Objective To investigate the consistency of omnidirectional M-mode echocardiography and two-dimensional strain in assessment of left ventricular (LV) radial systolic asynchrony. Methods Thirty patients with heart failure (HF) and 28 healthy volunteers underwent omnidirectional M-mode echocardiography and two-dimensional strain at the same time. The time to peak radial systolic movement (T_m) of LV in 12 segments were measured with omnidirectional M-mode echocardiography and its standard deviation (T_m-12-sd), and the maximum difference (T_m-12-dif) were calculated. The time to peak radial systolic strain (T_(SR)) of LV in 12 segments were measured with two-dimensional strain and its standard deviation (T_(SR)-12-sd), and the maximum difference (T_(SR)-12-dif) were calculated. The T_m-12-sd, T_m-12-dif, T_(SR)-12-sd and T_(SR)-12-dif were used as systolic asynchrony indicators. The value (-x)±2s in the control group was defined as the normal upper limit which represents 97.7% of the control group distribution. Any values above this limit in HF patients were classified as LV asynchrony. The results of two methods were analyzed with Kappa test. Results Compared with the controls, T_m-12-sd, T_m-12-dif, T_(SR)-12-sd and T_(SR)-12-dif were significantly higher in the HF group (P<0.001); there was consistency between T_m-12-sd and T_(SR)-12-sd, T_m-12-dif and T_(SR)-12-dif in detecting LV systolic asynchrony in HF group (Kappa=0.661, 0.733). Conclusion T_m-12-sd and T_m-12-dif of omnidirectional M-mode echocardiography have consistency with T_(SR)-12-sd and T_(SR)-12-dif of two-dimensional strain. These two technologies both have ability to evaluate LV radial systolic synchronicity.

The development of external counterpulsation (ECP) local area network system and extensible markup language (XML)-based remote ECP medical information system conformable to digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) standard has been improving the digital interchangeablity and sharability of ECP data. However, the therapy process of ECP is a continuous and longtime supervision which builds a mass of waveform data. In order to reduce the storage space and improve the transmission efficiency, the waveform data with the normative format of ECP data files have to be compressed. In this article, we introduced the compression arithmetic of template matching and improved quick fitting of linear approximation distance thresholding (LADT) in combimation with the characters of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) waveform signal. The DICOM standard is used as the storage and transmission standard to make our system compatible with hospital information system. According to the rules of transfer syntaxes, we defined private transfer syntax for one-dimensional compressed waveform data and stored EECP data into a DICOM file. Testing result indicates that the compressed and normative data can be correctly transmitted and displayed between EECP workstations in our EECP laboratory.
Computer Communication Networks ; standards ; Counterpulsation ; methods ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Medical Records Systems, Computerized ; standards ; Programming Languages

Objective To explore the effect of long-term enhanced external counterpulsation(EECP)on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation in the carotid arteries of atherosclerotic piss. Method Totally 18 20-day-old male infant pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups according to feeding given: the normal[control group(n=6),the hypercholesterolemic control group(n=6)and the hypereholesterolemic +EECP group(n=6).Porcine model of hypercholesterolemia was made by feeding high-cholesterol diet.After EECP for 36 hours in the hypercholesterolemic+EECP group(n=6),carotid arterial rings were harvested from all animals and their vaso-relaxation response to different dose of Acetylchofine(Ach)and Sodium nitroprusside (SNP)were detected,respectively.Results As the dose of Ach varying between 10-8 mol/L and 10-5mol/L, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation ratio of hypereholesterolemic piss with or without EECP treatment was significantly lower than that of the normal control group(P＜0.05),however,endothehum-dependent vasorelax- ation ratio in pigs with EECP treatment was obviously higher compared with hypereholesterolemic pigs without EECP treatment(P＜0.05)as the Ach ranged from 10-7 mol/L to 10-5mol/L.Similarly,as the concentration of SNP ranged fiun 10-8 mol/L to 10-5 mol/L.endothelium-independent vasorelaxafion ratio of both the hypercholesterolemic control group and the hypercholesterolemic+EECP group were significantly lower than that of the normal control group(P＜0.05),and end othelium-independent vasorelaxation ratio of the hypercholesterolemic+EECP group was significantly higher than that of the hypercholesterolemic control group (P＜0.05).Condusions Long-term EECP improves the impaired endothelium-dependent and endothelium independent vasorelaxalion function resulting from atherosclerosis.

