ABSTRACT
Objective To develop europium (Ⅲ) [Eu (Ⅲ)] chelated microparticles for homogeneous immunoassay.Methods Anti-human PCT antibodies were labeled with Eu (Ⅲ) chelated nanoscale microparticles as the detection antibody,and another anti-human PCT antibody was labeled with biotin as the solid-phase antibody.Magnetic microspheres labeled with streptavidin were used to separate the complexes of Eu-IgM-PCT-IgM-Biotin.Results In the homogeneous immunoassay,the standard curve fit was not linear.The quadratic curve was Y =19170.12 + 75493.74X-26.00X2(r =0.9986).According to the standard curve,the limit of detection for PCT was 0.04 ng/ml.Conclusion The homogeneous immunoassay which uses Eu (Ⅲ) chelated microparticles is highly sensitive for detection of PCT recombinant antigens and may serve as a promising method to measure serum PCT levels in the future.
ABSTRACT
To assess the normal value of left ventricular twist (LVtw) and examine the changeswith normal aging by 2-dimensional ultrasound speckle-tracking imaging (STI), 121 healthy volunteers were divided into three age groups: a youth group (19-45 y old), a middle-age group (46-64 y old ) and an old-age group (≥65 y old). Basal and apical short-axis images of left ventricular were ac- quired to analyse LV rotation (LVrot) and LVrot velocity. LVtw and LVtw velocity was defined as apical LVrot and LVrot velocity relative to the base. Peak twist (Ptw), twist at aortic valve closure (AVCtw), twist at mitral valve opening (MVOtw), untwisting rate (UntwR), half time of untwisting (HTU), peak twist velocity (PTV), time to peak twist velocity (TPTV), peak untwisting velocity (PUV), time to peak untwisting velocity (TPUV) were separately measured. The results showed that the normal LV performs a wringing motion with a clockwise rotation at the base and a counterclock- wise rotation at the apex (as seen from the apex). The LVtw velocity showed a systolic counterclock- wise twist followed by a diastolic clockwise twist. Peak twist develops near the end of systole (96%±4.2% of systole). With aging, Ptw, AVCtw, MVOtw, HTU and PUV increased significantly (P<0.05) and UntwR decreased significantly (P<0.05). However, no significant differences in TPUV, PTV and TPTV were noted among the 3 groups (P0.05). It is concluded that LV twist can be meas- ured non-invasively by 2-dimensional ultrasound STI imaging. The age-related changes of LVtw should be fully taken into consideration in the assessment of LV function.
ABSTRACT
The effects of cardiomyocyte grafting on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function in rats with chronic myocardial infarction were evaluated using high-frequency ultrasound. Chronic myocardial infarction was induced in 50 Wister rats by ligating the left anterior descending artery. They were randomized into two groups: a trial group that received neonatal rat cardiomyocyte trans- plantation (n=25) and a control group which were given intramyocardial injection of culture medium (n=25). The left ventricular (LV) geometry and function were evaluated by high-frequency ultrasound before and 4 weeks after the cell transplantation. After the final evaluation, all rats were sacrificed for histological study. The results showed that 4 weeks after the cell transplantation, as compared with the control group, the LV end-systolic dimension, end-diastolic dimension, end-systolic volume and end-diastolic volume were significantly decreased and the LV anterior wall end-diastolic thickness, LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening were significantly increased in the trial group (P<0.01). Histological study showed that transplanted neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were found in all host hearts and identified by Brdu staining. It was suggested that transplantation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes can reverse cardiac remodeling and improve heart function in chronic myocardial infarction rats. High-frequency ultrasound can be used as a reliable technique for the non-invasive evaluation of the effect of cardiomyocyte transplantation.
ABSTRACT
The value of tissue strain imaging (SI) in regional myocardial systolic anddiastolic function assessment was studied. In 18 patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and 20 age-matched healthy subjects, regional myocardial longitudinal peak systolic strain in eject time (represented by εet) was measured at basal, mid and apical segments of septal, lateral and posterior walls of the left ventricle (LV) and compared between groups. εet had no significant difference between segments in control group (P＞0.05), which displayed a decreasing trend from basal segments to apical ones. εet in the HCM group was significantly decreased (P＜0. 05) as compared with that in the healthy group. In the HCM group, εet in the midseptum was significantly less than at the basal and apical septum, and was also less than at the rest LV walls in the same group (P＜0.01). The systolic reversed εet was noticed in 35 % of the hypertrophic segments in HCM group. Significantly negative correlation existed between the absolute value of εet and wall thickness in the midseptum (r=- 0.83). The post-systolic strain(PSS) segment number the and amplitudes in healthy group were significantly less than those in HCM group (P＜0.05). Both regional myocardial systolic and diastolic functions were impaired in hypertrophic or non-hypertrophic segments in patients with the HCM, especially in hypertrophic segments. Strain imaging technique is a sensitive and accura tool in myocardial dysfunction assessment.
