Enhancing Electromechanical Properties of PZT-Based Piezoelectric Ceramics by High-Temperature Poling for High-Power Applications.

Defect engineering is a proven method to tune the properties of perovskite oxides. In demanding high-power piezoelectric ceramic applications, acceptor doping is the most effective method to harden ceramics, but it inevitably degrades the ceramics' electromechanical properties. Herein, a poling method based on acceptor doping, namely, high-temperature poling, is implemented by applying an electric field above the Curie temperature for poling to achieve a balance of the properties of piezoelectric coefficient d33 and mechanical quality factor Qm. After high-temperature poling, the piezoelectric property of 0.6 mol % Mn-doped Pb0.92Sr0.08(Zr0.533Ti0.443Nb0.024)O3 is d33 = 483 pC/N and Qm = 448. Compared with the traditional poling, the piezoelectric coefficient d33 of the high-temperature poling ceramics increased by approximately 40%, and Qm also increased by nearly 18%. Therefore, high d33 and Qm were exhibited by our PZT piezoelectric ceramics. Rayleigh's law analysis, XRD, and transmission electron microscopy analysis show that, after high-temperature poling, the considerably increased d33 is related to the large increase in the reversible domain wall motion in the intrinsic effect, while the slightly increased Qm is related to the inhibited irreversible domain wall motion in the extrinsic effect. This study reports a method for high-temperature poling and provides insights into the design of high-power piezoelectric ceramics with high d33 and Qm.

Prediction of Three-Metal Cluster Catalysts on Two-Dimensional W2N3 Support with Integrated Descriptors for Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction.

In the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), nitrogen (N2) is chemically inert, it is difficult to break the triple bond, and the subsequent protonation step is very challenging. Suitable catalysts with high selectivity and high activity are needed to promote the electrocatalytic NRR. We screen a large number of clusters composed of three metal atoms embedded into a two-dimensional metal nitride, W2N3, with a N vacancy, and calculate the reaction energetics. The VNiCu cluster has the best catalytic activity among all the catalysts proposed so far. The Fe3 and Fe2Co clusters are excellent catalysts as well. In all cases, spin polarization is needed to observe the catalytic effect. We establish the optimal NRR path and confirm that it remains unchanged in the presence of a solvent. We find three groups of descriptors that can well predict the materials' properties and exhibit linear relationships with the NRR limiting potential.

Design of Heterostructures of MXene/Two-Dimensional Organic Frameworks for Na-O2 Batteries with a New Mechanism and a New Descriptor.

Na-O2 batteries are promising candidates to replace Li-O2 batteries for their excellent performance. However, the charge overpotential of Na-O2 batteries is usually too high. In this work, we designed combinations of MXene and a two-dimensional organic framework for Na-O2 batteries. The results show that the Ti2CO2/Cu-BHT has low OER and ORR overpotentials of 0.24 and 0.32 V, respectively. Besides this, the conductivity and the adsorption energy to Na+ (Eads(Na+)) are promoted due to the charge transfer between layers. We also found that the OER and ORR overpotentials are negatively and positively correlated with Eads(Na+), respectively, where Ti2CO2/Cu-BHT has a moderate Eads(Na+) (-2.20 eV) and, therefore, has good performance. Moreover, a new mechanism called the Na encapsulation mechanism was proposed on a two-dimensional organic framework surface. Through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, we found a new descriptor that consists of inherent properties that could help us screen better heterostructures for Na-O2 batteries.

Left atrial myocardial function and compliance in pre-eclampsia with preserved left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Left atrial (LA) adaptive changes associated with pre-eclampsia (PE) have not been adequately addressed. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of LA myocardial function indices in detecting early cardiac alterations in PE. Using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), LA volumetric and myocardial parameters were acquired in PE women with preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function based on standard criteria and normotensive controls. LA compliance was assessed by the ratio of reservoir strain (LASr) to the estimated LA pressure (E/e'). Subtle systolic and diastolic abnormalities were identified as LV global longitudinal strain < 17.8% and mitral tissue e' velocity < 7 cm/s septal or < 10 cm/s lateral, respectively. LASr/(E/e') was prior to other LA measurements in detecting early LA function changes in PE. The rate of LASr/(E/e') < 3 was significantly greater in the patients with subtle systolic impairments than those without (P < 0.05) in spite of similar proportion of LASr < 31% between them. Among PE women with subtle diastolic damages, the frequencies of anomaly and the values in both LASr/(E/e') and LASr were significantly different to those without (P < 0.05). Moreover, the rate of LASr/(E/e') < 3 was markedly higher than that of LASr < 31% in PE cases with subtle cardiac abnormalities (P < 0.05). In the setting of PE with preserved systolic and diastolic function, STE-derived LA strain and estimated LA compliance may be beneficial to identifying earlier cardiac alternations. LA compliance could outperform LASr in detecting cardiac anomalies earlier during a PE pregnancy with preserved LV performance.

