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.

Objective: This systematic review examined whether radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs). Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database were searched for articles that (a) targeted human beings and (b) had a study population with BTNs that were confirmed by fine?needle aspiration cytology and/or core needle biopsy. Study Selection: Thirty?two studies relating to 3409 patients were included in this systematic review. Results: Based on literatures, no deaths were associated with the procedure, serious complications were rare, and RFA appears to be a safe and well?tolerated treatment modality. However, a broad spectrum of complications offers insights into some undesirable complications, such as track needle seeding and Horner syndrome. Conclusions: RFA appears to be a safe and well?tolerated treatment modality for BTNs. More research is needed to characterize the complications of RFA for thyroid nodules.

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

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

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

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.

BACKGROUNDEmerging evidence suggests that stem cells can be used to improve cardiac function in patients after acute myocardial infarction. In this randomized trial, we aimed to use Doppler tissue tracking and strain imaging to assess left ventricular segmental function after intracoronary transfer of autologous bone-marrow stem cells (BMCs) for 6 months' follow up.

METHODSTwenty patients with acute myocardial infarction and anterior descending coronary artery occlusion proven by angiography were [corrected] randomized into intracoronary injection of bone-marrow cell (treated, n = 9) or diluted serum (control, n = 11) groups. GE vivid 7 and Q-analyze software were used to perform echocardiogram in both groups 1 week, 3 months and 6 months after treatment. Three apical views of tissue Doppler imaging were acquired to measure peak systolic displacement (Ds) and peak systolic strain (epsilonpeak) from 12 segments of LV walls. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) were obtained by Simposon's biplane method.

RESULTS(1) 3 months later, Ds and epsilonpeak over the infract-related region clearly increased in the BMCs group [Ds: (4.49 +/- 2.71) mm vs (7.56 +/- 2.95) mm, P < 0.01; epsilonpeak: (-13.40 +/- 6.00)% vs (-17.06 +/- 6.05)%, P < 0.01], but not in the control group [Ds: (4.74 +/- 2.67) mm vs (5.01 +/- 3.23) mm, P > 0.05; epsilonpeak: (-13.84 +/- 6.05)% vs (-15.04 +/- 6.75)%, P > 0.05]. At the same time, Ds over the normal region also increased, but the Ds enhancement was markedly higher in the BMCs group than that in the control group [(3.21 +/- 3.17) mm vs (0.76 +/- 1.94) mm, P < 0.01]. Parameters remained steady from the 3rd to 6th month in either group (P > 0.05). (2) LVEF in treated and control groups were almost the same at baseline (1st week after PCI) [(53.37 +/- 8.92)% vs (53.51 +/- 5.84)%, P > 0.05]. But 6 months later, LVEF in the BMCs group were clearly higher than that in the control group [(59.33 +/- 12.91)% vs (50.30 +/- 8.30)%, P < 0.05]. (3) There were no evident difference in EDV or ESV between two groups at baseline [EDV: (113.74 +/- 23.24) ml vs (129.94 +/- 32.72) ml, P > 0.05; ESV: (57.12 +/- 18.66) ml vs (62.09 +/- 17.68) ml, P > 0.05]. Three months later, EDV and ESV in the control group were markedly greater than those in the BMCs group [EDV: (154.89 +/- 46.34) ml vs (104.85 +/- 33.21) ml, P < 0.05; ESV: (82.91 +/- 35.79) ml vs (49.54 +/- 23.32) ml, P < 0.05]. But EDV and ESV did not change much from 3rd to 6th month in either group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEmergency transplantation of autologous BMCs in patients with acute myocardial infarction helps to improve global and regional contractility and attenuate post-infarction left ventricular remodeling. Tissue tracking and strain imaging provide quick, simple and noninvasive methods for quantifying left ventricular segmental function in humans.

Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Ventricular Remodeling