Objective::To explore the approach of minimally invasive transthoracic intramyocardial cellular transplantation under echocardiographic guidance to promote ischemic myocardial repair in a preclinical big-animal study.Methods::Female Guangxi Bama miniature pigs (weight: 25–30 kg) were randomly allocated into the sham group, untreated myocardial infarction (MI) group (MI group), the MI and surgical intramyocardial injection (SIM) group (MI-SIM group), and the MI and transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial injection (TTEPIM) group (MI-TTEPIM group) ( n = 4 each) using a lottery method. A swine MI model was established in the 3 groups excluding the sham group, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CM) labeled with the herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase reporter gene (hiPS-CM TK+) were transplanted by SIM in MI-SIM group and TTEPIM in MI-TTEPIM group. The operation time, postoperative recovery time of animals and volume of blood loss were collected for comparison between MI-SIM group and MI-TTEPIM group. 9-(4-[ 18F] fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl) butyl) guanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging was performed to track the hiPS-CM TK+in vivo. Cardiac function and morphology were evaluated by echocardiography. Results::The operation time and postoperative recovery time of MI-TTEPIM group were significantly shorter than those of MI-SIM group ((28.3 ± 3.6) min vs. (97.0 ± 6.7) min, P < 0.001; (1.3 ± 0.3) d vs. (7.5 ± 0.9) d, P < 0.001). MI-TTEPIM also showed significantly lesser volume of blood loss during cell transplantation than MI-SIM group ((4.3 ± 0.8) mL vs. (47.0 ± 4.1) mL, P < 0.001). The transplanted cells could be traced more accurately in vivo in MI-TTEPIM than in MI-SIM. The circumferential strain of intervention region in the MI-TTEPIM group (–25.07% ± 0.27%) was significantly higher than that of the MI-SIM (–20.39% ± 0.67%) and MI groups (–19.68% ± 0.67%), respectively ( P < 0.01). Conclusion::A minimally invasive TTEPIM protocol with stem cells for treating the ischemic myocardium was established in this study. Transplantation of hiPS-CM TK+ with this method could promote the recovery of the circumferential strain of the ischemic myocardium. The findings of this study lay a foundation for the clinical transformation of this auxiliary means of treatment in the future.

Objective::To explore the approach of minimally invasive transthoracic intramyocardial cellular transplantation under echocardiographic guidance to promote ischemic myocardial repair in a preclinical big-animal study.Methods::Female Guangxi Bama miniature pigs (weight: 25–30 kg) were randomly allocated into the sham group, untreated myocardial infarction (MI) group (MI group), the MI and surgical intramyocardial injection (SIM) group (MI-SIM group), and the MI and transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial injection (TTEPIM) group (MI-TTEPIM group) ( n = 4 each) using a lottery method. A swine MI model was established in the 3 groups excluding the sham group, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CM) labeled with the herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase reporter gene (hiPS-CM TK+) were transplanted by SIM in MI-SIM group and TTEPIM in MI-TTEPIM group. The operation time, postoperative recovery time of animals and volume of blood loss were collected for comparison between MI-SIM group and MI-TTEPIM group. 9-(4-[ 18F] fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl) butyl) guanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging was performed to track the hiPS-CM TK+in vivo. Cardiac function and morphology were evaluated by echocardiography. Results::The operation time and postoperative recovery time of MI-TTEPIM group were significantly shorter than those of MI-SIM group ((28.3 ± 3.6) min vs. (97.0 ± 6.7) min, P < 0.001; (1.3 ± 0.3) d vs. (7.5 ± 0.9) d, P < 0.001). MI-TTEPIM also showed significantly lesser volume of blood loss during cell transplantation than MI-SIM group ((4.3 ± 0.8) mL vs. (47.0 ± 4.1) mL, P < 0.001). The transplanted cells could be traced more accurately in vivo in MI-TTEPIM than in MI-SIM. The circumferential strain of intervention region in the MI-TTEPIM group (–25.07% ± 0.27%) was significantly higher than that of the MI-SIM (–20.39% ± 0.67%) and MI groups (–19.68% ± 0.67%), respectively ( P < 0.01). Conclusion::A minimally invasive TTEPIM protocol with stem cells for treating the ischemic myocardium was established in this study. Transplantation of hiPS-CM TK+ with this method could promote the recovery of the circumferential strain of the ischemic myocardium. The findings of this study lay a foundation for the clinical transformation of this auxiliary means of treatment in the future.

