Objective To assess the left ventricular systolic function (LVSF) in patients with implanted dual-chamber(DDD) mode cardiac pacemakers using Two-dimensional Echocardiography (2DE),Real-time Tri-plane Echocardiography (RT-3PE)and Full-volume Three Dimensional Echocardiography (FV-3DE).Methods A total of 30 patients with DDD mode cardiac pacemaker were ex-amined by 2DE, RT-3PE and FV-3DE separately.Left ventricle end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricle end systolic volume (LVESV), and ejection fraction (EF) were measured and compared within the three methods above .Results The measurement of EF with patients of post-operation was higher than the patients of pre-operation.The measurements of EF with 2DE were higher than RT-3PE.The measurements of LVEDV , LVESV and SV with 2DE and RT-3PE were lower than FV-3DE, and EF was higher .There were statistically significant differences in above measurements ( P <0.05 ) .But there were no statistically significant differences in measurements of LVEDV and LVESV between 2DE and RT-3DE ( P >0.05).Conclusions Implanting DDD mode cardiac pace-maker can evaluate LVSF of patients obviously .FV-3DE can evaluate LVSF in patients with DDD mode cardiac pacemaker accurately . The LVEDV, LVESV and SV are underestimated by 2DE and RT-3PE, and EF is overestimated by 2DE and RT-3PE.

This study evaluated the application of quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) in assessing regional myocardial systolic and diastolic functions in dogs with acute subendocardial ischemia. Animal models of subendocardial ischemia were established by injecting microspheres (about 300 microm in diameter) into the proximal end of left circumflex coronary artery in 11 hybrid dogs through cannulation. Before and after embolization, two-dimensional echocardiography, QTVI and real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) via intravenous infusion of self-made microbubbles, were performed, respectively. The systolic segmental wall thickening and subendocardial myocardial longitudinal velocities of risk segments before and after embolization were compared by using paired t analysis. The regional myocardial video intensity versus contrast time could be fitted to an exponential function: y=A.(1-exp(-beta.t)), in which the product of A and beta provides a measure of myocardial blood flow. RT-MCE showed that subendocardial normalized A.beta was decreased markedly from 0.99+/-0.19 to 0.35+/-0.11 (P<0.05) in 28 left ventricular (LV) myocardial segments after embolization, including 6 basal and 9 middle segments of lateral wall (LW), 8 middle segments of posterior wall (PW) and 5 middle segments of inferior wall (IW). However, there was no statistically significant difference in subepicardial layer before and after embolization. Accordingly, the ratio of A.beta of subendocardial myocardium to subepicardial myocardium in these segments was significantly decreased from 1.10+/-0.10 to 0.31+/-0.07 (P<0.05). Although the systolic wall thickening did not change 5 min after the embolization in these ischemic segments (29%+/-3% vs 31%+/-5%, P>0.05), the longitudinal peak systolic velocities (Vs) and early-diastolic peak velocities (Ve) recorded by QTVI were declined significantly (P<0.05). Moreover, the subendocardial velocity curves during isovolumic relaxation predominantly showed positive waves, whereas they mainly showed negative waves before the embolization. This study demonstrates that QTVI can more sensitively and accurately detect abnormal regional myocardial function and post-systolic systole caused by acute subendocardial ischemia.
Contrast Media ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Endocardium/physiopathology ; Microbubbles ; Myocardial Contraction/physiology ; Myocardial Ischemia/etiology ; Myocardial Ischemia/*physiopathology ; Myocardial Ischemia/*ultrasonography ; Myocardium/pathology ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

The physiological reconstruction of bone is strictly dependent on bone resorption. Bone resorption is believed to be a complicated molecular reaction process that occurs in the microcircumstance of bone tissue. A lot of enzymes and factors take part in this process, yet there are not enough data with reference to the activation of osteoclast, resorption of bone matrix, regulation of bone resorption. In this paper we review the importance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in transfer of osteoclast and degradation of bone matrix, and the function of receptor activator of NF-kappaB-ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in regulation of bone resorption.
Bone Resorption ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; metabolism ; Osteoclasts ; physiology ; Osteoprotegerin ; physiology ; RANK Ligand ; physiology

