The morphometry of the intramembranous particles (IMP) of the dog sinus node cells was studied with freeze-cleaved specimens under H-500 electron microscope. The photographs of IMP of the P cells and transitional cells were analysed with imaging analytical system (IBAS Ⅰ+Ⅱ type). The results are as follows. The mean area of IMP: on PF and EF faces of P cells are 25.800nm~2 and 17.816nm~2. The mean values of IMP on PF and EF faces of the transitional cells are 46.041nm~2 and 88.633nm~2. The averages of the perimeter of IMP on the PF and EF faces of P cells are 20.735 nm and 18.078 nm, respectively. And those of the transitional cells are 28.780 nm and 43.901 nm. The diameters of circles of IMP of PF and EF faces of P cells are 5.220 nm and 4.402 nm. Those of PF and EF faces of the transitional cells are 7.010 nm and 10.476 nm. The mean values of form factor of IMP on PF and EF faces of P cells are 0.653 and 0.643, and those of transitional cells are 0.627 and 0.573. The mumbers of IMP are 1325/?m~2 and 345/?m~2 on PF and EF faces of P cells, and the mumbers of IMP of the transitional cells are 3225/?m~2 on PF face and 590/?m~2 on EF face.

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on autophagy in SD rat heart during myocar-dial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods Twenty-one male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups as follows (n = 7): the sham operation group, in which rats underwent sham operation without tightening of the coronary artery sutures; the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion group , in which rats were induced by occlud-ing the left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min , followed by 120 min reperfusion and 0.9% NaCl in-fusion at 3 mL/(kg·h) at 10 min before occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery; the myocardial ischemia- reperfusion- propofol group, in which rats underwent I/R and propofol infusion at 6 mg/(kg·h) at 10 min before occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery. Before tightening of the coronary artery, at 30 min post-tightening of the coronary artery and at 120 min post-reperfusion, HR、 LVSP and ± dp/dtmax of rats were recordedin each group. Atter 120 min post-reperfusion, the serum concentrations of cTnT was measured. The in-jured cardiac tissue was collected to investigate the ultrastructure change under the TEM and to determine the levels of mTOR and p-mTOR. Results No signifcant differences in HR, LVSP and ± dp/dtmax before tighten-ing of the coronary artery. But, at 30 min post- tightening of the coronary artery, compared with groupⅠ, the HR, LVSP and ±dp/dtmax were significantly decresed in groupⅡ and Ⅲ(P < 0.05). Then, at 2 h post-reper-fusion, compared with groupⅠ, the HR, LVSP, ±dp/dtmax and the level of p-mTOR were significantly de-creased, but the serum concentration of cTnT was significantly increased in groupⅡ(P < 0.05); but, compared with groupⅡ, the HR, LVSP, ± dp/dtmax and the level of p-mTOR were significantly increased, the serum concentration of cTnT and the level of mTOR were significantly decreased in group Ⅲ(P < 0.05). Conclusions These data suggest that propofol could heighten the level of p-mTOR, and attenuate the expression of mTOR dur-ing the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in SD rats.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of A-F mnemonic performed by sonographers with limited experience in patients with acute chest pain. Methods This was a prospective observational study. Bedside cardiac ultrasound for patients with chest pain was performed by six sonographers with limited experience using A-F mnemonic, evaluating indexes including aortic dissection(A), both ventricles (B), regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 50％ (C ,contractility), dimensions (D), pleural and pericardial effusion (E) and further abnormalities (F). Afterwards, experienced cardiac sonographers performed the same examinations, and the difference in the time of ultrasound examination was calculated. The diagnosis of experienced sonographers were referred as the control group, and kappa test was applied to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Results There were 245 cases eligible for study, and 20 cases were excluded. Finally 225 cases of acute chest pain were included in the analysis, containing 158 fatal chest pain and 67 low-risk chest pain. The experienced sonographers diagnosed 20 cases of ascending aortic dissection, 5 cases of right ventricular dilatation, 72 cases of RWMA, 12 cases of LVEF ≤ 50％, 45 cases of left ventricular dilatation, 6 cases of hydropericardium, and 6 cases of other abnormalities. The consistency between beginners and experienced sonographers were as follows:completely same (hydropericardium, Kappa=1.000), highly consistent (ascending aortic dissection, Kappa=0.853, right ventricular dilatation, Kappa=0.931, and other abnormalities, Kappa=0.829), moderately consistent (RWMA, Kappa=0.768, LVEF ≤ 50％, Kappa=0.713 and left ventricular dilatation, Kappa=0.766). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of RWMA and LVEF ≤ 50％ and the positive predictive value of left ventricular dilatation in the beginner sonographers were lower than those in the experienced sonographers. Conclusions A-F mnemonic was a simple and practical way for the beginner sonographers to perform bedside cardiac ultrasound. It was of significant value in making correct diagnosis of most acute chest pain patients and providing quick and reliable information for clinicians.

