Predominance of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in Postmenopausal Women: Intra- and Extra-Cardiomyocyte Maladaptive Alterations Scaffolded by Estrogen Deficiency

Sex-Specific Factors Influencing Obesity in Women: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Clinical Practice

Obesity in women is a significant public health issue with serious implications for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. This complex challenge is influenced by physiological, hormonal, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. Women face unique weight management challenges due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause, which affect fat distribution and increase cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome risk. Current clinical guidelines often overlook these sex-specific factors, potentially limiting the effectiveness of obesity management strategies in women. This review explores the sex-specific aspects of obesity's pathophysiology, epidemiological trends, and associated comorbidities, focusing on cardiovascular and metabolic complications. This review synthesizes literature on obesity in women, emphasizing sex-specific factors influencing its development and progression. It examines the limitations of body mass index as an obesity measure and explores alternative classification methods. Additionally it investigates the relationship between obesity and comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, with a focus on postmenopausal women. Obesity in women is linked to increased risks of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Hormonal fluctuations throughout life contribute to weight gain and fat distribution patterns specific to women, increasing cardiovascular disease risk. Effective obesity management strategies in women must account for these sex-specific variations. Postmenopausal women are particularly affected by obesity-related complications. Lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery have shown efficacy in weight management, though success rates vary. Addressing obesity in women requires a comprehensive approach that considers sex-specific physiological factors, life-stage challenges, and sociocultural barriers. Integrating precision medicine and emerging therapies offers potential for more personalized and effective interventions. Personalized strategies that consider women's biological and life-stage challenges can enhance obesity management and improve cardiovascular outcomes. Future research and clinical practice should focus on developing tailored strategies that address women's unique vulnerabilities to obesity and its associated health risks and on validating sex-specific interventions to improve obesity management in women.

Progress of ADAM17 in Fibrosis-Related Diseases

Fibrosis leads to structural damage and functional decline and is characterized by an accumulation of fibrous connective tissue and a reduction in parenchymal cells. Because of its extremely poor prognosis, organ fibrosis poses a significant economic burden. In order to prevent and treat fibrosis more effectively, potential mechanisms need to be investigated. A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) is a membrane-bound protein. It regulates intracellular signaling and membrane protein degradation. Fibrosis mediated by ADAM17 has been identified as an important contributor, although the specific relationship between its multiple regulatory functions and the pathogenesis is unclear. This article describes ADAM17 activation, function, and regulation, as well as the role of ADAM17 mediated fibrosis injury in kidney, liver, heart, lung, skin, endometrium, and retina. To develop new therapeutic approaches based on ADAM17 related signal pathways.

Underpinnings of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in Women - From Prevention to Improving Function. A Co-publication With the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology and the Journal of Cardiac Failure

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a major clinical challenge with rising global prevalence. Women have a nearly double lifetime risk of developing HFpEF compared to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). In HFpEF, sex differences emerge both in how traditional cardiovascular risk factors (such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes) affect cardiac function and through distinct pathophysiological mechanisms triggered by sex-specific events like menopause and adverse pregnancy outcomes. These patterns influence not only disease development, but also therapeutic responses, necessitating sex-specific approaches to treatment. This review aims to synthesize existing knowledge regarding HFpEF in women including traditional and sex-specific risk factors, pathophysiology, presentation, and therapies, while outlining important knowledge gaps that warrant further investigation. The impact of HFpEF spans a woman's entire lifespan, requiring prevention and management strategies tailored to different life stages. While understanding of sex-based differences in HFpEF has improved, significant knowledge gaps persist. Through examination of current evidence and challenges, this review highlights promising opportunities for innovative research, therapeutic development, and clinical care approaches that could transform the management of HFpEF in women.

Erxian decoction ameliorates myocardial tissue damage through activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in ovariectomized rats

BACKGROUND

Erxian decoction (EXD) is an empirical formula for treating cardiovascular disease, our previous work has shown that EXD could improve the cardiovascular structure and function in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, but its pharmacological mechanism is still unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology was utilized to assess the key active components and central targets of EXD in treating postmenopausal cardiovascular disease. Then, an OVX rat model was established, HE staining and transmission electron microscope were utilized to observe myocardial tissue morphology, TUNEL staining was utilized to detect cardiomyocyte apoptosis, western blot, and ELISA were used to confirm efficacy and pathway of EXD.

