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The paper sorts out and analyzes papers on medical English teaching and research published in core periodicals of China. The results show that there are various problems: slow research progress, insufficient empirical studies, a shortage of research on teachers and students, a lack of young faculty members and insufficient international perspective. With the increasing requirement for medical students' higher language proficiency imposed by the development of higher medical education in China, this paper puts forward some suggestions based on the analysis of the past ten-year data on medical English teaching and research: to build stronger medical English teaching faculty and to enhance their research competence by means of improving, enlarging and cooperating; to intensify the research into the two subjects in the teaching process: medical English teachers and medical students; and to avoid depending too heavily on questionnaire survey and employ multiple research methods and collect effective data in order to fundamentally improve medical English teaching and research.
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Medical students should study and enlarge their medical terminology from their medical English courses as well as bilingual courses. This ability is a key part in the cultivation of high-levelled medical talents.However,medical words are special from general English in three parts:long,great in numbers and difficult to read.These characteristics leave the medical students in a hard situation in their promotion of medical terminology.If the students are provided and guided with a convenient and efficient software based on modem education technology,they can achieve much better results.The audio medical English terminology corpus can help the medical students achieve their goal in promotion of medical termi-nology.
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Objective To assess alternations in left ventricular volume and systolic synchrony in patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) from the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT).Methods Twenty-nine patients with frequent isolated PVCs from RVOT were included and 30 healthy subjects as control.Instantaneous full-volume imaging(IFI) was performed to evaluate left ventricle volumetric parameters,including end-systolic volume (ESV),end-diastolic volume (EDV),stroke volume (SV),ejection fraction (EF),and systolic synchrony parameters,including systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI),dispersion end-systole (DISPES),mean end-systolic time (MES),pre-contraction time volume (PreContr) and post-contraction time volume (PostContr).Contraction front mapping was performed to visualize volumetric contraction sequence.All values of patients with PVCs were recorded during sinus beats (PVC-S) and premature ventricular beats (PVC-V) respectively.Results Significant differences were observed in left ventricular systolic volumetric and synchrony parameters between PVC-V and control subjects (P＜0.01),as well as in MES and PreContr between PVC-S and control subjects (P＜0.01).Conclusions Left ventricular systolic dysynchrony was demonstrated in patients with PVCs from RVOT.IFI was a novel tool to analyze left ventricular global and regional volumetric alternations.
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Objective To evaluate the left ventricular(LV)global and segmental myocardial systolic function in patients with permanent DDD pacemaker implantation by speckle tracking imaging.Methods Myocardial imaging of LV apical long views and parasternal LV short axis views were performed in 9 patients with right ventricular(RV)septum pacing(RV septum group),15 patients with RV apex pacing(RV apex group)and 13 healthy subjects(control group).Peak systolic longitudinal strain(S_L),peak systolic radial strain(S_R)were measured,and the average of S_L and S_R among LV 18 segments were calculated respectively as corresponding GS_L and GS_R.Results The GS_L[-(18.29±2.67)%]of RV apex group showed significant decrease compared with RV septum group[-(20.54±2.29)%]and control group[-(21.07±2.08)%](P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between RV septum and control group.The GS_R of the pacing groups were both lower than control group[(36.26±9.37)%in control group,(28.59±6.06)%in RV septum group,(26.85±7.73)%in RV apex group,P＜0.05],but RV apex group showed more decrease trend.The S_L and S_R of the LV myocardial segments close to the pacing sites in both pacing groups showed significant decrease compared with control group,but RV septum group preserved similar LV strain distribution with control group while RV apex group showed abnormal LV strain pattern.Conclusions Speckle tracking imaging is a useful modality to evaluate global and segmental myocardial systolic function of LV with pacing at different right ventricular sites.