Diagnostic value of mitral regurgitant jet volume in the assessment of mitral regurgitation severity by general imaging three-dimensional quantification.

Accurate quantification of mitral regurgitation (MR) severity is critical for appropriate clinical decision making regarding surgical intervention. General imaging three-dimensional quantification (GI3DQ) method allows for direct measurement of mitral regurgitant jet volume (MRJvol) with the help of three-dimensional (3D) color flow Doppler imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic value of MRJvol by GI3DQ for MR grading severity, using the guideline recommended integrated approach as a reference. The study included ninety-seven patients with varying degree of MR, and all MR cases were divided into central MR group (n = 44) and eccentric MR group (n = 53). The MRJvol was measured by GI3DQ. The severity of MR was graded on the basis of recommended integrated approach as mild, moderate, or severe. As assessed by receiver operating characteristic analysis, MRJvol by GI3DQ at a cutoff value of 43.4 ml yielded 76.9% of sensitivity and 86.9% of specificity to differentiate moderate from severe MR in all cases, a cutoff value of 47.5 ml yielded 98.9% of sensitivity and 94.4% of specificity to differentiate moderate from severe MR in central MR, and a cutoff value of 40.7 ml yielded 80.0% of sensitivity and 78.6% of specificity to differentiate moderate from severe MR in eccentric MR. MRJvol measured by GI3DQ could assess MR severity, especially in central MR group, which has higher sensitivity and specificity to differentiate moderate from severe MR.

The impact of different geometric assumption of mitral annulus on the assessment of mitral regurgitation volume by Doppler method.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitation volume (MRvol) by quantitative pulsed Doppler (QPD) method previously recommended suffers from geometric assumption error because of circular geometric assumption of mitral annulus (MA). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different geometric assumption of MA on the assessment of MRvol by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic QPD method. METHODS: This study included 88 patients with varying degrees of mitral regurgitation (MR). The MRvol was evaluated by QPD method using circular or ellipse geometric assumption of MA. MRvol derived from effective regurgitant orifice area by real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) multiplied by MR velocity-time integral was used as reference method. RESULTS: Assumption of a circular geometry of MA, QPD-MAA4C and QPD-MAPLAX overestimated the MRvol by a mean difference of 10.4 ml (P < 0.0001) and 22.5 ml (P < 0.0001) compared with RT3DE. Assumption of an ellipse geometry of MA, there was no significant difference of MRvol (mean difference = 1.7 ml, P = 0.0844) between the QPD-MAA4C + A2C and the RT3DE. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming that the MA was circular geometry previously recommended, the MRvol by QPD-MAA4C was overestimated compared with the reference method. However, assuming that the MA was ellipse geometry, the MRvol by the QPD-MAA4C + A2C has no significant difference with the reference method.

