Role of automated functional imaging and myocardial work in assessment of cardiac function in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of abnormal left ventricular function in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is difficult using conventional echocardiographic indices and commonly used clinical markers of myocardial damage. We sought to investigate the value of automatic function imaging and myocardial work parameters in predicting early cardiac impairment in children having OSA with preserved left heart function and thereby identifying an optimal index for assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two children who presented with symptoms of nocturnal sleep snoring and open-mouth breathing and 34 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics and conventional echocardiographic data were collected, and image analysis was performed using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography to obtain left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), post-systolic index, peak strain dispersion, global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work, and global work efficiency. RESULTS: Children with OSA had significantly lower GLS, GWI, and GCW than those without (P < 0.05). Additionally, GWI (ß = -32.87, 95% CI: -53.47 to -12.27), and GCW (ß = -35.09, 95% CI: -55.35 to -14.84) were found to correlate with the disease severity in the multiple linear regression mode, with worsening values observed as the severity of the disease increased. ROC curve analysis revealed that GCW was the best predictor of myocardial dysfunction, with an AUC of 0.809 (P < 0.001), and the best cutoff point for diagnosing myocardial damage in children with OSA was 1965.5 mmHg%, with a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 58.7%. CONCLUSIONS: GLS, GWI, and GCW were identified as predictors of myocardial dysfunction in children with OSA, with GCW being the best predictor.

Myocardial Work for Dynamic Monitoring of Myocardial Injury in Neonatal Asphyxia.

To assess the value of parameters of myocardial work for dynamic monitoring of myocardial injury after neonatal asphyxia. Fifty-three neonates with asphyxia admitted within 24 h after delivery were divided into a mild asphyxia group (n = 40) and severe asphyxia group (n = 13). Echocardiography was performed within 24 h post-birth, within 72 h post-birth (48 h after first echo), and during recovery. The left ventricular ejection fraction on M-mode echocardiography and by Simpson's biplane method (LVEF and Bi-EF, respectively), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), global longitudinal strain (GLS), global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), and other parameters were measured. Echocardiographic indicators were compared between groups and over time. GWI was significantly increased at 72 h in the mild asphyxia group (P < 0.05) but showed no significant change over time in the severe asphyxia group (P > 0.05). While GCW increased significantly over time in both groups (P < 0.05), it increased earlier in the mild asphyxia group. Time and grouping factors had independent effects on GWI and GCW (P > 0.05). The characteristics of differences in GWI and GCW between the two groups were different from those for LVEF, Bi-EF, SV, CO, CI, and GLS and their change characteristics with improvement from treatment. GWI and GCW changed significantly during recovery from neonatal asphyxia, and their change characteristics differed between mild and severe asphyxia cases. Myocardial work parameters can be used as valuable supplements to traditional indicators of left ventricular function to dynamically monitor the recovery from myocardial injury after neonatal asphyxia.

Echocardiographic assessment of intimal thickness growth of patent ductus arteriosus in neonates and analysis of influencing factors.

The spontaneous closure rate of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is high, and the necessity of early intervention is debated. Quantitative echocardiographic assessment of the intima in PDA has not been reported. This study evaluated intimal thickness growth in neonatal cases of PDA via echocardiography and investigated its correlation with clinical factors. Seventy-three neonates were enrolled, and echocardiography was performed three times: within 24 h post-birth (first echo), 48 h after the first echo (second echo), and before discharge (third echo). According to PDA outcome, the neonates were divided into the PDA-open group (n = 18 cases), PDA-closure at second echo group (n = 32 cases), and non-PDA at first echo group (n = 23 cases). We measured the intimal thickness (IT1 and IT2 at first and second echo, respectively), lumen diameter of ductus arteriosus (D1 and D2 at first and second echo, respectively), IT1/D1 ratio, and intimal thickness growth rate (V). Correlations between echocardiographic indicators, perinatal factors, and clinical treatment were analyzed. On first echo, the PDA-open group showed a significantly lower IT1/D1 than the combined PDA-closure group (P < 0.05). On second echo, the PDA-open group showed a significantly lower IT2 and V than the PDA-closure group as well as a significantly higher D2 (P < 0.05). Smaller gestational age correlated with a larger D2 but smaller IT2 and V (P < 0.05) and a higher level of respiratory support within 72 h post-birth correlated with a larger D2 and smaller IT 2 (P < 0.05). Increasing oxygen demand within 72 h of birth correlated with a larger D1 and D2 (P < 0.05). Echocardiographic assessment of intimal thickness growth in PDA may provide an approach for predicting spontaneous PDA closure, thereby guiding decision-making regarding early intervention.

