L. branch and leaf extracts inhibit lymphoma proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

L. is an annual or perennial plant in the family Solanaceae It is used in traditional medicine for treating sore throats, coughs, urinary discomfort, and astringent pain, and externally for pemphigus and eczema in northern China. The proliferation inhibitory activity and mechanisms of the ethyl acetate extract (PHY-EA) from the leaves of were investigated.

Characteristics in Initial Sandplay of Optimal and Non-optimal Family Functioning Among High School Students.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of the initial sandplay of high school students with poor family function, by studying the initial sandplay of high school students with different levels of family function, so as to provide the basics for the psychological assessment and intervention of high school students.

Significance: To provide data support for high school students' mental health education and sandplay therapy, and to apply sandplay as an intervention method to play a healing role in high school mental health work.

Methods: High school students ( = 345) were divided into 11 groups and participated in a sandplay experiment for 8 weeks from February to March 2021.

Multifunctional microcapsules: A theranostic agent for US/MR/PAT multi-modality imaging and synergistic chemo-photothermal osteosarcoma therapy.

Development of versatile theranostic agents that simultaneously integrate therapeutic and diagnostic features remains a clinical urgent. Herein, we aimed to prepare uniform PEGylated (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules (PB@(FeO@PEG-PLGA) MCs) with superparamagnetic FeO nanoparticles embedded in the shell and Prussian blue (PB) NPs inbuilt in the cavity via a premix membrane emulsification (PME) method. On account of the eligible geometry and multiple load capacity, these MCs could be used as efficient multi-modality contrast agents to simultaneously enhance the contrasts of US, MR and PAT imaging.

Vector Flow Mapping Application in Local Cardiac Function in Hypertension Assessment.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of vector flow mapping (VFM) by observing and quantifying energy loss (EL) during different phases and in different left ventricle (LV) segments.

Methods: 42 healthy physical examination subjects and 89 patients with hypertension (HTN) were enrolled in the present study. The patients with HTN were divided into two groups: the left ventricular hypertrophy group (LVH) (n = 51) and the non-left ventricular hypertrophy group (NLVH) (n = 38), while the healthy patients were control group.

Expression and subcellular analyses of CCR8a/b genes with the identification of response to SGIV viral infect in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides).

Chemokine receptors are a superfamily of seven transmembrane domain G-coupled receptors, and they play important roles in immune surveillance, inflammation, and development. Recently, nine CC chemokine receptors (CCRs) were identified and cloned from orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and annotated by phylogenetic and syntenic analyses. We detected mRNA transcripts for CCRs in healthy tissues of E.

Comparison of Echocardiographic Parameters Between Healthy Highlanders in Tibet and Lowlanders in Beijing.

Yang, Ying, Duo-Ji Zha-Xi, Wei Mao, Guang Zhi, Bin Feng, and Yun-Dai Chen. Comparison of echocardiographic parameters between healthy highlanders in Tibet and lowlanders in Beijing. High Alt Med Biol.

The application of lung ultrasound in acute decompensated heart failure in heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction.

Objectives: Lung ultrasound detection of B-lines has become a simple, semiquantitative, noninvasive tool for evaluating pulmonary congestion in heart failure (HF) patients. This study compared the correlation of B-lines with E/e', NT-proBNP, and ejection fraction (EF) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Methods: Eighty-two consecutive patients who were diagnosed with acute decompensated HF were divided into two groups: preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF, EF≥50%, n=32) and reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF, EF<50%, n=50).

Factors Related to Ventricular Size and Valvular Regurgitation in Healthy Tibetans in Lhasa.

Background: Lhasa is the main residence of Tibetans and one of the highest cities in the world. Its unique geography and ethnic population provide the chance to investigate the interactions among high altitude, ethnicity, and cardiac adaptation. Meanwhile, echocardiographic data about healthy Tibetans on a large scale are not available.

Echocardiographic characterization of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Chinese patients with myosin-binding protein C3 mutations.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common autosomal dominant cardiac disease, affecting 1 in 500 people. Myosin-binding protein C3 () gene mutations are the most common genetic cause of HCM. However, the prevalence of the gene mutation in Chinese patients with HCM, and their echocardiographic characteristics, remain unknown.

Differentiation of light-chain cardiac amyloidosis from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using myocardial mechanical parameters by velocity vector imaging echocardiography.

We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of layered velocity vector imaging (VVI)-derived left ventricular (LV) mechanical parameters in the differential diagnosis of primary light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We recruited 35 subjects with histologically-diagnosed AL-CA, 35 subjects with HCM, and 30 age-matched healthy controls. We used conventional echocardiography and electrocardiogram to evaluate general heart function and electrophysiology properties.

[Evaluation of left atrial function by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction patients].

Objective: To evaluate left atrial function changes inheart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) and Real time three-dimensional echocardiograph (RT3DE).

Methods: 43 HFpEF patients and a control group with 18 healthy subjectswere enrolled. According to left atrial max volume index (LAVImax), patients were grouped as A (LAVImax < 34 ml/m²) and B (LAVImax ≥ 34 ml/m(2)).

[Predict value of time to peak of systolic velocity derived from velocity vector imaging on cardiac resynchronization therapy response in refractory heart failure patients].

Objective: To investigate the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on left ventricular systolic function evaluated by velocity vector imaging (VVI) in refractory heart failure patients and the predictive value of VVI on CRT responses.

Methods: This study included 38 patients with medically refractory heart failure (HF) patients underwent CRT in our department from May 2007 to April 2011. Left ventricular long axis dyssynchrony indexes including time to peak of systolic velocity (Ts max-min), standard deviation of the time to peak of systolic velocity (Ts-SD) before and at 3-6 months post CRT.