RESULTS

The network pharmacology prediction results showed that 129 common targets were identified by intersecting EXD targets and postmenopausal cardiovascular disease targets, including AKT1, TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, PTGS2 and other core targets, apoptosis, PI3K/AKT, and other signaling pathways may be closely related to postmenopausal cardiovascular disease. After ovariectomy, the myocardial tissue of rats was damaged, the expression level of PI3K/AKT pathway-related molecules in the myocardial tissue were decreased, the apoptosis index of cardiomyocytes was increased, and the levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) were enhanced. EXD intervention could improve myocardial tissue injury, EXD could up-regulate the protein expression of PI3K and p-AKT in myocardial tissue, and thereby prevent myocardial cell apoptosis. At the same time, EXD downregulated the levels of inflammatory factors in serum of ovariectomized rats.

CONCLUSION

EXD may prevent myocardial tissue damage through induction of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis and inflammation. EXD may be a potential drug for the treatment of postmenopausal cardiovascular disease.

Supra-normal and mildly reduced ejection fraction in women -An overlooked vulnerable subpopulation in heart failure

BACKGROUND

Recently, patients with supra-normal left ventricular ejection fraction (snEF) are reported to have high risk of adverse outcomes, especially in women. We sought to evaluate sex-related differences in the association between LVEF and long-term outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients.

METHODS

The multicenter WET-HF Registry enrolled all patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF (ADHF). We analyzed 3943 patients (age 77 years; 40.1% female) registered from 2006 to 2017. According to LVEF the patients were divided into the 3 groups: HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF) and preserved EF. The primary endpoint was defined as the composite of cardiac death and ADHF rehospitalization after discharge.

RESULTS

In HFmrEF, implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) such as the combination of renin-angiotensin-system inhibitor (RASi) and β-blocker at discharge was significantly lower in women than men even after adjustment for covariates (p = 0.007). There were no such sex-related differences in HFrEF. Female sex was associated with higher incidence of the primary endpoint and ADHF rehospitalization after adjustment for covariates exclusively in HFmrEF. Restricted cubic spline analysis demonstrated a U-shaped relationship between LVEF and the hazard ratio of the primary endpoint showing higher event rate in HFmrEF and HFsnEF in women, but such relationship was not observed in men (p for interaction = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

In women, mrEF and snEF were associated with worse long-term outcomes. Additionally, sex-related differences in the GDMT implementation for HFmrEF highlight the need for further exploration, which might lead to creation of sex-specific guidelines to optimize HF management.

Association between estrogen replacement therapy and heart failure in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Based on past epidemiological investigations, the cardiovascular role of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in postmenopausal women has always been controversial. The real efficacy of ERT for heart failure (HF) among postmenopausal women remains to be further investigated. This article is based on research into European and American populations.

PURPOSE

To determine the impact of estrogen replacement therapy on HF using meta-analysis.

METHODS AND MATERIAL

Electronic literature was searched on Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the hospitalization for heart failure between ERT users and non-users among postmenopausal women. Pairs of reviewers screened eligible articles independently, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias. Summary relative risks were estimated for the composite endpoint of first hospitalized heart failure and admission to the hospital for heart failure.

RESULTS

A pooled study of five randomized controlled trials found that estrogen replacement therapy had no significant effect on the composite endpoint in postmenopausal women, with a relative risk of 1.02 (95% CI 0.94-1.10).

CONCLUSION

This systematic review demonstrated that estrogen replacement therapy did not significantly change the risk of first hospitalized heart failure and admission to the hospital for heart failure in postmenopausal women.

Sex Differences in Cardiac and Clinical Phenotypes and Their Relation to Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure

Biological sex is one of the major factors characterizing the heart failure (HF) patient phenotype. Understanding sex-related differences in HF is crucial to implement personalized care for HF patients with various phenotypes. There are sex differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling patterns in the HF setting, namely, more likely concentric remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in women and eccentric remodeling and systolic dysfunction in men. Recently supra-normal EF (snLVEF) has been recognized as a risk of worse outcome. This pathology might be more relevant in female patients. The possible mechanism may be through coronary microvascular dysfunction and sympathetic nerve overactivation from the findings of previous studies. Further, estrogen deficit might play a significant role in this pathophysiology. The sex difference in body composition may also be related to the difference in LV remodeling and outcome. Lower implementation in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in female HFrEF patients might also be one of the factors related to sex differences in relation to outcomes. In this review, we will discuss the sex differences in cardiac and clinical phenotypes and their relation to outcomes in HF patients and further discuss how to provide appropriate treatment strategies for female patients.

