下腔静脉至三尖瓣环连线射频消融治疗心房扑动

报道所完成下腔静脉至三尖瓣环射频消蚀治疗心房扑动7例。均经电生理检查证实为典型房扑，发作时心房率240～320次／分。7例中6树成功；1例失败，为Ebstein畸形伴有巨大右心房者。7例均采用消蚀下腔静脉至三尖瓣环连线的方法，消蚀中用Swartz鞘作支撑，导管在鞘内拖拉，直至消蚀线完成。本研究提示下腔静脉至三尖瓣环线性射频消蚀术是心房扑动治疗的安全有效手段。     

心房扑动经导管消融治疗的临床分析

目的探讨典型心房扑动（AF）的电生理特性及导管消融（RFCA）疗效。方法18例AF者行心内电生理检查，标测心房激动顺序，确定折返环部位行线性消融治疗。结果18例中持续性AF8例（44．4％），诱发出AF10例（55．6％）。其中合并不纯性AF1例、房室结折返性心动过速、房室折返性心动过速及室性心动过速各1例。18例均行下腔静脉（IVC）、三尖瓣环（TA）后狭部RFCA，17例即时消融成功，成功率为94．4％，1例不成功者合并有心房纤颤（表现为不纯性AF）。结论典型AF行线性消融治疗效果可靠，成功率高；如能应用射频导管新技术如Halo电极导管等，可以更全面记录AF的激动方向和顺序，为判断消融成功提供更快捷、简便的手段。     

先天性心脏病术后下腔静脉口-三尖瓣环峡部依赖性心房扑动的导管消融疗效分析

目的:报道先天性心脏病术后下腔静脉口-三尖瓣环峡部依赖性心房扑动的相对发生率及导管消融的疗效和安全性。方法:选择2002年1月-2006年4月在我院因先天性心脏病术后心房内折返性心动过速行射频消融的40例患者,应用常规电生理标测方法或三维标测方法(Carto和Ensite)指导导管消融,观察下腔静脉口-三尖瓣环峡部心房扑动相对发生率及其导管消融结果。结果:40例患者共诱发出50种房性心动过速,具有典型下腔静脉口-三尖瓣环峡部依赖性心房扑动心电图表现,且成功靶点在下腔静脉口和三尖瓣环峡部者31种(31／50,62．0％)。另外19种(19／50,38．0％)房性心动过速临床心电图表现与典型心房扑动不同,表现为P’波,其中11种(11／50,22．0％)成功靶点在右心房游离壁疤痕-下腔静脉峡部,瘢痕-上腔静脉峡部者2种,瘢痕与瘢痕之间峡部者2种;在瘢痕和三尖瓣环之间2种。房间隔补片和上腔静脉之间、房间隔补片和三尖瓣环之间各消融成功1种。40例患者射频消融成功,无并发症。随访1例患者心动过速复发,二次消融成功;1例患者出现持续性心房颤动伴RR长间歇,植入永久性起搏器。结论:先天性心脏病术后心房内折返性心动过速常常为下腔静脉口-三尖瓣环峡部心房扑动,导管消融具有较高的疗效和安全性。     

慢传导带传导阻滞作为心房扑动消融终点的意义（附Halo导管应用一例报告）

应用Ｈａｌｏ导管标测技术，结合冠状静脉窦与希氏束电图识别心房扑动折返环的慢传导带，在下腔静脉口到三尖瓣环峡部作射频线性消融，并以慢传导带出现双向阻滞作为心房扑动消融成功的标志，治疗了１例Ｉ型心房扑动患者。随访１个月心动过速未发。由于Ｈａｌｏ导管能在右房内全面记录右房激动顺序，便于了解峡部的传导情况，在心房扑动消融中有助于明确其诱发与终止的机制，并为慢传导带传导阻滞作为成功消融终点提供了可靠的手段。     

Swartz鞘支撑下射频消融治疗心房扑动经验初步探讨

目的　了解８ ＦＳＡＦＬ型Ｓｗ ａｒｔｚ长鞘在心房扑动消融中的作用。方法　左前斜４５度影像定位下，在三尖瓣环５～６ 点处划线消融三尖瓣环与下腔静脉开口之峡部。结果　１１ 例普通型心房扑动患者全部消融成功，随访４～１８个月，１ 例复发，再次消融获得成功。结论　在峡部消融中应用Ｓｗａｒｔｚ长鞘能使大头导管良好固定，并使峡部组织与大头接触密切，较易做到峡部线性消融，达到相当于完全性双向阻滞的满意消融效果，且缩短透视和操作时间     