Objective To explore a more minimally invasive and economical treatment for atrial septal defect (ASD) through comparing the efficacy and safety in percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect procedure,guided by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE).Methods From March 2014 to September 2017,197 patients with ASD who were feasible to treated with percutaneous transcatheter closure procedure evaluated by preoperative ~ were recruited.TTE showed ASD belonged to secundum(central type) with a maximal diameter range from 2 mm to 35mm,including 82 cases of the ASD without aortic rim.There were 106 patients(47males and 59 females including 37 ASD without aortic rim) with a mean age of 14.2 years(6 months-59 years) old and a mean body weight of 29.5(8.5-64.0)kg were performed percutaneous transcatheter closure of ASD guided by TEE under general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation,and 91 patients(41males and 50 females with 45 ASD without aortic rim inside) with a mean age of 13.8 years(9 months-65 years) old and a mean body weight of 30.4 (9.5-61.0)kg were treated with the percutaneous transcatheter procedure guided by TTE when patients in waking state of local anesthesia(general anesthesia were adopted in patients under 12 years old without intubation).The size of the occluder was selected on the basis of the maximal diameter plus 2-6mm.All 197 cases intraoperation and postoperation data were collected,including complications 、operation time 、operation room stay time and total cost.Results 1 patients in 106 cases of the the TEE group were transferred to small incision on the chest performing transthoracic transcatheter closure of ASD because the difficult stuck of the occluder.3 patients in TEE group transferred to repair under cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) via small incision on the chest because the difficult stuck of the occluder even in using transthoracic transcatheter closure way.86 patiens in TTE group successfully treated with percutaneous transcatheter closure,and there were 5 failed cases including 2 patients who transferred to TEE guided because of the poor imaging of TTE,another 2 cases treated with transthoracic transcatheter closure of ASD because the difficult stuck of the occluder,and 1 patient performed ASD repair procedure under CPB via small incision on the chest because of the huge ASD without aortic rim and difficult stuck of the occluder.All the 197 patients were cured and discharge from hospital,and there were no complications.There was no significant difference in age,weight,and maximum diameter of ASD between TEE group and TTE group (P ＞ 0.05).Follow-ups were conducted by TTE at month 3 post-operation,and all 197 cases performed no residual shunt of ASD,there were no difference between 2 group.The stay time in the operation room was(68.2 ± 17.3) min in group TEE and (34.7 ± 16.8) min in group TTE,there was obviously shortened the stay time in operation room(P ＜0.01).The total cost of the TTE group was(24.2 ± 2.1) thousand yuan,and the group TEE was(29.3 ± 1.4) thousand yuan,and the cost was significantly reduced in TTE group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The treatment of percutaneous transcatheter closure of ASD guided by TTE is effective and safe,and the feature of more non-invasive and socioeconomic benefits show a broad application prospect.

Objective To investigate the differences in the curative effects between traditional telephone follow-up and medical care combined with WeChat and medical mobile app in adult epilepsy patients with anxiety and depression,analyze the influence factors for the differences from following five aspects: medication compliance, anxiety and depression,quality of life of patients, knowledge of diseases and related behavior correction,satisfaction rate of patients to follow-up and patients' hospital readmission rate. Methods A total of 100 adult epilepsy patients with anxiety and depression in our department from February 2015 to October 2015 were investigated in the study. The patients were divided into observation group and control group by admission order alternates (50 respectively). Patients in control group received traditional telephone follow-up,while patients in observation group were managed using WeChat and medical mobile APP. Medication compliance,anxiety and depression,quality of life of patients,knowledge of diseases and related behavior correction, satisfaction rate of patients to follow-up and number of patients' hospital readmission were compared between two groups at intake time and after 6 months' follow-up. Results Among 100 epilepsy patients, 14 patients were lost and 86 patients were followed up for 6 months. At 6 months' post discharge, medication compliance of patients in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). The scores of SAS and SDS in observation group were lower than those in control group, with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The score of QOLIT-31 in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). Patients in observation group performed better than patients in control group in diet habit correction, knowledge of training methods, as well as in satisfaction to follow-up and rate of patients' hospital readmission. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Medical care combined with WeChat and medical mobile APP in adult epilepsy patients with anxiety and depression can improve patients' medication compliance, relieve patients' anxiety and depression, increase quality of life of patients, enhance patients' knowledge of disease and behavior correction and raise the rate of patients' hospital readmission and satisfaction to follow-up.

Oleic acid(OA),a monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA),has previously been shown to reverse saturated fatty acid palmitic acid(PA)-induced hepatic insulin resistance(IR).However,its underlying molecular mechanism is unclear.In addition,previous studies have shown that eicos-apentaenoic acid(EPA),a ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA),reverses PA-induced muscle IR,but whether EPA plays the same role in hepatic IR and its possible mechanism involved need to be further clarified.Here,we confirmed that EPA reversed PA-induced IR in HepG2 cells and compared the proteomic changes in HepG2 cells after treatment with different free fatty acids(FFAs).A total of 234 proteins were determined to be differentially expressed after PA+OA treat-ment.Their functions were mainly related to responses to stress and endogenous stimuli,lipid meta-bolic process,and protein binding.For PA+EPA treatment,the PA-induced expression changes of 1326 proteins could be reversed by EPA,415 of which were mitochondrial proteins,with most of the functional proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation(OXPHOS)and tricarboxylic acid(TCA)cycle.Mechanistic studies revealed that the protein encoded by JUN and reactive oxygen species(ROS)play a role in OA-and EPA-reversed PA-induced IR,respectively.EPA and OA alle-viated PA-induced abnormal adenosine triphosphate(ATP)production,ROS generation,and calcium(Ca2+)content.Importantly,H2O2-activated production of ROS increased the protein expression of JUN,further resulting in IR in HepG2 cells.Taken together,we demonstrate that ROS/JUN is a common response pathway employed by HepG2 cells toward FFA-regulated IR.

Parthenogenetic embryonic stem (pES) cells isolated from parthenogenetic activation of oocytes and embryos, also called parthenogenetically induced pluripotent stem cells, exhibit pluripotency evidenced by both in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential. Differential proteomic analysis was performed using differential in-gel electrophoresis and isotope-coded affinity tag-based quantitative proteomics to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental pluripotency of pES cells and to compare the protein expression of pES cells generated from either the in vivo-matured ovulated (IVO) oocytes or from the in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes with that of fertilized embryonic stem (fES) cells derived from fertilized embryos. A total of 76 proteins were upregulated and 16 proteins were downregulated in the IVM pES cells, whereas 91 proteins were upregulated and 9 were downregulated in the IVO pES cells based on a minimal 1.5-fold change as the cutoff value. No distinct pathways were found in the differentially expressed proteins except for those involved in metabolism and physiological processes. Notably, no differences were found in the protein expression of imprinted genes between the pES and fES cells, suggesting that genomic imprinting can be corrected in the pES cells at least at the early passages. The germline competent IVM pES cells may be applicable for germ cell renewal in aging ovaries if oocytes are retrieved at a younger age.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Mice ; Parthenogenesis ; physiology ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; methods

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.

Background: s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model. Methods: Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort. Results: In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM). Conclusions Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.