Influential factors for pressure pulse waveform in healthy young adults.

The effects of gender and other contributory factors on pulse waveform are still under arguments. In view of different results caused by few considerations of possible influential factors and general agreement of gender relating to pulse waveform, this study aims to address the confounding factors interfering with the association between gender and pulse waveform characteristics. A novel method was proposed to noninvasively detect pressure pulse wave and assess the morphology of pulse wave.

Feasibility of Automated Three-Dimensional Rotational Mechanics by Real-Time Volume Transthoracic Echocardiography: Preliminary Accuracy and Reproducibility Data Compared with Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) for myocardial strain imaging may be superior to two-dimensional STE, especially with respect to rotational mechanics. Automated strain measurements from nonstitched 3D STE may improve work flow and clinical utility. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of model-based 3D STE for the automated measurement of voxel circumferential strain (Ecc) and myocardial rotation.

Uniform PEGylated PLGA Microcapsules with Embedded Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for US/MR Dual-Modality Imaging.

Well-designed agents for enhanced multimodal imaging have attracted great interests in recent years. In this work, we adopted a premix membrane emulsification (PME) method to prepare uniform PEGylated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microcapsules (MCs) with superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in the shell (Fe3O4@PEG-PLGA MCs) for ultrasound (US)/magnetic resonance (MR) bimodal imaging. Compared to Fe3O4@PLGA MCs without PEGylation, Fe3O4@PEG-PLGA MCs could more stably and homogeneously disperse in physiological solutions.

[Diagnostic value of quantitative low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography with three-dimensional speckle-tracking for non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: To access left ventricular global deformation abnormalities during low-dose dobutamine stress test (DSE) by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography(3D-STE)in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), and explore the diagnostic value of 3D-STE combined with DES for NSTE-ACS.

Methods: Forty-nine patients with suspected NSTE-ACS underwent DSE and coronary angiography with an initial dobutamine dose of 5 µg·kg(-1)·min(-1), which was doubled at 3-min intervals to the peak dose of 20 µg·kg(-1)·min(-1). The global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), territory longitudinal strain (TLS), and territory circumferential strain (TCS) of the left ventricular subendocardial myocardium were measured with 3D-STE at rest and at the peak-dose stage.

Correlative association of interleukin-6 with intima media thickness: a meta-analysis.

Background: Involvement of inflammatory processes in the atherogenesis is now well-recognized. The present study examines the relationship between a proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and atherosclerosis by meta-analyzing the correlation coefficients between IL-6 and intima media thickness reported in the relevant studies.

Method: Relevant research articles were searched in several electronic databases by using most relevant MeSH terms and keywords.

Assessment of Myocardial Infarct Size by Three-Dimensional and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography: A Comparative Study to Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography.

Objective: To compare three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) techniques in the assessment of left ventricular function and myocardial infarct size (MIS).

Methods: Thirty-two patients diagnosed with ST elevation myocardial infarction and 18 healthy control patients underwent 2D echocardiography, 3D echocardiography, and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). 3D left ventricular global area strain (GAS), 2D and 3D global longitudinal strain (GLS), global radial strain (GRS) as well as global circumferential strain (GCS) were analyzed to correlate with myocardial infarct size detected by SPECT.

[Evaluations of diastolic functions with E/e' obtained by dual-Doppler simultaneous recording of flow and tissue Doppler velocities in coronary heart disease patients with preserved systolic function].

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E) to mitral annular velocity (e') calculated by simultaneously recording E and e' in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

Methods: A total of 77 CHD patients with preserved systolic functions underwent echocardiography. Left ventricular catheterization was performed to measure left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP).

Patients with multiple sclerosis show increased oxidative stress markers and somatic telomere length shortening.

Lipid peroxidation due to oxidative stress (OS) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic systemic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Telomeres, repeated sequences that cap chromosome ends, undergo shortening with each cycle of cell division, resulting in cellular senescence. Research regarding telomere shortening has provided novel insight into the pathogenesis of various diseases.

[Myocardial protective effect of Danhong Injection evaluated by velocity vector imaging in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To observe the myocardial protective effect of Danhong Injection evaluated by velocity vector imaging (VVI) in patients with unstable angina pectoris after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and elucidate its possible mechanism.

Methods: A total of 120 patients were randomized into Danhong (DG, n = 60) or control (CG, n = 60) groups. The patients in CG group received regular medication according to the guidelines while those in DG group regular medication plus Danhong Injection before and after PCI.

[Value of evaluating diastolic function with the single-beat E/(e'×s) obtained by dual doppler echocardiograph in coronary heart disease patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function].

Objective: To assess the value of E/(e'×s) in estimating left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease by dual Doppler echocardiograph.

Methods: Seventy-seven consecutive coronary heart disease patients with preserved systolic function underwent echocardiographic study were included. The E, e'and s were obtained by the dual Doppler echocardiography and E/(e'×s), E/e' were calculated.

[Value of assessing left ventricular longitudinal systolic peak strain in differential diagnosis of primary cardiac amyloidosis from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To analyze the endocardial, myocardial, and epicardial longitudinal systolic strain (LSsys) in the left ventricle (LV) segments and walls in patients with cardiac involvement due to primary amyloidosis (AL-CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Twenty patients with biopsy-proven AL-CA, 20 with asymmetric HCM, and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers were analyzed for their clinical characteristics and underwent conventional echocardiography for evaluating LV wall thickness, left atrial and ventricle size, systolic and diastolic function and 2-dimensional velocity vector imaging for evaluating the endocardial, myocardial and epicardial LSsys of the LV segments and walls. AL-CA and HCM patients also underwent cardiac magnetic resonance to evaluate the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) features.