Objective To investigate the preliminary value of mitral annular displacement (MAD) with two-dimensional speckle tracking in evaluating left ventricular systolic function. Methods Forty-nine patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, aged 51±14 years (DCM group), and 43 age-matched (46±14 years) normal subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. Two-dimensional and real-time three-dimensional (RT3D) imaging were obtained all at the apical four-chamber view. The parameters of MAD and RT3D-LVEF were obtained using off-line QLAB software. Results Compared with control group, MAD reduced significantly in DCM group (P＜0.01). The parameters of MAD correlated positively with LVEF (P＜0.01). The intra- and inter-observer variabilities for measurement of MAD were low. When one point was placed at the chest wall, the ratio of long axis shortening correlated best with LVEF among all the data of MAD. Conclusion Based on two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging, MAD is a rapid and reproducible method of determining LV global systolic function, may even replace LVEF in the future.

Objective To explore the clinicopathological characteristics of lupus nephritis (LN) with antinucleosome antibody (AnuA).Methods Data of 481 patients with biopsy-proven LN in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2004 to 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into two groups:AnuA-positive group (76 patients) and AnuA-negative group (405 patients).The clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations,histopathologic classes of LN,disease activity measured by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) of two groups were investigated and compared.Results There were 15 male patients in positive group (15/76,19.74％) with mean age of (27.99±10.88) years and 45 patients in negative group (45/405,11.11％) with mean age of (31.15±12.15) years respectively,which showed that male patients were more common in positive group (P＜0.05).Incidences of oral ulcer,fever,anemia,low complement and positive anti-dsDNA antibody were higher in positive group (P＜0.05).Percentage of diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (class Ⅳ ) and pathological activity index (AI) in positive group were higher compared to negative group (all P＜0.05),while no significant differences of other pathological types,chronic index (CI) and SLEDAI were found between two groups.Conclusion LN patients with positive AnuA have special clinicopathological characteristics and AnuA may be used as a promising biomarker for the proliferative LN.

ObjectiveToexplorethestabilityofratmodelsofsubduralhematomapreparedbysubduralinjection of different volumes of autologous blood .Methods The rats were randomly divided into sham group (36), 300μL blood group, 500 μL blood group, and 700 μL blood group (each group 60 rats).The rats of model groups received subdural injection of 300 μL, 500 μL, or 700 μL autologous blood, respectively.At the postoperative 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 14th days, blood samples were taken from the abnormal aorta , and the brains were taken out for gross examination and taking photographs , six rats were used for each time .Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) was performed to determine the content of serum NSE and S100B proteins in the rats in each group.Results Compared with the sham operation group, the serum NSE in the 300μL group was significantly increased at the 2nd and 4th days (P<0.01), and then gradually reduced at the 6th and 8th days (P<0.05), indicating that the hematoma began to disappear , and at the 10th and 14th days returned to a similar level of the sham operation group (P>0.05).In the 500 μL and 700 μL blood groups, the NSE contents at 2nd, 6th, 8th, 10th and 14th days were significantly increased ( P <0.01 ), but not significantly increased at the 4th day ( P >0.05 ).The content of S100B protein in the 300 μL blood group was significantly higher at the fourth day (P<0.01), lower at the 2nd and 6th days (P<0.05), and at 8th, 10th and 14th days was similar to that in the sham operation group ( P >0.05 for all ) , indicating that the hematoma disappeared gradually, and the damages repaired .The S100B protein content of the 500 μL and 700 μL blood groups was constantly kept at a higher level ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusions Compared with the 300 μL ad 700 μL blood groups , the rat model of subdural hematoma developed by subdural injection of 500 μL autologous blood is the best , and can be used for studies of rat subdural hematoma .