Objective To evaluate correlations between left atrial(LA) and left ventricular(LV) function in patients with hypertension by acoustic quantification(AQ) technique. Methods Forty-eight hypertensive patients and twenty control subjects were studied. Patients with hypertension were divided into two groups by left ventricular mass index(LVMI),normal LVMI group(32 cases) and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) group(16 cases). Left atrial ejection fraction(LAEF),atrial emptying volume(AE),conduit volume(CV) and reservoir volume(RV) were measured with AQ technique. Results RV and AE significantly increased in normal LVMI subgroup and LVH subgroup;CV and LAEF respectively decreased or increased in LVH subgroup. LA booster pump function positively correlated to onset atrial emptying volume and RV,negatively correlate to CV and LV diastolic function. LA conduit function positively correlated to LV diastolic function,negatively correlated to LAEF and AE,RV as well as onset atrial emptying volume. LA reservoir function positively correlated to onset atrial emptying volume and LAEF,negatively correlated to CV. There was no significant correlation between LA reservoir function and LV diastolic function. Conclusions LV diastolic dysfunction induces decreased LA conduit function and increased reservoir function,which may facilitate early diastolic filling of the left ventricle. The changes of LA conduit function and reservoir function may increase of LA preload. Enhancement of LA preload and LA systole makes increased LA booster pump function,which facilitate late diastolic filling of left ventricle.

0.05). Conclusions E 3/3 and the prevalence of ? 3 allele were significantly higher in Shandong elderly population.

Objective To observe the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract(GSPE) plus atorvastatin treatment on matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-9) in experimental atherosclerosis rabbits and to explore its mechanism. Methods Thirty male New Zealand rabbits were randomized into five groups. The normal control group were fed with standard diet for 24 weeks. And the other groups were fed with standard diet containing 1 % cholesterol for 12 weeks. In the sequential 12 weeks, the model control group was fed with standard diet. The GSPE group was fed with standard diet containing 1% grape seed proanthocyanidin(GSP). The atorvastatin group was fed with standard diet containing atorvastatin(2. 5 mg · kg~(-1) · d~(-1)). The GSPE plus atorvastatin group was fed with standard diet containing 1% GSP and atorvastatin (2. 5 mg~(-1) · kg~(-1) · d~(-1)). Blood samples were drawn from ear middle arteries of rabbits just before the experiment and at the 12th and the 24th weekend of the experiment. All the rabbits were fasted for at least eight hours before the blood was drawn. The blood samples were analyzed for the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). All the rabbits were sacrificed at the 24th weekend, and the expression of MMP-9 was observed in the thoracic aortic tissue using immunohistochemistry technique. Results The serum level and aorta expression of MMP-9 were increased in model group compared to control group (all P< 0. 05). The severity of atherosclerosis was less in three drug groups than that in model control group. The GSPE,atorvastatin and GSPE plus atorvastatin groups versus model group showed less atherosclerotic lession, the decreased expression of aorta MMP-9 and the decreased serum level of MMP-9 C(1. 06±0. 21), ( 1. 07 ±0.20), (0.81 + 0.16) vs. (1. 32±0. 24)ng/ml,all P<0. 05]. The effect in the GSPE and atorvastatin group was most obvious. Conclusions GSPE plus atorvastatin group has the most efficacy of anti-atherogenesis, which is associated with its reducing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase.

Objective To summarize the clinical and imaging characteristics of primary Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD)in central nervous system in order to understand well its features and improve the diagnosis.Methods The clinical and imaging features in 3 patients with RDD in CNS proved by pathology were retrospectively analyzed in combination with the related literatures.Results The lesions in 2 patients occurred in brain and other lesion in 1 occurred outside the brain.Iso-or slight hyperintensity on T1 WI and marked enhancement of the lesion were found.Single lesion was found in 2 patients near the dura mater and located near the superior sagittal sinus or cervical spinal cord.Multiple lesions in 1 patient were located in the lateral ventricle.Conclusion It’s suggested that single or multiple lesions in dural or spinal meninges located in the midline or near the intracephalic venous system would be considered as RDD in CNS.

Serum zinc, copper, calcium, cobalt, magnesium, cadmium, nickel, chromium and titanium of 60 normal controls and 45 hypertensive patients were measured by spectraspan-V emission spectrometer.The results showed that the serum levels of titanium, zinc, calcium and cobalt in hypertensive patients were significantly lower, however the magnesium and cadmium were higher than that of the normal controls. The serum levels of chromium, copper and nickel between these two groups were not significantly different. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.3213, p