Retrospective analysis of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

AIMS

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), or diastolic failure, accounts for half of all HF cases and differs from HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with HFpEF are typically older, female, and commonly seen with chronic kidney disease (CKD), one of the leading independent risk factors for mortality in these patients. Unfortunately, drugs that had shown significant improvements in mortality in HFrEF have not shown similar benefits in HFpEF. Recently, sodium glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been shown to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in HFrEF patients and slow down CKD progression. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of this drug class on mortality and risk of end stage renal disease in patients with HFpEF, which is currently unclear.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively analysed the Research Data Warehouse containing electronic health records from de-identified patients (n = 1 266 290) from the University of Mississippi Medical Center from 2013 to 2022. HFpEF patients had an average follow-up of 4 ± 2 years. Factors associated with increased all-cause mortality during HFpEF included age, male sex, and CKD. Interestingly, the only treatments associated with significant improvements in survival were angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and SGLT2i, regardless of CKD or diabetes status. Additionally, SGLT2i use was also associated with significant decrease in the risk of end stage renal disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the use of SGLT2i in an HFpEF population with relatively high rates of hypertension, CKD, and black race and suggests that improvements in mortality may be through preserving kidney function.

Estrogen downregulates CD73/adenosine axis hyperactivity via adaptive modulation PI3K/Akt signaling to prevent myocarditis and arrhythmias during chronic catecholamines stress

BACKGROUND

During myocardial damage, the sex hormone estrogen and CD73, the main enzyme that converts AMP into adenosine, are cardioprotective molecules. However, it is unclear how these two molecules work together to provide cardioprotection. The current study aimed to elucidate the interaction between estrogen and CD73 under chronic stress.

METHODS

Ovariectomy and SHAM operations were done on FVB wild-type (WT) female mice. Two weeks after the operation, the mice were treated with daily isoproterenol (10 mg/kg/day) injections for 14 days. The effect of E2 on relevant cardiac injury biomarkers (BNP, ANP), myocardial morphology (cardiomyocyte surface area), electrocardiography, CD73 protein expression and activity, and macrophage (CD86 + and CD206 +) infiltrations were assessed. In vitro, H9C2 cells were treated with 1 nM of estrogen and 10 mM APCP (CD73 inhibitor α, β-methylene adenosine-5'-diphosphate), 10 µM isoproterenol and 20 µm LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) for 24 h and western blot was done to elucidate the mechanism behind the effect of estrogen on the CD73/adenosine axis.

RESULTS

Estrogen deficiency during chronic catecholamine stress caused myocardial injury, thereby triggering the hyperactivity of the CD73/adenosine axis, which aggravated myocarditis, adverse remodeling, and arrhythmias. However, estrogen normalizes CD73/Adenosine axis via the upregulation of PI3K/Akt pathways to prevent adverse outcomes during stress. In vivo results showed that the inhibition of PI3K significantly decreased PI3K/Akt pathways while upregulating the CD73/adenosine axis and apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Estrogen's pleiotropy cardioprotection mechanism during stress includes its normalization of the CD73/Adenosine axis via the PI3K/Akt pathway. Video Abstract.

GENDER AND AGE ASPECTS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY DISORDERS

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To assess the structural and functional state of bone tissue in terms of gender and age.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and Methods: 108 people aged 54.7±14.8 years, who were divided into two groups according to gender, participated in the retrospective cohort study. All patients underwent ultrasound densitometry to assess bone mineral density (BMD) on the radial bone with an assessment of T-score, Z-score, and speed of ultrasonic wave propagation (SoS).

RESULTS

Results: The study found that T-score and Z-score values, which corresponded to osteoporosis, were recorded in the age group > 50 years, regardless of the gender of the subjects. All women older than 35 years had a decrease in BMD below -1.0 SD by T-score. It was determined that osteoporosis criteria clearly prevail in women of the > 50-year-old group. In osteoporosis, the SoS is significantly lower than in individuals with normal indicators of the T-criterion. According to the results of the T-score comparison, BMD disorders were determined in postmenopausal women which emphasize the importance of the level of female sex hormones in the formation of osteopenic syndrome, in contrast to men, in whom no changes in the state of bone tissue were recorded.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The results of the research prove the prevalence of osteopenic syndrome in terms of age and gender, with an emphasis on women aged 50 years and older. Screening for BMD disorders using ultrasound densitometry is appropriate and allows taking measures to prevent the progression of osteoporosis in the early stages.

