Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA) in the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with mild septal hypertrophy.Methods:Forty-five HOCM patients with mild septal hypertrophy (the maximal left ventricular wall thickness is 15-19 mm) who were treated with PIMSRA between November 2016 to February 2021 in the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center of Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University were enrolled, and their clinical datas were collected and analyzed. The clinical symptoms and NYHA functional class before operation, 6 months and 1 year after operation were collected. Interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient, left ventricular outflow tract diameter, mitral regurgitation, left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography before operation, 6 months and 1 year after operation, intraoperative complications were monitored and recorded. Postoperative arrhythmias were monitored by routine 12 lead ECG and 24-hour ambulatory ECG.Results:All patients successfully completed PIMSRA procedure.No clinical adverse events such as death, bleeding and stroke occurred during and around the operation.No left bundle branch block, complete atrioventricular block and malignant arrhythmia occurred after the operation. All patients did not need permanent pacemaker implantation.NYHA functional class and clinical symptoms of patients were significantly improved after 6 months compared with values before operation (all P<0.001, respectively), it remained stable for 1 year after operation; Anterior interventricular septum, posterior interventricular septum, maximal left ventricular wall thickness all significantly decreased (all P<0.001, respectively), left ventricular outflow tract diameter widened ( P<0.001), continuous improvement 1 year after operation; left ventricular outflow tract gradient and provoked left ventricular outflow tract gradient all significantly decreased, mitral regurgitation decreased and SAM classification reduced after 6 months compared with values before operation (all P<0.001, respectively); left ventricular end-diastolic diameter widened and left atrial diameter decreased (all P<0.001, respectively), it remained stable for 1 year after operation. Left atrial volume index decreased ( P<0.001), with continuous improvement 1 year after operation; The ratio of early diastolic mitral valve velocity to early diastolic mitral annulus velocity (E/e′) decreased ( P=0.001), it remained stable for 1 year after operation. There were no significant differences in left ventricular end diastolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume and left ventricular ejection fraction among the three groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:PIMSRA is effective in the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with mild ventricular septal hypertrophy.

Objective:To investigate the effect of percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA) guided by echocardiography on the Lown classification of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).Methods:A total of 85 patients with HOCM who received PIMSRA treatment at Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from May 2017 to October 2019 were retrospectively selected. All patients underwent 24-hour Holter examinations before and 1 year after PIMSRA to obtain parameters related to Lown classification. The changes in Lown grades after PIMSRA were analyzed. The patients were divided into improved group and unimproved group according to whether there was significant improvement in Lowen′s grades, and the difference of the parameters related were compared. The influencing factors of the changes in Lown classification were analyzed.Results:Compared with before PIMSRA, there was a significant improvement in the Lown classification after PIMSRA ( P=0.001). The patients with Lown grade Ⅰ increased significantly ( P=0.001), and the patients with grade Ⅲ decreased significantly ( P=0.005). There were no significant changes in patients with Lown grades 0, Ⅱ, and Ⅳ (all P>0.05). The proportion of patients with family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the baseline Lown classes, the reduction rate of the maximum left ventricular wall thickness and the reduction rate of the provocative left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) were higher in the improved group than the unimproved group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression results showed that HCM family history ( OR=3.95, 95% CI=1.34-11.64, P=0.013), baseline Lown classes ( OR=2.01, 95% CI=1.25-3.22, P=0.004) and the reduction rate of the provocative LVOTG gradient ( OR=1.02, 95% CI=1.00-1.04, P=0.041) were independent factors of postoperative Lown classification improvement. Conclusions:The Lown classes of HOCM patients after PIMSRA is significantly improved.HCM family history, the baseline Lown classes, and the reduction rate of postoperative provocative LVOTG are independent influencing factors for the improvement of Lown grade.

