Objective To measure right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVLS) of pulmonary hypertension(PH) patients by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography,and explore its clinical application value on evaluating right ventricular function and hemodynamics in PH.Methods A total of 66 patients diagnosed as PH by right-heart catheterization were divided into Group Ⅰ (WHO FC Ⅰ / Ⅱ) and Group Ⅱ(WHO FC Ⅲ/Ⅳ) according to WHO pulmonary hypertension function classification.The right ventricular function parameters included:global right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVLSglobal),free-wall right ventricular longitudinal strain (RVLSFw),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE),right ventricular fractional area change (FAC),tissue Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (s') and right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP).Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was calculated through tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient.Hemodynamic parameters include:mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP),pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR),pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and cardiac index (CI).Results ①Compared with Group Ⅰ,Group Ⅱ presented with higher sPAP (P ＜0.05).There also were significant differences between two groups in RVLSglobal,RVLSFw (P ＜0.01) and conventional right ventricular function parameters:TAPSE,RIMP and s' (P ＜0.05).②mPAP,PVR and CI had significant difference between two groups (P ＜0.01),while PCWP had no significant difference.mPAP and PVR increased more remarkable and CI decreased more significant in Group Ⅱ.③RVLSglobal had positive correlation with mPAP (r =0.646,P =0.000) and PVR (r =0.628,P =0.000) measured by right-heart catheterization;RVLSFW also had positive correlation with mPAP (r =0.652,P =0.000) and PVR (r =0.634,P =0.000).Conclusions Right ventricular longitudinal strain could evaluate the degree of decrease in right ventricular function of PH patients and reflex the change of hemodynamics at the same time,which may offer more reliable information to clinical treatment.

Objective To evaluate the application value of cardiopulmonary ultrasound(CPUS) in patients with interstitial lung diseases(ILD).Methods Ninety patients with clinically diagnosed interstitial lung diseases and 30 healthy subjects were included in this study.The conventional echocardiographic parameters and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVLS_FW) were measured in all patients and healthy subjects.The degree of pulmonary fibrosis or the disease severity of each ILD patient was scored using a semi-quantitative scoring method.Patients’ pulmonary function parameters and clinical outcome score (GAP score) were recorded.Fourteen patients belong to other types of ILD and 19 patients with incomplete clinical data were unable to perform GAP scoring,finally 57 patients' clinical and ultrasonographic parameters were measured.On the basis of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) obtained by Doppler echocardiography,90 patients were divided into two groups:ILD patients with pulmonary hypertension(ILDpH,PASP ≥36 mmHg,1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) and ILD patients without PH (ILDNpH,PASP＜ 36 mmHg).Comparsion between ILDpH,ILDNpH and healthy subjects were then evaluated.According to the GAP score,all cases were divided into three groups:low risk,moderate risk and high risk.Statistical analysis was performed to examine the relationship between CPUS parameters and clinical parameters.Results ①Compared with ILDNpH patients,ILDpH patients had significantly lower right ventricular function,wider basal right ventricular diameter (RVD),proximal right ventricular outflow diameter (DRvor1) and right pulmonary artery diameter (DRPA).Compared with healthy subjects,ILDNpH patients had mildly lower right ventricular function and wider left pulmonary artery diameter (DLPA) and right ventricular outflow tract dimensions at the distal or pulmonic valve (DRvoT2).②A good correlation was found between lung ultrasound (LUS) scores and pulmonary function parameters,especially diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of the lung(DLco)(r =-0.68,P ＜0.001).③With the increased risk of patients,the right ventricular function was gradually decreased,DRVOT2,DRPA,DLPA were gradually widened,and the lung ultrasound score was gradually increased.A weak correlation was found between GAP scores with RVLS_FW,LUS scores,DRpA(r =0.44,0.34,0.31,P ＜0.05).Conclusions CPUS parameters are useful in the assessment of interstitial lung disease and could reflect the prognosis of ILD patients to some extent.Therefore,on the basis of GAP scores,addition of RVLS_FW and LUS score will be more helpful to evaluate the prognosis ofILD patients.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular function of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients by echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR),and to evaluate the value of clinical application of those right heart function indexes.Methods 32 patients with CTEPH who underwent CMR and echocardiography were involved in the study.Right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP),fractional area change (FAC),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tissue Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S') were measured by echocardiography.Right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) and end-systolic volume (RVESV) were measured by cardiac magnetic resonance and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was calculated.Results A positive correlation was found between FAC and RVEF (r =0.423,P =0.022),there was a negative correlation between RIMP and RVEF (r =-0.387,P =0.048),there was no correlation between TAPSE and RVEF (r =0.451,P =0.22),a positive correlation was found between S' and RVEF (r =0.689,P =0.000).Conclusions The echocardiographic parameters FAC,RIMP and S' can reflect right ventricular function in patients with CTEPH and can be used as a routine clinical parameters.

