Objective:To explore the influence of depression on heart rate variability(HRV) and short term prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods:120 AMI patients were evaluated with Zung's self-rating depression scale within 24 hours after admission.The patients were divided into depressive group(45 cases) and non-depressive group(75 cases) according to depressive index.Post-infarction angina pectoris,reinfarction,heart failure and ventricular fibrillation as well as cardiac death were observed during 4 weeks.HRV analysis with 24-hour holter of survivals was perfomed in 1 week after infarction.Results:The prevalence of post-infarction angina pectoris,ventricular fibrillation and cardiac death in depressive group was remarkably elevated compared with non-depressive group(40.0% vs 22.7%,20.0% vs 6.7%,17.8% vs 4.0%,respectively. P

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor 121 may be an optimal target gene for thetreatment of acute myocardial infarction.OBJECTIVE: To investigate effect of direct myocardial injection of adenovirus recombinant human vascular endothelial growthfactor 121 gene (Ad-hVEGF121) on myocardial infracted rat heart structure, function and angiogenesis.METHODS: Totally 78 male SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-surgery (n=18), acute myocardial infarction (n=24),Ad-VEGF121 (n=19) and normal saline (n=17) groups. Among them, left anterior descending coronary arteries of the latter threegroups were ligated to prepare acute myocardial infarction models and rats were randomly selected to receive Ad-hVEGF12 ornormal saline via three points in the cardiac muscle at the 10-15 minutes after ligation. The chest was exposed without ligation inthe sham-surgery group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 2 weeks after injection, cardiac ultrasound showed that, compared with the sham-surgerygroup, the number of new capillaries, body weight and left ventricular mass / body weight of the acute myocardial infarction,Ad-hVEGF121 and normal saline groups were obviously increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), especially those received transfectedrAd-hVEGF12, had higher density of blood capillaries than those of the normal saline and acute myocardial infarction groups.However, there were no obviously differences between each group in infarct size, cardiac structure or functions. The directmyocardial injection of Ad-VEGF121 can significantly promote the formation of new blood vessels within the myocardium.

Objective To determine the cardiac structure and function by transthoracic highfrequency ultrasonography in Wistar rats, and to explore the patterns of age-related changes.Methods Male Wistar rats aged 1, 2, 5, 12, and 20 months (n= 12 each group) underwent transthoracic echocardiographic analysis to examine the parameters of cardiac structure and function.Finally, the rats were sacrificed and the left ventricles were weighed. Results The left atrial dimension (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septum thickness at diastole (IVSD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWd) and left ventricular mass (LVM) increased with age (all P ＜ 0.05 ) . There was a positive relationship between echocardiographic value and the autopsy weight LVM (r=0. 78, P＜0.01). There were no statistical significances in ejection fraction and fractional shortening among groups (all P＞0.05). Isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) prolonged with age (P＜0. 01). After 2 month-old, tissue Doppler imaging Ea gradually decreased with age, Aa tended to increase with age. Ea/Aa ratio was more than 1 value in 1-, 2- and 5-months-old group, and it was less than 1 value in 12-, and 20-month-old group.Multivariate analysis showed that age was the influence factor of LAD, LVEDd and Ea. Conclusions Transthoracic high-frequency ultrasonography can be used to evaluate cardiac structure and function in rats; In aged rats, the wall-thickness, LAD and LVEDd are significantly increased. There is no significant change in systolic function, but diastolic function is decreased.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of the effects of heavy alcohol consumption in a short term and the protection of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker (valsartan) on cardiac function in rats. Methods The 42 male Wistar rats aged 20 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups:control group (group C, n= 10), alcohol group (group A, n=10), low-dose valsartan group (LD group, n= 11) and high-dose valsartan group (HD group, n= 11). They were supplied with same animal feeds, but all of them were administered different dose of alcohol and medicine via intragastric tube: group C was administered water, group A was administered alcohol (6. 4 g/kg), LD group was administered alcohol (6.4 g/kg) and valsartan (15 mg/kg), HD group was administered alcohol (6.4 g/kg) and valsartan (30 mg/kg). And 9 weeks later, the change of cardiac function was observed by echocardiography, the body and heart weight were measured, the hydroxyproline content of rat myocardium was determined by sample alkaline solution. Results After 9 weeks, there were no significant differences among four groups in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), stroke volume (SV) and fraction shortening (FS). But the E peak, Ea/Aa, Ea peak and Aa peak were obviously lower in group A than in groups of C, LD and HD (all P＜0.05), and there were significant differences among C group, LD group and HD group in E peak, Ea/Aa (all P＜0. 05). The HW/BW and hydroxproline (Hyp) contents of myocardium were higher in group A than in groups of C, LD and HD (all P＜0. 01), but there were no statistical significances among group C, LD group and HD group (all P＞0. 05). Conclusions The short term heavy alcohol consumption results in impaired ultrastructure and diastolic function of myocardium in rats, the angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blocker (valsartan) may protect it.

