Objective To evaluate the systolic and diastolic function in hypertrophic segments by myocardial strain rate imaging in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).Methods Ten patients with HCM in the mid segment of the ventricular septum and 20 age-matched healthy controls were included.The myocardial strain rate (SR) curves in bas,mid and apical segments were respectively acquired on the left ventricular septum longitudinal axis position for all the participants,and the SR curves of endocardial,mid-myocardial,epicardial layers in mid segment were also acquired.The SR values including the peak systolic SR,the peak early-diastolic SR,the peak late-diastolic SR were respectively measured,the left ventricular eject fraction (EF) and the Doppler transmitral filling velocities (E and A values) were also measured.Results SR values measured from the hypertrophic segments were significantly lower than those from the corresponding segments of the septum in control group (P

Objective To evaluate left atrial (LA) function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3D) and speckle tracking imaging (STI) after circumferential ablation of pulmonay vein ostia for atrial fibrillation guided by carto mapping system. Methods Thirty patients who had ablation procedure for paroxysmal atrial fibillation were accepted echocardiography to estimate the LA function at pre-operation,3 days and 3 months of post-operation. The LA maximal, minimal and pre-systolic volume (LAVmax, LAVmin and LAVp), LA passive ejection fraction (LAPEF), LA active ejection fraction (LAAEF) were measured by RT-3DE respectively. The strain rate curve was acquired in each LA segment (anterior, posterior, lateral, inferior and septal) by STI. Systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate(SRa) of each left atrial segments were measured. Results Comparing with preoperative,3 days post-ablation SRs,SRe and SRa decreased significantly in each wall of LA. After 3 months,SRa and SRe in anterior, inferior and septal were significantly improved, however, SRs showed no significant difference. LAVmax and LAVpre were significantly decreased. LAPEF and LAAEF were significantly improved. Conclusions The patients with circumferential pulmonary vein ablation were in a deterioration after three days. The pump function and conduit functions of left atrial were increased after 3 months.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of rAAV2-SERCA2a gene targeted to myocardium by the ultrasound mediated microbubbles in rats with myocardial infarction(MI) using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods Thirty-five male SD rats were divided into Sham group, MI group and gene therapy group. rAAV2-SERCA2a was attached to the surface of SonoVue, sulphur hexafluoride-filled microbubbles. Therapy group animals were infused with those mixed fluids through tail vein. The other two groups were infused with SonoVue microbubbles. These bubbles were infused with simultaneous echocardiography. Four weeks after ultrasound microbubbles destructed,Circumferential strain rate(SRcir), radial strain rate(SRrad) and left ventricular torsion (LVtor) of regional myocardium were measured in short-axis view using speckle tracking imaging software for each animal. Results Compared with the M1 group,there were significant increase in SRcir-S,SRcir-E, SRrad-S,SRrad-E and LVtor in rats of gene therapy group( P ＜0. 01 ). There was no significant difference between gene therapy group and sham group. Conclusions rAAV2-SERCA2a gene targeted to myocardium by the ultrasound mediated microbubbles could enhance cardiac function of rats with MI.

Objective To study the best titer of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (rAAV2) delivered to myocardium by targeted ultrasound microbubbles. Methods Twenty one adult SD rats were divided into seven groups. SonoVue attached with different titer [1.5 × 109~ 3.0 × 1011 vg/ml (virus genome/ml)] of rAAV2-EGFP was infused into the tail vein of rats, following ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction,as experiment groups. Normal saline was infused into the tail vein of rats as the control group (without rAAV2). Rats were killed after 14 days and hearts were harvested. GFP protein expression which showed rAAV2 transfer was observed under fluorescence microscope in frozen section and integrate optical density(IOD) was measured by Image Pro Plus software. Results When the titer of rAAV2 was 1.5 × 1011 vg/ml infused into the tail vein of rats there was much more GFP expression in myocardium than lower titers (P <0.01). Conclusions The best titer of rAAV2 delivered to myocardium by targeted ultrasound microbubbles is 1.5 × 1011 vg/ml in the tail vein infusion of rats.