Association between interleukin-8 gene -251 A/T polymorphism and the risk of coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between interleukin-8 (IL-8) gene polymorphism -251 A>T and susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) has been investigated previously; however, results remain controversial. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to reassess the effects of this polymorphism on CAD risks. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant studies published up to December, 2018. The pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using STATA 13.0 software for allelic (A vs T) as well as homozygote (AA vs TT), heterozygote (AT vs TT), recessive (AA vs AT + TT), and dominant (AA + AT vs TT) genotype models, respectively. RESULTS: Ten case-control studies (3744 cases and 3660 controls) were included. Overall, a significant association of IL-8 gene -251 A > T polymorphism with an increased risk of CAD was only observed in the dominant genotype model (OR = 1.48), but not others. In the subgroup analysis, significantly increased risks were also found for Chinese (OR = 1.64), polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping (OR = 1.61), acute coronary syndrome (ACS) type (OR = 1.92 for 3 datasets; OR = 1.88 for 4 datasets), high quality (OR = 1.64), and age/gender matching status (OR = 1.55) under the dominant model. Furthermore, significantly increased risks were also found for ACS type under allelic (OR = 1.32 for 3 datasets; OR = 127 for 4 datasets), homozygote (OR = 1.64 for 3 datasets; OR = 1.50 for 4 datasets), heterozygote (OR = 1.32 for 3 datasets; OR = 1.30 for 4 datasets), and recessive (OR = 1.40 for 3 datasets; OR = 1.28 for 4 datasets) models. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that Chinese patients carrying -251A allele of IL-8 may have an increased risk for the development of CAD, especially ACS.

Assessment of right atrium dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using velocity vector imaging.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the changes of RA function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) using velocity vector imaging (VVI) and to evaluate the application of VVI technology. METHODS: According to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), 71 patients with OSAS were divided into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe. A total of 30 cases of healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group. Digital images of apex four-chamber views were acquired to measure the right atrium (RA) linear dimensions and volume parameters including RA longitudinal diameter (RAL), transverse diameter (RAT), RA maximum volume (Vmax), RA minimum volume (Vmin), right atrial volume before contraction (Vpre). Right atrial volume parameters were corrected by body surface area (VImax, VImin, VIpre). The total right atrial emptying fraction (RATEF), right atrial passive emptying fraction (RAPEF), right atrial active contraction emptying fraction (RAAEF) were calculated. The VVI data measuring right atrial global strain (RA-GLS), right atrial strain rate in ventricular systolic phase (RA-SRs), right atrial strain rate in ventricular early diastolic phase (RA-SRe), right atrial strain rate in ventricular late diastolic phase (RA-SRa). RESULTS: 1. RA linear dimensions and volume parameters in severe OSAS were higher than those of control group. RAPEF in severe group was lower than control group and mild OSAS group (t = 2.681, P = 0.021; t = 2.985, P = 0.011; respectively). RAAEF in OSAS moderate group was higher than that of control group (t = 3.006, P = 0.02), and without statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the severe OSAS group and the control group. 2. RA-GLS in moderate OSAS group was significantly lower than that of control group (t = 2.333, P = 0.040) and reduced more obvious in the severe OSAS group (vs control, t = 3.25, P = 0.008, vs mild; t = 3.011, P = 0.012; respectively). RA-SRe in moderate and severe OSAS groups were lower than control group (t = 2.466, P = 0.031; t = 3.547, P = 0.005; respectively). RA-SRs of OSAS in severe group was lower than that of control and mild groups (t = 3.665, P = 0.004; t = 3.204, P = 0.008; respectively). RA-SRa in severe OSAS group was lower than that of control group (t = 2.425, P = 0.034). 3. Multivariate regression analysis showed that RA-GLS and RA-SRe were independently correlated with AHI (t = - 2.738, P = 0.010; t = - 2.191, P = 0.036; respectively). CONCLUSION: RA function was impaired in patients with OSAS. On hemodynamics, the change of RA function performed increased of reserve function, reduced pipeline function and increased of contraction function. However, the strain and strain rate reduced in different degree. RA-GLS and RA-SRe decreased the earliest, which suggested that strain and strain rate were the parameters which can reflect myocardial function damage earliest. VVI can more earlier and accurately detect myocardial dysfunction of right atrium in patients with OSAS, which is expected to be a worthy technique for early clinical therapy in patients with OSAS.

Large thrombus-in-transit within a patent foramen ovale in a patient with pulmonary embolism: a case report.

Objective A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is detected frequently by echocardiography. However, a thrombus trapped in a PFO is relatively rare. We herein describe a rare case of a 51-year-old patient with pulmonary embolism in which a large thrombus-in-transit through a PFO was found by echocardiography and disappeared after treatment. Methods A 51-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of chest tightness, unspecified chest pain, and shortness of breath. Echocardiography revealed a large thrombus trapped in a PFO with increased pulmonary artery pressure, which is a very rare and critical condition. Results The patient was treated with thrombolysis and anticoagulation and discharged from the hospital with an uneventful recovery. Conclusion Our treatment of the present patient achieved a satisfactory result, but it may not be applicable to every patient. Echocardiography is a readily available and safe tool for demonstrating the size, location, and extent of a thrombus, and it plays an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment evaluation for patients with a thrombus trapped in a PFO with concurrent pulmonary embolism.