Objective:To investigate the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on both left ventricular myocardial collagen and diastolic function in rats,and their relationship thereof.Methods:Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group(n=12)and ethanol group(n=12).The changes in cardiac diastolic function were evaluated by echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging(TDI).The value of myocardial hydroxyproline content was determined by hydroxyproline reagent kit.The expressions of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ mRNA were detected by RT-PCR analysis.Results:It was found that mitral E and mitral annulus Ea were decreased,mitral annulus Aa was increased,and isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT)was prolonged in the ethanol group compared with those in control group(P＜0.05).The value of Ea/Aa ratio was greater than 1 in control group and less than 1 in ethanol group(P＜0.01).It was found that myocardial hydroxyproline content,collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ mRNA expression and their ratio significantly increased in ethanol group compared with those in the control group(P＜0.01).There was positive correlation between hydroxyproline content,collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ mRNA expression,and collagen Ⅰ /collagen Ⅲ mRNA ratio with IVRT(P＜0.05),and negative correlation between hydroxyproline content,collagen Ⅰ,collagen Ⅲ mRNA expression,and collagen Ⅰ /collagen Ⅲ mRNA ratio with the Ea/Aa ratio(P＜0.01).Conclusion:Chronic ethanol consumption can induce increase in left ventricular myocardial collagen synthesis and impairment in diastolic function in rats.Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction correlates with increase in myocardial collagen synthesis positively.

Background/Aims: Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is characterized by elevated integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and preserved esophageal peristalsis. The clinical significance of EGJOO is uncertain. This study aim to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients and to find out potential parameters to predict patients’ symptom outcome. Methods: Consecutive patients who received high-resolution manometry examination in our hospital in 2013-2019 and met the diagnostic criteria of EGJOO were retrospectively included. Motility and reflux parameters as well as endoscopy and barium esophagogram results were studied and compared. Patients were also followed up to record their treatment methods and symptom outcomes. Results: A total of 138 EGJOO (accounting for 5.2% of total patients taking high-resolution manometry examination in our hospital) patients were included. Only 2.9% of these patients had persistent dysphagia. A total of 81.8% of EGJOO patients had symptom resolution during follow-up. Patients with persistent dysphagia had significantly higher upright IRP (16.6 [10.3, 19.8] vs 7.8 [3.2, 11.5]; P = 0.026) than those without. Upright IRP can effectively distinguished patients with persistent dysphagia (area under curve: 0.826; P = 0.026) using optimal cut-off value of 9.05 mmHg. Conclusion EGJOO patients with persistent dysphagia and higher upright IRP (median > 9.05 mmHg) needs further evaluation and aggressive management.

Background/Aims: Esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) is characterized by elevated integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and preserved esophageal peristalsis. The clinical significance of EGJOO is uncertain. This study aim to describe the clinical characteristics of these patients and to find out potential parameters to predict patients’ symptom outcome. Methods: Consecutive patients who received high-resolution manometry examination in our hospital in 2013-2019 and met the diagnostic criteria of EGJOO were retrospectively included. Motility and reflux parameters as well as endoscopy and barium esophagogram results were studied and compared. Patients were also followed up to record their treatment methods and symptom outcomes. Results: A total of 138 EGJOO (accounting for 5.2% of total patients taking high-resolution manometry examination in our hospital) patients were included. Only 2.9% of these patients had persistent dysphagia. A total of 81.8% of EGJOO patients had symptom resolution during follow-up. Patients with persistent dysphagia had significantly higher upright IRP (16.6 [10.3, 19.8] vs 7.8 [3.2, 11.5]; P = 0.026) than those without. Upright IRP can effectively distinguished patients with persistent dysphagia (area under curve: 0.826; P = 0.026) using optimal cut-off value of 9.05 mmHg. Conclusion EGJOO patients with persistent dysphagia and higher upright IRP (median > 9.05 mmHg) needs further evaluation and aggressive management.