This study evaluated the application of quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) in assessing regional myocardial systolic and diastolic functions in dogs with acute subendocardial ischemia. Animal models of subendocardial ischemia were established by injecting microspheres (about 300 μm in diameter) into the proximal end of left circumflex coronary artery in 11 hybrid dogs through cannulation. Before and after embolization, two-dimensional echocardiography, QTVI and real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) via intravenous infusion of self-made microbubbles, were performed, respectively. The systolic segmental wall thickening and subendocardial myocardial longitudinal velocities of risk segments before and after embolization were compared by using paired t analysis. The regional myocardial video intensity versus contrast time could be fitted to an exponential function: y=A-(1-exp-β-t), in which the product of A and β provides a measure of myocardial blood flow. RT-MCE showed that subendocardial normalized A.β was decreased markedly from 0.99±0.19 to 0.35±0.11 (P<0.05) in 28 left ventricular (LV) myocardial segments after embolization, including 6 basal and 9 middle segments of lateral wall (LW), 8 middle segments of posterior wall (PW) and 5 middle segments of inferior wall (IW). However, there was no statistically significant difference in subepicardial layer before and after embolization. Accordingly, the ratio of A.β of subendocardial myocardium to subepicardial myocardium in these segments was significantly decreased from 1.10±0.10 to 0.31±0.07 (P<0.05). Although the systolic wall thickening did not change 5 min after the embolization in these ischemic segments (29%+_3% vs 31%±5%, P>0.05), the longitudinal peak systolic velocities (Vs) and early-diastolic peak velocities (Ve) recorded by QTVI were declined significantly (P<0.05). Moreover, the subendocardial velocity curves during isovolumic relaxation predominantly showed positive waves, whereas they mainly showed negative waves before the embolization. This study demonstrates that QTVI can more sensitively and accurately detect abnormal regional myocardial function and post-systolic systole causedby acute subendocardial ischemia.

Objective:To investigate the effect of early selective reduction of twin pregnancies or spontaneous reduction on the improvement of clinical outcome in IVF-ET treatment.Methods:The clinical data of 6535 cycles(6535 cases)of single or twin pregnancy obtained from fresh and frozen-thawed embryo transfer(FET)of IVF or ICSI-ET in the Department of Reproductive Medicine,Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen Univer-sity from November 2011 to December2021 were analyzed retrospectively,The propensity score matching(PSM)method(1∶4)was used to include the study subjects.The surgical reduction group and the spontaneous single-ton group were included in 128 cycles and 510 cycles,respectively.The spontaneous reduction group and the ini-tial singleton group were included in 511 cycles and 2038 cycles,respectively.The pregnancy outcomes of each groups were compared.Results:After PSM,the number of transferred embryos in the surgical and spontaneous reduction group was higher than that in the initial singleton group.The gestational week of delivery was earlier than that of the initial singleton group,and the birth weight of the newborn was lower than that in the initial single-ton group.The rate of premature delivery and low birth weight was higher than that in the initial singleton group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The incidence of pregnancy complications(postpartum hemorrhage,gestational diabetes,hypertensive disorders of pregnancy)and the rate of cesarean section were not significantly different(P＞0.05).The abortion rate and neonatal birth defect rate were missing after adjusting the PSM model.According to the calculation before adjustment,the early abortion rate of the surgical reduction group and the spontaneous reduction group were significantly lower than that in the initial singleton group(P＜0.05),and the late abortion rate of the spontaneous reduction group was lower than that in the initial singleton group,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the neonatal birth defect rate between the surgical/spontaneous reduction group and the initial singleton group(P＞0.05).Conclusions:Patients with multiple pregnancies caused by assisted reproductive technology(ART)may have a relatively poor prognosis in the perinatal period even if the effect of early pregnancy reduction surgery or spontaneous reduction is limited.Reducing the number of embryos transferred cannot completely reverse the pregnancy outcome.Limiting the number of embryos transferred is the fundamental solution to the adverse outcomes of ART assisted pregnancy.

Objective : To explore the effects of the nerve growth factor neutralizing antibody ( anti⁃NGF) and γ⁃secretase inhibitor 3,5⁃difluorophenylacetyl⁃L⁃alanyl⁃S⁃ph ⁃enylglycine⁃t⁃butyl ester (DAPT) on the nuclear expression of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR ) in esophageal cancer Eca109 cells and on cell proliferation and invasion. Methods : Immunofluorescence cytochemistry was used to detect the expression changes of p75NTR and Ki6 in Eca109 cells before and after treatment with the anti⁃NGF and γ⁃secretase inhibitor DAPT; CCK⁃8 kit and Transwell cell invasion experiment were used to detect the changes of cell proliferation and invasion ability before and after treatment of Eca109 cells with the anti⁃NGF and γ⁃secretase inhibitor DAPT alone or in combination. Results: Immunofluorescence cytochemistry showed that after treatment of cells with the anti⁃NGF and γ⁃secretase inhibitor DAPT, the number of cells expressing p75NTR in the nucleus decreased, and after the combined treatment of cells with the anti⁃NGF and γ⁃secretase inhibitor DAPT, the number of cells expressing p75NTR in the nucleus was the least, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05); CCK⁃8 method and Transwell cell invasion experiment showed that after treatment of cells with the anti⁃NGF and γ⁃secretase inhibitor DAPT, cell proliferation and invasion ability were correspondingly weaker than those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion The anti⁃NGF and γ⁃secretase inhibitor DAPT not only inhibit the nuclear transfer of p75NTR , but also reduce the nuclear expression rate of p75NTR and weaken the cell proliferation and invasion ability accordingly.