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Objective@#To elucidate the association between large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BKCa) in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) and sympathetic outflow in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF) .@*Methods@#Male Wistar rats (6-7 weeks old) were randomized to sham operated group and CHF group (coronary artery ligation) . Two weeks after operation, BKCa inhibitor Iberiotoxin (IBTX) was infused into PVN by osmotic minipumps, rats were divided into following groups: sham+aCSF, CHF+aCSF, sham+low dose IBTX (0.125 nmol/nl) , CHF+low dose IBTX, sham+moderate dose IBTX (1.25 nmol/nl) , CHF+moderate dose IBTX, sham+ high dose IBTX (12.5 nmol/nl) , and CHF+high dose IBTX (n=6 each) . Additional rats were grouped as follows: sham+vehicle, sham+KCNMB4 knockdown (by rAAV2-KCNMB4 shRNA virus injection in PVN) , CHF+vehicle, CHF+ KCNMB4 knockdown group (n=6 each) . The cardiac function was determined by echocardiography, left ventricular hemodynamics were measured invasively, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was recorded at 6 weeks after coronary artery ligation or sham operation. The contents of norepinephrine (NE) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein and mRNA expression of KCNMB4 in PVN were measured by immunofluorescence staining, Western blot, and real-time PCR, mRNA expression of BKCa in PVN was detected by real-time PCR.@*Results@#Compared with the sham operation group, the cardiac function of the heart failure group was significantly reduced (P<0.05) , and the plasma NE and the serum NT-proBNP were significantly elevated (P<0.05) . The protein and mRNA expression of KCNMB4 in PVN were obviously down-regulated in CHF rats (P<0.05) . After perfusion of IBTX or KCNMB4 knockdown by microinjection of rAAV2-KCNMB4 shRNA virus,right ventricular weight/body weight and lung weight/body weight ratio as well as left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were increased and left ventricular ejection fraction was decreased (all P<0.05) , the sympathetic driving indexes was increased in sham rats, changes of these parameters further aggravated in CHF rats (P<0.05) . KCNMB4 knockdown further downregulated protein expression in PVN of CHF rats.@*Conclusion@#Downregulation and blunted function of BKCa in PVN may contribute to sympathoexcitation and deterioration of cardiac function in rats with chronic heart failure.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided transvaginal radiofrequency ablation in the treat ment of symptomatic uterine fibroid.Methods:39 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroid underwent transvaginal radiofrequency ablation therapy were selected Before treatment,the fibroid size and volume were measured using ultrasound.The fibroid-related symptom severity and quality of life were scored using uterine fibroid symptom and quality of life survey.The fibroid volume reduction rate,improvement in clinical symptom and quality of life,and ovarian function of patients were observed before treatment and at three,six,nine and 12 months after treatment.Results:The average operation time of radiofrequency ablation was 25 minutes.There was no clear intraand postoperative complication.Preoperative fibroid volume was 65.2± 49.3cm3,which was reduced to 32.2± 27.6 cm3,21.2± 18.2 cm3,15.3± 12.1 cm3 and 10.3± 9.8 cm3 at 3,6,9 and 12 months after treatment,respectively(P＜0.05).The symptom severity score (SSS) was 60.23± 13.2 before treatment,and gradually decreased to 42.2± 11.4,21.1± 10.2,15.4± 10.3 and 12.2± 9.7 at 3,6,9 and 12 months after treatment(P＜0.05).The quality of life (QOL) score gradually increased from 58.24± 16.24 before treatment to 70.3± 20.3,81.4± 8.6,86.3± 7.6 and 88.2± 9.1 at 3,6,9 and 12 months after treatment (P＜0.05).The levels of follicle stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone and estradiol at 3,6,9 and 12 months after treatment showed no difference compared with these before treatment (P＞0.05).Conclusions:Ultrasound-guided transvaginal radiofrequency therapy was a minimally invasive,safe,and effective therapy for symptomatic uterine fibroid.
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Objective To investigate the value of real-time elastography (RTE) in evaluating the characteristics and elasticity index (E-index) changes at different echo level of uterine fibroids before and after radiofrequency ablation (RFA).Methods A total of 43 patients (with 55 lesions) accepted RFA under ultrasound guidance in the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from September 2013 to January 2015.All lesions were confirmed to have no perfusion through ultrasonography 1 h after RFA.The diameter of lesions ranging from 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm (with an average of 1.9± 1.2 cm).Preoperative lesions were classified into 3 groups for comparison based on ultrasonic echo type,group A:hypo echo (n=30);group B:hyper echo (n=12);and group C:mixed echo (n=12).Measured elasticity index E-index and internal uniformity (△ E) were analyzed.Comparisons of E value and△ E value were performed with repeated measures.RTE images features using x2 test of Fisher inspection comparison at the same time differences between groups.Results (1) Before RFA,RTE images showed blue alternating with green with green being dominated accounting for 70％ (21/30).50％ of RTE images in group B were completely covered in blue (6/12),while group C exhibited 53.9％ blue alternating with green with blue being dominated (7/13).There were statistically significant characteristics of RTE images among 3 groups (P ＜ 0.01).1 h after RFA,74.5％ lesions exhibited with blue being dominated (41/55).However,83.6％ (41/55) exhibited with blue 3 months after RFA.The difference in characteristics of RTE among 3 groups displayed no statistical significance (P ＞ 0.05).(2) The comparison of E-index revealed that before RFA,the E value was the lowest in the group A and the highest in the group B,while the group C was between them.There was significant difference between group A and B (F=19.25,P ＜ 0.01).E-index elevated in all the three groups and significant differences were found 1 h,3 month after RFA in comparison with that before RFA in the group A (F=386.75,294.68,both P ＜ 0.01).In addition,significant differences were also found 1 h,3 month after RFA in comparison with the treatment in the group B (F=29.98,45.88,both P ＜ 0.01).As for the group C,there were significant differences in E-index 1 h,3 month after RFA compared with before RFA (F=120.29,139.64,both P ＜ 0.01).3 months after RFA,E-index further elevated in the three groups and no significant inter-group difference was found at the same time points (P ＞ 0.05).(3)Before RFA,the△ E value was lower in group A and group B,while higher in the group C,group C presenting significant difference from group A and B (F=484.68,344.15,both P ＜ 0.01).At 1 h after RFA,△ E value was higher in group A and group C,while lower in group B,with group B showing significant difference from the low and mixed echo groups (F=53.58,94.79,both P ＜ 0.01).Significant difference was observed 1 h after surgery compared to before RFA in group A (F=154.35,P ＜ 0.01).Significant difference was also found 1 h after RFA compared to 3 month after RFA in group A (F=266.85,P ＜ 0.01).As for group C,there were also significant differences in△ E-index before treatment and 1 h after RFA compared with 3 month after RFA (F=103.24,76.53,both P ＜ 0.01).At 3 months after RFA,△ E-index decreased in all three groups.No significant inter-group difference was found at the same time points (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions RTE characteristics and the elasticity index are distinctly different among uterine fibroid at various echo intensities.RTE contributes to judging changes in hardness before and after RFA.The application of RTE for quantitative comparison of lesion hardness and uniformity can be served as the foundation for evaluating therapeutic effects of RFA.