Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of myocardial work related parameters in coronary ischemia patients with coronary artery disease(CAD)coronary ischemia using non-invasive left ventricular pressure strain loop(PSL),taking fraction flow reservation(FFR)as the gold standard.Methods From December 2020 to December 2021,53 clinically suspected CAD patients were prospectively enrolled.All patients underwent echocardiography,invasive coronary angiography and FFR measurement.According to the results of coronary angiography,patients were divided into myocardial ischemia group(n=24,FFR≤0.80)and non-myocardial ischemia group(n=29,FFR＞0.80).PSL was used for off-line analysis to obtain the global work index(GWI),global constructive work(GCW),global wasted work(GWW),global work efficiency(GWE),global positive work(GPW),and global systolic constructive work(GSCW)and other myocardial work parameters.The differences of parameter values between the two groups were compared.The diagnostic efficacy of work parameters in myocardial ischemia was analyzed by ROC curve.Results Compared with the non-myocardial ischemia group,GWI,GCW,GPW and GSCW were significantly decreased in the myocardial ischemia group at the 18-,16-,and 12-segment levels(P＜0.001).The ROC curve showed that the AUC results of GWI,GCW,GPW,GSCW at the 18-segment level were 0.803(95％CI 0.679-0.927),0.807(95％CI 0.687-0.928),0.822(95％CI 0.708-0.936),0.819(95％CI 0.703-0.935).The optimal cut-off value of GWI was 1 676.3 mmHg％,and the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of predicting myocardial ischemia were 70.8％,86.2％and 79.2％,respectively.The optimal cut-off value of GCW was 1 999.4 mmHg％,and the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of predicting myocardial ischemia were 75.0％,82.8％and 79.2％,respectively.Conclusions Analyzing myocardial work using PSL has good significance for screening suspected myocardial ischemia in CAD patients.

Objective To explore the left and right ventricular myocardial strain and dyssynchrony in patients with Micra AV leadless pacing implantation,and to further analyze the impact of implantation site on myocardial strain and dyssynchrony.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 43 patients with Micra AV implantation and 20 patients with high-degree atrioventricular block(Ⅱdegree typeⅡandⅢdegree atrioventricular block)at the Department of Cardiology,Zhongshan Hospital from April 2023 to December 2023.The demographic information and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected.Echocardiography and speckle tracking imaging techniques were used to obtain conventional echocardiographic parameters,myocardial strain,and dyssynchrony indices of patients in the two groups,including global longitudinal strain(GLS),free wall longitudinal strain(FWLS),peak strain dispersion(PSD)of 18 left ventricular segments,PSD of 6 right ventricular segments,and other indices.According to the implantation location of Micra AV,the patients were further divided into middle group(right ventricular septum),high group(right ventricular inflow tract),and low group(apical region),and the differences in myocardial strain and dyssynchrony indices among the three subgroups were compared.Results The left ventricular GLS(LVGLS),right ventricular GLS(RVGLS),and right ventricular FWLS(RVFWLS)of the Micra AV group were significantly lower than those of the conduction block group(P＜0.001),and the right ventricular dyssynchrony of the Micra AV group was significantly higher than that of the conduction block group(P＜0.05).Comparison of myocardial strain and dyssynchrony at different implantation sites showed that the LVGLS of the high implantation group was significantly higher than that of the middle and low implantation groups,and the left ventricular dyssynchrony index Yu was significantly lower than that of the middle group(P＜0.05);the right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF)of the low implantation group was significantly lower than that of the high group,and the right ventricular 6-segment PSD was significantly higher than that of the middle and high implantation groups(P＜0.05).Conclusions Compared with patients with high-degree atrioventricular block,patients with Micra AV leadless pacing have reduced left and right ventricular strain,and the implantation of low position had greater effect.

Objective:To explore the effects of the LAmbre device and mitral annulus(MA), as well as left atrium(LA) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF) after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) using real-time-three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE).Methods:Fity-six consecutive patients who underwent LAAC with the LAmbre device in Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from June 2019 to March 2023 were retrospectively enrolled, with no or less than moderate mitral regurgitation (MR). All patients underwent pre-operative and follow-up two-and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE, 3D TEE) at 60 days after the operation. The quantitative parameters of MA and LA were obtained by offline analysis using QLab 13.0 (Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA). Importantly, mitral annular measurements were made at seven time points throughout the cardiac cycle: early diastole, mid-diastole, late diastole, mitral valve closure, early systole, mid-systole, and late systole, which facilitates constructing the dynamic model of MA to assess the annular morphology and dynamics.Results:The values of AP diameter (APD), AL-PM diameter (ALPMD), 3D annulus circumference (3DAC), 3D annulus area (3DAA) decreased significantly compared with pre-operative values at all time points of the cardiac cycle (all P<0.05), while non-planar angle (NPA) and AH/CD were not apparently changed (all P>0.05 ). Throughout the cardiac cycle, MA showed regular changes, gradually increased in systole with the saddle shape deepened, and gradually decreased in diastole with the saddle shape shallowed.During systole, there was an increase in the rate of change of AP in MA [pre-operative (3.01±2.64)%, post-operative (3.81±3.51)%, P=0.037] after LAAC, with no significant difference in the rate of change of ALPM, 3DAC, and 3DAA.Meanwhile, we observed an evident reduction in LA minimal volume (LAVmin) [pre-operative (78.36±25.16)ml, post-operative (70.73±22.78)ml, P=0.004] and an obvious increase in LA ejection function [pre-operative (22.88±10.09)%, post-operative (31.41±12.28)%, P<0.05] during follow-up. Conclusions:3D TEE can accurately assess the impact of LAAC on the MA and LA. The LAmbre device can affect the morphology of MA, as well as the structure and function of LA, while the change of the dynamics of MA is not so prominent.

