Objective To compare the impact of anterior and inferior-posterior regional wall motion abnormalities on the vortex in systolic phase by vector flow map(VFM) technique.Methods Sixty patients with myocardial infarction were divided into 2 groups:the left anterior descending artery single branch lesion group (LAD group) and the left circumflex artery and/or right coronary artery lesion group (LCX/RCA group).By VFM technique,left ventricular systolic blood flow field was observed.Parameters such as the vortex duration were calculated and compared between two patient groups and also with healthy control group.Results LAD group did not show significant difference from the control group in isovolumic systolic vortex,this group was characterized with large size of vortex and usually forming local vortex at the apex in early ejection.On the contrary,LCX/RCA group had small isovolumic systolic vortex,the early ejection vortex of this group was significantly smaller than that of LAD group and larger than that of control group.The phenomenon was usually observed in the center of the lumen.Both LAD and LCX/RCA group had longer total vortex duration and vortex collapse time than the healthy control group,these differences were not significant between LAD and LCX/RCA group.There were no significant differences in isovolumic vortex duration among the three groups.Conclusions Anterior wall infarction had more impact on systolic blood flow field than inferior-posterior wall infarction.The VFM technique could be applied for observation and evaluation of the changes in vortex characteristics.

Objective To evaluate the dynamic changes of left ventricular systolic blood flow hemodynamics in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and short-term after PCI by vector flow mapping (VFM).MethodsTwenty-five patients with AMI were examined by color Doppler two-dimensional echocardiography respectively before PCI and three days and one month after PCI.The standard apical three-chamber color images in three sequent cardiac cycles were acquired and analyzed on off-line by VFM.In systole,the parameters of vortex including horizontal length,longitudinal length,transverse position,vertical position,and maximum vector velocity were measured respectively,and all parameters three days and one month after PCI were compared with those before PCI respectively.Results In systole,there were not statistically significant differences between parameters three days after PCI and those before PCI( P ＞0.05).Compared parameters one month after PCI with those before PCI,horizontal length was longer( P ＜0.05),longitudinal length was shorter (P ＜0.05),the transverse position was closer to anterior ventricular septum( P ＜0.05),and the maximum vector velocity of vortex was increased ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions VFM may serve as an ideal tool to quantitatively evaluate the blood flow hemodynamics of left ventricle in patients with AMI after short-term therapy by PCI.

Objective To establish a method of inducing dendritic cells(DC)from rat bone marrow cells in vitro,and identify the phenotype and function characteristics.Methods The rat bone malToW cells were collected and cultured in vitro under the condition of recombinant rat GM-CSF(rrGM-CSF)and recombinant rat IL-4(rrIL-4).After 2 weeks,the morphological character of DCs was observed under light microscope and scanning electron microscope.Expression of MHC-Ⅱ,CD80 and CD86 were detected by flow cytometry.The ability to stimulate allogenic T cells of the cultured DCs was detected by mixed lymphocyte reaction.Results DCs showed typical morphology with elongated dendritic processes under inversion microscope and scanning electron microscope.DCs at day 6 revealed immature phenotype,including MHC-Ⅱ(29.03 ±4.39)%,CD80(21.98±7.08)%and CD86(25.94±6.80)%.DCs at day 12 showed higher expression of MHC-Ⅱ(74.05±5.97)%,CD80(79.85±6.53)%and CD86(81.00±7.47)%,and stimulatory capacity of allogenic T cells,compared with that in DCs at day 6.Conclusion Matured DCs could be generated from rat bone marrow cells and attendance with rrGM-CSF and rrIL-4,which present the feasibility for further research on its application to allograft immunorejection.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nano-SiO2 on spatial learning and memory.

METHODSTwenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (C group), low dose group (L group) and high dose group (H group). The rats were intragastrically administrated with nanometer particles at 25 and 100 mg/kg body weight every day for 4 weeks. After exposure, the ability of learning and memory of rats was tested by Morris water maze, and electrophysiological brain stereotactic method was used to test long-tear potentiation (LTP) in dentate gyrus (DG) of the rats.

RESULTSThe increase rate of body weight in H group was reduced significantly compared with C group ( P < 0.05). In the space exploration experiment of Morris water maze test, the escape latency of H group was longer than that of C group (P < 0.05). The rats of H group spent less time in finding the target quadrant (P < 0.05) . The rate of LP induction of H group was significantly lower than that of C group (P < 0.05). After high fre quency stimulation (HFS), The changes of amplitude of population spike (PS) of L group and H group were lower than those of C group significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNano-SiO₂may result in impairment of spatial learning and memory ability by reducing the rate of LTP induction and the increase of PS in hippocampus.

