• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.155-158
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• 2019

Morphologic changes or functional impairments of the papillary muscle (PM) can influence mitral valve competence. The purpose of this study was to investigate PM size and contractile function using two-dimensional and color tissue Doppler echocardiography in normal dogs. 35 unsedated Beagle dogs without cardiovascular disease were examined. The vertical (VD) and horizontal diameter (HD) of the posterior and anterior PM was measured at end-diastole, and compared with the thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWd). Longitudinal systolic movement of the PM was quantified as myocardial velocity and strain using tissue Doppler. The VD, HD, and ratios (VD/LVPWd, HD/LVPWd, VD/HD) were significantly greater in the posterior than anterior PM (P < 0.001). The VD and HD of posterior PM and the HD of anterior PM were significantly correlated with LVPWd (r = 0.47, 0.44, and 0.42, respectively). Body weight was significantly correlated with VD of posterior PM (r = 0.37). The peak systolic tissue velocity of the PM was $4.93{\pm}1.25cm/sec$ and peak strain was $-30.83{\pm}11.92%$. PM size and systolic function can be quantitatively assessed using two-dimensional and tissue Doppler. The establishment of these objective PM measurements may be useful to evaluate morphological and functional abnormalities of the canine PM.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.435-443
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• 2008

Purpose: Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT provides not only myocardial perfusion status but also various functional parameters of left ventricle. We compared left ventricular ejection fraction, end-diastolic volume, LV mass by cardiac SPECT using Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS), 4D-MSPECT software and standard 2D-echocardiography. Materials and Methods: One hundred fourteen patients (male 51, female 63; 29-85 years old, mean $61.3\;{\pm}\;13.3$ years old) with normal perfusion status on Tc-99m tetrofosmin gated myocardial perfusion SPECT were analyzed retrospectively. Ejection fraction (LVEF), End-diastolic volume (LVED), LV mass (LVM) were calculated using QGS, 4D-MSPECT, and LVEF, LVM using 2D-echocardiography. Statistical analysis including Bland-Altman plot was performed using $MedCalc^{(R)}$ (MedCalc software, Mariakerke, Belgium). Results: The correlation of LVEF between methods was good: 0.95/0.96 (stress/rest) between QGS and 4D-MSPECT, 0.79 between QGS and echocardiography, 0.79 between 4D-MSPECT and echocardiography (p<0.001). Using Bland-Altman plot, the 95% confidence interval of agreement between QGS and 4D-MSPECT ranged from -12.7% to 7.3% / from -12.2% to 6.5% (stress/rest). The agreement between QGS and echocardiography, 4D-MSPECT and echocardiography ranged from -17.4% to 24.0%, and -14.8% to 27.0% respectively. The correlation of LVM between methods was also good: 0.95 between QGS and 4D-MSPECT, 0.76 between QGS and echocardiography, 0.73 between 4D-MSPECT and echocardiography (p<0.001). The 95% confidence interval of agreement between QGS and 4D-MSPECT ranged from -33.8g to 14.1g (stress/rest), The 95% confidence interval of agreement between QGS and echocardiography, 4D-MSPECT and echocardiography ranged from -148.7 g to 21.8. g, and -142.8 g to 35.5 g, respectively. Conclusion: There was a good correlation for LVEF, LVEO, LVM among methods (QGS, 4D-MSPECT, echocardiography), but the variance between methods was big. Therefore, the functional parameters by each method cannot be used interchangeably.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2003

Objectives: A new software (Cardiac SPECT Analyzer: CSA) was developed for quantification of volumes and election fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction by CSA were validated by comparing with those quantified by Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) software. Materials and Methods: Gated myocardial SPECT was peformed in 40 patients with ejection fraction from 15% to 85%. In 26 patients, gated myocardial SPECT was acquired again with the patients in situ. A cylinder model was used to eliminate noise semi-automatically and profile data was extracted using Gaussian fitting after smoothing. The boundary points of endo- and epicardium were found using an iterative learning algorithm. Enddiastolic (EDV) and endsystolic volumes (ESV) and election fraction (EF) were calculated. These values were compared with those calculated by QGS and the same gated SPECT data was repeatedly quantified by CSA and variation of the values on sequential measurements of the same patients on the repeated acquisition. Results: From the 40 patient data, EF, EDV and ESV by CSA were correlated with those by QGS with the correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.92, 0.96. Two standard deviation (SD) of EF on Bland Altman plot was 10.1%. Repeated measurements of EF, EDV, and ESV by CSA were correlated with each other with the coefficients of 0.96, 0.99, and 0.99 for EF, EDV and ESV respectively. On repeated acquisition, reproducibility was also excellent with correlation coefficients of 0.89, 0.97, 0.98, and coefficient of variation of 8.2%, 5.4mL, 8.5mL and 2SD of 10.6%, 21.2mL, and 16.4mL on Bland Altman plot for EF, EDV and ESV. Conclusion: We developed the software of CSA for quantification of volumes and ejection fraction on gated myocardial SPECT. Volumes and ejection fraction quantified using this software was found valid for its correctness and precision.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.399-406
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• 2007