Objective To evaluate the relationship among segmental dyssynchrony indexes, reginal ejection frction(EF) and global EF of left ventricle(LV) in the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Standard deviation(SD) and maximal difference (Dif) in the time to minimal systolic volume in user-selected LV segments (Tmsv SeI-SD, Tmsv SeI-DIF) of LV global EF (LV-EF), reginal ejection fraction (REF) were acquired by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in 27 controls and 24 DCM dyssynehrony patients. Data were grouped separately for 3 levels of the basal, mid and apical segments. Results The values of Tmsv SeI-SD and Tmsv SeI-DIF were linearly negatively correlated with REF in mid segment of DCM (r =-0.6921,-0.6384, P<0.01). It existed exclusive linear regression between Tmsv Sel-SD,Tmsv SeI-DIF and LV-EF only in mid segment's dyssynchrony indexes among three segments(β= -0.7836, -0.7801, P<0.01). Each REF in three segments was linear regression relationship with LV-EF(β= 0.2234,0.7506,0.1880, P <0.05) especially in mid segment. Conclusions The Tmsv SeI-SD, Tmsv SeI-DIF and REF of mid segment are important factors to influence left ventricular function in the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective To study the changes of left ventricular structure and function after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect(ASD)by strain rate(SR)imaging.Methods Twenty-eight patients with secundum type ASD were undergone transcatheter closure.Left and right ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVED and RVED),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),the Doppler transmitral filling velocities(E values and A values)and tricuspid regurgitation pressure were measured respectively at pre-operation,3 days,1 month and 3 months of post-operation.According to tricuspid regurgitation pressure,systolic pulmonary artery pressure(SPAP)was estimated.SR curves in all segments of left ventricular walls were acquired for all patients.The SR values including the peak of systolic SR,early-diastolic SR,late-diastolic SR were measured respectively.ResultsAfter operation,LVED,LVEF,E values and A values increased significantly while RVED and SPAP decreased.Almost all left ventricular walls' SR increased at post-operation except that SR of interventricular septeum(IVS)and left ventricular post wall(LVPW)decreased at 3 days,1 month of post-operation.Conclusions LV systolic and diastolic function are improved after operation,but SR characteristic changes of IVS and LVPW is the one of the most unique characters.