Objective: To observe the association between clinical phenotypes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients and a rare calcium channel and regulatory gene variation (Ca²⁺ gene variation) and to compare clinical phenotypes of HCM patients with Ca²⁺ gene variation, a single sarcomere gene variation and without gene variation and to explore the influence of rare Ca²⁺ gene variation on the clinical phenotypes of HCM. Methods: Eight hundred forty-two non-related adult HCM patients diagnosed for the first time in Xijing Hospital from 2013 to 2019 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent exon analyses of 96 hereditary cardiac disease-related genes. Patients with diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, post alcohol septal ablation or septal myectomy, and patients who carried sarcomere gene variation of uncertain significance or carried>1 sarcomere gene variation or carried>1 Ca²⁺ gene variation, with HCM pseudophenotype or carrier of ion channel gene variations other than Ca²⁺ based on the genetic test results were excluded. Patients were divided into gene negative group (no sarcomere or Ca²⁺ gene variants), sarcomere gene variation group (only 1 sarcomere gene variant) and Ca²⁺ gene variant group (only 1 Ca²⁺ gene variant). Baseline data, echocardiography and electrocardiogram data were collected for analysis. Results: A total of 346 patients were enrolled, including 170 patients without gene variation (gene negative group), 154 patients with a single sarcomere gene variation (sarcomere gene variation group) and 22 patients with a single rare Ca²⁺ gene variation (Ca²⁺ gene variation group). Compared with gene negative group, patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had higher blood pressure and higher percentage of family history of HCM and sudden cardiac death (P<0.05); echocardiographic results showed that patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had thicker ventricular septum ((23.5±5.8) mm vs. (22.3±5.7) mm, P<0.05); electrocardiographic results showed that patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had prolonged QT interval ((416.6±23.1) ms vs. (400.6±47.2) ms, P<0.05) and higher RV5+SV1 ((4.51±2.26) mv vs. (3.50±1.65) mv, P<0.05). Compared with sarcomere gene variation group, patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had later onset age and higher blood pressure (P<0.05); echocardiographic results showed that there was no significant difference in ventricular septal thickness between two groups; patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had lower percentage of left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient>30 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, 22.8% vs. 48.1%, P<0.05) and the lower early diastolic peak velocity of the mitral valve inflow/early diastolic peak velocity of the mitral valve annulus (E/e') ratio ((13.0±2.5) vs. (15.9±4.2), P<0.05); patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had prolonged QT interval ((416.6±23.1) ms vs. (399.0±43.0) ms, P<0.05) and lower percentage of ST segment depression (9.1% vs. 40.3%, P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with gene negative group, the clinical phenotype of HCM is more severe in patients with rare Ca²⁺ gene variation; compared with patients with sarcomere gene variation, the clinical phenotype of HCM is milder in patients with rare Ca²⁺ gene variation.
Humans ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/genetics* ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Phenotype ; Sarcomeres/genetics* ; Adult

A BBB co-culture cell model consisting of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) and astrocytes (AS) was established to study the effect of Angelica dahurica coumarins on the transport behavior of puerarin across blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro and in vivo. The barrier function of this model was evaluated by measuring the transendothelial resistance, phenol red permeability and BBB related protein expression. The permeability assay and western blot methods were performed to study the effects of Angelica dahurica coumarins on the BBB permeability and the expression of BBB related protein. The animal experiment protocols in this study were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Xi'an Jiaotong University (Animal Ethics No.: 2021-1329). The results showed that the established BMEC/AS co-culture model could be used to evaluate drug transport across BBB in vitro. After combined with Angelica dahurica coumarins, the transport capacity of puerarin was significantly increased in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, Angelica dahurica coumarins enhanced BBB permeability and inhibited the protein expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin. Angelica dahurica coumarins might increase BBB permeability by inhibiting the expression of P-gp and tight junction protein, thereby increasing the content of puerarin in brain tissue.

