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Recognition of the utility of the traditional Chinese medicine Lycium barbarum L. has been gradually increasing in Europe and the Americas. Many immunoregulation and antitumor effects of L. barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) have been reported, but its molecular mechanism is not yet clear. In this study, we reported that the activity of the polysaccharide LBPF4-OL, which was purified from LBP, is closely associated with the TLR4-MAPK signaling pathway. We found that LBPF4-OL can significantly induce TNF-α and IL-1β production in peritoneal macrophages isolated from wild-type (C3H/HeN) but not TLR4-deficient mice (C3H/HeJ). We also determined that the proliferation of LBPF4-OL-stimulated lymphocytes from C3H/HeJ mice is significantly weaker than that of lymphocytes from C3H/HeN mice. Furthermore, through a bio-layer interferometry assay, we found that LPS but not LBPF4-OL can directly associate with the TLR4/MD2 molecular complex. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that LBPF4-OL markedly upregulates TLR4/MD2 expression in both peritoneal macrophages and Raw264.7 cells. As its mechanism of action, LBPF4-OL increases the phosphorylation of p38-MAPK and inhibits the phosphorylation of JNK and ERK1/2, as was observed through Western blot analysis. These data suggest that the L. barbarum polysaccharide LBPF4-OL is a new Toll-like receptor 4/MD2-MAPK signaling pathway activator and inducer.

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and the frequency cardioversion of AF postoperatively are different in different forms of mitral valve disease. We hypothesized that these differences would relate to different extent of histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury in different forms of mitral valve diseases.Left atrial appendages were obtained from 24 patients of mitral valve disease with or without AF undergoing mitral valve surgery. Control data were obtained from left appendages of 4 persons in normal sinus rhythm (SR) died of traffic accident. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and enzyme kinetics examination were performed to assess the extent of histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury.The average cross-sectional diameter of atrial myocyte of mitral stenosis (MS)+AF, MS+SR, mitral regurgitation (MR)+AF, MR+SR and control was 25.62±7.56 μm, 20.20±9.34 μm, 21.69±7.00 μm, 13.93±4.32 μm and 9.81±2.34 μm, respectively. Significantly statistical difference was found between each group (P.05). Increased degree of atrial interstitial fibrosis was seen both in MS and MR with AF patients compared to other groups (P.05), and the extent of fibrosis was more remarkable in MR patients compared to MS patients (P.05). The extent of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) immunoreactivity significantly increased in the patients with MS and AF compared to those of MR and AF (P.05), and the immunoprevalence of 3-NT was significantly increased in patients of MS and SR compared to those of MR and SR (P.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between creatine kinase (CK) activity and extent of 3-NT immunoreactivity in atrial tissues (r=-0.382, P.05). Significant decreases in CK activity were observed in myocardium from all patients of mitral valve disease with or without AF compared to controls (P.05). Western blotting demonstrating an increased prevalence of 3-NT formation in CK-MM was detected compared to control group (P.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between CK-MM activity and extent of CK-MM tyrosine nitration (r=-0.446, P.05).In different forms of mitral valve disease with different cardiac rhythm, the extent of histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury are different. Histopathological characteristics and oxidative injury not only relate to mitral valve disease but also relate to the development and sustain of AF.

obtained by 2D-STE were assessed by systolic strain (RS: radial strain, CS: circumferential strain, LS: longitudinal strain, TS: transverse strain). Results: TD-TDI in high septal pacing group was significantly shorter than apical pacing group (20.0± 24.3ms vs. 59.7± 43.0ms, p< 0.0001). TD-RS in high septal pacing groupwas also significantly shorter than apical pacing group (13.5± 19.9ms vs. 45.8± 24.6ms, p< 0.0001). TD-LS by3-and4-chamberviewwere significantly shorter in septal pacing group. No significant difference was observed in TD-CS and TD-TS between two groups. Conclusion: Left ventricular dyssynchrony was smaller in high septal pacing. Measurement of time delay by TDI and 2D-STE is useful to detect the subtle differences of left ventricular dyssynchrony in patients with permanent pacemaker implantation. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2009.03.028 QUANTITATIONOFMYOCARDIALSYSTOLICFUNCTIONOFSPONTANEOUSLYHYPERTENSIVERATSBY SPECKLE TRACKING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY Tang Hong, Li Zhaohuan Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China Objective: Our goal was to characterize left ventricular regional systolic function using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Background: Conventional ultrasonic parameters reflect indirectly myocardial function through the change of ventricular volume over a cardiac cycle, which is not quite sensitive and accurate. Angle-independent speckle tracking echocardiographyhasbeenproposedas sensitive tools to detect early regional systolic function abnormalities. Methods: Echocardiographic examinations were performed in 8 SHR and 6 normotensive Wistar–Kyoto rate (WKY). Two-dimensional acquisitions were anlyzed offline tomeasurecircumferential andradial strainandstrain rate in parasternal short-axis view at the level of papillary muscle. Results: Despite apparently normal left ventricular (LV) eject fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), inferial and septal segmental circumferential strain, posterior, inferial and septal segmental circumferential strain rate, and almost all segmental and average radial strain rate but lateral and postal segments were reduced significantly in SHR (p< 0.05). Anterior segmental circumferential strain rate is significantly lower than that of inferial and septal segments in WKY. Conclusions:Hypertensive ratsmay have regional LV systolic function impairment despite having normal EF and FS. The EF and FS were not the decisive factors of myocardial systolic function in the present study. STE can be used to accurately recognize and quantify abnormalities of regional myocardial deformation. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2009.03.029 CLINICAL USEFULNESS OF CAROTID ARTERIAL WAVE INTENSITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC