The echocardiographic study of the rabbit heart left ventricle morpho-functional parameters

Morphometric and functional parameters of the heart left ventricle in rabbits during systole and diastole were investigated by the method of echocardiography. Morphometric parameters were studied on three levels: the mitral valve, the papillary muscles and the apical level. The internal dimension of the left ventricle uniformly decreases in three parallel planes during systole, its maximal reduction being observed on the apical level. During the contraction phase, the posterior wall thickness of the left ventricular and the interventricular septum thickness increases on the basal level to a greater extent than on the apical one. During systole, the interventricular septum movement is greater than the left ventricular posterior wall motion. During the heart cycle, the form of the left ventricular cavity changes from an ellipsoid in diastole to elliptic paraboloid in systole.     

Anatomic features of postmortem experimental ruptures of the human heart

Comparison of postmortem performed experimental cardiac ruptures with post-infarction lesions reveals uniformity of their localization. The ruptures are found to occur at places of a sharp change in the relief of the cardiac internal surface. These areas should be considered as concentrators of strain, promoting cardiac ruptures. In the left ventricle six concentrators of strain are revealed. They are: the place where the anterior part of the interventricular septum passes into the anterior wall of the left ventricle, the right edge of the papillary muscle, the left edge of the anterior papillary muscle, the left edge of the posterior papillary muscle, the right edge of the posterior papillary muscle, the place where the posterior part of the interventricular septum passes into the posterior wall of the left ventricle. Frequency of the experimental ruptures of the interventricular septum, under loading of the left ventricle, is demonstrated to depend on pressure in the right cardiac part.     

血清胱抑素C 水平与糖尿病心室重构关系的临床研究

目的:研究血清胱抑素C水平与糖尿病心室重构的关系。方法:选择2013年10月~2015年10月在我院进行诊治的糖尿病患者90例,检测血清胱抑素C水平,按照糖尿病患者血清胱抑素C水平的中位数,分为正常组(胱抑素C水平1.65mg/L)和升高组(胱抑素C水平1.65mg/L)。行超声心动图检测左室舒张末内径、左房内径、左室舒张末容积、室间隔厚度和左室后壁厚度,并计算出左室质量指数。对两组的这些指标进行比较,并分析血清胱抑素C与糖尿病心室重构的相关性。结果:与正常组相比,升高组的胱抑素C、左室舒张末内径、左房内径、室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室质量指数和脑钠肽水平均明显增高(P0.05);经过相关性分析,血清胱抑素C水平与左室舒张末内径、左房内径、室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室质量指数和脑钠肽均呈正相关(P0.05);Logistic回归分析显示左室舒张末内径、左房内径、室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、左室质量指数和脑钠肽等是胱抑素C水平升高的危险因素。结论:血清胱抑素C水平与糖尿病患者的心功能和心室重构具有明显相关性,可作为衡量糖尿病患者心室重构程度的一项参考指标。     

Differential expression of the cardiac ryanodine receptor in normal and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy canine hearts

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a form of cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular tachyarrhythmias and a fibrofatty infiltrate that is believed to preferentially affect the right ventricle. Mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) gene have been identified in some human families with a unique form of ARVC, ARVC2. Although the RyR2 has significant importance in excitation–contraction coupling across the ventricles, mutations in the gene encoding for it appear to have the greatest impact on the right ventricle in ARVC2. Using a canine model (boxer), the RyR2 protein and message RNA in the right ventricle, left ventricle and interventricular septum from normal dogs and dogs with ARVC were investigated by immunoblotting and real time PCR. The cardiac RyR2 message and protein expression were differentially expressed across the cardiac walls in the normal heart, with the lowest concentration expressed in the right ventricle (P < 0.05). The message and protein expression of the RyR2 were reduced in all chambers in the canine model of ARVC. We propose that the increased susceptibility of the right ventricle to ARVC may be associated with the lower baseline protein concentration of RyR2 in the normal right ventricle compared to the left ventricle and interventricular septum and that all three areas are equally affected in this canine model of ARVC. Using this naturally occurring model of canine ARVC, we may have provided new insights into the pathogenesis of this cardiomyopathy.     