Objective To detect the expressions of HuR and COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma,and investigate the correlation of HuR and COX-2 expression. In addition, we attempt to seek the pathway to prevent the occurrence and development of epithelial ovarian cancer by combined analysis of various clinicopathologic characteristics. Methods The expressions of HuR and COX-2 in 68 epithelial ovarian carcinoma, 10 borderline ovarian tumors and 5 normal ovarian tissues were examined by S-P immunohistochemical method. The relationship of HuR and COX-2 expressions with clinicopathologic parameterwere evaluated by correlation analysis. Results(1) The expression of HuR in epithelial ovarian cancer tissue (76. 47% ,52/68) was significantly higher than that in borderline epithelial ovarian tumor tissues (30. 00% ,3/10) and normal ovarian tissues (0, x2 = 18. 873, Ps ＜ 0. 05), but there were no significant differences betweenthe expressions of HuR in borderline epithelial ovarian tumor and normal ovarian tissue(P ＞ 0. 05).(2) The positive expression rate of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor were 45.60% (31/68) and 10. 00% (1/10) respectively,but normal ovarian tissues showed no staining of HuR. We found no significant differences between the expression of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor or normal ovarian tissue(x2 = 7. 999 ,P =0. 018).(3) The positive expression rate of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma of FIGO stage Ⅲ - Ⅳ was significantly higher than that of stage Ⅰ - Ⅱ(56. 09% vs. 29. 63%, x2 = 4. 598, P = 0. 032). The positive expression rates of cytoplasmic HuR in epithelial ovarian carcinoma of histological grade 1,2,3 were 10. 00%,46. 67% ,57. 14% respectively, which showed significant difference in the comparison among the three groups (x2 =6. 627 ,P =0. 036). (4) The positive expression rates of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian cancer (67. 64%)and borderline epithelial ovarian tumor tissues (60. 00%) were significantly higher than that in normal ovarian tissues (0, Ps ＜ 0. 05), but we found no significant difference in the comparison between the expression of malignant and borderline ovarian tumors. Statistical analysis showed that the positive expression rate of COX-2 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma was correlated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis. (5)There was a significantly positive correlation between cytoplasmic HuR and COX-2 expressions in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Conclusion The expressions of HuR and COX-2 increased in the epithelial ovarian carcinoma, and the cytoplasmic expression of HuR was significantly correlated with the expression of COX-2. These results suggested that increased cytoplasmic expression of HuR and COX-2 expression might play important roles in the initiation and development of epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasonography in evaluating the femoral artery thrombosis in rabbit. Methods Thrombosis was induced by external application with 10% ferric chloride and transient femoral artery-occlusion with bulldog clamp in twenty New-Zealand rabbits. The thrombosis was monitored by both Doppler flowmeter and ultrasonography. The histopathological result was used as the golden standard. The consistency of the above two results with the golden standard was analyzed. Results Thirty-two femoral arteries thrombosis were produced successfully. There was high consistency between the results of ultrasonic evaluation and histopathological examination (Kappa = 0. 720, P ＜ 0. 001 ), and moderate consistency between the results of Doppler flowmeter evaluation and histopathological examination (Kappa = 0. 546, P ＜0. 001 ). Within the thirty-two femoral arteries thrombosis, there were nineteen arteries with occlusive thrombus examined by histopathological means. Both the results of Doppler flowmeter and ultrasonography were highly consistent with the results of histopathological examination (Kappa = 0. 800 and 0.798 respectively, P ＜ 0. 001 ). Conclusions There is high consistency between the results of ultrasonic evaluation and histopathological examination for the common femoral artery thrombosis in rabbit.In the non-occlusive thrombus diagnosing,ultrasonography is better than Doppler flowmeter.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function after acute myocardial infarction (MI) in rats using speckle tracking imaging (STI). Methods The left anterior descending coronary was ligated to induce MI in twenty normal rats. One day after creation of MI, fifty survivals based on the diagnostic criteria of MI were divided into 4 groups as follows:pre-infarction, 1 day,4weeks,and 8 weeks after MI. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate the changes of left ventricularfunction in rats. M-mode and two-dimensional cross-sectional echocardiography data were acquired at the papillary muscle level and digitally stored for further analysis. Circumferential strain rate(SRcir) and radial strain rate(SRrad) indexes were measured by STI software for each animal. Results One day after MI,indexes of SRcir and SRrad in anterior and lateral segments were significantly decreased (P ＜0.01, for both). Four weeks after MI,compared with baseline,SRrad and SRcir were decreased in all segments ( P ＜0.01). Eight weeks after MI, however, SRrad and SRcir showed no significant difference compared with 4weeks group. Conclusions STI can correctly identify LV dysfunction in rats and can be used for serial assessment of cardiac remodeling in rats models.

BACKGROUND:Due to the different transplantation time after myocardial infarction, the homing ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels to damaged tissues as wel as the repairing role wil be very different. OBJECTIVE:To explore the optimal window time for the homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels to the myocardial tissue after myocardial infarction. METHODS: Eighteen Chinese miniature pigs were modeled by the ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery. BrdU-labeled bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were injectedvia the coronary artery at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks after modeling, respectively. Then, the animals were kiled at 3 days after cel transplantation to detect the home of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels in the infarct zone. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:BrdU-labeled positive cels with brown nuclei were visible at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after myocardial infarction, especialy at 1 week after myocardial infarction (P < 0.05). It indicates that the best homing window for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels was at week after myocardial infarction, when the stem cel transplantation is given to be able to promote myocardial repair.