Aortic Valve ; pathology ; Calcinosis ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; pathology ; Heart Valve Diseases ; pathology ; Humans

The present residents training for ultrasound departments depends mostly on poorlyscheduled rotation and clinical clerkship,with repeated and obsolete subjects in their training.The authors identified these setbacks and such characteristics as complication of ultrasound medicine,complex and variable ultrasonic scan technique,and the high threshold for beginners.In view of this,the authors adopted the tutorial system training mode for cultivating the residents in their medical care,teaching,research and foreign language competencies.A questionnaire survey of 44 residents so trained evaluated outcomes of the mode,with constructive suggestions raised on expansion of the training base,improvement of teachers’competency and reduction of trainees' workload.

ObjectiveTo investigate the state of rehabilitation professionals in knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods60 rehabilitation professionals had received a 3-hour education delivered by four pulmonary rehabilitation experts. The trainees were assessed by Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire (BCKQ) after the course.ResultsThe score of BCKQ was from 42 to 80 while the average score was (60.00±9.33).ConclusionThe rehabilitation professionals' knowledge about COPD was poor.

OBJECTIVETo assess the regulating effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on gene expression of cartilage specificity gene Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in the human intervertebral discs.

METHODSRT-PCR were used to investigate the effects of IL-1 on gene expression of Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in intervertebral discs cells cultures of embryo.

RESULTSThe Sox9 and type II collagen mRNA in intervertebral discs were decreased progressively along with the addition concentrations of IL-1 than the controls. And the mRNA of Sox9 and type II collagen also markedly decreased with the time of culture.

CONCLUSIONSIL-1 could cause dose-dependent and time-dependent inhibition effects on Sox9 and type II collagen gene expression in human intervertebral discs.

Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type II ; genetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; High Mobility Group Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; Time Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

Aged, 80 and over ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prosthesis Failure

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for the determination of salvianolic acid B and paeoniflorin in Shuangdan granules.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax SB C18 column with a linear gradient elution of phosphoric acid-water (0.05:100) and phosphoric acid-acetonitrile-methanol (0.05:4:96) was used. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1) and column temperature was set at 25 degrees C. The UV detection wavelength was set at 230 nm.

RESULTThe linear ranger was of 0.710-22.7 microg for salvianolic acid B and 0.103-3.30 microg for paeoniflorin. Three batches of Shuangdan granules were analyzed, and the content of salvianolic acid B ranged from 6.46-11.6 mg x g(-1) and paeoniflorin ranged from 1.44-1.78 mg x g(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, reproducible, reliable, and could be used for quantitative control of Shuangdan granules.

