Objective:To explore the relationship between macrophage infiltration in the coronary plaque and downstream myocardial perfusion in mice.Methods:The experimental group consisted of 20 ApoE knockout mice models of the coronary plaque established by feeding with cholesterol-rich diets, and the control group consisted of 20 sex- and age-matched C57BL/6 mice with the same genetic background as ApoE mice.Adenosine stress myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed on all experimental animals to obtain the values of A, β and A×β of the left ventricular myocardium in anteroseptal and posterior walls both in the resting status and during adenosine stress. Concentrations of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined using mouse enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits according to the manufacturer′s instructions. The degree of macrophage infiltration in the coronary plaque was evaluated by pathological immunohistochemistry staining and the correlations with the above indicators were analyzed.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in heart rate and left ventricular structural parameters between two groups (all P>0.05). The experimental group had a lower left ventricular ejection fraction( P=0.021), and higher weight and serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, IL-6, and TNF-α than the control group (all P<0.05). The values of A, β and A × β of the left ventricular myocardium in anteroseptal and posterior walls in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group during adenosine stress (all P<0.05). In the experimental group, the value of the macrophage infiltration found in the plaque of the left main coronary artery correlated positively with the level of serum TNF-α ( r=0.63, P=0.003) and negatively correlated with the values of A×β of the left ventricular myocardium in anteroseptal and posterior walls during adenosine stress ( r=-0.74, P<0.001; r=-0.72, P<0.001; respectively). Conclusions:Myocardial perfusion in ApoE knockout mice models of the coronary atherosclerosis was related with degree of macrophage infiltration in the coronary plaque, and macrophages may play a role by releasing inflammatory mediator TNF-α.

