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

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

AIM: To evaluate myocardial relaxation function changes in an adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy model using the transmitral flow velocity to mitral annular velocity ratio (E/E'), a strong positive relationship with left ventricular filling pressure and a good indicator for evaluating left ventricular diastolic relaxation abnormality. METHODS: Twenty-eight Japanese rabbits were divided into two groups. Adriamycin was administered at cardiomyopathy model. 8 rabbits served as controls receiving the same amount of saline once a week for a total of 8 weeks. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) were performed at baseline, 4th, 6th,8th, 10th and 12th week. RESULTS: In the adriamycin-treated group, LV chamber diameter significantly increased, while ejection fraction and fraction shortening significantly decreased in 10th and 12th week (P ＜0.05). The significant changes were firstly found in 10th week. Mitral annulus systolic peak velocity (S') by TDE significantly decreased in 8th, 10th and 12th week ( P ＜0.05). The significant changes were firstly found in 8th week. The ratio of E/E' significantly increased in 6th,8th, 10th and 12th week (P ＜ 0.05). The significant changes were firstly found in 6th week. In the control group, no significant changes were found in all parameter by tissue Doppler conventional echocardiography (P ＞0.05). CONCLUSION: Myocardial function is reduced in adriamycin-induced rabbit model of dilated cardiomyopathy. The relaxation parameter (E/E') by TDE changes is earlier than contraction indices S' by TDE and conventional echocardiography in adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy rabbits, which provides a new sensitive and reliable method to evaluate LV relaxation function.

AIM: To validate the alternations of flow velocity patterns in the infarct-related artery (IRA) during no-reflow phenomenon in a canine model of acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) combined with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) by means of administration of Albunex. METHODS: Nineteen dogs first underwent 60 min myocardial ischemia and then followed by 60 min,120 min and 180 min reperfusion ( n = 6, 6 and 7, respectively). The perfusion defect area determined by MCE at 60 min myocardial ischemia was regarded as risk area (RAMCE). The perfusion defect area defined by MCE after reperfusion was considered as no-reflow area (NRAMCE). The ratio between NRAMCE and RAMCE ≥ 25 %was regarded as the development of no-reflow phenomenon and the ratio of NRAMCE to RAMCE＜25% was considered as the myocardial reflow. The coronary flow velocity parameters in IRA were determined through TTDE. RESULTS: Two dogs died during experiment and the remaining seventeen dogs completed throughout the procedure.There were seven dogs in reflow group and ten dogs in noreflow group. No significant difference was present in reflow group between at baseline and at 60 min reperfusion in systolic peak velocity (PVs), systolic velocity time integral (VT Is), corrected systolic flow duration (cFDs),diastolic peak velocity (PVd), diastolic velocity time integral (VT Id), corrected diastolic flow duration (cFDd),diastolic deceleration rate (DDR), corrected diastolic deceleration duration (cDDD) (P＞0.05), however, a significant difference was found in no-reflow group between at baseline and at 60 min reperfusion in PVs,VTIs, cFDs, PVd, VTId and cFDd (P＜0.05). The most marked alterations during diastolic phase were the increase of DDR and reduction of cDDD. CONCLUSION: The impaired microvasculature may profoundly affect the coronary flow velocity pattern in the IRA. The increase in microvascular resistance and decrease in coronary perfused pressure can contribute to the changes.Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography combined with MCE has the capability of noninvasive assessment of coronary flow velocity pattern in the IRA during no-reflow phenomenon.

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.

