INTRODUCTION: Degenerative mitral stenosis (DMS) is frequently cited as increasing in prevalence in the developed world, although comparatively little is known about DMS in comparison to rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS). METHOD: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 745 cases of native-valve mitral stenosis (MS) with median follow-up time of 7.25 years. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were compared. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed for a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalisation. RESULTS: Patients with DMS compared to RMS were older (age, mean ± standard deviation: 69.6 ± 12.3 versus [vs] 51.6 ± 14.3 years, respectively; P<0.001) and a greater proportion had medical comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (78 [41.9%] vs 112 [20.0%], P<0.001). The proportion of cases of degenerative aetiology increased from 1.1% in 1991-1995 to 41.0% in 2016-2017. In multivariate analysis for the composite outcome, age (hazard ratio [HR] 95% confidence interval [CI] of 1.032 [1.020-1.044]; P<0.001), diabetes mellitus (HR 1.443, 95% CI 1.068-1.948; P=0.017), chronic kidney disease (HR 2.043, 95% CI 1.470-2.841; P<0.001) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (HR 1.019, 95% CI 1.010- 1.027; P<0.001) demonstrated significant indepen-dent associations. The aetiology of MS was not independently associated with the composite outcome. CONCLUSION DMS is becoming an increasingly common cause of native-valve MS. Despite numerous clinical differences between RMS and DMS, the aetiology of MS did not independently influence a composite of mortality or heart failure hospitalisation.
Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Rheumatic Heart Disease/mortality* ; Echocardiography ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data* ; Heart Failure/epidemiology* ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology*

Non-obstructive azoospermia is a common condition associated with significant health risks, including increased mortality, cancer, and chronic diseases such as metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. This review aims to highlight the potential health challenges faced by men with this condition compared to fertile counterparts. Through a comprehensive bibliographic search on PubMed, using the following algorithm: ("infertility, male" [MeSH Terms] OR "azoospermia" [MeSH Terms]) AND ("mortality" [MeSH Terms] OR "neoplasms" [MeSH Terms] OR "chronic disease" [MeSH Terms] OR "diabetes mellitus" [MeSH Terms] OR "heart diseases" [MeSH Terms]), we analyzed existing literature to explore the associations between infertility, specifically azoospermia, and adverse health outcomes. Findings indicate that infertile men are at a higher risk of death, various cancers (particularly testicular cancer), metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypogonadism, and cardiovascular disease. Although research specifically addressing azoospermia is limited, available studies support the notion that men with this condition may experience heightened health vulnerabilities. Given these risks, it is imperative for healthcare professionals, especially urologists, to conduct thorough health assessments for men diagnosed with azoospermia. Informing patients of these potential health issues and integrating comprehensive evaluations into their care can facilitate early detection and intervention for life-threatening conditions. Ultimately, men with azoospermia should receive ongoing monitoring to address their specific health concerns, thus improving their long-term health outcomes.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/epidemiology* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology* ; Metabolic Syndrome/epidemiology* ; Infertility, Male/complications* ; Testicular Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Hypogonadism/epidemiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Neoplasms/epidemiology*

Periodontitis has become one of the most widespread chronic inflammatory diseases worldwide, affecting roughly 11% of the adult population. In China, periodontal health is notably poor, with less than 10% of individuals over the age of 35 maintaining periodontal health, while the prevalence of periodontitis in middle-aged and elderly populations reaches as high as 82.6%. From a public health perspective, periodontitis not only seriously compromises oral health but is also closely linked to multiple chronic systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and cognitive impairment. A substantial body of cohort studies and meta-analyses consistently demonstrate that patients with periodontitis are at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events. Moreover, periodontitis tends to progress more rapidly in individuals with diabetes, highlighting a bidirectional causal relationship between these two conditions. Our research team has maintained a long-term focus on elucidating the relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases within Chinese community populations. In this review, we comprehensively summarize epidemiological findings on the associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and cognitive decline, specifically drawing on data from Chinese cohorts. Complementing these observations, animal experiments provide evidence that experimental periodontitis can induce glucose intolerance and accelerate the development of atherosclerotic lesions. At the mechanistic level, we preliminarily validate that mitochondrial DNA efflux and the hematogenous spread of periodontal pathogens may act as biological conduits bridging local periodontal inflammation with systemic pathologies. We also address current challenges in the field, including difficulties in disentangling causal relationships due to confounding comorbidities like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which often coexist and influence each other. To advance understanding, there is an urgent need for well-designed longitudinal and interventional studies employing advanced causal inference methods. Ultimately, this work aims to deepen the current knowledge of periodontitis ' systemic effects and to support the development of evidence-based public health strategies for integrating oral health into chronic disease prevention efforts in China.
