Objective: To compare the distribution characteristics of left ventricular configuration in Chinese adult patients with hypertension under Chinese and international standard using echocardiography. Methods: A total of 201 patients with primary hypertension were included in the study.Left ventricular end systolic left atrial diameter (LAD), ascending aortic diameter (AO), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDd), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (PWTd) and ventricular septal thickness (IVSd) were measured and then relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were calculated. Left ventricular systolic left atrial volume (LAV) was measured by Simpson′s biplane method and left atrial volume index (LAVI) was then calculated. Ganau classification was done according to Chinese and international standard respectively. The differences of left ventricular configuration in hypertension were compared. Results: According to the Chinese standard, the analytic results of left ventricular configuration showed that there were 103 cases (51.2%) in normal configuration (NG) group, 28 cases (13.9%) in concentric remodeling (CR) group, 52 cases (25.9%) in eccentric hypertrophy (EH) group and 18 patients (9.0%) in hypertrophic (CH) group, respectively. Whereas, according to the international standard, there were 47 cases (23.4%) in NG group, 93 cases (46.3%) in CR group, 18 cases (8.9%) in EH group and 43 cases (21.4%) in CH group.Each group in the configuration analysis had significant difference between Chinese and international standard (P<0.01). Patients with left atrial enlargement according to the Chinese and international standard had statistical difference in the EH and CH groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Analysis of left ventricular configuration according to the Chinese and international standard has significant difference. According to Chinese standard, it may be more accurate to reflect the changes of left ventricular configuration in Chinese hypertensive population, so as to evaluate the changes of left heart structure and function more accurately.

Objective: To detect the changes of systolic function of left ventricle in patients with lymphoma receiving anthracycline by three dimensional speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI). Methods: Thirty patients with newly diagnosed diffused large B-cell lymphoma who had received R-CHOP chemotherapy were enrolled. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain(GCS) and longitudinal strain(LS) on different left ventricular segments were measured by 3D-STI at baseline, after the completion of 2 cycles and 4 cycles of the regimen respectively. Results: Compared with baseline, GLS reduced significantly after four cycles of anthracycline chemotherapy(P=0.002). Analysis of LS on different segments of the left ventricle shows: after 2 cycles of anthracycline chemotherapy, LS only on apical septum was significantly decreased(P=0.019). After 4 cycles of treatment, LS on mid anterior, mid anteroseptal, mid inferoseptal, mid anterolateral, apical anterior, apical septal walls and apex worsened (t=3.321, P=0.002; t=2.497, P=0.018; t=2.387, P=0.024; t=2.096, P=0.045; t=4.015, P=0.000; t=4.064, P=0.000; t=3.370, P=0.002, respectively). Conclusions LS deterioration emerges on some left ventricular walls in patients with lymphma underwent chemotheapy based on anthracycline in early stage of the remedy, especially on apex and mid segments. LS on apical septum manifests firstly. The segmental LS index maybe expected to be valuable for monitoring of early cardiotoxicity of antharcycline.

Objective: To investigate the value of longitudinal strain and peak strain dispersion in the evaluation of left ventricular longitudinal strain and longitudinal strain synchrony in essential hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction. Methods: A total of 50 essential hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction were collected as hypertensive group, they were divided into left ventricular hypertrophy( LVH) group (n=29) and non left ventricular hypertrophy(NLVH) group(n=21), and 26 healthy volunteers were collected as control group, two-dimensional echocardiography was performed. Peak systolic longitudinal strain(LPS), global LPS (GLPS), time to LPS (TTPLS) and longitudinal peak strain dispersion (PSD) were determined by the offline EchoPAC 201.54 software. It can automatically obtaine the bull′s-eye map of the corresponding 18-segmental LPS and TTPLS. Results: Left atrial diameter (LAD) was higher in NLVH group than that in control group(P<0.05). LAD, left ventricle end-systolic diameter(LVESD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) were higher in the LVH group than those in the control group and NLVH group (all P<0.05), there was no significant differences in left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) among the three groups (all P>0.05). LPS and TTPLS: LPS of basal, middle, apical left ventricular segments were significantly lower and TTPLS of middle left ventricular segments were significantly longer in the LVH group than those in the control group and NLVH group (all P<0.05). LPS of middle left ventricular segments was significantly lower in the NLVH group and TTPLS of basal left ventricular segments was obviously greater in the LVH group than those in the control group (all P<0.05). PSD increased and absolute value of GLPS decreased gradually in the control group, NLVH group and LVH group(all P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between absolute value of GLPS and PSD in the hypertensive group (r=-0.61, P<0.01). Measurement of PSD had well repeatability and stability. Conclusions Longitudinal strain and PSD are promising approach to evaluate left ventricular longitudinal systolic function earlier in hypertensive patients with preserved ejection fraction. It has well repeatability and stability and it provides help for clinical diagnosis and efficacy assessment.