Objective:To preliminarily explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of five candidate genes (APH1B, PRNP, HMGCR, SIRT1, ApoE) and Alzheimer′s disease (AD), and to analyze the methylation levels of BAX and ApoE promoters on the pathogenesis of AD.Methods:Seventeen cases who were admitted to the Department of Geriatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from 2014 to 2015 and diagnosed as likely to be AD by geriatrician and neurologists according to the AD diagnostic criteria in 4th Revised Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association served AD group, with an age of (75.65±5.86) years, and 34 non-AD patients with matching baseline data such as age, gender, ethnicity, and education status among patients hospitalized during the same period were selected as control group, with an age of (77.59±7.41) years. Sanger sequencing method was used for SNP typing of candidate genes. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the DNA methylation level.Results:The distribution of ApoE ε4 allele was statistically different between the AD group and the control group (χ 2=9.718, P=0.002). Candidate genes (SIRT1 rs7895833, APH1B rs1047552, PRNP rs1799990, HMGCR rs3846662) SNP locus genotypes and alleles had no statistically significant differences in the distribution between the AD group and the control group ( P>0.05). After stratification according to whether they carried ApoE ε4, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups ( P>0.05). The BAX promoter methylation level of the AD group (0.045±0.025) was lower than that of the control group (0.061±0.028) ( t=-2.078, P=0.045). After gender stratification, the BAX methylation level of the female AD group (0.044±0.021) was lower than that of the control group (0.065±0.275) ( t=-2.230, P=0.045). There was no statistically significant difference in the methylation level of ApoE promoter between the AD group and the control group ( P>0.05). After stratification according to whether they carry ApoE ε4 or not, the methylation level of AD patients with ApoE ε4 allele (1.553±0.291) was higher than that of non-carriers (1.221±0.261) ( t=2.480, P=0.025). Conclusions:ApoE ε4 allele may be a risk factor for the onset of AD. BAX promoter hypomethylation contributes to AD in the elderly in Xinjiang, especially in female. ApoE ε4 allele may cause AD through the interaction with ApoE methylation.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a microvascular complication caused by diabetes mellitus, which often leads to structural and functional damages of several kidney cell types, and has become an important cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Connexins are involved in maintaining cell function and tissue homeostasis in various organs by forming semi-channels and mediating gap-junctional intercellular communication. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant and widely studied connexin in kidney. Accumulating evidences have shown that Cx43 is involved in the pathological process associated with glomerular mesangial cells, podocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells during the development of DN. However, the molecular mechanism of Cx43 in regulating kidney cell homeostasis of DN is still unclear. The paper systematically reviews the relationship between Cx43 and pathogenesis of DN from the perspective of signaling pathway regulation, and explores the therapeutic potential of targeting Cx43 in the intervention of DN.

Objective To investigate the value of fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE,5D Heart)in displaying the normal fetal heart structure during 20 to 38 weeks'gestation.Methods Three-dimensional data of fetal heart during 20 to 38 weeks'gestation were acquired using volume transducer prospectively.The STIC volume images were post-processed with 5D heart software by three physicians with different levels of echocardiographic examination and the quality of the section images were analyzed.The intra-and interobserver repeatability was analyzed for the qualification of section images.The correlation between the quality of image and gestational age,body mass index,the placenta position,fetal initial plane position were evaluated using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis.Results Two hundreds and five cases of pregnant women were included,and 9 cases were excluded.Volume data acquisition was completed in 180 pregnant women,and the image acquisition rate was 91.8%.The data were assessed twice by three observers and qualified 9 section images were gotten in 156-180 cases(degree of qualification 86.7%-100%).The screening images were satisfied in 152 cases(84.4%),dissatisfied with 28 cases(15.6%).The intra-observer agreement by three observers was absolute concord in four chamber view and abdomen、stomach view;excellent in three vessel trachea view(3VT),five chamber view, left ventricular outflow tract view and superior and inferior vena cava view;good in right ventricular outflow tract view,ductal arch view and aortic arch view.The inter-observer agreement by each of three observers was absolute concord in four chamber view and abdomen、stomach view;excellent in superior and inferior vena cava view;excellent to good in five chamber view,left ventricular outflow tract view,right ventricular outflow tract view;good in 3VT,ductal arch view and aortic arch view.In a univariate analysis,the quality of the image was associated with obesity(χ2=15.338,P =0.000),gestational age(χ2=23.356,P =0.000).Multivariable analysis showed that the obesity(OR=5.587,P =0.001)and gestational age (OR=8.843,P=0.000)were factors affecting the quality of the image.The average time spent in post-processing the images for first time by three observers was(2.77±1.39)min,and there was no significant difference among observers(P > 0.05).Conclusions Fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE,5D Heart)based on STIC volumes can successfully generate 9 standard fetal echocardiography views in 86.7%-100% of fetuses in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.This method can simplify examination of the fetal heart and reduce operator dependency.

Objective To investigate the application of fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography ( FINE ,5D Heart) in the diagnosis of conotruncal anomalies ( CTD ) . Methods For prospective study , volume transducer was used to collect the three-dimensional data of fetal heart at 20th - 30th week of gestation . The STIC volume images were processed by three independent physicians of different hierarchies via 5D Heart software afterwards ,and the quality of the STIC diagnosis as well as the consistence among the physicians were analyzed according to the gold standard of postpartum ultrasonic follow-up or surgery results . Results Twelve out of 16 CTD cases were finally included in the study ,and the volume data were analyzed . Senior physicians A could apply 5D Heart diagnosis to achieve 2D-US diagnosis efficiency and gold standard consistently( P = 0 .157 ,0 .083) ,medium and low seniority physician B and C got roughly equal score using 5D Heart diagnosis( P = 0 .705) ,but the diagnostic performance could not reach 2D-US ( P =0 .000 ,0 .000) and gold standard( P = 0 .000 ,0 .000) . Conclusions Fetal cardiac anomalies of CTD can be diagnosed correctly by an expert using 5D Heart ,which has important application prospects in remote consultation , training and scientific research and teaching of congenital heart disease of fetus .