Ultrasound imaging is widely used in clinical daily diagnosis and treatment, and is considered to be a preferred examination in a variety of diseases. With the rapid development and continuous integration of computer technologies and related cross-field technologies, the novel ultrasound technologies have emerged, which greatly expand the application fields of ultrasound. From the clinical viewpoint, this article reviews several new ultrasound technologies and their application progress in recent years.

Objective To assess the velocity patterns of right ventricular long axis myocardial motion during isovolumic contraction phase in the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) by Doppler tissue imaging(DTI).Methods Right ventricular systolic free wall myocardial(the place close to the tricuspid annular) motion velocities were examined by DTI on apical four-chamber view in 28 patients with DCM and 30 healthy volunteers.Peak positive and negative velocities(V_(IVC1),V_(IVC2)),velocity time integrals(VTI_(IVC1),VTI_(IVC2)),times(T_(IVC1),T_(IVC2)) of right ventricular free wall myocardial motion during isovolumic contraction,and the peak velocity(V_S),time(T_S),velocity time integral(VTI_S) of ejection wave(S) were measured.Right ventricular percent changes in area(RVPCA) on three different views were calculated.Results V_(IVC1),V_S,VTI_S and differential IVC(the difference between V_(IVC1) and V_(IVC2)) in the patients with DCM were significantly decreased than those in control group(P(0.05)).Conclusions The changes of DTI indices of right ventricular long axis myocardial motion during isovolumic contraction in the patients with DCM are characteristic,which could be a new method to evaluate right ventricular systolic function.

Objective To investigate the gene silencing,apoptosis induction and the suppression of proliferation in vivo transfected by UTMD techniques associated with shRNA techniques. Methods The survivin-shRNA expression vector was constructed. Nude mice were randomly arranged into 3 groups:control group, plasmid injection and ultrasound (P + US), P + UTMD group. Histological examination were evaluated. Protein expressions of Survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, Bax,Caspase-3, Ki-67, nucleostemin (NS), p53 were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results In transplanted tumors experiment, comparing with those in C and P + US groups, protein expressions of PCNA,Ki-67,Bcl-2, Survivin, NS were down-regulated markedly, while those of Bax, Caspase-3 and P53 were up-regulated significantly ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions UTMD combined with shRNA technique can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation significantly, without causing any apparently adverse effect,representing a new,promising technology that can be used in the tumor gene therapy and research.

Purpose To investigate renal cortical blood perfusion in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) by region of interest (ROI) quantification.Materials and Methods Twenty-one patients with NS treated at Wuhan Union Hospital from September 2014 to January 2015 (NS group) and twenty-nine matched healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in our study.High frequency blood flow dynamic images of the left kidney for all the subjects were acquired by color Doppler (Philips iU22).Resistance index (RI) of interlobar artery,arcuate artery and interlobular artery were measured.Vascularization index (VI),flow index (FI),vascularization flow index (VFI) were further analyzed by ROI quantification at Q-LAB work station.Results ① The signals of renal cortical blood flow in NS patients were sparse and slim;while the signals in the control group were continuous,most of which reached the edge of renal cortical.② No statistical differences of RI values of interlobar artery and interlobular artery were found between the two groups (P＞0.05);③ The renal cortical blood perfusion in the NS patients decreased significantly compared with that in control group,and the renal cortical VI,FI and VFI values in NS group were significantly lower (P＜0.01).④ Bland-Altman analysis showed that there was good repeatability in the measurement of renal cortical VI,FI and VFI.Conclusion Color Doppler flow imaging combined with RO1 quantitative technique can assess renal cortical blood perfusion accurately,which provides diagnostic information for early detection of renal damage.

