Network analysis of the left anterior descending coronary arteries in swim-trained rats by an in situ video microscopic technique

Abstract Background We aimed to identify sex differences in the network properties and to recognize the geometric alteration effects of long-term swim training in a rat model of exercise-induced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Methods Thirty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups: male sedentary, female sedentary, male exercised and female exercised. After training sessions, LV morphology and function were checked by echocardiography. The geometry of the left coronary artery system was analysed on pressure-perfused, microsurgically prepared resistance artery networks using in situ video microscopy. All segments over > 80 μm in diameter were studied using divided 50-μm-long cylindrical ring units of the networks. Oxidative-nitrative (O-N) stress markers, adenosine A2A and estrogen receptor (ER) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results The LV mass index, ejection fraction and fractional shortening significantly increased in exercised animals. We found substantial sex differences in the coronary network in the control groups and in the swim-trained animals. Ring frequency spectra were significantly different between male and female animals in both the sedentary and trained groups. The thickness of the wall was higher in males as a result of training. There were elevations in the populations of 200- and 400-μm vessel units in males; the thinner ones developed farther and the thicker ones closer to the orifice. In females, a new population of 200- to 250-μm vessels appeared unusually close to the orifice. Conclusions Physical activity and LV hypertrophy were accompanied by a remodelling of coronary resistance artery network geometry that was different in both sexes.

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Sex and Cardiovascular Function in Relation to Vascular Brain Injury in Patients with Cognitive Complaints

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-210360 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Sanne Kuipers ◽

Geert Jan Biessels ◽

Jacoba P. Greving ◽

Raquel P. Amier ◽

Jeroen de Bresser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Interaction Effect ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Cardiovascular Function ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Cognitive Complaints ◽

Lacunar Infarcts ◽

Interaction Terms ◽

Lv Mass

Background: Emerging evidence shows sex differences in manifestations of vascular brain injury in memory clinic patients. We hypothesize that this is explained by sex differences in cardiovascular function. Objective: To assess the relation between sex and manifestations of vascular brain injury in patients with cognitive complaints, in interaction with cardiovascular function. Methods: 160 outpatient clinic patients (68.8±8.5 years, 38% female) with cognitive complaints and vascular brain injury from the Heart-Brain Connection study underwent a standardized work-up, including heart-brain MRI. We calculated sex differences in vascular brain injury (lacunar infarcts, non-lacunar infarcts, white matter hyperintensities [WMHs], and microbleeds) and cardiovascular function (arterial stiffness, cardiac index, left ventricular [LV] mass index, LV mass-to-volume ratio and cerebral blood flow). In separate regression models, we analyzed the interaction effect between sex and cardiovascular function markers on manifestations of vascular brain injury with interaction terms (sex*cardiovascular function marker). Results: Males had more infarcts, whereas females tended to have larger WMH-volumes. Males had higher LV mass indexes and LV mass-to-volume ratios and lower CBF values compared to females. Yet, we found no interaction effect between sex and individual cardiovascular function markers in relation to the different manifestations of vascular brain injury (p-values interaction terms > 0.05). Conclusion: Manifestations of vascular brain injury in patients with cognitive complaints differed by sex. There was no interaction between sex and cardiovascular function, warranting further studies to explain the observed sex differences in injury patterns.

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Early Left Ventricular Dysfunction Detected by Speckle Tracking in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients with Valvular Calcification

Cardiorenal Medicine ◽

10.1159/000491679 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 22-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jiahui Li ◽

Aili Li ◽

Jiali Wang ◽

Yu Zhang ◽

Ying Zhou

Keyword(s):

Wall Thickness ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Heart Function ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Doppler Imaging ◽

