The left ventricular regional systolic functions in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were assessed by using quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI). Left ventricular (LV) regional myocardial velocity along long- and short-axis in 31 HCM patients and 20 healthy subjects were analyzed by QTVI, and the regional myocardial systolic peak velocities (MVS) were measured. Mean MVS at each level including mitral annular, basal, middle and apical segments were calculated. The ratio of MVS along long-axis to that along short-axis (Ri) at basal and middle segments of the LV posterior wall and ventricular septum were calculated. The results showed that mean MVS was slower at each level including mitral annular, basal, middle and apical segments in the HCM patients than that in the healthy subjects (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in mean MVS between obstructive and non-obstructive groups in HCM patients. MVS of all regional myocardial segments along long-axis in the HCM patients were significantly slower than that in the healthy subjects (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in MVS of all regional myocardial segments along long-axis between hypertrophied and non-hypertrophied group in the HCM patients. Ri was significantly lower in the HCM patients than that in the healthy subjects. The LV regional myocardial contractility along long-axis was impaired not only in the hypertrophied wall but also in the non-hypertrophied one in patients with HCM, suggesting that QTVI can assess accurately LV regional systolic function in patient with HCM and provides a novel means for an early diagnosis before and independent of hypertrophy.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/ultrasonography ; *Echocardiography, Doppler/methods ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

Salsola collina is widely distributed in droughty and semi-droughty area, which is used as a kind of folk remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of hypertension. The study is on the chemical constituents of this herb from its aerial parts to obtain its active constituents. Dried and crushed aerial parts of this herb were extracted three times with 95% EtOH at reflux. The ethanol extracts were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure at 70 ℃ to yield residue, which was suspended in water and successively partitioned with light petroleum, chloroform and n-butanol. The chloroform and n-butanol fractions were treated by various chromatographic techniques, such as silica gel, C18 reversed-phase silica gel and macroporous resin column chromatography. Compounds were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. In the course of our study on searching biological active components from this herb, a new alkaloid together with three known alkaloids were isolated and identified as N-transferuloyl-3-methyldopamine (1), 3-[4-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3- methoxyphenyl]-N-[2-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-2-propenamide (2), salsoline A (3), salsoline B (4). Compound 4 is a new compound and named as salsoline B, while compound 2 was obtained in Salsola collina for the first time.

Objective To assess the left ventricular longitudinal shrinkage function in liver cirrhosis patients with two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). Methods Echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography were performed in 34 patients with liver cirrhosis and 35 healthy subjects of corresponding ages. High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from apical long-axis view, four-chamber view and two-chamber view of left ventricle; then the left ventricular diameter, left atrium diameter, the peak filling velocity of E wave and A wave, E/A ratio, EF and FS were measured. The peak systolic strain of left ventricular segment was measured with two-dimensional strain software. Results Compared with healthy subjects, left ventricular diameter, left atrium diameter, EF and FS of liver cirrhosis patients were not statistically different (P>0.05), but the E/A ratio was lower (P<0.05). The peak systolic strain of most left ventricular segment in liver cirrhosis reduced significantly (P<0.05), except that of base segment of posterior wall, anterior wall, inferior wall, anterior and posterior interventricular septum, as well as middle segment of posterior interventricular septum. Conclusion The heart shape, systolic and diastole function of liver cirrhosis are abnormal. 2D-STI can early and accurately evaluate the systolic function of liver cirrhosis.

Objective:To evaluate the left ventricular rotation and twist in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) after pericardiectomy by using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), and observe its trend over time.Methods:A total of 29 patients with CP from Department of Medical Ultrasound, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from September 2014 to December 2017 underwent echocardiography 1 week before and 1 month, 6 months, 12 months after pericardiectomy. STE was performed to obtain peak values of basal and apical rotation and left ventricular twist. Twenty-nine healthy subjects were recruited as controls in the same period.Results:The left ventricu1ar apical rotation[before surgery(6.62±3.19)°, 1 month after surgery(7.07±4.02)°, 6 months after surgery(7.88±4.46)°, 12 months after surgery(7.85±4.51)°], the left ventricu1ar twist [before surgery(10.50±4.94)°, 1 month after surgery(9.42±5.40)°, 6 months after surgery(9.59±4.62)°, 12 months after surgery(9.70±4.45)°] were significantly lower in patients with CP than those in controls [(11.22±5.17)°, (16.35±5.21)°](all P<0.05); while basal rotation in patients with CP after surgery among different time points were all significantly lower than those in controls[1 month after surgery(-3.85±3.20)°, 6 months after surgery(-3.49±2.09)°, 12 months after surgery(-3.53±2.01)°; controls(-5.57±2.78)°] (all P<0.05), with no significant difference between patients with CP before surgery (-5.22±3.14)° and controls (-5.57±2.78)°( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in left ventricular twist, basal and apical rotation in CP groups before and after surgery among different time points (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Although the left ventricular global function of patients with CP in the long postoperative period seems "normal" , the left ventricular twist, basal and apical rotation are still significantly lower than those in controls. STE can be used to assess the changes of left ventricular twist and rotation in patients with CP long-term after pericardiectomy.