Quantitative evaluation of longitudinal strain in layer-specific myocardium in patients with preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) remains a main cause of maternal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Vascular spasm and ischemic damage play the primary role in the presentation of PE. The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal strain (LS) in each of the three myocardial layers in patients with PE using the layer-specific strain. Forty-five PE women and forty-one normotensive pregnant women were included. Layer-specific LS were assessed in endocardium, mid-myocardium, and epicardium by 2-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). Compared to the control subjects, the LS of all the three analyzed myocardial layers showed a significant decline in PE patients and the greatest decrease of LS occurred in the endocardium. Considering a layer-specific analysis of myocardial deformation, there is a continuous reduced tendency from endocardial to midmyocardial and epicardial layers in PE cases. The epicardial-to-epicardial LS gradient was lower in PE women than the normotensive subjects. There are some relationship of layer-specific strain values and the pregnant outcomes in PE women. All three myocardial layers were impaired in PE cases and the most prominent decrease in myocardial function occurred in the endocardial layer. Layer-specific analysis of myocardial function performed by novel 2D STE might increase diagnostic accuracy of myocardial performance in PE patients.

Quantitative evaluation of longitudinal strain in layer-specific myocardium during normal pregnancy in China.

BACKGROUND: The myocardial wall of the left ventricle is a complex, multilayered structure and is not homogenous. The aim of this study was to determine longitudinal strain (LS) in the three myocardial layers in normal pregnant women according to gestation proceedings. METHODS: The advanced two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) was performed on 62 women during each pregnancy trimester and 6 to 9 weeks after delivery, while 30 age-matched, healthy, nonpregnant women served as controls. LS on endocardial, mid-myocardial and epicardial layers at 18 cardiac segments were measured. RESULTS: As gestation proceeded, all of layer-specific LS and global LS progressively decreased, which subsequently recovered postpartum (P < 0.05), and the LS gradient between inner and outer myocardium became greater, which reached its maximum in the late pregnancy. Peak systolic LS was the highest at endocardium and the lowest at epicardium, while the highest at the apical level and the lowest at the base (P < 0.05). In the early pregnancy and postpartum, LS at basal level was homogenous, meanwhile layer-specific LS showed significant differences at mid-ventricular and apical level throughout the progress of normal pregnancy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using 2D STE, three-layer assessment of LS can be performed in pregnant women and shall give us new insights into the quantitative analysis of global and regional LV function during pregnancy. Future studies on the detection of pregnancy related heart disease would require these parameters as reference values for each time point of a normal pregnancy.

Assessment of regional right ventricular systolic function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using velocity vector imaging.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is the most common type of sleep disorder which is associated with a series of cardiovascular disorders, including right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. However, it is difficult to assess the RV function systematically using a conventional echocardiography because RV has a complex geometrical shape. A case-control study was performed to assess the regional right ventricular potential dysfunction in patients with OSAS using velocity vector imaging (VVI) from March 2014 to October 2015.Sixty-nine patients with OSAS were divided into 3 groups: mild, moderate, and severe according to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). A total of 31 cases of healthy subjects were enrolled as the control group. Digital images of apex 4-chamber views were acquired to measure the peak systolic velocity (V), strain (ST), and strain rate (STR) of right ventricular free wall (RVFW) basal, middle, and apical segments using VVI.The peak systolic velocity of RVFW basal segments in the mild OSAS group increased (t = 2.22, P = 0.049) and gradually reduced in the moderate and severe groups compared with the controls. The values of systolic ST and STR of apical segments decreased in the mild OSAS group compared with the normal control group (t = 3.30, P = 0.02; t = 3.75, P = 0.01, respectively), and decreased furthermore in the moderate and severe OSAS groups.The change in the right ventricular regional systolic function starts before the development of heart dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. At the early stage of OSAS, the deformation decreases in the RVFW apical segment, and the peak systolic velocities increase in the RVFW basal segment. The VVI is a sensitive method which is expected to be a worthy technique for early clinical therapy in patients with OSAS.

