Efficacy and Safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Retrospective Study at a Single Center.

BACKGROUND Heart failure and end-stage renal disease often coexist, and management of heart failure can be challenging in patients during hemodialysis. Sacubitril-valsartan (SV) is the first drug to receive regulatory approval for use in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification II, III, or IV. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SV for use in chronic heart failure patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). MATERIAL AND METHODS From September 2021 to October 2022, 28 patients on MHD with chronic heart failure at the hemodialysis center of Shaanxi Second Provincial People's Hospital were regularly followed. During the 12-week follow-up period, all patients were administered SV at doses of 100-400 mg per day. Biochemical indicators, echocardiographic parameters, life quality scores, and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS We enrolled 28 patients. Compared with the baseline levels, NYHA class III in these patients treated with SV was significantly decreased from 60.71% to 32.14% (P<0.05), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was significantly improved from 44.29±8.92% to 53.32±7.88% (P<0.001), the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score was significantly improved from 40.0±6.41 to 56.20±9.86 (P<0.001), and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score was significantly improved from 39.99±6.14 to 52.59±11.0 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that SV improved NYHA classification and LVEF values of patients on MHD with chronic heart failure and also improved their quality of life.

Through virtual saturation mutagenesis and rational design for superior substrate conversion in engineered d-amino acid oxidase.

The d-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) is pivotal in obtaining optically pure l-glufosinate (l-PPT) by converting d-glufosinate (d-PPT) to its deamination product. We screened and designed a Rasamsonia emersonii DAAO (ReDAAO), making it more suitable for oxidizing d-PPT. Using Caver 3.0, we delineated three substrate binding pockets and, via alanine scanning, identified nearby key residues. Pinpointing key residues influencing activity, we applied virtual saturation mutagenesis (VSM), and experimentally validated mutants which reduced substrate binding energy. Analysis of positive mutants revealed elongated side-chain prevalence in substrate binding pocket periphery. Although computer-aided approaches can rapidly identify advantageous mutants and guide further design, the mutations obtained in the first round may not be suitable for combination with other advantageous mutations. Therefore, each round of combination requires reasonable iteration. Employing VSM-assisted screening multiple times and after four rounds of combining mutations, we ultimately obtained a mutant, N53V/F57Q/V94R/V242R, resulting in a mutant with a 5097% increase in enzyme activity compared to the wild type. It provides valuable insights into the structural determinants of enzyme activity and introduces a novel rational design procedure.

The concentration of maternal sacubitril/valsartan transferred into human milk is negligible.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a common cause of heart failure (HF) in the peripartum. Some medications are considered safe while breastfeeding. However, sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), while efficacious, is not recommended in breastfeeding women due to concerns about adverse infant development, and no published data suggest otherwise. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the transfer of sacubitril/valsartan into human milk and evaluate the infant's risk of drug exposure. Methods: The InfantRisk Human Milk Biorepository released samples and corresponding health information from five breastfeeding maternal-infant dyads exposed to sacubitril/valsartan. Sacubitril, valsartan, and LBQ657 (sacubitril active metabolite) concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) from timed samples 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h following medication administration at steady state conditions. Results: Valsartan levels were below the detection limit of 0.19 ng/mL in all milk samples. Sacubitril was measurable in all milk samples of the five participants, peaking 1 h after drug administration at a mean concentration of 1.52 ng/mL for a total infant dose of 0.00049 mg/kg/12 h and a relative infant dose (RID) calculated at 0.01%. The maximum concentration of its active metabolite LBQ657 in the milk samples was observed 4 h after medication administration and declined over the remaining 12-h dosing interval, for an average concentration of 9.5 ng/mL. The total infant dose was 0.00071 mg/kg/12 h, and the RID was 0.22%. Two mothers reported continuing to breastfeed while taking sacubitril/valsartan; both mothers stated observing no negative effects in their breastfed infants. Conclusion: The transfer of sacubitril/valsartan into human milk is minimal. These concentrations are unlikely to pose a significant risk to breastfeeding infants, with a combined calculated RID of <0.25%, which is far lower than the industry safety standards (RID <10%).