Echocardiographic variables in healthy guineapigs anaesthetized with ketamine-xylazine

Echocardiographic parameters were recorded, measured and statistically analysed on a population of 12 male Hartley albino guineapigs under ketamine-xylazine anaesthesia. Additionally, the effect of body weight on these parameters and the correlation between the parameters were assessed. The mean values of left ventricular internal diameter in end diastole (LVIDD), left ventricular internal diameter in end systole (LVIDS), interventricular septum thickness in diastole (IVSD), interventricular septum thickness in systole (IVSS), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (LVPWD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in systole (LVPWS), left atrial diameter (LA), aortic diameter (AO), left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) were measured or calculated as 6.85+/-0.36, 4.35+/-0.17, 1.75+/-0.31, 2.26+/-0.35, 2.28+/-0.40, 2.80+/-0.58, 4.95+/-0.34, 4.65+/-0.25 mm, 35.62+/-2.62 and 70.87+/-3.01%, respectively. A significant (P<0.01) positive correlation to body weight was found with LVIDD, LVPWD, IVSD, aortic root diameter and LA. Significant correlation was also found between a number of echocardiographic parameters.     

The anatomy of the interventricular septum of the heart and the anatomical nomenclature

With the aim to study interrelations of the interventricular septum (IVS) and systematization of their definitions, 151 preparations of hearts of persons died from causes having no connections with cardio-vascular diseases have been studied. The IVS consists of inflow and outflow septa. The inflow septum includes the sinusal (posterior) and trabecular septa, the outflow one--the anterior and conoid septa. The distal part of the anterior and conoid septa form the infundibular septum. From the side of the right ventricle the conoid septum and bulboventricular fold form a supraventricular crest--muscular torus, separating its inflow and outflow parts. From the side of the left ventricle the supraventricular crest is seen as a muscular bar, forming the basal medial wall.     

α-酮酸片对维持性血液透析患者心脏功能和结构的影响

目的：探讨α-酮酸片（α-KA）对维持性血液透析（MHD）患者心脏功能和结构的影响。方法：观察30例α-酮酸片（商品名：开同）治疗组维持性血液透析患者与30例对照组患者,分别在治疗前及治疗6个月后超声心动图测定心脏结构指标：左房收缩末期内径（LADs）、左室舒张末期内径（LVEDd）、室间隔舒张末期厚度（IVSTd）、左室后壁舒张末期厚度（LVPWTd）,左房内径指数（LAI）、左心室心肌重量指数（LVMI）、相对室壁厚度（RWT）,心脏功能指标：左室射血分数（LVEF）,左室短轴缩短率（FS）,二尖瓣口舒张早期和晚期最大血流速度比（E/A）各项指标等检测,比较治疗前后各指标变化。结果：治疗组MHD患者心脏结构指标：左房收缩末期内径（LADs）、左室舒张末期内径（LVEDd）、室间隔舒张末期厚度（IVSTd）、左室后壁舒张末期厚度（LVPWTd）,左房内径指数（LAI）、左心室心肌重量指数（LVMI）值均明显低于对照组,二者差异有显著性（P〈0.05）,两组相对室壁厚度（RWT）相比没有明显的差异（P〉0.05）。心脏功能指标：左室射血分数（LVEF）,左室短轴缩短率（FS）,二尖瓣口舒张早期和晚期最大血流速度比（E/A）值较对照组明显增高（P〈0.05）,有统计学意义。结论：α-酮酸片可以改善MHD患者的心脏结构和功能,其对MHD患者心血管并发症的预防和治疗有一定临床指导意义。     

Role of Hand1/eHAND in the dorso-ventral patterning and interventricular septum formation in the embryonic heart