Objective To evaluate the effects of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors,trastuzumab,and chemotherapy on the left and right ventricular function in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2).Methods 25 patients with advanced HER2-positive gastric adenocarcinoma who received HER2-ASTRUM therapy(sruili monoclonal antibody combined with trastuzumab and DOS regimen)underwent echocardiographic examinations at baseline(T1),after completion of 4 cycles(T2),and 6 cycles(T3)of chemotherapy.Left ventricular strain,left ventricular myocardial work,right ventricular strain,and ejection fraction were further analyzed.Results Compared with T1,both T2 and T3 showed a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),(T1,T2,and T3 were[67.3±2.7]％,[63.0±2.9]％and[61.3±3.2]％,P＜0.05).T3 showed a decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction(RVEF),([59.3±7.8]％vs[43.7±6.6]％,P＜0.05),while T2 showed no significant change in RVEF.Both right ventricular global longitudinal strain(RVGLS),(T1,T2,and T3 were[-25.7±5.7]％,[-22.4±5.3]％and[-19.1±3.6]％,respectively;P＜0.05)and right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain(RVFWLS),(T1,T2,and T3 were[-20.9±4.7]％,[-18.9±4.1]％and[-16.1±3.9]％,P＜0.05)decreased in all three time points.The global work index(GWI)was lower in T2 and T3 than in T1(P＜0.05),while the global constructive work(GCW),global wasted work(GWW),and global work efficiency(GWE)did not show significant changes.Conclusions Combination of trastuzumab,immune checkpoint inhibitors,and chemotherapy has an impact on left ventricular strain,LVEF,and right ventricular strain,as well as GWI,in HER2-positive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.Left ventricular global longitudinal strain(LVGLS),RVFWLS,and RVGLS can more sensitively monitor cardiac function and detect cardiac dysfunction related to cancer treatment in a timely manner.

Objective:To explore the value of myocardial work difference between left ventricular lateral wall and septum at baseline in the prediction of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response and compare their predictive performance with conventional echocardiographic parameters.Methods:One hundred and six heart failure patients who were retrospectively recruited from January 2021 to January 2023, underwent speckle tracking echocardiography before CRT and at 6-month follow-up.Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), global work efficiency (GWE), as well as segmental myocardial work index (MWI), constructive work (CW), wasted work (WW) and myocardial work efficiency (MWE), were acquired from non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loops before CRT. The differences of all myocardial work indices between left ventricular lateral wall and septum (L-S) at the mid-ventricular level, namely, L-S MWI, L-S CW, L-S WW and L-S MWE were calculated. Response to CRT was defined as left ventricular end-systolic volume reduction ≥15% at 6-month follow-up.Results:CRT response was present in seventy-eight (74%, 78/105) patients. ①At baseline, responders exhibited significantly higher GWI and GCW than non-responders (both P<0.05). ②Besides, L-S MWI, L-S CW, L-S WW and L-S MWE were significant higher in CRT responders than in non-responders at baseline (all P<0.01). ③In multivariate regression analysis, baseline LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) ( OR=0.993, 95% CI=0.987-0.999, P=0.020), interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) ( OR=1.025, 95% CI=1.001-1.050, P=0.040) and L-S MWI ( OR=1.002, 95% CI=1.001-1.003, P=0.001) were identified as independent predictors of CRT response. ④ROC analysis demonstrated that L-S MWI (AUC=0.830, P<0.001) was the most powerful predictor of CRT response and was superior to LVEDV (AUC=0.718, P<0.01) and IVMD (AUC=0.704, P=0.001). ⑤L-S MWI >884 mmHg% was recommended to predict CRT response with the optimal sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 86%. Conclusions:The noninvasive evaluation of myocardial work heterogeneity between left ventricular lateral wall and septum is more valuable than conventional parameters in predicting CRT response and guiding patient selection before CRT, which helps to further improve CRT response rate.