Objective To quantitatively describe the texture features of myocardial image in the acute myocardiac infarction (AMI) using image texture analysis. Methods Anterior descending branch of left coronary artery was ligated to set up AMI model in 11 dogs. Image texture was analyzed using grey tone co-occurrence matrix method, and 4 kinds of texture parameters including angular second moment(ASM), contrast(CON), entropy(ENT), and inverse difference moment(IDM) in normal myocardium and infarct myocardium were observed. Results A significant difference in 4 kinds of texture parameters was found between pre- and post-infarct myocardium (P

To evaluate the morphology of atrial septum by the live three-dimensional echocardiography (L3DE) and its value of clinical application, L3DE was performed in 62 subjects to observe the morphological characteristics and dynamic change of the overall anatomic structure of atrial septum. The study examined 49 patients with atrial septal defect (ASD), including 3 patients with atrial septal aneurysm, and 10 healthy subjects. ASD in the 35 patients was surgically confirmed. The maximal diameters of ASD were measured and the percentages of area change were calculated. The parameters derived from L3DE were compared with intraoperative measurements. The results showed that L3DE could directly and clearly display the morphological features of overall anatomic structure of normal atrial septum, repaired and artificially-occluded atrial septum, atrial septal aneurysm. The defect area in ASD patients changed significantly during cardiac cycle, which reached a maximum at end-systole and a minimum at end-diastole, with a mean change percentage of 46.6%, ranging from 14.8% to 73.4%. The sizes obtained from L3DE bore an excellent correlation with intraoperative findings (r=0.90). It is concluded that L3DE can clearly display the overall morphological features and dynamic change of atrial septum and measure the size of ASD area accurately, which is important in the decision to choose therapeutic protocols.
Atrial Septum/*ultrasonography ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*pathology ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*ultrasonography ; Young Adult

To assess the normal value of left ventricular twist (LVtw) and examine the changes with normal aging by 2-dimensional ultrasound speckle-tracking imaging (STI), 121 healthy volunteers were divided into three age groups: a youth group (19-45 y old), a middle-age group (46-64 y old) and an old-age group (> or = 65 y old). Basal and apical short-axis images of left ventricular were acquired to analyse LV rotation (LVrot) and LVrot velocity. LVtw and LVtw velocity was defined as apical LVrot and LVrot velocity relative to the base. Peak twist (Ptw), twist at aortic valve closure (AVCtw), twist at mitral valve opening (MVOtw), untwisting rate (UntwR), half time of untwisting (HTU), peak twist velocity (PTV), time to peak twist velocity (TPTV), peak untwisting velocity (PUV), time to peak untwisting velocity (TPUV) were separately measured. The results showed that the normal LV performs a wringing motion with a clockwise rotation at the base and a counterclock-wise rotation at the apex (as seen from the apex). The LVtw velocity showed a systolic counterclock-wise twist followed by a diastolic clockwise twist. Peak twist develops near the end of systole (96%+/-4.2% of systole). With aging, Ptw, AVCtw, MVOtw, HTU and PUV increased significantly (P<0.05) and UntwR decreased significantly (P<0.05). However, no significant differences in TPUV, PTV and TPTV were noted among the 3 groups (P>0.05). It is concluded that LV twist can be measured non-invasively by 2-dimensional ultrasound STI imaging. The age-related changes of LVtw should be fully taken into consideration in the assessment of LV function.
Aging ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles/anatomy & histology ; Heart Ventricles/*ultrasonography ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology ; Young Adult

The effects of cardiomyocyte grafting on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and function in rats with chronic myocardial infarction were evaluated using high-frequency ultrasound. Chronic myocardial infarction was induced in 50 Wister rats by ligating the left anterior descending artery. They were randomized into two groups: a trial group that received neonatal rat cardiomyocyte transplantation (n=25) and a control group which were given intramyocardial injection of culture medium (n=25). The left ventricular (LV) geometry and function were evaluated by high-frequency ultrasound before and 4 weeks after the cell transplantation. After the final evaluation, all rats were sacrificed for histological study. The results showed that 4 weeks after the cell transplantation, as compared with the control group, the LV end-systolic dimension, end-diastolic dimension, end-systolic volume and end-diastolic volume were significantly decreased and the LV anterior wall end-diastolic thickness, LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening were significantly increased in the trial group (P<0.01). Histological study showed that transplanted neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were found in all host hearts and identified by Brdu staining. It was suggested that transplantation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes can reverse cardiac remodeling and improve heart function in chronic myocardial infarction rats. High-frequency ultrasound can be used as a reliable technique for the non-invasive evaluation of the effect of cardiomyocyte transplantation.
Animals, Newborn ; Echocardiography/*methods ; Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology ; Myocardial Infarction/*therapy ; Myocardial Infarction/ultrasonography ; Myocytes, Cardiac/*transplantation ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology ; Ventricular Remodeling