Molecular mechanisms for the dorso-ventral patterning and interventricular septum formation in the embryonic heart are unknown. To investigate a role of Hand1/eHAND in cardiac chamber formation, we generated Hand1/eHAND knock-in mice where Hand1/eHAND cDNA was placed under the control of the MLC2V promoter. In Hand1/eHAND knock-in mice, the outer curvature of the right and left ventricles expanded more markedly. Moreover, there was no interventricular groove or septum formation, although molecularly, Hand1/eHAND knock-in hearts had two ventricles. However, the morphology of the inner curvature of the ventricles, the atrioventricular canal, and the outflow tract was not affected by Hand1/eHAND expression. Furthermore, expression of Hand1/eHAND in the whole ventricles altered the expression patterns of Chisel, ANF, and Hand2/dHAND but did not affect Tbx5 expression. In contrast, the interventricular septum formed normally in transgenic embryos overexpressing Hand1/eHAND in the right ventricle but not in the boundary region. These results suggested that Hand1/eHAND is involved in expansion of the ventricular walls and that absence of Hand1/eHAND expression in the boundary region between the right and left ventricles may be critical in the proper formation of the interventricular groove and septum. Furthermore, Hand1/eHAND is not a master regulatory gene that specifies the left ventricle myocyte lineage but may control the dorso-ventral patterning in concert with additional genes.     

Intramural chronotopography of myocardial depolarization in the heart ventricles of the pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Multichannel synchronous cardioelectrotopography is used to analyze the sequence of myocardial depolarization in the ventricles of the pig heart. Formation of early depolarization areas has been established in subendocardium of interventricular septum and in the base of papillary muscles of the left ventricle; of multiple foci-in the thickness of myocardial walls; of areas of late depolarization-in subepicardium of the dorsolateral side of the left ventricle. In pig heart ventricles, as compared with other ungulates (reindeer and sheep) there are revealed differences in location of areas of the early and late depolarization areas and the breakthrough of excitation wave onto subepicardium.     

超声心动图结合血清miR-122对原发性高血压所致左心室功能改变的评估价值

摘要 目的：探讨超声心动图结合血清微小RNA-122（miR-122）对原发性高血压（EH）所致左心室功能改变的评估价值。方法：选择2020年01月-2022年06月本院收治的58例EH患者作为研究组,另选择同期62例体检健康者作为对照组。所有研究对象均行超声心动图检查、血清miR-122检测,比较两组间超声心动图定量参数、血清miR-122水平差异,分析血清miR-122与左心室功能指标的相关性。通过绘制受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）并计算曲线下面积（AUC）分析超声心动图定量参数、血清miR-122单独诊断EH所致左心室功能改变的最佳诊断阈值以及相应敏感度、特异度;联合诊断采用多因素Logistic回归分析并绘制ROC曲线评估其诊断效能。结果：研究组患者左心室舒张末期内径（LVEDD）、左心室收缩末期内径（LVESD）、室间隔舒张末期厚度（IVSD）、左心室后壁舒张末期厚度（LVPWD）、E与室间隔和侧壁处二尖瓣环舒张早期运动速度e''室间隔和e''侧壁均值的比值（E/e''）、左心室舒张末期容积（EDV）和左心室收缩末期容积（ESV）、血清miR-122水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,二尖瓣口舒张早期血流速度E与舒张晚期血流速度A比值（E/A）显著低于对照组（P<0.05）,而两组间左心室射血分数（EF）差异不具有统计学意义（P＞0.05）。血清miR-122水平与LVEDD、LVESD、EDV、ESV呈正相关(P<0.05）,与其他超声心动图定量参数IVSD、LVPWD、EF、E/A、E/e''无显著相关性（P＜0.05）。与单独诊断相比较,超声心动图定量参数结合血清miR-122诊断EH所致左心室功能改变的AUC、约登指数、敏感度、特异度最高。结论：超声心动图结合血清miR-122能够准确评估EH所致左心室功能改变情况,有助于指导临床治疗方案的选择。     