Humans ; Periodontitis/complications* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Metabolic Syndrome/etiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of glycemic control and diabetes duration on subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 33,238 patients with both CHD and T2D in Shenzhen, China. Patients were categorized into 6 groups based on baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and diabetes duration (from the date of diabetes diagnosis to the baseline date) to examine their combined effects on subsequent MI. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used, with further stratification by age, sex, and comorbidities to assess potential interactions. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 2.4 years, 2,110 patients experienced MI. Compared to those with optimal glycemic control (FPG < 6.1 mmol/L) and shorter diabetes duration (< 10 years), the fully-adjusted hazard ratio ( HR) (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]) for those with a diabetes duration of ≥ 10 years and FPG > 8.0 mmol/L was 1.93 (95% CI: 1.59, 2.36). The combined effects of FPG and diabetes duration on MI were largely similar across different age, sex, and comorbidity groups, although the excess risk of MI associated with long-term diabetes appeared to be more pronounced among those with atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION Our study indicates that glycemic control and diabetes duration significant influence the subsequent occurrence of MI in patients with both CHD and T2D. Tailored management strategies emphasizing strict glycemic control may be particularly beneficial for patients with longer diabetes duration and atrial fibrillation.
Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Coronary Disease/complications* ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Glycemic Control ; Blood Glucose ; Adult ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Qiwei No.3 combined with sildenafil on Rho kinase activity and AKT/eNOS pathways in the penile cavernous tissue of male rats with diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED). METHODS: We constructed a model of DED in 24 SD male rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin solution and injecting apomorphine into the neck after 8 weeks of feeding, equally randomized the model rats into a model control (MC), a sildenafil (S), a low-dose Qiwei No.3 combined with sildenafil (LQ+S) and a high-dose Qiwei No.3 combined with sildenafil (HQ+S) group, and took another 6 normal male rats as blank controls (BC). We treated intragastrically the animals in the BC and MC groups with normal saline, and those in the S, LQ+S and HQ+S groups with sildenafil (5 mg/kg/d), Qiwei No.3 (10 g/kg/d) + sildenafil (5mg/kg/d), and Qiwei No.3 (20g/kg/d) + sildenafil (5mg/kg/d), respectively. After 6 weeks of treatment, we recorded the number of penile erections of all the rats by injecting apomorphine into the neck, and measured the activity of Rho kinase and expressions of p-AKT and eNOS proteins in the corpus cavernosum by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the blank controls, all the DED model rats showed evidently elevated blood glucose and reduced body weight. The number of penile erections was significantly increased in the S, LQ+S and HQ+S groups in comparison with that in the model controls (P< 0.05), even higher in the HQ+S than in the S group (P< 0.05). The activity of Rho kinase in the penile cavernosum was significantly higher in the MC than in the BC group (P<0.05), but lower in the HQ+S than in the S group (P< 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the expression level of the p-AKT protein in the penile cavernosum among the five groups of rats (P > 0.05). The expression of eNOS was remarkably up-regulated in the BC and HQ+S groups (P< 0.05) compared with that in the MC group, even more significantly in the HQ+S than in the LQ+S and S groups (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of high-dose "Qiwei No. 3" and sildenafil can improve erectile function in DED rats, which may be attributed to its effect of releasing more nitric oxide (NO) by inhibiting the activity of Rho kinase and up-regulating the expression of the e-NOS protein.
