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Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of spatio-temporal image correlation with M-mode display ( STIC-M ) in monitoring fetal left ventricular systolic function in fetuses with congenital heart disease(CHD) . Methods Five hundred and thirty-six normal fetuses and 34 fetuses with CHD( 29 without hydrops and 5 with hydrops) were involved in the study . Left ventricular fractional shortening ( LVFS) was measured using STIC-M . The data of normal fetuses was used to construct reference ranges of LVFS for assessment of fetuses with CHD . Results The LVFS of the normal fetuses [ range :26 .8％ - 42 .9％ , mean :( 34 .9 ± 4 .1) ％ ] was negatively correlated with gestational age ( r = - 0 .16 , P < 0 .001) . Compared with the normal controls ,LVFS was significantly decreased in CHD fetuses with hydrops ( P < 0 .001) . However ,there was no significant difference in LVFS between normal controls and CHD fetuses without hydrops ( P > 0 .05) . Conclusions STIC-M is a new method that can be used to measure LVFS to evaluate fetal ventricular systolic function . The fetal ventricular contractile function of CHD fetuses without hydrops may not be damaged or is in compensation stage . The fetuses with cardiac hydrops generally become lower .
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Objective To establish the reference ranges of the spatial angles among cardiac chambers and great vessels in second and third trimester fetuses measured by spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC).Methods Volume images of 352 normal fetuses from 20 to 38 weeks of gestation were recruited in the study.An off-line analysis of acquired volume datasets was carried out with multiplanar mode.Parameters measured included angles between:(1) the 4-chamber view and the left ventricular long axis view; (2) the left ventricular long axis view and main pulmonary artery; and (3) the ductal arch and aortic arch.The relationships between above-mentioned angles and gestational age were assessed by correlation and regression analysis.Results The angle between the 4-chamber view and the left ventricular long axis view (range:55.7° - 35.7°,mean:45.7° ± 5.12°) was uncorrelated with gestational age (r = 0.03,P = 0.51).In contrast,the angle between the left ventricular long axis view and main pulmonary artery,and the angle between the ductal arch and aortic arch were correlated with gestational age (P ＜ 0.001),and the correlation coefficient was - 0.53 and 0.57 respectively.The best-fit exponential curve regression equations of the angle between the left ventricular long axis view and main pulmonary artery was:Y = 154- 4.24X +0.05X2 ,and the angle between the ductal arch and aortic arch was:Y = - 20.8 + 2.65X - 0.37X2.Conclusions The angles among cardiac chambers and great arteries of fetuses from 20 to 38 weeks of gestation can be quantitatively measured by STIC.The reference ranges provide a reliable quantitative standard to estimate the spatial relationships of the cardiac large arteries of fetuses,which may be clinically useful in prenatal screening congenital heart disease.
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The aim of this study is to elucidate the protective and anti-apoptotic effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 ( IGF-1 ) against β-amyloid (Aβ) and investigate the effect of IGF-1 on Aβ-induced tau phosphorylation. Cell viability was measured using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2 )-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, early apoptosis and late apoptosis/necrosis were analyzed by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) double staining, and morphology was examined by Hoechst 33342 staining. Tau phosphorylation was detected using AT8 immunostaining. Preincubation of cultured rat hippocampal neurons with IGF-1 for 24 h prevented cytotoxicity induced by Aβ25-35 for 48 h. The MTT value significantly increased from 54.51% to 61.8% of the control group, and the percentage of Hoechst 33342-positive cells decreased from 30.77% to 22.81%. Incubation with Aβ25-35 for 48 h caused a marked increase in the percentages of Annexin V-FITC single-labeled cells (Annexin V +/PI-) and Annexin V/PI double-stained cells (Annexin V +/PI + ) (3.41% and 19.47% , respectively), which were significantly decreased by pretreatment with 100 ng/ml of IGF-1 for 24 h (to 2.98% and 15.16% , respectively). Aβ25-35 treatment increased tau phosphorylation and AT8 positive cells were 41.84%. This effect could be inhibited by different concentrations of IGF-1. Our findings showed that IGF-1 protected against Aβ-induced cytotoxicity, decreased the percentage of early and late apoptosis/necrosis cells, and inhibited tau phosphorylation, which may be the cellular mechanisms for its neuroprotective action.