Echocardiography in the diagnosis of patients with absent pulmonary valve syndrome: a review study of 12 years.

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) is a rare congenital heart disease that is easily misdiagnosed as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We herein discuss the echocardiographic features of APVS, compare its two subtypes, and clarify some differences between APVS and TOF. From July 1998 to October 2011, 31 patients diagnosed with APVS at Fuwai Hospital underwent echocardiography, computed tomography, or cardiac angiography. APVS was clinically categorized as either infant-type or child-type. We compared the echocardiographic similarities and differences between APVS and TOF and between the two subtypes of APVS. Although enlargement or aneurysmal dilatation was present in the main pulmonary artery (PA) and its branch in most patients, pulmonary dysplasia or even an absent left PA was found in a few patients. Four important echocardiographic features of APVS useful for distinguishing this syndrome from TOF were (1) absence of the pulmonary valve or presence of pulmonary valve dysplasia, (2) concurrent stenosis and regurgitation at the pulmonary annulus, (3) significant aneurysmal dilatation in the areas of the PAs, and (4) increased rather than decreased PA pressure. 10 patients had infant-type APVS and 21 had child-type APVS. Compared with child-type APVS, infant-type APVS was usually characterized by a lower oxygen saturation, more dilated main PA and right PA, lower aorta-PA ratio, higher diastolic PA pressure, and lower incidence of an absent left PA. Echocardiography is important for diagnosing APVS and distinguishing it from TOF. There are minimal differences in the echocardiographic features between infant-type and child-type APVS.

[Evaluation of left ventricular myocardial function in coronary atherosclerosis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by speckle tracking echocardiography].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in coronary atherosclerosis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with a diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis (<50%) were divided into DM and non-DM groups (n = 30 each). And another 30 cases were selected as normal control group. LV regional longitudinal, circumferential and radial peak systolic strain (ε) were measured respectively. RESULTS: EF showed no difference among 3 groups. However the peak systolic longitudinal strain (ε) in LV basal segments, middle segments and apical segments were significantly lower in DM group than those in non-DM and control groups (P < 0.05). The peak systolic circumferential and radial strain parameters showed no significant difference among 3 groups. CONCLUSION: The systolic longitudinal myocardial function of LV become compromised before reduced LV global systolic function in coronary atherosclerosis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Assessment of left ventricular twist mechanics by speckle tracking echocardiography reveals association between LV twist and myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We aimed to investigate whether left ventricular (LV) twist analysis can detect the extent of myocardial fibrosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This prospective case-control study recruited 81 consecutive patients with HCM examined between January 2012 and April 2013. Data of 76 patients were analyzed after excluding 5 patients whose echocardiographic images were of poor quality. Healthy volunteers (n = 46) served as controls. Both groups underwent comprehensive echocardiographic examination (i.e., Bas-Rotation, AP-Rotation, LVEF, LADs, IVST, LAVi, E/Em, LVMI, advanced LV-twist analysis by speckle tracking echocardiography) and magnetic resonance imaging. Between-group differences were analyzed by independent t test; logistic regression analysis was performed to identify effect factors. No significant differences were found between baseline characteristics of HCM and control groups (all p > 0.05). HCM patients had significantly higher Bas-Rotation, AP-Rotation, LV Twist, LVEF, LADs, IVST, LAVi, E/Em and LVMI than controls (all p < 0.0001) and significantly lower LVDd and E/A (both p < 0.001). Bas-Rotation, AP-Rotation, LV-Twist, LADs, IVST, LAVi, E/Em and LVMI were significantly higher in HCM patients with fibrosis than in those without fibrosis (p < 0.001), but no significant differences in other echocardiographic parameters were found between those with and without fibrosis. Age, Bas-Rotation, AP-Rotation, LV twist, LADs, IVST, LAVi, E/A, E/Em, and LVMI were significant effect factors for fibrosis. AUROC analysis showed that LV twist had high discriminatory power to detect extent of myocardial fibrosis (AUC 0.996, 95 % CI 0.989-1.004, p < 0.001). Left ventricular twist mechanics are associated with the extent of myocardial fibrosis. LV-twist assessment by STE may be clinically useful.