ObjectiveTo assess myocardial perfusion by the end-systolic and end-diastolic replenishment parameters of real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE).MethodsTwenty-one patients with myocardial infarction(MI) and normal control group of 6 cases underwent intravenous realtime myocardial contrast echocardiography via slow and homogeneous venous injections of SonoVue.MCE images were obtained from the apical 4-chamber,2-chamber,and long-axis views.According to the exponential function:y(t) =A [1 - e-kt] + B,the time intensity curves were obtained.By an off-line ECG triggering and curve fitting,the replenishment parameters A value,k value,A × k value were obtained separately from end-systolic and end-diastolic images.ResultsIn normal control group,the end-systolic replenishment parameters A value,k value,A × k value were all lower than that of the end-diastolic replenishment parameters[(6.21 ± 2.69)dB vs (7.93 ± 3.66)dB,P ＜0.05；0.36 ± 0.15 vs 0.42 ± 0.19,P ＜ 0.01 ;2.88 ± 1.29 vs 3.39 ± 1.61,P ＜0.05,respectively].The end-diastolic replenishment parameters were found significantly greater variability than the end-systolic values (variation coefficient CV:A value 46.2％ vs 43.3％,k value 45.2％ vs 41.4％,A× k value 47.5％ vs 44.8％,all P ＜0.05).In 21 patients,the end-systolic replenishment parameters in myocardial segments supplied by infarct-related coronary artery were significantly lower than that in myocardial segments supplied by non - infarct - related coronary artery.ConclusionsThe end-systolic and end-diastolic replenishment parameters of real time myocardial contrast echocardiography can assess myocardial perfusion.The variability of the end-systolic replenishment parameters is smaller than that of the end diastolic parameters.Significant variability in k-value suggests that this parameter is best suited for before-after study in the same patient.

Objective To assess the value of left ventricular (LV) twist and rotation in left-to-right shunt congenital heart diseases(CHD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI).Methods 16 patent ductus arteriosus(PDA),20 ventricular septal defect(VSD) and 36 age,sex matched normal subjects were included.LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) were measured by Biplane Simpson method,then LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated.Two-dimensional images in LV basal and apical short-axis views in three complete cardiac cycles were required.Using speckle tracking imaging,the rotation of 6 segments in basal and apical short-axis levels were measured in CHD patients and control subjects,respectively.Basal and apical rotation versus time profiles and LV twist versus time profiles were drawn.Correlation analysis of LVEDV,LVESV and LV peak twist and rotation were made respectively.Results Compared to the control group,LV peak twist and the apical rotation were increased in CDH patients,which was statistically significant (P ＜0.05).LV peak twist had significant correlation with LVEDV and LVESV.Conclusions LV volume overload which was caused by left-to-right shunt CHD significantly impacted LV twist and apical rotation,but has no significant effect in basal rotation.LV peak twist correlated with LVEDV and LVESV.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid plaque instability and coronary heart disease by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Methods Thirty-five patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 32 patients with stable coronary artery disease(sCAD) were included. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 carotid atherosclerotic plaque with thickness larger than 2.0 mm. Contrast-agent enhancement in the plaque was evaluated by visual interpretation and quantitative analysis. Results The percentage of soft plaque in ACS group was significantly higher than that in sCAD group ( P ＜0.001 ). The proportion of contrast-agent enhancement in patients with ACS was significantly than that in patients with sCAD( P =0. 037). The enhanced intensity in the plaque and the ratio of enhanced intensity in the plaque to that in the carotid artery lumen in patients with ACS were significantly larger than those in patients with sCAD ( P ＜0.001, P = 0.026, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity of prediction ACS were 74% and 60%,respectively,for enhanced intensity in the plaque and 86% and 67%, respectively, for ratio of enhanced intensity in the plaque to that in the lumen of the carotid artery. Conclusions The subjects with ACS had more intense contrast-agent enhancement than the subjects with sCAD. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used to evaluate the relationship between carotid plaque instability and coronary heart disease.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of a silicone tractor in the treatment of nipple inversion. Methods 15 patients were treated with this new type of tractor. Of all the patients, 11 were with mild to moderate nipple inversion, and 4 were serious affected patients. In the seriously affected group, the tractor was used after operation. Patients in the mild to moderate nipple inversion group was treated with the silicone tractor only. Results The result in all the patients was satisfactory after follow-ing-up for 6 to 12 months. The appearance of the nipples was well. Conclusion Continuously pulling with silicone tractor is an ideal method in nipple inversion treatment. It is simple, safe and effective.

A new phenolic glycoside was isolated from the spikes of Prunella vulgaris. Its structure was elucidated as gentisic acid 5-O-beta-D-(6'-salicylyl)-glucopyranoside by spectroscopic evidence and chemical analysis.

Objective To investigate the expression of tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen sTn in breast neoplasm,and analyzed the association between the expression of sTn and size of tumor,age,menopause,axillary lymph node metastasis,clinical stage,pathologic grade and the level of estrogen receptor in breast carcinoma.Methods The monoclonal antibody TKH-2 was used to detect the immunohistochemical expression of sTn in 46 cases of breast carcinoma,4 breast adenoma and 2 gynecomastia.The level of estrogen receptor was detected by S-P method in 46 breast carcinoma.Results Immunohistochemical expression of sTn was not detected in breast adenoma and gynecomastia.The expression of sTn was found in 28 of 46 breast carcinoma(60.9%).The expression of sTn was significantly associated with axillary lymph node metastasis(P0.05).In 46 breast carcinoma,the positive quantity of estrogen receptor was 25(54.3%).Conclusion STn immunostaining appears to be a poor prognostic factor in patients with breast carcinoma.It is more useful in detecting the expression of sTn together with the level of estrogen receptor in breast carcinoma to investigate the prognosis of the patients.