Objective: To observe the hemodynamic change characteristics of left ventricle and evaluate left ventricular systolic function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) via vector flow mapping(VFM). Methods: Sixty-two patients with CHF(CHF group) were selected as case group and were divided into three groups (B, C, D) according to the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA ) recommended stages.Sixty healthy volunteers were selected as control group. The left ventricular circulation parameters (vortex quantity, vortex area, circulation) and energy loss (EL) of the apex, mid, and basal segments in different groups were compared in all the systolic phases. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated by biplane Simpson method, and the correlation was analyzed with the parameters of circulation and EL. Results: ①In the phase of isovolumetric contraction (IVC) and slow ejection (SE), compared with the control group, the levels of EL were increased in mid and basal segments (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in CHF group. The vortex area and circulation during IVC and rapid ejection (RE) were higher in CHF group than those in the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). As for SE, only vortex quantity was higher in CHF group than that in the control group (P<0.05). ②In CHF group, EL were increased at stage B and stage C than those in the control group (P<0.05), and EL were decreased at stage D than those in the control group ( P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was decreased tendency of EL in CHF group with the increase of ACC/AHA stages. ③The circulation during IVC of phase D was higher in CHF group than that in the control group (P<0.05), the vortex area during RE was greater in CHF group than that of the control group and stage B (P<0.05). ④EL was positively correlated with LVEF at basal segment of IVC(r=0.615, P<0.001). The vortex area during RE, circulation during IVC and RE were negtively correlated with LVEF (r=-0.598, -0.594, -0.623; all P<0.001). Conclusions VFM technology can quantify the left ventricular hemodynamic changes of patients with CHF in the systolic phase, and shows its relationship with left ventricular systolic function, to provide objective basis for grading of CHF and also provide objective quantitative indicators for clinical treatment and curative effect evaluation.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for the maximum diameter ≤2 cm metastatic liver cancer (MLC). Methods: Sixty-nine pathologically diagnosed MLC patients (maximum diameter ≤2 cm) were retrospectively recruited. The lesion detection rate, diagnostic confidence and enhancement pattern of CEUS and CECT for MLC were analyzed. Diagnostic value of CEUS and CECT for MLC were evaluated and compared by using diagnostic test. Results: The cases of 0, 1, 2, multiple lesions detected by CEUS and CECT in these 69 patients with ≤2 cm MLC were 0 case (0%), 41 cases(59.42%), 13 cases(18.84%), 15 cases(21.74%) and 9 cases(13.04%), 29 cases(42.03%), 13 cases(18.84%), 18 cases(26.09%), respectively. The positive cases detected by CEUS and CECT were 69 cases(100%) and 60 cases(86.96%) respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.006). However, for the detection rate of non-single-lesion cases, there was no statistical difference between CEUS and CECT (P=0.409). The cases showed typical manifestation in CEUS and CECT were 56 cases(81.16%)and 29 cases(42.03%)(P<0.001). The cases with diagnostic confidence level of 3, 4, 5 in CEUS were 3 cases(0.04%), 11 cases(15.94%), 55 cases(79.71%), and those of CECT were 19 cases(27.54%), 20 cases(28.99%), 20 cases(28.99%), respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity of CEUS and CECT for ≤2 cm MLC were 100% (69/69) and 85.51% (59/69), with statistically significant difference(P=0.001). Conclusions The lesion detection rate and diagnostic value of CEUS for the maximum diameter ≤2 cm MLC might be superior to that of CECT, but the detection rate shows no significant difference in the non-single-lesion cases. CEUS has important clinical value in the diagnosis of ≤2 cm MLC.