ObjectiveTo investigate the ability of three-dimensional(3D) speckle tracking imaging (STI) for assessing left ventricular (LV) strain,and measure the value and angle of myocardial main strain vector.MethoodsLongitudinal,circumferential and radial strain of LV were measured in 31 healthy adults by 3D-STI and two-dimensional(2D) STI.The main strain vector and the angle between main strain vector and the LV short-axis plane were calculated from longitudinal and circumferential strains.Results The global longitudinal,circumferential strains and strains at basal,middle,apical level of LV by 3D-STI were significantly smaller than those by 2D-STI,whereas radial strain showed an opposite trend.The 3D strains presented significant difference between different levels of LV,longitudinal,circumferential and radial 3D strains were greater at middle level than at basal and apical level of LV,meantime 2D stain didn't show such obvious trend.Calculated from three-dimensional longitudinal and circumferential strain,the main strain vector was greatest at middle level of LV,whereas the angle between main strain vector and LV short axis plane didn't show any significant difference between three levels of LV.Conclusions3D-STI provides us a new and reproducible method for the evaluation of LV regional function by measuring LV strains.

To study reliability and reliable indices of quantitative assessment of right ventricular systolic function by time-intensity curve (TIC) with right ventricular contrast, 5% sonicated human albumin was injected intravenously at a does of 0.08 ml/kg into 10 dogs at baseline status and cardiac insufficiency. Apical four-chamber view was observed for washin and washout of contrast agent from right ventricle. The parameters of TIC were obtained by curve fitting. The differences of parameters were analyzed in different states of cardiac functions. Among the parameters derived from TIC, the time constant (k) was decreased significantly with decline of cardiac function (P<0.001). But half-time of decent of peak intensity (HT) and mean-transit-time (MTT) of washout were increased significantly (P<0.001). The k was strongly related to cardiac output of right ventricle (CO) and ejection fraction (EF) of left ventricle and fractional shortening (FS) of left ventricle. Right ventricular systolic function could be assessed reliably by the parameters derived from TIC with right ventricular contrast echocardiography. The k, HT and MTT are reliable indices for quantitative assessment of right ventricular systolic function.
Blood Flow Velocity/physiology ; Cardiac Output ; Contrast Media ; Echocardiography ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Indicator Dilution Techniques ; Reproducibility of Results ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Right/*physiology

Objective To evaluate left ventricular function in the way of intracavitary vortex by vector flow mapping(VFM),and to demonstrate the formation and variation of the vortex. Methods Twenty-six patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and 44 healthy controls were involved. The velocity distribution imagings on the section plane of the flow in the left ventricle were obtained by VFM, the location of the vortex and its variation in every phase of cardiac cycle were focused,and series parameters were measured,such as the diameter of the vortex (transverse diameter, vertical diameter), number of the vertex. Results relaxation(e) period. Vortices were observed mostly during diastolic period, nearby the anterior leaflet of mitral valve,middle upper 1/3 of left ventricle,and their shapes changed 2 - 3 times. The diameters of the vortex (transverse diameter,vertical diameter) , number of the vertices in one cardiac cycle during 7 phases mostly nearby the cardiac apex, middle lower 2/3 of left ventricle, and their shapes changed 4 - 5 times.Compared with control group,the diameters of the vortex (transverse diameter, vertical diameter) during 7 phases in DCM group were bigger,and number of the vertices were more ( P ＜0.01 ). The diameters of the vortex (transverse diameter, vertical diameter), number of the vertices within DCM group in one cardiac cycle during 7 phases were significantly different ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions VFM can demonstrate the variation of intracavitary vortex. Vortex in DCM group were significantly bigger than those of control group.

Objective To explore the correlation between epicardial adipose tissue(EAT) thickness and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease.Methods According to the results of coronary angiography,84 cases of patients undergone coronary angiography were divided into the normal control group(28 patients),coronary artery disease group with single-vessel lesion (28 patients),coronary artery disease group with multi-vessels lesion(28 patients),respectively,then measured the EAT thickness and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) by high-frequency ultrasound.A correlation analysis was carried out between the EAT and IMT and cardiovascular risk factors.Results In either coronary artery disease group with single-vessel lesion or multi-vessels lesion,the thicknesses of EAT and IMT were significantly higher than those in the normal control group(P ＜0.01),and the difference between group of single-vessel lesion and multi-vessels lesion was also statistically significant (P ＜0.01).A correlation analysis between the EAT and IMT and cardiovascular risk factors showed that there were significantly positive correlations between EAT and the IMT,age,weight,waist circumference,body mass index,low-density lipoprotein,Creactive protein (r = 0.124～0.790,P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01),and the significantly negative correlation between EAT and high-density lipoprotein (r = - 0.203,P ＜ 0.05).Correlation between EAT and the IMT was 0.678,0.713,0.737 in the normal control group,group with single-vessel lesion,group with multivessels lesion,respectively.Conclusions There were favorable correlation between EAT and carotid IMT in cardiovascular risk factors.The more severity of coronary heart disease,the more high correlations of EAT and IMT.EAT can be a valuable index in evaluating coronary artery disease.