Assessment of myocardial injury in neonates born to pregnant women with pregnancy complicated by severe preeclampsia by myocardial work indices: a prospective study. / å¿ƒè‚ŒåšåŠŸå‚æ•°è¯„ä¼°é‡åº¦å­ç—«å‰æœŸå­•å¦‡å­ä»£æ–°ç”Ÿå„¿æœŸå¿ƒè‚ŒæŸä¼¤çš„å‰çž»æ€§ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate myocardial injury in neonates born to pregnant women with pregnancy complicated by severe preeclampsia by myocardial work indices. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed on 25 preterm infants born to the pregnant women with severe preeclampsia from June 2020 to April 2021 (severe preeclampsia group), and 25 preterm infants born to the pregnant women without severe complications in pregnancy were enrolled as the control group. Echocardiography was performed within 24 hours and at 48-72 hours and 14-28 days after birth to measure conventional parameters. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed to construct a noninvasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop based on two-dimensional myocardial strain and left ventricular systolic pressure noninvasively measured, so as to calculate myocardial work indices. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the severe preeclampsia group had significant reductions in left ventricular global work index and global constructive work within 24 hours after birth (P<0.05), a significant reduction in left ventricular global work efficiency and a significant increase in global waste work at 48-72 hours after birth (P<0.05), and a significant reduction in left ventricular global work efficiency at 14-28 days after birth (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical myocardial injury persists in the neonatal period in preterm infants born to pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.

AST-to-ALT ratio and coronary artery lesions among patients with Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the associations between the aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT) and coronary artery lesions (CALs) among patients with Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: Medical records of KD patients presenting to a single center between January 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Univariate, multivariable-adjusted analyses, subgroup analyses, restricted cubic spline test, and fitted curves were used to evaluate the associations between AST/ALT and CALs. RESULTS: A total of 831 patients were enrolled, of which 201 (24.2%) had CALs on admission and 21 (2.5%) developed CALs de novo after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Multivariable-adjusted analyses models revealed that a lower AST/ALT was associated with an increased risk of CALs on admission when AST/ALT was a continuous variable (P = 0.007) and when it was a categorical variable (P for trend = 0.004). Each unit increase in AST/ALT was associated with a 22% lower risk of CALs on admission (odds ratio = 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.65-0.94). A negative linear relationship was noted between AST/ALT and the risk of CALs on admission in both observed and fitted models. However, such associations were not observed in AST/ALT and CALs de novo after IVIG. None of the variables significantly modified the association between AST/ALT and CALs on admission and CALs de novo after IVIG (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that AST/ALT was a risk factor of CALs, but was not associated with progressive CALs.

Ultrasonography to detect cardiovascular damage in children with essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Essential hypertension in adults may begin in childhood. The damages to the heart and blood vessels in children with essential hypertension are hidden and difficult to detect. We noninvasively examined changes in cardiovascular structure and function in children with hypertension at early stage using ultrasonography. METHODS: All patients with essential hypertension admitted from March 2020 to May 2021 were classified into simple hypertension (group 1, n = 34) and hypertension co-existing with obesity (group 2, n = 11) isolation. Meanwhile 32 healthy children were detected as control heathly group (group 3). We used pulse-wave Doppler to measure carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), intimal-medial thickness (cIMT) and distensibility of carotid artery (CD). Cardiac structure and function (left atrial diameter [LAD], left ventricular mass [LVM], LVM index [LVMI], relative wall thicknes [RWT], end-diastolic left ventricular internal diameter [LVIDd], diastolic interventricular septum thickness [IVSd], diastolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness [LVPWd], root diameter of aorta [AO], E peak, A peak, E' peak, A' peak, E/E' ratio, and E/A ratio) were measured by echocardiography. RESULTS: The cfPWV of children in group 1 and group 2 were significantly higher than healthy children in group 3. Significant differences were observed in LVM, LVMI, RWT, LVIDd, IVSd, LVPWd, LAD, A peak, E' peak, A' peak, and E/E' among three groups. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with essential hypertension demonstrate target organ damages in the heart and blood vessels.

