Purpose To summarize the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of congenital quadricuspid aortic valves (QAV) so as to improve the understanding of QAV and the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis.Materials and Methods The clinical and echocardiographic data of 7 patients with QAV at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were retrospectively studied,and the features such as the aortic valve (AV) leaf number,echo,shape,opening and closing movements,and its hemodynamics were observed and compared with surgical follow-ups.Results Five out of the 7 patients had chest tightness,chest pain,fluster,shortness of breath,and 2 others had no discomfort.The echocardiography presented that all the cases had moderate or severe aortic valve regurgitation.4 patients were diagnosed as QAV,2 patients were not diagnosed definitely,and the rest 1 was misdiagnosed.6 patients underwent aortic valve replacement and were all confirmed with QAV,among whom 2 patients were combined with infective endocarditis,and 1 patient was with aortic dilatation.All the surgical operations were successful and the patient's physical conditions were good after surgery.Conclusion Echocardiography plays an important role in diagnosis of aortic valve,but it is possible to be missed or misdiagnosed.Most QAV patients have good prognosis,but close follow-ups are needed when QAV is combined with other complex deformity or has induced secondary damages.

Objective To induce and identify the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)into cardiomyocytes in vitro,and observe the expression of Nesprin protein during the differentiation. Methods Rat MSCs were isolated and purified by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation,and adhered for serial subcultivation.Surface-associated antigens of MSCs of the second passage were dedected by flow cytometry.MSCs of the second passage were induced by 10μmol/L 5-azacytidine(5-Aza)to differentiate into cardiomyocytes,and the morphological changes were observed.The expression of Desmin,α-sarcomeric actin and cardiac Troponin I(cTnI) mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR,immunocytochemistIv and immunofluorescence staining, and the expression of Nesprin protein was detected by Western blotting. Results The morphology of MSCs induced by 5-Aza was bigger and longer,and the nuclei became bigger,exhibiting more consistent patterns.The expression of Desmin,α-sarcomeric actin and cTnI mRNA and protein of MSCs was positive.Immunofluorescence staining revealed that Nesprin protein positioned in the nuclear membrane,and Western blotting detection demonstrated that the expression of Nesprin protein significantly increased after differentiation(P<0.05).Conclusion MSCs may be successfully induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.The expression of Nesprin protein in the differentiated MSCs may significantly increase,indicating Nesprin may play a role in the differentiation from MSCs to cardiomyocytes.

BACKGROUND:Percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are both effective in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but different in the distribution and dispersion of bone cement. ＜br> OBJECTIVE:To analyze the factors affecting the bone cement dispersion within the vertebral body in treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. ＜br> METHODS:A total of 41 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were included, and divided into three groups:group A (22 cases receiving high viscosity bone cement vertebroplasty treatment), group B (5 cases receiving high viscosity bone cement kyphoplasty), group C (14 cases receiving low viscosity bone cement vertebroplasty treatment). The groups A and C were divided into subgroups according to bone cement injection volume, time from fracture to operation, preoperative degree of vertebral compression. The distribution and dispersion of bone cement in the vertebra were reconstructed by the CT three-dimensional imaging and volume rendering analysis. ＜br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the three groups, after operation, relative dispersion area and relative dispersion volume in the vertebrae had no obvious difference, and the bone cement could al diffuse to upper and lower lamina cross the vertebral midline. There was no significant difference in bone cement diffusion coefficient among the three groups. In a certain range, the bone cement injection volume and bone cement dispersion volume was positively correlated. In groups A and C, bone cement diffusion coefficient decreased with the increasing of bone cement injection volume, time from fracture to operation, and the compression degree of the fractured vertebrae, but showed no significant correlation with bone cement viscosity.

