Emerging evidence indicates that irisin provides beneficial effects in diabetes. However, whether irisin influences the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the potential role and mechanism of action of irisin in diabetes‐induced myocardial dysfunction in mice. Type 1 diabetes was induced in mice by injecting streptozotocin, and the diabetic mice were administered recombinant r‐irisin (low or high dose: 0.5 or 1.5 μg/g body weight/day, I.P.) or PBS for 16 weeks. Irisin treatment did not alter blood glucose levels in the diabetic mice. However, the results of echocardiographical and histopathological assays indicated that low‐dose irisin treatment alleviated cardiac fibrosis and left ventricular function in the diabetic mice, whereas high‐dose irisin failed to mitigate the ventricular function impairment and increased collagen deposition. The potential mechanism underlying the effect of low‐dose irisin involved irisin‐mediated inhibition of high glucose‐induced endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT); conversely, high‐dose irisin treatment enhanced high glucose‐induced MMP expression by stimulating MAPK (p38 and ERK) signalling and cardiac fibroblast proliferation and migration. Low‐dose irisin alleviated DCM development by inhibiting high glucose‐induced EndMT. By contrast, high‐dose irisin disrupted normal MMP expression and induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation and migration, which results in excess collagen deposition. Thus, irisin can inhibit high glucose‐induced EndMT and exert a dose‐dependent bidirectional effect on DCM.

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Background Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is usually performed via the guidance of procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) companied by general anesthesia (GA). Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of LAAO guided by procedural fluoroscopy only. Methods The patients eligible for LAAO were enrolled into the current study and received implantation of either Watchman device or LAmbre device. The procedure was carried out with procedural fluoroscopy only and no companied GA; the position, shape, and leakage of the device were assessed by contrast angiography. TEE was performed after 3‐month follow‐up to evaluate the thrombosis, and leakage of device. Results Ninety‐seven patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with either Watchman device (n = 49) or LAmbre device (n = 48) were consecutively enrolled. Watchman device group was of lower CHA2DS2‐VASc and HAS‐BLED scores compared with LAmbre device groups (p < .05); the two groups had similar distributions of other baseline characteristics (p > .05), including procedural success rate (98.0% vs. 97.9%), mean procedure time, mean fluoroscopy time, total radiation dose, contrast medium dose, percentage of peri‐device leakage. Pericardial effusions requiring intervention occurred in two of the Watchman group. TEE follow‐up found no patient with residual leakage ≥5 mm at 3 months and no device related thrombosis (DRT). During the 22.0 ± 11.1 months follow‐up, two patients experienced ischemic stroke. Conclusions LAAO with the procedural imaging of fluoroscopy only exhibited the promising results of efficacy and safety. A prospective randomized multicenter study would be required to verify the observations in this study.

Atrial myocyte hypertrophy is one of the most important substrates in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). The TWEAK/Fn14 axis is a positive regulator of cardiac hypertrophy in cardiomyopathy. This study therefore investigated the effects of Fn14 on atrial hypertrophy and underlying cellular mechanisms using HL‐1 atrial myocytes. In patients with AF, Fn14 protein levels were higher in atrial myocytes from atrial appendages, and expression of TWEAK was increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, while TWEAK serum levels were decreased. In vitro, Fn14 expression was up‐regulated in response to TWEAK treatment in HL‐1 atrial myocytes. TWEAK increased the expression of ANP and Troponin T, and Fn14 knockdown counteracted the effect. Inhibition of JAK2, STAT3 by specific siRNA attenuated TWEAK‐induced HL‐1 atrial myocytes hypertrophy. In conclusion, TWEAK/Fn14 axis mediates HL‐1 atrial myocytes hypertrophy partly through activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

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Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that contributes to multiple cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and foam cell formation plays important roles in the progression of AS. There is an urgent need to identify new molecular targets for treating AS, and thereby improve the quality of life and reduce the financial burden of individuals with CVD. Methods: An in vitro model of AS was generated by treating THP-1 cells and human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs) with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDLs). HA-VSMC proliferation and foam cell formation were detected by the MTT assay and Oil Red O staining. C–X–C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) expression was suppressed by siRNA. An AS rat model was established by feeding rats a high-fat diet and vitamin D2 for 3 weeks. Histopathology examinations were conducted by Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and the levels ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression were determined by ELISA assays and immunohistochemistry. Results: An in vitro model of AS was established with THP-1 cells. CXCL12 expression in the model THP-1 cells was significantly increased when compared with its expression in control cells. Suppression of CXCL12 expression reduced the progression of AS in the cell model. Moreover, CXCL12 promoted AS in the in vivo rat model. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CXCL12 plays an important role in promoting the progression of AS. Furthermore, inhibition of CXCL12 might suppress the development of AS by inhibiting HA-VSMC proliferation and their transformation to foam cells.

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Background Dissipative energy loss (EL), a new index to quantify the inefficient blood flow, has not been explored within left atrium (LA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to study the intra‐atrial flow and mechanics in patients with AF before and after successful catheter ablation by evaluating EL and LA global longitudinal strain (LAS). Methods In our study, there were 53 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF at baseline (AF group) and 33 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. They were both assessed of LA EL using vector flow mapping (VFM) and of LAS using two‐dimensional tracking (2DTT) during systole (sys), early diastole (ed), and atrial contraction phase (ac). Out of 53 patients, 37 patients who sustained sinus rhythm and carried out the echocardiographic examination at 3 and 6 months follow‐up were evaluated of change in EL and LAS. The independent predictors of EL during three phases in AF group were performed using stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses. Results Left atrium EL and LAS among all phases in AF group were significantly lower than controls (all P < 0.01). During follow‐up, LASsys and LASac both significantly improved at 3 and 6 months (both P < 0.01), and ELac significantly increased after 6 months (P < 0.05); ELsys, ELed and LASed were no significant change; EL and LAS among all phases were no normalized during follow‐up. The independent predictors of EL were: for ELsys, BSA (P = 0.004) and LASac (P = 0.025); for ELed, E (P = 0.001) and A (P = 0.014); for ELac, E/A (P < 0.001). Conclusion Vector flow mapping and 2DTT revealed impaired intra‐atrial flow and mechanics. Successful catheter ablation for AF slightly improves but not reverses the aforementioned impairment, indicating the continuous LA dysfunction.