Evolution and Development of Ventricular Septation in the Amniote Heart

During cardiogenesis the epicardium, covering the surface of the myocardial tube, has been ascribed several functions essential for normal heart development of vertebrates from lampreys to mammals. We investigated a novel function of the epicardium in ventricular development in species with partial and complete septation. These species include reptiles, birds and mammals. Adult turtles, lizards and snakes have a complex ventricle with three cava, partially separated by the horizontal and vertical septa. The crocodilians, birds and mammals with origins some 100 million years apart, however, have a left and right ventricle that are completely separated, being a clear example of convergent evolution. In specific embryonic stages these species show similarities in development, prompting us to investigate the mechanisms underlying epicardial involvement. The primitive ventricle of early embryos becomes septated by folding and fusion of the anterior ventricular wall, trapping epicardium in its core. This folding septum develops as the horizontal septum in reptiles and the anterior part of the interventricular septum in the other taxa. The mechanism of folding is confirmed using DiI tattoos of the ventricular surface. Trapping of epicardium-derived cells is studied by transplanting embryonic quail pro-epicardial organ into chicken hosts. The effect of decreased epicardium involvement is studied in knock-out mice, and pro-epicardium ablated chicken, resulting in diminished and even absent septum formation. Proper folding followed by diminished ventricular fusion may explain the deep interventricular cleft observed in elephants. The vertical septum, although indistinct in most reptiles except in crocodilians and pythonidsis apparently homologous to the inlet septum. Eventually the various septal components merge to form the completely septated heart. In our attempt to discover homologies between the various septum components we aim to elucidate the evolution and development of this part of the vertebrate heart as well as understand the etiology of septal defects in human congenital heart malformations.     

金钱豹和猪獾冠状动脉的解剖

为了阐明金钱豹(Panthera pardus)和猪獾(Arctonyx collaris)心冠状动脉的分支分布特征及血供情况,为心脏生物学及动物学研究提供结构基础资料,利用血管铸型和组织透明方法观察研究了金钱豹与猪獾心左、右冠状动脉的分支分布.结果表明,金钱豹和猪獾的心均由左右冠状动脉营养.金钱豹左冠状动脉分为室间隔支、前降支和旋支.前降支又分出左室上支、左室中支和左室下支.右冠状动脉沿途分出右室前支、右室后下支和右室后上支.猪獾左冠状动脉分为前降支和旋支.前降支又分出室间隔支和左室前支,旋支又分出左缘支和左室后支.其右冠状动脉沿途分出右室前支、右缘支和右室后支.金钱豹和猪獾心的室间隔均由发自左冠状动脉的独立的室间隔支营养,二者左右冠状动脉在膈壁的分布属于均衡型.     

Cardiomyopathy induced by incessant ventricular tachycardia originating in the vicinity of the His bundle

A 04-year-old boy was referred to our institution with severe, progressive heart failure of 4-months duration associated with a persistent wide QRS tachycardia with left bundle branch block and severe left ventricular dysfunction. Because of incessant wide QRS tachycardia refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs, he was referred for electrophysiological study. The ECG was suggestive of VT arising from the right ventricle near the His area. Electrophysiological study revealed that origin of tachycardia was septum of the right ventricle, near His bundle, however the procedure was not successful and an inadvertent complete atrioventricular conduction block occurred. The same ventricular tachycardia recurred. A second procedure was performed with a retrograd aortic approach to map the left side of the interventricular septum. The earliest endocardial site for ablation was localized in the anterobasal region of left ventricle near His bundle. In this location, one radiofrequency pulse interrupted VT and rendered it not inducible. The echocardiographic evaluation showed partial reversal of left ventricular function in the first 3 months. The diagnosis was idiopathic parahisian left ventricular tachycardia leading to a tachycardia mediated cardiomyopathy, an extremely rare clinical picture in children.     

A 2D finite element model of the interventricular septum under normal and abnormal loading

The interventricular septum is the structure that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. Under normal loading conditions, it is concave to the left ventricle, but under abnormal loading the septum flattens and occasionally inverts. In the past, the septum has frequently been modelled as integral to the left ventricle with the effects of pressure from the right ventricle being ignored. Under abnormal loading, the septum has been described as behaving equivalent to a "flapping sail". There has been no consideration of structural behaviour under these conditions. A 2-D plane stress FE model of the septum was used to investigate the difference in structural behaviour of the septum during diastole between normal and abnormal loading. The biaxial stress patterns that develop are distinctively disparate. Under normal loading, the septum behaves much like a thick-walled cylinder subject to internal and external pressure, with the resulting stresses being circumferential tension and radial compression, both varying with radius. These stresses are very low throughout most of diastole. However, under abnormal loading, the septum behaves in an arch-like fashion, with high compressive stresses almost circumferential in direction, combined with radial compression. We conclude that right ventricular pressures cause bending effects in the wall of the heart, and that under abnormal loading, the compressive stresses that develop in the septum may lead to an understanding of certain, previously unexplained, pathological conditions.     

