Downregulation of the CD151 protects the cardiac function by the crosstalk between the endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes via exosomes.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is the last stage in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases. Although it is documented that CD151 contributes to regulate the myocardial infarction, the function of CD151 on HF and involved mechanisms are still unclear. METHOD AND RESULTS: In the present study, we found that the recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated endothelial cell-specific knockdown of CD151-transfected mice improved transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced cardiac function, attenuated myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and increased coronary perfusion, whereas overexpression of the CD151 protein aggravated cardiac dysfunction and showed the opposite effects. In vitro, the cardiomyocytes hypertrophy induced by PE were significantly improved, while the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were significantly reduced, when co-cultured with the CD151-silenced endothelial cells (ECs). To further explore the mechanisms, the exosomes from the CD151-silenced ECs were taken by cardiomyocyte (CMs) and CFs, verified the intercellular communication. And the protective effects of CD151-silenced ECs were inhibited when exosome inhibitor (GW4869) was added. Additionally, a quantitative proteomics method was used to identify potential proteins in CD151-silenced EC exosomes. We found that the suppression of CD151 could regulate the PPAR signaling pathway via exosomes. CONCLUSION: Our observations suggest that the downregulation of CD151 is an important positive regulator of cardiac function of heart failure, which can regulate exosome-stored proteins to play a role in the cellular interaction on the CMs and CFs. Modulating the exosome levels of ECs by reducing CD151 expression may offer novel therapeutic strategies and targets for HF treatment.

The pattern of late gadolinium enhancement by cardiac MRI in fulminant myocarditis and its prognostic implication: a two-year follow-up study.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis, as quantified by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), provides valuable prognostic information for patients with myocarditis. However, due to the low incidence rate of fulminant myocarditis (FM) and accordingly small sample size, the knowledge about the role of LGE to patients with FM is limited. Methods and results: A total of 44 adults with viral-FM receiving the Chinese treating regimen were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into the low LGE group and the high LGE group according to the ratio of LGE to left ventricular mass (LGE mass%). CMR exams and LGE were performed after hemodynamic assistance at discharge in all patients with FM. Routine echocardiography parameters and global longitudinal strain (GLS) at discharge and at 2-year follow-up were obtained and then compared. Both left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and GLS showed no significant difference in both groups at discharge, whereas significant differences were observed at 2-year follow-up between two groups. Moreover, there were significant improvements of LVEF and GLS in the low LGE group, but not in the high LGE group during the 2-year period. Furthermore, LGE mass% was negatively correlated with GLS and LVEF. Conclusions: There were two distinct forms of LGE presentation in patients with FM. Moreover, the cardiac function of patients with low LGE was significantly better than those with high LGE at 2-year follow-up. LGE mass% at discharge provided significant prognosis information about cardiac function of patients with FM.

Left ventricular function changes and echocardiographic predictors in adult survivors of fulminant myocarditis treated with the Chinese protocol.

Disagreement exists regarding the long-term prognosis and recovery of left ventricular (LV) function in patients with fulminant myocarditis (FM). This study reported the outcome and LV ejection fraction (EF) changes in FM treated with Chinese protocol, and assessed whether global longitudinal strain (GLS) by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) could provide additional information. This retrospective study included 46 FM adult patients who applied timely circulatory support and immunomodulatory therapy with adequate doses of both glucocorticoids and immunoglobulins as core approaches and survived after acute phase. They all presented with acute onset of cardiac symptoms < 2 weeks. LV end-diastolic dimensions, LVEF and GLS at discharge and 2-year were obtained and compared. We then performed linear regression and ROC analysis to determine independent factors to predict normalization of GLS at 2-year. At 2 years, the survival was 100% in our cohort. And the GLS improved modestly (15.40 ± 3.89% vs 17.24 ± 2.89%, P = 0.002). At two years, a proportion of patients whose LV function remained abnormal, being 22% evaluated by EF (< 55%) and higher to 37% by GLS (< 17%). Moreover, GLS at discharge but not at presentation correlated with GLS at 2-year (r = 0.402, P = 0.007). The FM adult treated with Chinese protocol have good survival and modest improvement of LV function during 2-year.

