Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) global and regional systolic function using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).Methods Thirty patients with PH and 27 controls were studied.RT-3DE images were acquired on a Philipa iE33 system with an X3-1 probe,then analyzed with a new software(TomTec) to determine RV global and regional (inflow, body, outflow) end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF).The difference of RT-3DE parameters between the two groups,as well as the correlation between RT-3DE and routine echoeardiography parameters was analyzed.Results In patients with PH ,RV global and regional EDV and ESV were significantly higher than those in normal controls (all P ＜0.05); RV global and regional EF were significantly lower than those in normal controls (all P ＜0.05).In the PH group, RV inflow EDV,SV and EF were higher than that of RV body and outflow part (P ＜ 0.05) ;RV global EF was lower than that of RV inflow part and higher than that of RV body and outflow part.In the PH group, RV global and inflow EF correlated with pulmonary artery systolic pressure negatively (r = - 0.611, P ＜0.001 and r = - 0.576, P = 0.001 ,respectively) ,and with the ratio of peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation over outflow time-velocity integral negatively (r = -0.772, P = 0.002and r = -0.721, P ＜0.001, respectively)Conclusions RV global and regional volume was enlarged and systolic function was impaired in patients with pulmonary hypertension.RV global and regional systolic function was changed in liner relationship with RV after-load.

Objective: To study the mechanism of chitosan i n inhibiting the proliferation of rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells(SMCs). Methods: By means of c-myc probe labelled with random primers and Northern blot hybridization, we examined the effect of chitosan on vascu lar SMC c- myc mRNA expression, which was stimulated by newborn bull serum (NB S,20%). Results: The oncogene c-myc mRNA expression incerased in cultured vascular SMC 24 h after NBS exposure. These effects were inhibite d by chitosan (20 μg/ml). Conclusion: Chitosan might inhibit the expression of vascular SMC c-myc mRNA stimulated by NBS, through which the proliferation of vascular SMC are inhibited.

Objective The aim of this study was to generate human cholesteryl ester transfer protein ( CETP) transgenic rabbits and analyze their biological properties.Methods We generated human CETP transgenic rabbits by DNA microinjection, and detected the expression of human CETP by real-time PCR and Western blot assay.The activity of CETP was measured using an activity assay kit.Results Human CETP transgenic rabbits were successfully generated by DNA microinjection.Compared with wide type rabbits, the expression of human CETP was dramatically increased in the liver of the human CETP transgenic rabbits.The plasma CETP activity was also much higher in the liver of human CETP transgenic rabbits than that of control rabbits.Conclusions The model of human CETP transgenic rabbits is successfully established by DNA microinjection.It will provide a useful tool for the studies of CETP biological function and its involvement in the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) global and regional volume and systolic function in patients with secondum atrial septal defect (ASD) using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE),and to explore the relationship between parameters derived from RT3DE and parameters measured by conventional echocardiography.Methods RT3DE images were acquired from 22 patients with secundum ASD and 22 normal controls for evaluation and analysis to obtain RV global and regional end-diastolic volume (EDV),end systolic volume (ESV),systolic volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) in three compartments (inflow,body and outflow).RV dyssynehrony parameters were calculated as the standard deviation (SD) and maximum difference (dif) of time to minimum systolic volume (Tmsv) and Tmsv corrected by heart rate (Tmsv％) in three RV compartments.Conventional echocardiographic parameters including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP),pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRe) and maximum diameter of ASD (ASD-D) were calculated and recorded.Results RV global and regional EDV,ESV and SV were larger (all P ＜0.001) and EF was lower (all P ＜0.05) in the ASD group than in the controls.RV regional volume and systolic function were changed to various degrees in different compartment in the patients group.There were no significant differences in Tmsv,Tmsv％ and RV dyssynchrony parameters between the two groups.In patients with ASD,RV global and regional EDV,ESV and SV in the inflow compartment were positively correlated with ASD-D and PASP (r =0.463-0.704,all P ＜ 0.05) ; RV global EF was negatively correlated with PVRe (r =-0.477,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions In patients with ASD,RV global and regional volume was enlarged and systolic function was impaired with distinct characteristics; RV global volume and regional volume in the inflow compartment were positively correlated with RV pre-load while RV global EF was negatively correlated with RV afterload.

Objective To investigate the role of the activated rhuPAa-melittin in ovarian cancer cells and to study the inhibitory effect of rhuPAa-melittinon on ovarian cancer cells. Methods rhuPAa-melittin was used to treat the ovarian cancer cells at different concentrations for 48 hrs. Then flow cytometery was applied to detect the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. rhuPAa-melittin protein was delivered to the mouse mode to investigate the effect of rhuPAa-melittin on the growth of the xenotransplanted tumor. Results rhuPAa-melittin was used to treat ovarian cancer cells at the concentration of 0 ,4 ,8 and 16 μg/mL for 48 hrs ,respectively. The results of cell apoptosis assay was 1.16%,3.83%,6.51% and 10.2%,respectively. Moreover,different concentrations of rhuPAa-melittin had no effects on the cells at G0/G1 phase,rhuPAa-melittin inhibited S phase cells to process into G2/M phase, contributing to suppressing the growth of ovarian cancer cells. Conclusion The in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that rhuPAa-melittin inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer.