A 2D Finite Element Model of the Interventricular Septum Under Normal and Abnormal Loading

Abstract

The interventricular septum is the structure that separates the left and right ventricles of the heart. Under normal loading conditions, it is concave to the left ventricle, but under abnormal loading the septum flattens and occasionally inverts. In the past, the septum has frequently been modelled as integral to the left ventricle with the effects of pressure from the right ventricle being ignored. Under abnormal loading, the septum has been described as behaving equivalent to a “flapping sail”. There has been no consideration of structural behaviour under these conditions. A 2-D plane stress FE model of the septum was used to investigate the difference in structural behaviour of the septum during diastole between normal and abnormal loading. The biaxial stress patterns that develop are distinctively disparate. Under normal loading, the septum behaves much like a thick-walled cylinder subject to internal and external pressure, with the resulting stresses being circumferential tension and radial compression, both varying with radius. These stresses are very low throughout most of diastole. However, under abnormal loading, the septum behaves in an arch-like fashion, with high compressive stresses almost circumferential in direction, combined with radial compression. We conclude that right ventricular pressures cause bending effects in the wall of the heart, and that under abnormal loading, the compressive stresses that develop in the septum may lead to an understanding of certain, previously unexplained, pathological conditions.     

Experimental acute hypoxia in healthy subjects: evaluation of systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle at rest and during exercise using echocardiography

To clarify whether or not systolic and diastolic function of the human left ventricle (LV) were decreased during acute hypoxia, at rest and with exercise, 14 healthy male volunteers [age 25.9 (SD 3.0) years, height 182.9 (SD 7.1) cm, body mass 75.9 (SD 6.9)kg] were examined using M-mode and 2D-mode echocardiography to determine the systolic LV function as well as Doppler-echocardiography for the assessment of diastolic LV function on 2 separate test days. In random order, the subjects breathed either air on 1 day (N) or a gas mixture with reduced oxygen content on the other (H; oxygen fraction in inspired gas 0.14). Measurements on either day were made at rest, several times during incremental cycle exercise in a supine position (6-min increments of 50 W, maximal load 150 W) and in 6th min of recovery. Corresponding measurements during N and H were compared statistically. Arterial O₂ tension (P _aO₂) was normal on N-day. All subjects showed a marked acute hypoxia at rest [P _aO₂, 54.5 (SD 4.6) mmHg], during exercise and recovery on H-day. The latter was associated with tachycardia compared to N-day. All echocardiographic measurements at rest were within the limits of normal values on both test days. Ejection time, end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular dimensions as well as the thickness of left posterior wall and of interventricular septum showed no statistically significant influence of H either at rest or during exercise. Stroke volume and cardiac output were always higher on H-day, which could be attributed to a slight reduction in end-systolic volume with unaffected end-diastolic volume as well as to increased heart rates. Among the indices of systolic LV function the fractions of thickening in the left ventricular posterior wall and interventricular septum showed no differences between H and N at rest or during exercise. However, fibre shortening, ejection fraction and mean circumferential fibre shortening were increased on H-day on all occasions. The mitral-valve-Doppler ratio, the index of diastolic LV function, was decreased with H at rest, showed a more pronounced reduction during exercise and was still lower in 6th min of recovery compared to N-day. It was concluded that with acute hypoxia of the severity applied in this study left ventricular systolic function in our healthy subjects showed a pronounced improvement and left ventricular diastolic function was reduced, both at rest and with exercise.     

