Effects of maternal pulmonary arterial hypertension on fetal hemodynamics and maternal-fetal outcome in late pregnancy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on fetal hemodynamics in the third trimester and to identify hemodynamic indicators associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. METHODS: We recruited 48 pregnant women with PAH in the third trimester and 32 women with normal pregnancies as controls matched for age and gestational week. Fetal growth and hemodynamic parameters were assessed by two-dimensional and color Doppler. All cases were followed up until delivery and maternal and fetal outcomes were collected. High throughput sequencing method was used to determine differential miRNA patterns in plasma exposed to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in pregnant women. We then performed the validated of key differentially expressed miRNAs by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the normal and mild PAH groups, resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) of the fetal umbilical artery (UA) and quantitative ductus venosus (QDV) blood flow were increased in subjects with moderate to severe PAH, while PI and the ratio of peak systolic velocity (PSV) to end-diastolic velocity (EDV) (S/D) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were decreased. Compared with the normal group, subjects in the mild and moderate PAH groups had lower neonatal weight, shorter neonatal height, and higher preterm birth rates. In addition, miRNA sequencing data showed that PAH affected the levels of 23 miRNAs in plasma. At the same time, we showed that PAH significantly decreased the level of miR-1255a and increased the level of miR-548ar-3p by real-time PCR. CONCLUSION: In the group of pregnant women with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension, there was a higher proportion of preterm births and low birth weight babies. Hemodynamic changes in the fetal UA, MCA, and ductus venosus (DV) during late pregnancy were associated with adverse fetal outcomes. At the same time, miRNA sequencing results showed that miR-1255a and miR-548ar-3p may play an important role in the development of PAH.

High Proton Conductivity of the UiO-66-NH2-SPES Composite Membrane Prepared by Covalent Cross-Linking.

A sulfonated poly(ethersulfone) (SPES)-metal-organic framework (MOF) film with excellent proton conductivity was synthesized by anchoring UiO-66-NH2 to the main chain of the aromatic polymer through the Hinsberg reaction. The chemical bond was formed between the amino group in MOFs and the -SO2Cl group in chlorosulfonated poly(ethersulfones) to conduct protons in the proton channel of the membrane, making the membrane have excellent proton conductivity. UiO-66-NH2 is successfully prepared as a result of the consistency of the experimental and simulated powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of MOFs. The existence of absorption peaks of characteristic functional groups in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra proved the successful preparation of SPES, PES-SO2Cl, and a composite film. The results of the AC impedance test indicate that the composite film with a 3% mass fraction has the best proton conductivity of 0.215 S·cm-1, which is 6.2 times higher than that of the blended film without a chemical bond at 98% RH and 353 K. To our knowledge, there are rarely any reports on the preparation of a composite membrane by directly linking MOFs and the membrane matrix with chemical bonds. This work provides a good way to synthesize the highly conductive proton exchange film.

Heart Model A.I. Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function and Parameter Setting.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the feasibility of HeartModel A.I. (HM) three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) to assess left ventricular function and discover suitable border parameter settings. METHODS: A total of 113 patients that underwent echocardiography in our hospital were eligible for inclusion. The HM 3DE (HM method) and conventional 3DE (3D method) were used to analyze echocardiography images. The HM was set to different border settings (end-diastolic [ED] and end-systolic [ES] settings) to assess different left ventricular systolic function parameters including left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular diastolic function parameters including maximal left atrium volume (LAVMAX). All of these parameters were evaluated using the HM method and then compared with the 3D method. RESULTS: The differences in LVEDV, LVESV, and LVEF measured with different HM border settings were statistically significant (P<0.05) and were strongly correlated with the 3D method. For LVEF, the reading using the HM method with ED and ES = 70 and 30 showed the best agreement with the 3D method, and the difference in the readings was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). For LVEDV and LVESV, the reading using the HM method with ED and ES = 40 and 20 showed the best agreement with the 3D method, but the difference in the readings was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The measurements taken using the HM method were more reproducible than those taken using the 3D method (P<0.05). The measurement time when using the HM method was significantly less than the 3D method (P<0.05). In terms of LAVMAX, the correlation between the HM and 3D methods was strong, but the requirements for agreement were not satisfied. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the left ventricular function using HM 3DE is feasible, saves time, and is reproducible. To assess the left ventricular function, the border parameter setting of ED and ES = 70 and 30 provided the best fit for the Chinese population.

Synthesis and biological activity of squaramido-tethered bisbenzimidazoles as synthetic anion transporters.

A series of squaramido-tethered bisbenzimidazoles were synthesized from the reaction of diethyl squarate with substituted 2-aminomethylbenzimidazoles. These conjugates exhibit moderate binding affinity toward chloride anions. They are able to facilitate the transmembrane transport of chloride anions most probably via an anion exchange process, and tend to be more active at acidic pH than at physiological pH. The viability of these conjugates toward four selected solid tumor cell lines was evaluated using an MTT assay and the results suggest that some of these conjugates exhibit moderate cytotoxicity probably in an apoptotic fashion.

Mitral annulus displacement measured by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging to assess the left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in coronary heart disease.

AIM: To assess the clinical utility of measuring mitral annulus displacement (MAD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking for the rapid evaluation of left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Left ventricular longitudinal systolic function was evaluated by MAD using speckle tracking echocardiography in 30 healthy volunteers (controls) as well as in 30 patients with mild, 30 patients with moderate, and 30 patients with severe CHD. All participants had their apical four-chamber and two-chamber view echocardiographic images recorded. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction were calculated by the biplane Simpson method. MAD of interventricular septum (MADsep), left ventricular lateral wall (MADlat), and the middle point of the mitral annulus (MADmid) were measured offline with speckle-tracking echocardiography. MADmid% was defined as MADmid divided by left ventricular end-diastolic diameter. RESULTS: MADmid% was 16.9 ± 1.9, 11.8 ± 3.2, 11.8 ± 2.9, and 10.3 ± 3.6, respectively, in controls and in patients with mild, moderate, and severe CHD. All MAD indexes were lower in patients with moderate or severe CHD than in controls or patients with mild CHD. CONCLUSIONS: MAD is an early and rapid index for the assessment of left ventricular longitudinal systolic function in patients with different degrees of coronary artery disease.