Weight change with antiretroviral switch from integrase inhibitor or tenofovir alafenamide-based to Doravirine-Based regimens in people with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain has been well-described with integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Doravirine (DOR) has been identified as a relatively "weight-neutral" drug; however, there is little data describing its effect on weight change in routine clinical practice. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of weight change among people with HIV changing from an INSTI- to a non-INSTI regimen with DOR. RESULTS: At the time of ART switch, among 49 people with HIV, the mean age was 47 years, 24% were female, and 75% had HIV-1 viral load <200 copies/mL. Most (55%) people with HIV were taking bictegravir/TAF/emtricitabine prior to the switch. Although 84% switched due to concerns about weight gain, only 16% had a weight gain of ≥10% in the year preceding, and 49% had no substantial change in weight. 86% switched to DOR/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. A weight decrease (-2.6% [95% CI: -5.1, -0.1%, p = .041] was seen over the year following the ART switch. Weight change prior to switch was greatest in the year 2021 compared to 2019, 2020, and 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, modest changes in weight were seen following ART switch from INSTI-based regimen to a DOR-based, non-INSTI regimen. Further investigations with larger people with HIV cohorts will be helpful to guide clinical practice, while the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on weight change should also be considered.

Study on the Effects of Angiotensin Receptor/Neprilysin Inhibitors on Renal Haemodynamics in Healthy Dogs.

An angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), a heart failure treatment, is a combination drug made up of sacubitril, a neprilysin inhibitor, and valsartan, a vascular receptor blocker. No human or veterinary studies regarding the effect of ARNI on renal haemodynamics in the absence of cardiac or renal issues exist. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ARNI on renal haemodynamics in five healthy dogs. ARNI was administered to all five dogs at an oral dose of 20 mg/kg twice daily for 4 weeks. Renal haemodynamics were assessed on the day before ARNI administration (BL), on Day 7, and on Day 28. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) significantly increased on Day 28 compared to BL and Day 7, whereas renal plasma flow increased on Day 7 and Day 28 compared to BL. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased between BL and Day 28. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations increased on Day 7 compared to BL. Additionally, ANP concentrations increased on Day 28 in three of the five dogs. Different ANP concentrations were observed in the remaining two dogs. Both urine output volume and heart rate remained relatively stable and did not exhibit significant change. In conclusion, ARNI may enhance renal haemodynamics in healthy dogs. ARNI could be a valuable drug for treating both heart and kidney disease in dogs.

Cellular and Genomic Instability Induced by the Herbicide Glufosinate-Ammonium: An In Vitro and In Vivo Approach.

Glufosinate-ammonium (GLA), an organophosphate herbicide, is released at high concentrations in the environment, leading to concerns over its potential genotoxic effects. However, few articles are available in the literature reporting the possible cellular and nuclear effects of this compound. We assessed, by in vitro and in vivo micronucleus assays, the genotoxicity of GLA on cultured human lymphocytes and Lymnaea stagnalis hemocytes at six concentrations: 0.010 (the established acceptable daily intake value), 0.020, 0.050, 0.100, 0.200, and 0.500 µg/mL. In human lymphocytes, our results reveal a significant and concentration-dependent increase in micronuclei frequency at concentrations from 0.100 to 0.500 µg/mL, while in L. stagnalis hemocytes, significant differences were found at 0.200 and 0.500 µg/mL. A significant reduction in the proliferation index was observed at all tested concentrations, with the only exception of 0.010 µg/mL, indicating that the exposure to GLA could lead to increased cytotoxic effects. In L. stagnalis, a significant reduction in laid eggs and body growth was also observed at all concentrations. In conclusion, we provided evidence of the genomic and cellular damage induced by GLA on both cultured human lymphocytes and a model organism's hemocytes; in addition, we also demonstrated its effects on cell proliferation and reproductive health in L. stagnalis.

Real-life effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan in older Belgians with heart failure, reduced ejection fraction and most severe symptoms.

We assessed the real-world effectiveness of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) with an emphasis on those with older age (≥ 75 years) or with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV, for whom greater uncertainty existed regarding clinical outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on patient-level linkage of electronic healthcare datasets. Data from all adults with HFrEF in Belgium receiving a prescription for sacubitril/valsartan between 01-November-2016 and 31-December-2018 were collected, with a follow-up of > 6 years. The total study population comprised 5446 patients, older than the PARADIGM-HF trial participants, and with higher NYHA class (all P < 0.0001). NYHA class improved following sacubitril/valsartan initiation (P < 0.0001 baseline vs. reassessment). Most concomitant medications were reduced. Remarkably, the risk of hospitalization for a cardiovascular reason and for HF was reduced by > 26% in the overall cohort, and in subgroups of patients ≥ 75 years, with NYHA class III/IV (all P < 0.0001) or with NYHA class IV (P < 0.05), vs. baseline. All-cause mortality did not increase in real-world patients with NYHA class III/IV. The results support the long-term beneficial effects of sacubitril/valsartan in older patients and in those experiencing the most severe symptoms.