Objective RhuPAa-melittin protein with high-purity was analyzed to investigate its biologic effect on normal and ovarian cancer cells.Methods Preliminary purified rhuPAa-melittin was added in medium normal cells and SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells cultured for 48 hours,and then were measured at 490 nm wavelength absorbance to measure the number of living cells and evalu-ate the inhibitory effect of rhuPAa-melittin on cultured cells.Results The inhibitory rate of rhuPAa-melittin at 4 μg/mL was 66.59% in SKOV3 cancer cell progression.At a concentration of 16 μg/mL, rhuPAa-melittin killed all cancer cells (P <0.05).In normal adult fibrous cells,the inhibitory rate of rhuPAa-melittin at 4 μg /mL was only 7.3%,and 12.3% inhibition rate was obtained by using rhu-PAa-melittin (8 μg/mL).Moreover,inhibition rate topped at 22.0% when used rhuPAa-melittin at 16 μg/mL.Conclusion RhuPAa-melittin has a strong anti-tumor effect on SKOV3 cancer cells.

Objective RhuPAa-melittin protein with high-purity was analyzed to investigate its biologic effect on normal and ovarian cancer cells.Methods Preliminary purified rhuPAa-melittin was added in medium normal cells and SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells cultured for 48 hours,and then were measured at 490 nm wavelength absorbance to measure the number of living cells and evalu-ate the inhibitory effect of rhuPAa-melittin on cultured cells.Results The inhibitory rate of rhuPAa-melittin at 4 μg/mL was 66.59% in SKOV3 cancer cell progression.At a concentration of 16 μg/mL, rhuPAa-melittin killed all cancer cells (P <0.05).In normal adult fibrous cells,the inhibitory rate of rhuPAa-melittin at 4 μg /mL was only 7.3%,and 12.3% inhibition rate was obtained by using rhu-PAa-melittin (8 μg/mL).Moreover,inhibition rate topped at 22.0% when used rhuPAa-melittin at 16 μg/mL.Conclusion RhuPAa-melittin has a strong anti-tumor effect on SKOV3 cancer cells.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of echocardiography in identifying aortic valve structures and determine the prevalence of bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) in severe aortic stenosis (AS) population to provide useful information for transcatheteraortic valve replacement (TAVR).Methods A total of 300 AS patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement were included to determine the accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography in indentifying BAV from January 2009 to July 2013.The echocardiographic data of our hospital from 2004 to 2012 was retrospectively reviewed.1 371 patients with isolated severe native aortic valves stenosis were consecutively enrolled.Results The aortic valve structures could be defined by transthoracic echocardiography in 75.7％ (227/300) patients with severe AS.With BAV diagnosis during operation as gold standard,the accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography in identifying BAV was 89.4％ (203/227).Among 1 371 patients with severe AS,the percentage of BAV in patients aged ＜ 40 years,aged 40-59 years,aged 60-69 years,aged 70-79 years and aged ≥ 80 years was 60.0％ (57/95),57.5％ (262/456),42.7％ (184/431),43.2％ (133/308) and 21.0％ (17/81),respectively.Incidence of BAV in patients with degenerative calcific valve was significant higher than in those with rheumatic heart disease (44.3％ (552/1 246) vs.4.0％ (3/76),P ＜ 0.01).Proportion of combined aortic regurgitation≥ grade 2 was significantly lower,ascending aortic diameter was larger and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was smaller in BAV patients compared to severe AS patients with tricuspid valves (all P ＜ 0.01),while aortic valve annuals diameter and accompanying cardiovascular diseases between BAV and tricuspid aortic valve groups were similar (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Transthoracic echocardiography could accurately identify aortic valve structures in about 76％ patients.BAV is common in severe AS patients across all ages.These results provide important information for the popularization of TVAR.

Objective To study the correlation between aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR) and heart rate variability (HRV),QT interval in patients with essential hypertension.Methods A total of 179 people were divided into two groups according to median number of ARR,and 24 h Holter,24 h ambulatory blood pressure,ECG,serum potassium,serum sodium were monitored,then HRV and QT interval index were compared between the two groups.Results There were significant differences between the two groups in SDNN,SDNN index,SDANN index,RMSSD,QTc,blood potassium,sodium (P ＜ 0.05),while gender,age,diabetes,smoking,BMI,average heart rate,heart rate standard deviation showed no significant difference.At the same time,correction factors showed that ARR was still negatively correlated with SDNN,SDNN Index,SDANN Index,RMSSD,serum potassium (r =-0.444,-0.677,-0.381,-0.623,-0.432,P ＜ 0.05),andwaspositivelycorrelated with QTc,serum sodium (r =0.391,0.379,P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SDNN,SDNN Index,SDANN Index were the independent factors related to ARR (P ＜0.05).Conclusion High aldosterone is closely related to heart rate variability reduction.

Objective To study the correlation between aldosterone/renin ratio (ARR) and heart rate variability (HRV),QT interval in patients with essential hypertension.Methods A total of 179 people were divided into two groups according to median number of ARR,and 24 h Holter,24 h ambulatory blood pressure,ECG,serum potassium,serum sodium were monitored,then HRV and QT interval index were compared between the two groups.Results There were significant differences between the two groups in SDNN,SDNN index,SDANN index,RMSSD,QTc,blood potassium,sodium (P ＜ 0.05),while gender,age,diabetes,smoking,BMI,average heart rate,heart rate standard deviation showed no significant difference.At the same time,correction factors showed that ARR was still negatively correlated with SDNN,SDNN Index,SDANN Index,RMSSD,serum potassium (r =-0.444,-0.677,-0.381,-0.623,-0.432,P ＜ 0.05),andwaspositivelycorrelated with QTc,serum sodium (r =0.391,0.379,P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that SDNN,SDNN Index,SDANN Index were the independent factors related to ARR (P ＜0.05).Conclusion High aldosterone is closely related to heart rate variability reduction.