Differences in distensibility between the anterior and posterior walls of the left ventricle in dogs

Nonuniformity of myocardial systolic and diastolic performance in the normal left ventricle has been recognized by a number of investigators. Lack of homogeneity in diastolic properties might be caused by or related to differences in the distensibility of different regions of the left ventricular (LV) wall. Thus, we compared the end-diastolic transmural pressure-strain relations in both the anterior and posterior LV walls in seven anesthetized dogs during two interventions (pulmonary artery constriction and aortic constriction). Transmural pressure was defined as the difference between LV intracavitary pressure and local pericardial pressure. LV pressure was measured using a micromanometer; pericardial pressures over the LV anterior and posterior walls were measured with balloon transducers. Circumferentially oriented pairs of sonomicrometer crystals were implanted in the midwall of the anterior and posterior walls of the LV to measure segment lengths. Strains were calculated as (L-L0)/L0, where L was the instantaneous segment length and L0 was the segment length when transmural pressure was zero. The pattern of end-diastolic transmural pressure--strain relations was similar in all dogs. The change in strain in the posterior wall was always greater than that in the anterior wall. Opening the pericardium did not affect the difference in distensibility of the anterior and posterior walls. The results suggest that the posterior wall is more compliant than the anterior wall (that is, for a given difference in transmural pressure, the local segment length change of the posterior wall was greater). This seems consistent with other observations, which suggest that the posterior wall might make a greater contribution to diastolic filling.     

Development of neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive innervation in postnatal rat heart

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), immunoreactive (IR), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-IR nerve fibers were scarce at birth in rat heart, but increased rapidly during the first 2 postnatal weeks, reaching approximately adult levels by the third week. The sequence of development was: interatrial septum and atrial wall, free ventricular wall starting from the epicardium, and finally the atrial appendages and interventricular septum. In ventricles and atrial appendages both fiber types developed similarly. In interatrial septum and atrial walls more NPY-IR than TH-IR fibers were evident, and NPY-IR, but not TH-IR, neurons were detected in intrinsic ganglia. Doublelabel immunohistochemistry provided further evidence that NPY is located in ventricular and atrial noradrenergic nerves, but is also located in nonnoradrenergic nerves in atria.     

Reflection of distribution of the epicardial ventricular potential on the dog body surface during electrical stimulation of the myocardium]

Electrical pacing of the apex, base, and free wall of the heart right and left ventricles, as well as the left ventricle's interventricular septum revealed that localisation of the ectopic focus determined the sequence of ventricular depolarisation, the site formation, and the pathway of displacement of the areas' positive and negative potentials and their extrema on the thoracic surface. Time of the mutual movement (inversion) of positive and negative zones on the body surface was found to depend on the pacing site in the wall of ventricles.     

Growth Differentiation Factor (GDF)-15 Blocks Norepinephrine-induced Myocardial Hypertrophy via a Novel Pathway Involving Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Transactivation

Accumulating evidence suggests that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is associated with the severity and prognosis of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect of GDF-15 on the regulation of cardiac remodeling is still poorly understood. In this present study, we demonstrate that GDF-15 blocks norepinephrine (NE)-induced myocardial hypertrophy through a novel pathway involving inhibition of EGFR transactivation. Both in vivo and in vitro assay indicate that NE was able to stimulate the synthesis of GDF-15. The up-regulation of GDF-15 feedback inhibits NE-induced myocardial hypertrophy, including quantitation of [³H]leucine incorporation, protein/DNA ratio, cell surface area, and ANP mRNA level. Further research shows that GDF-15 could inhibit the phosphorylation of EGF receptor and downstream kinases (AKT and ERK1/2) induced by NE. Clinical research also shows that serum GDF-15 levels in hypertensive patients were significant higher than in healthy volunteers and were positively correlated with the thickness of the posterior wall of the left ventricle, interventricular septum, and left ventricular mass, as well as the serum level of norepinephrine. In conclusion, NE induces myocardial hypertrophy and up-regulates GDF-15, and this up-regulation of GDF-15 negatively regulates NE-induced myocardial hypertrophy by inhibiting EGF receptor transactivation following NE stimulation.