Objective: To understand the prevalence rate of pre myopia among preschoolers and its associated factors, so as to provide a basis for the formulation of myopia prevention and control policies. Methods: In May 2022, a tatol of 1 070 preschoolers in the Science City Area of Mianyang City were selected by using a cluster sampling method. The visual acuity of preschool children was obtained through refractive examination, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate associated factors of myopia in the preclinical stage by Chi square test and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of pre myopia in preschoolers was 67.01%, including 66.30% for boys and 67.76% for girls. There was no significant difference by sex( χ 2=0.26, P > 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that at least one parent with myopia, too much near work activities, time spent on outdoor activity <2 h per day, lack of sleep, and screen time ≥1 h per day were positively correlated with the occurrence of pre myopia( OR =1.62, 1.46, 1.46, 1.38, 1.53, P <0.01). Conclusion The prevalence of pre myopia among preschool children in Science City Area is high. It is suggested that parents, kindergartens and relevant departments should pay attention to the visual status of preschoolers, increase outdoor activities, ensure adequate sleep and train preschoolers to develop scientific eye hygiene habits.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of microsurgical resection in primary jugular foramen schwannomas (JFSs).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; the clinical data of 58 patients with JFSs treated by microsurgery in Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from May 2012 to June 2021 were collected. Seven patients accepted microsurgery via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach, and 51 patients accepted microsurgery via jugular foramen approach. Fifty-three patients were followed up for 4.5 years (ranged from 0.5-8.5 years); follow-ups included Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores, postoperative complications, and imaging reexaminations. Results:Fifty patients (86.2%) achieved total tumor resection and 8 (13.8%) subtotal resection. The KPS scores at discharge were 68.6±14.9, which were significantly lower than the preoperative KPS scores (77.6±13.5, t=2.452, P=0.017). During the follow-up, 5 patients(9.4%) had tumor recurrence, and 39 patients (73.6%) had improved symptoms after surgery. One patient (1.9%, modified Samii D type) died of cerebellar hemorrhage and swelling after surgery. The main complications included new/aggravated hoarseness (11/53), cerebrospinal fluid leakage (7/53), new/aggravated dysphagia (5/53), and new facial paralysis (4/53). Conclusion:In microsurgical resection of JFSs, short-term symptoms of the lower cranial nerves may be exacerbated, but long-term results are good.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between vulnerability of mouse coronary artery plaque and downstream myocardial perfusion and myocardial strain.Methods:Thirteen ApoE knockout mice with stable coronary plaques (stable plaque group)and 13 ApoE knockout mice with vulnerable coronary plaques(vulnerable plaque group) were selected as the experimental group, and 15 sex- and age-matched C57BL/6 mice with the same genetic background as ApoE mice were chosed as the control group. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was carried out to quantify regional myocardial perfusion at rest and during adenosine stress using a Vevo 2100 system (Visual sonics). Replenishment curves of myocardial contrast were obtained, and rates of signal rise (β) and plateau intensity (A) were recorded. MBF was estimated by the product of A and β. Speckle tracking imaging combined with adenosine stress test was used to evaluate the longitudinal strain of left ventricular myocardium in mice. The vulnerability of the plaque was assessed by histopathology in serial tissue sections of proximal and middle left coronary artery according to the previously reported method.Results:There were no significant differences in body weight, heart rate, left ventricular end diastolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume, left ventricular mass and ejection fraction among the three groups( P>0.05). The levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein in stable plaque group and vulnerable plaque group were significantly increased when compared with those in control group (all P<0.05). The pathological results showed that the coronary luminal stenosis rates in the stable plaque group and the vulnerable plaque group were (74.3±4.9)% and (75.5±7.1)% respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups( P>0.05). MBF of the middle anterior septum and left ventricular posterior wall in the experimental groups were significantly decreased when compared with that in the control group both in the resting status and during adenosine stress(all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the MCE parameters between the stable plaque group and the vulnerable plaque group at rest( P>0.05). However, during adenosine stress, MBF of the vulnerable plaque group was decreased more significantly than that of the stable plaque group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the values of longitudinal strain of the left ventricle in both experimental groups were decreased during resting status, without statistical significance (all P>0.05), but decreased significantly during adenosine stress and with more decrease in the vulnerable plaque group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:For the same degree of coronary artery stenosis in mice, the coronary artery vulnerable plaque group has less downstream myocardial perfusion and myocardial strain than the stable plaque group during adenosine stress. That is, the plaque vulnerability can affect the downstream myocardial perfusion and myocardial strain in the mouse model.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging provides accurate anatomic information and advanced soft contrast, making it the reference standard for assessing cardiac volumes and systolic function. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in CMR sequences. New technical development has widened the use of CMR imaging beyond the simple characterization of myocardial scars and assessment of contractility. These novel CMR sequences offer comprehensive assessments of coronary plaque characterization, myocardial fiber orientation, and even metabolic activity, and they can be readily applied in clinical settings. CMR imaging is able to provide new insights into understanding the pathophysiologic process of underlying cardiac disease, and it can help physicians choose the best treatment strategies. Although several limitations, including the high cost and time-consuming process, have limited the widespread clinical use of CMR imaging so far, recent advances in software and hardware technologies have made the future more promising.
Cardiac Volume ; Cardiology ; Cicatrix ; Heart Diseases ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective To explore the effects of adenosine stress on myocardial perfusion in healthy mice by myocardial contrast echocardiography ( MCE) . Methods MCE was carried out to quantify regional myocardial perfusion at rest and during adenosine stress using a VEVO 2100 system in 26 C57BL/6 mice . Echocardiography images from standardized parasternal long axis and short axis at papillary muscle level were consecutively acquired in real‐time . All dynamic images were recorded for off‐line analysis . Left ventricular myocardial perfusion quantitative parameters were acquired both under resting status and during adenosine stress . Replenishment curves of myocardial contrast were obtained and myocardial blood flow ( MBF) was calculated . Results Twenty‐six experimental animals successfully underwent MCE before and during adenosine stress . T here was no significant difference in heart rate ,left ventricular structure and functional parameters before and during adenosine stress ( all P ＞0 .05) . Rates of signal rise β values which were used to estimate blood velocity of middle anterior septum and posterior wall in left ventricular long‐axis view and anterior wall ,lateral wall ,inferior wall and septal wall in short‐axis view at papillary muscle increased significantly during stress compared with those at rest ( all P ＜0 .05 ) . T here was no significant difference in the plateau intensity A values( all P ＞0 .05 ) . T he MBF in each segment of the myocardium increased significantly during stress compared with those in resting state ( all P ＜0 .05) . Conclusions T he physiological characteristics of myocardial perfusion in mice before and during adenosine stress were preliminarily obtained ,w hich provided a basis for the application of adenosine stress echocardiography in cardiovascular disease models such as coronary heart disease in mice .

