Cross-sectional associations between questionnaire-measured physical activity and tissue doppler indices of left ventricular diastolic function.

Background: The prevalence of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction has been increasing over the past decade, and to date, effective pharmacotherapies that enhance LV diastolic function have not yet been identified. Though some data has demonstrated the beneficial effects of exercise training on LV diastolic function, little is known about the adaptations of diastolic function to daily physical activity (PA). Accordingly, our study aimed to investigate the impact of daily PA on tissue Doppler indices of LV diastolic function.

Catestatin could ameliorate proliferating changes of target organs in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Catestatin, a chromogranin A-derived peptide, is a potent antagonist of nicotine-evoked catecholamine release. We know that catecholamine plays an important role in cardiovascular remodeling induced by hypertension, therefore we hypothesized that catestatin would affect target-organ structure during hypertension.

Methods: Twelve spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were randomized to SHR control group and catestatin group, the normal control group was comprised of six healthy Wistar-Kyoto rats of the same age.

[Novel mutations of cardiac troponin T in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To screen the cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the potential link between the genotype and the phenotype.

Methods: Clinical features of 100 probands with HCM and some family members were evaluated, 200 unrelated normal subjects served as control. The exons and flanking introns of TNNT2 were amplified with PCR and direct sequencing was used to screen TNNT2 mutations/polymorphisms.

Effect of orlistat-assisted weight loss on endothelium-dependent vasodilation in obese Chinese subjects with hypertension.

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of orlistat-assisted weight loss on endothelium-dependent vasodilation by ultrasonography in obese Chinese subjects with hypertension. Thirty obese hypertensive patients (mean age: 46.6 +/- 10.

[Novel MYBPC3 mutations in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To screen the MYBPC3 gene mutations in Han Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: Sixty-six patients with HCM were enrolled for the study. The exons in the functional regions of MYBPC3 were amplified with PCR and the products were sequenced.

[Plasma hydrogen sulfide and homocysteine levels in hypertensive patients with different blood pressure levels and complications].

Objective: The present study was designed to observe the plasma concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and homocysteine (HCY) in hypertensive patients with different blood pressure levels and complications.

Methods: A total of 165 outpatients with essential hypertension were involved in this study (84 males, 81 females, mean age 59.81 +/- 10.

[Analysis of MYH7, MYBPC3 and TNNT2 gene mutations in 10 Chinese pedigrees with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the correlation between genotype and phenotype].

Objective: The aim of this study was to screen the disease-causing gene mutations and investigate the genotype-phenotype correlation in 10 Chinese pedigrees with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods: There are 91 family members from these 10 pedigrees and 5 members were normal mutated carriers, 23 members were HCM patients (14 male) aged from 1.5 to 73 years old.

[Effects of intracoronary autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation in patients with anterior myocardial infarction].

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of intracoronary transfer of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (ABMMNCs) to patients with myocardial infarction (MI) on left ventricular function and myocardial perfusion.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with MI (> 4 weeks) were enrolled in this prospective, open-labeled study (20 patients in cell transplantation group; 15 patients in control group). All patients were treated by standard drug therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).