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.

OBJECTIVETo 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).

METHODSA 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.

RESULTSThe 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).

CONCLUSIONSTransthoracic 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.

Aorta ; Aortic Valve ; abnormalities ; Aortic Valve Stenosis ; Echocardiography ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

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】 To compare the histological characteristics of porcine pancreatic elastase （PPE） induced abdominal aortic aneurysms （AAA） and angiotensin Ⅱ （AngⅡ） induced AAA in mice. 【Methods】 In the PPE group， the mouse abdominal aorta segment from the infrarenal abdominal aorta to the iliac artery was isolated and its branch arteries were ligated to avoid leakage during PPE perfusion. We perfused the isolated aorta segment with a PPE solution at a concentration of 1.5 U/mL for 5 min and then closed the abdominal cavity. The diameter of the abdominal aorta was measured before and 14 days after the surgery， and the perfusion segment of the arteries was collected at day 14 after the surgery. The histological characteristics of the aneurysm were analyzed and graded by histological and immunohistochemical methods. In the AngⅡ group， ten apolipoprotein E knockout mice were prepared， and AngⅡ [1 000 ng/(kg·min)] was infused with osmotic pumps for 28 days. The aorta was separated and the aneurysm aorta segment was analyzed. The wild type mice were used as normal health controls. 【Results】 In the PPE group， the diameter of the PPE perfused aorta segments increased and was significantly larger than the basal diameter ［（0.52±0.02） mm vs. （1.23±0.11） mm］ at day 14 after surgery. All the ten mice developed AAA after PPE application. The histological results showed typical pathological features of AAA in PPE perfused mice， such as elastic fiber breakage， smooth muscle exhaustion， and increased inflammation. Six of the ten mice developed aneurysms after AngⅡ infusion （6/10）. The aneurysms/dilatations were mostly in the suprarenal abdominal aorta， but also in the thoracic aorta and aortic arch. The histology analysis showed that the formation of arterial dissection was common after AngⅡ infusion， and the typical vascular “false lumen” was found. The breakage of elastic fibers， the exhaustion of smooth muscle damage， and the inflammatory response were not as typical as the PPE model in AngⅡ perfused animals. 【Conclusion】 The histological characteristics of PPE induced AAA are very typical and well present the inflammatory process in the development of aneurysm. The AngⅡ model is suitable for the study of aneurysms combined with aortic dissection. Both models have their own advantages and can complement each other.