Subtle Change ◽

Lv Mass ◽

And Function

Purpose: Cardiac valve calcification (VC) is very common in patients on hemodialysis. However, the definite effect of VC on left ventricular (LV) geometry and function in this population is unknown, especially when LV ejection fraction (LVEF) is normal. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of VC on LV geometry and function in long-term hemodialysis patients by conventional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Methods: A total of 47 hemodialysis patients (2–3 times weekly for 5 years or more) were enrolled in this study. Cardiac VC was defined as bright echoes of more than 1 mm on one or more cusps of the aortic valve or mitral valve or mitral annulus using echocardiography as the screening method. LV longitudinal global strain (GLS) was assessed on the apical four-chamber view and calculated as the mean strain of 6 segments. LV global circumferential strain was acquired on the LV short axis view at the level of papillary muscles. Results: Twenty-five patients with VC had higher mean values of interventricular septum thickness, LV posterior wall thickness, LV mass index, relative wall thickness, and LV mass/end-diastolic volume than 22 patients without VC (p < 0.05, respectively), indicating more obvious LV hypertrophy (LVH). VC patients had higher mitral annular E/E′ values, especially at the septal side representing increased LV filling pressure compatible with diastolic dysfunction, while only the E/E′ ratio of the septal side was significantly different between the 2 groups (16.7 ± 4.1 vs. 12.3 ± 4.4, p < 0.01). When assessed by GLS, LV longitudinal systolic function was also lower in in patients with VC compared with those without VC (–0.18 ± 0.03 vs. –0.25 ± 0.04; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Cardiac VC diagnosed by echocardiography when it occurs in long-term hemodialysis patients may indicate more severe LVH, myocardial damage, and worse heart function in comparison to those without VC. Tissue Doppler imaging and 2D-STE can detect the subtle change of heart function in this population in the early stage of LV dysfunction when LVEF is normal.

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Sex differences in exercise induced left ventricular dysfunction in patients with syndrome X.

Heart ◽

10.1136/hrt.57.3.232 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 232-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

L Favaro ◽

J L Caplin ◽

J J Fettiche ◽

D S Dymond

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Left Ventricular Dysfunction ◽

Ventricular Dysfunction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Syndrome X ◽

Exercise Induced

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Abstract MP57: The Association Between Anthropometrics and Different Measures of Cardiac Structure and Function - The Echo-SOL Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.131.suppl_1.mp57 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Matthew A Allison ◽

Jianwen Cai ◽

Ankit Desai ◽

Barry Hurwitz ◽

Ai Ni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ejection Fraction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Health Study ◽

Cardiac Structure ◽

Physical Measurements ◽

Lv Mass ◽

The Mean ◽

Cardiac Structure And Function ◽

And Function

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitudes and significances of the associations between adiposity and echocardiographically determined measures of left ventricular (LV) structure and function in a diverse cohort of Hispanic/Latino adults. Methods: Subjects were 1,350 adult men and women participants of the Hispanic Communities Health Study - Study of Latinos (HCHS-SOL) who enrolled in an ancillary study to determine cardiac structure and function by echocardiography. In addition to echocardiography, subjects were evaluated by extensive survey information, relevant physical measurements (to include bioelectrical impedance) and fasting blood assays. Results: The mean age was 56.1 years and 57% were female. Twenty-six percent were Mexican American, 25% Cuban American, 18% Dominican American, 17% Puerto Rican American, 8% Central American and 7% South American. Overall, the mean ejection fraction was 60.5%, while the mean stroke volume was 70 ml, end diastolic volume 83 ml, fractional shortening 31% and cardiac output 4.5 L/min. Results of multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, family history of coronary heart disease, C-reactive protein and chronic kidney disease revealed that each 1-unit increment in body mass index (BMI) and fat mass (FM) by impedance was associated with 0.64 and 0.25 (p < 0.01 for both) higher LV mass index (to height), while a 0.1 unit increment in the waist to hip ratio (WHR) was associated with 3.2 higher LV mass index. Concomitantly, each 1-unit increment in BMI and FM was associated with 7 and 3% (p < 0.01 for each) higher odds of LV hypertrophy, while a 0.1 unit increment in WHR was associated with 78% higher odds for LV hypertrophy (p < 0.01). On the other hand, none of these variables were significantly associated with ejection fraction. There were no significant interactions between the anthropometric variables and the different Hispanic groups for LV mass index or hypertrophy. Conclusions: Among Hispanics/Latinos from different cultural backgrounds, and by three measures of body composition (BMI, FM and WHR), higher levels of adiposity are significantly associated with higher LV mass indexed for height and the odds for hypertrophy, while not being associated with better or worse ejection fraction.

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Left ventricular mass and myocardial scarring in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2020-001273 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. e001273

Author(s):

Odayme Quesada ◽

Ki Park ◽

Janet Wei ◽

Eileen Handberg ◽

Chrisandra Shufelt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Dysfunction ◽

Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy ◽

Similar Frequency ◽

Hypertensive Disorders ◽

Lv Mass ◽

Scar Size ◽

History Of ◽

And Function

AimsHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) predict future cardiovascular events. We aim to investigate relations between HDP history and subsequent hypertension (HTN), myocardial structure and function, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) scar.Methods and resultsWe evaluated a prospective cohort of women with suspected ischaemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease (INOCA) who underwent stress/rest cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) with LGE in the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation-Coronary Vascular Dysfunction study. Self-reported history of pregnancy and HDP (gestational HTN, pre-eclampsia, toxaemia and eclampsia) were collected at enrollment. In our cohort of 346, 20% of women report a history of HDP. HDP history was associated with 3.2-fold increased odds of HTN. Women with a history of both HDP and HTN had higher cMRI measured left ventricular (LV) mass compared with women with HDP only (99.4±2.6 g vs 87.7±3.2 g, p=0.02). While we found a similar frequency of LGE scar, we observed a trend towards increased LGE scar size (5.1±3.4 g vs 8.0±3.4 g, p=0.09) among the women with HDP history compared to women without.ConclusionIn a high-risk cohort of women with suspected INOCA, 20% had a history of HDP. Women with HDP history were more likely to develop HTN. Our study demonstrates higher LV mass in women with HDP and concomitant HTN. Although the presence of LGE scar was not different in women with and without HDP history, we observed a trend towards larger scar size in women with HDP. Future studies are needed to better assess the relationship of HDP and cardiac morphology and LGE scarring in a larger cohort of women.

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Normative reference ranges for echocardiographic chamber dimensions in a healthy Central European population: results from the Czech post-MONICA survey

Cardiovascular Ultrasound ◽

10.1186/s12947-019-0172-0 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Josef Marek ◽

Jean-Claude Lubanda ◽

Renata Cifkova ◽

Petr Kuchynka ◽

Lubor Golan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Sample ◽

European Population ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Reference Ranges ◽

Central European ◽

Lv Mass ◽

Homogeneous Subset ◽

General Populations ◽

And Function ◽

Central European Population

Abstract Background Normative reference values for echocardiographic chamber quantification are of great importance; however, this can be challenging. Our aim was to derive these values including degrees of abnormality from a random Central European population sample with a homogeneous subset of healthy subjects. Methods We analysed echocardiograms obtained in a randomly selected population sample during the Czech post-MONICA survey in 2007/2008. Overall, 1850 out of 2273 persons of the whole sample of three districts had adequate echocardiograms (81.4%). A healthy subgroup defined by the absence of known cardiovascular disease was used to define normal reference range limits (n = 575, median age 42 years [IQR 34–52], 57% females). The whole population sample with predefined percentile cut-offs was used to define degrees of abnormality. Results Left ventricular (LV) size tended to decrease with age, while LV mass increased with age in both males and females and in both the healthy and general populations. LV dimensions were larger in males, except for body surface area-indexed LV diameter. M-mode derived LV measurements were larger and LV mass higher compared to 2D measurements. Right ventricle basal dimension was larger in males. Conclusions Our study provides reference ranges for echocardiographic measurements obtained in a healthy subgroup derived from an epidemiological study of a Central European population. Where feasible, degrees of abnormality are provided based on the whole population sample including patients with disease. Our data show that age, gender and measurement method significantly affect cardiac dimensions and function and should be always taken into account.

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Left Ventricular Structure and Function in Exercise-Induced Eccentric Hypertrophy

American Journal of Noninvasive Cardiology ◽

10.1159/000470665 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 2 (1-2) ◽

pp. 92-97

Author(s):

Luigi Cassisa ◽

Gianni DiGirolamo ◽

Stefano Masia ◽

Marco Foddanu ◽

Lorenzo Ibba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Left Ventricular ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Left Ventricular Structure ◽

Ventricular Structure ◽

Eccentric Hypertrophy ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

And Function

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Serum Aldosterone Is Related to Left Ventricular Geometry and Function in Young Adults with Never-Treated Primary Hypertension

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8071045 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 1045 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Seong-Mi Park ◽

Mi-Na Kim ◽

Sua Kim ◽

Wan-Joo Shim

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Young Adults ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Primary Hypertension ◽

Lv Function ◽

Amino Terminal ◽

Serum Aldosterone ◽

Lv Mass ◽

And Function ◽

Normal Controls

Background: Although aldosterone has been demonstrated to induce left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy not only in primary aldosteronism but also in primary hypertension (HT), it can be affected by multiple factors, including age, and the effect of aldosterone on LV function is controversial. This study was to investigate the relationship of aldosterone to changes in LV geometry and function in young adults with never-treated HT. Methods: Seventy-five consecutive patients (age, 29.8 ± 6.3 years) with never-treated HT and 45 normal controls were enrolled. Echocardiographic values and LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) were obtained. Serum aldosterone concentration (SAC) and serum procollagen type III amino-terminal peptide (PIIINP) level were obtained in HT patients. Results: HT patients had higher LV mass index, higher relative wall thickness (RWT), and worse LV function than normal controls. LVGLS and e’ velocity were worse in HT patients with normal geometry than in normal controls. SAC was well correlated with LV mass index, RWT, e’ velocity, LVGLS, and PIIINP (all p < 0.05). LV geometry pattern was most related to SAC among clinical parameters (p = 0.019). LVGLS was most related to LV geometry and diastolic blood pressure. In contrast, e’ velocity was most related to PIIINP. Conclusion: Our findings may indicate that in young patients with never-treated HT, aldosterone significantly contributes to changes in LV geometry and functional impairment through its pro-hypertrophic and myocardial fibrosis effects beyond blood pressure.

