Value of Low-Dose Dobutamine Stress Real-Time Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography in the Diagnosis of Coronary Heart Disease.

To investigate the value of low-dose dobutamine stress real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). A total of 65 hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed CHD were detected by RT-MCE combined with low-dose dobutamine stress (0.84 mg/kg).

A computer-aided diagnostic algorithm improves the accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography for left atrial thrombi: a single-center prospective study.

Objectives: We investigated whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) assisted with a computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) algorithm was superior to TEE in diagnosing left atrial (LA)/left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in a single prospective study.

Methods: Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in patients with AF, and images were reconstructed. Gray level co-occurrence matrix-based features were calculated and then classified using an artificial neural network.

Effect of graft patency on the prediction of myocardial viability by dobutamine stress and myocardial contrast echocardiography before coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Myocardial functional recovery after revascularization is considered the "gold standard" for myocardial viability (MV) assessment. However, the patency of the revascularized coronary artery affects myocardial functional recovery in patients subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The influence of graft patency on viability results has not been widely studied.

[On angiotensin II receptor distribution after myocardial infarction in dogs].

Objective: To investigate the effects of valsartan on expression of angiotensin II receptors in different regions of heart after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Canines were divided into sham-operated control group (n=7), infarction group (n=7) and Valsartan group (10 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) for 4 weeks after MI operation, n=7). Four weeks after operation, Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) was used to evaluate regional ventricular function in the noninfarcted myocardium (apical and basal near to the infarction region).

[Effects of Trimetazidine upon ventricular remodeling and GLUT4 in diabetic rats after myocardial infarction].

Objective: The aim of study is to investigate the changes of structure and function of heart in diabetic rat after myocardial infarction, and to study the expression of the GLUT4 and the effects of trimetazidine on the ventricular remodeling.

Methods: Type 2 diabetes rat was made by feeding with a diet enriched with sucrose, fat and cholesterol for six weeks and then injecting streptozocin intraperitoneally, then the myocardial infarction by ligating coronary artery. The living rats were randomly divided into three groups twenty-four hours after operation: placebo; trimetazidine and sham operated with diabetes.

Chronic blocking of beta 3-adrenoceptor ameliorates cardiac function in rat model of heart failure.

Background: Stimulation of the heart beta 3-adrenoceptor (AR) may result in a negative inotropic effect. Being up-regulated, beta 3-AR plays a more important role in the regulation of cardiac function during heart failure. However, the effect of chronic blocking of beta 3-AR on heart failure has not been fully elucidated.

Relationship between testosterone and indexes indicating endothelial function in male coronary heart disease patients.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between androgen level and the indexes indicating endothelial function in male patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: We registered the following data for 106 50-70-year-old men: age, weight, blood lipid, including total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride, whether a smoker, sugar levels, blood pressure, free testosterone (FT), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery, common carotid diameter, maximum velocity in systolic phase, minimum velocity in diastolic phase and resistant index. Among the 106 men, 51 were patients with CHD.

[The effects of combined beta(1) adrenergic receptor antagonist and beta(2) adrenergic receptor agonist therapy on cardiac function and myocardial apoptosis in heart failure rats].

Objective: To observe the effects of combined beta(1) adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist with beta(2)AR agonist therapy on cardiac function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in heart failure rats.

Methods: Heart failure was induced by isoproterenol and rats were randomly divided into metoprolol group (50 mg/kg twice daily/gavage, n = 11), combined treatment group (fenoterol 125 microg/kg and metoprolol 50 mg/kg twice daily/gavage, n = 11) and placebo group (saline, n = 10), another normal 9 male Wistar rats served as control group. After 8 weeks' treatment, cardiac function, apoptosis index (AI), Caspase-3 activity, expression levels of bcl-2 and bax protein, organ weight/body weight and collagen volume fraction (CVF) were evaluated.

[Effects of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of ICOSIg fusion protein on experimental autoimmune myocarditis in Lewis rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer of ICOSIg fusion protein on experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in Lewis rats.

Methods: Expression vector containing ICOSIg (p-Adeno-ICOSIg) was constructed by fusion of human ICOS and IgGFc segment. Adenovirus vector was digested by PacI enzyme and transfected into HEK 293 cells.

[Relationship between plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration and clinical prognosis in patients of acute myocardial infarction].

Objective: To evaluate the value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in estimating risk stratification in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to determine the relationship between BNP and adverse cardiac events after AMI.

Methods: The 135 subjects were selected into the study, including 25 healthy subjects and 110 patients with a first AMI. The plasma concentrations of BNP were measured at two to four days after infarction in patients and healthy controls.

[Evaluation of right ventricular function by tissue Doppler echocardiography and Tei index in right ventricular myocardial infarction].

Objective: With tissue Doppler imaging and right ventricular Tei index, right ventricular function in patients with right ventricular myocardial infarction (RVMI) was assessed.

Method: 51 patients admitted to coronary care units and diagnosed as acute inferior myocardial infarction were further studied with the ECG criterion of ST segment elevation >or= 1mm in V(4R) to establish the diagnosis of RVMI. 23 patients were thus diagnosed as RVMI and 28 patients not.