Construction of ecological security pattern in Ningbo based on remote sensing ecological index and graph theory knowledge.

Constructing ecological security pattern and identifying ecological important areas are the focus of current research on regional ecological security. With Ningbo City as a case study area, we identified ecological sources by remote sensing ecological index, the ecological corridors and pinch point by circuit theory model, and the minimum spanning tree and cuts by graph theory algorithm. The results showed that there were 203 ecological sources in Ningbo, and that the main type of land cover was forest, including a small amount of paddy fields and flooded vegetation.

Meta-analysis of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) has now become the leading cause of acquired heart disease among children in developed countries. This study investigated whether patients with KD have an increased risk of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase and Springer link, were searched through June 1, 2015, for eligible studies.

Mibefradil suppresses the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Intracellular Ca(2+) levels play a critical role in the regulation of vasodilation and vasoconstriction by stimulating pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation, which is important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonists are useful in only few patients with PAH. The present study sought to assess the effect of mibefradil, which blocks T-type Ca(2+) channels, on PASMC proliferation and Ca(2+) channel profile. Human PASMCs were stimulated with 25 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) with and without 10 µM mibefradil or 100 nM sildenafil.

Coronary artery fistula between single right coronary artery and right pulmonary artery: a case report and literature review.

Background: Coronary artery fistula and single coronary artery are two different rare congenital anomalies. The cases with co-existed the two anomalies are more rare. To the best of our knowledge with literature review, the coronary artery fistula between single right coronary artery and right pulmonary artery has not been previously reported.

LMNA gene single nucleotide polymorphisms in dilated cardiomyopathy of Han children.

Objective: To investigate whether LMNA gene mutation is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Chinese Han Race children.

Methods: DNA was isolated from 78 patients with DCM and 100 healthy Chinese children who served as controls. 12 exons in the functional regions and the adjacent part of introns of the LMNA gene were amplified with polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and the PCR products were sequenced with DNA sequencer.

Evaluating the role of connexin43 in congenital heart disease: Screening for mutations in patients with outflow tract anomalies and the analysis of knock-in mouse models.

Background: GJA1 gene encodes a gap junction protein known as connexin 43 (Cx43). Cx43 is abundantly expressed in the ventricular myocardium and in cardiac neural crest cells. Cx43 is proposed to play an important role in human congenital heart disease, as GJA1 knock-out mice die neonatally from outflow tract obstruction.

[Spatio-temporal expression of connexion (Cx) 40 and Cx45 in Cx43 knockout embryonic mouse hearts].

Objective: To investigate the spatio-temporal expression of connexin (Cx) 40 and Cx45 genes in Cx43 knockout embryonic mouse hearts.

Methods: Cx43 knockout heterozygous mice were raised. PCR was performed to identify genotypes of their offsprings.

[Abnormal development of conotruncal region in Cx43 knockout mice].

Objective: To explore the etiology of the conotruncal malformations in Cx43 knockout mice.

Methods: The objects were C57/BL6 mice of E11.5 to 1 day after birth by the mating of 2 month old heterozygous mice which included Cx43 (knockout, KO) homozygotes (Cx43-/-), heterozygotes (Cx43+/-) and wild-types (Cx43+/+) genotyped by PCR method.

[Histopathological analysis of neonatal mouse hearts with connexin43 gene defects].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of heart morphology in neonatal mice with connexin43 gene defects.

Methods: Two mouse lines were used in this study, which included connexin43 knockout (Cx43KO) mice and CMV43(CT) transgenic mice. PCR analysis was carried out to identify the genotypes of two transgenic mice.

Mutations of connexin43 in fetuses with congenital heart malformations.

Background: Gap junction channels formed by connexin43 (Cx43) protein are important in cardiac morphogenesis, and Cx43 gene is thought to be associated with congenital heart malformation (CHM). This study was undertaken to detect the mutations of Cx43 in fetuses with CHM.

Methods: Cx43 extron DNA was amplified by PCR from 16 fetuses with a variety of CHM.