The impact of working night shifts on cardiac autonomic nervous regulation during the six-minute walk test in nurses.

Background: Clinical nurses frequently face the necessity of working night shifts, often with insufficient opportunities for timely sleep recovery, which may negatively impact autonomic nervous system regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in heart rate variability (HRV) after the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in nurses post-night shift and to explore the impact of night shift work on cardiac autonomic regulation.

Methods: Thirty-five female nurses, with a mean age of 28.

Association between the stress-hyperglycemia ratio and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling populations: An analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014.

Background: Reportedly, the stress-hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is closely associated with poor prognosis in patients with severe acute disease. However, the community-dwelling may also be in a state of stress due to environmental exposure. Our study aimed to explore the association between SHR and all-cause mortality in the community-dwelling population.

The ECG abnormalities in persons with chronic disorders of consciousness.

We aimed to investigate the electrocardiogram (ECG) features in persons with chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC, ≥ 29 days since injury, DSI) resulted from the most severe brain damages. The ECG data from 30 patients with chronic DOC and 18 healthy controls (HCs) were recorded during resting wakefulness state for about five minutes. The patients were classified into vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS).

Long-pulsed ultrasound-mediated microbubble thrombolysis in a rat model of microvascular obstruction.

In up to 30% patients who experience acute myocardial infarction, successful recanalization of the epicardial coronary artery cannot provide adequate microvascular reperfusion. In this study, we sought to determine whether long-pulsed ultrasound (US)-mediated microbubble (MB) cavitation was useful for the treatment of microvascular obstruction, and the therapeutic effects were compared within different long-pulse-length and short-pulsed US. Microvascular obstruction model was established by injecting micro-thrombi into common iliac artery of a rat's hind limb.

Campylobacter fetus-induced primary psoas abscess in patient with gouty arthritis: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Campylobacter fetus is rare pathogen with high mortality rate in immunosuppressive hosts. This study aimed to summarize clinical and pathological presentation of C fetus induced psoas abscess.

Patient Concerns: A 66-year-old male patient with long medical history of poorly-controlled gouty arthritis and steroid intake complained of a severe low back pain.

Sono-assisted-thrombolysis by three-dimensional diagnostic ultrasound improves epicardial recanalization and microvascular perfusion in acute myocardial infarction.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the multiple interactions between therapeutic ultrasound (TUS), microbubbles (MB), and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) by using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound to examine the impact of thrombolysis with r-tPA on epicardial recanalization and microcirculation in patients with acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods: Acute thrombotic occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery was induced in 32 Bama pigs, who were fed a high-cholesterol diet and randomized into four groups: (I) a 3D-sono-assisted-thrombolysis (3D/TUS + MB + r-tPA) group; (II) a 3D/TUS + MB group; (III) a full-dose r-tPA group; and (IV) a 3D/TUS alone group. Epicardial angiographic recanalization rate, microcirculation in the at-risk myocardium, ST-segment elevation on electrocardiogram, and changes in the at-risk myocardium and the myocardial infarct area were compared between the groups.

Ultrasound-Mediated Microbubble Cavitation Transiently Reverses Acute Hindlimb Tissue Ischemia through Augmentation of Microcirculation Perfusion via the eNOS/NO Pathway.

Ultrasound-mediated microbubble cavitation improves perfusion in chronic limb and myocardial ischemia. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ultrasound-mediated microbubble cavitation in acute limb ischemia and investigate the mechanism of action. The animal with acute hindlimb ischemia was established using male Sprague-Dawley rats.

[Effects of polyethylene oxide on blood perfusion in the hind limbs of rats with chronic hindlimb ischemia].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of polyethylene oxide (PEO) on blood perfusion in hind limb skeletal muscles in a rat model of chronic hind limb ischemia.

Methdos: Twelve rat models of chronic hind limb ischemia established by unilateral femoral artery ligation were randomized into PEO and control groups (n=6) and treated with intravenous infusion of PEO and saline through the internal jugular vein every other day for 2 weeks. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was performed after the treatments to evaluate the blood flow in the skeletal muscles at different time points and blood flow reserve in the ischemic hind limbs on day 28.

A novel hydrodynamic approach of drag-reducing polymers to improve left ventricular hypertrophy and aortic remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs), when added in minute concentrations, have been shown to decrease peripheral vascular resistance. In this study, the effect of DRPs on the hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy and aortic remodeling was evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR and age-matched Wistar rats were divided into four groups and received intravenous injection of normal saline (NS) or DRPs.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction following early and late reperfusion by coronary intervention.

Background: This study prospectively assessed the left ventricular (LV) diastolic function changes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and determined if the early revascularization of the infarct-related coronary artery in acute phase achieve a better recovery of diastolic function than late recanalization.

Methods: Forty-five consecutive patients (61.20±11.

Drag-reducing polymers increase exercise tolerance in an ischemic hind-limb rat model.

Objective: Drag-reducing polymers are long-chain, blood soluble macromolecules that can improve microcirculation in vivo. This study aimed to examine the effects of drag-reducing polymers on exercise tolerance in a rat model of hind-limb ischemia.

Methods: After adaptive running training, bilateral femoral artery ligation models were established in 64 Wistar rats.

Association analysis between MTHFR genetic polymorphisms and the risk of congenital heart diseases in Chinese Han population.

Objectives: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are common birth defects in the world. The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is one of the most important candidate genes for the development of CHD. This case-control study aimed to evaluate the effect of MTHFR c.