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury related to unsuccessful myocardial protection affects postoperative ventricular function and mortality during open-heart surgery. We prospectively compared the effects of administration of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution and cold blood cardioplegia (CBC) on myocardial protection and clinical outcome in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Material and Method: Seventy patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing mitral valve surgery were randomly divided into the HTK group (n=31) and the CBC group (n=31 ): eight patients were excluded. Perioperative hemodynamics, cardiac medications, pacing, postoperative outcomes and complications were recorded during the hospital stay. All patients received follow-up for at least 6 months postoperatively for morbidity and mortality. Resuか: There were no significant differences in the hemodynamics between the groups during the study period, except for the mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), PCWP and CVP that were lower in the HTK group at 15 min after weaning of CBP. There were no differences for inotropic support and pacing during the 12 hrs postoperatively between the groups. CK-MB values on day 1 and day 2 were $77{\pm}54$ and $41{\pm}23$ for the HTK group and $70{\pm}69$ and $44{\pm}34$ for the CBC group, respectively (p=NS). Postoperative clinical outcomes were similar in both groups for at least 6 months during the follow-up period. Conclusion: These results suggest that the use of HTK solution is as safe as cold blood cardioplegia in terms of myocardial protection.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.438-447
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to explore the role of IL-6-miR-210 in the regulation of Tregs function and atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF). The levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 in AF patients were detected by using ELISA. Proportions of Treg cells were detected by fluorescence activated cell sorting analysis in AF patients. The expression of Foxp3, α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III were determined by western blot. The atrial mechanocytes were authenticated by vimentin immunostaining. The expression of miR-210 was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). TargetScan was used to predict potential targets of miR-210. The cardiomyocyte transverse sections in AF model group were observed by H&E staining. The myocardial filaments were observed by masson staining. The level of IL-6 was highly increased while the level of IL-10 (Tregs) was significantly decreased in AF patients as compared to normal control subjects, and IL-6 suppressed Tregs function and promoted the expression of α-SMA, collagen I and collagen III. Furthermore, miR-210 regulated Tregs function by targeting Foxp3, and IL-6 promoted expression of miR-210 via regulating hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). IL-6-miR-210 suppresses regulatory T cell function and promotes atrial fibrosis by targeting Foxp3.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.218-223
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• 2015

Purpose: Idiopathic scoliosis is a structural lateral curvature of the spine of unknown etiology. The relationship between degree of spine curvature and cardiopulmonary function has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between scoliosis and cardiopulmonary characteristics. Methods: Ninety children who underwent preoperative pulmonary or cardiac evaluation at a single spine institution over 41 months were included. They were divided into the thoracic-dominant scoliosis (group A, n=78) and lumbar-dominant scoliosis (group B, n=12) groups. Scoliosis severity was evaluated using the Cobb method. In each group, relationships between Cobb angles and cardiopulmonary markers such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), $FEV_1$/FVC, left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary artery flow velocity, and tissue Doppler velocities (E/E', E'/A') were analyzed by correlation analysis linear regression. Results: In group A, 72 patients (92.3%) underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and 41 (52.6%) underwent echocardiography. In group B, 9 patients (75.0%) underwent PFT and 8 (66.7%) underwent echocardiography. Cobb angles showed a significant negative correlation with FVC and $FEV_1$ in group A (both P<0.05), but no such correlation in group B, and a significant negative correlation with mitral E/A ratio (P<0.05) and tissue Doppler E'/A' (P<0.05) in group A, with a positive correlation with mitral E/A ratio (P<0.05) in group B. Conclusion: Pulmonary and cardiac function was significantly correlated with the degree of scoliosis in patients with thoracic-dominant scoliosis. Myocardial diastolic function might be impaired in patients with the most severe scoliosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.511-519
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• 2016

