Objective To explore the value of wave intensity (WI) parameters in evaluating hemodynamic changes of cardiovascular system before and after 131I therapy in hyperthyroid patients.Methods Forty-seven hyperthyroid patients were enrolled as hyperthyroid group,while 47 healthy volunteers were considered as control group.Both of the hyperthyroid and control group took WI examinations,and WI curves of their right common carotid arteries were recorded.WI parameters of WI curve were automatically measured as followed:value of the first positive peak (W1),value of the second positive peak (W2),area of the negative peak (NA),and the square root of NA (A).Twenty-five patients of the hyperthyroid group received 131I therapy were enrolled as treatment group.All these patients were followed up for 3 months.The repeatability of the WI parameters was evaluated in 10 hyperthyroid patients and 10 normal volunteers selected at random from the investigation.Results W1,W2,A in hyperthyroid group increased compared with those in control group,and independent-samples t test showed very significant difference (P=0.000,P=0.000,P=0.000).W1,A decreased after 131I therapy compared with those before treatment,and paired-samples t test showed significant difference (W1:P=0.001;A:P=0.011).A in hyperthyroid group had positive correlation with FT3 (r=0.508,P=0.003);W1 after 131I therapy in treatment group had positive correlation with FT3 and FT4 (r=0.601,P=0.002;r=0.680,P=0.00);W2 after 131I therapy in treatment group had positive correlation with FT3 and FT4 (r=0.549,P=0.005;r=0.570,P=0.004).The repeatability of W1,W2,NA and A were good by consecutive measurement of identical observer.Conclusions WI peak parameters of hyperthyroid patients were higher than those of healthy volunteers,and some sensitive parameters were decreased after 131I therapy,which may provide the basis for assessing the effectiveness of 131I therapy.

This study examined the wave intensity (WI) of the carotid artery in patients with hyperthyroid in order to assess the hemodynamic changes of hyperthyroid patients. A total of 86 hyperthyroid patients without cardiac morphological changes and arrhythmia, and 80 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Right common carotid artery (RCCA) was selected for ultrasonic imaging to obtain WI indices, including amplitude of the peak during early systole (W1), amplitude of the peak during late systole (W2), area of the negative wave during mid-systole (NA), interval between R wave of electrocardiogram and W1 (R-1st), interval between W1 and W2 (1st-2nd). The levels of serum thyroid hormones, consisting of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), were measured in hyperthyroid patients. Echocardiographic indices including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were determined in each subject. The results showed that the W1, W2, NA, and (1st-2nd×HR) in hyperthyroid patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. There was no significant difference in LVEF and LVFS between the two groups. FT3 was correlated with W1, W2, NA, (1st-2nd×HR), pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR) in hyperthyroid patients. Several abnormal waves on WI curves were present in 19 hyperthyroid patients during mid-systole. It was concluded that WI technique may prove a real-time, noninvasive, sensitive and convenient tool for assessing the cardiac function and hemodynamic alterations in hyperthyroid patients.

This study examined the wave intensity (WI) of the carotid artery in patients with hyperthyroid in order to assess the hemodynamic changes of hyperthyroid patients. A total of 86 hyperthyroid patients without cardiac morphological changes and arrhythmia, and 80 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Right common carotid artery (RCCA) was selected for ultrasonic imaging to obtain WI indices, including amplitude of the peak during early systole (W1), amplitude of the peak during late systole (W2), area of the negative wave during mid-systole (NA), interval between R wave of electrocardiogram and W1 (R-1 st), interval between W1 and W2 (1 st-2nd). The levels of serum thyroid hormones, consisting of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), were measured in hyperthyroid patients. Echocardiographic indices including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were determined in each subject. The results showed that the WI, W2, NA, and (lst-2nd×HR) in hyperthyroid patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. There was no significant difference in LVEF and LVFS between the two groups. FT3 was correlated with WI, W2, NA,(lst-2nd×HR), pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR) in hyperthyroid patients. Several abnormal waves on WI curves were present in 19 hyperthyroid patients during mid-systole. It was concluded that WI technique may prove a real-time, noninvasive, sensitive and convenient tool for assessing the cardiac function and hemodynamic alterations in hyperthyroid patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical application value of vector flow mapping (VFM) in assessment of early cardiac dysfunction in aortic stenosis (AS) patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods:The clinical study consisted of 37 patients with various degrees of AS (LVEF>50%) from October 2015 to February 2017 in Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, including 16 mild to moderate ones (AS1 group ) and 21 severe ones ( AS2 group ). A group of 35 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers were selected as control group. Using Hitachi Aloka Prosound F75 color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic system, general two-dimensional parameters of left ventricular structure and function were measured. Furthermore, standard dynamic apical long axis view color Doppler flow images during 3 completed cardiac cycles were acquired for DAS-RS1 off-line workstation.Based on time-flow curve(T-F curve) of left ventricle, ECG, and the open-close of valves, the diastole period of left ventricle was divided into the isovolumic relaxation phase(P1), rapid filling phase(P2), slow filling phase(P3), atria contract phase (P4), and total diastolic phase(P0); the systole period was divided into isovolumetric contraction phase (P5), rapid ejecting phase(P6), slow ejecting phase(P7), and total systolic phase(P8). The left ventricular energy loss (EL) of three groups were acquired in all phases.Results:Left ventricular EL: ①Three peaks of EL appeared in P2, P4 and P6 respectively and total diastolic EL was almost equal to systolic. ②Compared with control group, the EL values of AS1 group increased in all phases, but only in P4, P7 and P0 with significant differences ( P<0.05). ③Compared with the other two groups, the EL values in AS2 group increased significantly in all phases of AS2 group ( P<0.01). Correlation analysis: ①For control group and AS group, there were both significant positive correlations between P0-EL, P8-EL and LVMI ( r=0.561, 0.585; 0.635, 0.652 respectively; P<0.01). ②There were both significant positive correlations between P2-EL and E, e′( r=0.623, 0.537; 0.576, 0.502 respectively; P<0.01), while P4-EL and A( r=0.482, 0.555, P<0.01). ③There were both significant positive correlations between P0-EL, P8-EL and E/e′( r=0.480, 0.459; 0.673, 0.590 respectively; P<0.01) and negative correlations between P0-EL, P8-EL and LVEF ( r=-0.537, -0.596; -0.569, -0.625 respectively; P<0.01). Conclusions:Quantitative evaluation of left ventricular EL by VFM technique is expected to provide a sensitive indicator for evaluating the cardiac structure and functional status in AS patients with normal LVEF.