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of naked-eye assessment (NA) of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology(US-FNAC) smears, which was performed by a trained non-cytological physician. Methods: A total of 290 smears of FNAC in 143 thyroid nodules were used to evaluate the value of NA by an assistant with more than two years experience of intervention with ultrasound guidance. NA results such as the background of smear (bloody/non-bloody), thickness (thick/thin), as well as the contents (granulated/non-granulated) were recorded. The correlation between NA and cytological results was analyzed. Number of cells under microscopy, the non-diagnostic rate, and the significance between benignity and malignancy with different features of specimens were compared. Results: There was no significant difference between the NA background and cytological findings(P=0.707, 0.200, 0.705, respectively). There was significance in number of cells, non-dianostic rate between thick and thinner specimens (P=0.000, 0.001, respectively). However, there was no significance in benignity and malignancy between thick and thinner specimens (P=0.385). There was significance in cytology results between the granulated and non-granulated smears(all P=0.000). The difference was found in 51.1% of the smears with granulates were malignancy in cytology. While 77.8% of the non-granulated smears were ultimately diagnosed as benignity. Conclusions The NA could be performed by a trained non-cytological physician and contribute to preliminary predictions of cytology effect.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of BRAF V600E mutation combined with shear wave elastography(SWE) for thyroid nodules of Bethesda Ⅲ diagnosed by fine-neddle aspiration(FNAC). Methods: One hundred and seventeen thyroid nodules diagnosed as Bethesda Ⅲ in the department of ultrasound and confirmed by BRAF V600E gene detection, SWE examination and surgery were collected. BRAF V600E detection, SWE examination and both combined with pathological results were using to retrospective analysis. Results: There were 75 benign nodules and 42 malignant nodules according to pathology. Sensitivity and negative predictive value of BRAF V600E combined with SWE were higher than single BRAF V600E mutation detection and SWE with statistically significant(P=0.01, 0.001; P=0.029, 0.01, respectively). There were no statistically differences between single BRAF V600E mutation detection and SWE for Bethesda Ⅲ nodules(P=0.483, 0.645). Conclusions BRAF V600E mutation detection combined with SWE can improve the sensitivity and negative predictive value in the diagnosis of Bethesda Ⅲ thyroid nodules.

Objective: To evaluate the value of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration(US-FNA) combined with detection of BRAF V600E and thyroid imaging reporting and data system(TI-RADS) in diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods: In this study, 123 operative thyroid nodules from 114 patients who underwent US-FNA and detection of BRAF V600E were enrolled. TI-RADS was apply for the classification of each nodule before surgery. Specimens from each nodule were subjected for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and cytological diagnosis and detection of BRAF V600E mutation. Results: ①BRAF V600E mutation was found in 71 (71/123) nodules with histologic confirmation of papillary-thyroid carcinoma, 58 of which were cytologically diagnosed as carcinoma and 13 were indeterminate. Compared with the postoperative pathological results, US-FNA combined with BRAF V600E could improve the sensitivity and accuracy of diagnosis to thyroid nodules compared with individual US-FNA, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001). ②The mutation rate of BRAF V600E was associated with thyroid capsular invasion(χ²=8.44, P=0.004), and combined with TI-RADS could indicate the high-risk of this invasion. ③Among 123 operative nodules, 18 nodules were BRAF V600E negative and cytologically diagnosed as indetermination, 10 of which were TI-RADS 3b or above. After thyroidectomy, 6 nodules were confirmed as papillary-thyroid carcinoma, 1 nodule was thyroid follicular carcinoma, and 3 nodules were benign ones. Conclusions US-FNA combined with detection of BRAF V600E and TI-RADS can improve the diagnostic accuracy and decrease the misdiagnosis in indeterminate nodules.