冷盐水灌注导管对常规射频消融失败心房扑动患者的消融治疗

常规射频消融在部分普通型心房扑动患者不能产生三尖瓣环至下腔静脉之间峡部的双向传导阻滞 ,本研究观察冷盐水灌注导管对该部分患者的消融效果。 12 5例行射频消融治疗的普通型心房扑动患者中 ,7例患者从三尖瓣环至下腔静脉口或至欧氏嵴射频消融超过 15次未能产生峡部双向传导阻滞 ,定义为射频消融失败。对该 7例患者换用冷盐水灌注导管 ,以相同于常规射频消融的方法在峡部找到传导间隙后 ,行射频消融。全部患者消融成功 ,平均消融 4.5± 2次 ,导管温度 40± 1℃ ,阻抗 79± 5 .4Ω ,未观察到明显的并发症。表明常规射频消融的失败与常规射频消融不能产生峡部足够的损伤有关 ,冷盐水灌注导管对常规射频消融失败的患者可以成功地产生峡部的双向传导阻滞。     

下腔静脉、三尖瓣环峡部的射频消融治疗心房朴动

目的：报道以下腔静脉、三尖瓣环峡部双向传导阻滞作为终点的心房扑动射顿消融方法，观察该终点对长期疔效的作用。方法；对5例Ⅰ型心房扑动患者的下腔静脉、三尖瓣环峡部进行射频消融。根据右房下侧壁和冠状静脉窦口起搏的右房激动顺序和传导时间变化、评竹蚨部传导阻滞。术后门诊随访观察。结果：5例患者分别于心房扑动(2例)和赛性心律(3例)时接受射频消融治疗，消融后峡部均发生双向传导阻滞。右房下侧壁和冠状静脉赛口起搏的右房激动顺序分别呈顺时针和逆时针单一方向，右房传导时间分别延长82和78ms。随访4个月无一例复发。结论：峡部双向传导阻滞是射频消融心房扑动成功的可靠标志在赛性心律下，亦可对Ⅰ型心房扑动患者进行消融。     

房性心动过速的射频导管消融术治疗

目的：为治疗房性心动过速（房速）,对8例患者进行了射频导管消融术（RFCA）治疗。方法：采用两根大头消融导管,在房速发作时标测心房最早激动点放电消融。结果：8例房速（包括房速伴心房扑动及房速伴房室结折返性心动过速各1例）RFCA治疗全部成功,无并发症;其中4例在冠状静脉窦口附近、2例在右心房侧壁、2例在右心耳处放电消融成功,成功靶点局部电位（A波）较体表心电图P波平均提前34.23±5.23（22～46）ms。结论：心房激动顺序标测是房速消融的基本方法,AP间期≥30ms的部位可作为试消融靶点;对房速伴其他类型心动过速者可一次消融成功。     

对比观察射频消融右房后位峡部和间隔峡部治疗 …

对比观察射频消融右房后位峡部和间隔峡部治疗心房扑动（简称房扑）两种方法的疗效。４１例房拟患者随机分为后位峡部组（１８例）和间隔峡部组（２３例），消融线径分别为三尖瓣环一下腔静脉和三尖瓣环一欧氏嵴。成功消融绺为房扑不能诱发和峡部呈完全性双向阻滞。结果：４０例消融成功（９７．６％），无并发症。后位峡部组３例和间隔峡部组２例在首选消融方法和后，秘国一种消融方法获得成功。两组患者的放电次数和手术时间均显著     

标测指导下点消融隔离三尖瓣环-下腔静脉峡部

目的自三尖瓣环至下腔静脉口线状消融隔离下腔静脉-三尖瓣环峡部是根治大折返环性心房扑动(简称房扑)的标准方法,但是这种方法消融点数多、消融径线盲目.标测指导下点消融隔离下腔静脉-三尖瓣环峡部无系统报告,本研究介绍采用这种方法隔离下腔静脉-三尖瓣环峡部的结果.     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in rats with both ovaries intact or after unilateral ovariectomy

Abstract: In earlier studies from other laboratories it was shown that melatonin decreased ovarian weight in rats and inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary after unilateral ovariectomy. This study was designed to examine the influence of melatonin on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in adult female rats with both ovaries preserved and with either an intact pineal gland or with the pineal gland removed (pinealectomy, PX) or, finally, in sham-PX animals. Similar studies were conducted on rats after unilateral ovariectomy, referring the examined parameters to the remaining intact ovary. The studies included mitotic activity of granulosa layer cells and corpus luteum cells, ovarian weight, ovarian cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of the granulosa layer of all the Graafian follicles and the cross-sectional areas of the corpora lutea, visible on the ovarian cross-section. On the basis of results, we conclude that: 1) the effect of PX on the processes of ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy may vary; analogously, exogenous melatonin administration may influence ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy in different ways; 2) PX and exogenous melatonin may, under certain conditions, exert similar biological effects, even synergistic effects; 3) melatonin inhibits ovarian growth processes, while the effects of PX are variable; 4) the results indicate that in experiments performed on rats, with the use of two control groups, i.e., intact and sham-PX, melatonin effects on these two groups may differ.