Quantification of mitral regurgitation by general imaging three-dimensional quantification: feasibility and accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Mitral regurgitant volume (MRvol) is an important index of the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR), but MRvol measurement remains challenging. With the development of probe technology and software, General Imaging 3D Quantification (GI 3DQ) allows the direct measurement of MR jet volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of MRvol by quantification of MR jet volume using GI 3DQ. METHODS: Ninety-three patients were included, 61 with functional MR and 32 with mitral valve prolapse. Patients with MR were also divided into those with central MR (n = 41) and those with eccentric MR (n = 52). MRvol was assessed using GI 3DQ and the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method. MRvol using effective regurgitant orifice area by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography multiplied by the MR time-velocity integral was used as the reference method. RESULTS: MRvol measured by GI 3DQ and the PISA method had good correlation with MRvol by the reference method. A significant underestimation of MRvol using GI 3DQ and the PISA method was observed in the assessment of eccentric MR, but without a significant difference in the assessment of central MR. CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of MRvol with GI 3DQ was feasible. Quantification of central MRvol using this methodology is accurate compared with the reference method. Quantification of MRvol with GI 3DQ has no significant difference from the currently recommended PISA method.

Left atrial minimum volume by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography as an indicator of diastolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial (LA) maximum volume is becoming a prognostic biomarker for left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. However, we assessed LV diastolic function by measuring LA phasic volumes using real-time threedimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Sixty-five stable CAD patients with normal LV ejection fraction (LVEF) were divided into three groups according to degree of coronary stenosis: control (n = 15) with <50% stenosis as control group, mildS (n = 25) with mild stenosis (50%-70%) and severeS (n = 25) with >70% stenosis. LA phasic volumes and function were evaluated and compared using RT3DE and two dimensional echocardiography (2DE). N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were examined. The correlations of RT3DE-derived parameters with other conventional indices were analyzed. RESULTS: Significant correlations between RT3DE and 2DE for LA volume measurements were: control, r = 0.93; mildS, r = 0.94; severeS, r = 0.90 (all P < 0.05). Patients with severe coronary stenosis presented higher NT-proBNP level, indices of LA minimum volume and volume before atrial contraction, but lower LA total emptying fraction (LAEF) and LAEFpassive. Significant correlations of RT3DE derived LA volume indices with E/E' (r = 0.695) and NF-proBNP (r = 0.630) level were found. CONCLUSIONS: RT3DE derived, LA indices correlate well with NT-proBNP level and may be superior to 2DE measurements for the evaluation of LV diastolic dysfunction. Enlargement of LA minimum volume in stable CAD patients without systolic dysfunction appears earlier and may be better correlated with LV diastolic function than that of LA maximum volume.

Transthoracic echocardiography for diagnosis of right pulmonary artery to left atrial fistula.

Right pulmonary artery to left atrial fistula (RPA-LAF) is a rare cardiovascular anomaly. There were no systematic and detail represent by echocardiography. We chose the patients who diagnosed with RPA-LAF at Fuwai Hospital from 2000 to 2010. All patients underwent clinical examination, chest roentgenogram, laboratory testing, electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), contrast echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization. In this article, we summarize the characteristics of the TTE for diagnosing the rare cardiovascular anomaly of RPA-LAF. We undertook a detailed review of their TTE and contrast echocardiography findings to determine the characteristic findings of this condition.

[HPLC analysis of main flavonoid chemicals and their spatio-temporal dynamics in Bt transgenic cotton].

Flavonoids are important chemicals of resistance to pests in cotton plant. The main flavonoid chemicals and their spatio-temporal dynamics of content in Bt transgenic cotton were tested by HPLC. The results showed that the flavonoid chemicals of resistance to pests mainly including rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin could be detected and quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. The contents of rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin were the highest in petal, but lower in calyx, bract and cotton boll. Moreover, the total content of flavonoid chemicals in top leaf was much higher at developmental stage than at seedling stage. The content of each flavonoid chemicals of resistance to pests was different during different developmental stage and in different organs. It was indicated that different flavonoid chemicals played different roles in resistance to pests.