Objective To evaluate right ventricular systolic function in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE),and compared with cardiac magnetic resonance.Methods A total of 23 patients with PH who underwent MRI and echocardiography in the study.Right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP),fractional area change (RVFAC),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tissue Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S') were measured by echocardiography.RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) and endsystolic volume (RVESV) were measured by RT-3DE and cardiac magnetic resonance and RV ejection fraction (RVEF) was calculated.Results A positive correlation was found between RVFAC and RVEF (r =0.595,P =0.003),there was a negative correlation between RIMP and RVEF (r =-0.745,P =0.000),has no correlation between TAPSE and RVEF (r =-0.029,P =0.896),a positive correlation was found between S' and RVEF (r =0.489,P =0.018).There were close correlation between RVEDV,RVESV and RVEF measured by RT-3DE and MRI (P ＜0.001,respectively);Bland-Altman analyses showed good agreement between them.Conclusions RT-3DE can noninvasive,accurate assessment right ventricular systolic function in patients with PH,and provide prognosis and treatment choice for clinical demands.

Objective To explore the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PPM).Methods Cases of PPM with description of echocardiographic presentations from China mainland were searched from database during 1981 to 2015.Data about the clinical and echocardiographic features of the patients were collected.Results A total of 122 patients were included for analysis.It involved mainly middle-aged [(39.9 ± 14.7)years] and male patients (79,64.8％).The most common echocardiographic demonstration was pericardial effusion (74.6％) with were mostly bloody (97.7％),followed by pericardial masses (36.9％) and pericardial thickening (18.0％).The echocardiographic diagnostic accordance rate was about 26.2％.Conclusions The most common presentation of PPM on echocardiogram is massive pericardial effusion.Echocardiography is of great value in screening and assessment of PPM.The definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological examination.

Objective To discuss the correlation between right ventricular function and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP ) in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)and explore the change of right ventricular function under different degree of PASP.Methods One hundred and thirty-seven CTEPH patients were divided into four groups by PASP:Group Ⅰ (50 mmHg≤PASP<70 mmHg),20 cases;Group Ⅱ (70 mmHg≤PASP<90 mmHg),35 cases;Group Ⅲ,55 cases (90 mmHg ≤ PASP < 1 10 mmHg);Group Ⅳ (PASP ≥ 1 10 mmHg),27 cases.Echocardiographic parameters include:PASP,tricuspid regurgitation area (ATR ),left ventricular transverse diameter (LVTD), right ventricular transverse diameter (RVTD),inner diameter of main pulmonary artery (DMPA ),inner diameter of left arterial branch (DLPA ),inner diameter of right pulmonary arterial branch (DRPA ).Right ventricular function parameters include:tissue Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (s'),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE),RV index of myocardial performance (RIMP)and right ventricular fractional area change (FAC).Results There were significant differences in RVTD, TAPSE,FAC and RIMP in CTEPH patients under different PASP(P <0.05).RV structure and function was significantly correlated with PASP in CTEPH patients.With the elevation of PASP,RV was significantly enlarged and RV function becomes worse.Conclusions Echocardiography may contribute to evaluate RV function in CTEPH patients and provide basis for clinical treatment and prognosis evaluation.

