Nonhomogeneous Deformation in the Anterior Leaflet of the Mitral Valve

In the mitral valve, regional variations in structure and material properties combine to affect the biomechanics of the entire valve. Previous biaxial testing has shown that mitral valve leaflet tissue is highly extensible, and exhibits nonlinear, anisotropic material properties. In this study, experimental measurements of mitral valve leaflet deformation under quasi-static pressure loading were performed on isolated porcine hearts. Biplane video images of markers placed on the anterior leaflet surface were used to reconstruct the 3D position of the markers at several pressure levels over the physiological range. A least-squares finite-element method was used to fit parametric models to the markers and to calculate the deformation over the surface. The results showed that the leaflet deformations were anisotropic, exhibiting a large nonhomogeneous radial stretch and a small circumferential stretch. This information can be used to better understand how the valve deforms under physiological loading, and to help design treatments for valve problems, such as mitral regurgitation.     

Morphological characteristics of cultured olfactory bulb cells

Cultured olfactory bulb cells from embryonic mice had ultrastructural characteristics similar to those of many cell types in the intact adult mouse olfactory bulb. Identified cultured cells included mitral/tufted cells, granule cells, short-axon cells, and fibrous and protoplasmic astrocytes. Cultured neurons were found as individual cells, clusters or aggregates. Clusters consisted of a loose array of neurons that appeared to be densely interconnected by neurites. However, few neurites or fascicles emanated from clusters to adjoining areas. Aggregates consisted of many small, usually rounded, neurons piled on top of one larger neuron, or on more than one, with typically many neurites and fascicles projecting to adjacent aggregates, clusters or individual neurons. Neurites of cultured olfactory bulb cells were well developed, and some were several millimeters long. Synapses were very prominent in these cultures, especially in aggregates, clusters, and fascicles. Electron-lucent, dense-core, and coated vesicles were present. Polarity, shape, and length of the long axis (size) of 815 cultured neurons, identified by positive anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 staining, were documented. Cultured neurons varied in size from 9 to 27 m, with an average size of 16 m. Elliptical bipolar (35%), triangular multipolar (21%), and round unipolar (15%) were the most common polarity/shape combinations found in culture. Multipolar, triangular, triangular multipolar, and elliptical bipolar cells increased in size with increasing age of culture. The relative proportions of triangular, multipolar, elliptical multipolar, and triangular multipolar cells decreased, whereas the relative proportions of round, unipolar, and round unipolar cells increased with increasing age of culture. These changes in population subtypes and cell size may indicate continued differentiation and maturation of cultured neurons.     

基于实时三维超声图像的二尖瓣环重建及运动分析

二尖瓣环的非平面特性对二尖瓣返流的超声诊断和二尖瓣环成形术的合理设计具有重要意义.基于心脏的实时三维超声图像,我们研究了一种对二尖瓣环三维重建及运动分析的方法.首先通过人机交互方式提取出二尖瓣环的特征点,并根据位置关系对特征点排序,然后利用非均匀有理B样条曲线建立二尖瓣环三维形态模型,并编程实现二尖瓣环的动态显示和运动分析.通过对20组病例分析,初步证明此方法所建模型较准确反映患者的二尖瓣环的运动,能满足二尖瓣环三维可视化和分析研究的需要.     

Separating the direct effect of hypoxia from the indirect effect of changes in cardiac output on the maximum pressure difference across the tricuspid valve in healthy humans

In healthy humans, changes in cardiac output are commonly accommodated with minimal change in pulmonary artery pressure. Conversely, exposure to hypoxia is associated with substantial increases in pulmonary artery pressure. In this study we used non-invasive measurement of an index of pulmonary artery pressure, the maximum systolic pressure difference across the tricuspid valve (P_max), to examine the pulmonary vascular response to changes in blood flow during both air breathing and hypoxia. We used Doppler echocardiography in 33 resting healthy humans breathing air over 6–24 h to measure spontaneous diurnal variations in P_max and cardiac output. Cardiac output varied by up to ~2.5 l/min; P_max varied little with cardiac output [0.61±0.74 (SD) mmHg min l^–1]. Eight of the volunteers were also exposed to eucapnic hypoxia (end-tidal ) for 8 h. In this group P_max rose progressively from 21 mmHg to 37 mmHg over 8 h. By comparing diurnal variations in P_max during air breathing with changes in P_max during hypoxia in the same eight individuals, we concluded that only approximately 5% of the changes in P_max during hypoxia could be attributed to concurrent changes in cardiac output. The low sensitivity of P_max to changes in cardiac output makes it a useful index of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in healthy humans.     