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging provides accurate anatomic information and advanced soft contrast, making it the reference standard for assessing cardiac volumes and systolic function. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in CMR sequences. New technical development has widened the use of CMR imaging beyond the simple characterization of myocardial scars and assessment of contractility. These novel CMR sequences offer comprehensive assessments of coronary plaque characterization, myocardial fiber orientation, and even metabolic activity, and they can be readily applied in clinical settings. CMR imaging is able to provide new insights into understanding the pathophysiologic process of underlying cardiac disease, and it can help physicians choose the best treatment strategies. Although several limitations, including the high cost and time-consuming process, have limited the widespread clinical use of CMR imaging so far, recent advances in software and hardware technologies have made the future more promising.

Objective: To investigate the antiviral effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene-specific anti-gene locked nucleic acid (LNA) in transgenic mice. Methods: A total of 30 HBV transgenic mice were randomly divided into blank control group (5% glucose + liposome), unrelated sequence control group, lamivudine control group, antisense LNA control group, and anti-gene LNA group, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the lamivudine group were given lamivudine by gavage, and LNA was injected via the caudal vein. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure serum HBV DNA, ELISA was used to measure serum HBsAg, RT-PCR was used to measure HBV S mRNA level in the liver, and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the level of HBsAg in hepatocytes. Results: At 3, 5, and 7 days after treatment, there were significant changes in the inhibition rates of HBV DNA (37.18%, 50.27%, and 61.46%, respectively) and HBsAg (30.17%, 44.00%, and 57.76%, respectively) achieved by anti-gene LNA (P < 0.01), and there were significant differences between the anti-gene LNA group and the other four control groups (P < 0.05). In the anti-gene LNA group, the relative mRNA expression of HBV S gene was 0.33 and the percentage of HBsAg-positive hepatocytes was 31%, which were significantly different from these two indices in the control groups (P < 0.05). There were no abnormal changes in liver/renal biochemical parameters and HE staining results. Conclusion Anti-gene LNA targeting at HBV S gene has a strong antiviral effect in transgenic mice, which provides theoretical and experimental bases for gene therapy for HBV.

Objective To assess the reproducibility of contrast-enhanced echocardiography and conventional echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular volume in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Methods One hundred and two patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy were divided into satisfactory image group(36 subjects) and unsatisfactory image group(66 subjects) according to the quality of the recorded images.High frame rate two-dimensional and three-dimensional images were recorded from apical long-axis view,four-chamber view and two-chamber view of left ventricle. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography was performed in the unsatisfactory image group.Two equally experienced examiners measured the LVEF and left ventricular volume in all patients by EchoPac software. Results The reproducibilities of Simpson′s biplane method and 3D full-volume echocardiography were low for measurements of LVEF in unsatisfactory image group ( P < 0.01).But they were improved significantly with contrast-enhanced echocardiography ( P > 0.05 ). The reproducibilities of Simpson′s biplane method and 3D full-volume echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular end-diastolic volume in unsatisfactory image group were also improved by performing contrast-enhanced echocardiography ( P > 0.05). The reproducibilities for measurements of left ventricular end-systolic volume were well in both group.Conclusions The reproducibilities for measurements of LVEF and left ventricular volume are improved in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy with unsatisfactory images by using contrast-enhanced echocardiography.

Objective To explore the effects of adenosine stress on myocardial strain in healthy mice by speckle tracking imaging (STI).Methods A high-resolution rodent ultrasound machine Vevo 2100 was used to perform conventional transthoracic echocardiography at baseline and after intravenous infusion of adenosine in 34 C57BL/6 mice.Echocardiography images from standardized parasternal long axis and short axis at papillary muscle level were consecutively acquired in real-time.All dynamic images were recorded for off-line analysis.Left ventricular myocardial mechanical strain parameters were acquired both under resting status and during adenosine stress.Results Thirty-four experimental animals successfully underwent STI before and during adenosine stress. There was no significant difference in heart rate,left ventricular structure and functional parameters between before and after the adenosine stress ( P >0.05).Global peak longitudinal strain value in left ventricular long-axis view was significantly increased during stress compared with those at resting status ( P < 0.05);while there was no significant increase in the global peak circumferential strain and global peak radial strain values in short-axis view at papillary muscle ( P >0.05).Conclusions Myocardial strain is obtained in healthy mice before and after adenosine stress.This provides an evidence to the application of stress echocardiography in mice with coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular disease in the future.