心肌组织多普勒速度显像定量评价健康老年人心室功能

目的　探讨健康老年人左、右心室功能变化特点 ,为临床老年人心脏功能评价提供参考。　方法　应用脉冲组织多普勒技术观察 5 4名健康老年人三尖瓣环和二尖瓣环不同位点的收缩峰值速度 (Sm)、舒张早期峰值速度 (Em)和舒张晚期峰值速度 (Am)、Em/Am比值 ,并以 5 1名非老年人为对照组 ,分析老年人心脏功能变化规律。　结果　除左室下壁、后壁 ,老年组其余二尖瓣环位点的Sm均显著低于非老年组〔后间隔、左室侧壁、左室前壁、前间隔 2组分别为 (7 8± 1 3)、(9 6±1 2 )、(9 3± 2 1)、(7 6± 1 3)cm/s与 (7 2± 1 2 )、(8 4± 1 9)、(8 3± 1 8)、(6 7± 1 2 )cm/s〕 ,而左心室射血分数 (EF)无显著变化。老年组二尖瓣环和三尖瓣环各位点的Em、Em/Am均显著低于非老年组。　结论　老年人心肌组织收缩和舒张功能均有不同程度的降低 ,二尖瓣环Sm对衰老引起的收缩功能变化比EF敏感。对舒张功能障碍的评价 ,组织多普勒超声比传统的心动超声更敏感。     

多普勒组织成像评价肥厚型心肌病左室舒张功能

目的应用多普勒组织成像脉冲技术测量二尖瓣环舒张速度,以评价肥厚型心肌病左室舒张功能.方法对90例肥厚型心肌病患者及50例正常人进行常规超声心电图及多普勒组织成像检查,测量各房室内径,室壁厚度,射血分数及二尖瓣环各点舒张早期峰值速度(Ea)、舒张晚期峰值速度(Aa).两组指标比较采用成组t检验.结果肥厚型心肌病患者室间隔厚度(25.5±6.6)mm,左室后壁厚度(9.9±2.3)mm,左室内径(42.9±5.9)mm,左房内径(39.9±4.7)mm,LVEF(71.9±4.3)%,二尖瓣血流E/A为1.42±0.7.肥厚型心肌病患者Ea较正常人减低.Aa无明显差异.结论肥厚型心肌病左室长轴主动松弛功能较正常人减低.     

Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞患者高位右室间隔部起搏VAT与DDD模式对左心功能的影响

目的通过研究Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞患者高位右室间隔部起搏(HRVS)时,VAT与DDD模式对心功能的影响,探讨心房的生理收缩和舒张对左心功能的作用。方法 32例Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞患者,在HRVS时,分别给予DDD模式或VAT模式工作,于调控即刻通过超声心动图测定二尖瓣口快速充盈期峰值血流速度(Ep),二尖瓣口左房收缩期峰值血流速度(Ap),二尖瓣环后壁处收缩期脉冲组织多普勒峰值速度平均值(Vs),二尖瓣环后壁处舒张早期脉冲组织多普勒峰值速度平均值(Ve),二尖瓣环后壁处舒张晚期脉冲组织多普勒峰值速度平均值(Va),二尖瓣血流频谱等容舒张时间(IVRT),通过Ep/Ap,Ve/Va,Ep/Ve和IVRT评价左室舒张功能,通过Vs,LVEF和LVFS评价收缩功能。结果 HRVS时DDD较VAT模式Ep/Ap、Ve/Va、Ep/Ve,IVRT差异有显著性(0.97±0.11 vs 1.01±0.11,0.89±0.09 vs 0.97±0.07,6.00±0.45 vs 6.24±0.36,100.4±14.32 vs 89.99±7.94;P均<0.01),Vs、左室射血分数和左室短轴缩短率无显著性差异。结论Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞时,HRVS起搏时,DDD模式较VAT模式使左室舒张功能下降,收缩功能无影响,表明了心房生理性起搏的重要性。     

