Objective To evaluate left and right ventricular function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in patients with heart transplantation.Methods Fourteen patients with heart transplantation ( rejection)[12 male,2 female,mean age (49.21±17.91)],twenty four patients with heart transplantation (no rejection) [21 male,3 female,mean age (40.11±12.57)],and fifty one subjects with normal left ventricular function [26 male,25 female,mean age (43.69±14.81) ] were examined by Philips iE33 with a X3-1 probe.Results Right ventricular stroke volume (RVSV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) in heart transplantation (including no rejection and rejection) was reduced compared with subjects with normal heart function (all P<0.05),but right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) and right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) were no significantly different between heart transplantation and subjects with normal heart function (all P>0.05),but the volume and function of right ventricle were no significantly different between rejection heart transplantation and no rejection heart transplantation.Parameter index of 17 segment including standard deviation (SD) and maximum difference(Dif) of 16,12 and 6 segment time to minimal systolic volume(Tmsv 16-SD,Tmsv 16-Dif,Tmsv 12-SD,Tmsv 12-Dif,Tmsv 6-SD,Tmsv 6-Dif),and the percent of SD and maximum difference 16,12 and 6 segment time tominimal systolic volume [Tmsv 16-SD(%),Tmsv 16-Dif(%),Tmsv 12-SD(%),Tmsv 12-Dif(%),Tmsv 6-SD(%),Tmsv 6-Dif(%)] was significantly higher in patients with heart transplantation (rejection) than that in subjects with normal heart function and in patients with heart transplantation (no rejection)[except Tmsv 16-SD and Tmsv 16-SD(%),other P<0.05],however,there was no significantly different between heart transplantation (no rejection) and subjects with normal heart function(all P>0.05).But also average,maximum and minimum value of excursion in three groups was no significantly different (all P>0.05).Conclusions Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography can rapidly and acurately evaluate left and right ventricular function in patients with heart transplantation.

Objective To investigate the value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) timing-excursion parametric index and 17 segment time-volume curves index in patients with leftventricular noncompaction(LVNC). Methods Ten patients with LVNC (proven by MRI) ,twenty subjects with normal LV function were examined by Philips iE33 with X3-1 probe. Results Parameter index (including Tmsv 16-SD,Tmsv 12-SD,Tmsv 6-SD,Tmsv 16-Dif,Tmsv 12-Dif,Tmsv 6-Dif,Tmsv 16-SD%,Tmsv 12-SD%, Tmsv 6-SD%, Tmsv 16-Dif%, Tmsv 12-Dif%, Tmsv 6-Dif%) of 17 segment time to minimal systolic volume was significantly higher in patients with LVNC than that in subjects with normal LV function( all P＜0.05). Average and minimum value of excursion was significantly lower in patients with LVNC than that in subjects with normal LV function ( P＜0.05). Conclusions RT-3DE with timeexcursion parameters and 17 segment of time- volume curve parameters can rapidly and accurately evaluate left ventricular systolic synchrony in patients with LVNC.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular torsion and systolic function of the segment by speckle tracking imaging(STI) and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) in patients with heart transplantation. Methods Twenty patients with heart transplantation and twenty subjects with normal left ventricular function were examined by Philips iE33 with a X3-1 probe and GE Vivid 7 with M4S probe.Results There were two subjects(100% ) with clockwise rotation in control group patients, but eight patients (40 % ) with clockwise rotation in heart transplantation group. And heart transplantation group were divided into two sub-groups (group A with counterclockwise rotation and group B with clockwise rotation) based on the direction of rotation. In apical level,the systolic peak of the angle of rotation of anterior septum,posterior wall,inferior wall, posterior septum in group A was less than that of control group( P ＜0.05), all segmental systolic peak of the angle of rotation in group B was reduced compared with control group( P ＜0. 05),however all segmental systolic peak of rate of rotation in group A and group B was not significant different compared with control group ( P ＞0. 05) ,all segmental diastolic peak in early and late of rate of rotation in group B was obviously higher than that in control group and group A ( P ＜0. 05), while all segmental diastolic peak in early and late of rate of rotation in group A was not significant different compared with control group( P ＞0.05). The displacement and the parameter index of 17 segment time to minimal systolic volume in group A and group B were not significant different compared with control group( P ＞0. 05), but left ventricular angle of torsion was decreased in group B compared with control group and group A( P ＜0.05). Conclusions STI and RT-3DE can rapidly evaluate function of left ventricular torsion and function of segmental systole and systolic synchrony in patients with heart transplant.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound speckle tracking imaging(STI)in assessing left ventricular(LV)systolic and twist function in patients with heart transplantation.Methods Nine patients with heart transplantation and 10 subjects with normal LV function were examined by GE Vivid 7 with a M3S probe.Eighteen regional peak systolic strain and displacement in longitudinal,radial,circumferential,and 18 regional degree of rotation were measured respectively.Results The segmental regional peak systolic strain and displacement were less than those in subjects with normal LV function(P ＜0.05),but segmental regional degree of rotation was more than that in subjeets with normal LV function (P＜0.05).Conclusions STI may provide a noninvasive,simple and quick tool for evaluation of left ventricular systolic and twist function in patients with heart transplantation.