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Cardiac-restricted overexpression or deletion of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-4: differential effects on left ventricular structure and function following pressure overload-induced hypertrophy

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00063.2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 307 (5) ◽

pp. H752-H761 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

William M. Yarbrough ◽

Catalin Baicu ◽

Rupak Mukherjee ◽

An Van Laer ◽

William T. Rivers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pressure Overload ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Type I ◽

Matrix Remodeling ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Ecm Remodeling ◽

Hypertrophic Response ◽

Lv Mass ◽

And Function

Historically, the tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were considered monochromatic in function. However, differential TIMP profiles more recently observed with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and matrix remodeling suggest more diverse biological roles for individual TIMPs. This study tested the hypothesis that cardiac-specific overexpression (TIMP-4OE) or deletion (knockout; TIMP-4KO) would differentially affect LV function and structure following pressure overload (LVPO). LVPO (transverse aortic constriction) was induced in mice (3.5 ± 0.1 mo of age, equal sex distribution) with TIMP-4OE ( n = 38), TIMP-4KO ( n = 24), as well as age/strain-matched wild type (WT, n = 25), whereby indexes of LV remodeling and function such as LV mass and ejection fraction (LVEF) were determined at 28 days following LVPO. Following LVPO, both early (7 days) and late (28 days) survival was ∼25% lower in the TIMP-4KO group ( P < 0.05). While LVPO increased LV mass in all groups, the relative hypertrophic response was attenuated with TIMP-4OE. With LVPO, LVEF was similar between WT and TIMP-4KO (48 ± 2% and 45 ± 3%, respectively) but was higher with TIMP-4OE (57 ± 2%, P < 0.05). With LVPO, LV myocardial collagen expression (type I, III) increased by threefold in all groups ( P < 0.05), but surprisingly this response was most robust in the TIMP-4KO group. These unique findings suggest that increased myocardial TIMP-4 in the context of a LVPO stimulus may actually provide protective effects with respect to survival, LV function, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. These findings challenge the canonical belief that increased levels of specific myocardial TIMPs, such as TIMP-4 in and of themselves, contribute to adverse ECM accumulation following a pathological stimulus, such as LVPO.

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Structural and functional changes in left ventricle during normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancy

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00966.2001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 283 (4) ◽

pp. H1627-H1633 ◽

Cited By ~ 131

Author(s):

Lisa A. Simmons ◽

Adrian G. Gillin ◽

Richmond W. Jeremy

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Remodeling ◽

Inverse Relationship ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Cardiac Work ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Lv Mass ◽

Lv Systolic Function ◽

And Function ◽

Normotensive Pregnancy

Increased cardiac output in pregnancy is associated with cardiac remodeling and possible reduction in contractility, which may worsen in preeclampsia. Left ventricular (LV) geometry and function were compared between nonpregnant controls ( n = 12) and normotensive ( n = 44) and preeclamptic ( n = 15) pregnant women using echocardiography. Load-independent comparisons of LV systolic function compared end-systolic stress (ESS) and rate-corrected velocity of circumferential fiber shortening ( VCFC). Mean arterial pressures were 101 ± 14 mmHg in preeclampsia, 76 ± 6 mmHg in normotensive pregnancy, and 78 ± 6 mmHg in controls ( P < 0.005 vs. preeclampsia). LV mass increased during normotensive pregnancy (66 ± 13 to 76 ± 16 g/m2; P < 0.05; controls, 65 ± 10 g/m2; P < 0.05) and was greater in preeclampsia (90 ± 18 g/m2; P < 0.05). In normotensive pregnancy, ESS decreased (59 ± 9 to 52 ± 11 g/cm2; P < 0.05; controls, 66 ± 14 g/cm2; P < 0.005). ESS was greater in preeclampsia (60 ± 14 g/cm2; P < 0.05). In controls, there was an inverse relationship between ESS and VCFC( r = −0.78). The ESS- VCFCrelationships in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancy were unchanged from controls. We conclude that LV hypertrophy in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancy matches changes in cardiac work, and LV contractility is preserved.

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