超声心动图评价2型糖尿病冠心病患者的左心功能

目的:采用超声心动图评价2型糖尿病合并冠心病患者的左室结构和功能、左房结构和收缩功能。方法:50例2型糖尿病冠心病患者、26例单纯2型糖尿病患者及26例正常对照者,用超声心动图测定左室质量指数(LVMI)、二尖瓣舒张早期及晚期峰值血流速度(Em、Am)、二尖瓣环运动舒张早期及晚期峰值速度(Ea、Aa)左房容积指数(LAVmaxI和LAVminI)、左房灌注分数(LAFF)、左房射血力(LAEF)等指标。结果:与正常对照组相比,糖尿病组左室收缩功能指标无显著差异,但Em/Am及Ea/Aa显著降低(P0.01),Em/Ea显著升高(P0.05),LVMI和LAVmaxI显著增大(P0.05),LAEF及LAFF显著增高(P0.05和P0.01)。与单纯糖尿病组相比,糖尿病冠心病组的LVMI和LAVmaxI(P0.05)、LAEF及LAFF(P0.01)进一步增高。结论:在左室收缩功能正常的糖尿病患者中,已经存在左室舒张功能降低、左房增大和左房收缩功能增强;糖尿病合并冠心病时左房结构及收缩功能异常进一步加重。     

心肌局部运动增龄变化的组织多普勒超声改变及影响因素研究

目的探讨心肌局部运动的增龄变化及超声多普勒组织成像改变规律。方法按年龄将112名健康人分为4组:青少年组(≤18岁)24名;青年组(18～39岁)30名;中年组(40～59岁) 29名;老年组(≥60岁)29名。应用定量组织多普勒技术观察各组左心室各节段心肌收缩期峰值速度(Vs)、舒张早期峰值速度(Ve)、心房收缩期峰值速度(Va)和Ve／Va比值,并分析不同年龄组心肌局部运动的特点及其影响因素。结果同一室壁各节段心肌运动速度显著不同,由二尖瓣环水平、基底段、中部到远端运动速度逐渐减低。不同室壁心肌运动速度不同,侧壁、后壁、前壁、下壁较高[环部Ve分别为(9．85±3．02)、(9．80±3．09)、(8．86±3．16)、(8．23±2．48)cm／s],前后间隔最低[环部Ve分别为(6．89±2．60)、(7．94±2．64)cm／s]。各节段心肌运动速度与性别无关,与年龄、ST段时值均数、体质指数、心率相关,其中与年龄的相关性最好。结论左心室各节段心肌收缩及舒张速度呈现规律性的变化,年龄为影响各节段心肌收缩、舒张运动速度的主要因素,各节段心肌舒张功能的增龄性改变更明显。     

应用超声定量组织速度成像评价慢性心力衰竭病人左心房功能

目的应用超声定量组织速度成像技术评价慢性心力衰竭病人的左心房功能。方法共纳入48例慢性心力衰竭病人(心衰期)和41名健康人(对照组)。行常规超声心动图检查,应用二维超声测量左房内径,应用定量组织速度成像技术测量二尖瓣频谱E峰值流速(Ve)、A峰流速(Va)、二尖瓣舒张期血流峰值速度比值(Ve/Va);利用定量组织速度成像技术测量二尖瓣环舒张早期运动峰值速度(E’)、舒张晚期运动峰值速度(A’)及二尖瓣环舒张期运动峰值速度比值(E’/A’),并与二尖瓣频谱血流速度各指标做相关性分析。结果与对照组比较,心衰组左房内径、左房内径指数、左房容积指数、左房每搏量、左房射血分数均有统计学意义;与对照组比较,心衰组二尖瓣血流频谱E峰、A峰峰值流速及Ve/Va比值无统计学意义。心衰组E’、A’及E’/A’均显著低于对照组。结论心衰组二尖瓣环舒张期运动速度低于正常人,提示心衰病人左心房功能减低;应用定量组织速度成像技术可评价心衰病人左心房功能。     

