Right ventricular volume and function by three-dimensional echocardiography: results of the echocardiographic measurements in normal Chinese adults (EMINCA) II.

Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography is an emerging technique for assessing right ventricular (RV) volume and function, but 3D-RV normal values from a large Chinese population are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to establish normal values of 3D-RV volume and function in healthy Chinese volunteers. A total of 1117 Han Chinese volunteers from 28 laboratories in 20 provinces of China were enrolled, and 3D-RV images of 747 volunteers with optimal image quality were ultimately analyzed by a core laboratory. Both vendor-dependent and vendor-independent software platforms were used to analyze the 3D-RV images. We found that men had larger RV volumes than women did in the whole population, even after indexing to body surface area, and older individuals had smaller RV volumes. The normal RV volume was significantly smaller than that recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines in both sexes. There were significant differences in 3D-RV measurements between the two vendor ultrasound systems and the different software platforms. The echocardiographic measurements in normal Chinese adults II study revealed normal 3D-RV volume and function in a large Chinese population, and there were significant differences between the sexes, ages, races, and vendor groups. Thus, normal 3D-RV values should be stratified by sex, age, race, and vendor.

[Study on the Mechanism of Yiqi Chutan Recipe in the Treatment of Lung Cancer with Splenasthenic Syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Yiqi Chutan recipe( YCR) in the treatment of lung cancer with splenasthenic syndrome from the perspective of the endoplasmic reticulum stress( ERS). Methods: 60 mice were successfully modeled as Lewis lung cancer mice with spleen deficiency, which were randomly divided into model group( normal saline),cisplatin group( 1 mg / kg),low dose( 2 g/kg) YCR group, middle dose( 4 g/kg) YCR group,high dose( 8 g/kg) YCR group and the combined medication group( YCR 4 g/kg + cisplatin 1 mg / kg),with 10 mice in each group. The mice were killed after 14 days,the size and weight of tumor in mice were measured,morphological changes of tumor were observed by HE staining method, the expression of CHOP and DR5 protein in tumor tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method and Western blot method. Results: Compared with model group, the volume and weight of tumor in cisplatin group, middle dose YCR group, high dose YCR group and combined medication group were significantly decreased( P < 0. 01),and the tumor cells in transplanted tumor were large necrosis and the protein expression of CHOP and DR5 were increased significantly( P < 0. 01). The effect in treatment of lung cancer with splenasthenic syndrone in combined medication group was higher( P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01). Conclusion: Yiqi Chutan recipe has different degrees of inhibition on lung cancer, the combined use of cisplatin can obviously improve the curative effect. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of CHOP and DR5 in endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins.

Effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on left ventricular remodeling and dyssynchrony in patients with left ventricular noncompaction and heart failure.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiomyopathy with high incidence of heart failure (HF). It is unclear whether LVNC patients with desynchronized HF would benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In order to evaluate the effect of CRT on LVNC, this study explored left ventricular (LV) remodeling and mechanical synchronicity before and after CRT in LVNC patients, and compare with that in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients. We collected 15 LVNC and 30 matched DCM patients. All the patients underwent clinical evaluation,electrocardiogram and echocardiography before CRT and ≥6 months later. LV response was defined as ≥15 % decrease in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV). Longitudinal synchronicity was quantified by YU-index using tissue Doppler imaging. The time delay of peak radial strain from anteroseptal to posterior wall, which derived from speckle tracking imaging, was used to quantify radial synchronicity. In LVNC group, LV ejection fraction increased from 27.6 ± 5.5 to 39.1 ± 7.0 % (P < 0.01) during follow-up, but LV volumes did not change significantly (both P > 0.05). Five LVNC patients (33.3 %) responded to CRT, and all of them were super-responders (reduction in LVESV > 30 %). In addition, the number of noncompacted segments and the thickness ratio of noncompacted to compacted myocardium decreased (both P < 0.05). Inter-ventricular, longitudinal and radial intra-ventricular dyssynchrony also reduced significantly (all P < 0.05). Compared with DCM group, there was no significant difference in LV response rate (33.3 vs. 60.0 %, P = 0.092), improvement of LV function and dyssynchrony index (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, CRT improved heart function, morphology and mechanical dyssynchrony in LVNC patients.

[Observation on the receiving sensibilities of the points on the hand's six channels for vibromusic sound wave].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the receiving sensibility of the points on the hand's six channels for music sound wave in the healthy persons, so as to provide experimental basis for exploring the mechanism of music treatment. METHODS: By the radiating and receiving sound wave system, the total receiving music sound (RMS) power of the music sound wave were measured at the points of the hand's six channels and non-acupuncture in 34 healthy undergraduates. RESULTS: There was the specific receiving sensibility at Taiyuan (LU 9). The total RMS power of the music sound wave at Daling (PC 7) and Shaohai (HT 3) in the female was stronger than that in the male. CONCLUSION: There is the difference in the receiving sensibility of the music sound wave at the different acupoints of different channels.

[Advances of studies on the biophysical characteristics of channels and acupoints].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize recent studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints, so as to provide a basis and thinking for scientific studies. METHODS: Twenty-nine papers about biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints were reviewed from studies of electricity, heat, sound, light, magnetic and radionuclide. RESULTS: The biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have been proved in different domains, and meridians and acupoints objectively exist. CONCLUSION: Scientific studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have vast vistas.

[Experimental study on conduction of Gong tonality vibromusic sound wave in the healthy human body].

OBJECTIVE: To study the conduction of Gong tonality vibromusic sound wave along meridians in healthy human body, and investigate differences of the sensitivity of different meridians and genders to this vibromusic message. METHODS: Emit the Gong tonality music signal under the water and then investigate the responses of different acupoints and control points at the tissue of the same level to the vibromusic sound wave. RESULTS: There were differences of sensitivity to music waves at source acupoints on the foot, sensitivity of Zusanli (ST 36) was significantly higher than its control point (P < 0.05), and there was difference between genders in the sensitivity of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Yinlingquan (SP 9) to music sound wave. CONCLUSION: Gong tonality vibromusic sound wave can conduct along meridians in healthy human body, and there are differences between different meridians and different genders in the sensitivity to the music sound wave.