Objective To investigate the MRI and echocardiography manifestations of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium(NVM)and assess the role of MRI in the diagnosis of NVM by comparing it with echocardiography.Methods Fourteen cases of NVM diagnosed by echocardiography were examined with MRI,including scanning of black-blood sequences,double inversion recovery fast spin echo (DIRFSE)and triple inversion recovery fast spin echo(TIRFSE),and white blood sequence:fast imaging employ steady state acquisition(FIESTA).Scanning plane includes short axis view,four-chamber view and long axis view.Results Both MRI and echocardiography displayed involvement of left ventricles in thirteen cases and involvement of double ventricles in one case.Apexes of heart and the intermedius are commonly affected.MRI showed 54 segments and echocardiography showed 53 segments affected,and there is no significant difference between the capability of MRI and echocardiography(P=1.000).The affected myocardium consisted of two layers:subendoeardial noncompacted myocardium and epicardial compacted myocardium,and the ratio measurement of N/C by MRI was 3.37?0.89 and it was 3.19?0.82 by echocardiography.Noncompacted myocardium was characterized by prominent and excessive myocardial trabeculations and deep intratrabecular recesses,in which the blood flow was communicated with the ventricle.One case was complicated with ventricular aneurysm,and coronary arteriography was performed with unremarkable findings.One case underwent heart transplantation because of progressive heart failure, Gross findings demonstrated prominent muscular trabeculations with deep intratrabecular recesses,which coincided well with MRI findings.Conclusion The MRI manifestation of NVM is characteristic,and MRI with multiple series and planes is helpful in the diagnose of NVM.Compared with echoeardiography,MRI could display the pathological cardiac muscle more clearly,because of its high soft-tissue resolution and spatial resolution.

Gene therapies have been applied to the treatment of cardiovascular disease, but their use is limited by the need to deliver them to the right target. We have employed targeted contrast ultrasound-mediated gene transfection (TCUMGT) via ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) to transfer therapeutic genes to specific anatomic and pathological targets. Phospholipid microbubbles (MBs) with pcDNA_3.1-human vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (pcDNA_3.1-hVEGF₁₆₅) plasmids targeted to P-selectin (MB+P+VEGFp) were created by conjugating monoclonal antibodies against P-selectin to the lipid shell. These microbubbles were divided into four groups: microbubble only (MB), microbubble+P-selectin (MB+P), microbubble+pcDNA_3.1-hVEGF₁₆₅ plasmid (MB+VEGFp), and microbubble+ P-selectin+pcDNA_3.1-hVEGF₁₆₅ plasmid (MB+P+VEGFp). The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that the VEGF gene was successfully transfected by TCUMGT and the efficiency is increased with P-selectin targeting moiety. UTMD-mediated delivery of VEGF increased myocardial vascular density and improved cardiac function, and MB+P+VEGFp delivery showed greater improvement than MB+VEGFp. This study drew support from TCUGMT technology and took advantage of targeted ultrasound contrast agent to identify ischemic myocardium, release pcDNA_3.1-hVEGF₁₆₅ recombinant plasmid, and improve the myocardial microenvironment, so promoting the restoration of myocardial function.
Animals ; Genetic Therapy/methods* ; Male ; Microbubbles ; Myocardial Ischemia/therapy* ; P-Selectin/genetics* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection/methods* ; Ultrasonics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics*