Objective To evaluate the relationship of myocardial MR contrast delay-enhancement and nuclear perfusion-metabolism pattern in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).Methods Forty-two consecutive patients (29 men and 13 women,age:(53 ±12) years) diagnosed clinically with IDCM were enrolled.All patients underwent 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT,18F-FDG PET imaging and MR contrast delay-enhancement imaging within 3-7 d.The myocardial perfusion-metabolism segment analysis was performed using a 17-segment model.Segmental 99Tcm-MIBI and 18F-FDG uptakes were scored visually using a 4-grade scoring system (0 =normal uptake,1 =mildly reduced uptake,2 =moderately reduced uptake,3 =severely reduced uptake).Patterns of perfusiorn/metabolism were classified as normal,mismatch,mild-to-moderate match and severe match.Myocardial MR contrast delay-enhancement was classified into 3 categories (non,mid-wall and transmural delay-enhancement).x2 test was used to analyze the differences of perfusion/metabolism patterns among non,mid-wall and transmural delay-enhancement groups and the myocardial MR contrast delay-enhancement incidence among four perfusion/metabolism groups.Resuits Among the 42 patients,myocardial delay-enhancement was present in 18 patients,of which 94.4％ (17/18) showed abnormal myocardial perfusion/metabolism patterns and only 33.3 ％ (8/24) patients without abnormal myocardial delay-enhancement had abnormal myocardial perfusion/metabolism patterns (x2 =15.944,P ＜ 0.001).Perfusion/metabolism patterns varied in three different categories of non,mid-wall and transmural delay-enhancement (x2 =14.276,P ＜ 0.001).The normal peffusion/metabolism pattern proportions in the non,mid-wall and transmural delay-enhancement groups were 86.2％ (526/610),71.0％ (44/62) and 28.6％ (12/42),respectively.The incidence of transmural delay-enhancement (44.4％ (12/27)) was significantly higher in segments with severe match than that in the other 3 groups (normal:2.1％ (12/582) ; mismatch:18.1％ (15/83) ; mild-to-moderate match:13.6％ (3/22) ; x2 =112.530,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions MR contrast delay-enhancement is much more sensitive in detecting moderate fibrosis,while nuclear perfusion-metabolism imaging can detect more impaired but viable myocardium.Combining the two imaging modalities is useful for providing comprehensive evaluations of myocardial injury in patients with IDCM.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)transplantation on acute myocardial infarction in swine models using MRI. MethodsFourteen Chinese mini-pigs(27±3 kg)were divided into control group(n=7)and transplantation group(n=7).Acute myocardial infarction(AMI)model was made by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 90 minutes,and then 10 ml autologous MSCs(3 × 106 cell/ml)were injected into LAD by over-wire-balloon catheter after one week. MRl was performed to assess the cardiac function and myocardial perfusion 1 week after AMI and 6 weeks after transplantation.The implanted cells in vitro were analyzed by immunofluorescence.ResuitsThe left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)in transplantation group was increased from(42.7 ±7.5)%to(50.1±10.1)%,which was significantly different from that in control group(P＜0.01).In addition,the dyskinetic segments in infarcted region and the infareted area were decreased by 4 and 3.2 cm2 respectively(P＜0.01),and the left ventricular weight index was increased by 4.1 g/m2 in transplantation group(P＜0.05)compared with control group.The DAPI-labeled cells in infarcted and peri-infarcted region indicated the survived MSCs.Immunofluoreseence also confirmed that those cells expressed cardiomyocyte-specific troponin T,connexin 43 and vessel-specific smooth muscle actin.Capillary density in both infarcted and peri-infarcted region were higher in transplantation group than the control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion MRI is a reliable imaging method for assessing the effects of stem cell transplantation in acute myocardial infartion of swine models.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) with continous over-expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on the motor function recovery and nerve regeneration of sciatic nerve of rats after electrical injury.

METHODSFive SD rats were collected to prepare ADSCs with over-expression of GDNF. One hundred and fifty SD rats were divided into normal control group (N), GDNF-ADSCs group (GA), ADSCs group (A), GDNF group (G), and physiological saline group (P) according to the random number table, with 30 rats in each group. Rats in group N were routinely fed without treatment, and rats in the other 4 groups were inflicted with electrical injury on sciatic nerve of thigh of the right hind leg. Rats in groups GA, A, G, and P were respectively injected with 100 µL suspension of ADSCs with over-expression of GDNF (1 x 10(7) cells per mL), 100 [µL ADSCs suspension (1 x 10(7) cells per mL), 100 µL GDNF solution (100 mg/L) , and 100 µL physiological saline to the surface of the injured nerves immediately after injury. Six rats of each group were collected for measuring hind limb stride from post injury week (PIW) 1 to 8, and morphology of the sciatic nerves was observed in PIW 8. In PIW 4, the protein expression of GDNF of sciatic nerves of the rest rats in each group was determined with Western blotting. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance of repeated measurement, and SNK test.

RESULTSCompared with that of group N, the hind limb stride values in groups GA, A, G, and P were significantly lower at each time point (with P values below 0.05). Compared with those of group P, the hind limb stride values in group GA from PIW 3 to 8, in group A in PIW 3, 5, and 7, and in group G in PIW 3, 5, 7, and 8 were significantly longer (with P values below 0.05). The hind limb stride values in group GA from PIW 4 to 8 were respectively (10.83 ± 0.97), (13.25 ± 1.40), (12.86 ± 1.42), (14.06 ± 1.50), and (15.09 ± 1.17) cm, which were significantly longer than those in group A [(8.90 ± 0.82), (9.03 ± 0.57), (9.27 ± 0.36), (9.86 ± 0.36), and (9.52 ± 0.58) cm] and group G [(8.87 ± 0.69), (8.51 ± 1.18), (9.34 ± 0.87), (9.76 ± 0.67), and (9.50 ± 1.22) cm], with P values below 0.05. Compared with that of group N, the number of myelinated nerve fibers of sciatic nerves was obviously decreased in group P but obviously increased in groups GA, A, and G; the diameter of axons was obviously shorter, and the myelin thickness was obviously increased in groups GA, A, G, and P in PIW 8 (with P values below 0.05). The number of myelinated nerve fibers in group GA was 31.2 ± 0.8, which was significantly higher than that in group A (23.7 ± 2.7), group G (22.3 ± 2.7), or group P (9.3 ± 2.8), with P values below 0.05. The diameter values of axons among groups P, A, G, and GA were similar (with P values above 0.05). The myelin thickness of rats in group GA was (3.41 ± 0.34) µm, which was significantly thicker than that in group A [(2.64 ± 0.37) µm] or group G [(2.41 ± 0.34) µm], with P values below 0.05. In PIW 4, the protein expression of GDNF of sciatic nerves was significantly higher in groups P, A, G, and GA than in group N (with P values below 0.05), and the protein expression of GDNF in group GA was significantly higher than that in group P, A, or G (with P values below 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSADSCs over-expressing GDNF protein can obviously promote the motor function recovery and nerve regeneration of sciatic nerve of rats after electrical injury.

Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Electrophysiology ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; pathology ; physiology

Objectives To discuss the characteristics of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular apical aneurysm (LVAA) and its related prognostic value. Methods Thirty HCM patients with LVAA were collected from August 2004 to August 2013. All cases with coronary artery diseases were ruled out, and all patients underwent LGE derived by cardiac MR (CMR). Five cases of LVAA were pathological confirmed. Atrial and ventricular diameters, apical aneurysm diameters and left ventricular ejection fraction were measured, and apical aneurysm LGE was evaluated. All patients were then followed up. Comparisons in continuous parameters between patients with or without LGE were performed by independent t test. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard rate for adverse cardiovascular events. Results LGE was identified in 21 LVAAs and non-LGE in 9 LVAAs. Between two groups, there was no significant difference in the size of LVAA [(16.4 ± 11.5) mm vs. (20.3 ± 9.8) mm, P=0.63]. In particular, the complete transition from non-LGE to LGE LVAA was recorded during follow-up in one patient. Pathological findings confirmed that LGE indicated fibrous tissue in LVAA, and LVAA without LGE indicated viable myocardium. The follow-up suggested that the patterns and the size of LVAA were associated with the adverse events in these patients (LGE of LVAA, HR=7.94, P=0.064; the size of LVAA, HR=1.08, P=0.009). Conclusions LGE-MR had important clinical significance in HCM patients with LVAA. LGE in LVAA corresponded with the fibrous tissue and was associated with the prognosis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between right ventricular (RV) glucose metabolism by18F-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and right heart function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Methods: The18F-FDG PET imaging was performed in 34 consecutive DCM patients, with the reference of Herrero method, the corrected RV standard uptake value (cRVSUV), corrected left ventricular standard uptake value (cLVSUV) and the ratio of RV to LV SUV (cR/L) were obtained. And all 34 patients received cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) examination within 7 days, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and RVEF were automatically calculated with Simpson’s principle. The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure was measured by echocardiography.
Results: The corrected cRVSUV and cR/L by18F-FDG PET were negatively related to RVEF by cMRI, (r=-0.513, P<0.01) and (r=-0.463,P<0.01) respectively, and meanwhile, the corrected cRVSUV and cR/L were also negatively related to LVEF, (r=-0.387,P<0.01 andr=-0.362,P<0.01) respectively.
Conclusion: Increased RV glucose metabolism closely related to RV dysfunction, the18F-FDG uptake value by PET might be used as an index for assessing the right heart function and prognosis in DCM patients.

