Objective To evaluate the systolic and diastolic function in hypertrophic segments by myocardial strain rate imaging in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Methods Ten patients with HCM in the mid segment of the ventricular septum and 20 age-matched healthy controls were included.The myocardial strain rate (SR) curves in bas,mid and apical segments were respectively acquired on the left ventricular septum longitudinal axis position for all the participants,and the SR curves of endocardial,mid-myocardial,epicardial layers in mid segment were also acquired.The SR values including the peak systolic SR,the peak early-diastolic SR,the peak late-diastolic SR were respectively measured,the left ventricular eject fraction (EF) and the Doppler transmitral filling velocities (E and A values) were also measured.Results SR values measured from the hypertrophic segments were significantly lower than those from the corresponding segments of the septum in control group (P

Objective To evaluate left atrial (LA) function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3D) and speckle tracking imaging (STI) after circumferential ablation of pulmonay vein ostia for atrial fibrillation guided by carto mapping system. Methods Thirty patients who had ablation procedure for paroxysmal atrial fibillation were accepted echocardiography to estimate the LA function at pre-operation,3 days and 3 months of post-operation. The LA maximal, minimal and pre-systolic volume (LAVmax, LAVmin and LAVp), LA passive ejection fraction (LAPEF), LA active ejection fraction (LAAEF) were measured by RT-3DE respectively. The strain rate curve was acquired in each LA segment (anterior, posterior, lateral, inferior and septal) by STI. Systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate(SRa) of each left atrial segments were measured. Results Comparing with preoperative,3 days post-ablation SRs,SRe and SRa decreased significantly in each wall of LA. After 3 months,SRa and SRe in anterior, inferior and septal were significantly improved, however, SRs showed no significant difference. LAVmax and LAVpre were significantly decreased. LAPEF and LAAEF were significantly improved. Conclusions The patients with circumferential pulmonary vein ablation were in a deterioration after three days. The pump function and conduit functions of left atrial were increased after 3 months.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of rAAV2-SERCA2a gene targeted to myocardium by the ultrasound mediated microbubbles in rats with myocardial infarction(MI) using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods Thirty-five male SD rats were divided into Sham group, MI group and gene therapy group. rAAV2-SERCA2a was attached to the surface of SonoVue, sulphur hexafluoride-filled microbubbles. Therapy group animals were infused with those mixed fluids through tail vein. The other two groups were infused with SonoVue microbubbles. These bubbles were infused with simultaneous echocardiography. Four weeks after ultrasound microbubbles destructed,Circumferential strain rate(SRcir), radial strain rate(SRrad) and left ventricular torsion (LVtor) of regional myocardium were measured in short-axis view using speckle tracking imaging software for each animal. Results Compared with the M1 group,there were significant increase in SRcir-S,SRcir-E, SRrad-S,SRrad-E and LVtor in rats of gene therapy group( P ＜0. 01 ). There was no significant difference between gene therapy group and sham group. Conclusions rAAV2-SERCA2a gene targeted to myocardium by the ultrasound mediated microbubbles could enhance cardiac function of rats with MI.

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasonography in evaluating the femoral artery thrombosis in rabbit. Methods Thrombosis was induced by external application with 10% ferric chloride and transient femoral artery-occlusion with bulldog clamp in twenty New-Zealand rabbits. The thrombosis was monitored by both Doppler flowmeter and ultrasonography. The histopathological result was used as the golden standard. The consistency of the above two results with the golden standard was analyzed. Results Thirty-two femoral arteries thrombosis were produced successfully. There was high consistency between the results of ultrasonic evaluation and histopathological examination (Kappa = 0. 720, P ＜ 0. 001 ), and moderate consistency between the results of Doppler flowmeter evaluation and histopathological examination (Kappa = 0. 546, P ＜0. 001 ). Within the thirty-two femoral arteries thrombosis, there were nineteen arteries with occlusive thrombus examined by histopathological means. Both the results of Doppler flowmeter and ultrasonography were highly consistent with the results of histopathological examination (Kappa = 0. 800 and 0.798 respectively, P ＜ 0. 001 ). Conclusions There is high consistency between the results of ultrasonic evaluation and histopathological examination for the common femoral artery thrombosis in rabbit.In the non-occlusive thrombus diagnosing,ultrasonography is better than Doppler flowmeter.