Animals ; Dentate Gyrus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nanoparticles ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Spatial Learning ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE To study the drug resistance,drug-resistant genes and(disinfectant)-resistant genes of(MRS)A.METHODS The drug resistance and mecA gene of the ?-lactamase and aac(6′)/aph(2″),aph(3′)-Ⅲ,ant(4′,4″) genes of aminoglycoside and qac(A/B) disinfectant-resistant genes were(detected) in 47 strains of MRSA.(RESULTS) In all 47 strains of MRSA,46 MRSA isolates were mecA positive,39 MRSA isolates were aac(6′)/aph(2″) positive,30 MRSA isolates were aph(3′)-Ⅲ positive,6 MRSA isolates were ant(4′,4″) positive,and 19 MRSA isolates were qac(A/B) positive.CONCLUSIONS MRSA is multiple-drug resistant.The main resistant mechanisms of MRSA to aminoglycosides and disinfectant are related to the drug-resistant genes of aminoglycoside and disinfectant-resistant genes.Clinic physician must pay attention to the diagnosis and(therapy) of MRSA,and control the hospital infection.

BACKGROUNDPreeclampsia is one of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. It is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, including fatty acid oxidation metabolism. Long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) plays an indispensable role in the oxidation of fatty acids. It has been reported that nitric oxide (NO) is one of the regulatory factors of the fatty acid oxidation pathway. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NAME may cause down-regulation of LCHAD in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

METHODSPregnant wild-type (WT) mice were treated with L-NAME or normal saline (NS) during gestation days 7 - 18 (early group), days 11 - 18 (mid group) and days 16 - 18 (late group), and apoE-/- mice served as a control. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), urine protein, feto-placental outcome, plasma lipid levels and NO concentrations were measured, and the expression of mRNA and protein for LCHAD in placental tissue were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSIn WT and apoE-/- mice, SBP and urinary protein increased following L-NAME injection. Fetal and placental weights and NO concentrations were reduced and total cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acid levels were increased in early and mid L-NAME groups in WT and apoE-/- mice, compared with the NS group. There was no significant difference between the late L-NAME group and NS group. RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that the mRNA and protein levels of LCHAD expression were significantly down-regulated in the early and mid L-NAME groups but not in the late L-NAME group in the WT and apoE-/- mice compared with the corresponding NS groups.

CONCLUSIONSInhibition of NO in early and mid gestation in mice may cause hyperlipidemia and suppression of fatty acid oxidation, whereas preeclampsia-like conditions in late gestation may be a maternal vascular response to inhibition of NO.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Female ; Mice ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Pre-Eclampsia ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUNDEarly and late-onset preeclampsia is thought to be different disease entities. This study aimed to determine the effects of early-onset preeclampsia-like symptoms on feto-placental outcomes and the adverse impacts of various factors on placental and fetal growth and development at different gestational stages in a mouse model.

METHODSPregnant C57BL/6J mice were divided into control and preeclampsia (PE) groups, and injected subcutaneously with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 50 mgxkg(-1)d(-1). The PE group was divided into early-, mid- and late-PE groups with L-NAME injections starting on days 7, 11 and 16 of pregnancy, respectively. Corresponding control groups were injected with saline at the same time points. Blood pressure was measured until days 14 and 18, when the fetuses and placentas were removed under anesthesia. Blood pressure, urinary protein, and fetal and placental conditions were analyzed.

RESULTSBlood pressure and urinary protein increased following L-NAME injection. The fetal survival rate and fetal weight were reduced and the fetal absorption rate was increased in the early-PE group on days 14 and 18 of pregnancy, compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in these parameters between the late-PE group and the respective control group. Placental weights in the early- and mid-PE groups were significantly reduced at days 14 and 18 of pregnancy compared with the control groups, but there was no significant difference in placental weight between the late-PE group and the respective control group. Morphologic examination of placentas from the early- and mid-PE groups showed varying degrees of fibrinoid necrosis and villous interstitial edema, but no significant pathologic changes were found in the placentas from the late-PE or control groups.

CONCLUSIONPreeclampsia-like symptoms occurring during the early stage of pregnancy are more likely to affect placental and fetal development, whereas late onset preeclampsia-like symptoms have a direct impact on the mothers.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Resorption ; etiology ; Fetal Weight ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Organ Size ; Placenta ; pathology ; Pre-Eclampsia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUNDPreeclampsia, especially early onset of preeclampsia (PE), is a common and serious disorder with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Dietary factor is one of the most important factors which may affect the occurrence and development of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary factors on pathological changes of liver and placenta in preeclampsia-like mouse model by establishing the model at multiple stages of gestation.

