One new species of the subgenus Xizicus (Zangxizicus) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from China.

The paper reports one new species of the tribe Meconematini, Xizicus (Zangxizicus), curvus Chang & Shi sp. nov., and supplies the character photographs of the new species and Xizicus(Zangxizicus) tibeticus Wang, Jing, Liu & Li, 2014.

[Evaluation of right ventricular function of patients with intraoperative device closure of atrial septal defect by ultrasonic Doppler tissue imaging].

OBJECTIVE: To study the application of Doppler tissue imaging (TDI) in the assessment of right ventricular function of patients with intraoperative device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD). METHODS: A total of 48 ASD patients, 18 males and 30 females, were selected for intraoperative device closure. The mean age was 31 +/- 16 years old. Color Doppler echocardiographic instrument (Sonos 4500) was employed to perform the Doppler tissue imaging before and at 3-5 days after operation. The parameters included: (1) Time and peak speed of systolic motion of anterior tricuspid valve annulus (TDI-TS, TDI-PVS), early diastole motion time (TDI-TE) and late diastolic motion time (TDI-TA) and peak speed of early and late diastolic motion (TDI-PVE, TDI-PVA), interval between the early diastolic motion and late diastolic motion (TDI-TE-A); (2) Peak speed of systolic, early diastolic and late diastolic motions of the middle lateral and basic lateral walls of right ventricle. RESULTS: The TDI-PVS (0.16 +/- 0.05) m/s in post-operation was decreased than TDI-PVS (0.20 +/- 0.04) m/s in pre-operation and TDI-PVA (0.12 +/- 0.03) m/s in post-operation was decreased than TDI-PVA (0.16 +/- 0.02) m/s in pre-operation apparently (P < 0.01). The TDI-TS (231 +/- 36) msec in post-operation were shorter than TDI-TS (265 +/- 24) msec in pre-operation (P < 0.01). Peak spead of Systolic, early diastolic and late diastolic motions of middle lateral and basic lateral walls of right ventricle declined post-operatively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TDI is an effective method to evaluate the function of right ventricle quantitatively in patients with intraoperative device closure of ASD.

[Application of transesophageal echocardiography in intraoperative device closure of secundum atrial septal defects].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in guiding intraoperative device closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). METHODS: Fifty ASD patients, aged 40 +/- 18 (15-72), 34 with an ASD ranging from 30 to 40 mm and 16 with atrial septal aneurysm accompanied by double or more ASDs, underwent intraoperative device closure through a right minithoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass and fluoroscopy. Under general anesthesia, a probe was inserted into the esophagus, and TEE was conducted at different planes to observe the characteristics of the ASD. The size of implanted device was determined by TEE. Small parasternal incision was made in the right third or fourth intercostal space. A specially designed plastic sheath loaded with Amplatzer occlusion device was inserted through the purse-string sutures placed on the right atrium. Guided by transesophageal echocardiography, the Amplatzer occlusion device was advanced through the ASD into the left atrium and was deployed in place. The right ventricular end diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end systolic volume (RVESV), right ventricular stroke volume (RVSV), right ventricular ejection fraction (RVSV), left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before and after the operation were calculated. RESULTS: The procedure was successful conducted in 48 patients. And the other two patients failing to receive this procedure, one having a large ASD that could not be occluded and the other with ASD accompanied by partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection, were shifted to operation with cardiopulmonary bypass. After the operation, the RVEDV was (94 +/- 32) ml, and the RVSV was (52 +/- 20) ml respectively, both significantly lower than those before the operation [(78 +/- 23) ml and (41 +/- 13) ml respectively, both P < 0.05]. The LVEDV and LVSV after operation were (73 +/- 19) ml and (50 +/- 11) ml respectively, both significantly higher than those before operation [(56 +/- 14) ml and (34 +/- 12) ml respectively, both P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: TEE provides valuable information in further confirmation of diagnosis of ASD, selection of appropriate size of Amplatzer occluder, guidance of the deployment of occluder, observation of the effects of operation, and prompt detection of complication.

[Studies on the blood compatibility of the polyurethane/nano-sized carbon composite].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of nano-sized carbon as a dispersed phase on blood compatibility of polyurethanes. METHODS: A novel nanoscale polymeric composite film was prepared by dispersing nano-sized carbon fiber (vapor growth carbon fiber) into the polyurethane solutions. The surface blood compatibilities of the composites were analyzed and evaluated through platelet adhesion measurement using epifluorescent video microscopy and the variation of fibrinogen and free hemoglobin concentration in the blood contacting the composite respectively. RESULTS: It was showed that the platelet adhesions were highly suppressed on the composite surfaces pre-adsorbed or non-pre-adsorbed with fibrinogen. The changes of the concentration for both free hemoglobin and fibrinogen in the blood contacting the composite surface in the circulations were less than the ones contacting the reference surface. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing nano-sized carbon into the polyurethane matrix showed an improvement of antithrombogenicity for the polyurethane materials. It might be a new promising way to develop biomaterials with good blood compatibility.