Objective To investigate whether velocity vector imaging (VVI) combined with stress echocardiography could detect potential myocardial impairment of the left ventricle(LV) in diabetic rats.Methods DM rats ( n = 18,administered by STZ at 65 mg/kg) and control rats( n = 12) were performed with VVI and M-mode echocardiography both at rest and after dipyridamole stress 12 weeks later. Twodimensional echocardiographic cine loops and M-mode images of three consecutive beats were obtained from the short-axis views at the mid-LV level. The means of segmental peak systolic velocity(Vs), circumferential strain(εc) ,radial strain(εr), systolic circumferential and radial strain rate (SRc, SRr) and the percent wall thickening (WT% ,derived from M-mode) were obtained. After echocardiograms were performed,the hearts were excised and prepared for HE staining and ultrastructural observations under electron microscopy.Results At rest,only SRc in the DM group was significantly lower than that in the control group( P ＜0.05), the other parameters were statistically comparable between the two groups. After dipyridamole stress,all VVI values in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P ＜0.05).However,there was no significant difference in WT% between the two groups either at rest or after dipyridamole stress ( P ＞0.05). Conclusions The VVI parameters combined with dipyridamole stress are more effective in evaluating potential myocardial impairment of the LV walls in diabetic rats. SRc might be more sensitive indices that can be used to detect myocardial impairment at rest.

Objective To investigate whether myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)combined with stress echocardiography could detect myocardial microcirculation disturbance of left ventricular(LV)in diabetic rats.Methods MCE were performed at rest and after dipyridamole infusion from parasternal shortaxis views at the papillary muscle level in DM rats(n=18,12 weeks later after STZ administration)and control rats(n=12).Regions of interest(ROI)were positioned with the anterior, lateral, posterior and septum walls.Plateau intensity(PI), initial slope of the curve(β)and time to PI(TTP)were obtained from the curve and myocardial blood flow(MBF)and myocardial flow reserve(MFR)was estimated.After the performance of MCE, myocardium was prepared for γ Well counting with ~(99m)Tc-MIBI and CD31 immunohistochemistry staining.Results There was no significant difference in MBF between the ROI of anterior, lateral, septum walls beyond posterior wall in each group at rest and after stress.MCE values from anterior wall were selected as the indexes for comparisons between the two groups.The PI., MBF and MFR in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group at rest and after stress(all P< 0.05).The β in the DM group was significantly lower and TTP was significantly longer after dipyridamole stress(P<0.05).The nuclide intake of myocardial tissue in different walls was similar in the DM group, but theY were all lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The capillary density decreased significantly in the DM group compared with the control group.Conclusions The PI,β,TTP,MBF and MFR derived from MCE were all sensitive parameters in detecting the microcirculation disturbances in the earlier period of DM.

Objective To investigate whether myocardial dysfunction and perfusion impairment had happened in diabetes mellitus(DM)rats,and to assess the relationship between them by using myocardial contrast echocardiography(MCE)and velocity vector imaging(VVI).Methods MCE and VVI were performed from the short-axis views of the mid-left ventricular level both at rest and after dipyridamole stress in control rats and DM rafs(12 weeks after induction with streptozotocin).MCE-derived myocardial blood flow(MBF)and myocardial flow reserve(MFR)and VVI-derived circumferential strain rate(SRc)and SRc reserve were obtained.Results SRc(absolute value)and MBF in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group at rest(P =0.03 for SRc and P =0.005 for MBF).SRc reserve and MFR in the DM group were significantly lower than those in the control group after dipyridamole stress (P =0.000 for SRc reserve and P =0.014 for MFR).There was no significant correlation between SRc and MBF at rest in the DM group(r =0.189,P =0.453).However,significant negative correlation existed between SRc reserve and MFR(r =-0.658,P =0.003).Conclusions Both myocardial systolic function and perfusion are impaired in DM rats.The decrease of MBF might not be the predominant determinant of myocardial systolic dysfunction at rest.However,the impairment of MFR could be an important contributor to the decrease of myocardial contractile reserve.

Objective To evaluate the systolic function of left ventricle(LV) in the short axis views in diabetic patients with ejection fraction (EF) value ＞ 50％ with velocity vector imaging (VVI) and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).Methods 30 diabetic patients,which were excluded from coronary artery disease,hypertension,valvular heart diseases,congenital heart diseases,and EF value ＞50 ％by echocardiography,and 20 volunteers with age and sex matched were involved in the study.Twodimensional VVI echocardiographic cine loops were stored at baseline and dobutamine stress (10,20,30 and 40 μg · kg-1 · min-1) in the basal,middle and apical short axis views of LV.The maximum systolic velocity (Vs),strain (ε) and strain rate (SR) were obtained from sygno VVI software.Results The Vs,ε and SR showed decrement tendency from basal to apical short axis view whether in the control group or in the DM group.At baseline,the SR in the apical view decreased significantly in the DM group than that in the control group (P ＜0.05),other parameters were comparable between the two groups.After 10 μg· kg-1 · min-1 dobutamine stress,the SR in the middle and apical views and Vs,ε in the apical view decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).After 20μg· kg-1 · min-1 dobutamine stress,the SR in the basal,middle and apical views and Vs,ε in the middle and apical views decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜0.05).After the maximum dobutamine stress,all parameters decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜0.05).Conclusions The systolic function impairment of DM patients appeared first in the apical tissue of LV,SR was more sensitive index than velocity arnd strain,DSE could increase the sensitivity of VVI parameters in detecting the myocardial systolic function impairment in the earlier stage.

