Echocardiography plays an important role in diagnosing cardiac tumors and is helpful for subsequent treatment decision making.However,conventional echocardiography can hardly meet the clinical requirements of sufficient diagnosis,mostly due to the fact that it usually does little on identification of benign and malignant characters of tumors.Contrast echocardiography is a new technology using microbubbles as a contrast agent to trace the blood flow,which promotes the definition of endocardium lines and helps to reveal spaceoccupying abnormities in heart.Moreover,myocardial contrast echocardiography can be used to evaluate perfusions of intracardiac masses,and thus improves the accuracy of differential diagnosis enormously.

Objective To investigate the value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography timing-excursion parametric index and 17 segment volume curves index in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy.Methods Eight patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy (proven by biopsy),twenty eight subjects with normal left ventricular(LV) function were examined by Philips iE33 with X3-1 probe.Results Parameter index of the SD and maximum difference of Tmsv of 16 segments,12 segments,and 6 basal segments(Tmax 16SD,Tmsv-12SD Tmsv -6SD,Tmsv-16Dif,Tmsv-12 Dif,Tmsv-6Dif,Tmsv 16-SD%,Tmsv 12-SD%,Tmsv 6-SD%,Tmsv 16-Dif%,Tmsv 12-Dif%,Tmsv 6-Dif%) was significantly higher in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy than that in subjects with normal LV function(all P＜0.001).Average and maximum value and minimum of excursion was significantly lower in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy than that in subjects with normal LV function(P＜0.001,P＜0.005,P＜0.005).And parameter index of 17 segment volume curves index showed higher sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnose restrictive cardiomyopathy.Conclusions Real-time threedimensional echocardiography can evaluate and diagnose restrictive cardiomyopathy fastly.

Objective To explore the application of CO2 as an insufflation agent in patients under-going colonoscopy by comparing carbon dioxide(CO2 )and air.Methods Consecutive 681 patients who un-derwent conventional colonoscopy from January to May in 2014 at endoscopy center of our hospital were in-cluded.The patients were randomly divided into the air group and CO2 group.The gas flow,capacity,oper-ation time,PaCO2 and abdominal pain during and 20 min,40 min,1 h,2 h,12 h,24 h after colonoscopy were recorded.The safety and advantages of CO2 in the colonoscopy were analyzed.Results The intubation time of CO2 group was significantly shorter than that of air group (P <0.05),but there was no significant difference in endoscopy withdrawal time between the two groups (P >0.05).There was also no difference in air flow and the total volume between the two groups (P >0.05).PaCO2 of two groups were within the nor-mal range.PaCO2 during examination was significantly higher than that before and 20 minutes after examina-tion (P <0.05),but the PaCO2 between the two groups showed no significant difference (P >0.05).The abdominal pain scores during and 20 min,40 min,1 h,2 h after the examination of air group were signifi-cantly higher than those of CO2 group (P <0.05),but they were not 12h and 24h after the examination (P>0.05).Conclusion CO2 is safe and could reduce abdominal discomfort after colonoscopy,which is suit-able for clinical application.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) global and regional systolic function using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).Methods Thirty patients with PH and 27 controls were studied.RT-3DE images were acquired on a Philipa iE33 system with an X3-1 probe,then analyzed with a new software(TomTec) to determine RV global and regional (inflow, body, outflow) end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF).The difference of RT-3DE parameters between the two groups,as well as the correlation between RT-3DE and routine echoeardiography parameters was analyzed.Results In patients with PH ,RV global and regional EDV and ESV were significantly higher than those in normal controls (all P ＜0.05); RV global and regional EF were significantly lower than those in normal controls (all P ＜0.05).In the PH group, RV inflow EDV,SV and EF were higher than that of RV body and outflow part (P ＜ 0.05) ;RV global EF was lower than that of RV inflow part and higher than that of RV body and outflow part.In the PH group, RV global and inflow EF correlated with pulmonary artery systolic pressure negatively (r = - 0.611, P ＜0.001 and r = - 0.576, P = 0.001 ,respectively) ,and with the ratio of peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation over outflow time-velocity integral negatively (r = -0.772, P = 0.002and r = -0.721, P ＜0.001, respectively)Conclusions RV global and regional volume was enlarged and systolic function was impaired in patients with pulmonary hypertension.RV global and regional systolic function was changed in liner relationship with RV after-load.

