【Objective】 To investigate the improvement of signal uniformity in cardiac magnetic resonance image by adjusting the transmit gain (TG). 【Methods】 For this study we recruited 11 volunteers for cardiac MR scans between July and September 2018. The scanner of US GE Discovery 750 3.0T superconducting MRI was used. We divided the volunteers into normal group and overweight group according to their individual BMI index. The imaging sequences consisted of the black blood double inversion recovery sequence (T1 weighted image and T2 weighted image) and breath-holding black blood three-inversion recovery sequence (FST1 weighted image and FST2 weighted image). All sequences were performed across different TG values, including 150, 160, 170, 180, and 190. The images’ quality was scored by two experienced radiologists using a four-point system based on the blinding principle. The paired variance analysis was made to compare the image quality of different TG groups. 【Results】 We observed consistent results in both normal and overweight groups. The optimal TG value was 160 for black blood triple inversion recovery sequence and 170 for black blood double inversion recovery sequence. 【Conclusion】 Adjusting the TG value can improve the signal uniformity of the myocardium, thereby improving the quality of images.

Objective To study the variation of the level of lipids, OX-LDL and vascular intimal injury in diet-induced hyperlipidemic and chronic Cpn-infected mice and the interventional functions of berberine. Methods C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into 6 groups: Berl group, Ber2 group, azithromycin group, atorvastain group, cholesterol + Cpn group, and normal group. Mice were inoculated intranasally with Cpn for three times, every 2 weeks over a 6-week period and feeding with high cholesterol diet. Berl group was administrated with berberine at the beginning of CPn infecting, while ber2 group, azithromycin group and atorvastain group were administrated with the drug after the 3rd CPn infecting. The serum index, HE dye of the aortas and electron microscopic examination were observed. Results Lipids disorder, increased level of OX-LDL and vascular intimal injury were found. The level ofTC, LDL, TG OX-LDL in Bet group, azithromycin group, and atorvastain group declined in different extent. Conclusion Berberine has effects of regulating lipids disorder, OX-LDL and protecting vascular intima of diet-induced hyperlipidemic and chronic Cpn-infected mice.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of Chlamydia pneumonia (Cpn) infection on haemorheology and atherosclerosis and the intervention of Huanglian Jiedu decoction (HJT).

METHODAt the beginning of the experiment, all the sixty New-Zealand rabbits were token blood to test Cpn IgG and all the results were negative. Eight New-Zealand rabbits were randomized into normal group F, and all other rabbits were fed with forage containing 2.5 g x kg(-1) cholesterol and infected with Cpn via nasophrynx for three times during 6 weeks. At the end of the sixth week, forty-four rabbits with serum Cpn IgG positive were randomized into four groups: Group A treat with HJD 2 g x kg(-1) d(-1) by gastric gavage, group B with HJT 1 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), group C with azithromycin 20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), model group D with normal saline for six weeks. Group E was set up in eight rabbits with serum Cpn IgG negative and served as the control. At the end of 18th week, blood was token from middle ear artery to test haemorheology such as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, haematocrit, erythrocyte aggregation index (EAI), erythrocyte rigidity index (IRI), and erythrocyte deformability index (EDI). After that, all the rabbits were executed and the pathological features of aorta tissue were observe under microscope.

RESULTHaemorheological disorder and atherosclerotic changes were obvious in both group D and E. while maximum intimal thickness (MIT) (23.65 +/- 8.19 vs 12.76 +/- 4.06), atherosclerotic damage percentage (P(LCI)) (41.08 +/- 12.51 vs 22.43 +/- 9.45), plaque area index (I(PA)) (9.57 +/- 1.82 vs 2.84 +/- 0.25) in group D was much higher than that in group E (all P < 0.01). Compare with group D, haemorphological disorder and atherosclerotic changes were much improved in group A, B and C. MIT (6.45 +/- 1.27 vs 23.65 +/- 8.19), (P < 0.01), P(LCI) (22.39 +/- 6.74 vs 41.08 +/- 12.51), (P < 0.05) and I(PA) (1.44 +/- 0.33 vs 9.57 +/- 1.82), (P < 0.01) in group A was much lower than that in group D. And MIT (12.65 +/- 3.63 vs 23.65 +/- 8.19), (P < 0.01) and I(PA) (4.43 +/- 1.17 vs 9.57 +/- 1.82), (P < 0.05) in gruoup B was much lower than that in group D too.

