To assess right ventricular free wall longitudinal myocardium deformation and examine the changes with normal age by speckle tracking imaging (STI), myocardial systolic peak strain (epsilon), systolic peak strain rate (SRs), early diastolic peak strain rate (SRe), late diastolic peak strain rate (SRa), the ratio of SRe/SRa were measured in the basal, middle and apical segments of right ventricular free wall in 75 healthy volunteers (age range: 21-71 y) by STI from the apical 4-chamber view. RV longitudinal strain and strain rate were highest in the basal segment of the free wall. Older subjects had lower early diastolic strain rate (SRe) than younger subjects, but they had higher late diastolic strain rate (SRa). A negative correlation between age and the ratio of SRe/SRa was found in all RV free wall segments (r=-0.466 - -0.614, P<0.01). It is concluded that RV diastolic strain rate changes with age and STI can be used for the study of RV myocardial deformation.
Age Factors ; Diagnostic Imaging/*methods ; Echocardiography/methods ; Heart/physiology ; Models, Statistical ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardium/*pathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Stress, Mechanical ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right ; Ventricular Function, Right

ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of left ventricular (LV) twist and discuss the relationship between LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV twist in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI).MethodsForty-six patients with CKD and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. After conventional echocardiography, LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) were measured by Biplane Simpson method and the LVEF was calculated. And relevant parameters of LV rotation and twist were measured by speckle tracking imaging. Correlation analysis of LVEDV, LVESV and LV peak rotation and twist were analyzed respectively. ResultsCompared with the control group, LV peak twist and the apical rotation were decreased in CKD patients, which was statistically significant (t=0.002 and 0.020, bothP<0.05). The inferior wall and posterior intermediate septum of basal segment were significantly decreased (t=0.044 and 0.041, both P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed LV apical peak rotation had a relationship with LVEDV and LVESV (r= 0.355 and 0.409, bothP<0.01).Conclusion2D-STI is an practical noninvasive method which can analyze LV twist accurately and recognize LV systolic dysfunction of CKD patients sensitively.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between VitD 3 concentration and glucose and insulin levels of OGTT in patients with CKD 3-5 stages.Methods: We included the patients with CKD 3 and 4 and 5 stages who fulfill the including standard.All patients were recorded the concentrations of [1,25 (OH):D3]concentration of glucose and insulin at fasting ,postprandial 1 h,2 h during OGTT and concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin level ,C peptide concentration.We performed the correlation analysis about [1,25 (OH):D3],glucose and insulin.Results: We totally included 91 patients with 3-5 stages CKD into our study.The D3 concentration of stage 3 were 160.9-261.3 mmol/L[(218.38±8.67)mmol/L] of stage 3,75.2-166.3 mmol/L[(117.01±4.72) mmol/L] of stage 4 and 11.8-96.5 mmol/L[(41.91±12.83)mmol/L] of stage 5 (P<0.05).The average concentrations of serum glucose at fasting,1 h after the meal and 2 h after the meal was(4.74±0.21)mmol/L,(8.31±0.43)mmol/L and(7.36±0.32)mmol/L in 3 stage and (4.92±0.25) mmol/L,(9.14±0.15) mmol/L and (9.14±0.39)mmol/L at 4 stage and (4.81±0.13)mmol/L, (10.72±0.41)mmol/L and (10.72±0.49)mmol/L at 5 stage (P<0.05).The average concentrations of insulin during OGTT at fasting,1 h after the meal and 2 h after the meal was (6.58±0.32) μU/L,(57.78±5.63)U/L and (42.77±8.45)U/L in 3 stage (6.03±0.53)U/L,(55.69±7.35)U/L and (62.52±5.39)U/L in 4 stage and (6.12±0.65)U/L,(62.82±9.73)U/L and (77.34± 8.62)U/L in 5 stage (P<0.05).Correlation analysis shows that the concentration of 1,25 (OH):D3 of different stages of patients with CKD and vitamin D 3 concentration and glucose tolerance test was found to be inversely associated with the insulin levels ( P<0.05 ) . Conclusion:There are obvious differences of concentration of vitamin D 3 between patients with 3-5 stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD).There also showed a negative correlation relationships between glucose and insulin levels ,and vitamin D3 concentration and glucose and insulin levels at OGTT of patients with 3-5 stages CKD.

