 (80%) sessions, or as “non-adherents” (n=34). Biochemistry data, including fasting glucose, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, were recorded before and after the 5-month intervention. Hemodynamic variables, including vascular compliance, resistance, cardiac output, stroke volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction, were obtained before and after the program using a Dynapulse 200 M monitor. Results: Serum triglyceride levels declined after TCC practice (the changes in triglycerides were −3.12 mg/dL and 18.8 mg/dL for the adherent and non-adherent groups, respectively; p=0.03). Significant differences between the adherent and non-adherent groups existed in left ventricular contractility, cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, and brachial artery compliance (p<0.01; p=0.01; p<0.01; p<0.01; p=0.02, respectively). Conclusion: A 5-month TCC intervention can have a favorable impact on some biochemical indices of cardiovascular risk. This intervention can also have favorable effects upon hemodynamic parameters. These findings indicate that TCC intervention may offer enhanced cardioprotective effects in the aged population

Dissecting the mechanisms of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and inflammation in peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with symptoms of heart failure and preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function are commonly encountered in clinical practice especially in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We hypothesized that adiposity might influence LV diastolic function through systemic inflammation in this specific group. METHODS: We designed a cross-sectional study in 173 prevalent PD patients. LV diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed by echocardiography. PD patient without LV diastolic dysfunction served as the control group. Serum inflammatory biomarkers were examined including tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The location and amount of adipose tissue were assessed by computerized tomography (CT) at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. RESULTS: Subjects with LV diastolic dysfunction had higher levels of the pro-inflammation cytokines and more visceral and peritoneal fat (all P<0.001) than control subjects. A significant correlation was found between visceral adipose tissue and pro-inflammatory cytokines (r = 0.70; P<0.001). Multivariable regression analysis found that the relationship between visceral adipose tissue and LV diastolic dysfunction became insignificant when either TNF-α or IL-6 were introduced into the model, although TNF-α and IL-6 were both significantly associated with LV diastolic dysfunction even after adjusting for visceral fat (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.09-2.02; P = 0.033 and OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.09-1.82; P = 0.031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Larger amounts of adipose tissue were associated with higher serum pro-inflammatory levels in PD patients, which might be related to the development of LV diastolic dysfunction. Modulating inflammatory reactions in PD patients can be a useful therapeutic approach for managing LV diastolic dysfunction

The prevalence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in PD patients divided into tertiles based on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels.

<p>The prevalence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in PD patients divided into tertiles based on interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels.</p

Multivariable logistic regression models for parameters associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

<p>Models 2–4 adjust for age, gender, BMI, DM, HTN, HOMA, and LDL. Models 5 and 6 additionally adjust for tissue necrosis factor-alpha.</p><p>Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; DM, diabetes mellitus; HTN, hypertension; HOMA, homeostasis model of insulin resistance; TNF-α, tissue necrosis factor-alpha; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; LV, left ventricular.</p

Baseline patient demographics, echocardiographic characteristics, and adipose tissue measurements of the 173 subjects included in the study.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation unless otherwise indicated.</p><p>Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumflex; DM, diabetes; HTN, hypertension; HOMA, homeostasis model of insulin resistance; TNF-α, tissue necrosis factor-alpha; IL-6, interleukin-6; LDL, low density lipoprotein; HDL, high density lipoprotein; TG, triglyceride; PD, peritoneal dialysis; kt/v, k- dialyzer clearance of urea, t-dialysis time, v-volume of distribution of urea, approximately equal to patient's total body water; LA, left atrial diameter; LV, left ventricular; E, mitral inflow E wave; A, mitral inflow A wave; DT, mitral inflow deceleration time; Em, Peak annular early diastolic velocity of the lateral mitral annulus in tissue Doppler imaging; IVRT, interventricular relaxation time.</p

Pearson bivariate correlations between adipose tissue and various clinical characteristics.

<p>Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; HOMA, homeostasis model of insulin resistance; TC, total cholesterol; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LA, left atrial/atrium; LV, left ventricular; E, mitral inflow E wave; A, mitral inflow A wave; Em, Peak annular early diastolic velocity of the lateral mitral annulus in tissue Doppler imaging.</p

Multivariable logistic regression models for parameters associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

<p>Models 2–4 adjust for age, gender, BMI, DM, HTN, HOMA, and LDL. Models 5 and 6 additionally adjust for interleukin-6.</p><p>Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; HOMA, homeostasis model of insulin resistance; DM, diabetes mellitus; HTN, hypertension; LV, left ventricular; IL-6, interleukin-6; LDL, low-density lipoprotein.</p