Objective To evaluate the ability of high resolution pleuropulmonary ultrasonography and bedside chest X-ray in identifying different pathologic abnormalities in patients with dyspnea,using thoracic computed tomography (CT) as a gold standard.Methods Bedside pleuropulmonary ultrasonography was performed in 350 dyspneic patients in the emergency department and ICU,111 patients were enrolled in the study with pleuropulmonary ultrasonography,chest X-ray and chest CT examination performed within 24 hours.Pathologic entities were evaluated:pleural effusion,consolidation,atelectasis,pneumothorax,pulmonary interstitial fibrosis,and pulmonary edema.The sensitivity,specificity,negative and positive prediction value of pleuropulmonary ultrasonography and chest X-ray were compared with the corresponding CT scan results.Results Pleuropulmonary ultrasonography was highly concordant with chest X-ray.Overall ultrasonography exhibited higher sensitivity than chest X-ray and CT for pleural effusion.For atelectasis and pulmonary edema,the sensitivity of ultrasonography was up to 100%.In the diagnosis of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis,the sensitivity of pleuropulmonary ultrasonography was higher than that of chest X-ray,but the specificity was slightly lower.The sensitivity of pleuropulmonary ultrasonography was slightly higher than that of chest X-ray in pneumothorax,and the specificity was coincident with chest X-ray.Although the sensitivity of ultrasonography was slightly lower for consolidation,it was still higher than chest X-ray.The ability of chest X-ray for differentiating pleural effusion from atelectasis or consolidation was worse than that of ultrasonography.Conclusions Our study demonstrates a high concordance between ultrasonography with radiography.The diagnostic performance of bedside pleuropulmonary ultrasonography is better than that of chest X-ray.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for left atrial appendage (LAA) spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) or thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation(NVAF) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF).Methods This study prospectively enrolled 255 patients with NVAF [paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(PaAF) 196 cases and persistent atrial fibrillation(PeAF) 59 cases].Patients were divided into two groups according to the findings on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE):positive group with the presence of the LAA SEC or thrombosis (group Ⅰ) and negative group (group Ⅱ) without this two presences.The clinical and echocardiographic data were compared between the two groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent risk factors for development of LAA SEC or thrombosis.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to determine the predictive value of the factors.Results A total of 255 patients were enrolled.There were 26 cases(10.2％) in group Ⅰ,and 229 cases (89.8％) in group Ⅱ.The age,NT-proBNP,occurrence rate of PeAF,left atrial volume index(LAVI),and LAA orifice long diameter and depth were higher in group Ⅰ than those in group Ⅱ (all P ＜0.01).The left atrial appendage emptying velocity(LAAV),global left atrial longitudinal strain(GLALS) and LVEF were lower in group Ⅰ compared with those in group Ⅱ (all P ＜ 0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis and ROC curve showed that GLALS＜12.2％ and LAAV＜ 31.2 cm/s were independent risk factors of LAA SEC or thrombosis in patients with NVAF and perserved LVEF.Conclusions The impairment of left atrial and LAA function are potential risk factors for cardiogenic embolism.GLALS and LAAV can be used as useful referenced parameters for prediction of stroke in patients with NVAF.

Objective To assess the right atrial(RA) function using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography(2D-STE) and the value of predicting WHO functional class in patients with pulmonary hypertension(PH).Methods Fifty-four consecutive PH patients were studied and compared with a control group of 24 healthy volunteers.RA function was evaluated by 2D-STE,and the following parameters were recorded:an average longitudinal strain (LS) curve that included LSpos during RA filling and LSneg representing RA active contraction (their summation is LStot),the phasic RA volumes,total RA emptying fraction (TotEF),RA passive(PassEF) and active emptying fraction(ActEF).The associations between these indices and the results of invasive pulmonary hemodynamics,cardiac structure and function level were evaluated.Results LStot,TotEF,LSpos,PassEF were significantly lower in PH patients than in controls(all P<0.01).ActEF/TotEF were significantly higher in WHO functional class (WHO-FC) Ⅱ and WHO-FC Ⅲ patients than in controls(all P<0.05),while were lower in WHO-FCIV patients than in controls(P<0.001).Among PH patients,LStot was negatively correlated with greater RA size and RA pressure (all P<0.01).LStot was also associated with right ventricular (RV) functional and overload parameters.In receiver-operator characteristic analysis,RA LStot was of optimal accuracy for prediction of WHO-FC≥Ⅲ in PH patients (P=0.002).Conclusions PH is associated with impaired reservoir and conduit function,but active contract function of RA is enhanced in WHO-FC Ⅱ and WHO-FC Ⅲ patients,and reduced in WHO-FCIV patients.RA LStot confers an optimal predictive effect of poor WHO-FC in PH patients and indicating prognosis.

Objective To compare the clinical and echocardiographic parameters in left heart failure patients with or without pulmonary edema by cardiopulmonary ultrasound.Methods All patients underwent transthoracic lung ultrasonography and echocardiography examination.The following echocardiographic parameters were determined:left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters (LVEDD and LVESD),left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (LVEDV and LVESV),left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left atrial volume index (LAVindex),systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and the degree of mitral regurgitation,the peak Doppler velocities of early (E) and late (A) diastolic flow,early (e') diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus,and the average E/e'ratio was calculated.The NYHA functional classification and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were also recorded.Results A total of 113 heart failure patients,included 72 patients (63.7％) combined with pulmonary edema revealed by lung ultrasonography.Compared with patients without pulmonary edema,those with pulmonary edema were with higher plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP,NYHA functional class,left ventricular diastolic function classification,SPAP and E/e',larger LVEDD and the diameter of right ventricle,more severe mitral regurgitation,and lower LVEF(all P ＜0.05).By multivariate logistic regression analysis,E/e',SPAP and NT-proBNP were independent echocardiographic predictors of pulmonary edema in patients with heart failure.Conclusions Cardiopulmonary ultrasound can evaluate heart and pulmonary condition in patients with heart failure.Left ventricular diastolic function is an important determinant of pulmonary edema in patients with left heart failure.