Objective To investigate the most sensitive markers of left ventricular(LV) torsion which can reflect infarct size by assessing the relationship between routine markers of LV torsion and infarct size using speckle tracking imaging (STI).Methods Fifteen open-chest pigs underwent 120 minutes of left anterior descending (LAD) ligation followed by 12 hours of reperfusion.Rotation and torsion of LV were obtained by STI before LAD occlusion,LAD occlusion immediately,and 30,60,90 minutes and 12 hours after reperfusion.Infarct size was measured by nitrotetrazolium blue chloride staining.Results LAD ligation resulted in a dramatic decrease in both subepicardial and subendocardial peak apical rotation or peak LV torsion.Twelve hours after reperfusion,all of the peak rotation and torsion remained significantly reduced (P ＜ 0.01 versus AMI).At AMI,peak bulk LV torsion and peak bulk apical rotation inversely correlated with infarct size (r = - 0.81,P ＜0.01; r = - 0.69,P ＜0.01).There existed the good relationship at 12-hour follow-up after reperfusion.The relationship was superior to that of other torsion markers.Conclusions Peak bulk LV torsion and peak bulk apical rotation are the most sensitive markers of LV torsion which can reflect infarct size.

Objective To explore the effects of transplantated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on myocardial fibrosis with the aid of ultrasound-mediated microbubbles (MB) and bispecific antibody(BiAb) combination.Methods With the aid of MB,isolated MSCs from male mice and the BiAb were transfused into female mice with isoproterenol-induced myocardial fibrosis via tail vein (MSCs + BiAb + MB group).BiAb was producted with anti-CD29 which can recognize MSCs and anti-myosin light chain antibody (AMLCA) which can specifically bind to injured myocardium.There were six groups investigated:MSC + BiAb + MB,MSC,BiAb,MB,MSC + BiAb,untreated,and control groups.Five weeks after treatment administration,the expressions of sex-determining region of Y-chromosome (SRY) in myocardium were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR.The distribution of collagen was observed by sirius red staining.Heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) in myocardium was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The highest homing number of MSCs was in the MSCs + BiAb + MB group,MSCs + BiAb group ranked the second,and lowest in MSCs group.Compared to the untreated group,the MSCs + BiAb + MB,MSCs + BiAb and MSCs groups had less collagen deposition (P ＜0.05),and decreased level of HSP-70.Compared to those of the MSCs group,the collagen deposition were decreased in MSCs + BiAb + MB group (P ＜0.05).Conclusions MB and BiAb can promote the homing number of MSCs in mice.MB can further the homing rate and the repairing efficacy of MSCs.The homing MSCs can prevent the process of myocardial fibrosis.And HSP-70 was involved in the internal mechanism.