The role of sacubitril/valsartan in abnormal renal function patients combined with heart failure: a meta-analysis and systematic analysis.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in abnormal renal function (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m2) patients combined with heart failure based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. METHODS: The Embase, PubMed and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies from inception to December 2023. Dichotomous variables were described as event counts with the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) values. Continuous variables were expressed as mean standard deviation (SD) with 95% CIs. RESULTS: A total of 6 RCTs and 8 observational studies were included, involving 17335 eGFR below 60 ml/min/1.73m2 patients combined with heart failure. In terms of efficacy, we analyzed the incidence of cardiovascular events and found that sacubitril/valsartan significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5 patients with heart failure (OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.54-0.78). Moreover, sacubitril/valsartan prevented the serum creatinine elevation (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.68-0.95), the eGFR decline (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73-0.95) and the development of end-stage renal disease in this population (OR:0.73, 95%CI:0.60-0.89). As for safety outcomes, we did not find that the rate of hyperkalemia (OR:1.31, 95%CI:0.79-2.17) and hypotension (OR:1.57, 95%CI:0.94-2.62) were increased in sacubitril/valsartan group among CKD stages 3-5 patients with heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis proves that sacubitril/valsartan has a favorable effect on cardiac function without obvious risk of adverse events in abnormal renal function patients combined with heart failure, indicating that sacubitril/valsartan has the potential to become perspective treatment for these patients.

Long-Term Outcomes of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction and Coexisting End-Stage Renal Disease.

Sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto) has proven therapeutic effects in heart failure (HF) patients, but its impact on those with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear, particularly in HF patients with coexisting end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aims to assess the long-term survival of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and coexisting ESRD treated with sacubitril/valsartan. A retrospective cohort study included 2,860 HFrEF and ESRD patients between January 2008 and December 2020. After propensity score matching, data from a sacubitril/valsartan group (n = 61) and a candesartan or valsartan group (n = 117) were analyzed. Patients on sacubitril/valsartan for at least 9 months had significantly lower 5-year all-cause mortality (39.3%) compared with the non-sacubitril/valsartan group (54.7%) (HR 0.46; 95% CI, 0.25-0.82; P = 0.0094). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement after 3 years in the sacubitril/valsartan group (14.51 ±18.98) was significantly greater than the non-sacubitril/valsartan group (6.91 ±18.44) (P = 0.0408). Average hospitalizations in sacubitril/valsartan and non-sacubitril/valsartan groups were 1.39 and 0.97, respectively (incidence rate ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.90-2.82; P = 0.1106). Sacubitril/valsartan treatment demonstrated significantly lower 5-year mortality rates and greater LVEF improvement in HFrEF patients with coexisting ESRD compared with candesartan or valsartan. These findings suggest that sacubitril/valsartan is a beneficial treatment option for this patient population.

Aptamer Proteomics for Biomarker Discovery in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: The PARAGON-HF Proteomic Substudy.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic markers and biological pathways linked to detrimental clinical outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remain incompletely defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured serum levels of 4123 unique proteins in 1117 patients with HFpEF enrolled in the PARAGON-HF (Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial using a modified aptamer proteomic assay. Baseline circulating protein concentrations significantly associated with the primary end point and the timing and occurrence of total heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death were identified by recurrent events regression, accounting for multiple testing, adjusted for age, sex, treatment, and anticoagulant use, and compared with published analyses in 2515 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction from the PARADIGM-HF (Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure) and ATMOSPHERE (Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren and Aliskiren/Enalapril Combination on Morbidity-Mortality in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure) clinical trials. We identified 288 proteins that were robustly associated with the risk of heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death in patients with HFpEF. The baseline proteins most strongly related to outcomes included B2M (ß-2 microglobulin), TIMP1 (tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1), SERPINA4 (serpin family A member 4), and SVEP1 (sushi, von Willebrand factor type A, EGF, and pentraxin domain containing 1). Overall, the protein-outcome associations in patients with HFpEF did not markedly differ as compared with patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. A proteomic risk score derived in patients with HFpEF was not superior to a previous proteomic score derived in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction nor to clinical risk factors, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), or high-sensitivity cardiac troponin. CONCLUSIONS: Numerous serum proteins linked to metabolic, coagulation, and extracellular matrix regulatory pathways were associated with worse HFpEF prognosis in the PARAGON-HF proteomic substudy. Our results demonstrate substantial similarities among serum proteomic risk markers for heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death when comparing clinical trial participants with heart failure across the ejection fraction spectrum. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifiers: NCT01920711, NCT01035255, NCT00853658.