Objective To measure the parameters of mitral valve leaflets and mitral annulus in patientswithmildmitralregurgitation( MR )byreal timethree-dimensionaltransesophagealechocardiography (RT-3D-TEE),and explored the mechanism of MR.MethodsFifty-seven MR subjects were selected and twenty-eight subjects without mitral regurgitation were served as control group,all subjects were examined by RT-3D-TEE and acquired image,mitral valve quantification (MVQ) software was used for post-processing.Mitral annulus parameters (H/DAIPm,E2D,θAv-Mv,mitral annulus θnpa) and mitral valve leaflets parameters(A3DE,L2DAIPm,VA1-3tentVp1-3tentVtentHtentθnpa ) at the end of systolic were measured.The results of two groups were compared,and the most affected parameters to mild mitralregurgitation were selected.Results Compared with control group,VA3tent was decreased,mitral annulus θnpa and L2DAIPm increased,and the mitral valve leaflets θnpa was independently correlation factor of mild mitral regurgitation.ConclusionsThe mitral annulus geometry to flat in subjects with mild MR,the mitral valve local area is increased in subjects with mild MR,the mitral valve leaflets θnpa is independently correlation factor of mild mitral regurgitation.

Objective To study the best titer of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) delivered to myocardium by targeted ultrasound microbubbles. Methods Twenty one adult SD rats were divided into seven groups. SonoVue attached with different titer [1.5 × 109~ 3.0 × 1011 vg/ml (virus genome/ml)] of rAAV2-EGFP was infused into the tail vein of rats, following ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction,as experiment groups. Normal saline was infused into the tail vein of rats as the control group (without rAAV2). Rats were killed after 14 days and hearts were harvested. GFP protein expression which showed rAAV2 transfer was observed under fluorescence microscope in frozen section and integrate optical density(IOD) was measured by Image Pro Plus software. Results When the titer of rAAV2 was 1.5 × 1011 vg/ml infused into the tail vein of rats there was much more GFP expression in myocardium than lower titers (P <0.01). Conclusions The best titer of rAAV2 delivered to myocardium by targeted ultrasound microbubbles is 1.5 × 1011 vg/ml in the tail vein infusion of rats.

Objective To evaluate the relationship among segmental dyssynchrony indexes, reginal ejection frction(EF) and global EF of left ventricle(LV) in the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Standard deviation(SD) and maximal difference (Dif) in the time to minimal systolic volume in user-selected LV segments (Tmsv SeI-SD, Tmsv SeI-DIF) of LV global EF (LV-EF), reginal ejection fraction (REF) were acquired by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in 27 controls and 24 DCM dyssynehrony patients. Data were grouped separately for 3 levels of the basal, mid and apical segments. Results The values of Tmsv SeI-SD and Tmsv SeI-DIF were linearly negatively correlated with REF in mid segment of DCM (r =-0.6921,-0.6384, P<0.01). It existed exclusive linear regression between Tmsv Sel-SD,Tmsv SeI-DIF and LV-EF only in mid segment's dyssynchrony indexes among three segments(β= -0.7836, -0.7801, P<0.01). Each REF in three segments was linear regression relationship with LV-EF(β= 0.2234,0.7506,0.1880, P <0.05) especially in mid segment. Conclusions The Tmsv SeI-SD, Tmsv SeI-DIF and REF of mid segment are important factors to influence left ventricular function in the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the content of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in myocardium in different period of myocardial infarction and left ventricular function.Methods Twenty three Chinese miniature pigs were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group.The swines in experimental group were prepared as acute myocardial infarction model by ligating anterior descending coronary artery and were randomly divided into 6 subgroups according to the different time points after infarction.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were measured respectively.Global circumferential strain (GCS) and global radial strain (GRS) of left ventricle were measured.The content of SDF-1 were also measured by real-time quantitative PCR.Results Compared with the control group,SDF-1 levels were significantly elevated,and LVEF,LVFS,GCS and GRS were reduced.However,LVDd were significantly increased.The content of SDF-1 and GCS has a negative correlation (r =-0.580,P =0.000).Conclusions The content of SDF-1 in myocardial tissue have a certain relationship with GCS of left ventricular myocardium.