Objective To evaluate global left ventricular(LV) strain of patients with chronic renal failure(CRF) by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(3D-STI) and discuss the possible association between global peak strain and ejection fraction of LV.Methods The study includes 22 patients in the renal failure period,25 patients with uremia (pre-dialysis),and 20 healthy controls.Global peak longitudinal strain (GPSL),global peak area strain(GPSA) and global peak radial strain(GPSR) were measured by 3D-STI.Then possible association between GPSL,GPSA,GPSR and LVEF were discussed by the Pearson correlation analysis.Results The GPSL,GPSA,GPSR were statistically different in the control group,patients in the renal failure period and patients with uremia.There were significant differences between groups(F =13.28,4.65,4.68,P ＜ 0.01) as following,all of GPSL,GPSA,GPSR were lower in uremia group compared with control group [q =7.48(GPSL),4.19(GPSA),4.72(GPSR),P ＜0.01],GPSL was lower in renal failure group compared with control group [q =4.9 (GPSL),P ＜0.01].The Pearson correlation analysis revealed GPSL,GPSA,GPSR were strongly associated with LVEF(r =-0.679,-0.781,0.719,P ＜0.01).Conclusions In patients with CRF,the global peak strain can reveal the systolic function of left ventricle and the global peak longitudinal strain can recognize systolic dysfunction more sensitively.

Objective To assess the left ventricular longitudinal shrinkage function in liver cirrhosis patients with two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). Methods Echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography were performed in 34 patients with liver cirrhosis and 35 healthy subjects of corresponding ages. High frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from apical long-axis view, four-chamber view and two-chamber view of left ventricle; then the left ventricular diameter, left atrium diameter, the peak filling velocity of E wave and A wave, E/A ratio, EF and FS were measured. The peak systolic strain of left ventricular segment was measured with two-dimensional strain software. Results Compared with healthy subjects, left ventricular diameter, left atrium diameter, EF and FS of liver cirrhosis patients were not statistically different (P>0.05), but the E/A ratio was lower (P<0.05). The peak systolic strain of most left ventricular segment in liver cirrhosis reduced significantly (P<0.05), except that of base segment of posterior wall, anterior wall, inferior wall, anterior and posterior interventricular septum, as well as middle segment of posterior interventricular septum. Conclusion The heart shape, systolic and diastole function of liver cirrhosis are abnormal. 2D-STI can early and accurately evaluate the systolic function of liver cirrhosis.

Objective To assess the value of left ventricular (LV) twist and rotation in left-to-right shunt congenital heart diseases(CHD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI).Methods 16 patent ductus arteriosus(PDA),20 ventricular septal defect(VSD) and 36 age,sex matched normal subjects were included.LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) were measured by Biplane Simpson method,then LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated.Two-dimensional images in LV basal and apical short-axis views in three complete cardiac cycles were required.Using speckle tracking imaging,the rotation of 6 segments in basal and apical short-axis levels were measured in CHD patients and control subjects,respectively.Basal and apical rotation versus time profiles and LV twist versus time profiles were drawn.Correlation analysis of LVEDV,LVESV and LV peak twist and rotation were made respectively.Results Compared to the control group,LV peak twist and the apical rotation were increased in CDH patients,which was statistically significant (P ＜0.05).LV peak twist had significant correlation with LVEDV and LVESV.Conclusions LV volume overload which was caused by left-to-right shunt CHD significantly impacted LV twist and apical rotation,but has no significant effect in basal rotation.LV peak twist correlated with LVEDV and LVESV.

Objective To study the correlation between serum lipids and thyroid function after withdrawn of thyroid hormone in the patients with differentiated thyroid cancer .Methods One hundred and thirty cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated by operative therapy in our hospital form August 2014 to August 2015 were selected .Serum FT4 ,TSH ,FT3 ,triglyceride ,total cho-lesterol ,LDL-C ,HDL-C indexes were detected before discontinuation of levothyroxine sodium (L-T4) ,before operation and 3 weeks after drug withdrawn .Thus the correlation between blood lipid levels and thyroid function was analyzed .Results The HDL-C and the TSH level was positively related before operation (P<0 .05) ,other indexes had no obvious correlation with thyroid function (P>0 .05);the blood lipid levels after medication withdrawn had no obvious correlation with thyroid function (P>0 .05);the total cholesterol levels after medication discontinuation had negative correlation with FT 3 and FT4 levels(P<0 .05);HDL-C was nega-tively correlated with FT3 and FT4 levels(P<0 .05) ,and positively correlated with TSH level (P<0 .05);LDL-C was negatively correlated with FT4 (P<0 .05) .Conclusion When the application treatment of thyroid hormone is suspended ,with the TSH level increase ,the HDL-C level has somewhat elevation ;total cholesterol ,HDL-C and LDL-C levels are negatively correlated with FT 3 and FT4 ,after discontinuation of medication withdrawn ,the blood lipids metabolism abnormality is closely related with thyroid function decline .