Sacubitril/valsartan ameliorates cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in CHF rats via the inhibition of the tryptophan/kynurenine metabolism and inflammation.

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-1ß, IFN-γ, TNF-α, COX-2, and IL-6 mRNA expression, and IL-1ß, 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.

Synthesis of weak cation exchange/C18 bifunctional magnetic polymers for pretreatment and determination of glufosinate and its two metabolites in plasma samples.

This study focuses on the purification and detection of glufosinate (GLUF) and its metabolites N-acetyl GLUF and MPP in plasma samples. A Dikma Polyamino HILIC column was used for the effective retention and separation of GLUF and its metabolites, and the innovative addition of a low concentration of ammonium fluoride solution to the mobile phase effectively improved the detection sensitivity of the target analytes. Monodisperse core-shell weak cation exchange (WCX)/C18 bifunctional magnetic polymer composites (Fe3O4@WCX/C18) were prepared in a controllable manner, and their morphology and composition were fully characterized. The Fe3O4@WCX/C18 microspheres were used as a magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) adsorbent for the sample purification and detection of GLUF and its metabolites in plasma samples combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The purification conditions of Fe3O4@WCX/C18 microspheres for GLUF and its metabolites in spiked plasma samples were optimized to achieve the best MSPE efficiency. The purification mechanisms of the target analytes in plasma samples include electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, the effect of the molar ratio of the two functional monomers 4-VBA and 1-octadecene in the adsorbent was optimized and it shows that the bifunctional components WCX/C18 have a synergistic effect on the determination of GLUF and its metabolites in plasma samples. In addition, the present study compared the purification performance of the Fe3O4@WCX/C18 microsphere-based MSPE method with that of the commercial Oasis WCX SPE method, and the results showed that the Fe3O4@WCX/C18 microsphere-based MSPE method established in this work had a stronger ability to remove matrix interferences. Under optimal purification conditions, the recoveries of GLUF and its metabolites in plasma were 87.6-111 % with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.2 % to 4.8 %. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N≥3) and limits of quantification (LOQs, S/N≥10) were 0.10-0.18 µg/L and 0.30-0.54 µg/L, respectively. The MSPE-LC-MS/MS method developed in this study is fast, simple, accurate and sensitive and can be used to confirm GLUF intoxication based not only on the detection of the GLUF prototype but also on the detection of its two metabolites.

Sacubitril-valsartan vs ACE/ARB in pediatric heart failure: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The first angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor on the market, sacubitril-valsartan, has shown marked improvements in death and hospitalization for heart failure among adults, and is now approved for use in pediatric heart failure. While the ongoing PANORAMA-HF trial is evaluating the effectiveness of sacubitril-valsartan for pediatric patients with a failing systemic left ventricle, the enrollment criteria do not include the majority of pediatric heart failure patients. Additional studies are needed. METHODS: Using the TriNetX database, we performed a propensity score matched, retrospective cohort study to assess the incidence of a composite of all-cause mortality or heart transplant within 1 year. The 519 patients who received sacubitril-valsartan were compared to 519 matched controls who received an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the incidence of the composite outcome with sacubitril-valsartan over an ACE/ARB (13.3% vs 13.2%, p = 0.95), or among the components of mortality (5.0% vs 5.8%, p = 0.58) or heart transplantation (8.7% vs 7.5%, p = 0.50). Patients who were receiving full goal-directed medical therapy (14.4% vs 16.0%, p = 0.55) also showed no difference in the composite outcome. We observed a significantly increased incidence of hypotension (10% vs 5.2%, p = 0.006) and a trend toward reduced number of hospitalizations per year (mean (SD) 1.3 (4.4) vs 2.0 (9.1), p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Sacubitril-valsartan is not associated with a decrease in the composite of all-cause mortality or heart transplantation within 1 year. Future studies should evaluate the possible reduction in hospitalizations and optimal dosing to minimize hypotension.