Objective To evaluate the global and segmental (inflow,body and outflow) systolic functions of right ventricle in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) and four-dimensional right ventricle quantitative analysis (4D-RVQ) and to reveal the long-term impact of renal insufficiency on right ventricular systolic function.Methods RT-3DE was performed in 48 ESRF patients and 26 healthy individuals (control group).Images were acquired and analysed off-line in TomTec 4D-RVQ station.The parameters of RV global and segmental systolic functions,including RV global and segmental end-diastolic volume (EDV),end-systolic volume(ESV),stroke volume(SV),ejection fraction(EF),the time to minimum systolic volume(T-msv) were obtained.All the variables were standardized by body surface area (BSA) or heart rate (HR).Results ① In the ESRF group,EDV,SV and EF of body compartment were significantly higher than those of the controls[EDV:(8.5±3.4)ml/m2 vs (6.4± 1.7)ml/m2,P =0.002;SV:(4.5 ± 1.7)ml/m2 vs (2.7±0.9)ml/m2,P =0.0037;EF:(45.4 ± 11.5)％ vs (41.1 ± 7.1)％,P =0.0489],and so were EDV,SV of inflow compartment [EDV:(19.6± 1.0)ml/m2 vs (16.5±0.9)ml/m2,P =0.0438;SV:(12.3±4.6)ml/m2 vs (10.1±3.2) ml/m2,P =0.0433].②Compared with the control group,the global and segmental T-msv were all delayed obviously in the ESRF group (P ＜ 0.001).③The percentage of SV of body compartment accounting for the global SV significantly increased in the ESRF group [(19.5 ± 7.3)％ vs (15.5 ± 5.5)％,P =0.0222],while that of outflow compartment reduced significantly [(20.3 ± 7.0)％ vs (26.8 ± 8.2)％,P =0.0005].Conclusions The global and segmental systolic functions of right ventricle were impaired in ESRF patients,especially in the body compartment.The RT-3DE and 4D-RVQ are helpful technologies in the evaluation and follow-up of right ventricular systolic function in patients with renal failure.

Objective To investigate the impact of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) on evaluating the myocardial perfusion in beagles with ischemic cardiomyopathy and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT),and to estimate the myocardial perfusion by myocardial blood flow (MBF) value.Methods Twelve adult beagles were randomly divided into two groups (CRT group and non-CRT group).Each beagle underwent a ligature in the first diagonal branch and a pacemaker was implanted.The pacing was started in CRT group,but was not started in non-CRT group.MCE and speckle tracking imaging were performed to evaluate the MBF value and circumferential strain (Cir1 2SD),radial strain (R12SD) and longitudinal strain (L12SD) of 12 segments of left ventricle at baseline,before CRT,and 4 weeks after CRT.Results There was no significant difference of LVEF,LVEDV,LVESV,Cir12SD,and R12SD between two groups at baseline or before CRT( P ＞0.05).After 4 weeks of CRT,LVEF,LVEDV,LVESV,Cir1 2SD,and R 12SD in two groups were ( 58.8 ± 8.2 ) ％ vs (39.5 ± 8.7 ) ％,(28.2 ± 2.9) ml vs (34.2 ± 2.5 ) ml,( 13.9± 2.6 ) ml vs (21.5± 4.7)ml,(29.1 ± 6.6)ms vs (46.5 ± 10.1)ms and (36.1 ± 10.7)ms vs (67.6± 11.2)ms( P ＜0.05 ).A,β,and MBF value between two groups were ( 13.6 ± 2.2 )dB vs ( 14.9 ± 3.0)dB,(5.1±1.1 )s- 1 vs (4.8 ± 2.1 )s- 1,(67.6 ± 12.1)dB/s vs (72.8 ± 8.6)dB/s( P ＞0.05) at baseline and were (7.4 ± 1.2)dB vs (7.3±2.7)dB,(3.9±0.9)s-1 vs (2.9±0.9)s-1,(23.4±4.2)dB/s vs (22.2±4.1)dB/s (P＞0.05)before CRT.After 4 weeks of CRT,A,β,and MBF value in CRT group were higher than those in non-CRT group (12.1 ± 1.8)dB vs (9.5 ± 1.7)dB,(4.7 ± 0.3)s-1 vs (3.1 ± 0.8)s-1,(47.2 ± 8.6)dB/s vs (29.5 ±4.2)dB/s,all P ＜0.05).Conclusions In beagles with ischemic cardiomyopathy,CRT can not only improve cardiac synchrony,but also increase myocardial perfusion.