Reference ranges of cardiac size and morphology for low-risk fetuses at 28-39 gestational weeks based on two-dimensional speckle tracking technique / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To construct reference ranges of cardiac size and morphologic parameters in low-risk fetuses at 28-39 gestational weeks using two-dimensional speckle tracking technique.Methods A prospective collection of 453 low-risk singleton pregnancies with echocardiography at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University was used to assess the size(length,width,and area)and morphology(sphericity index,i.e.,the ratio of length to width)of the fetal four-chamber view and two ventricles using two-dimensional speckle tracking technique.Repeated inter-and intra-observer agreement of measurements was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs).Statistical analysis of cardiac measurement parameters was performed to establish reference ranges of values for cardiac size and morphology in low-risk fetuses.Results The inter-and intra-group ICCs for reproducibility tests of fetal cardiac parameters measurements were 0.691 to 0.980.Fetal four-chamber view and ventricular size increased with gestational week(all P<0.001),the end-diastolic length of the left ventricle was larger than that of the right ventricle,and the end-diastolic diameter was smaller than that of the right ventricle(both P<0.001),while there was no significant difference in the end-diastolic area of the two ventricles(P= 0.050).The spherical index of four-chamber view did not correlate with gestational week(P=0.811).The sphericity index of the basal and intermediate segments of the left ventricle was greater than that of the right ventricle,and the sphericity index of the apical segment was less than that of the right ventricle,the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.01).Conclusion The two-dimensional speckle tracking technique for measuring fetal cardiac parameters has good reproducibility.The reference ranges for cardiac size and morphology in low-risk fetuses developed in this study will be useful for prenatal evaluation of cardiac remodeling.

Impact and potential mechanism of human α-defensin 1 on low-density lipoprotein oxidation ability of ECV304 cells / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role and potential mechanism of human α-defensin 1 (HNP-1) on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation ability of human endothelial cells (EVC304).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Post incubation with LDL for 3 h, the malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) were detected in untreated ECV304 (control) and in HNP-1 transfected ECV304 in the presence and absence of siRNA against HNP-1. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to detect the generation of oxygen free radical in the ECV304 which have been pretreated by LDL, LPS and HNP-1, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with control group, MDA level was significantly increased in HNP-1 transfected [(4.21 ± 0.03) vs. (3.15 ± 0.02) nmol/mg · pro] or in HNP-1 stimulated ECV304 cells [(14.49 ± 1.10) vs. (9.47 ± 1.18) nmol/mg · pro], which could be significantly downregulated by siRNA [(3.76 ± 0.48) vs. (4.54 ± 0.28) nmol/mg·pro, all P < 0.05]. PCO was also significantly increased in HNP-1 transfected ECV304 cells. The levels of free radical were significantly increased in HNP-1 transfected or HNP-1 stimulated ECV304 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HNP-1 can enhance the LDL oxidation ability of human endothelial cells via promoting the generation of free radicals.</p>