Objective: To investigate the representability and etiological diagnostic value of myocardium samples obtained from patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial septal biopsy (myocardial biopsy of Liwen procedure). Methods: This study was a retrospective case-series analysis. Patients with HCM, who underwent myocardial biopsy of Liwen procedure and radiofrequency ablation in Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University from July to December 2019, were included. Demographic data (age, sex), echocardiographic data and complications were collected through electronic medical record system. The histological and echocardiographic features, pathological characteristics of the biopsied myocardium of the patients were analyzed. Results: A total of 21 patients (aged (51.2±14.5) years and 13 males (61.9%)) were enrolled. The thickness of ventricular septum was (23.3±4.5)mm and the left ventricular outflow tract gradient was (78.8±42.6)mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Eight patients (38.1%) were complicated with hypertension, 1 patient (4.8%) had diabetes, and 2 patients (9.5%) had atrial fibrillation. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of myocardial samples of HCM patients before radiofrequency ablation evidenced myocytes hypertrophy, myocytes disarray, nuclear hyperchromatism, hypertrophy, atypia, coronary microvessel abnormalities, adipocyte infiltration, inflammatory cell infiltration, cytoplasmic vacuoles, lipofuscin deposition. Interstitial fibrosis and replacement fibrosis were detected in Masson stained biopsy samples. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of myocardial samples of HCM patients after radiofrequency ablation showed significantly reduced myocytes, cracked nuclear in myocytes, coagulative necrosis, border disappearance and nuclear fragmentation. Quantitative analysis of myocardial specimens of HCM patients before radiofrequency ablation showed that there were 9 cases (42.9%) with mild myocardial hypertrophy and 12 cases (57.1%) with severe myocardial hypertrophy. Mild, moderate and severe fibrosis were 5 (23.8%), 9 (42.9%) and 7 (33.3%), respectively. Six cases (28.6%) had myocytes disarray. There were 11 cases (52.4%) of coronary microvessel abnormalities, 4 cases (19.0%) of adipocyte infiltration, 2 cases (9.5%) of inflammatory cell infiltration,6 cases (28.5%) of cytoplasmic vacuole, 16 cases (76.2%) of lipofuscin deposition. The diameter of cardiac myocytes was (25.2±2.8)μm, and the percentage of collagen fiber area was 5.2%(3.0%, 14.6%). One patient had severe replacement fibrosis in the myocardium, with a fibrotic area of 67.0%. The rest of the patients had interstitial fibrosis. The myocardial specimens of 13 patients were examined by transmission electron microscopy. All showed increased myofibrils, and 9 cases had disorder of myofibrils. All patients had irregular shape of myocardial nucleus, partial depression, mild mitochondrial swelling, fracture and reduction of mitochondrial crest, and local aggregation of myofibrillary interfascicles. One patient had hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, but the arrangement of muscle fibers was roughly normal. There were vacuoles in the cytoplasm, and Periodic acid-Schiff staining was positive. Transmission electron microscopy showed large range of glycogen deposition in the cytoplasm, with occasional double membrane surround, which was highly indicative of glycogen storage disease. No deposition of glycolipid substance in lysozyme was observed under transmission electron microscope in all myocardial specimens, which could basically eliminate Fabry disease. No apple green substance was found under polarized light after Congo red staining, which could basically exclude cardiac amyloidosis. Conclusion: Myocardium biopsied samples obtained by Liwen procedure of HCM patients are representative and helpful for the etiological diagnosis of HCM.
Biopsy/adverse effects* ; Cardiomegaly/pathology* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/diagnosis* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Fibrosis ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Hematoxylin ; Humans ; Lipofuscin ; Male ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To quantitatively evaluate myocardial microcirculation perfusion changes after percutaneous intracardiac septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA, Liwen procedure) in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) using myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) and to further establish the effect of the procedure and predict the long-term prognosis of patients.Methods:A total of 45 patients with HOCM treated by the Liwen procedure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University (Xijing Hospital) from July 2019 to June 2020 were included. MCE was performed before and 6 months after surgery, respectively. Time-intensity perfusion curve analysis was performed using QLab 10.8 offline software to obtain quantitative parameters of myocardial microcirculation perfusion including myocardial blood volume (A value), myocardial blood flow velocity (β value), and myocardial blood flow (A×β value), then the changes in parameters before and after the procedure were compared.Results:After the Liwen procedure, the mean septal thickness and mean left ventricular free wall thickness were significantly reduced, accompanied by a significant reduction in the left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOT-PG) and mitral regurgitation length, and a significant improvement in mitral systolic antegrade motion (SAM) (all P<0.001). In addition, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) did not deteriorate significantly ( P=0.560) and the E/e′ ratio decreased after the procedure ( P=0.015). Besides, the A values of both the ventricular septum and the left ventricular free wall were not significantly changed compared to those before procedure ( P>0.05), whereas the β values and A×β values were obviously increased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Myocardial blood velocity and myocardial blood flow in the septum and left ventricular free wall were significantly increased in patients with HOCM after the Liwen procedure, suggesting a significant improvement in myocardial microcirculation perfusion. MCE provides a non-invasive quantitative evaluation parameters of myocardial microcirculation perfusion for the Liwen procedure for the treatment of HOCM.

