Objective To assess the longitudinal mitral annular plane systolic excursion ( M APSE) of different directions in normal fetuses during mid‐late pregnancy based on two‐dimensional speckle tracking imaging ( ST I) . Methods Seventy‐six normal fetuses during middle and late pregnancy were selected at 26－32 weeks of gestation . T he peak M APSE was measured by free angle M‐mode echocardiography ( FAM ) perpendicular to the lateral annulus in the mitral annular plane . The time‐displacement curves of interventricular septal mitral annulus in three different directions including points A ,B and C through transverse level of apex were recorded by STI . T he peak M APSE of interventricular septal mitral annulus ( SEPT‐M APSE‐A ,SEPT‐M APSE‐B ,SEPT‐M APSE‐C) in three different directions including points A ,B and C and the time to peak ( T T P :SEPT‐T T P‐A ,SEPT‐T T P‐B ,SEPT‐T T P‐C) were recorded respectively . T he time‐displacement curves of lateral mitral annulus in three different directions including points A ,B and C through transverse level of apex were recorded by STI . T he peak M APSE of lateral mitral annulus ( LAT‐M APSE‐A ,LAT‐MAPSE‐B ,LAT‐MAPSE‐C) in three different directions including points A ,B and C ,the time to peak( LA T‐T T P‐A ,LA T‐T T P‐B ,LA T‐T T P‐C) were recorded respectively . Finally ,the data were analyzed statistically . Results T he peak M APSE of the lateral mitral annulus in 3 different directions including points A ,B and C[ LA T‐M APSE‐A ( 3 .62 ± 1 .01) mm ,LA T‐M APSE‐B ( 3 .95 ± 1 .04) mm ,LAT‐M APSE‐C ( 4 .45 ± 1 .05) mm ] were greater than those of the interventricular septum mitral annulus[ SEPT‐MAPSE‐A (3 .41 ± 0 .63)mm ,SEPT‐MAPSE‐B (3 .07 ± 0 .50) mm ,SEPT‐MAPSE‐C (2 .82 ± 0 .51) mm] . LAT‐M APSE‐C and SEPT‐M APSE‐A were the largest longitudinal excursions of mitral annulus . T he differences were statistically significant in points B and C ( P ＜0 .05) . T here was no significant difference in point A ( P ＞0 .05) . LA T‐M APSE‐C was less than FAM‐M APSE [ ( 6 .06 ± 1 .35 ) mm ] . T here was a significant difference between them ( P ＜0 .05 ) . Strong correlation was found between them ( r ＝0 .896 , P＜0 .05) . T here were no significant differences in the time to peak of interventricular septal mitral annulus [ SEPT‐T T P‐A ( 0 .210 ± 0 .008 ) s ,SEPT‐T T P‐B ( 0 .213 ± 0 .008 ) s ,SEPT‐T T P‐C ( 0 .210 ± 0 .005 ) s] in directions including points A ,B ,C ( P＞ 0 .05 ) . T here were no significant differences in time to peak of lateral mitral annulus [ LAT‐T T P‐A ( 0 .210 ± 0 .008 ) s , LAT‐T T P‐B ( 0 .213 ± 0 .006 ) s , LAT‐T T P‐C ( 0 .210 ± 0 .007) s] in directions inclucling points A ,B ,C ( P ＞0 .05) . Conclusions Longitudinal systolic motion of fetal left ventricular wall during mid‐late pregnancy has good synchronization . Longitudinal motion of fetal mitral annulus is a comprehensive movement of multiple directions and different degrees of displacement ,with the movement perpendicular to the annulus as the maximum displacement direction . T he displacement parameters of mitral annulus measured by ST I can reflect the left ventricular longitudinal systolic function and have clinical application value in evaluating the left ventricular longitudinal systolic function of fetuses .

Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) in patients with heart failure.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study of patients with heart failure who underwent CCM placement at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from February to June 2022. With a follow-up of 3 months, CCM sensation, impedance, percent output, and work time were monitored, and patients were compared with pre-and 3-month postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) values, and 6-minute walk test distance and New York Heart Association (NYHA) cardiac function classification, and the occurrence of complications was recorded.Results:CCM was successfully implanted in all 9 patients. Seven(7/9) of them were male, aged (56±14) years, 3 patients had ischaemic cardiomyopathy and 6 patients had dilated cardiomyopathy. At 3-month postoperative follow-up, threshold was stable, sense was significantly lower at follow-up than before (right ventricle: (16.3±7.0) mV vs. (8.2±1.1) mV, P<0.05; local sense: (15.7±4.9) mV vs. (6.7±2.5) mV, P<0.05), and impedance was significantly lower at follow-up than before (right ventricle (846±179) Ω vs. (470±65) Ω, P<0.05, local sense: (832±246) Ω vs. (464±63) Ω, P<0.05). The CCM output percentage was (86.9±10.7) %, the output amplitude was (6.7±0.4) V, and the daily operating time was (8.6±1.0) h. LVEF was elevated compared to preoperative ((29.4±5.2) % vs. (38.3±4.3) %, P<0.05), the 6-minute walk test was significantly longer than before ((96.8±66.7)m vs. (289.3±121.7)m, P<0.05). No significant increase in the number of NYHA Class Ⅲ-Ⅳ patients was seen (7/9 vs. 2/9, P>0.05). The patient was not re-hospitalised for worsening heart failure symptoms, had no malignant arrhythmic events and experienced significant relief of symptoms such as chest tightness and shortness of breath. No postoperative complications related to pocket hematoma, pocket infection and rupture, electrode detachment, valve function impairment, pericardial effusion, or cardiac perforation were found. Conclusions:CCM has better short-term safety and efficacy in patients with heart failure.

Objective: To assess the longitudinal mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) of different directions in normal fetuses during mid-late pregnancy based on two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (STI). Methods: Seventy-six normal fetuses during middle and late pregnancy were selected at 26-32 weeks of gestation. The peak MAPSE was measured by free angle M-mode echocardiography (FAM) perpendicular to the lateral annulus in the mitral annular plane. The time-displacement curves of interventricular septal mitral annulus in three different directions including points A, B and C through transverse level of apex were recorded by STI. The peak MAPSE of interventricular septal mitral annulus (SEPT-MAPSE-A, SEPT-MAPSE-B, SEPT-MAPSE-C) in three different directions including points A, B and C and the time to peak (TTP: SEPT-TTP-A, SEPT-TTP-B, SEPT-TTP-C) were recorded respectively. The time-displacement curves of lateral mitral annulus in three different directions including points A, B and C through transverse level of apex were recorded by STI. The peak MAPSE of lateral mitral annulus (LAT-MAPSE-A, LAT-MAPSE-B, LAT-MAPSE-C) in three different directions including points A, B and C, the time to peak(LAT-TTP-A, LAT-TTP-B, LAT-TTP-C) were recorded respectively. Finally, the data were analyzed statistically. Results: The peak MAPSE of the lateral mitral annulus in 3 different directions including points A, B and C[LAT-MAPSE-A (3.62±1.01)mm, LAT-MAPSE-B (3.95±1.04)mm, LAT-MAPSE-C (4.45±1.05)mm] were greater than those of the interventricular septum mitral annulus[SEPT-MAPSE-A (3.41±0.63)mm, SEPT-MAPSE-B (3.07±0.50)mm, SEPT-MAPSE-C (2.82±0.51)mm]. LAT-MAPSE-C and SEPT-MAPSE-A were the largest longitudinal excursions of mitral annulus. The differences were statistically significant in points B and C (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in point A (P>0.05). LAT-MAPSE-C was less than FAM-MAPSE[(6.06±1.35)mm]. There was a significant difference between them(P<0.05). Strong correlation was found between them(r=0.896, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the time to peak of interventricular septal mitral annulus [SEPT-TTP-A (0.210±0.008)s, SEPT-TTP-B (0.213±0.008)s, SEPT-TTP-C (0.210±0.005)s] in directions including points A, B, C(P>0.05). There were no significant differences in time to peak of lateral mitral annulus[LAT-TTP-A(0.210±0.008)s, LAT-TTP-B(0.213±0.006)s, LAT-TTP-C(0.210±0.007)s] in directions inclucling points A, B, C(P>0.05). Conclusions Longitudinal systolic motion of fetal left ventricular wall during mid-late pregnancy has good synchronization. Longitudinal motion of fetal mitral annulus is a comprehensive movement of multiple directions and different degrees of displacement, with the movement perpendicular to the annulus as the maximum displacement direction. The displacement parameters of mitral annulus measured by STI can reflect the left ventricular longitudinal systolic function and have clinical application value in evaluating the left ventricular longitudinal systolic function of fetuses.