Efficacy and safety of finerenone for treatment of diabetic kidney disease: current knowledge and future perspective

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in subjects with diabetes and develops in more than one third of diabetic patients. Steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs - eplerenone and spironolactone) reduce mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, in clinical practice the use of steroidal MRAs is limited by the significant risk of hyperkalemia, especially in patients with impaired renal function. Finerenone, a novel nonsteroidal MRA, shows a higher selectivity and binding affinity for mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) compared to steroidal MRAs and has been shown to reduce chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and cardiovascular mortality in patients with CKD and T2DM.

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the current evidence on efficacy and safety of finerenone in the treatment of patients with CKD and T2DM, and discusses its mechanisms of action investigated in preclinical studies.

EXPERT OPINION

Pharmacological properties of finerenone and its unique tissue distribution are responsible for a lower risk of hyperkalemia. Therefore, finerenone represents a valuable therapeutic tool in patients with CKD/diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Recent studies have shown that finerenone delays the progression of CKD and reduce cardiovascular events in patients with DKD, highlighting its safety and efficacy in this high-risk population.

Modeling the physiological roles of the heart and kidney in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction during baroreflex activation therapy

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of death and is increasing in prevalence. Unfortunately, therapies that have been efficacious in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have not convincingly shown a reduction in cardiovascular mortality in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). It is thought that high sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in the heart plays a role in HF progression. Clinical trials demonstrate that baroreflex activation therapy reduces left ventricular (LV) mass and blood pressure (BP) in patients with HFpEF and hypertension; however, the mechanisms are unclear. In the present study, we used HumMod, a large physiology model to simulate HFpEF and predict the time-dependent changes in systemic and cardiac hemodynamics, SNA, and cardiac stresses during baroreflex activation. The baseline HFpEF model was associated with elevations in systolic BP, diastolic dysfunction, and LV hypertrophy and stiffness similar to clinical HFpEF. Simulating 12 mo of baroreflex activation resulted in reduced systolic BP (-25 mmHg) and LV mass (-15%) similar to clinical evidence. Baroreflex activation also resulted in sustained decreases in cardiac and renal SNA (-22%) and improvement in LV β1-adrenergic function. However, the baroreflex-induced reductions in BP and improvements in cardiac stresses, mass, and function were mostly attenuated when renal SNA was clamped at baseline levels. These simulations suggest that the suppression of renal SNA could be a primary determinant of the cardioprotective effects from baroreflex activation in HFpEF.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Treatments that are efficacious in patients with HFrEF have not shown a significant impact on cardiovascular mortality in patients with HFpEF. We believe these simulations offer novel insight into the important roles of the cardiac and renal nerves in HFpEF and the potential mechanisms of how baroreflex activation alleviates HFpEF disease progression.

Beta-blockers are associated with increased B-type natriuretic peptide levels differently in men and women in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Beta-blocker (BB) use is a mainstay for treatment of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), whereas its efficacy for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains controversial. Women outnumber men in HFpEF, whereas men outnumber women in HFrEF. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is established as a biomarker for HF. We examined whether BB use is associated with plasma BNP levels differently in men and women with HFpEF. The study subjects comprised 721 patients with HFpEF (LVEF≥50%) (184 men, mean age 78.2±9.2 and 537 women, mean age 83.1±8.8), 179 on BB (66 men and 113 women) and 542 (118 men and 424 women) not, 583 in sinus rhythm (SR) and 138 in atrial fibrillation (AF). Multivariable logistic regression test was utilized. Plasma BNP levels were higher (P=0.0005), systolic blood pressure and LVEF lower (P=0.0003, and P=0.0059, respectively) on BBs than on no-BBs in women, whereas in men plasma BNP levels, systolic blood pressure, and LVEF were not altered significantly (P=0.0849, P=0.9129, and P=0.4718, respectively) on BBs compared to no-BBs in patients with SR. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that BB use and women were a positive and a negative predictor for high BNP levels (P=0.003 and P=0.032, respectively) in SR but not in AF. BB use was associated with high plasma BNP levels and lower LVEF in women but not in men with HFpEF and SR, suggesting that the pathogenesis and of HFpEF may differ in men and women in SR.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Phytoestrogen Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: Pre-Clinical Evidence From Small Animal Studies