高血压患者室间隔厚度与二尖瓣血流参数关系的探讨

目的 :探讨二尖瓣血流主要参数与室间隔厚度的关系在高血压患者中的临床意义。方法 :用多普勒超声测量 10 2例高血压患者的室间隔厚度及二尖瓣血流主要参数。其均数与国人文献正常参考值相比较 ,并把室间隔厚度分别与二尖瓣血流主要参数作直线相关分析 ,求出相关系数。结果 :室间隔厚度只与心房收缩期峰值流速 (APFV)有显著的正相关 (r =0 47,P <0 0 1) ,而与其余各参数无显著相关 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :尽管高血压患者室间隔增厚 ,提示左室损害 ,但与左室舒张功能损害不一定有内在联系 ,而可能与年龄偏大有关     

The secret life of the mitral valve

In secondary mitral regurgitation, the concept that the mitral valve (MV) is an innocent bystander, has been challenged by many studies in the last decades. The MV is a living structure with intrinsic plasticity that reacts to changes in stretch or in mechanical stress activating biohumoral mechanisms that have, as purpose, the adaptation of the valve to the new environment. If the adaptation is balanced, the leaflets increase both surface and length and the chordae tendineae lengthen: the result is a valve with different characteristics, but able to avoid or to limit the regurgitation. However, if the adaptation is unbalanced, the leaflets and the chords do not change their size, but become stiffer and rigid, with moderate or severe regurgitation. These changes are mediated mainly by a cytokine, the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), which is able to promote the changes that the MV needs to adapt to a new hemodynamic environment. In general, mild TGF‐β activation facilitates leaflet growth, excessive TGF‐β activation, as after myocardial infarction, results in profibrotic changes in the leaflets, with increased thickness and stiffness. The MV is then a plastic organism, that reacts to the external stimuli, trying to maintain its physiologic integrity. This review has the goal to unveil the secret life of the MV, to understand which stimuli can trigger its plasticity, and to explain why the equation “large heart = moderate/severe mitral regurgitation” and “small heart = no/mild mitral regurgitation” does not work into the clinical practice.     

Regurgitation and aspiration

Regurgitation and aspiration remains one of the major complications of general anaesthesia. Aspiration is defined as oropharyngeal or gastric content entering the airway below the level of the vocal cords. This can cause morbidity and mortality by direct effects of the particulate, acid-related damage and bacterial pneumonia. It occurs largely in patients with risk factors although occasionally in patients that are low risk. Anaesthetic technique should be adjusted depending on the patient's risk of aspiration with rapid sequence induction considered in high-risk patients. Recognition and appropriate management of aspiration is essential.     

Ultrastructural morphometric analysis of human myocardial left ventricles with mitral insufficiency

Summary 15 biopsies of dilated and hypertrophied human left ventricles in mitral insufficient hearts were morphometrically investigated. On light and electron microscopical level the results were compared with those received from normally loaded human left ventricles and from hypertrophied human left ventricles found in hearts with aortic valve disease. The results demonstrate alterations when compared with the results from normally loaded left ventricles. The differences between normally loaded and volume loaded left ventricles are smaller than those in pressure loaded left ventricles from aortic valve diseased hearts.This work was supported gratefully by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 104     

国产全热解碳双叶瓣的动物实验

目的 :探讨人造瓣膜动物实验的方法 ,并对国产瓣的性能作动物体内评价。方法 :体外循环下行羊的二尖瓣替换术 ,先作预实验以确定实验方法 ,后作正式实验。用心导管和超声 ,并用多巴酚丁胺负荷法模拟运动条件 ,分别测定人造瓣的血流动力学参数 ;根据动物存活情况及有无血栓形成和血栓栓塞等评价其生物相容性。结果 :预实验 10只羊均死亡 ,主要与瓣环撕裂有关 ;正式实验 5只羊均存活。术中和术后 2 .5年用导管法测得平均跨瓣压差分别为 0 .69± 0 .2 3k Pa、0 .81± 0 .0 4k Pa;动物尸检未见血栓形成和血栓栓塞。结论 :瓣环撕裂是本组手术主要死亡原因 ,选择适当体重的动物和保留瓣叶的折叠缝补 ,及术后合理的呼吸支持等是实验的关键 ;该国产瓣在动物体内血流动力学和抗血栓性能优良     

二尖瓣成形测瓣器的研制和临床应用

目的为在二尖瓣成形术中准确迅速判断瓣环和瓣叶病损的部位及程度,提高二尖瓣成形术的成功率。方法解剖测量30例国人正常新鲜心脏的二尖瓣,术中观察二尖瓣病理变化特点后研制了一种新型二尖瓣成形测瓣器。结果用测瓣器行二尖瓣成形术35例,成形手术时间由原来的(57±11)min减少到(35±15)min,手术死亡率由11％下降到3．3％。结论使用此种测瓣器可使二尖瓣成形术省时、准确,成功率明显提高。