CONCLUSIONCpn infection could aggravate the haemorheology disorder in cholesterol-supplemented-diet rabbits, and both antidotal decoction of Coptis and azithromycin can alleviate it.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chlamydophila Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; physiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

Objective To study the effect of heat-clearing and detoxicating remedy on the Level of Serum Hs-CRP, WBC and homocysteine in patients with Atherosclerosis. Methods 50 patients were be selected and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treated group was treated with SanHuang pill for 2 weeks in addition to the basal treatment of western medicine, and the control group was treated with western medicine. The level of serum hs-CRP, WBC and homocysteinemia were observed. Results The level of serum Hs-CRP, WBC and homocysteinemia declined in different extent after treated by SanHuang pill, the treated group showed a better result than the control group. Conclusions Heat-clearing and detoxicating remedy can reduce the level of serum Hs-CRP and homocysteine.

BACKGROUND: Brain-awakening nasal sprayer is composed of many herbs,such as Chuanxiong and Shichangpu, which were regarded by "Shennong Bencaojing" as having the function of "preventing stroke in the brain".OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of free radicals and nitric oxide synthase in rat brain following focal ischemic-reperfusional injury due to brain-awakening nasal sprayer intervention and compare with that due to classical nimodipine.DESIGN: A randomized controlled study.SETTING: Department of internal medicine of a hospital affiliated to a traditional Chinese medical university.MATERIALS: Seventy adult male Wistar rats of clean grade, were randomly divided into seven groups: brain-awakening nasal sprayer of higher dosage group, moderate dosage group, lower dosage group, nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group, physical saline nasal sprayer group, menstruum nasal sprayer group, and sham operation group with 10 rats in each.METHODS: Focal brain ischemia-reperfusion model was established by blocking the left cerebral middle artery in rats of all the groups except sham operation group. Three days before model establishment and during reperfusion, rats were given different dosages of brain-awakening nasal sprayer composed of Chuanxiongqin and Shichangpu of 5.4, 2.7, 1.08 mg/(kg · d) and 1.35, 0. 54, 0.27 g/(kg· d), respectively, three times a day; which was replaced by physical saline and menstruum nasal sprayer of 0. 18 mL/ (kg · d),three times a day in physical saline nasal sprayer group and menstruum nasal sprayer group; rats in nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group received intraperitoneal injection of nimodipine by 0. 8 mg/(kg · d) twice a day. Rats in sham operation group were routinely raised. The content of prodialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide synthase were measured with colorimetric method.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① The changes of prodialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide synthase activity in rat brain following focal ischemic-reperfusional injury in groups of different dosage of brain-awakening nasal sprayer and other groups. ② Comparison between different dosage brain-awakening nasal sprayer intervention groups and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group.RESULTS: Eight rats died during model establishment and the other 62 rats entered the results analysis. ① Content of prodialdehyde: It was significantly lower in higher dosage group and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group than in physical saline nasal sprayer group [ (0.92 ± 0. 32), (0. 87 ± 0. 39)vs(1.35 ±0. 34) μmol/g, P ＜ 0.05], but there was no difference between higher dosage group and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group. ② Activity of superoxide dismutase: It was obviously higher in higher dosage group and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group than in physical saline nasal sprayer group[ (35.64 ± 11.67), (33.88 ± 7. 15) vs(20. 70 ± 3.88) NU/mg,P ＜ 0. 05 ], but no difference could be observed between higher dosage group and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group. ③ Activity of nitric oxide synthase and superoxide dismutase: It was found obviously higher in higher dosage group and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group than in physical saline nasal sprayer group[ (4.64 ± 1.22), (5.00 ± 1.10) vs (3.08 ± 1.12) mkat/g, P ＜ 0.05], but no difference could be observed between higher dosage group and nimodipine intraperitoneal injection group.④ The activity of nitric oxide synthase and superoxide dismutase slightly increased while prodialdehyde slightly decreased in moderate dosage group,lower dosage group and menstruum nasal sprayer group, which did not differ significantly from physical saline nasal sprayer group.CONCLUSION: Brain-awakening nasal sprayer intervention exerts multiple effects such as preventing lipo-peroxidation following brain ischemic- reperfusional injury, in addition to suppressing prodialdehyde production, attenuating injury induced by free radicals and increasing nitric oxide synthase activity, thereby playing a similar role to nimodipine in protecting against brain ischemic-reperfusionaldamage