Objective To probe into the clinical value of left atrial(LA) volme tracking method (LAVT) on the assessment of left atrial function in patients with hypertension. Methods Thirty-one patients with hypertension and 31 control subjects were involved. Images of apical two-chamber and four-chamber views were obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography. LA maximal volume (LAVmax), LA minimal volume (LAVmin), LA presystolic volume (LAVpre), systolic LA filling rate (dv/dtS), early diastolic LA emptying rate (dv/dtE) and late diastolic LA emptying rate (dv/dtA) were derived using LAVT. LA passive emptying volume(LAVp), LA passive emptying fraction(LAVpEF), LA active emptying volume(LAVa), LA active emptying fraction (LAVaEF), LA total emptying volume (LAVt), LA total emptying fraction(LAVtEF) were calculated. All volume measurements were corrected to body surface area (LAVI). Results There were significant differences in the LAVImax, LAVImin, LAVIpre, LAVpEF, LAVIa, LAVIt,dv/dtS, dv/dtA between hypertensive patients and control subjects(P <0.05~0.001), but no significant differences were found in the LAVp, LAVaEF, LAVtEF,dv/dtE between the two groups. The LAVImax has shown significant positive correlation with LAVIp, LAVIa and LAVIt(r = 0.588~0.812, P <0.001). LAVaEF has shown positive correlation with the LAVtEF(r = 0.833, P<0.001), whereas LAVpEF has not(r = 0.420, P <0.01). There was a significant positive correlation with LAVImax and LAVIpre(r = 0.908, P <0.001), LAVIpre and LAVIa(r = 0.689, P <0.001) ,dv/dtE and LAVIp(r = 0.690, P <0.001),dv/dtA and LAVIa(r = 0.600, P <0.001). Conclusions In hypertensive patients,left atrial reservoir function and booster pump function increase, while left atrial conduit function decreases. LAVT has a potential ability to evaluate left atrial function.

Objective To study the transfeetion efficiency and safety of liposome microbubble(LM)on red fluorescent protein(RFP)in vitro and in vivo under ultrasound mediated gene transfection(USMGT)conditions.Methods Plasmids containing RFP were added to cultured Hela cells followed by ultrasound (US)exposure with LM.Different concentration of LM,US intensity and exposure time were optimized.Transfection efficiency was evaluated by fluorescent microscopy and FACS.Cell viability was verified by propidium iodide assay.In transplanted tumors in vivo study,LM and plasmid(P)were injected into the nude mice followed by US exposure(P+LM+US group).Nude mice undergoing plasmid injection alone(P group),plasmid injection and US exposure(P+US group)and plasmid and LM injection(P+LM group)were used as controls.Frozen section and histological examination were conducted and RFP expression was evaluated.Results LM and US exposure significantly increased transfeetion efficiency in cultured Hela cells (P＜ 0.01).Transfection efficiency was the most prominent under the condition of US intensity of 1.0 W/cm2 with 6%LM,duration 3 min.No apparent cell damage was found in the all groups.In transplanted tumors,strong RFP was seen in P+LM+US group.It was significantly higher than in any other groups(P＜0.0 1).No tissue damage was seen histologically.Conclusions LM could enhance USMGT effectively without causing any apparently adverse effect in vitro and in vivo.This method would be a novel,effective,safe non-viral gene transfection method and provide an alternative to current clinical gene therapy.