Objective:To investigate the effect of preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH) on right ventricular function in patients with heart transplantation(HTx) one year after surgery.Methods:A total of 120 patients who underwent HTx in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2017 to January 2020 were retrospectively recruited.According to the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) obtained by preoperative right heart catheterization, the research subjects were divided into the pulmonary hypertension group (PH group, n=81) and without pulmonary hypertension group (NPH group, n=39). Conventional echocardiographic indices of right ventricular function such as right ventricular area change (RV-FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S′), and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) strain parameters including right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV-GLS), right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RV-FWLS) were obtained to assess the right ventricular function of grafted hearts. The echocardiographic parameters one year after the operation of the two groups were analyzed to compare the differences in right ventricular function and their correlation with preoperative mPAP. Results:The grafted heart RV-GLS and RV-FWLS were significantly decreased in the PH group (all P<0.01), while RV-FAC, TAPSE, and S′ were similar between the two groups (all P>0.05). RV-FWLS and RV-GLS correlated with preoperative hemodynamic parameter mPAP( rs=-0.46, -0.54; all P<0.05)while RV-FAC, TAPSE, and S′ were not significantly correlated with mPAP (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative PH correlates with right ventricular function in HTx patients 1 year after the operation. The absolute values of RV-FWLS and RV-GLS in HTx patients with preoperative PH decrease 1 year after the operation. 2D-STI is more sensitive than conventional echocardiography to monitor the changes in right ventricular function in HTx patients after the operation.

Objective:To investigate short-term safety, efficacy and the learning curve of this self-developed novel transcatheter valve repair system (Neonova?) in patients with mitral regurgitation, and explore the role of perioperative echocardiography.Methods:Ten patients who visited the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2021 to March 2022 and met the inclusive criteria were prospectively enrolled. All the patients were at high risk of surgery with moderate to severe or severe mitral regurgitation (MR). Clamps of Neonova? were implanted under guidance of transesophageal echocardiography and digital subtraction angiography. Clinical outcomes, echocardiography indexes and learning curves of this technique were evaluated immediately after intervention, 7 d, 1 month and 3 months post-intervention.Results:The technical success rate was 100% with MR relieved in all patients immediately after intervention. The device and procedural success rates were both 90.0% with 1 patient received surgical replacement at 37 days post-intervention while the others′ reduced to mild (8/9) and moderate (1/9) MR. New York Heart Association class and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire improved significantly (all P<0.001). Mean mitral valve pressure gradient didn′t increase significantly after intervention when compared with that before intervention( P=0.324), and no mitral stenosis was observed. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased significantly ( P=0.008) during follow up.Procedure duration ranged from 60 to 300 (175.8±75.2)minutes. The simple linear regression model between procedure volume and duration showed that procedure duration decreased significantly with the increase of procedure volume ( F=15.857, P=0.004). Conclusions:Neonova? implantation can improve MR severity and clinical symptoms safely and effectively. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography are essential for perioperative management of transcatheter mitral valve repair.