ObjectiveTo assess left ventricular twist and untwist in rabbit models with diastolic heart failure(DHF) and systolic heart failure(SHF) by speckle tracking imaging(STI).Methods Thirtythree male New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups:one group was used to establish DHF model by suprarenal abdominal aortic constriction(n = 12) and the other was used to establish SHF model by abdominal aortic constriction subdiaphragmly above celiac artery origin(n = 11),another was control group established by sham operation(n = 10).After two weeks,left ventricular twist-related parameters were measured.by STE.Finallly,left ventricular catheterization and myocardial pathological examination were performed.Results Compared with control group,peak twist angle (Ptw) and peak twisting velocity(PTV)remained unchanged in DHF group (P ＞ 0.05) and decreased in SHF group (P ＜ 0.05).Isovolumic untwisting rate (IUR) decreased,untwisting half-time(UHT) was prolonged,time to peak twist (tPtw) and peak untwisting velocity (tPUTV) were delayed in SHF and DHF groups.In additon,Peak untwisting velocity(PUTV) decreased in SHF group,but increased in DHF group (P ＜0.05).Ptw correlated correlated positively with LVEF,+ dp/dtmax significantly in both groups (DHF group:r = 0.897,P =0.002; r = 0.719,P = 0.044;SHF group:r = 0.727,P = 0.041; r = 0.780,P = 0.022).A significantly positive correlation was observed between PUTV and - dp/dtmax Tau,LVEDP(r = 0.801,P = 0.017; r =0.814,P = 0.014; r = 0.875,P = 0.004) in SHF group.Conclusions STI is useful in evaluating left ventricular twist and untwist in rabbit model of DHF and SHF.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in ureteral lesions.Methods The ultrasonogram of conventional ultrasound and CEUS were retrospectively analyzed in 19 confirmed ureteral lesions cases by operation and pathology.The size,inner echoes,boundary and color blood signal of ureteral lesions were observed by conventional ultrasound.The modality and phases of enhancement,including arrival time,peak time,washout time and appearance of internal structure,were observed by CEUS.Results The 19 ureteral tumors were of maximum widths between 2.1 to 7.7 cm.Conventional ultrasound showed 7 hypoechoic masses,10 isoechoic masses,1 hyperechoic mass and 1 unclear mass.Color Doppler flow imaging showed fairly rich blood signal in 8 tumors,a small amount of blood signal around tumor in 6 tumors and no blood signal in the rest.In early phase,CEUS showed enhancement in all 19 ureteral lesions,including synchronously enhancement in 8 tumors and delayed enhancement in 11 tumors.In peak time,hypoechogenicity compared to the normal renal cortex was shown in 3 tumors,hyperechogenicity in 11 tumors and isoechogenicity in 5 tumors.In late phase,fast wash-out was displayed in 16 tumors,isochronously wash-out in 1 tumor,delayed wash-out in 1 tumor and unclear in 1 tumor.The detection rates of blood supply and clear boundary in ureteral lesions and the diagnostic sensitivity for ureteral cancer were 74% (14/19),16% (3/19),50% (8/16) by conventional ultrasound respectively.The detection rates of blood supply and clear boundary in ureteral lesions and the diagnostic sensitivity for ureteral cancer were 100% (19/19) ,58% (11/19) ,94% (15/16) by CEUS respectively.The change of these performances was statistically significant between conventional ultrasound and CEUS.Conclusions CEUS can improve blood supply,boundary and the diagnostic sensitivity of ureteral lesions.

Objective To study the variation of the urogenital hiatus dimension in late pregnancy women by three-dimensional(3D) pelvic floor ultrasonography,to provide imaging evidence in the study of the relationship between pregnancy and pelvic floor dysfunction diseases.Methods Twenty nulliparas and forty late pregnancy women were examined by 3D pelvic floor ultrasonography to obtain the image of urogenital hiatus in which anteroposterior diameter of urogenital hiatus (AP),left to right diameter of urogenital hiatus (LR) and area of urogenital hiatus (HA) were measured and compared.AP,LR and HA were also compared between the late pregnancy women with stress urinary incontinence symptom and those without stress urinary incontinence symptom.Results AP,LR and HA in late pregnancy women were greater than those in nulliparas(all P ＜0.05) and had no difference between the late pregnancy women with stress urinary incontinence symptom and those without stress urinary incontinence symptom(all P ＞0.05).Conclusions 3D pelvic floor ultrasonography is an effective imaging method to observe pelvic support in pregnancy women.

Objective To establish the reference ranges of the spatial angles among cardiac chambers and great vessels in second and third trimester fetuses measured by spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC).Methods Volume images of 352 normal fetuses from 20 to 38 weeks of gestation were recruited in the study.An off-line analysis of acquired volume datasets was carried out with multiplanar mode.Parameters measured included angles between:(1) the 4-chamber view and the left ventricular long axis view; (2) the left ventricular long axis view and main pulmonary artery; and (3) the ductal arch and aortic arch.The relationships between above-mentioned angles and gestational age were assessed by correlation and regression analysis.Results The angle between the 4-chamber view and the left ventricular long axis view (range:55.7° - 35.7°,mean:45.7° ± 5.12°) was uncorrelated with gestational age (r = 0.03,P = 0.51).In contrast,the angle between the left ventricular long axis view and main pulmonary artery,and the angle between the ductal arch and aortic arch were correlated with gestational age (P ＜ 0.001),and the correlation coefficient was - 0.53 and 0.57 respectively.The best-fit exponential curve regression equations of the angle between the left ventricular long axis view and main pulmonary artery was:Y = 154- 4.24X +0.05X2 ,and the angle between the ductal arch and aortic arch was:Y = - 20.8 + 2.65X - 0.37X2.Conclusions The angles among cardiac chambers and great arteries of fetuses from 20 to 38 weeks of gestation can be quantitatively measured by STIC.The reference ranges provide a reliable quantitative standard to estimate the spatial relationships of the cardiac large arteries of fetuses,which may be clinically useful in prenatal screening congenital heart disease.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of MicroPure software system in the display of calcification and diagnostic accuracy of breast carcinoma.MethodsSixty-three patients with 68 breast lesions were checked by conventional ultrasound,X-ray and MicroPure software technique.The calcification was described and the lesions were classified with BI-RADS.All cases were pathologically confirmed by biopsy or operation.Results ①Compared to the detection rate for calcification of X-ray,the display rate of conventional ultrasound was 80.6% ,and the display rate of MicroPure software technique was 100%.②The area under the curve of diagnosing benign and malignant of breast lesions was 0.916,0.857 and 0.970 respectively with ultrasound,X-ray and MicroPure software technique.③Three lesions was classified Ⅲ in BI-RADS with conventional ultrasound,and Ⅳ in BI-RADS with MicroPure software.The pathologic results were malignant.ConclusionsMicroPure software system obviously raised the ultrasonic display rate of calcification,meanwhile,it raised the diagnostic accurate rate of breast cancer.It especially raised the tendency rate for the patients who were classified between Ⅲ and Ⅳ in BI-RADS.

Objective To investigate how many probably benign lesions on ultrasound(US) fulfilled the published criteria and to evaluate how clinical and personal factors influenced the categorization of breast lesions.Methods A total of 487 lesions in 487 women with more than 12 months follow-up after the initial category 3 assessment on US were included.The initial US images were retrospectively reviewed according to previously published criteria,and evaluated several factors that could influence the characterization of breast lesions in clinical practice such as age,multiplicity,palpability,radiologist 's experience,and lesion size.Results Of 487 lesions,479 (98.36%) were benign and 8 (1.64%) were malignant.Of 487 lesions,203(41.68%) including 8 malignancies were reassessed as category 4.If strict criteria had been applied at initial US examination,the positive biopsy rate would have been only 3.94% (8/203) and 96.06% (195 of 203) biopsies would have been unnecessary.Lesions in women 40 years or older and multiple lesions were more frequently reassessed as category 4 (P = 0.008 and P = 0.006,respectively).The presence of palpability,lesion size,and the radiologist 's experience did not significantly influence the categorization of breast lesions on US.Of 487 probably benign lesions,41.68 % could be classified as category 4 lesions when strict criteria were applied in initial practice.Conclusions The multiplicity of the lesion and the patient 's age were found to have a significant influence on the classifcation of probably benign solid masses.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the potential value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI)elastography in the characterization of solid liver tumors.MethodsForty-three patients with 56 liver tumors were evaluated with ARFI,which included 21 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),8 patients with metastase,5 patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCC),and 9 patients with hemangioma.The shear wave velocity of the tumor and background liver parenchyma were calculated,and results were compared with 30 healthy subjects.Statistical analysis was performed on the shear wave velocity for differentiation of normal liver,background liver parenchyma,and tumors.ResultsHCC and CCC had greater stiffness than metastase (P ＜0.05),there were no statistical differences between HCC and CCC (P = 0.179).Malignant liver tumors had significantly greater stiffness than hemangioma and normal liver (P = 0.000).34.5% (9/26) HCC and 33.3% (4/12) hemangioma appeared softer than the background liver.With a cut-off value of 1.5 m/s for the shear wave velocity,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for malignancies were 79.5%,83.3%,94.5% and 52.6%,respectively.ConclusionsARFI elastography quantification is a promising noninvasive technique for assessing solid liver tumors.Use of ARFI elastography quantification may lead to new quantitative tissue characterization parameters for differentiating hemangioma and malignant liver tumors.

Objective To explore the relationships between the quantitative parameters for contrastenhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and arteries in neoangiogenesis.Methods One hundred and fifteen HCCs in CEUS were analyzed off-line with dynamic vascular curve of ImageArena and immunohistochemical stained in the tissue slices.Parameters including maximum of intensity(IMAX),rise time(RT),time to peak(TTP),mean trasit time corresponding to the center of gravity(mTT) ,rise slope(RS) and washout time(WT) were analyzed by statistics.Unpaired arteries(UAs)of 82 HCC cases were succesfully stained.Results The number of UAs had moderate correlation with RT (r = - 0.446),TTP (r = - 0.432) and RS (r = 0.431) (P ＜ 0.05),and it had mild correlation with IMAX (r = 0.303) ,WT (r = 0.285) (P ＜0.05).Conclusions Neoangiogenesis is a functional adaptation to altered vascular dynamics.Quantitative parameters of CEUS,reflecting hemodynamics of tumors,are correlated with UAs.