Objective To discuss the surgical outcome of fenestration assistant by microscopy for single-level lumbar disc protrusion (LDH), compared with tradition laminotomy and discectomy. Methods From January 2008 to January 2010, forty-eight patients underwent traditional open discectomy and 40 underwent microscopy surgery. The lumbar disc protrusion involved L3- L4 level in 12 cases, L4-L5 level in 46 cases, and L5-S1 level in 30 cases; preoperative JOA score was 8-19 points (average 12.9 points) for traditional open discectomy patients and 7-19 points (average 12.7 points) for microscopy surgery patients. Results Cauda equina injury was occurred and repaired in 2 cases in traditional surgery group. The follow-up period was 10-34 months (average 18 months) for all patients. No complications such as wrong orientation, nerve root injury, and infection occurred. The JOA score 10 months after operation was (24.0 ± 2.6) for traditional surgery patients with 87.5% success rate and (24.2 ± 2.8) for microscopy surgery patients with 90% success rate. Conclusion Two methods have similar clinical outcomes, but microscopy assistant fenestration for LDH has advantages of minimal invasion, shorter operative time, shorter length of hospital stay and less intraoperative blood loss. It is one of ideal minimally invasive operations for single-level lumbar disc protrusion.

Objective · To evaluate the surgical outcome of RPR composite technique for complex hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods · From June 2009 to December 2015, 9 complex HOCM patients received RPR procedure. There were 6 males and 3 females with age from 22 to 63 years old and the average age of (43±19) years old. Transthorax echocardiography (TTE) showed systolic anterior motion (SAM) and at least moderate mitral valve regurgitation (MR) in all patients before operations. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used to evaluate the results of procedures during operation. All the patients had been followed up since one week after operation and examined by TTE. Results · All the patients were discharged without complications. Intraoperative TEE indicated that left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOTPG) significantly decreased from (92±14) mmHg before operation to (9±3) mmHg after operation (P<0.01). SAM in all the patients disappeared. One week after operation, TTE demonstrated remarkable reduction in the thickness of ventricular septum, LVOTPG and MR than those before operation (P<0.01). Mean follow-up was 26 months. All the patients became asymptomatic. LVOTPG remained low and MR remained mild. There were no deaths, reoperations, or any other adverse consequences. Conclusion · RPR technique is an effective surgical method to relieve LVOTO and MR of complex HOCM to lead a better life.

Animals ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Endodeoxyribonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Editing ; methods ; Mice ; Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To determine whether endogenous endothelin(ET) plays a role in the echocardiographic evaluation of the flow-dependent epicardial coronary vasodilation induced by reactive hyperemia(RH) after blockade of nitric oxide(NO) formation. Methods In six anesthetized open-chest dogs, changes in internal diameter of the left anterior descending coronary artery(LAD) induced by RH were investigated via echocardiography before intracoronary infusion of GN-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME), after blockade of NO formation by L-NAME, and after L-NAME plus intracoronary infusion of BQ-123, an ETA receptor blocker.Results Before intracoronary infusion of L-NAME, the diameter of LAD increased significantly from((2.24)?(0.21))mm to ((2.51)?(0.23))mm (P

BACKGROUNDTo construct the Bifidobacterium Infantis/CD tumor targeting gene therapy system.

METHODSPCR expanded CD gene and pGEX-1LambdaT plasmid was transferred into E.Coli. JM109. with TSS solution. Then a dual restriction enzyme (EcoR I and BamH I) digestion was carried out to cut CD gene and pGEX-1LambdaT plasmid. Two segments (4.9 kb and 1.3 kb) were selected and extracted from the gel. T4 DNA Ligase was added to these two segments' mixture. Finally, reconstruction fragment was transferred into Bifidobacterium Infantis by electroporation. The plasmid was extracted from the positive clone selected and testified by an agarose eletrophoresis after enzymed.

RESULTSA positive transferred Bifidobacterium Infantis with 6.2 kb long reconstruction plasmid fragment with CD gene was established which was in accordance with theoretical calculation.

CONCLUSIONSThe Bifidobacterium Infantis/CD tumor targeting gene therapy system could be successfully constructed.

To study reliability and reliable indices of quantitative assessment of right ventricular systolic function by time-intensity curve (TIC) with right ventricular contrast, 5% sonicated human albumin was injected intravenously at a does of 0.08 ml/kg into 10 dogs at baseline status and cardiac insufficiency. Apical four-chamber view was observed for washin and washout of contrast agent from right ventricle. The parameters of TIC were obtained by curve fitting. The differences of parameters were analyzed in different states of cardiac functions. Among the parameters derived from TIC, the time constant (k) was decreased significantly with decline of cardiac function (P<0.001). But half-time of decent of peak intensity (HT) and mean-transit-time (MTT) of washout were increased significantly (P<0.001). The k was strongly related to cardiac output of right ventricle (CO) and ejection fraction (EF) of left ventricle and fractional shortening (FS) of left ventricle. Right ventricular systolic function could be assessed reliably by the parameters derived from TIC with right ventricular contrast echocardiography. The k, HT and MTT are reliable indices for quantitative assessment of right ventricular systolic function.
Animals ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Cardiac Output ; Contrast Media ; Dogs ; Echocardiography ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Indicator Dilution Techniques ; Reproducibility of Results ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Right ; physiology