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Cardiomyopathies represent the most common clinical and genetic heterogeneous group of diseases that affect the heart function. Though progress has been made to elucidate the process, molecular mechanisms of different classes of cardiomyopathies remain elusive. This paper aims to describe the similarities and differences in molecular features of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). We firstly detected the co-expressed modules using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Significant modules associated with DCM/ICM were identified by the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) between the modules and the phenotype of DCM/ICM. The differentially expressed genes in the modules were selected to perform functional enrichment. The potential transcription factors (TFs) prediction was conducted for transcription regulation of hub genes. Apoptosis and cardiac conduction were perturbed in DCM and ICM, respectively. TFs demonstrated that the biomarkers and the transcription regulations in DCM and ICM were different, which helps make more accurate discrimination between them at molecular levels. In conclusion, comprehensive analyses of the molecular features may advance our understanding of DCM and ICM causes and progression. Thus, this understanding may promote the development of innovative diagnoses and treatments.

ObjectivesTo explore changes in brain apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in normal fetuses and fetuses with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) during the second and early third trimesters.MethodsThis single-center prospective study was conducted from May 2019 through October 2021. We measured and compared the mean ADC values between 23 fetuses with CHD and 27 gestational age (GA)-matched controls using covariance analyses. ADC density plots and histograms were used to compare brain characteristics. False-discovery rates (FDR, α = 0.05) correction was used for multiple testing.ResultsThe mean ADC in the frontal white matter, temporal white matter, parietal white matter, occipital white matter, cerebellar hemisphere, central area of the centrum semiovale, basal ganglia region, thalamus, and pons were not significantly different (all p > 0.05). Based on histogram analysis, there were no significant differences between the controls and fetuses with CHD after FDR correction. However, the ADC density plots showed significant heterogeneity between the controls and fetuses with CHD.ConclusionThe mean ADC values and ADC histogram analysis did not differ between the CHD and normal groups. The ADC density plots may provide supplementary information and improve the sensitivity for detecting early brain changes in fetuses with CHD.