[Real-time Three-dimensional Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for the Evaluation of Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate mitral regurgitation (MR) and left ventricular myocardial function in the patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) by real-time three-dimensional dobutamine stress echocardiography (RT3D-DSE). METHODS: Seventy two consecutive in-patients with myocardial infarction and MR were enrolled in the study during 2006-2012. Each patient underwent RT3D-DSE examination before treatment. Three-dimensional (3D) heart full-volume data and 3D MR were obtained at baseline and each stress state. Quantitative parameters including: left ventricular end-diastolic/systolic volume (LVEDV/LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) , left ventricular diastolic /systolic mass (LVMd/s). The time to the point of minimal regional systolic volume (Tmsv) was measured from the time volume curves of 17 segments, the standard deviation (Tmsv-SD) and maximal difference (Tmsv-Dif) of Tmsv were calculated. Excursion max (Emax), excursion SD (Esd), vena contarcta area (VCA) also were measured. RESULTS: 94.4% patients reached dobutamine (Dob) at 30 µg/(kg · min), 69.4% patients completed Dob 40 µg/(kg · min), only 38.9% patients completed Dob at 50 µg/(kg · min). At different stress state, VCA decreased significantly, and the decrement was up to the largest at 30 µg/(kg · min). 2D-LVEF, 3D-LVEF increased gradually, but decreased at 50 µg/(kg · min). 2D-LVESV and LVMd decreased, but increased at 50 µg/(kg · min). Tmsv-16/12/6 SD%, Tmsv-16/12/6 Dif% decreased, but increased at 50 µg/(kg · min). Eave and Esd increased, but decreased at 40-50 µg/(kg · min). Compared each with the baseline, LV remodeling parameters and VCA were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IMR patients showed a biphasic response during RT3D-DSE. The decrease of VCA is associated with an improvement of LV remodeling and synchronization when Dob ≤ 40 µg/(kg · min).

Nano-assemblies from J-aggregated dyes to improve the selectivity of a H2S-activatable photosensitizer.

We report J-aggregates of a boron dipyrromethene derivative (BDP-Nit) as an H2S-activatable nano-photosensitizer. The closely packed BDP-Nit in J-aggregates exhibits high selectivity to H2S over biothiols to produce an active photosensitizer.

The protective role of FTY720 in promoting survival of allograft fat in mice.

Fat transplantation is widely used for soft-tissue filling and wound repair. Owing to the biological changes in adipocytes in some metabolic diseases, allograft fat can provide a better source of donor fat than autologous fat. Fingolimod (FTY720) possesses a powerful immunomodulatory function. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of FTY720 in allogeneic fat transplantation. C57BL/6J mice that received allografts were randomly divided into two groups and treated with saline and FTY720, respectively. Fat graft samples were obtained at 1, 6, and 20 weeks posttransplantation. Graft volumes, graft structure, and immune cells were estimated using histological examination, immunohistochemistry, staining immunofluorescence (IF), and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in grafts was detected by qRT-PCR. FTY720 treatment significantly enhanced allograft retention, structural integrity, and neovascularization, thereby demonstrating the potential of FTY720 in improving graft survival. Further IF staining showed that FTY720 increased regulatory T cell infiltration and reduced macrophage infiltration to some extent. FTY720 treatment also enhanced the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 and weakened the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Furthermore, FTY720 treatment upregulated the expression of CD31 positive cells. This study demonstrated the potential efficacy of FTY720 in improving the graft survival rate of syngeneic fat allograft models, possibly by suppressing immune rejection and promoting angiogenesis. Therefore, this study offers key insights into the potential application of a drug-assisted strategy to prolong allograft fat survival.