Animals ; Male ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Rats ; rho-Associated Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Penis/drug effects* ; Erectile Dysfunction/etiology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/complications* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is closely associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), but no definitive evidence has established a causal relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and SSNHL. This study aims to investigate the impact of T1DM on SSNHL from a genetic perspective, providing insights for risk prediction and treatment strategies. METHODS: Genetic data related to exposure (T1DM) and outcome (SSNHL) were obtained from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Instrumental variables were selected, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to explore the causal association between T1DM and SSNHL. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis was used as the primary method, with random-effects IVW serving as the main analytical approach. MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode analyses were utilized as supplementary methods. Cochran's Q test was applied to evaluate the heterogeneity of the selected instrumental variables, MR-PRESSO was applied to detect outliers, MR-Egger regression was used to assess horizontal pleiotropy and leave-one-out analysis was conducted to examine the robustness of individual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the overall results. RESULTS: A total of 127 SNPs were selected as instrumental variables for the MR analysis. IVW analysis demonstrated a genetically determined association between T1DM and SSNHL (OR=1.036, 95% CI 1.002 to 1.071, P=0.038). Forest plots and scatter plots indicated a causal relationship, suggesting that T1DM increases the risk of SSNHL. Cochran's Q test demonstrated no significant heterogeneity among SNPs (MR-Egger: Q=126.030, P=0.356; IVW: Q=126.450, P=0.373). The funnel plot appeared symmetrical, indicating that the selected instrumental variables were primarily related to exposure rather than potential confounding factors. The MR-Egger intercept was not significantly different from zero (P=0.527), indicating no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy among the SNPs. MR-PRESSO analysis did not identify any outlier SNPs (P=0.356). Leave-one-out analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings, as the results remained stable after removing individual SNPs. CONCLUSIONS Two-sample MR analysis supports the conclusion that T1DM patients have an increased risk of developing SSNHL.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/etiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/genetics* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Hearing Loss, Sudden/etiology* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease

BACKGROUND: Sex- and age-specific impacts of cardiovascular risk factors on the development of dementia have not been well evaluated. We investigated these impacts of smoking, overweight/obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus on the risk of disabling dementia. METHODS: The study participants were 25,029 (10,134 men and 14,895 women) Japanese aged 40-74 years without disabling dementia at baseline (2008-2013). They were assessed on smoking status (non-current or current), overweight/obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m² and ≥30 kg/m², respectively), hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or any antihypertensive medication use), and diabetes mellitus (a fasting serum glucose ≥126 mg/dL, non-fasting glucose ≥200 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program or glucose-lowering medication use) at baseline. Disabling dementia was identified as the level of care required ≥1 and cognitive disability grade ≥IIa according to the National Long-term Care Insurance Database. We used a Cox proportional regression model to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of disabling dementia according to the cardiovascular risk factors and calculated the population attributable fractions (PAFs). RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 9.1 years, 1,322 (606 men and 716 women) developed disabling dementia. Current smoking and hypertension were associated with a higher risk of disabling dementia in both sexes, whereas overweight or obesity was not associated with the risk in either sex. Diabetes mellitus was associated with a higher risk only in women (p for sex interaction = 0.04). The significant PAFs were 13% for smoking and 14% for hypertension in men and 3% for smoking, 12% for hypertension, and 5% for diabetes mellitus in women. The total PAFs of the significant risk factors were 28% in men and 20% in women. When stratified by age, hypertension in midlife (40-64 years) was associated with the increased risk in men, while diabetes mellitus in later-life (65-74 years) was so in women. CONCLUSIONS A substantial burden of disabling dementia was attributable to smoking, and hypertension in both sexes and diabetes mellitus in women, which may require the management of these cardiovascular risk factors to prevent dementia.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Overweight/complications* ; East Asian People ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology* ; Hypertension/etiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus/etiology* ; Obesity/etiology* ; Smoking/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Age Factors ; Dementia/etiology*

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study is to investigate whether acupuncture could be an effective complementary treatment for reducing the risk of macrovascular complications in diabetic patients currently taking antidiabetic medications using a nationwide population-based database. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients using data from patients between 40 and 79 years of age, newly diagnosed with diabetes between 2003 and 2006, found in the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) in Korea. From the data, we identified 21,232 diabetic patients who were taking antidiabetic medication between 2003 and 2006. The selected patients were divided into two groups-those who received acupuncture at least three times and those who received no acupuncture (non-acupuncture) in the year following their diagnosis of diabetes. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), each group had 3350 patients, and the observation ceased at the occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), which was defined as either myocardial infarction, stroke, or death due to cardiovascular cause. RESULTS: After PSM, the acupuncture group had a lower incidence of MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-0.94; P = 0.0003) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.70-0.84; P < 0.0001) than the non-acupuncture group; the HRs for stroke-related mortality (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.56-1.00; P = 0.0485), ischemic heart disease mortality (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34-0.84; P = 0.006) and circulatory system disease mortality (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.55-0.82; P < 0.0001) were lower in the acupuncture group than in the non-acupuncture group in the secondary analysis. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that diabetic patients receiving acupuncture treatment might have a lower risk of MACE, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. This population-based retrospective study suggests beneficial effects of acupuncture in preventing macrovascular complications associated with diabetes. These findings call for further prospective cohort or experimental studies on acupuncture treatment for cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Please cite this article as: Jung H, Won T, Kim GY, Jang J, Yeo S, Lim S. Efficacy of acupuncture on cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus in Korea: A nationwide retrospective cohort. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 176-183.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Stroke/complications* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology*

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and long-term prognostic factors of diabetic patients with low or intermediate complexity coronary artery disease (CAD) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This was a prospective, single-centre observational study. Consecutive diabetic patients with SYNTAX score (SS)≤32 undergoing PCI between January and December 2013 in Fuwai hospital were included in this analysis. The patients were divided into two groups based on SS, namely SS≤22 group and SS 23-32 group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors related to poor 5-year prognosis. The primary outcomes were cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction, the secondary outcomes were all cause death and revascularization. Results: Of the 3 899 patients included in the study, 2 888 were men (74.1%); mean age was 59.4±9.8 years. There were 3 450 patients in the SS≤22 group and 449 patients in the SS 23-32 group. Compared with SS≤22 group, the incidence of revascularization was higher in SS 23-32 group (18.9% (85/449) vs. 15.2% (524/3450), log-rank P=0.019). There was no significant difference in all-cause death, cardiac death and recurrent myocardial infarction between the two groups (log-rank P>0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (HR=1.05, 95%CI 1.02-1.08, P<0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR=3.12, 95%CI 1.37-7.07, P=0.007) and creatinine clearance rate (CCr)<60 ml/min (HR=3.67, 95%CI 2.05-6.58, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for 5-year cardiac death, while left ventricular ejection fraction (HR=0.94, 95%CI 0.91-0.96, P<0.001) was a protective factor. Previous PCI (HR=2.04, 95%CI 1.38-3.00, P<0.001), blood glucose level≥11.1 mmol/L on admission (HR=2.49, 95%CI 1.32-4.70, P=0.005) and CCr<60 ml/min (HR=1.85, 95%CI 1.14-2.99, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for 5-year recurrent myocardial infarction. The SS of 23-32 was independently associated with risk of revascularization (HR=1.54, 95%CI 1.09-2.16, P=0.014), after adjusting for residual SS. Residual SS was not a risk factor for 5-year prognosis. Conclusions: In diabetic patients with low-or intermediate complexity CAD, SS 23-32 is associated with increased risk of 5-year revascularization; the clinical characteristics of the patients are associated with the long-term mortality and recurrent myocardial infarction, but not related to revascularization.
Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/surgery* ; Stroke Volume ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Myocardial Infarction/etiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus

Long-segment lichen sclerosus (LS) urethral stricture is a challenge for urologists. Limited data are available for surgeons to make a surgical decision between Kulkarni and Asopa urethroplasty. In this retrospective study, we investigated the outcomes of these two procedures in patients with LS urethral stricture. Between January 2015 and December 2020, 77 patients with LS urethral stricture underwent Kulkarni and Asopa procedures for urethroplasty in the Department of Urology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Shanghai, China). Of the 77 patients, 42 (54.5%) underwent the Asopa procedure and 35 (45.5%) underwent the Kulkarni procedure. The overall complication rate was 34.2% in the Kulkarni group and 19.0% in the Asopa group, and no difference was observed ( P = 0.105). Among the complications, no statistical difference was observed in the incidence of urethral stricture recurrence ( P = 0.724) or glans dehiscence ( P = 0.246) except for postoperative meatus stenosis ( P = 0.020). However, the recurrence-free survival rate between the two procedures was significantly different ( P = 0.016). Cox survival analysis showed that antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy use ( P = 0.020), diabetes ( P = 0.003), current/former smoking ( P = 0.019), coronary heart disease ( P < 0.001), and stricture length ( P = 0.028) may lead to a higher hazard ratio of complications. Even so, these two techniques can still provide acceptable results with their own advantages in the surgical treatment of LS urethral strictures. The surgical alternative should be considered comprehensively according to the patient characteristics and surgeon preferences. Moreover, our results showed that antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy use, diabetes, coronary heart disease, current/former smoking, and stricture length may be contributing factors of complications. Therefore, patients with LS are advised to undergo early interventions for better therapeutic effects.
Male ; Humans ; Urethral Stricture/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Constriction, Pathologic/surgery* ; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods* ; China ; Urethra/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Mouth Mucosa ; Diabetes Mellitus/etiology* ; Anticoagulants ; Coronary Disease