[Association between serum uric acid and subclinical cardiac damage in children with primary hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the condition of subclinical cardiac damage in children with primary hypertension and the association between serum uric acid and subclinical cardiac damage. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 55 children who were hospitalized and diagnosed with primary hypertension in the Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University from January 2015 to June 2020. Forty-five healthy children, matched for age and sex, were enrolled as the control group. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical features, laboratory examination, and parameters for left ventricular structure, systolic function, and diastolic function. The correlation of serum uric acid with the parameters for left ventricular structure, systolic function, and diastolic function in children with primary hypertension was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the hypertension group had significantly higher left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and relative wall thickness (RWT) (P < 0.05). Among the children with primary hypertension, 20 (36%) had left ventricular hypertrophy. The hypertension group had significantly larger left atrial diameter and aortic root diameter than the control group (P < 0.05). The hypertension group had a significantly higher ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity than the control group (P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that in children with primary hypertension, serum uric acid was positively correlated with LVM (r=0.534, P < 0.01), left atrial diameter (r=0.459, P < 0.01), and aortic root diameter (r=0.361, P=0.010). After adjustment for blood pressure, serum uric acid was still positively correlated with the above parameters (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children with primary hypertension may have subclinical cardiac damage such as left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, and proximal aortic dilation. Elevated serum uric acid is significantly associated with cardiac damage in children with primary hypertension.

Corrigendum: MiR-223-3p Alleviates Vascular Endothelial Injury by Targeting IL6ST in Kawasaki Disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00288.].

MiR-223-3p Alleviates Vascular Endothelial Injury by Targeting IL6ST in Kawasaki Disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self-limiting illness with acute systematic vascular inflammation. It causes pathological changes in mostly medium and small-sized arteries, especially the arteria coronaria, which adds the risk of developing coronary heart disease in adults. Materials and methods: We detected the miR-223-3p expression in 30 KD patients combined with 12 normal controls using miRNA microarrays and RT-PCR. A KD mouse model was constructed using Candida albicans water insoluble substance (CAWS). We also checked the miR-223-3p's expression using qRT-PCR. The Luciferase reporting system was implemented to validate the correlation between miR-223-3p and Interleukin-6 receptor subunit beta (IL-6ST). TNF-α was used to stimulate human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), and miR-223-3p activator or inhibitor and KD serum were used to treat HCAECs. A Western blotting automatic quantitative analysis protein imprinting system was used to test the expression of signal transducer and the activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), phosphorylated-signal transducer and the activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) and NF-κB p65. Results: Clinical trials found that miR-223-3p expressions were markedly different (more than 2-fold) between the acute KD group and the control group. E-selectin and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels were also significantly higher (about 2-fold) in KD especially with coronary artery lesions. MiR-223-3p could alleviate vascular endothelial damage in KD mice, and IL-6 (Interleukin-6), E-selectin and ICAM-1 were simultaneously negative. The values of IL-6, E-selectin, and ICAM-1 mRNA expressions decreased, while the value of IL-6ST was increased between the agonist treated mice and KD mice. The RT-qPCR consequences displayed that miR-223-3p explored the highest expression on the third day in both the KD mice as well as the agonist group. MiR-223-3p can directly combine with IL-6ST 3' untranslatable regions (UTR) and held back the IL-6's expression. Overexpression of miR-223 down regulated IL6ST expression and decreased the expression of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65, while the miR-223 inhibitor could reverse the above process. Conclusion: MiR-223-3p is an important regulatory factor of vascular endothelial damage in KD and could possibly become a potential target of KD treatment in the future.

Kawasaki disease OX40-OX40L axis acts as an upstream regulator of NFAT signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: We investigated a costimulatory molecule OX40-OX40L acting as an upstream regulator to regulate the nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: One hundred and one samples were collected and divided into six groups: coronary artery lesion (KD-CAL) before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), KD-CAL after IVIG, KD without CAL (KD-nCAL) before IVIG, KD-nCAL after IVIG, fever of unknown (Fou), and Healthy. In vitro OX40-stimulating and OX40L-inhibiting tests were conducted in Healthy and KD groups, respectively. Both the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels of OX40, OX40L, NFAT1, and NFAT2 were investigated using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and immunoblotting assay, respectively. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein expression levels of NFAT1, NFAT2, OX40, and OX40L were significantly increased in KD-CAL and KD-nCAL groups before IVIG compared with Fou and Healthy groups and decreased after IVIG. A positive correlation was found between them in KD. In vitro OX40-stimulating test demonstrated the significantly increased mRNA and protein expression levels of NFAT1 and NFAT2 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the Healthy group. Meanwhile, OX40L-inhibiting test showed significantly decreased expression levels of NFAT1 and NFAT2 in the KD group. CONCLUSION: OX40-OX40L acts as an upstream regulator in the NFAT signaling pathway involved in KD.

Identification of differentially expressed microRNAs in acute Kawasaki disease.