0.05). Conclusion The sensors can eliminate the interference of Ac effectively and lay a basis for the development of practical blood sugar detector.

The effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan on elastic properties of aorta in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension were assessed. The ascending aortic distensibility in 26 patients (48 +/- 3 years) with mild to moderate essential hypertension before and after 12 weeks of treatment with losartan (50 mg/day) was evaluated by using two-dimensional echocardiography. M-mode measurements of aortic systolic (Ds) and diastolic diameter (Dd) were taken at a level approximately 3 cm above the aortic valve. Simultaneously, cuff brachial artery systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) pressures were measured. Aortic pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) was calculated as Dd x (SBP-DBP)/(Ds-Dd) x 1333 and stiffness index beta (beta) was defined as Dd x Ln (SBP/DBP)/(Ds-Dd). Blood pressure significantly decreased from 148 +/- 13/95 +/- 9 mmHg to 138 +/- 12/88 +/- 8 mmHg (systolic blood pressure, P = 0.001; diastolic blood pressure, P = 0.003). There was no significant difference in pulse pressure before and after treatment with losartan (53 +/- 10 mmHg vs 50 +/- 7 mmHg). The distensibility of ascending aorta increased significantly as showed by the significant decrease in pressure-strain elastic modulus from 4.42 +/- 5.79 x 10(6) dynes/cm2 to 1.99 +/- 1.49 x 10(6) dynes/cm2 (P = 0.02) and stiffness index beta from 27.4 +/- 32.9 to 13.3 +/- 9.9 (P = 0.02). Although there was a weak correlation between the percent changes in pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index beta and that in diastolic blood pressure after losartan treatment (r = 0.40, P = 0.04 and r = 0.55, P = 0.004, respectively), no correlation was found between the percent changes in pressure-strain elastic modulus and stiffness index beta and that in systolic blood pressure (r = 0.04, P = 0.8 and r = 0.24, P = 0.2, respectively). Our study demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan has a beneficial effect on aortic distensibility in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension and this effect is partly independent of blood pressure reduction.
Aorta/*physiopathology ; Aorta/ultrasonography ; Echocardiography ; Elasticity ; Hypertension/*drug therapy ; Hypertension/*physiopathology ; Hypertension/ultrasonography ; Losartan/*therapeutic use ; Receptors, Angiotensin/*antagonists & inhibitors

To assess the left ventricular regional relaxation abnormalities in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI), Doppler echocardiography and QTVI were performed in HCM (n=10) and healthy subjects (n=11) at apical long-axis, two-chamber and four-chamber views. Regional early diastolic velocity (rVe) and regional atrial contraction (rVa) were measured at each segment of ventricular middle, basal and annular levels. Mean rVe and mean rVa at three levels as well as mean rVe/rVa ratio were calculated. Our results showed that transmitral inflow peak velocities during early diastole (E) and atrial contraction (A) were also measured and E/A ratio was calculated. The rVe of all left ventricular segments in HCM were lower than those in healthy subjects (P<0.05), but compared with healthy subjects majority of rVa in HCM were not different except inferior wall and anterior wall. E between HCM and healthy subjects was different (P=0.036), while mean rVe between them was significantly different (P<0.0001). Mean rVa and mean rVe/rVa of three levels were lower in HCM than in healthy subjects (P<0.05), but there were no differences in A and E/A between them (P=0.22, P=0.101). Left ventricular regional myocardial relaxation is reduced in HCM. Transmitral inflow E and A are influenced by preload, relaxation of myocardium and atrial contraction, etc., while rVe and rVa reflect myocardial relaxation function independently. QTVI is more sensitive and more accurate than conventional Doppler imaging for characterizingregional diastolic properties in HCM.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*ultrasonography ; Diastole ; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color/methods ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/*physiopathology ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/ultrasonography ; Ventricular Function, Left