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F.prausnitzii) is the most abundant intestinal microorganisms in the intestine of healthy adults and has been considered as a biological indicator of human health. In recent years, many studies have shown that F. prausnitzii abundance is reduced in different intestinal diseases. Further more, scholars found F.prausnitzii plays an important role in intestinal mucosal barrier protection and inflammation suppression in intestinal diseases. Therefore, it has been proposed that the abundance of F. prausnitzii may serve as a biomarker to assist in gut diseases diagnostics, providing a new idea for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of intestinal diseases. This article reviews the research progress of F.prausnitziiin in intestinal diseases.

To explore the resource of endophytic actinomycete in Fritillaria unibracteata, and alleviate the shortage of F. unibracteata resource, using F. unibracteata as experimental materials which growth in the western Sichuan plateau and cut its healthy bulb. Pure culture, insert, TLC and Oxford cup were applied to observe the mycelial morphology, research the ability of producing alkaloid and its antibacterial activity. Totally, 14 endophytic actinomycete strains were isolated by using Gao culture media. Based on the color reaction, 5 typical strains were selected for producing alkaloid. Through the TLC technique, all strains produced 2 obvious alkaloids spots. Antibacterial activity determination showed that the antimicrobial effects of 2 strains is prominent, the diameter up to 11 mm.16S rRNA gene sequence comparison analysis showed that 5 strains belonging to the Streptomyces. The alkaloids produced by endophytic actinomycetes are not related to F. unibracteata, but its fermentation liquid has antibacterial effect, it is worthy of further study.

Objective:To investigate the expression of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in human mesangial cells (HMCs).Methods:The HMCs were cultured.The subcellular location of IgA was detected by immunofluorescence staining;the transcripts of Ig α,Ig κ and Ig λ constant region were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and further analyzed by DNA sequencing.The expressions of Igαt and Ig λ were detected at transcription level by Western blot after the cytoplasmic protein extraction.The culture supernatant was collected to explore whether IgA could be secreted out of the cell and the protein was further analyzed by mass spectrometry after being purified by affinity chromatography with jacalin-sepharose.The results of DNA sequencing and mass spectrometry were aligned with the mRNA and amino acid sequences in the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) data-base.Results:By immunofluorescence staining,we detected the presence of IgA heavy chain Ig α,light chain,both Ig κ and Ig λ in expressions of transcripts of Ig α1,Ig α2,Ig κ and Ig λ in the HMCs and the alignment of the sequences of the RT-PCR products with those of the Ig Cα1,Ig Cα2,Ig κ and Ig λ mRNA in the NCBI database exhibited that the similarities were 99％,97％,98％ and 97％,respectively.Western blot showed Ig α and Ig λ expressions in the cell lysate and secretion of Ig α1 and Ig α2 heavy chains in cell culture supernatant.To further explore the protein that secreted into the supernatant,after supernatant affinity chromatography with jacalin-sepharose,the proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfonate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the band approximating to 65 000 was cut and sent to mass spectrometry.The results were aligned with the amino acid sequences of Ig α1 and Ig α2 constant region in NCBI database,showing that amino acids between No.52 and No.104,amino acids between No.154 and No.221,amino acids between No.276 and No.327 from Ig Cα1 and amino acids between No.52 and No.113,amino acids between No.151 and No.204,amino acids between No.251 and No.314 from Ig Cα2 were the same with those derived from B cells.Conclusion:Our findings suggested that HMCs could synthesize and secret IgA.