Objective To investigate the effects of dedicator of cytokinesis 1 (Dock180) knockout on proliferation and apoptosis in rat derived H9C2 cardiomyocytes and their mechanisms.Methods A single guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting rat Dock180 gene was designed and constructed using CRISPR/Cas9 system.A plasmid contained above sgRNA was packaged into lentivirus and selected to knockout Dock180 in the cardiomyocytes.A single clone of cardiomyocyte with Dock180 knockout was established.Cardiomyocytes were divided into negative lentivirus group (Cas9, A group), Dock180 knockout group (B group), Cas9 lentivirus hypoxia group (C group), Dock180 knockout hypoxia group (D group).The expression of Dock180 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR, and relevant proteins were detected by Western blot.The cell proliferation rate of the cardiomyocytes was determined by MTT, and the apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry.Results Dock180 mRNA and protein were absent in B andD groups.Compared with A and C groups, p-ERK1/2 and Bcl-2 protein expression and cell proliferation rate were lower in B and D groups respectively (P<0.01), while Bax protein expression and cell apoptosis rate were higher in B and D groups respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01);Compared with A group, Dock180 mRNA and protein, p-ERK1/2 and Bcl-2 proteins and cell proliferation rate were reduced, while Bax protein and cell apoptosis rate were increased in C group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with B group, p-ERK1/2 and Bcl-2 proteins and cell proliferation rate were decreased, while Bax protein and cell apoptosis rate were increased in D group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusions Dock180 knockout with CRISPR/Cas9 can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis via p-ERK1/2, Bcl-2 and Bax in H9C2 cardiomyocytes.

Purpose To observe the changes of left atrial (LA) structure and function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation by echocardiography in order to provide basis for clinical evaluation of surgery.Materials and Methods Forty-four patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation in PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to June 2016 were enrolled.According to whether or not to restore sinus rhythm after operation,the patients were divided into sinus rhythm group and atrial fibrillation recurrence group.The paramrters of LA including diameter,maximum and minimum volume,systolic volume,ejection fraction,active ejection fraction,conduit function index and dilatation index were measure by echocardiography before and at least 6 months after radiofrequency catheter ablation.The data were compared between and within groups.Results All patients were followed up for (6.0±0.5) months after ablation operation.29 of 44 patients (66％) maintained sinus rhythm;the anteroposterior,vertical,and left to right diameters of LA in patients with sinus rhythm after operation were significantly lower than those before operation,but the ejection fraction of LA increased (all P＜0.05).However,in patients with atrial fibrillation recurrence after operation,the volume of LA increased (P＜0.05);the diameters of LA did not show significant differences;the ejection and active ejection fraction of LA had significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Compared with patients with sinus rhythm after operation,patients with atrial fibrillation recurrence after operation were older and had higher proportion of hypertension (P＜0.05).Conclusion After ablation,the diameter of LA decreases and the ejection fraction increases in patients with sinus rhythm;the volume of LA increases and the function reduces in patients with atrial fibrillation recurrence.

Objective To develop a method of studying fiber projecting in the spinal cord duiring chicken embryo development.Methods At embryonic incubation 3 day (E3), pCAGGS-green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid was injected into the spinal cord using in vivo electroporation.Three days after transfection (E6), GFP-positive embryos were collected under a stereo fluorescence microscope .Subsequently , the spinal cord was separated from the embryos and cut from the roof plate as an open book .After fixed with 4%paraformaldehyde ( PFA) for one hour , the opened spinal cords were used for immunohistochemistry with N-cadherin antibody and with DAPI for nuclei .Finally, the nerve fiber projecting was photographed and analyzed under a fluorescence microscope . Results Based on the opened spinal cord and immunostaining in the cryosection , we observed that the nerve fibers projected across the midline of the floor plate and reached to the sulcus terminalis along the white matter of the contra side .The immunoreaction against N-cadherin indicated that overexpression of GFP has no significant effect on chicken embryonic development .Conclusion A new method to study fiber projecting in the developing chicken spinal cord is established successfully in this study .