Molecular imaging of the paracrine proangiogenic effects of progenitor cell therapy in limb ischemia.

Background: Stem cells are thought to enhance vascular remodeling in ischemic tissue in part through paracrine effects. Using molecular imaging, we tested the hypothesis that treatment of limb ischemia with multipotential adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) promotes recovery of blood flow through the recruitment of proangiogenic monocytes.

Methods And Results: Hind-limb ischemia was produced in mice by iliac artery ligation, and MAPCs were administered intramuscularly on day 1.

Improvement of the microcirculation in the acute ischemic rat limb during intravenous infusion of drag-reducing polymers.

Drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) are blood-soluble macromolecules that can increase blood flow and reduce vascular resistance. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of DRPs on microcirculation in rat hind limb during acute femoral artery occlusion. Two groups of 20 male Wistar rats were subjected to either hemodynamic measurement or contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU) imaging during peripheral ischemia.

Detection of coronary stenosis with myocardial contrast echocardiography using regadenoson, a selective adenosine A2A receptor agonist.

Aims: Regadenoson is comparable to adenosine in pharmacologic radionuclide stress tests but has not been studied with stress myocardial contrast echocardiography. This study assessed the haemodynamic profile and ability of regadenoson, a novel selective A(2A) receptor agonist, to detect coronary artery stenosis during myocardial contrast echocardiography.

Methods And Results: Myocardial contrast echocardiography was performed to measure myocardial blood volume, myocardial blood flow velocity, and total regional myocardial blood flow before and after administration of regadenoson (5 µg kg(-1), 10 s bolus) in 10 open-chest dogs with mild-to-moderate coronary stenosis that was not flow limiting at rest.

[Velocity vector imaging for left ventricular diastolic function assessment and the reference values].

Objective: To study value of velocity vector imaging (VVI) in assessment of normal left ventricular diastolic function and the corresponding reference values.

Methods: Ninety-seven healthy subjects were selected by combined clinical, ultrasound, and NT-proBNP examinations. Using a Siemens Acuson Sequoia C512 echocardiograph, VVI was adopted to examine the myocardial early diastolic velocity (E) of the septal, lateral, anterior, inferior, anterior septum, and posterior wall of the left ventricle at the level of mitral annulus.

A new hydrodynamic approach by infusion of drag-reducing polymers to improve left ventricular function in rats with myocardial infarction.

Background: Recent studies have shown that drag-reducing polymers (DRPs) prolonged survival time in rats with acute myocardial infarction (MI), but their effect on cardiac function post MI remains unknown. This study sought to test the hypothesis that intravenous infusion of DRPs may improve left ventricular (LV) function in rats following surgically induced MI.

Methods: MI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in 36 Sprague-Dawley rats, and sham operations were performed in 12 animals.

Molecular imaging of activated von Willebrand factor to detect high-risk atherosclerotic phenotype.

Objectives: We hypothesized that noninvasive molecular imaging of activated von Willebrand factor (vWF) on the vascular endothelium could be used to detect a high-risk atherosclerotic phenotype.

Background: Platelet-endothelial interactions have been linked to increased inflammatory activation and prothrombotic state in atherosclerosis. These interactions are mediated, in part, by platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ibα, suggesting that dysregulated endothelial vWF is a marker for high-risk atherosclerotic disease.

[Effects of acute cerebral ischemia on cerebral perfusion: quantitative evaluation by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in dogs].

Objective: To evaluate the changes of cerebral blood flow (CBF) with real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) in a canine model of acute cerebral ischemia.

Methods: Cerebral perfusion was assessed in 6 dogs subjected to craniotomy with CEU at the time of 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after occlusion of the left common carotid artery (LCCA). The microvascular volume (A) and blood flow velocity (beta) in the brain were measured from the time-versus-acoustic intensity plots, and the value of Axbeta were calculated.

[Effect of polyethylene oxide on red blood cell velocity in rat cremaster microcirculation].

Objective: To investigate the drag-reducing effect of polyethylene oxide (PEO) on the velocity of red blood cells in rat cremaster microcirculation.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 6 Wistar male rats (100-110 g) via the post-orbital venous plexus. The red blood cells were separated by centrifugation and labeled by fluorescinisothiocyate (FITC).

[Effects of polyethylene oxide at different concentrations on abdominal aortic blood flow and vascular resistance in rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution at different concentrations on abdominal aortic blood flow and vascular resistance in rats and evaluate the safety and drag-reducing effect of PEO solution.

Methods: Thirty-two rats were anesthetized and randomly divided into 4 groups. An ultrasonic flow probe was deployed on the abdominal aorta (5 mm above the common iliac artery) to measure the blood flow.

[Impact of ultrasound-mediated microbubbles on myocardial vascular permeability in rats].

Objective: To investigate the impact of high-dose microbubbles induced by high mechanical index myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) on vascular permeability and its recovery time in rats.

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 MCE groups (groups A-D) and a control group. In the MCE groups, Evans blue was injected at 10 s before MCE (A), immediately after the end of MCE (B), and at 5 min (C) and 20 min after the end of MCE (D).

[Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function using velocity vector imaging and quantitative tissue velocity imaging].

Objective: To validate the efficacy of velocity vector imaging (VVI) and quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI) for evaluating left ventricular diastolic function.

Methods: Fifty-one patients underwent left heart catheterization were included in this study. Mean of peak early diastolic velocity (Em), EF and the ratio of early (E) to late (A) mitral valve flow velocity (E/A) were measured by echocardiography and the ratio of E to Em (E/Em) was calculated.