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Objective To evaluate the immediate impact of radiofrequencycatheter ablation on left atrial (LA)volumes and function by velocity vector imaging(ⅤⅥ)and compare the LA function with and without atrial fibrillation after the operation.Methods Ten consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF were studied at baseline and within 3 days after ablation.Ten consecutive patients with persistent AF were studied within 3 days after ablation,in sinus rhythm.Ten patients with normal ventricular function were included in the study.ⅤⅥ was performed to assess LA sizes and strain,strain rate,velocity of the septum,lateral wall and the atrial roof from the apical four-chamber view.Results In patients with paroxysmal AF,global and regioal LA function was not significantly impaired after the ablation procedure.Subgroup analysis demonstrated that there were no significant difference in LA function betwwen patients with paroxysmal AF and control subjects,but the indexed LAVmax was significantly larger in all AF patients compared with control subjects.The global function of LA,including LAEF,LAaEF and LA expansion index significantly decreased in persistent AF patients.By contrast,the LA septal strain,velocity and lateral strain were lower than controls.Conclusions Radiofrequency catheter ablation has no influence on LA function assessed by ⅤⅥ within three days after the operation for patients with paroxysmaI AF.The function of persistent AF patients is absolutely lower than control subjects.
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Objective To evaluate left ventricular(LV) systolic synchrony and sequence in patients with premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT).Methods Thirty patients with frequent isolated PVCs from RVOT and 30 healthy subjects as control were included.Speckle tracking imaging (STI) was performed to assess the time-to-peak segmental systolic strain in longit udinal(TsL), circumferential (TsC) and radial (TsR) direction.The standard deviation (SD) of TsL,TsC and TsR of 18 LV segments were calculated respectively.All values of patients with PVCs were recorded during sinus beats(PVC-S) and PVC beats(PVC-V) respectively.LV systolic sequence in PVC-V was analyzed.Results Significant differences were observed in the SD values between the PVC-V and control subjects in three directions,as well as between the PVC-S and control subjects in circumferential and radial direction.In PVC-V significance difference was seen in TsL and TsR from apical to basal level,as well as in TsL and TsC in different walls.Conclusions LV systolic synchrony was demonstrated in patients with PVCs from RVOT during both sinus beats and PVC beats.Systolic sequence in PVC beats from RVOT exhibit certain rules.
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Objective To evaluate the accuracy and value of measurement of left ventricular systolic function in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with stereo three-dimensional echocardiography (S3 DE). Methods End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV),stroke volume(SV) and ejection fraction(EF) of the left ventricle were measured with M-mode echocardiography(ME),two-dimensional echocardiography(2DE) and S3DE in DCM patientsC20 cases). HCM patients(20 cases),and normal controls(20 cases). The different results among the three groups or three methods were analyzed. Results (①In all the three groups,the results of EDV,ESV,and SV obtained with ME were significantly higher than those obtained with S3DE( P <0. 01). Only in normal group( P <0. 01) and HCM group ( P <0. 05) ,the results of EF obtained with ME and 2DE were significantly higher than that obtained with S3DE. ②By S3DE,compared with normal group,EDV,ESV were increased and EF was decreased obviously in DCM group (all P <0. 01); while in HCM group, only SV was significantly higher( P < 0. 01). ③EDV, ESV, and EF measured by S3DE were correlated and fit well with those measured by 2DE(r = 0.778,0.876, 0.932;R2 =0.605,0.767,0.869;all P <0.01). ④Within HCM group,excluding the impact of heart rate,cardiac output (CO) was highly correlated with SV( r = 0. 987,P < 0. 01). Conclusions S3DE can real-time display the stereo structure of the heart, and accurately and reliably assess the left ventricular systolic function, with a priority over traditional ME and 2DE methods. EDV,ESV, and EF are still effective indicators for the clinical assessment of left ventricular systolic function. SV obtained with S3DE will be expected to be the more sensitive and accurate value in assessing left ventricular systolic function in patients with early-stage cardiomyopathy.
