OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of quercetin on cuproptosis and L-type calcium currents in the myocardium of diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomized into control group and diabetic model groups. The rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection were further divided into DM model group, quercetin treatment group, and empagliflozin treatment group (n=10). Blood glucose and body weight were measured every other week, and cardiac function of the rats was evaluated using echocardiography. HE staining, Sirius red staining, and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) analysis were used to observe the changes in myocardial histomorphology, and serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression were detected. In cultured rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells with high-glucose exposure, the effects of quercetin and elesclomol, alone or in combination, on intracellular CK-MB and LDH levels and FDX1 expression were assessed, and the changes in L-type calcium currents were analyzed using patch-clamp technique. RESULTS: The diabetic rats exhibited elevated blood glucose, reduced body weight, impaired left ventricular function, increased serum copper levels and myocardial FDX1 expression, decreased L-type calcium currents, and prolonged action potential duration. Quercetin and empagliflozin treatment significantly lowered blood glucose, improved body weight, and restored cardiac function of the diabetic rats, and compared with empagliflozin, quercetin more effectively reduced serum copper levels, downregulated FDX1 expression, and enhanced myocardial L-type calcium currents in diabetic rats. In H9c2 cells, high glucose exposure significantly increased myocardial expressions of FDX1, CK-MB and LDH, which were effectively lowered by quercetin treatment; Elesclomol further elevated FDX1, CK-MB and LDH levels in the exposed cells, and these changes were not significantly affected by the application of quercetin. CONCLUSIONS Quercetin ameliorates myocardial injury in diabetic rats possibly by suppressing myocardial cuproptosis signaling and restoring L-type calcium channel activity.
Animals ; Quercetin/pharmacology* ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Male

Objective To evaluate the deep brain venous blood oxygen content changes in patients with multiple sclerosis(MS) using susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), and to explore the ability of SWI in reflecting the clinical condition. Methods Forty-four MS patients were prospectively enrolled in the study. All the clinical-proved patients meeting the McDonald standards (2005 revised) underwent conventional MRI, SWI, and 12 cases of them underwent MRI review from 12 to 16 months interval. all the patients' clinical condition were quantified according to the expanded disability status scale(EDSS). The score was 0.5—6.5. Sixty-five age- and gender- matched healthy volunteers underwent conventional MRI and SWI. The blood oxygen content of the deep brain venous were estimated by the veins phase value, and differential phase values of blood vessels and surrounding tissues (Δφ) were processed with SPIN software. The blood vessels consist of bilateral BV, SMCV, ICV, STV and FMV, PMV, OMV. The difference of Δφvalue in different veins between MS patients and the controls was compared using independent sample t-test, and the Δφ value comparison of MS patients in different time were performed by using paired t test; The correlation ofΔφvalue between MS and EDSS was analyzed using Spearman correlation. Results TheΔφvalue of BV, SMCV, ICV, STV were 856.6 ± 246.4, 600.6 ± 155.2, 965.9 ± 205.4, 844.2 ± 149.7 in MS, and 767.6±145.1, 536.2±123.5, 892.8±156.3, 783.1±148.5 in controls, respectively. TheΔφvalue was higher in MS patients than the controls (t=2.157, 2.303, 2.005, 2.103,P<0.05). The twelve patients'Δφvalues of BV, ICV,STV were 729.4±275.1, 906.1±219.2, 737.2±159.1 in the first time, and 923.2±211.6, 1017.3±211.1, 919.3 ± 165.9 in the second time, and all the values increased in the review of the interval of 12 to 16 months (t=-3.092,-6.420,-3.972,P<0.05). The phase value of PMV and OMV had significant positive correlation with EDSS scores(r=0.638, 0.642,P<0.01). Conclusions The state of hypoxia of the brain parenchyma appears in MS patients, and hypoxia may become worse with the extension of course. The extent of hypoxia can reflect the disability of the patients.

Objective To investigate jugular vein morphological changes with three dimension phase contrast magnetic resonance venography(3D PC MRV),and to explore hemodynamic features using MR phase contrast cine (MR PC cine).Methods Sixty-five healthy volunteers performed 3D PC MRV and MR PC-cine sannings.MRV ranged from torcular herophili to brachiocephalic veins, and the raw data of PC-cine was acquired at cervical 2-3(C2-C3)level perpendicular to the Jugular veins(JVs)with the maximum encoding velocity of 50 cm/sec.Jugular vein showing absent or tip shape(cross-sectional area less than 12.5 mm2 )was considered abnormal,and flat,crescent,oval,round shapes were considered normal.Data of PC-cine was processed by computer to evaluate the hemodynamic features.Results Nine (13.85%)of 65 cases were abnormal that unilateral jugular vein showing needle-pointed narrow or absent,and 8 cases on the left,and one case on the right;Weak correlation was found between jugular veins pattern and the age.The right sided values in volunteers were higher than that of the left side.Conclusion The morphology and hemodynamics of jugular veins in volunteers showed significant difference between sides,and weak correlation is found between the morphology and aging.