BACKGROUND:Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty can effectively repair osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but bone cement injection can cause the change of stress in the fractured vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae after surgery, leading to new fractures.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the stress changes of the fractured vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae after vertebroplasty with different elastic modulus bone cement by a three-dimensional finite element method.
METHODS: One healthy adult male volunteer was selected for lumbar spine CT scan. The acquired images were imported for three-dimensional reconstruction using Mimics. The three-dimensional model was smoothed, polished and denoised by Geomagic software, and then the solid mode was built under Workbench Ansys. An osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture model in L2-4 segments was established after assignment. Bone cement (4 mL) with different elastic moduli (8 000, 4 000, 2 000 and 1 000 MPa) injected into the L3 segment distributed in the middle of the vertebrae as spherical shape. 500 N pre-load was applied on the L2 surface with an additional bending moment of 50 N?m. The lower surface free degree of L4 was restrained. The L2-4 forward flexion, posterior extension, right flexion and axial rotation on the right side were stimulated. The stress changes of the fractured vertebrae and the upper and lower adjacent vertebrae before and after bone cement injection with different elastic moduli were compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The stress of the fractured vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae were significantly increased compared with that before operation. With the increase of elastic modulus, the stress of the fractured vertebrae increased, but there were no changes in the stress of adjacent vertebrae. These findings indicate that the elastic modulus of bone cement may be a method to reduce new fractures of the fractured and adjacent vertebrae after bone cement injection.

BACKGROUND:Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty can effectively repair osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but postoperative change of stress in the fractured vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae can lead to new fractures. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the stress changes of the fractured and adjacent vertebrae with different bone cement injection volume by three-dimensional finite element method. METHODS:One healthy adult male volunteer was selected for lumbar spine CT scan. The acquired images were imported for three-dimensional reconstruction using Mimics. The three-dimensional model was smoothed, polished and denoised by Geomagic software, and then the solid mode was built under Workbench Ansys. The osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture model in L2-L4 segments was established after assignment. Bone cement of 1, 2, 4, 6 mL was injected into the L3 vertebrae respectively and distributed in the middle of the vertebrae as spherical shape. 500 N pre-load was applied on L2 surface with an additional moment of 50 N·m. The lower surface free degree of L4 was restrainted. The L2-L4 forward flexion, extension, right flexion and axial rotation on the right side were stimulated to compare the stress changes of fractured vertebrae and adjacent vertebrae before and after the bone cement injection with different volume. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The stresses of fractured and adjacent vertebrae after the bone cement injection were significantly increased; meanwhile, the stresses of fractured and adjacent vertebrae increased with the increase of bone cement injection volume, which may be one of the factors leading to the compression fractures of adjacent vertebrae.

Objective:To examine the role of LY294002 in cardiac function and myocardial structure in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats.Methods:Fifty-two male SD rats were randomly assigned to a control group (n=16) and a DCM group (n=36).The DCM rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin,and the control rats were given normal saline.After observation for 2 weeks,6 rats from each group were killed randomly.In the end of the 8th week,the 24 DCM rats were randomly assigned to a DCM group (n=12) and a LY294002 group (n=12),which were given normal saline and LY294002,respectively.In the end of the 8th week and 16th week,the cardiac function was analyzed by ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) and the plasma was collected to test the level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP).HE and Van Gieson (VG) staining were performed to calculate the collagen volume fraction (CVF).Results:Compared with the control group,the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD),left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) and NT-proBNP level of in the DCM rats were increased obviously,while the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) in the DCM rats were decreased obviously (P＜0.01).These changes were consistent with DCM characteristics.Compared with the DCM group,the LVEDD,LVESD and NT-proBNP levels in the LY294002 group were decreased,while the LVEF and LVFS were increased (P＜0.05).Histopathology showed that the myocardium in the DCM rats was fibrotic and the CVF was increased compared with the control rats (P＜0.01).The myocardial structure was improved in the LY294002 group compared to the DCM group.Conclusion:LY294002 can reduce the myocardial fibrosis in the DCM rats and improve the cardiac function.