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Objective To appraise the clinical value of velocity vector imaging(VVI) by analyzing the peak systolic velocities,strain and strain rate of ventricular segments in patients with DDD pacing. Methods eventeen patients with DDD pacing were enrolled in this study. The peak systolic velocities, strain andstrain rate of ventricular segments were measured with VVI. The difference at baseline and after pacemaker implantation was analyzed. Results Left and right ventricular (LV and RV) longitudinal peak velocities at baseline and after DDD pacing were significantly decreasing from basal, mid to apical segments. But no significant difference was found in longitudinal strain,strain rate and radial motion characteristic of LV. The mean systolic velocities and strain rate at baseline and after pacemaker implantation and strain with pacing of RV posterior septum and free wall were higher than those of posterior septum and lateral segment of LV respectively. The mean strain and strain rate of RV after pacing were higher than that of LV. Compared with the values at baseline, mean strain of LV with pacing was lower significantly. Conclusions VVI can accurately assess ventricular systolic function in patients with DDD pacing, and can become a powerful means in assessing the regional myocardial function.
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Objective To assess left ventricular(LV)twisting parameters in different layers with velocity vector imaging(VVI)in both healthy subjects and premature ventricular contraction(PVC)bigeminy from right ventricle(RV)patients,and investigate the rules of LV myocardium dynamics in sinus rhythm and PVC from RV.Methods Ten patients with PVC bigeminy from RV and twelve healthy subj ects underwent the examination of two-dimensional ultrasound,in which the standard LV mitral valve(MV)and apical short-axis views were acquired.The twisting angle(TA)and untwisting starting time(UST)were measured.Results In healthy subjects myocardium of LV MV short-axis twisted in clockwise,while the myocardium of LV apical short-axis twisted in counter-clockwise.TA of endocardium was higher than that of epieardium(P＜0.01).In PVC bigeminy from RA patients,their TA during sinus contraction was lower than that of healthy subjects both in MV and apical short axis respectively(P＜0.05),and UST was earlier(P＜0.05).In PVC the TA curve is bidirectional.and in early systolic TA twisted reversely compared with that of healthy subjects and sinus contraction in PVC patients.Conclusions Twisting parameters could be used to assess myocardium dynamics during different ventricular mechanical activation.VVl was a novel tool to analyze myocardium twisting.
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Objective To assess the left ventricular(LV)contraction synchrony in patients with DDD pacing by velocity vector imaging(VVI).Methods Acoustic clip capture was performed in 13 patients before and after pacemaker implantation and obtained high-frame rate B-mode echocardiographic images.VVI was done in all three standard LV apical views and parasternal LV short axis(SAX)views.The time to peak systolic longitudinal velocity(Tvl)and systolic longitudinal strain(Ts1)in the LV apical views and the time to peak systolic radial velocity(Tvr)and systolic circumferential strain(Tsc)in the LV SAX views were measured bv VVI.The standard deviation of Tvl,Tsl,Tvr and Tsc(Tvl-SD,Tsl-SD,Tvr-SD and TscSD)and the maximal temporal difference of Tvl,Tsl,Tvr and Tsc(Tvl-d,Tsl-d,Tvr-d and Tsc-d)of 18 segments were calculated.Results Compared with the values at baseline,Tvr-SD,Tsc-SD,Tsl-d,Tvr-d and Tsc-d increased significantly in patients after pacemaker implantation(P＜0.05).Conclusions The longitudinal,radial and circumferential systolic asynchrony of the LV was commonly existed in patients after DDD pacing.VVI can be used to evaluate the systolic synchrony of the LV in patients with DDD pacing.
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The zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) specifically inhibits the replication of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV) and Sindbis virus (SIN), but has very modest inhibitory effect on HIV. Previous studies suggest that ZAP directly binds to the viral RNA and recruit the RNA degradation machinery to degrade the target RNA. The HIV-1 Tat and Rev are regulatory proteins which bind to HIV RNA. Tat and Rev were fused with ZAP in various manners. Two fusion proteins, ZAP-Tat and ZAP-Rev were found to be able to inhibit the expression HIV-1 vector.