Evaluating the impact of Sacubitril/valsartan on diastolic function in patients with heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is a common and severe condition, often complicated by diastolic dysfunction. Current standard therapies such as ACEIs and ARBs have limited efficacy in managing diastolic function. Sacubitril/Valsartan, an emerging therapy, warrants rigorous investigation to elucidate its impact on diastolic function in heart failure patients. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and utilized the PICO schema. Searches were performed on 4 databases-PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library-without temporal restrictions. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly defined, and quality assessments were conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool. Both fixed-effects and random-effects models were used for statistical analysis, depending on inter-study heterogeneity assessed by I2 statistics and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Out of 1129 identified publications, 8 studies met the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. These studies consisted of both randomized controlled trials and cohort studies and featured diverse global populations. Significant reductions were found in the echocardiographic parameter E/e' ratio and LAVi upon treatment with Sacubitril/Valsartan compared to standard therapies, with mean differences of -1.38 and -4.62, respectively, both with P values < .01. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrates that Sacubitril/Valsartan significantly improves diastolic function parameters in heart failure patients compared to standard treatments. These findings underscore the potential benefits of Sacubitril/Valsartan in the management of heart failure, particularly for patients with diastolic dysfunction.

Integrative omics analyses of tea (Camellia sinensis) under glufosinate stress reveal defense mechanisms: A trade-off with flavor loss.

Extensively applied glufosinate (GLU) will trigger molecular alterations in nontarget tea plants (Camellia sinensis), which inadvertently disturbs metabolites and finally affects tea quality. The mechanistic response of tea plants to GLU remains unexplored. This study investigated GLU residue behavior, the impact on photosynthetic capacity, specialized metabolites, secondary pathways, and transcript levels in tea seedlings. Here, GLU mainly metabolized to MPP and accumulated more in mature leaves than in tender ones. GLU catastrophically affected photosynthesis, leading to leaf chlorosis, and decreased Fv/Fm and chlorophyll content. Physiological and biochemical, metabolomics, and transcriptomics analyses were integrated. Showing that GLU disrupted the photosynthetic electron transport chain, triggered ROS and antioxidant system, and inhibited photosynthetic carbon fixation. GLU targeted glutamine synthetase (GS) leading to the accumulation of ammonium and the inhibition of key umami L-theanine, causing a disorder in nitrogen metabolism, especially for amino acids synthesis. Interestingly, biosynthesis of primary flavonoids was sacrificed for defensive phenolic acids and lignin formulation, leading to possible losses in nutrition and tenderness in leaves. This study revealed the defense intricacies and potential quality deterioration of tea plants responding to GLU stress. Valuable insights into detoxification mechanisms for non-target crops post-GLU exposure were offered.

Effects of sacubitril-valsartan on remodelling, fibrosis and mitochondria in a murine model of isoproterenol-induced left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Sacubitril/valsartan has been demonstrated to promote left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling and improve outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF). Its molecular and tissue effects have not been fully elucidated yet, due to the paucity of preclinical studies, mostly based on ischaemic models. We aimed to evaluate the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on LV remodelling, myocardial fibrosis and mitochondrial biology in a murine model of non-ischaemic LV dysfunction. METHODS: Adult transgenic male mice with cardiac-specific hyperaldosteronism (AS mice) received subcutaneous isoproterenol injections to induce LV systolic dysfunction. After 7 days, mice were randomized to a 2-week treatment with saline (ISO-AS n = 15), valsartan (ISO + V n = 12) or sacubitril/valsartan (ISO + S/V n = 12). Echocardiography was performed at baseline, at day 7, and after each of the 2 weeks of treatment. After sacrifice at day 21, histological and immunochemical assays were performed. A control group of AS mice was also obtained (Ctrl-AS n = 8). RESULTS: Treatment with sacubitril/valsartan, but not with valsartan, induced a significant improvement in LVEF (p = 0.009 vs ISO-AS) and fractional shortening (p = 0.032 vs ISO-AS) after 2- week treatment. In both ISO + V and ISO + S/V groups, a trend toward reduction of the cardiac collagen 1/3 expression ratio was detected. ISO + V and ISO + S/V groups showed a significant recovery of mitochondrial morphology and inner membrane function meant for oxidative phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: In a murine model of non-ischaemic HF, sacubitril/valsartan proved to have beneficial effects on LV systolic function, and on cardiac energetics, by improving mitochondrial activity.