Relationship between Visual Acuity and Lifestyle: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japanese Children

Purpose: To evaluate poor visual acuity (PVA) prevalence and factors related to PVA, including parental myopia status and lifestyle, in primary school children. Methods: Of total 220 primary school children from grades 4–6 in Hiroshima, 184 (83.6%) were enrolled in the study. They were divided into non-PVA (both eyes’ acuities ≥ 1.0) and PVA (one or both eyes’ acuity < 1.0 and/or wearing spectacles) groups. Data on lifestyle activities were obtained using self-reported questionnaires regarding daily lifestyle, including the duration of watching TV, playing games, using a computer, studying, number of books read per month, and outdoor activities. Results: The total prevalence of PVA was 66.8%: 50.0% for grade 4, 71.4% for grade 5, and 74.6% for grade 6. In binary logistic regression models, children who had at least one parent with myopia showed greater PVA than those with parents without myopia (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.14 to 3.15). In addition, weekend studying was significantly associated with PVA (OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.12), and the number of books read per month was associated with PVA (OR = 1.26, 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.51). Conclusions: This study confirmed a high PVA prevalence in primary school children, and that the rate of PVA increased with advancing grade. Parental myopia was associated with PVA, as were long studying time and a high number of books read per month

Sarco/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2 Activator Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction; Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Mice

Background: Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase2 (SERCA2) is impaired in various organs in animal models of diabetes. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of an allosteric SERCA2 activator (CDN1163) on glucose intolerance, hepatosteatosis, skeletal muscle function, and endothelial dysfunction in diabetic (db/db) mice. Methods: Either CDN1163 or vehicle was injected intraperitoneally into 16-week-old male control and db/db mice for 5 consecutive days. Results: SERCA2 protein expression was decreased in the aorta of db/db mice. In isometric tension measurements of aortic rings from db/db mice treated with CDN1163, acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation was improved. In vivo intraperitoneal administrations of CDN 1163 also increased ACh-induced relaxation. Moreover, CDN1163 significantly decreased blood glucose in db/db mice at 60 and 120 min during a glucose tolerance test; it also decreased serum insulin levels, hepatosteatosis, and oxygen consumption in skeletal muscle during the early period of exercise in db/db mice. Conclusions: CDN1163 directly improved aortic endothelial dysfunction in db/db mice. Moreover, CDN1163 improved hepatosteatosis, skeletal muscle function, and insulin resistance in db/db mice. The activation of SERCA2 might be a strategy for the all the tissue expressed SERCA2a improvement of endothelial dysfunction and the target for the organs related to insulin resistance

Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Gut–Heart Axis: Their Role in the Pathology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome with global clinical and socioeconomic burden worldwide owing to its poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence has implicated the possible contribution of gut microbiota-derived metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), on the pathology of a variety of diseases. The changes of SCFA concentration were reported to be observed in various cardiovascular diseases including HF in experimental animals and humans. HF causes hypoperfusion and/or congestion in the gut, which may lead to lowered production of SCFAs, possibly through the pathological changes of the gut microenvironment including microbiota composition. Recent studies suggest that SCFAs may play a significant role in the pathology of HF, possibly through an agonistic effect on G-protein-coupled receptors, histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibition, restoration of mitochondrial function, amelioration of cardiac inflammatory response, its utilization as an energy source, and remote effect attributable to a protective effect on the other organs. Collectively, in the pathology of HF, SCFAs might play a significant role as a key mediator in the gut–heart axis. However, these possible mechanisms have not been entirely clarified and need further investigation

Sex Differences in Cardiac and Clinical Phenotypes and Their Relation to Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure

Biological sex is one of the major factors characterizing the heart failure (HF) patient phenotype. Understanding sex-related differences in HF is crucial to implement personalized care for HF patients with various phenotypes. There are sex differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling patterns in the HF setting, namely, more likely concentric remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in women and eccentric remodeling and systolic dysfunction in men. Recently supra-normal EF (snLVEF) has been recognized as a risk of worse outcome. This pathology might be more relevant in female patients. The possible mechanism may be through coronary microvascular dysfunction and sympathetic nerve overactivation from the findings of previous studies. Further, estrogen deficit might play a significant role in this pathophysiology. The sex difference in body composition may also be related to the difference in LV remodeling and outcome. Lower implementation in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in female HFrEF patients might also be one of the factors related to sex differences in relation to outcomes. In this review, we will discuss the sex differences in cardiac and clinical phenotypes and their relation to outcomes in HF patients and further discuss how to provide appropriate treatment strategies for female patients