[Objective] To observe the preventive effect and mechanism of heat-clearing and toxicity-removing therapy for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to explore the relationship of ACS with inflammation. [Methods] Fifty five ACS patients were randomized into 2 groups:41 patients in group A were treated with Sanhuang Tablets (mainly composed of Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Radix Scutellariae and Rhizoma Coptidis) p.o., 4 tablets one time, twice a day, and a routine treatment for anticoagulation, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-myocardial ischemia; 14 patients in group B were given routine treatment for anticoagulation, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-myocardial ischemia. The treatment course lasted 2 weeks. After treatment, improvement in symptoms such as chest pain, chest distension, short breath, palpitation, fever, spontaneous sweating, insomnia, lassitude, aversion to cold and cold limbs was compared between group A and group B by scoring method. Meanwhile, inflammatory indicators in the two groups were also observed before and after treatment. [Results] The decrease in symptom scores, as well as the decrease in blood C-reactive protein (CRP) , tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-?) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) , was obvious in group A than that in group B (P

ive] To observe the therapeutic effect of Naoxing Granule (NG) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to explore its mechanism. [Methods] Single-blind controlled trial was applied. Two hundred cases of AIS were randomly allocated to Group A (n = 150, treated with NG) and Group B (n = 50, treated with nimodipine). Therapeutic effect of NG was observed and plasma free radical levels and the ratio of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and prostaglandin 2 (PGI2) were detected. [Results] The total effective rate was 91.3%and 76.0% , and the remarkably effective rate was 62.0% and 46.0% in Group A and Group B respectively ( P

[Objective] To observe levels of plasma endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene - related peptide (CGRP) in rats with myocardial hypertrophic heart failure affected by Yang Xin Kang (composed of Radix Ginseng, Radix Ophio-pogonis, Radix flicis Pubescetis, etc.) and its mechanism. [Methods] Rat models with myocardial hypertrophic heart failure was established by subcutaneous injection of isoprenaline for 13 days. Fifty rats were allocated to five groups: normal control (Group A), model (Group B), digoxin (Group C), high dosage of Yang Xin Kang (Group D) and low dosage of Yang Xin Kang (Group E). ET and CGRP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay method. [Results] ET level in Group B was higher and CGRP level lower than those in Group A (P

[Objective] To study the pharrnacodynamic effect of Bao Xin Kang on animal models with cardiac insufficiency (CI) . [Methods] CI animal models were established by constricting the abdominal aortae in rabbits. The pathological results in different groups were compared. The hemodynamics indices such as LVEDP and?dp/dtmax and NO level were measured. [Results] Compared with the model group, the high dose of Bao Xin Kang can lessen the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the myocardium and relieve the pulmonary edema in animals and improve the hemodynamics indices. LVEDP was decreased ( P

Objective To explore the relationship of TCM syndromes in chronic heart failure (CHF) with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods Two hundred and ninety-six CHF patients were classified into the syndromes of Qi deficiency (21 patients), Qi deficiency and blood stasis (98), fluid retention due to Qi deficiency and blood stasis (72), blood stasis due to the deficiency of Qi and yang (56), and blood stasis and fluid retention due to the deficiency of Qi and yang (49). LVMI and LVEF in different syndromes were campared.Results LVMI presented an increasing sequence and LVEF presented a decreasing sequence in the syndromes of Qi deficiency, Qi deficiency and blood stasis, fluid retention due to Qi deficiency and blood stasis, blood stasis due to the deficiency of Qi and yang, and blood stasis and fluid retention due to the deficiency of Qi and yang. Between the syndromes of Qi deficiency, Qi deficiency and blood stasis, and fluid retention due to Qi deficiency and blood stasis, there were significant differences of LVMI and LVEF (P0.05), but LVMI and LVEF in these two syndromes differed from those in the former three syndromes (P