Objective To identify the therapeutic effect and safety of anterograde flexibleureteroscopy on the treatment of upper -middle ureteral calculi.Methods The clinical data of 47 patients who underwent anterograde flexible ureteroscopy for the treatment of upper -middle ureteral calculi in our center were retrospectively reviewed. During the 47 patients,28 cases were men,19 cases were women.Age ranged from 20 to 68 years.The diameter of calculi ranged from 8 to 22mm(mean =14 mm).Results The flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy procedure were successful in all the cases.The mean operative time was (65.3 ±8.5)min.The mean hospital stay was 8 days.The average blood loss was less than 50mL.The initial stone -free rate was 93.62%(44 /47).No severe complications occurred intraoperative and postoperative.Conclusion Anterograde flexible ureteroscope has good therapeutic effect in treating upper -middle ureteral calculi.It is safe and effective procedure,with less complication and a high calculus removing rate.The surgical methods is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To discuss the feasibility of single hole thoracoscopy of pleural fibreboard endarterectomy surgical treatment on chronic tuberculous empyema. Methods Retrospective analysis of minimally invasive treatment of 52 cases of chronic tuberculous empyema form January 2013 to May 2016, 50 cases applied single hole thoracoscopy surgery, video-assisted mini-thoracoscopy for another 2 cases. Results There was no death, operation time 60 ~ 240 min, average 160 min, bleeding 150 ~ 2000 ml, average 350 ml, postoperative chest tube drainage time 3 ~ 21 d, average 7 d, postoperative persistent leakage in 3 patients, 3 cases of atelectasis, incisional infection in 1 case, pleural effusion in 1 case, 3 cases of arrhythmia. All the cured patients are received the corresponding treatment, the follow-up of 3 ~ 36 m, the chest CT scan show no atelectasis. Conclusion Under the condition of strict selection of indication, single hole thoracoscopy of pleural fibreboard endarterectomy in treatment of chronic tuberculous empyema is safe and feasible, so it is worthy of making further clinical promotion and application.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intraventricular systolic dyssynchrony in rats with post-infarction heart failure by quantitative tissue velocity imaging combining synchronous electrocardiograph. METHODS: A total of 60 male SD rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: a 4 week post-operative group and an 8 week post-operation group (each n=25, with anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery ligated), and a sham operation group (n=10, with thoracotomy and open pericardium, but no ligation of the artery). The time to peak systolic velocity of regional myocardial in the rats was measured and the index of the left intraventricular dyssynchrony was calculated. RESULTS: All indexes of the heart function became lower as the heart failure worsened except the left ventricle index in the post-operative groups. All indexes of the dyssynchrony got longer in the post-operative groups (P<0.05), while the changes in the sham operation group were not significantly different (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Quantitative tissue velocity imaging combining synchronous electrocardiograph can analyse the intraventricular systolic dyssynchrony accurately.
Animals ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color ; Heart Failure ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Systole ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of left ventricular rotation and twist in patients with essential hypertension (EH) of different left ventricular configurations by 3-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE). METHODS: A total of 106 EH patients were divided into 4 groups: a left ventricular normal configuration (LVN) group (n=30), a concentric remodeling (CCR) group (n=31), a concentric hypertrophy (CCH) group (n=29), an eccentric hypertrophy (ECH) group (n=16), and a control group of 30 healthy subjects. The parameters of LVEF, peak basal rotation (Prot-B), peak apical rotation (Prot-A), left ventricular peak apical rotation (LV-rot), and left ventricular peak apical twist (LV-tw) were compared. RESULTS: The left ventricular mass index in the EH groups, which kept increasing, was higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, LVN and ECH group, the left ventricular posterior wall thickness, interventricular septum at end-diastole, and relative wall thickness significantly increased in the CCH and CCR group (P<0.05). LVEF showed no significant difference among the normal control, LVN, CCR and CCH group (P>0.05), but LVEF was lower in the ECH group than in other groups (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group, Prot-B, Prot-A, LVrot and LVtw were significantly higher in the LVN, CCR and CCH group (P<0.05), but decreased in the ECH group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION 3D-STE can evaluate the left ventricular rotation and twist in EH patients with different configurations, and reflect changes in the left ventricular systolic function in EH of different configurations.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Ventricular Remodeling ; physiology