The present study used microarray analysis to screen the plasma expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with acute Kawasaki disease (KD) and aimed to explore the pathogenesis of KD. Plasma was collected from children with acute KD (n=6) and from healthy control children (n=6). Total RNA was extracted and differential miRNA expression between the two groups was determined. Differentially expressed miRNAs were validated using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR) in an independent cohort (n=8). Target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted and analyzed for gene ontology term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. miRNA microarray analysis revealed that seven miRNAs (miRs) were significantly upregulated (hsa­let­7b­5p, hsa­miR­223­3p, hsa­miR­4485, hsa­miR­4644, hsa­miR­4800­5p, hsa­miR­6510­5p and hsa­miR­765) and three were significantly downregulated (hsa­miR­33b­3p, hsa­miR­4443 and hsa­miR­4515) in acute KD compared with the healthy controls. hsa­miR­223­3p expression levels detected by RT­qPCR were consistent with the microarray results. A total of 62 target genes of hsa­miR­223­3p were predicted. In total, 10 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in acute KD, of which hsa­miR­223­3p was verified by RT­qPCR.

Copper-Promoted Cyclization of α-Amino Nitrile-Tethered Enynes: Controllable Synthesis of 3-Azabicyclo[4.1.0]hepta-2,4-dienes and 4,5-Dihydro-3H-azepines.

The first example of Cu-promoted cyclization of α-amino nitrile-tethered enynes incorporating an electron-deficient alkene component is described. A wide range of functionalized 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]hepta-2,4-dienes and 4,5-dihydro-3H-azepines were prepared efficiently in a controllable manner. Moreover, the diverse cascade process enables efficient incorporation of tertiary amine moieties under mild reaction conditions. A possible reaction pathway is proposed on the basis of a series of control experiments.

Diagnostic accuracy of coronary angiography using 64-slice computed tomography in coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a meta-analysis and investigate the diagnostic value of 64-slice computed tomography (CT) angiography for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search from March 2005 to August 2014 was performed on the following databases: Cochrane Library; Medline; EmBase; PubMed; and BioMed Central database. As a reference standard, studies that assessed 64-slice CT angiography in detecting coronary artery stenosis (CAS) with invasive coronary angiography were included. Coronary artery stenosis was defined as ≥50% diameter stenosis. Diagnostic value was determined by pooling sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) values at segment-level analysis. Diagnostic accuracy was undertaken using area under the curve (AUC) value and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves. Publication bias was examined by Deek's funnel plot asymmetry test. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in the analysis, enrolling a total of 579 patients (7,407 segment coronary vessels). At segment-level, pooled sensitivity value was 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83-95%), specificity was 91% (95% CI: 61-98%), PLR value was 9.7 (95% CI: 1.8-53.3), and NLR value was 0.11 (95% CI: 0.05-0.22) for CAS. Optimal cut-off point of sensitivity was 90%, and specificity under the SROC curve was 91%. The AUC value was 0.94. CONCLUSION: The 64-slice CT angiography is a reliable tool for detection of CAD when using a cut-off of more than or equal to 50% diameter stenosis in elderly population.

Evaluation of left ventricular systolic strain in children with Kawasaki disease.

The current study aimed to assess left ventricular (LV) longitudinal systolic strains in children with KD using two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging and to analyze the relationship of LV myocardial deformation to coronary lesions and laboratory markers. The study enrolled 101 children with acute KD. An additional 50 age- and gender-matched normal children were enrolled as control subjects. During different phases of KD, echocardiograms were recorded for 61 children. Two-dimensional strain analysis software was used to track myocardial movement and obtain the strain from each LV segment. The LV longitudinal systolic strain decreased significantly in children with acute KD but increased immediately after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. At 6-8 weeks after the onset of KD, all LV strains had recovered to normal. The LV systolic strain was not associated with coronary dilation in either acute or convalescent KD. In acute KD, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), and hemoglobin (Hb) were found to be associated with coronary dilation, whereas LV systolic strains were found to be correlated with elevated CRP and decreased Hb. Speckle-tracking imaging of LV systolic strain was simple and accurate in evaluating LV function during different phases of KD. No association between LV dysfunction and coronary dilation was observed, but a relationship with CRP and Hb was found. Further studies are recommended to validate the current study results and explore further how these findings can improve clinical practice.