Objective To evaluate the application valve of intraoperative device closure secundum atrial sepetal defect (ASD) associated with deficient rims inducted by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Methods Twenty-three patients with ASD were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) ,and underwent an attempted intraoperative device closure through a right antierior minithoraetomy. The positon, type and size and rim of ASD were defined by TEE in preoperation, the placement of the device inducted and evaluated by TEE intraoperation,and followed by TTE after one week. Results Twenty-three patients with ASD were closed excellently. There were not shunt of atrial level in 20 patients, trivial shunt in 3 patients. However,follow-up after one week TTE indicated that all patients had no shunt,and the diameter of right atrium and right ventricle was decrease significantly (P <0.05), and pulmonary artery pressure was less than before (P <0.05). Conclusions It is very important that TEE induct the closure of ASD associated with deficient rims in micro-operative room.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular (RV) global and regional volume and systolic function in patients with secondum atrial septal defect (ASD) using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE),and to explore the relationship between parameters derived from RT3DE and parameters measured by conventional echocardiography.Methods RT3DE images were acquired from 22 patients with secundum ASD and 22 normal controls for evaluation and analysis to obtain RV global and regional end-diastolic volume (EDV),end systolic volume (ESV),systolic volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) in three compartments (inflow,body and outflow).RV dyssynehrony parameters were calculated as the standard deviation (SD) and maximum difference (dif) of time to minimum systolic volume (Tmsv) and Tmsv corrected by heart rate (Tmsv％) in three RV compartments.Conventional echocardiographic parameters including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP),pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRe) and maximum diameter of ASD (ASD-D) were calculated and recorded.Results RV global and regional EDV,ESV and SV were larger (all P ＜0.001) and EF was lower (all P ＜0.05) in the ASD group than in the controls.RV regional volume and systolic function were changed to various degrees in different compartment in the patients group.There were no significant differences in Tmsv,Tmsv％ and RV dyssynchrony parameters between the two groups.In patients with ASD,RV global and regional EDV,ESV and SV in the inflow compartment were positively correlated with ASD-D and PASP (r =0.463-0.704,all P ＜ 0.05) ; RV global EF was negatively correlated with PVRe (r =-0.477,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions In patients with ASD,RV global and regional volume was enlarged and systolic function was impaired with distinct characteristics; RV global volume and regional volume in the inflow compartment were positively correlated with RV pre-load while RV global EF was negatively correlated with RV afterload.

Objective To investigate the value of echocardiographic Tei index combined with serum high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T(hs-cTnT) on monitoring cardiac toxicity associated with anthracycline chemotherapy drug in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL).Methods PW-Tei index,TDI-Tei index of left/right ventricles and radionuclide cardiac measurement were acquired from 56 patients with DLBCL before,after the completion of 2-4 cycle(100-200 mg/m2) and 6-8 cycle(300-400 mg/m2) of the regimen,part of them received serum hs-cTnT detection at the same time.Cardiac toxicity event was defined as a relative reduction of radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) of ≥10％ during the regime or an absolute radionuclide LVEF≤50％ after the complete chemotherapy.Results Compared with baseline,left ventricular PW-Tei index significantly increased after whole cures [(0.36-± 0.12) vs (0.44 ±0.13) vs (0.40 ± 0.13),P =0.002].After complete regimen,serum hs-cTnT level elevated significantly [(0.006 ± 0.006)tg/L vs (0.012 ± 0.007) μg/L vs (0.020±0.013)tμg/L,P =0.001].The sensitivity,specificity and area under ROC curve of early diagnosis of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity with elevated serum hs-cTnT in 2-4 cycle and increased left ventricular PW-Tei index in 6-8cycle detected together were 75％,85％,0.736 and 92％,50％,0.675,respectively(all P ＜0.05).Conclusions Echocardiographic PW-Tei index combined with serum hs-cTnT is a simple method and can be easily obtained in outpatient settings to monitor early cardiac toxicity induced by anthracycline therapy.

AIM: To investigate the dynamic alteration of cardiac collagen metabolism in mice with acute,chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).METHODS: BALB/c mice infected with coxsackievirus B_3 were used to establish animal models of acute,chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy,while uninfected animals were also prepared and served as controls.After verification of models by histopathological methods and echocardiography,serum concentration of aminoterminal propeptide of type Ⅲ procollagen(PIIINP),aminoterminal propeptide of type Ⅰ procollagen(PINP) and carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen(PICP) in each group of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1(MMP1) and its tissue inhibitor(TIMP-1) were determined by Western blotting analysis.The MMP-1 activity was also detected.RESULTS: Marked myocardial fibrosis was observed in all groups of CVB_3-infected mice.Reparative fibrosis,promotion of synthesis and degradation of cardiac collagens were presented in heart tissue of acute myocarditis mice. Both reparative and reactive fibrosis,enhanced synthesis and lightened degradation of collagen were present in chronic myocarditis,while reactive fibrosis and excess collagen synthesis were confirmed in DCM.Expression and activity of(MMP-1) was progressively decreased.TIMP-1 showed unchanged.The ratio of MMP-1/TIMP-1 was progressively descended.CONCLUSION: Collagen metabolism was special in different phase of viral heart diseases,which may play different roles in the progression and prognosis of these kinds of disease.

