Objective To establish a quantitative measurement of flow field uniformity of mitral valve in vivo and investigate the correlation between the parameter of flow field uniformity and the degree of mitral stenosis. Methods The flow field uniformity downstream of mitral valve in normal cases and patients with mitral stenosis were studied using vector flow mapping(VFM) technique. Results The flow field uniformity parameter of standard deviation of velocity (Vsd) in patients with mitral valve stenosis was significantly higher than that in control group ( P <0. 05). There was a negative linear correlation between Vsd and effective orifice area(EOA) in patients with mitral valve stenosis (parasternal long-axis: r = - 0. 816, P = 0.000; apical four chamber: r = - 0. 825, P = 0. 000). Conclusions VFM can really reflect the flow field uniformity of normal cases and patients with mitral stenosis.

ObjectiveTo quantitatively assess the texture of carotid soft plaques in patients with or without cerebral infarction using acoustic radiation force imaging(ARFI).MethodsA total of 71 patients with carotid soft plaques were divided into two groups:group A including 31 patients with cerebral infarction and group B including 40 patients without cerebral infarction.ARFI was used to measure the shear wave velocities(SWV) of each soft plaque of the two groups.The results of two groups were compared.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was drawn to assess the diagnostic accuracy.ResultsThe value of SWV between two groups were significantly different ( P =0.027).The sensitivity and specificity of SWV (AUC =0.667,cut-off value =1.262 m/s) in predicting cerebral infarction was 67.7％ and 70.0％ respectively.ConclusionsThe texture of carotid soft plaques can be evaluated quantitatively using ARFI which was strongly related with cerebral infarction.

Objective To assess the effects of QRS duration on left ventricular systolic synchronicity in patients with heart failure by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods Thirty-four patients with heart failure(LVEF≤35%)were selected and divided into two groups.Group A consisted of 20 patients with normal QRS duration,and group B included 14 patients with long ORS duration.All the patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography(2DE)and RT-3DE respectively.Parameters including left ventricular inlernal diameter(LVIDd),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)of 2DE,and left ventricular endsystolic volume(LVESV),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV),LVEF,the time to minimal systolic volume of 16-segmental standard deviation as a ratio of R-R interval(Tmsv16-sd/RR)of RT-3DE were obtained and analyzed between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences of LVIDd,LVEF acquired by 2DE between the two groups(P＞0.05);LVESV,LVEDV,Tmsv16-sd/RR of RT-3DE were slightly higher in group B than those in group A,but didn't reach the significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The mechanical dyssynchrony maybe related to the severity of heart failure.Conclusions RT-3DE can quantify global left ventricular systolic synchronicity.QRS duration has no significant effect on left ventricular systolic synchronicity in patients with heart failure.

Objective To explore the clinical value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCUS) on evaluation of the chemotherapy effect in advanced gastric carcinoma. Methods A total of 21 patients with unresectable and received chemotherapy of advanced gastric carcinoma were examined using ultrasound after taking oral contrast agent and bolus injection of Sono Vue, and findings of DCUS of each patient before and after chemotherapy were compared. Results The thickness of lesions was slightly thinner than that after chemotherapy,but there was no significant difference ( P ＞0. 05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the basal intensity (BI), peak intensity (PI), arrive time (AT) and time to peak (TTP) of gastric carcinoma tissues after chemotherapy (P ＞0.05). While the enhanced intensity (EI) value of gastric carcinoma tissues after chemotherapy was significantly less than that before chemotherapy (P ＜0.05). Conclusions The EI value in gastric carcinoma tissues may be considered as a sensitive and effective index in assessing the therapeutic effect of the chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

Objective To study the change of early carotid elasticity in perimenopausal women treated by hormone replacement therapy using e-tracking technique. Methods A total of 82 perimenopausal women with lower level of estradiol were randomly divided into two groups:41 cases in the treatment group and 41cases in the control group. Postmenopausal women in the treatment group were treated with Climnen. Before and 6 months after estrogen therapy,e-tracking technique was used to evaluate the carotid elastic modulus,such as the stiffness parameters (β), pressure-strain elastic modulus ( Ep), arterial compliances (AC), pulse wave conducting velocity (PWVβ) and augment index(AI). Results Compared with the normal group,datas of Ep,β,PWVβ and AI were significantly lower in treated group, while AC was obviously higher ( P ＜0.01). Conclusions E-tracking technique is a quick, simple and high accurate evaluating method for the change of carotid elasticity in perimenopausal women.