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Objective To evaluate changes of RV volume and function in patients with ASD after transcatheter closure of ASD by three-dimensional echocardiography. Methods In 58 patients with ASD (24 men, 34 women; mean age 28.9?17.1, range 4 to 67 years), 23 patients (11 men, 12 women; mean age 25.7?13.3, range 6 to 57 years) were diagnosed as secundum ASD [the stretched diameters of ASD were from 9 to 36 (25.1?7.5) mm], and had successfully received Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO, the sizes of ASO ranged from 11 to 40 mm ). 32 healthy people (18 men, 14 women; mean age 24.8?12.0, range 4 to 45) were matched interms of age and sex as the control group. Three-dimensional images were acquired by HP-SONOS 5500 cardiac scanner (Hewlett-Packard Company, Andover, Mass) and were reconstructed by Tom-Tec EchoView 4.2 (TomTec Imaging Systems, GmbH) to calculate right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). RVEDV, RVESV and RVEF were measured at 3 days, 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Results The RVEDV and RVESV [(101.74?25.17) mL vs (59.65?15.00) mL, P
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Objective To explore value of quantitative tissue velocity imaging(QTVI) in the regional systolic and diastolic myocardial function of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) patients and healthy persons. Methods By Doppler myocardial imaging 20 HCM patients and 18 healthy subjects were collected,then the regional velocity were measured in the mid and basal segment in systolic,early diastolic and later diastolic period respectively. Results The parameters as systolic velocity(Vs),early diastolic velocity(Ve) and early systolic velocity/later diastolic velocity (Ve/Va) of the HCM group were significantly lower than those of the normal group,while later diastolic velocity(Va) showed no statistic difference between two groups. Conclusions The systolic and diastolic myocardial functions of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients are reduced. The abnormality of heart function in HCM patients could be accurately detected by QTVI.
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Objective To determine the clinical value of myocardial performance index (MPI) in the assessment of right ventricular function in the patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). Methods The study included 23 patients with ASD and 81 normal subjects. MPI, defined as the sum of isovolumic relaxation time and isovolumic contraction time derived by ejection time, was measured from tricupid inflow and right ventricular outflow Doppler velocity profiles recorded during routine echocardiography. Results ①The isovolumic relaxation and isovolumic contraction times [respectively ( 74.78 ? 13.86 )ms vs ( 60.93 ? 12.94 )ms, P
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Objective To evaluate the regional myocardial systolic function in the patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) by strain imaging technique.Methods Doppler myocardial imaging of 20 HCM patients(HCM group) and 22 healthy subjects(control group) was collected,and their regional peak systolic strain in the mid and basal segment was measured respectively.The data were compared and analyzed between the two groups.Results In the healthy subjects,the strain value showed no difference between regional myocardium.In the interventricular septum,anterior and inferior wall of left ventricle,the strain value of HCM group was significantly lower than that of control group.Conclusions Strain imaging could detect the abnormal regional myocardial function of HCM patients accurately, and provide a new quantitative parameter for evaluating the regional myocardial functions.
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AIM To investigate the effect of frozen recombinant staphylokinase on the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems in healthy volunteers, in order to obtain reliable evidence for the possibility of further clinical application. METHOD r-Sak had been taken intravenously by 20 cases of healthy volunteers in different dosages (1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg). The clinical hemorrhagic manifestations were observed and a set of hemostatic tests(BT, BPC, ATPP, PT, TT, Fg) and fibrinolytic tests (PL∶A,α2-PI∶A, FDP, D-D) monitored before and after injection. RESULT Four of 20 volunteers showed slight hemorrhagic tendency on mucocutaneous area (3/4 from gingivea and 2/4 at the sites of injection). It stopped spontaneously. None of them showed visceral bleeding. There were no significant changes in hemorrhagic and coagulative phases. Only 4 of them showed slight abnormal changes in D-D. It was supported that r-Sak was a highly selective fibrirolytic agent without significant influence in human hemostatic and coagulatic system. CONCLUSION The specific ranges of doseges, r-Sak is a relatively safe and well tolerated agent for healthy people. Further clinical study is still needed for the suitable dosage for clinical application.