Objective To evaluate the subclinical dysfunction of left ventricle (LV) induced by anthracycline(ATC) in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) as well as real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE).Methods Traditional echocardiography images and RT3DE images were acquired from 59 patients with DLBCL before,after the completion of two cures(100 mg∕m 2)and four cures of the regimen(200 mg∕m 2).LV global longitudinal strain(GLS),global circumferential strain(GCS),LV apical rotation and basal rotation,LV end-diastolic volume (EDV),end-systolic volume (ESV),stroke volume(SV) and ejection fraction(EF)were calculated simultaneously.Results Compared with baseline, LV apical rotation and basal rotation reduced significantly after two cures and four cures of therapy [LV apical rotation:(5.34±1 .80)°vs (3.80±1 .45)°vs (2.96±1 .1 8)°;LV basal rotation:(-3.32±1 .14)°vs (-2.65±1 .12)°vs (-2.56±1 .19)°;both P <0.01].LV GLS and GCS decreased significantly till four cures of treatment compared with those at baseline[GLS:(-21 .62±2.5 1)% vs(-20.1 7±2.74)%;GCS:(-26.34±4.76)% vs (-23.27 ±4.73)%;both P <0.01].The alternation on EDV,ESV,SV and EF manifested no visible degradation during the whole procedure (P > 0.05 for all). Conclusions Cardiotoxicity during the early phase of anthracycline treatment can be detected via 2DSTE prior to the traditional echocardiographic expression of ventricular systolic function.The left ventricular rotation index seems to be more sensitive than strain parameters for the estimation of early cardiac injury in patients with ATC chemotherapy.There is no safe dose for anthracycline in all patients with DLBCL treated with anthracycline even at lower doses.

Objective Both right and left ventricular function should be taken into account in the assessment of anthracycline (ATC)-induced cardiotoxicity.The aim of this study was to assess the subclinical dysfunction of right cardiac system in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma who received ATC treatment by echocardiography.Methods A total of 74 patients with lymphoma who received ATC treatment were enrolled.Each patient underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination before chemotherapy as well as after two,four and six cycles of ATC remedy.Right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic area (EDA) and end-systolic area (ESA) were calculated.RV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV),as well as RV ejection fraction (EF) were measured simultaneously.Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) measurements of systolic and early or late diastolic myocardial velocities of RV free wall at tricuspid annuals were also analyzed.Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) was conducted to evaluate RV free wall strain along with strain rate.Results None of the echocardiographic parameters showed significant alteration after two and four cycles of chemotherapy compared with those at baseline (P＞0.05).At the end of the therapy (i.e.after six cycles of ATC treatment),there was still no statistical difference on TDI data aswell as 2DSTE measurements (P＞0.05).An unexpected finding was that the RAEDA((6.6±1.9) cm2 vs (7.7±2.4) cm2) and RAESA ((8.8±2.5) cm2 vs (10.8±2.8) cm2) revealed obvious dilatation after six cures of the regimen compared with those at baseline (P＜0.01).Similar morphologic characteristics displayed on the RVEDA ((14.1 ±3.4) cm2 vs (16.2±3.7) cm2) and RVESA ((7.9±1.9) cm2 vs (9.0±2.2) cm2) (P＜0.01)simultaneously.Furthermore,RVEDV ((29.8±10.5) ml vs (37.0±12.7) ml) and RVESV ((12.7±4.4) ml vs (15.0±5.2) ml),as well as RVEF ((59.4±5.8)％ vs (56.4±5.8)％),in patients with lymphoma presented statistically significant difference between basic state and the level after six cycles of chemotherapy (P＜0.01).Meanwhile,no marked change was detected on left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) throughout the follow-up period (P＞0.05).Conclusions Echocardiography can be used easily and noninvasively to assess right cardiac system subclinical dysfunction.ATC-induced cardiotoxicity of right cardiac system is firstly manifested as morphological changes than the measurements with novel echocardiographic techniques.In addition,RVEF expresses as a valuable parameter for assessing subtle RV impaired performance in patients with lymphoma received ATC therapy.