Objective To investigate the effect of hypertension on the large artery elasticity index (C1),the small artery elasticity index (C2) and the medial structure of the ascending aorta as well as the relationship between artery elasticity and the medial structure of the ascending aorta.Methods Sixty patients with CHD receiving coronary artery bypass graft surgery at our hospital were divided into two groups:30 patients in the hypertension group and 30 patients in the non-hypertension group.C1 and C2 were measured using the CVProfilor DO-2020 system.Sections of tissues taken from the anterior wall of the ascending aorta during the surgery were subjected to Masson's trichrome staining for the detection of vascular smooth muscle and collagen fibers and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin staining for the detection of elastic fibers.The relative areas of vascular smooth muscle fibers,collagen fibers and elastic fibers of the ascending aorta were measured by a computer image analysis system under the light microscope.The linear correlations of C1 and C2 with the medial structure of the ascending aorta were analyzed.Results C1 in the non hypertension group was higher than that in thehypertensiongroup[11.9±1.8 (ml/mmHg×10) w 13.1±2.5 (ml/mmHg×10),t 2.22,P ＜0.05].In the media of the ascending aorta,the relative content of collagen fibers was higher,while the relative content of elastic fibers was lower in the hypertension group than in the non-hypertension group [(46.0±3.8)％ w (42.2±3.0)％,(17.5±3.5)％ vs.(19.3 2.7)％,respectively,t=4.24 and 2.20,P＜0.01 or 0.05].C1 was positively correlated with the relative content of elastic fibers but negatively correlated with the relative content of collagen fibers in both groups (r=0.52 and 0.39,respectively,P＜0.05 or 0.01).Conclusions The main pathogenic basis of hypertension-induced decline in arterial elasticity in CHD patients is increased collagen fibers and reduced elastic fibers with disorganization of the two types of components.C1 may accurately reflect the effect of hypertension on medial collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the ascending aorta.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of statin on carotid plaque stability in elderly patients assessed by K trans (the combination of E and F) of dynamic contrast material enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (DCE MR) imaging.Methods 37 elderly patients with carotid artery of low echo or mixed echo plaque in carotid artery patches were screened by B type ultrasound.According to the standard of 2011 ESC/EAS guidelines,all patients were divided into two groups:normal level of LDL-C group achieving LDL-C target and high level of LDL C group not achieving target of LDLC.Plaque area and size of lipid-rich necrotic core were measured by 3.0T enhancement magnetic resonance,and K trans was measured by DCE-MR dynamic contrast material enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.and serum hs-C-reactive protein level was detected within 1 week.Results Plaque area,size of lipid-rich necrotic core,ratio of lipoid core over plaque area,K trans and serum level of hs-CRP were less in normal LDL-C level group than in high LDL-C level group [(2.06±0.45) mm2 vs.(3.63±0.62) mm2,(0.52±0.05) mm2 vs.(1.49±0.01) mm2,2 cases (11.8％) vs.14 cases (70.0％),(0.041±0.009) min1 vs.(0.079±0.011) min-1,(1.60±0.27) mmol/L vs.(2.80 ± 0.34),all P＜0.05].Linear regression analysis revealed that there was no significant correlations of K trans with the size of lipid necrotic core (r=0.19,P＞0.05) and hs-CRP (r=0.23,P＞0.05).Conclusions Dynamic contrast material enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a quantitative method assaying atheromatous plaque components; K trans may be a new indicator to measure the stability of plaques; Statin can stabilize plaques through inhibiting the proliferation of Vasa vasorum in plaque angiogenesis,anti-inflammatory and reducing the size of lipidrich necrotic core.

0.05) during the experiment. The TC of middle dose GSPE group was marked ly different compared with that of normal group(P

AIM: Recently,it is widely accepted that atherosclerosis(AS) is an auto-immune related disease and the oxidized-low density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) is the most important AS-related antigen.In order to prevent immune injuries in AS and find new strategies to prevent AS,the immune tolerance of T cells to ox-LDL in vitro was induced in this study.METHODS: Human monocytes were separated from peripheral blood to induce dendritic cells(DCs).DCs were treated with LPS(30 ?g/L),ox-LDL(10 mg/L) and LDL(10 mg/L) for 48 h.Then DCs were mixed with allogenic T lymphocytes to carry out mixed lymphocytes reaction(MLR).CTLA4Ig in different concentrations was added in the MLR of ox-LDL group.MTT method was used to assay the proliferation of T cells and expressed in stimulation index(IS).The CD25 expression and apoptosis of T cells in MLR were tested by flow cytometry.The excretion of IL-2,IFN-? and IL-4 was assayed by ELISpot method.RESULTS: SI in ox-LDL group was higher than that in LDL group significantly(P

Objective To analyze the protein expression changes of retina in diabetic mice using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) approach and to study proteins of apoptosis.Methods 8 diabetic mice were chosen as the diabetic model group (DM group),8diabetic mice as the normal control group.The animals were housed in wire-bottomed cages and received normal pellet chow and tap water in a constant environment.After 10 weeks,all mice were killed,and their retina were dissected.After hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining,the sections of retina were examined using light microscopy.The changes of protein expression in retina were studied using iTRAQ approach.Expression of apoptosis associated proteins was analyzed using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA).Results Compared with control group,mice retina in DM group developed looser structures,tissue edema and obvious telangiectasia under light microscopy.Using iTRAQ approach,a total of 348 differential proteins were identified.Among those proteins,16 proteins were related with apoptosis,including Ataxin-10,Protein NDRG1,mucin-4,Aquaporin-1 and annexin A4,etc.There were 8 apoptosis-related proteins in retina with up-regulation,and the other 8 proteins with down-regulation in the DM group.The relationship between these proteins were analyzed and charted by IPA.Conclusions Apoptosis may be involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy.The identification of the apoptosis-related proteins will be helpful for the further study.