Correlation between brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and endothelial microparticle levels for identifying endothelial dysfunction in children with Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: We investigated vascular endothelial dysfunction by sonographic features of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with KD were prospectively grouped according to stage of disease: acute, subacute, and convalescent. In addition, 28 healthy children and 28 febrile children were selected as controls. And cases in the convalescent phase were divided into two subgroups: coronary artery lesion (CAL) and no coronary lesion (NCAL). CD144(+)/CD42b(-), CD62E(+), and CD105(+) EMPs were measured by flow cytometry; FMD was obtained by sonography. RESULTS: There were significant differences in FMD among the five groups. When compared with healthy controls, there were significantly greater numbers of CD144(+)/CD42b(-), CD62E(+), and CD105(+) EMPs and a higher proportion of CD62E(+) EMPs in KD patients. The proportions and numbers of CD144(+)/CD42b(-), CD62E(+), and CD105(+) EMPs in KD patients were not statistically different than in febrile controls. There were no significant differences in FMD and EMPs between the CAL and NCAL subgroups. There were significantly negative correlations between the values of FMD and EMPs in the three phases of KD. CONCLUSION: The increased levels of EMPs have significant correlation with decreased values of FMD, both of which may reflect endothelial dysfunction in child KD.

Intranasal recombinant human erythropoietin protects rats against focal cerebral ischemia.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hematopoietic growth factor with tissue-protective properties, and can protect animals from cerebral ischemic injury. However, the central nervous effects of EPO as a glycoprotein is limited by the potential complication resulted from its erythropoietic activity and the problem of the penetration through blood-brain barrier (BBB). To avoid these limitations, in this study we administered recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) intranasally (i.n.) to evaluate its neuroprotective effect in the rats with focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We found that rhEPO i.n. at doses of 4.8, 12 and 24 U (administered 10 min after MCAO and 1h after reperfusion) reduced infarct volume, brain swelling and cell damage in the ischemic hemispheres, and improved behavioral dysfunction 24 h after cerebral ischemia. Intraperitoneal rhEPO (5000 U/kg) also showed the protective effect, but the heat-inactivated rhEPO did not show any effect. Thus, intranasal administration of relatively small doses of rhEPO protects rats from acute injury after focal cerebral ischemia, suggesting that intranasal rhEPO may be a more effective and safer administration route for treatments of ischemic or other brain diseases.

[An improved quantitative method for evaluating neurological deficits in mice with focal cerebral ischemia].

The purpose of this study was to develop a quantitative and objective method for evaluating neurological deficits in mice with focal cerebral ischemia. After middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), the neurological deficits were evaluated 24 h later. We measured the mean angles, dominant angles and turns in a hanged test in which the mice were sticked on the wall, and the holding angles in an inclined plane test as well, Then we determined the cerebral infarct volumes, neuron density in hippocampus, cortex and subcortical areas 24 h after MCAO. The correlations among infarct volume, neuron density and neurological deficits were analyzed. We also compared the quantitative method with two typical complex methods of behavioral assessment. The effect of [pranlukast, 4-oxo-8-[p-(4-phenylbutyloxy) benzoylamino]-2-(tetrazol-5-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran hemihydrate] (ONO-1078), a neuroprotective agent, on ischemic injury was observed using this method. We found that the variables measured by both quantitative and typical behavioral methods significantly changed in the ischemic mice, and correlated with the infarct volumes and neuron densities. The quantitative variables well correlated with those of typical behavioral assessment, too. ONO-1078 inhibited ischemic injury and reduced the total scores of quantitative assessment. Thus, the quantitative method we developed is useful in evaluating neurological deficits of focal cerebral ischemia with the advantages of objectivity, quantification, simplicity and non-invasion, and can be used in the evaluation of neuroprotective effects of drugs.

[Light transmission measurement of focal ischemic cerebral infarction in mice]

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of light transmission to measure focal cerebral ischemia in mice. METHODS: Persistent focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artey occlusion (MCAO) in mice. The brain were removed 24 h after MCAO and coronally dissected into 1 mm sections. Using a stereomicroscope, the brain section was illuminated with a halogen lamp and computerized images were stored. Next the brain sections were stained for 30 minutes with 0.5% TTC (2, 3, 5-triphenylterzolim chloride) at 37 degrees C. Using an image analyzer (AnalyPower 1.0), the infarct volumes obtained by light transmittance and TTC staining were calculated. Integrated gray scales of sections of both hemispheres were calculated by Photoshop 5.0. RESULTS: A close correlation existed between cerebral infarct volume measured by light transmission and TTC staining (r=0.81). The mean gray scales measured by both techniques of the ischemic hemispheres as well as those of the cortex, subcortex and hippocampus were siginificantly higher than those of non-ischemic hemispheres and of control mouse hemispheres (P <0.001). Further there were no significant difference between the two hemispheres of control mice and between hemispheres of control mice and non-ischemic hemispheres of the MCAO mice. CONCLUSION: Light transmission can be used for qualitative analysis of focal cerebral ischemia.