Computed-tomography-based radiomic nomogram for predicting the risk of indeterminate small (5-20 mm) solid pulmonary nodules

PURPOSE: This study aims to develop a diagnostic model that combines computed tomography (CT) images and radiomic features to differentiate indeterminate small (5-20 mm) solid pulmonary nodules (SSPNs). METHODS: This study retrospectively enrolled 413 patients who had had SSPNs surgically removed and histologically confirmed between 2017 and 2019. The SSPNs included solid malignant pulmonary nodules (n = 210) and benign pulmonary nodules (n = 203). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was used for radiomic feature selection, and random forest algorithms were used for radiomic model construction. The clinical model and nomogram were established using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses combined with clinical symptoms, subjective CT findings, and radiomic features. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the performance of the models. RESULTS: The AUC for the clinical model was 0.77 in the training cohort [n = 289; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-0.82; P = 0.001] and 0.75 in the validation cohort (n = 124; 95% CI: 0.66-0.83; P = 0.016). The AUCs for the nomogram were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89-0.95; P < 0.001) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78-0.91; P < 0.001), respectively. The radiomic score (Rad-score), sex, pleural indentation, and age were the independent predictors that were used to build the nomogram. CONCLUSION: The radiomic nomogram derived from clinical features, subjective CT signs, and the Rad-score can potentially identify the risk of indeterminate SSPNs and aid in the patient's preoperative diagnosis.

The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on multiple obstructive coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Although type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) individuals easily develop three-vessel disease (3VD) coronary artery disease (CAD), there is very little information available about their left ventricle (LV) functions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the LV function using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) in T2DM patients with 3VD. METHODS: One hundred and three consecutive patients with confirmed 3VD CAD were enrolled and divided into two groups, while 53 patients with DM and 50 patients without. The control group was composed of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. All patients underwent 2-D STE and standard echocardiograms. The durations of DM and the level of HbA1c were also recorded. RESULT: Between the 3VD-DM and 3VD-non-DM groups, normal echocardiography did not reveal any appreciable differences. However, patients with 3VD-DM had significantly lower global longitudinal strain (GLS) than those with 3VD-non-DM (15.87 ± 2.51 vs.17.56 ± 2.72, p < .05) by 2-D STE strain measurement. Besides, patients whose duration of DM excess 5 years showed significant lower GLS than those with less than 5 years duration (14.25 ± 2.31 vs. 16.65 ± 1.96, p = .007). However, there was no difference in GLS between the 3VD-DM patients with HbA1c ≥ 7% and HbA1c < 7%. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to patients with 3VD alone, those with 3VD-DM have a lower cardiac function. In 3VD-DM patients, the duration of DM is a significant factor that contributes to cardiac function deterioration, whereas, the glucose control state has limited influence.

Application of radiomics in predicting the preoperative risk stratification of gastric stromal tumors.

PURPOSE The stomach is the most common site of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). In this study, clinical model, radiomics models, and nomogram were constructed to compare and assess the clinical value of each model in predicting the preoperative risk stratification of gastric stromal tumors (GSTs). METHODS In total, 180 patients with GSTs confirmed postoperatively pathologically were included. 70% was randomly selected from each category as the training group (n = 126), and the remaining 30% was stratified as the testing group (n = 54). The image features and texture characteristics of each patient were analyzed, and predictive model were constructed. The image features and the rad-score of the optimal radiomics model were used to establish the nomogram. The clinical application value of these models was assessed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA). The calibration of each model was evaluated by the calibration curve. RESULTS The Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of the nomogram was 0.930 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.886- 0.973) in the training group and 0.931 (95% CI: 0.869-0.993) in the testing group. The AUC values of the training group and the testing group calculated by the radiomics model were 0.874 (95% CI: 0.814-0.935) and 0.863 (95% CI: 0.76 5-0.960), respectively; the AUC values calculated by the clinical model were 0.871 (95% CI: 0.811-0.931) and 0.854 (95% CI: 0.76 0-0.947). CONCLUSION The proposed nomogram can accurately predict the malignant potential of GSTs and can be used as repeatable imaging markers for decision support to predict the risk stratification of GSTs before surgery noninvasively and effectively.