Effect of Xuezhikang on cardiac function, serum C-reactive protein and blood lipid in patients with chronic heart failure / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of Xuezhikang (XZK) on cardiac function and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-eight CHF patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the control group (30 cases) treated with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, beta-receptor inhibitor, digoxin and diuretic, and the treated group (38 cases) with the above treatment plus XZK for six months. The changes of cardiac function and serum CRP level were measured by echocardiography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before treatment, the NYHA cardiac function grade, the left ventricular dimension end diastole (LVDd), and the left ventricular dimension end systole (LVDs) decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the ejection fraction (EF) and E/A ratio increased significantly in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05) , however, the decrement or increment was more significant in the treated group than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05); the serum CRP level decreased significantly in the treated group after treatment and showed a level obviously lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), which changed insignificantly after treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Xuezhikang could improve cardiac function and decrease serum CRP level at the same time.</p>

Quantitative analysis of brain volume by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging in normal adults / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To quantify neuroanatomical parameters with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore the relationship between these parameters and age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 150 adults aged 18-83 years received 3D fast spoiled gradient echo imaging. Volume of intracranial space, whole brain, gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured and normalized.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Normative volumetric estimates were obtained for all subjects and presented by age and sex. There was not significantly age-related change in intracranial space volume. Whole brain volume did not significantly change before 30 years, thereafter, decline with age. SM volume decreased linearly with age. CSF volume increased linearly with age. WM volume and GM/WM ratio demonstrated a quadragnetic pattern of change with age. WM volume increased slightly in subjects until the age of 45 years, and it decreased thereafter. However, GM/ WM ratio decreased quickly in subjects until the age of 55 years, and it decreased slightly thereafter. Although the volumes of intracranial space and whole brain had significant differences between male and female (P < 0.05), the volumes of whole brain, GM, and CSF had no significant differences after normalization.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In vivo MRI can measure the normal patterns of age- and sex-related changes in intracranial space, whole brain, GM, WM, and CSF, and may facilitate the appraisal of abnormal brain volumes. Keased linearly words: brain;ge. WM vol urement; magnetic resonance imaging</p>

Association between serum cardiac troponin I and myocardial remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and cardiac function/structure in patients with chronic heart failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty patients with decompensated chronic heart failure were included. The patients were divided into cTnI normal group (cTnIn; n = 80) and cTnI elevated group (cTnIe; n = 40). Systolic dimension of the left atrium (LAd), the maximal width of the left ventricle (LVd), the thickness of the interventricular septum (IVS) and posterior wall (LVPW) during diastole, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), E and A wave velocities ratio (E/A) were determined. Bivariate correlation analysis was applied to show the correlation of serum cTnI level with above indices. Partial correlation analysis was performed followed by multivariate logistic regression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LAd and LVd dimensions were significantly higher (P < 0.05), IVS, LVPW, LVEF and E/A ratio were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in cTnIe group than in cTnIn group. Moreover, serum cTnI was positively correlated with LAd, LVd, and inversely correlated with IVS, LVPW, LVEF and E/A ratio (P < 0.05). The correlation persistent after adjusting with sex, history of heart failure, NYHA functional class and treatment. In multivariate modeling, cTnI was positively associated with LAd, LVd and the history of heart failure, and negatively related with the treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum cTnI correlated with cardiac structure and function. Intensively serum cTnI monitoring and suitable therapy strategy may be helpful to attenuate the cardiac remodeling in patients with chronic heart failure.</p>