BACKGROUND:Stromal cel-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is one of the most powerful chemokines in myocardial infarction region and plays a particularly pivotal role in the homing of stem cels to an injured myocardium and promoting angiogenesis. On the other hand the microbubble and acoustics active substances carrying targetable ligands can be prepared into targeted ultrasound contrast agents that can be combined with living cels used for molecular imaging. The key of ultrasonic molecular imaging is to find imaging targets, and to successfuly prepare targeted ultrasound contrast agent which can be combined with the imaging target specificaly and efficiently. OBJECTIVE:To prepare and evaluate targeted microbubble contrast agents with SDF-1 monoclonal antibody. METHODS:Targeted microbubble contrast agent with SDF-1 monoclonal antibody was prepared using the biotin-streptavidin method. The physiochemical properties of targeted microbubble contrast agent were evaluated by appearance, pH, particle diameter, optical and fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry test. Four minipigs underwent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery to complete the establishment of acute myocardial infarction model, and another two minipigs were subject to thoracotomy but no ligation of the coronary artery. Then, al animals were injected with microbubble contrast agents. The stability of microbubbles was assessed by immunofluorescence testin vivo. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:SDF-1 and microbubbles were combined by biotin-streptavidin method.In vitro appearance of the contrast agent was translucent yelow or green, and stratified after standing. pH vaule was 7.02±0.12 for non-targeted contrast agent and 6.10±0.19 for targeted microbubble contrast agent. Under the fluorescence microscope, the distribution and size of targeted microbubbles were uniform, and the microbubbles were surrounded by bright and ring shaped green fluorescence that had no changes after highly shaking. The diameter of microbubbles was (2 422.62±238.82) nm after carrying the SDF-1 antibody. Flow cytometry results showed that the carrying rate of targeted contrast agents was stable in different periods.In vivo test showed that targeted microbubbles gathered in vascular endothelial cel surface after acute myocardial infarction. These findings indicate that the targeted microbubble contrast agent carrying SDF-1 monoclonal antibody prepared by biotin-streptavidin method can be combined with vascular endothelial cels, and the binding rate is high and stablein vitro.

Objective To detect the expressions of HuR and COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma,and investigate the correlation of HuR and COX-2 expression. In addition, we attempt to seek the pathway to prevent the occurrence and development of epithelial ovarian cancer by combined analysis of various clinicopathologic characteristics. Methods The expressions of HuR and COX-2 in 68 epithelial ovarian carcinoma, 10 borderline ovarian tumors and 5 normal ovarian tissues were examined by S-P immunohistochemical method. The relationship of HuR and COX-2 expressions with clinicopathologic parameterwere evaluated by correlation analysis. Results(1) The expression of HuR in epithelial ovarian cancer tissue (76. 47% ,52/68) was significantly higher than that in borderline epithelial ovarian tumor tissues (30. 00% ,3/10) and normal ovarian tissues (0, x2 = 18. 873, Ps ＜ 0. 05), but there were no significant differences betweenthe expressions of HuR in borderline epithelial ovarian tumor and normal ovarian tissue(P ＞ 0. 05).(2) The positive expression rate of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor were 45.60% (31/68) and 10. 00% (1/10) respectively,but normal ovarian tissues showed no staining of HuR. We found no significant differences between the expression of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor or normal ovarian tissue(x2 = 7. 999 ,P =0. 018).(3) The positive expression rate of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma of FIGO stage Ⅲ - Ⅳ was significantly higher than that of stage Ⅰ - Ⅱ(56. 09% vs. 29. 63%, x2 = 4. 598, P = 0. 032). The positive expression rates of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma of histological grade 1,2,3 were 10. 00%,46. 67% ,57. 14% respectively, which showed significant difference in the comparison among the three groups (x2 =6. 627 ,P =0. 036). (4) The positive expression rates of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer (67. 64%)and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor tissues (60. 00%) were significantly higher than that in normal ovarian tissues (0, Ps ＜ 0. 05), but we found no significant difference in the comparison between the expression of malignant and borderline ovarian tumors. Statistical analysis showed that the positive expression rate of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma was correlated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. (5)There was a significantly positive correlation between cytoplasmic HuR and COX-2 expressions in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Conclusion The expressions of HuR and COX-2 increased in the epithelial ovarian carcinoma, and the cytoplasmic expression of HuR was significantly correlated with the expression of COX-2. These results suggested that increased cytoplasmic expression of HuR and COX-2 expression might play important roles in the initiation and development of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.