Objective To explore the role of NLRP3/Caspase-3 in myocardial apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion(IR)injury and its effect on myocardiocyte autophagy in rats.Methods A total of 60 SPF-grade male rats were randomly divided into sham operation,model,and nimodip-ine treatment groups,with 20 rats in each group.Rat model of myocardial IR injury was estab-lished in the rats of the two latter groups.Cardiac function was assessed,and the levels of myocar-dial enzymes and cytokines were measured.Additionally,myocardial pathological changes were de-tected using HE staining.Furthermore,flow cytometry was utilized to determine the apoptotic rate of myocardiocytes,and the autophagosomes were counted under transmission electron micro-scope.Moreover,the expression of NLRP3 and Caspase-3 was measured using RT-PCR and West-ern blotting.Results Significant differences were observed in left ventricular end diastolic pres-sure,left ventricular systolic pressure,maximal rate of rise and fall in left ventricular pressure,ap-optotic rate of myocardial cells,and levels of TNF-α,IL-6,CK,AST and LDH in the three groups(P＜0.01).Notably,both the model group and nimodipine treatment group exhibited significantly higher autophagosome than the sham operation group(10.55±1.87 and 6.32±1.43 vs 3.45±0.67 units,P＜0.01),and the nimodipine group displayed a significantly lower autophagosome count than the model group(P＜0.01).The mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-3 were notably higher in the model group and nimodipine group than the sham operation group(P＜0.01),and in the model group than the nimodipine group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Myocardial IR injury in rats can increase myocardiocyte apoptosis,reduce cardiac function,induce inflammatory response,and enhance autophagosome formation,which is related to the abnormal high expression of NLRP3/Caspase-3.

Objective To investigate the effect of diet and lifestyle on cardiovascular comorbidity in elderly diabetic patients in community. Methods A total of 437 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus in a community of Huai'an City were divided into comorbidity group and non-comorbidity group according to the presence or absence of cardiovascular comorbidity. Dietary and lifestyle data were collected by self-designed questionnaires. The differences between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of comorbidity of diabetes mellitus with cardiovascular disease. Results Among the surveyed patients, 184 (42.11%) had at least one comorbidity of cardiovascular disease, with the most common diseases being hypertension in 93 patients (21.28%), coronary heart disease in 71 patients (16.25%), and stroke in 42 patients (9.61%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that: the risk of comorbidity in the male group was 1.528 times higher than that in the female group; the risk of comorbidity among individuals with inadequate carbohydrate intake was 1.520 times higher than that of individuals with adequate carbohydrate intake; the risk of comorbidity in the group with smoking history > 30 years was 1.299 times higher than that in the group ≤ 30 years; the risk of comorbidity was 49.80% lower in the group with tea preference than that in the group without tea preference; and the risk of comorbidity in the group not meeting the standard for exercise was 1.492 times higher than that in the group meeting the standard for exercise. All these differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The comorbidity of cardiovascular disease in elderly diabetic patients in community should not be ignored, and targeted dietary and lifestyle interventions are helpful for the prevention and control of comorbidity.