Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has developed in an effort to improve cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes between LBBAP and biventricular pacing (BIVP) in patients with heart failure (HF) and complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB). Consecutive patients with HF and CLBBB requiring CRT received either LBBAP or BIVP were recruited at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from February 2018 to May 2019. We assessed their implant parameters, electrocardiogram (ECG), clinical outcomes at implant and during follow-up at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Forty-one patients recruited including 21 for LBBAP and 20 for BIVP. Mean follow-up duration was 23.71 ± 4.44 months. LBBAP produced lower pacing thresholds, shorter procedure time and fluoroscopy duration compared to BIVP. The QRS duration was significantly narrower after LBBAP than BIVP (129.29 ± 31.46 vs. 156.85 ± 26.37 ms, p = 0.005). Notably, both LBBAP and BIVP significantly improved LVEF, LVEDD, NYHA class, and BNP compared with baseline. However, LBBAP significantly lowered BNP compared with BIVP (416.69 ± 411.39 vs. 96.07 ± 788.71 pg/ml, p = 0.007) from baseline to 24-month follow-up. Moreover, patients who received LBBAP exhibited lower number of hospitalizations than those in the BIVP group (p = 0.019). In addition, we found that patients with moderately prolonged left ventricular activation time (LVAT) and QRS notching in limb leads in baseline ECG respond better to LBBAP for CLBBB correction. LBBAP might be a relative safe and effective resynchronization therapy and as a supplement to BIVP for patients with HF and CLBBB.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) is a physiological pacing strategy, which aims to capture the His bundle-Purkinje system and synchronously activate the ventricles. Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a newly discovered physiological pacing technique similar to HBP. We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the pacing parameters and clinical results between HBP and LBBP.Methods: We systematically retrieved studies using the PubMed, Embase database, and Cochrane Library. Mean difference (MD) and relative risk (RR) with their 95% confidence intervals [CIs] were used to measure the outcomes. A random-effect model was used when studies were of high heterogeneity.Results: A total of seven studies containing 867 individuals were included. Compared with HBP, LBBP was associated with higher implant success rates (RR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05–1.18; I² = 60%, P = 0.0003), lower capture threshold at implantation (V/0.5 ms) (MD: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.35–0.90, I² = 89%, P < 0.0001) and capture threshold at follow-up (V/0.5 ms) (MD: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.34–1.18, I² = 93%, P = 0.0004), and larger sensed R wave amplitude (mV) at implantation (MD: 7.23, 95% CI: 5.29–9.16, P < 0.0001) and sensed R wave amplitude (mV) at follow-up (MD: 7.53, 95% CI: 6.85–8.22, P < 0.0001). In LBBP recipients, greater QRS wave complex reduction was found in the paced QRS duration at follow-up compared with HBP recipients at follow-up (MD: 6.12, 95% CI: 1.23–11.01, I² = 0%, P = 0.01). No statistical differences were found in procedure duration, fluoroscopy time, native left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF), LVEF improvement, native QRS duration, and QRS reduction from the native QRS duration vs. paced QRS duration at implantation.Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that pacing characteristics are better in LBBP compared with HBP. Further prospective studies are needed to validate the clinical advantages of LBBP.

The O‑linked β‑N‑acetylglucosamine (O‑GlcNAc) modification and autophagy are associated with diabetic myocardial injury, however, the molecular mechanisms between the two processes remain to be fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the molecular regulation of autophagy by O‑GlcNAc‑modified synaptosomal‑associated protein 29 (SNAP29) in diabetic myocardial injury. A rat model of type I diabetes was established via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg). Significant increases in the O‑GlcNAc modification and accumulation of the autophagy markers microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3α II/I and P62, which suggest that autophagic flux is inhibited, were observed in rats 8 weeks following STZ induction. Subsequently, the selective O‑GlcNAcase inhibitor, thiamet G, increased the level of O‑GlcNAc modification, which further disrupted autophagic flux; deteriorated cardiac diastolic function, as indicated by an increased left ventricular filling peak velocity/atrial contraction flow peak velocity ratio shown by echocardiography; and exacerbated myocardial abnormalities, as characterized by cardiomyocyte disorganization and fat and interstitial fibrosis accumulation. By contrast, 6‑diazo‑5‑oxo‑L‑norleucine, an inhibitor of glucosamine fructose‑6‑phosphate aminotransferase isomerizing 1, acted as an O‑GlcNAc antagonist and reduced the level of O‑GlcNAc modification, which maintained autophagic flux and improved cardiac diastolic function. In vitro, high glucose (25 mM) was used to stimulate primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs). Consistent with the myocardium of diabetic rats, it was also shown in the NRCMs that O‑GlcNAc modification of SNAP29 negatively regulated autophagic flux. The application of the short hairpin RNA interference lysosome‑associated membrane protein (LAMP2) and the autophagy inhibitor 3‑methyladenine demonstrated that high glucose inhibited autophagy‑mediated degradation rather than affected the initial stage of autophagy. Finally, co‑immunoprecipitation was used to determine the role of the O‑GlcNAc‑modified substrate protein SNAP29, which acted as an SNAP29‑syntaxin‑17 (STX17)‑vesicle‑associated membrane protein 8 (VAMP8) complex during disease progression. The present study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to demonstrate that SNAP29 is an O‑GlcNAc substrate and that an increase in O‑GlcNAc‑modified SNAP29 inhibits SNAP29‑STX17‑VAMP8 complex formation, thereby inhibiting the degradation of autophagy and exacerbating myocardial injury in type I diabetic rats.

