Objective To evaluate the value and characteristics of left ventricular global systolic strain and its relation to the left ventricular global systolic function in patients with myocardial infarction(MI) by three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STI).Methods In 24 patient subjects and 20 control subjects,the myocardial motion was tracking by 3D-STI,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),and global longitudinal peak systolic strain(LVGLS),global circular peak systolic strain(LVGCS),global radial peak systolic strain(LVGRS),global area peak systolic strain(LVGAS) were measured.The values were compared between the two groups,the correlations between LVEF and LVGLS,LVGCS,LVGRS,LVGAS were analyzed respectively.Results (1)There was significant difference of each index about LVEF and global strain between normal group and MI group (all P ＜0.05).(2)The correlations among LVEF and LVGLS,LVGCS,LVGRS,LVGAS were found (r =-0.626,-0.770,0.772,-0.748 respectively,P ＜0.01 for all).(3) Bland-Altman analysis showed there were good agreements in both patients with MI and control subjects.Conclusions 3D-STI could be applied non-invisibly and objective to assess alteration of myocardial global systolic function by accurately measuring strain.Therefore,3D-STI appears to be a reliable and useful tool to estimate the left ventricular systolic function of MI.

Objective To observe the tissue displacements between the acupoints and non-acupoints using tissue Doppler imaging.Methods Acupuncture bilaterally were performed at Zusanli,Qvchi and corresponding control points 1 cm lateral to them in 30 healthy human subjects.Monitored by the dynamic system for detecting the force of acupuncture needle during the acupuncture process,tissue Doppler imaging was recorded on the condition of keeping the depth of needle insertion and the rotational torque at the same level approximately.Tissue Doppler imaging was also recorded before and after the acupuncture.Results The mean tissue displacements of the aforementioned 2 acupoints were all significantly greater than those of the corresponding non acupoints(P＜0.05).The mean tissue displacements after the acupuncture were all significantly greater than those before the acupuncture(P＜0.001).Conclusions Tissue Doppler imaging provides a new thought and method for the research of the acupoints.

Objective To obtain the shear wave velocity(SWV) in breast tumors at different probe orientations.Methods SWV was measured on 92 breast tumors in 48 female patients with the probe placed on transverse,longitudinal and 45 degree planes.Pathological test results were followed up.Results Pathological tests showed benign tumors in 48 patients (92 tumors).Of the three planes,values of the biggest and the smallest SWV showed significant difference (P ＜0.001).Conclusions SWV differs on different planes of breast tumors.So the effect in different probe orientations should be considered using SWV for the differential diagnosis of breast tumors.

Objective To study the regularity of blood type and Doppler parameters at the interior and surrounding of the hepatic carcinoma.Methods Seventy-five masses with blood flow signals were selected.The size,mean color density (MCD),flood flow type and Doppler parameters including velocity of peak systolic (PS) and resistance index (RI) were studied.Results ①In the interior of masses,the PS of branch and insert types was the highest,and the RI of branch and net types was the highest (P 0.05 ).Conclusions The parameter is associated with the blood type and grade closely in hepatic carcinoma.

The left ventricular regional systolic functions in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) were assessed by using quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI). Left ventricular (LV) regional myocardial velocity along long- and short-axis in 31 HCM patients and 20 healthy subjects were analyzed by QTVI, and the regional myocardial systolic peak velocities (MVS) were measured. Mean MVS at each level including mitral annular, basal, middle and apical segments were calculated. The ratio of MVS along long-axis to that along short-axis (Ri) at basal and middle segments of the LV posterior wall and ventricular septum were calculated. The results showed that mean MVS was slower at each level including mitral annular, basal, middle and apical segments in the HCM patients than that in the healthy subjects (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in mean MVS between obstructive and non-obstructive groups in HCM patients. MVS of all regional myocardial segments along long-axis in the HCM patients were significantly slower than that in the healthy subjects (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in MVS of all regional myocardial segments along long-axis between hypertrophied and non-hypertrophied group in the HCM patients. Ri was significantly lower in the HCM patients than that in the healthy subjects. The LV regional myocardial contractility along long-axis was impaired not only in the hypertrophied wall but also in the non-hypertrophied one in patients with HCM, suggesting that QTVI can assess accurately LV regional systolic function in patient with HCM and provides a novel means for an early diagnosis before and independent of hypertrophy.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/*physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/ultrasonography ; *Echocardiography, Doppler/methods ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

ObjectiveTo investigate the ability of three-dimensional(3D) speckle tracking imaging (STI) for assessing left ventricular (LV) strain,and measure the value and angle of myocardial main strain vector.MethoodsLongitudinal,circumferential and radial strain of LV were measured in 31 healthy adults by 3D-STI and two-dimensional(2D) STI.The main strain vector and the angle between main strain vector and the LV short-axis plane were calculated from longitudinal and circumferential strains.Results The global longitudinal,circumferential strains and strains at basal,middle,apical level of LV by 3D-STI were significantly smaller than those by 2D-STI,whereas radial strain showed an opposite trend.The 3D strains presented significant difference between different levels of LV,longitudinal,circumferential and radial 3D strains were greater at middle level than at basal and apical level of LV,meantime 2D stain didn't show such obvious trend.Calculated from three-dimensional longitudinal and circumferential strain,the main strain vector was greatest at middle level of LV,whereas the angle between main strain vector and LV short axis plane didn't show any significant difference between three levels of LV.Conclusions3D-STI provides us a new and reproducible method for the evaluation of LV regional function by measuring LV strains.

The focal hepatic lesion caused by local injection of absolute alcohol in rats was evaluated with ultrasonic contrast agent and pathologic examination. Twenty adult Wistar rats weighing about 200 g were injected with absolute alcohol (0.05-0.1 mL each one) on the exterior left lobe of the liver under the monitoring of ultrasound. Pulse inversion harmonic imaging was used to evaluate the focal lesion after bolus injection of ultrasonic contrast agent (0.05 mL/200 g) through caudal vein. Seven days later, the focal lesion was studied again as before. The exterior left lobe of liver with focal lesion was incised and underwent pathologic examination. The results showed that all of the focal lesions could be defined clearly after bolus injection of the ultrasonic contrast agent under the mode of pulse inversion harmonic imaging. There was good correlation between the size of the focal lesion measured by ultrasound on the 7th day after the "ablation" under the mode of pulse inversion harmonic imaging and that gotten by pathologic examination (P = 0.39). The focus size measured by ultrasound right after the ablation was larger than that gotten by pathologic examination (P = 0.002). It was concluded that ultrasonic contrast agent plus pulse inversion harmonic imaging could be used to assess the size of the focal hepatic lesion caused by local injection of absolute alcohol in rats.

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.