Background::Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a microbarrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells.Methods::The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results::Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts.Conclusions::The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features and magnetic resonance imaging of non-malignant patients assigned to Prostate Imaging Reporting And Data System (PI-RADS) 5 score.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of 289 patients who underwent magnetic resonance ultrasound targeted combined system biopsy with PI-RADS 5 lesions in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between May 2019 and July 2021. The median age 72 (66, 77)years, median body mass index 24.4(22.3, 27.1)kg/m 2, median prostate volume (PV) 37.39(29.39, 48.86) ml, median PSA 22.24(10.91, 62.69) ng/ml, and median PSAD 0.53(0.30, 1.52)ng/ml 2 were recorded. According to the biopsy pathological results, all patients were divided into benign lesion group and prostate cancer group. PSA, PSAD, PV, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were compared, and magnetic resonance imaging and clinical characteristics of patients with biopsy benign lesions were analyzed. Results:There were 11 cases (3.8%) with benign lesion and 278 cases (96.2%) with prostate cancer. The characters of 11 negative biopsy cases were displayed as follows: median age 69(66, 79)years, median body mass index 22.0(21.0, 25.5)kg/m 2, median PV 62.90(38.48, 71.96)ml, median PSA 5.55(2.99, 20.52)ng/ml, median PSAD 0.16(0.07, 0.24) ng/ml 2, median ADC 714.47(701.91, 801.26)×10 -6 mm 2/s, abnormal digital rectal and amination in 5 cases, smoking in 7 cases, and alcohol consumption in 4 cases. The median PV [62.90(38.48, 71.96) vs. 37.21(29.22, 47.82)ml, P<0.01], the PSA value [5.55(2.99, 20.52) vs. 23.53(11.14, 65.98)ng/ml, P<0.01], and the PSAD value [0.16(0.07, 0.24) vs. 0.58(0.31, 1.57)ng/ml 2, P<0.01] were significantly different between benign condition group and prostate carcinoma group. Benign condition group included 5 chronic prostatitis, 2 acute prostatitis (1 with focal adenocarcinoma), 2 granulomatous inflammation, and 2 tuberculous granulomatous inflammation. In 7 benign cases, PSA was less than 10 ng/ml, combined with frequent urination, urgency of urination and incontinence were founded. In 8 benign cases, the area of lesion was more than 50% of the total prostate area in the axial position and the imaging of magnetic resonance were diffused, with regular shape and uniform signal. The imaging of symmetrical distribution was in 6 cases. Conclusions:The benign condition with PI-RADS 5 lesions included chronic prostatitis, acute prostatitis, granulomatous inflammation and tuberculous granulomatous inflammation, among which prostatitis was the most common cause. The PSA value were less than 10 ng/ml in most benign cases, with symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency of urination and incontinence. The imaging of magnetic resonance were diffused, symmetrically distributed, with regular shape and uniform signal.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) in patients with PI-RADS score 3.Methods:The data of 133 consecutive patients with the PI-RADS score 3 from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent 4-needle transperineal targeted biopsy and 12-needle systematic prostate biopsy (SB). The overall age was 66 (60-72) years, and the overall PSA value was 8.22 (5.95-11.41) ng/ml. All patients underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and PI-RADS v2.0 score was 3. Patients were divided into two mutually exclusive groups: non CsPCa group and CsPCa group. The differences of lesion location, laterality, focality and sequence parameters of mpMRI between the two groups were compared, and multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent predictors of PI-RADS score 3 in patients with CsPCa.Results:Biopsy results showed 57 cases of prostate cancer, including 41 cases of CsPCa, and 