组织多普勒成像技术评价老年高血压患者右心室功能的临床研究

目的探讨组织多普勒成像(TDI)技术评价老年高血压患者右心室功能的临床价值。方法选择老年高血压患者34例(高血压组)和健康老年人44例(对照组)。经胸超声心动图检查,应用TDI技术于心尖四腔观获取右心室侧壁三尖瓣环处心肌运动频谱图,测量舒张早期峰值速度(Em)、舒张晚期峰值速度(Am),并计算Em和Am比值。同时测量收缩期峰值速度(Sm)、等容收缩期心肌加速度。结果高血压组Em(5.91±1.56)cm/s、Am(12.79±2.63)cm/s、Sm(10.82±1.45)cm/s均明显低于对照组Em(7.57±2.11)cm/s、Am(14.27±2.03)cm/s、Sm(12.68±2.33)cm/s,差异有统计学意义(P=0.000,P=0.006,P=0.000);Em/Am高血压组(0.47±0.12)明显低于对照组(0.54±0.15),差异有统计学意义(P=0.048)。结论 TDI可以准确、直观地评价老年高血压患者右心室功能。     

多普勒组织成像测定二尖瓣环运动速度评价急性心肌梗死后患者左心室功能

目的 :应用多普勒组织成像 (DTI)技术测定二尖瓣环运动速度 ,定量分析急性心肌梗死后患者左心室收缩和舒张功能。方法 :研究对象为 6 1例确诊首次急性心肌梗死的患者和 2 0例正常人。常规行超声心动图检查及DTI技术测定二尖瓣环运动速度频谱。记录心尖四腔、心尖二腔和心尖长轴切面多普勒组织成像二尖瓣环运动速度。测定二尖瓣环运动速度参数包括 :二尖瓣环收缩速度 (Sm) ,二尖瓣环舒张早期速度 (Em) ,二尖瓣环舒张晚期速度 (Am) ,二尖瓣环舒张早期速度的比值 (E Em)。结果 :与对照组相比 ,急性心肌梗死后患者DTI可敏感地显示出二尖瓣环收缩和舒张运动速度显著下降(P <0 0 5 ) ;E Em也有显著差别 (P =0 0 13)。DTI二尖瓣环收缩速度与二尖瓣环舒张早期速度之间 ,二尖瓣环收缩速度与左心室射血分数和室壁运动积分之间存在显著的相关性。平均二尖瓣环收缩期速度≥ 8 9cm s预测射血分数 (EF)≥ 5 5 %的敏感性、特异性分别为 88 2 %、70 % ,准确率为 81 5 %。结论 :DTI测量二尖瓣环运动速度 ,作为定量检测急性心肌梗死患者近期心脏功能状态的新方法 ,具有一定的应用价值。     

组织多普勒技术对美托洛尔治疗前后的左室舒张功能的评价

目的应用组织多普勒成像(TDI)技术测量室间隔、侧壁等的舒张、收缩速度,评价美托洛尔对左室舒张功能的影响。方法原发性高血压(EH)左室肥厚患者23例,在服用美托洛尔2mg·kg-1·d-1前后,用TDI法分别测其二尖瓣环水平间隔、侧壁、前壁、下壁的收缩期峰值速度(Sm),舒张早期峰值速度(Em),舒张晚期峰值速度(Am),比较用药前后各部位Em/Am比值。结果服用美托洛尔3个月后,患者舒张功能均有明显改善。EH组左室各部位心肌Em增大,Am减少,Em/Am均明显提高。结论美托洛尔能够改善肥厚心肌的舒张功能,二尖瓣环水平的Em、Am的测定能克服二尖瓣血流的假性正常化,对用药后的变化也能够敏感地表现出来,可作为定量无创评价左室舒张功能的良好指标。     

斑点追踪技术测量二尖瓣环位移评价原发性高血压左室肥厚患者左心室舒张及收缩功能

目的应用二维斑点追踪技术测量二尖瓣环位移评价原发性高血压病患者左室肥厚的左心室舒张及收缩功能。方法高血压病左室肥厚患者23例,30例健康对照者。选择心尖四腔心切面存图。应用斑点追踪二尖瓣环位移(TMAD)软件描绘二尖瓣环间隔部和二尖瓣环左室侧壁2个点相对于心尖部的运动曲线,得到二尖瓣环中点处最大位移(MAD)。应用实时三维超声心动图获得左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室最大充盈速率(PFR)。结果高血压病心肌肥厚组PFR、MAD低于正常对照组(P均<0.05);LVEF与MAD有良好的相关性(P<0.05)。结论利用二维斑点追踪技术测量二尖瓣环位移可以准确、方便地评价左室舒张和收缩功能。     

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.