Background: Phytoestrogens are a class of natural compounds that have structural similarities to estrogens. They have been identified to confer potent cardioprotective effects in experimental myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) animal models. We aimed to investigate the effect of PE on MIRI and its intrinsic mechanisms. Methods: A systematic search was conducted to identify PEs that have been validated in animal studies or clinical studies as effective against MIRI. Then, we collected studies that met inclusion and exclusion criteria from January 2016 to September 2021. The SYRCLE's RoB tool was used to evaluate the quality. Data were analyzed by STATA 16.0 software. Results: The search yielded 18 phytoestrogens effective against heart disease. They are genistein, quercetin, biochanin A, formononetin, daidzein, kaempferol, icariin, puerarin, rutin, notoginsenoside R1, tanshinone IIA, ginsenoside Rb1, ginsenoside Rb3, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re, resveratrol, polydatin, and bakuchiol. Then, a total of 20 studies from 17 articles with a total of 355 animals were included in this meta-analysis. The results show that PE significantly reduced the myocardial infarct size in MIRI animals compared with the control group (p < 0.001). PE treatment significantly reduced the creatine kinase level (p < 0.001) and cTnI level (p < 0.001), increased left ventricular ejection fraction (p < 0.001) and left ventricular fractional shortening (p < 0.001) in MIRI animals. In addition, PE also exerts a significant heart rate lowering effect (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Preclinical evidence suggests that PE can be multi-targeted for cardioprotective effects in MIRI. More large animal studies and clinical research are still needed in the future to further confirm its role in MIRI.

ADAM17, A Key Player of Cardiac Inflammation and Fibrosis in Heart Failure Development During Chronic Catecholamine Stress

Heart failure development is characterized by persistent inflammation and progressive fibrosis owing to chronic catecholamine stress. In a chronic stress state, elevated catecholamines result in the overstimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors (βARs), specifically β2-AR coupling with Gαi protein. Gαi signaling increases the activation of receptor-stimulated p38 mitogen-activated-protein-kinases (p38 MAPKs) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). Phosphorylation by these kinases is a common way to positively regulate the catalytic activity of A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), a metalloprotease that has grown much attention in recent years and has emerged as a chief regulatory hub in inflammation, fibrosis, and immunity due to its vital proteolytic activity. ADAM17 cleaves and activates proinflammatory cytokines and fibrotic factors that enhance cardiac dysfunction via inflammation and fibrosis. However, there is limited information on the cardiovascular aspect of ADAM17, especially in heart failure. Hence, this concise review provides a comprehensive insight into the structure of ADAM17, how it is activated and regulated during chronic catecholamine stress in heart failure development. This review highlights the inflammatory and fibrotic roles of ADAM17’s substrates; Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα), soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and amphiregulin (AREG). Finally, how ADAM17-induced chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis aggravate cardiac dysfunction is discussed.

The Role of Estrogens and Vitamin D in Cardiomyocyte Protection: A Female Perspective

Women experience a dramatical raise in cardiovascular events after menopause. The decline in estrogens is pointed to as the major responsible trigger for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Indeed, the menopausal transition associates with heart macro-remodeling, which results from a fine-tuned cell micro-remodeling. The remodeling of cardiomyocytes is a biomolecular response to several physiologic and pathologic stimuli, allowing healthy adaptation in normal conditions or maladaptation in an unfavorable environment, ending in organ architecture disarray. Estrogens largely impinge on cardiomyocyte remodeling, but they cannot fully explain the sex-dimorphism of CVD risk. Albeit cell remodeling and adaptation are under multifactorial regulation, vitamin D emerges to exert significant protective effects, controlling some intracellular paths, often shared with estrogen signaling. In post-menopause, the unfavorable association of hypoestrogenism-D hypovitaminosis may converge towards maladaptive remodeling and contribute to increased CVD risk. The aim of this review is to overview the role of estrogens and vitamin D in female cardiac health, speculating on their potential synergistic effect in cardiomyocyte remodeling, an issue that is not yet fully explored. Further learning the crosstalk between these two steroids in the biomolecular orchestration of cardiac cell fate during adaptation may help the translational approach to future cardioprotective strategies for women health.