Correlated analysis and pathological study on insulin resistance and cardiovascular endocrine hormone in elderly hypertension patients

Acacetin inhibits myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction by activating PI3K/AKT in SHR rats fed with fructose

To explore the effect of acacetin on myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with insulin resistance (IR), and the possible mechanism. Rapid IR was first induced in fructose-fed SHR, and they were then treated with acacetin (25, 50 mg/kg). After 7 weeks, the rats were tested for hypertension, IR, cardiac function, and mitochondrial damage status. Potential mechanisms of action were explored in terms of oxidative stress, mitochondrial fission and division, apoptosis, and the insulin signaling pathway. Subsequently, the PI3K gene was silenced, after intervention with acacetin (5 μM) for 24 h, and H2O2 was used to stimulate H9c2 for 4 h, it was evaluated whether silencing PI3K would affect the therapeutic effect of acacetin. In SHR fed with fructose, acacetin can improve hypertension, IR, cardiac function (LVEF, LVFS), and mitochondrial damage (mitochondria number, ATP); inhibit oxidative stress (ROS, SOD, Nrf2, Keap1), mitochondrial fission (MFF, Drp1), and myocardial cell apoptosis (apoptosis rate, Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c); promote mitochondrial fusion (Mfn2) and activate insulin signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT). However, silencing PI3K inhibited the abovementioned effects of acacetin. In conclusion, acacetin improved myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction through regulating oxidative stress, mitochondrial fission and fusion, and mitochondrial pathway apoptosis mediated by PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in hypertensive rats with IR.

Insulin resistance in ischemic stroke

Insulin resistance often refers to a pathological condition in which cells fail to respond to the normal actions of insulin. Increasing literature has noted a critical role of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Insulin resistance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke via enhancing advanced changes of atherosclerosis. A variety of literature indicates that insulin resistance enhances platelet adhesion, activation and aggregation which are conducive to the occurrence of ischemic stroke. Insulin resistance also induces hemodynamic disturbances and contributes to the onset of ischemic stroke. In addition, insulin resistance may augment the role of the modifiable risk factors in ischemic stroke and induce the occurrence of ischemic stroke. Preclinical and clinical studies have supported that improving insulin resistance may be an effective measure to prevent or delay ischemic stroke.

The role of natriuretic peptides in diabetes and its complications

This review aimed to summarize recent findings on the role of natriuretic peptides (NPs) in diabetes and its important complications. Although the treatment of diabetes mellitus has benefited from recent advances, aggressive glycemic control can increase the risk of hypoglycemia and weight gain. Therefore, innovative therapies are required to address this issue. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) may have such novel therapeutic potential. NPs comprise a family of structurally related peptides, including atrial, brain, C-type, and dendroaspis. Each of these NPs has a wide range of specific functions to regulate and maintain cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine homeostasis. NPs exert their effects by interacting with three receptor subtypes including NPR-A, NPR-B, and NPR-C. The coronary NP system has been suggested to be involved in regulating water and salt balance, as well as vascular remodeling. In this review, we provide evidence that NPs play an important role in diabetes mellitus and its related complications including macrovascular and microvascular disorders. NPs hold promise as markers for early diagnosis, risk assessment, and intervention guidance in diabetes and its complications and may thus improve diabetes care.