Objective To investigate the development of early myocardial perfusion with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) combined with dipyridamole stress echocardiography in diabetic rats . Methods The diabetes mellitus (DM) group comprised 40 male diabetic rats ,induced with streptozotocin . The control group comprised 40 normal male rats ,comparable body weights with the DM group .The DM group was divided into four subgroups (0 week ,2 weeks ,4 weeks and 8 weeks after diabetic model established) and the control group was also divided into four subgroups matched with the DM group .Each rat was performed with conventional echocardiography ,MCE at baseline and after dipyridamole stress .The reserve parameters were compared between the control group and the DM group .In addition ,the differences among four subgroups in the control group and the DM group were compared ,respectively .Results MCE demonstrated that the 4 weeks and 8 weeks DM subgroup had lower myocardial blood velocity reserve and myocardial blood flow reserve than the control subgroup .The myocardial blood volume reserve was reduced in the 8 weeks DM subgroup ,too .Conclusions The impairment of myocardial perfusion in the DM rats are detected earlier with the MCE combined with dipyridamole stress .

Objective To assess the systolic strain of left ventricular(LV) in the long axis views in diabeties mellitus(DM) patients with LVEF value ＞ 50％ with velocity vector imaging (VVI) and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).Methods Thirty DM patients,which were excluded from coronary artery disease,valvular heart diseases,congenital heart diseases,hypertension,and LVEF value ＞50％ by echocardiography,and 20 volunteers with age and sex matched were involved in the study.Two-dimensional VVI echocardiographic cine loops were stored at baseline and dobutamine stress in the apical four-chamber,two-chamber and long axis views of LV.The maximum long systolic velocity (Vs),strain (ε)and strain rate (SR) were obtained from sygno VVI software.Results The Vs,ε and SR decreased from basal to apical in the LV walls whether in the control group or in the DM group.At baseline,SR in 7 segments,ε in 4 segments and Vs in 3 segments in the DM group decreased significantly than those in the control group (P ＜0.05).After the maximum dobutamine stress,all parameters decreased significantly in the DM group than those in the control group (all P ＜0.05).In addition,67％ parameters in apical LV and 11％ parameters in middle LV in the DM group were lower than those in the control group.All parameters in basal LV were comparable between the two groups at baseline.Conclusions The Vs,ε and SR showed decreased tendency from basal to apical in the long axis of LV.The Vs,ε and SR impairment in the long axis of DM patients appeared first in apical tissue of LV.DSE could increase the sensitivity of VVI parameters in the earlier stage.

Objective To investigate the value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCEUS) in combination with three-dimension (3D) contrast-enhanced ultrasound in diagnosis of benign or malignant gastric ulceration. Methods A total of 47 patients with gastric lesions were enrolled in this study. All have the pathological results, 22 of them were benign ulceration and 25 were malignant. All patients underwent DCEUS and 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound. On the basis of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasound agents, intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound agents were given at the same time. Images and data were recorded. The arrival time (AT), time to peak (TTP), infusion time (IT), baseline intensity (BI), peak intensity (PI) and enhanced intensity (EI) were calculated using the time-intensity curve (TIC). Results All benign ulcerations were imaged as small pits with slight thicken of gastric wall [(8.66±2.87) mm] using DCEUS,while malignant lesions were relatively large irregular-shape, unevenly-bottom pits with significant thicken of gastric wall [(13.98±3.63)~(20.83±3.69) mm]. 3D-DCEUS images were analyzed for gastric mucosal folds, ulceration lesions, as well as local vascularity. All ulceration lesions showed broken of gastric mucosal folds, and malignant lesion showed thickness of gastric wall as“crater”, with rich and irregular vascularity. There were no statistical differences between benign gastric ulcerations and adjacent normal gastric wall (P>0.05). Malignant gastric ulceration were compared with adjacent normal gastric wall tissue, TTP, IT and BI had no statistical differences (P>0.05), while AT, PI, and EI had statistical differences [(9.00±2.02) s vs (10.90±2.75) s, P=0.008], [(35.46±5.77) dB vs (29.73±8.72) dB, P=0.009] and [(30.76±5.76) dB vs (23.45±6.84) dB, P=0.000]. PI and EI in malignant tumors were higher than those in benign ones (P<0.05). Conclusion DCEUS could be a new method in differentiating benign and malignant gastric ulceration, which can get both the anatomy and perfusion information of gastric wall as well as lesions. 3D-DCEUS can improve the quality of the conventional ultrasound image.