Benzoates ; analysis ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Chemical constituents from the acetone extract of twigs of Manglietia hookeri were isolated and purified by various column chromatographic methods over silica gel and sephadex LH-20, and preparative TLC. The structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral analysis, including NMR and MS spectra. Six eudesmane sesquiterpenes were obtained and their structures were identified as trans-eudesmane-4, 11-diol(1), β-eudesmol(2), (-) -10-epi-5β-hydroxy-β-eudesmol (3), epi-carrisone (4), 6-hydroxy-eudesm-4(14) -ene(5) and gynurenol(6). All the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Furthermore, the 13C-NMR data of compound 3 were reported for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes, Eudesmane ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To compare the effect of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing on ventricular systolic synchrony using gated blood pool SPECT (GBPS).Methods A total of 50 patients implanted with pacemaker due to high degree or complete atria-ventricular block were enrolled in the study. Twenty-three patients were RVOT paced ( Group A, n = 23) and 27 were RVA paced (Group B, n=27). Twenty-four patients with malignancy, normal echocardiographic findings and no history of cardiac diseases were scheduled for pre-chemotherapy evaluation of cardiac structure and function and were enrolled as control group ( Group C, n = 24). All patients underwent GBPS imaging and the values of phase angle (PS), mean phase of each wall, standard deviation (SD) of mean phase of each wall, lateral-septal motion delay of left ventricle ( LV Sep-Lat Delay), septal-right ventricular (RV) delay of LV ( LV Sep-RV Delay) and LV-RV Delay were acquired. The parameters of ventricular systolic synchrony among the three groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results The mean phase of LV lateral wall in Groups A and B were significantly higher than that in Group C: Group A (120.50 ±40.58) ms; Group B (103.23±28.34) ms; Group C (84.63 ±22.38) ms (F=7.72, P ＜0.05). There was no significant difference between Groups A and B ( t = 1.30, P ＞ 0.05 ). The mean phase of RV in Group A was significantly larger than those in Groups B and C: Group A ( 137.05 ± 39.27) ms, Group B ( 100.85 ± 23.79) ms,Group C (59. 13 ±30.52) ms (F=35.55, P＜0.05). PS, SD and LV Sep-Lat Delay in Groups A and B were significantly higher than those in Group C: (85.73 ± 12.00)°vs (89.85 ± 15.61 )°vs (58.95 ±9.87)°, (27.68±10.66) ms vs (26.15 ±13.02) ms vs (15.63 ±8.35) ms, (25.06±34.23) ms vs (2. 62 ± 60. 31 ) ms vs ( - 23.66 ± 31.39) ms, F = 41.54,8.55,6.81, all P ＜ 0.01 ), however, there was no significant difference between Groups A and B ( t = 0. 68, 0.68, 1.30, all P ＞ 0.05 ). LV Sep-RV Delay and LV-RV Delay were significantly different among the three groups ( LV Sep-RV Delay: Group A (57.60 ±56.77) ms, Group B (6.36 ±61.88) ms, Group C ( -41.89 ±35.78) ms; LV-RV Delay:Group A (47.36 ±42.59) ms, Group B ( 3.08 ± 38.81 ) ms Group C ( - 26.50 ± 20.99 ) ms, F = 20. 32,25.38, both P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusion Both RVA and RVOT pacing increase the segmental phases detected by GBPS, causing inter- and intra- ventricular asynchrony compared with patients without pacemakers.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy and summarize the initial experience of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) for treating Chinese patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

METHODSIn May 2012, TMVR using MitraClip system was applied in 3 patients with severe mitral regurgitation. One patient suffered from with mitral valve prolapse and two with functional mitral regurgitation. The efficacy and complications of the procedure were analyzed.

RESULTSTMVR procedure was successful in all 3 cases. NYHA classification improved by 1 grade in 2 patients and 2 grades in one patient. The mean operation time was (105 ± 38) minutes and X-ray exposure time was (10 ± 4) minutes. Mean aortic pressure was increased from (62 ± 18) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (75 ± 14) mm Hg, and mean left atrial pressure was significantly reduced from (15 ± 10) mm Hg to (9 ± 5) mm Hg immediately after the deployment of MitraClip. Three days after the procedure, left ventricular diastolic dimension decreased from (63 ± 11) mm to (59 ± 10) mm, left atrial dimension declined from (59 ± 11) mm to (51 ± 8) mm, and NT-ProBNP was reduced from (4292 ± 1137) mmol/L to (1187 ± 489) mmol/L. No complications occurred in all three cases.

CONCLUSIONSOur initial experience showed that TMVR using MitraClip system is safe and effective for patients with severe mitral regurgitation. However, the long term benefit of the procedure should be validated through follow up.

Aged ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the detection rate of myocardial bridge (MB) in coronary angiography and its clinical significance.

METHODThe clinical data of 2 165 cases who had received selective coronary angiography were studied retrospectively.

RESULTSMB was detected in 66 patients (3. 0% ) , among whom 62 were found in left anterior descending artery. Among the 58 cases with isolated myocardial bridge, 24 had no remarkable symptoms, whereas 34 showed clinical symptoms such as angina. The arterial stenosis beneath MB was significantly correlated with clinical symptoms (P < 0. 05 ).

CONCLUSIONThe improvement of the detection rate of MB can effectively decrease misdiagnosis and benefit the treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies