[Impact of different obesity patterns on coronary microvascular function in male patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease].

Objective: This study sought to investigate the impact of different obesity patterns on coronary microvascular function in male patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of male patients diagnosed with suspected coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between December 2015 and August 2021. All patients underwent the one-day rest and stress 13N-ammonia positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging. Overall obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI) ≥28 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity was defined by waist circumference ≥90 cm. Hyperemic myocardial blood flow (MBF)<2.3 ml·min-1·g-1 or coronary flow reserve (CFR)<2.5 were referred as CMD. All patients were grouped based on their BMI and waist circumference. MBF, CFR, the incidence of CMD, hemodynamic parameters, and cardiac function were compared among the groups. Results: A total of 136 patients were included. According to BMI and waist circumference, patients were categorized into 3 groups: control group (n=45), simple abdominal obesity group (n=53) and compound obesity group (n=38). Resting MBF did not differ between groups (F=0.02,P=0.994). Compared with the control group, hyperemic MBF was significantly lower in the simple abdominal obesity and compound obesity groups ((2.82±0.64) ml·min-1·g-1, (2.44±0.85) ml·min-1·g-1 and (2.49±0.71) ml·min-1·g-1, both P<0.05, respectively). Hyperemic MBF was comparable among the groups of patients with obesity (P=0.772). CFR was significantly lower in the simle abdominal obesity group compared with the control group (2.87±0.99 vs. 3.32±0.62,P=0.012). Compared with the control group, CFR tended to be lower in the compound obesity group (3.02±0.91 vs. 3.32±0.62,P=0.117). The incidence of CMD was significantly higher in both the simple abdominal obesity and compound obesity groups than in the control group (62.3%, 52.6% vs. 22.2%, both P<0.01, respectively). Waist circumference was an independent risk factor for male CMD (OR=1.057, 95%CI: 1.013-1.103, P=0.011). Conclusions: In male patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease, abdominal obesity is associated with decreased coronary microvascular function. Male patients with simple abdominal obesity face the highest risk of CMD.

From Synthesis to Microstructure: Engineering the High-entropy Ceramic Materials of the Future.

Sintering and microstructural development in ceramics has long been studied in a two-dimensional grain size-density space, with only texture (i.e. deviation of grain orientation from random) used to gain first insights into additional parametric spaces. Following an increased interest for grain boundary engineering and a deeper understanding of dopant effects on sintering and grain boundaries, the theory of complexion transitions for ceramics has been introduced over the last decade, providing a new base for advanced microstructure engineering in ceramics. With emergence of high entropy ceramics over the last 5 years, the combination of both yields new grounds for exploration and engineering of functional ceramic materials of the future.