Objective To observe the clinical features and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)imaging characteristics in patients with cardiac amyloidosis. Methods A total of 5 patients (4 males and 1 female) with the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (3 were proven by heart transplantation, 2 by endomyocardial biopsy) were evaluated by electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, chest X-ray and CMR with delayed Gadolinium enhancement. Results Echocardiograms were abnormal in all five patients; chest X-ray showed pulmonary hemorrhage ( 3 ), cardiomegaly (5), pleural effusion (3); echocardiogram showed atrial enlargement, left ventricular wall thickening, limited ventricular wall motion, etc. CMR exhibited increased thickness of the left ventricular wall, mild to moderate depression of systolic function ( mean ejection fraction: 32.5% ± 15.0% ) and bilateral atrial enlargement with restriction of diastolic ventricular filling. In all patients, there were widespread enhancement of the thickened myocardium on delayed postcontrast studies. In 4 patients, global subendocardial delayed gadolinium enhancement was found, in papillary muscles, and interventricular septa with" zebra-like" sign in 3 patients. Left ventricular transmural delayed gadolinium enhancement was found in 1 patient. Conclusions CMR shows a characteristic pattern of global subendocardial delayed gadolinium enhancement in cardiac amyloidosis. The findings may be valuable in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis.

We cloned human U6 promoter from pAVU6 + 27 vector into pXSN to transcripe small RNA. Meanwhile, a shRNA targeting GDF-8 was cloned down-stream of the hU6 promoter to construct recombinant vector. Then the packing cell GP-293 was co-transfected the recombinant with pVSV-G to gernarate virus particle. Resistant C2C12 cell pools were screened using G418. Levels of mRNA and protein of GDF-8 were tested by Real-Time PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed using MTT and FACS. The expression of GDF-8 was dramatically decreased by the retrovirus-based system in C2C12 cells. Cells proliferated effectively after integrating the recombinant. The cells in G0/G1 phase decreased by 13.7%, while cells in S phase increased by 14.9%. In conclusion, the retrovirus-based RNAi could be used to stably silence GDF-8. It can be a powerful tool in curing muscle atrophy.
Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation ; genetics ; Humans ; Myoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myostatin ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the quality of life (QOL) of the epilepsy patients and the factors affected the QOL.Methods200 cases were investigated using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 10 (QOLEI-10) and the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Investigate (WPSI). 200 healthy persons were chosen as normal control group. ResultsThe QOL of the patient group were significantly poor as compared with that of normal control group(P<0.01). The factors that the patients always faced with were disability in the attack control, short in money, unemployment, restriction of movement, disability in intercommunication, psychological disorder (depress, strain, anxiety, dread, shame feel, cognitional dysfunction, etc.), as well as the difficult to get professional curtains, taking medicine improperly and side effects of the medicine. Conclusions The factors mentioned, which were usually neglected by many doctors, do affect the QOL of epilepsy patients, and hinder the epilepsy treatment effectively.

Objective This study aimed to define research status of age -related hearing loss ,and provide the basis and direction for future research .Methods We have retrieved all relevant literatures on age -related hearing loss from Pubmed ,and conduct an objective analysis of the existing literatures by Bibliometric analytics and co -word analysis method using co -occurrence bibliographic information mining system and SPSS22 .0 software for data analysis .Results There were a large number of articles and journals about presbycusis and age -related hearing loss .Many countries were involved in the research .Literatures and core authors were mainly from developed coun‐tries such as Europe and the United States .The quantity and quality of Chinese literatures were in a leading position in Asia .The researches focused on the common characteristics of patients ,the epidemiology ,characteristics of hear‐ing ,treatment and laboratory studies .There were some new research directions in recent 5 years ,such as factors as‐sociated with the younger ages before developing presbycusis ,standard design and use of questionnaires ,prevention and control .Conclusion Age-related hearing loss will continue to be a hot topic with growing focus on micro and macro development of multi -disciplinary cooperation .The penetration will be the trend for the future research while the prevention will become a new focus of research .

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and expressions of different viral genes on CDC37 level in hepatocytes.

METHODSWe amplified and cloned 6 HBV genes (P, preS1, preS2, S, C and X) into pCMV expression vectors, which were transfected in Huh7 and HepG2 hepatoma cell lines, and CDC37 expression level in the cells was detected using Western blotting. Wealso cloned the promoter sequence of CDC37 into pGL3 vector, and co-transfected pGL3 with pCMV recombinant plasmids into Huh7 and HepG2 cells and the fluorescent signals were detected. To study the influence of HBV replication on CDC37 expression, we constructed 1.28-copy overlength genomes of HBV genotypes B, C, D and CD recombinant. The overlength HBV genomes were transformed into Adeasier-1 cells for recombination and into 293 cells for packaging. Huh7 and HepG2 cell lines infected with the packaged HBV recombinant adenoviruses were examined for CDC37 expression with Western blotting.

RESULTSWestern blotting showed that the expression of different HBV genes did not obviously affect the protein level of CDC37 in the hepatocytes. The protein expression of HBV genes had no effect on the activity of CDC37 promoter. Huh7 and HepG2 cells infected with 1.28-copy HBV replicon showed no significant changes in the expression level of CDC37.

CONCLUSIONHBV replication and its gene expression have no effect on the level of CDC37 in hepatocytes in vitro.

Adenoviridae ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Chaperonins ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genetic Vectors ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatocytes ; virology ; Humans ; Transfection ; Virus Replication