Objective To investigate the effect of esketamine combined with ropivacaine in patients with cesarean section undergoing patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Methods A total of 76 full-term pregnant women who delivered cesarean section under combined lumbo-epidural anesthesia were selected, and randomly divided into group K (esketamine) and group C (control), with 38 cases in each group. Group K was given analgesic pump formula (esketamine 50 mg+ ropivacaine 200 mg), group C was given analgesic pump formula (ropivacaine 200 mg). Numerical pain scores (NRS) at rest and activity (hip flexion) were observed in two groups at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after surgery. The 40-item Recovery Quality Scale (QoR-40) scores was compared between the two groups. The occurrence of postoperative adverse reactions was compared between the two groups. Results The NRS scores of the group K were significantly lower than that of the group C at rest 24, 36 and 48 hours after operation (P < 0.05); the NRS scores of the group K were significantly lower than that of the group C at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after operation (P < 0.05). The QoR-40 scores of the group K were significantly higher than that of the group C at 1 day and 2 days after operation (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative chills, nausea and vomiting in the group K was significantly lower than that in the group C (P < 0.05). Conclusion Esketamine combined with ropivacaine for PCEA after cesarean section can optimize analgesic effect, reduce adverse reactions and improve recovery quality.

Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention is the new frontier of interventional cardiology. The LuX-Valve is a radial force-independent orthotopic tricuspid valve replacement device developed in China. The LuX-Valve Plus transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) system is changed from the trans-atrial to the transjugular approach, which further reduces trauma and pulmonary complications compared with the first generation LuX-Valve. The first-in-human study has been completed at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and an exploratory multicentre clinical study is underway. Echocardiography plays an important role in pre-TTVR screening, intraoperative guidance and postoperative evaluation and follow-up, especially two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) and three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE). However, there is a lack of appropriate intraoperative guidance and assessment protocols. In this study, we briefly described the protocols and imaging considerations for intraoperative 2D-TEE and 3D-TEE to ensure the successful implantation of TTVR.

The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is one of the morphologically and functionally defined centers that engage in the autonomic regulation of cardiovascular activity. Phenotypically-characterized NTS neurons have been implicated in the differential regulation of blood pressure (BP). Here, we investigated whether phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT)-expressing NTS (NTS^PNMT) neurons contribute to the control of BP. We demonstrate that photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons has variable effects on BP. A depressor response was produced during optogenetic stimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, and caudal ventrolateral medulla. Conversely, photostimulation of NTS^PNMT neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla produced a robust pressor response and bradycardia. In addition, genetic ablation of both NTS^PNMT neurons and those projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla impaired the arterial baroreflex. Overall, we revealed the neuronal phenotype- and circuit-specific mechanisms underlying the contribution of NTS^PNMT neurons to the regulation of BP.
Solitary Nucleus/metabolism* ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/metabolism*

Objective To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine(Vero cells)for people aged 60 and above with hypertension and/or diabetes. Methods In Songtao Miao Autonomous County,Guizhou Province,hypertensive and diabetic patients aged 60 and above and healthy people were selected as the research objects. They were divided into hypertension group,diabetes group,combined disease group(suffering from hypertension and diabetes simultaneously)and healthy people control group,and injected intramuscularly with SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine(Vero cells)through the lateral deltoid muscle of upper arm at 0 and 21 d respectively,with a dose of 0. 5 mL each time. Adverse events in ≤ 30 min,0 ～ 7 d and 8 ～ 21 d after immunization were recorded and followed up to 6 months after vaccination. Venous blood samples of 5. 0 mL were collected before vaccination and 28 d after vaccination. The sera were separated,detected for neutralizing antibody levels by cytopathic assay and calculated for the geometric mean titers(GMTs)of neutralizing antibody and antibody seroconversion rate. Blood pressure of patients was measured in fixed time before vaccination and 30 min and 1 ～ 7 d after vaccination in hypertension group and combined disease group respectively;The fasting blood glucose was measured before vaccination and 2 h postprandial blood glucose was measured once on the day of vaccination. The fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose were measured on 1,3,5 and 7 d after vaccination respectively. Results There was no significant difference in the incidence of solicited adverse events among hypertension group,diabetes group,combined disease group and healthy control group（χ2= 1. 790,P = 0. 617）;There was no significant difference in the incidence of non-solicitation adverse events(P = 0. 412). A total of 5 serious adverse events occurred,all of which were judged to be unrelated to vaccines. No abnormal fluctuation of blood pressure and blood glucose was observed. The lower limits of 95% CI of the rate difference of hypertension,diabetes and combined disease groups were all greater than-10%,and the lower limits of 95% CI of the neutralizing antibody GMT ratio were greater than 0. 67,all of which were not inferior to the healthy control group. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine(Vero cells)has good safety and immunogenicity for people aged 60 and above with hypertension and/or diabetes.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) interventions are under rapid development. The K-Clip? system is the first domestic transcatheter tricuspid annuloplasty system with unique clamping procedure to achieve annular reduction.Intraoperative echocardiographic monitoring procedures for transcatheter tricuspid annuloplasty have not been reported yet in China. Thus, this review aimed to propose the standard two-dimensional and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic workplanes and procedures to guide and monitor the implantation of K-Clip system based on our experience in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University to provide a reference point for the intraoperative echocardiographic monitoring of future transcatheter tricuspid annuloplasty devices in China.