Background: This study aimed to determine serum Bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as well as the association between serum BPA and several hormonal parameters in DCM patients compared with a healthy control group. Materials and methods: Eighty-eight DCM patients and 88 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included. Serum BPA levels and several hormonal parameters (including total testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and estradiol (E2) were measured by using corresponding ELISA Kits. The free androgen index (FAI) was calculated by the formula: total T in nmol/L × 100/SHBG in nmol/L. Results: BPA levels in the total DCM group were significantly higher compared with that in the controls (6.9 ± 2.7 ng/mL vs. 3.8 ± 1.9 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Significant difference was also observed in SHBG and FAI between DCM patients and controls, (76.9 ± 30.9 nM/L vs. 41.0 ± 15.6 nM/L and 2.9 ± 3.5 vs.5.3 ± 2.6, respectively, both of p < 0.001). Similar trends were observed in the male and female subgroup. Mean T level was lower in DCM group than in control group (540.8 ± 186.0 pg/mL vs. 656.3 ± 112.9 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis has shown that increasing serum BPA levels were statistically significantly associated with increased SHBG levels. However, no statistical difference was noted for E2. Conclusion: Our findings firstly demonstrated that BPA exposure increased in DCM patients compared with that in healthy controls, while FAI and T levels decreased. SHBG presented a positive association with BPA. It is concluded that hormone disorder induced by BPA exposure might be an environmental factor in the pathology of DCM.

Endocarditis is a serious cardiovascular infection associated with high mortality and disability. Its global epidemiological patterns and long-term trends have not been comprehensively characterized. Data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 1990-2021 were used to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and Deaths of endocarditis across 204 countries and territories. Temporal trends were analyzed using percentage change and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), region, age, and sex. Between 1990 and 2021, the absolute number of endocarditis cases increased: prevalence by 14%, incidence by 34%, DALYs by 26%, and Deaths by 29%. Conversely, age-standardized rates declined (EAPCs: -0.58 for prevalence, -0.09 for incidence, -0.33 for DALYs, -0.29 for Deaths). Females had higher prevalence and incidence, while males experienced greater Deaths and DALYs burdens. The burden was concentrated among individuals aged ≥ 65 years, with slight increases observed in children under 5 in low-SDI regions. High-SDI regions showed declining trends in age-standardized metrics, whereas low- and middle-SDI regions exhibited increases. Correlation analysis indicated a moderate association between SDI and prevalence (R = 0.543), a stronger association with incidence (R = 0.770), and a weak correlation with DALYs (R = 0.063). The absolute burden of endocarditis has increased globally despite declining standardized rates, with older adults and low-SDI populations disproportionately affected. These findings highlight the need for enhanced surveillance and equitable access to care, although limited clinical detail in the GBD framework restricts direct clinical interpretation.

Background: Although the associations of antioxidant micronutrients, such as carotenoids and vitamins, with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been studied extensively, blood concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients and heart rate variability (HRV), which has been proven to be an indicator of cardiac autonomic control, has not been reported. We aimed to explore whether blood concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients, including carotenoids and vitamins, are associated with elevated heart rate variability (HRV (beneficial change) in a cross-sectional analysis. Methods: Data were obtained from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study that includes a general adult population. A total of 1074 (aged 34–84) individuals were included. Multivariable analyses were performed to investigate the association between main blood carotenoids (total lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, 13-cis-beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, all-trans-beta-carotene and total lycopene) and vitamins A (retinol) and E (gamma-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol) and HRV after adjustments were made for lifestyle factors and age-related confounders. Results: Pearson correlation analyses showed that the increased levels of carotenoids and vitamins were positively correlated with higher HRV (all P < 0.05). After adjustments were made for age, gender, race, body mass index(BMI), ever-smoker, number of drinking years and exercise, blood alpha-carotene, all-trans-beta-carotene and total lycopene levels were independently associated with higher HRV in the linear regression model (all P < 0.05). Sensitivity analysis by adding “ever chronic respiratory diseases” as a covariate suggested that blood concentrations of these three carotenoids were still associated with higher low-frequency (LF)-HRV and high-frequency (HF)-HRV (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, stratified analyses suggested that the associations were affected by adding “heart disease” and “hypertension” as covariates. Conclusions: We provide the first evidence that elevated blood concentrations of alpha-carotene, trans-beta-carotene and lycopene are associated with beneficial changes in HRV in the general population. Daily intake of fruit and vegetables may be beneficial to increase blood carotenoid status and further prevent autonomic dysfunction.