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is mostly observed in patients with cardiac disease, such as myocardial ischemia or LVH, but linking is usually observed in healthy people without heart disease. Evaluation of left ventricular diastolic failure in normal cardiac output(systolic function) conditions can affect the progress and prognosis of heart failure. The direct relevance to the epicardial adipose tissue metabolism in cardiovascular engine for generating a bioactive moleculer, which leads to dysfunction of the later had a direct effect on myocardial heart. The purpose of this study is to measure the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue was to study the relevance of the assessment of diastolic dysfunction in systolic function in normal conditions. Results epicardial adipose tissue thickness and diastolic dysfunction was analyzed to have a high correlation in a statistically significant level. In particular, the epicardial adipose tissue thickness measured at the measuring section EAT2 and diastolic function evaluation E' was found to have a high correlation. Thus epicardial adipose tissue thickness variation is believed can be used as a predictor to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.325-333
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• 2022

Heart failure (HF) has become one of the severe public health problems. The detailed role of mitochondrial function in HF was still unclear. Benzoylaconine (BAC) is a traditional Chinese medicine, but its role in HF still needs to be explored. In this study, oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) was executed to mimic the injury of H9C2 cells in HF. The viability of H9C2 cells was assessed via MTT assay. OGD/R treatment markedly decreased the viability of H9C2 cells, but BAC treatment evidently increased the viability of OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells. The apoptosis of H9C2 was enhanced by OGD/R treatment but suppressed by BAC treatment. The mitochondrial membrane potential was evaluated via JC-1 assay. BAC improved the mitochondrial function and suppressed oxidative stress in OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that the protein expression of p-AMPK and PGC-1α were reduced in OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells, which was reversed by BAC. Rescue assays indicated that AMPK attenuation reversed the BAC-mediated protective effect on OGD/R-treated cardiomyocytes. Moreover, BAC alleviated myocardial injury in vivo. In a word, BAC modulated the mitochondrial function in OGD/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury by activation of the AMPK/PGC-1 axis. The findings might provide support for the application of BAC in the treatment of HF.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2018

Purpose: Children born with single ventricle physiology demonstrate poor growth rate and suffer from malnutrition, which lead to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. We assume that an anabolic steroid, oxandrolone, will promote growth in these infants by improving myocardial energy utilization. The purpose of this paper is to study the efficacy of oxandrolone on myocardial energy consumption in these infants. Materials and Methods: We modeled single ventricle physiology in a lamb by prenatally shunting the aorta to the pulmonary artery and then postnatally, we monitored cardiac energy utilization by quantitatively measuring the first order reaction rate constant, $k_f$ of the creatine-kinase reaction in the heart using magnetization transfer $^{31}P$ magnetic resonance spectroscopy, home built $^1H/^{31}P$ transmit/receive double tuned coil, and transmit/receive switch. We also performed cine MRI to study the structure and dynamic function of the myocardium and the left ventricular chamber. The spectroscopy data were processed using home-developed python software, while cine data were analyzed using Argus software. Results: We quantitatively measured both the first order reaction rate constant and ejection fraction in the control, shunted, and the oxandrolone-treated lambs. Both $k_f$ and ejection fraction were found to be more significantly reduced in the shunted lambs compared to the control lambs, and they are increased in oxandrolone-treated lambs. Conclusion: Some improvement was observed in both the first order reaction rate constant and ejection fraction for the lamb treated with oxandrolone in our preliminary study.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 1991

Dipyridamole thallium imaging is one of the most widely accepted means of evaluating patients with suspected or known coronay artery disease. The results of thallium imaging help diagnose coronary artery disesse (CAD), determine the hemodynamic significance of coronary stenosis, evaluate viability of myocardium, assess the outcome of therapeutic interventions and stratify patients according to their risk for luther cardiac events. An increased lung thallium uptake and transient LV dilation has been reported as poor prognostic indicator and associated with extensive and severe coronary artery disease. We quantitated lung/heart uptake ratio (l/HUR) and transient left ventricular dilation ratio in 44 patients and 17 controls undertaking dipyridamole thallium-201 scintigraphy. The results are as follows: 1) The lung/heart uptake ratio was high in patients with CAD and which became higher according to increasing number of diseased vessel. The L/HUR of patients with low LVEF (<35%) was lower than those with normal LVEF. 2) Transient left ventricular dilation ratio of CAD patients had no close relation between numbers of diseased vessels and was not higher than normals. But transient left ventricular dilation ratio of patients with myocardial infartion was higher than normals. We concluded that lung/heart uptake ratio seems to be sensitive marker for severity of CAD and myocardial function, but transient left ventricular dilation ratio alone is not sufficient to be a marker for severe and extensive CAD.