METHODSWild-type (WT) mice were injected subcutaneously with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) to establish PE-like model (L-NAME group) at early-, mid-, and late-pregnant periods respectively; simultaneously, the control mice were injected with normal saline (NS group). All the groups were divided into subgroups, standard chow group (SC), and high-fat diet group (HF). ApoE(-/-) pregnant mice served as a control group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), urine protein, and histopathologic changes of placenta and liver in all groups were observed and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSIn WT and apoE(-/-) L-NAME subgroups, blood pressure and urine protein were significantly higher than those in all the gestational age matched NS groups (P < 0.05). Compared to other groups, remarkable liver fatty infiltration and lipid storage in placenta were found in early- and mid-L-NAME subgroups in apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05), especially in the early- and mid-HF+L-NAME subgroups in apoE(-/-) mice (P < 0.05). More lipid storage droplets both in liver and placenta were found in ApoE(-/-) mice than that of WT groups (P < 0.05). Morphology histopathologic examination of placentas showed varying degrees of fibrinoid necrosis and villous interstitial edema in early- and mid-L-NAME both in HF and SC of apoE(-/-) and WT subgroups compared to NS controls (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference between HF and SC subgroups (P > 0.05), and no difference between apoE(-/-) and WT groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPreeclampsia-like conditions could be induced by L-NAME in mice at different gestational stages. Both WT and apoE(-/-) genotype mice with preeclampsia-like symptoms in early and mid stages of pregnancy presented lipid deposition in the placenta and hepatic fatty infiltration. To alter the environmental condition by feeding high-fat diet was harmful to the mother and the fetus. High-fat diet aggravated the impact of liver fatty infiltration at early and mid gestational stages especially in the apoE(-/-) mouse model. These results further revealed the association between early-onset preeclampsia and the dysoxidation of fatty acids.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Diet, High-Fat ; Female ; Genotype ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Placenta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Pregnancy

Objective:To analyze the incidence, biochemical and molecular characteristics, and gene mutation spectrum of neonatal methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) in Shaanxi province.Methods:This study involved 146 152 newborns undergoing neonatal screening for methylmalonic acidemia by tandem mass spectrometry in Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital from January 2014 and December 2019. Clinical manifestations and follow-up data of newborns diagnosed with MMA and their acylcarnitine profiles and gene mutations were analyzed. According to whether they had elevated homocysteine or not, these patients were divided into two groups, the complicated group and the isolated MMA group. The control neonates were those excluded from having methylmalonic acid by re-examination. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test was conducted for statistical analysis. Results:(1) Twenty-one cases of MMA were confirmed with an incidence of 1/6 960, including 11 cases (52.4%) of isolated MMA (isolated MMA group) and 10 (47.6%) complicated by elevated homocysteine (complicated group). Eight patients in the isolated group had symptoms within one month after birth, mainly feeding difficulties, vomiting, drowsiness, poor response and infection, and five died. Patients in the complicated group were all diagnosed before developing typical clinical symptoms, and no developmental abnormalities were reported during follow-up. (2) Blood propionyl carnitine and its ratios to acetylcarnitine and free carnitine in the isolated MMA and complicated groups were higher than those in the control group [ M (min-max), 9.26 (3.70-37.78) μmol/L and 7.27 μmol/L (3.58-13.62 μmol/L) vs 4.51 μmol/L (1.48-8.69 μmol/L), H=23.239; 1.12 (0.32-2.43) and 0.74 (0.36-1.90) vs 0.25 (0.09-0.45), H=47.061; 0.94 (0.12-1.92) and 0.56 (0.18-1.03) vs 0.17 (0.06-0.38), H=36.868; all P<0.001]. The blood methionine level in the complicated group was significantly lower than that in the isolated MMA group [7.64 μmol/L (3.40-19.25 μmol/L) vs 24.22 μmol/L (10.73-56.55 μmol/L), U=3.000, P<0.001]. (3) All 21 patients carried complex heterozygous mutations or homozygous mutations in pathogenic genes, including 15 distinct MMUT mutations and 13 distinct MMACHC mutations. In the isolated MMA group, the most common mutation was c.323G>A (p.Arg108His) in the MMUT gene with a positive rate of 13.6%, and an unreported mutation, c.1676+11A>G, with unidentified clinical significance, was also found. The most common mutations in the complicated group were c.609G>A (p.Trp203Ter) and c.567dupT (p.Ile190fs) in the MMACHC gene, and the positive rates were both 20.0%. Moreover, two unreported variants, c.430-2A>C and c.648_650delAGA (p.216_217delSEinsS), were detected and suspected to be pathogenic. Conclusions:MMA is not uncommon in Shaanxi province. Children with isolated MMA tend to be more severe clinically. The identification of hotspot mutations, including c.609G>A (p.Trp203Ter) and c.567dupT (p.Ile190fs) in MMACHC gene and c.323G>A (p.Arg108His) in MMUT gene, provides a foundation for further genetic screening, counseling, and prenatal diagnosis, and is conducive to reduce the mortality and disability rate of neonatal MMA.

Objective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between hypertriglyceridemic-waist(HTWC) phenotype and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 3 136 Han adolescents aged 13-17 years in Qinhuangdao. The HTWC phenotype was defined as serum triglyceride concentrations ≥1. 47 mmol/ L and waist circumference ≥90 th percentile for age and sex. Results The prevalence of HTWC phenotype was 3. 3% . The prevalence of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors was 0. 4%in adolescents with normal waist circumference and serum triglyceride and 14. 7% in adolescents with HTWC phenotype. After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, and family history of diabetes and hypertension, the prevalence of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents with HTWC phenotype was 9. 286 fold(95% CI 3. 161-27. 282, P<0. 01) of that in adolescents with normal waist circumference and triglyceride. Conclusion There was a significant correlation between HTWC phenotype and clustering of cardiovascular risk factors, suggesting that this phenotype may be applied as a simple marker for identifying adolescents with clustering of cardiovascular risk factors.