Association between left ventricular twist/untwist and diastolic dysfunction of high cardiovascular risk population in the community / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the association between left ventricular (LV) twist and untwist with the severity of diastolic dysfunction of high cardiovascular risk population in the community.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This cross-sectional survey was performed in high cardiovascular risk people with normal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction in an urban community of Beijing (n = 620). Normal LV diastolic function was defined in 305 subjects, mild diastolic dysfunction in 266 subjects and moderate/severe diastolic dysfunction in 49 subjects. Peak LV twist, peak twist velocity, peak untwist velocity and untwist rate were measured in apical and basal short-axis images using speckle tracking echocardiography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Peak LV twist was similar among subjects with normal diastolic function, mild diastolic dysfunction and moderate/severe diastolic dysfunction. Peak twist velocity [(129.3 ± 45.3)°/s vs. (118.0 ± 36.2)°/s] and untwist velocity [(-132.9 ± 50.4) °/s vs. (-121.2 ± 41.4)°/s] were significantly higher in mild diastolic dysfunction group than in normal diastolic function group (all P < 0.01) and similar between normal diastolic function and moderate/severe diastolic dysfunction group (P > 0.05). Untwist rate of moderate/severe diastolic dysfunction decreased significantly than that of normal diastolic function [(41.9 ± 32.9)°/s vs. (57.7 ± 36.2) °/s, P < 0.01] and mild diastolic dysfunction group [(41.9 ± 32.9)°/s vs. (60.9 ± 39.9) °/s, P < 0.01].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Twist and untwist parameters are increased/preserved in population with normal systolic function and mild diastolic dysfunction and "normalized" or reduced in those with advanced diastolic dysfunction. The maintaining (if not increasing) of LV twist in early diastolic dysfunction might serve as a compensatory mechanism in case of reduced myocardial relaxation in these subjects.</p>

Association between serum uric acid and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity in Beijing community residents / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the relationship between serum uric acid and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) in Beijing community individuals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This epidemiological survey was performed in residents of two communities from Shijingshan District in Beijing from 2007 to 2008. Cardiovascular risk factors and ba-PWV were measured. Two thousand five hundred and forty three individuals with both ba-PWV and serum uric acid measurements were included. Ba-PWV ≥ 1400 cm/s was defined as abnormal. The individuals were divided into four groups (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 group) according to the gender-specific quartiles of serum uric acid. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the relation between various cardiovascular risk factors and ba-PWV abnormality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the relation between serum uric acid and ba-PWV abnormality after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Body mass index, triglyeride and prevalence of hypertension increased with increasing levels of serum uric acid (all P < 0.01). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, smoking, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyeride and estimated glomerular filtration rate were related with ba-PWV abnormality (all P < 0.01). Compared with Q1 group, ba-PWV abnormality OR value of Q4 group was 1.73 (95%CI: 1.34 - 2.22, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that ba-PWV abnormality OR value of Q4 group was 1.66 (95%CI: 1.16 - 2.37, P < 0.01 ) after adjusting for age, gender, smoking, hypertension, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index, total cholesterol, triglyeride and estimated glomerular filtration rate when compared with Q1 group and OR values were 1.55 (95%CI: 0.88 - 2.74, P > 0.05) and 1.65 (95%CI: 1.04 - 2.64, P < 0.05) in male and female respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Increased serum uric acid was independently associated with ba-PWV abnormality in Beijing community residents.</p>

Relation between aortic root dimension and cardiovascular disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the relation among aortic root dimension (ARD) measured by echocardiography, cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiovascular disease in adult Beijing community population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Echocardiography was performed in 1041 individuals in a suburban community of Beijing from 2004 to 2005. ARD and other echocardiographic parameters including left atria dimension, left ventricular mass, septal and posterior wall thickness and dimension were analyzed. Histories of cardiovascular disease as well as risk factors were obtained. Spearman correlation was used to determine the relation between ARD and other cardiovascular risk factors. Multifactorial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of ARD and cardiovascular disease.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ascending aortic dimension (AAD) and mean root dimension (MRD) were positively associated with age, weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, left atria dimension, left ventricular mass, left ventricular septal and posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular dimension. With the lowest quintile of AAD and MRD as the reference, ORs for the highest quintile of AAD for specific cardiovascular diseases in female were as follows: stroke (OR = 2.20, 95%CI: 1.03 - 4.72, P = 0.04), chronic heart failure (OR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.49 - 4.61, P = 0.001), total cardiovascular disease (OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.51 - 4.21, P < 0.001). ORs of MRD were as follows: chronic heart failure (OR = 2.19, 95%CI: 1.26 - 3.80, P = 0.01), total cardiovascular disease (OR = 2.20, 95%CI: 1.32 - 3.68, P = 0.002). After adjustment for age, BMI, smoking status, TC, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, the ORs were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ARD was positively associated with several CHD risk factors, but was not independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. ARD may act as an intermediate risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Combined ARD and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors might enhance the predict power for cardiovascular disease.</p>

Inducement and proliferation of MSCs in vitro and preliminary study on interface between MSCs and metal materials / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aims of the present study were to assess the characteristics of MSCs which were induced and proliferated in vitro, then to learn the interfaces between them and metal materials.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult dogs were selected as experimental animals, the MSCs (marrow stem cells) were aspirated from the femur, which were induced to the phenotype of OB (osteoblast), then to proliferated in vitro with metal materials. Using biochemical tests, phase contrast microscopy, transmit electromicroscope, scanning electromicroscope to detect MSCs and the image of interface.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MSCs had powerful osteogenic phenotype when they were induced in vitro, and they also attached to the metal materials. And there were more cells which attached on tensile stress area than other areas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The MSCs induced in vitro could be used as source of osteoblast. The affects of air--abrasion with alumina are not significant, but they have relation to the extent of strain and property of stress.</p>

Using moiré interferometre in the study of porcelain-fused-metal interfacial fracture mechanics / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the usage of moiré interferometre in porcelain-fused-metal interfacial fracture mechanics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Raster was produced on the surface of samples with different thickness of porcelain and metal in 5 groups. The stripes of u field and v field under different load were collected. Then the rupture tenacity Jc was calculated and the extensions of flaws were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Stress concentration appeared around the flaws under load conditions. The stripe became denser under more load. The rupture tenacity Jc and the direction of flaw extension of each group were different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moiré interferometre can be used in the study of porcelain-fused-metal interfacial fracture mechanics and to prognosticate the direction of flaw extension.</p>