Objective To determine whether it could enhance gene delivery and tumor transfection in vivo by combination of ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction(UTMD)with polyethylenimine(PEI)in tumor xenografts.Methods Two different reporter plasmid[lueiferase(pCMV-LUC)and red fluorescent protein(RFP)]were incubated with PEI to prepare cationic compound(PEI/DNA)in various nitrogen:phosphate ratios(N/P ratios,nmol of nitrogen in the PEI/nmol of phosphate in DNA).Formation of PEI/DNA complexes were confirmed by the gel retardation assay.Human cervical carcinoma(Hela)tumors were planted subcutaneously in both flanks of female nude mice.Tumor-bearing mice were administered by tail vein with PBS,plasmid,plasmid and Sono Vue microbubble,PEI/DNA and Sono Vue microbubble.One tumor was exposed to ultrasound irradiation (3 MHz,2 W/cm2,2 min exposure,duty cycle 20%),while the other served as control.The feasibility of targeted delivery and tissue specificity facilitated by UTMD and PEI was investigated.The mice were sacrificed 3 days after ultrasound exposure.Tissue specimens were viewed with microscopy to determine the presence of RFP expression.The efficiencies of luciferase transgene expression were determined.Histology analysis was detected.Results Electrophoresis experiment revealed that PEI was mixed with plasmid to condense DNA efficiently.The application of UTMD significantly increases the tissue transfection in vivo compared to plasmid alone.RFP expression was present in all sections of tumors that received ultrasound exposure but not in control tumors.Results of luciferase activity showed that the expression of luciferase was to be 14 times greater in ultrasound-exposed tumors(P＜0.01).More importantly,the increase in transgene expresgion was related to UTMD with the presence of PEI dramatically.At least 10-fold increase of luciferase gene transfer was obtained in irradiated tumors compared to non-irradiated controls(P＜0.01),111-fold increase compared to UTMD alone(P＜0.01).There was not significantly gene expression in other organs or tissues regardless of US exposure(P＞0.05).No tissue damage was seen histologically.Conclusions The combination of UTMD with PEI can enhance targeted delivery and expression of reporter gene to tumors at intravenous administration.It is a promising new and safe method for gene delivery in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) has been proved to evaluate general and local function of heart but less reported on adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy following bone marrow stromal cell (BMS) transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate myocardial function of an adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy rabbit model following BMS transplantation using TDE.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized animal control study was performed at Laboratory of Ultrasound, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from September 2002 to December 2003.MATERIALS: A total of 28 male adult Japanese rabbits weighing (2.0+0.2) kg were used in this study. Adriamycin was used to induce cardiomyopathy model in 20 rabbits.METHODS: Twenty-eight male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: cell transplantation group (n=10),PBS group (n=10), and sham operation group (n=8). BMSs were isolated from cell transplantation group at the 8th day. On the 12th week, cells were labeled with 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and then epicardial directly injected into the myocardium of the same rabbits in thoracotomy surgery. Non-cell only culture fluid PBS was injected in PBS group. Sham operation group underwent thoracotomy surgery with the same volume of saline injection.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Left ventricular function was assessed by conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography before and 4 weeks after surgery. Histological examination including apotisis study and DAPI fluorescent were assessed after sacrificed.from (4.0+1.1) cm/s to (5.3+1.2) cm/s (P ＜ 0.05) around the inject site, but the improvement of global myocardial function was not found by conventional echocardiography. In PBS and sham operation group there were no differences in global and myocardium at 4 weeks after transplantation. Histological findings showed that the injury of the myocardium around the injection site was relieved with less apoptosis.

Objective To investigate different pulsed ultrasound (PUS) parameters and culture conditionsthat would affect cell viability and sonoporation on cell membrane of human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). MethodsHeLa cells were cultured in two different conditions ( in suspension or in monolayer). Cells were exposed to differentPUS intensity (0.4 W/cm2, 1.0 W/cm2, 1.6 W/cm2, 2.2 W/cm2), duty cycle (10%, 20%, 50%) and expo-sure time ( 1 min or 3 min). Cell viability was analyzed by flow cytometry. Using microscope and scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) , the changes of shape and the sonoporation on cell membrane induced by PUS were observed.Results Low intensity and duty cycle did not exert a great impact on the cell viability. Cell injury was found to in-crease progressively with high intensity ( 1.6 W/cm2 , 2.2 W/cm2 ) and duty cycle ( 50% ) ( P < 0. 01 ) , and celldetachment was significantly accompanied by PUS exposure in adherent HeLa cells. Results of factorial design showedthat the culture conditions and the PUS parameters had significant interaction ( P < 0.01 ). SEM demonstrated insome detail the phenomenon of transient pores in the cell membrane under suitable PUS irradiation. The ideal sonopo-ration conditions that cell viability was above 80% and more membrane holes were noted to be at 1.0 W/cm2 expo-sure for 3 min with a duty cycle of 20% in cell suspension. Conclusion The optimized conditions of the PUS pa-rameters and the culture conditions could lower the cell injury and exert a great impact on the sonoporation. It couldproduce remarkable membrane pores on cells and enhance cell membrane permeability, which facilitate transportationof macromolecules into cells.

Objective To evaluate left atrial(LA)function in patients with prophase essential hypertension (EH)by left atrial volume tracking(LAVT)method.Methods Thirty prophase EH patients and 35 healthy subjects(control group)were enrolled in this study.Ultrasound LAVT(Hitachi EUB-6500)was applied to display and analyze the LA volume loop imaging on the standard LV apical two and four chamber views.The maximal LA volume at end-systole(LAVmax),LA volume at the onset of ECG-P wave(LAVP),the minimal LA volume at end-diastole(LAVmin)from the LA volume loop were recorded,and body surface area was used to revise these volume indexs(LAVImax,LAVIp,LAVImin).LA pass,act and total empting volume(LAVIpass,LAVIact,LAVItotal)and empting rate(%LAVIpass,%LAVIact,%LAVItotal),effective pass and act erupting rate(%eLAVIpass,%eLAVIaet),and the proportionality of pass empting volume and act empting volume were caculated.Results The LAVIp,LAVIact,LAVItotal,%LAVIact,%LAVItotal,%eLAVIact in the prophase EH group were significantly higher than those in the control group,wheras the LAVIpass,%LAVIpass,%eLAVIpass,LAVIpass/act were lower(all P＜0.05,or P＜0.01).Conclusions The LA volume change in prophase EH is the act empting volume increased at end-diastole in main,LAVT is a potientially useful tool to evaluate the function of LA.