Objective To investigate the relationship of the classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals with matrix metalloprotei-nase-9 (MMP-9)expression and microvessel density (MVD)in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).Methods Sixty patients with PHC,who underwent surgical resection in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from April 2008 to April 2013, were included in the study.These patients underwent ultrasound examination before operation.The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals in the focus was recorded.The expression of MMP-9 and CD3 1 in carcinoma tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, and MVD was calculated.Continuous data were analyzed by t test,while categorical data by chi-square test;the relationship was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.Results The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals was as follows:grade 0 (15 cases);grade 1 (20 cases);grade 2 (15 cases);grade 3 (10 cases).The positive rate of MMP-9 expression was 72.3%.The MVD was 43.2 ± 5.4.The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals in the focus was positively correlated with MMP-9 expression and MVD (r=0.56,P<0.05).Conclusion The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals can reveal vascular changes in the focus, and it can be used in the clinical evaluation of angiogenesis in tumor tissues and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PHC.

Mitochondrial membrane potential （MMP） is one of the most sensitive indicators of cell damage and one of the potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） intervention in the cardiac function. Cardiovascular diseases， with complex mechanisms of the occurrence and development， often involve the myocardium and other organs and present slow development and high mortality， seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. The TCM treatment of cardiovascular diseases is praised for small side effects， low drug resistance， and holistic treatment and can effectively relieve symptoms and improve prognosis. In recent years， the research on the occurrence mechanism of cardiovascular diseases from mitochondrial function has gained increasing attention. MMP is closely related to the functioning mechanism of mitochondria. Studies have shown that TCM regulates MMP to treat cardiovascular diseases by modulating energy metabolism， improving mitochondrial structure and function， and inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis， thus protecting the heart function， improving the cure rate， and reducing the mortality of patients. This paper systematically reviews the studies about the mechanisms of TCM regulation of MMP in cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis， heart failure， myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury， diabetic cardiomyopathy disease， and pulmonary artery hypertension. Most of Chinese medicine compound prescriptions， Chinese medicinal herbs， effective fraction， and active components can protect mitochondrial function by regulating MMP. However， relevant clinical trials and TCM theoretical studies of MMP remain to be carried out to provide more ideas for TCM treatment of cardiovascular diseases.