76 cases of non-prostate cancer. The detection rate of prostate cancer was 46.62 %(57/133), and the detection rate of CsPCa was 30.83 %(41/133). There were 41 cases in CsPCa group and 92 cases in non CsPCa group. There was no significant difference between CsPCa group and non CsPCa group in age [66 (58-70) years vs. 66 (60-72) years], body mass index [24.22 (21.82-25.71) kg/m 2 vs. 23.71 (21.99-26.12) kg/m 2], PSA [9.39 (6.35-12.55) ng/ml vs. 7.67 (5.83-10.51) ng/ml], abnormal rate of rectal digital examination [21.95% (9/41) vs. 9.78% (9/92)] (all P > 0.05). There was significant difference in PSAD [0.40 (0.16-0.65) ng/ml 2 vs. 0.17 (0.12-0.24) ng/ml 2] ( P<0.05). In MRI, PI-RADS=3 lesions were mainly located in the transitional zone [46.62 %(62/133)]. In CsPCa group, MRI lesions were located in peripheral zone in 16 cases, transitional zone in 19 cases, and both areas in 6 cases. There were 16 cases on the right, 15 cases on the left and 10 cases on both sides. The lesions were diffused in 19 cases and localized in 22 cases. In the non CsPCa group, 41 lesions were located in the peripheral zone, 43 in the transitional zone, and 8 in both areas. There were 26 cases on the right, 35 cases on the left and 31 cases on both sides. The lesions were diffuse in 56 cases and localized in 36 cases. There was no significant difference in lesion location, side and diffusion degree between the two groups ( P> 0.05). Compared with the non CsPCa group, the positive rate of all MRI sequences in CsPCa group was higher (82.93% vs. 40.22%, P < 0.001), the positive rate of T2 weighted imaging (T2WI) was higher (92.68% vs. 75.00%, P = 0.018), the positive rate of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) was higher (90.24% vs. 56.52%, P < 0.001), the maximum diameter was larger[(0.67(0.30-1.19)mm vs. 0.48(0.20-0.62)mm, P < 0.001], and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was lower[0.70(0.61-0.87) vs. 1.10(0.86-1.50), P < 0.001]. Concurrently, PSAD and lesion ADC were important predictors of CsPCa in logistic regression model [mean 10 fold cross validation AUC: 0.78(95% CI 0.65-0.88)]. Conclusions:Most of the MRI lesions in patients with PI-RADS 3 were located in the transitional zone, and the MRI lesions in CsPCa were more obvious and diffusion limited. PSAD and ADC values are independent predictors for the diagnosis of CsPCa in patients with PI-RADS score 3, and the log 2PSAD-ADC prediction model is helpful to find CsPCa from patients with PI-RADS score 3 and protect patients from unnecessary biopsy.

Objective:To compare the differences of prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) positive rate and postoperative complications between transperineal cognitive prostate biopsy (COG-TPBx) and transrectal cognitive prostate biopsy (COG-TRBx) based on biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI).Methods:The data of 276 patients undergoing prostate biopsy from January 2019 to June 2021 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively reviewed. 157 patients underwent COG-TPBx(TPBx group) and 119 patients underwent COG-TRBx (TRBx group). The average age [(66.39 ± 8.31) vs. (66.30 ± 8.42)years], body mass index (BMI) [(23.85±2.49) vs. (23.68±2.61) kg/m 2], PSA values [9.43(1.47-19.80) vs. 8.94(0.66-19.99) ng/ml], prostate volume [37.92(13.99-167.40) vs. 40.78(11.67-188.21) cm 3], PSA density [0.21(0.04-1.17) vs. 0.20(0.04-1.04) ng/(ml·cm 3)], and suspicious digital rectal examination [17.20% (27/157) vs. 21.10% (25/119) ] were not significantly different between TPBx group and TRBx group. The positive rate of PCa, CsPCa, as well as post-biopsy complications of the two groups were compared. Results:There were no significant differences in the positive rate of PCa [49.68%(78/157) vs. 47.06%(56/119), P=0.666] and CsPCa [38.22%(60/157) vs. 34.45%(41/119), P=0.520] between the two groups. In stratification analysis, TPBx group has a significantly higher positive rate of both PCa [54.69%(35/64)] and CsPCa[43.75%(28/64)] in apex zone than TRBx group[39.62%(21/53) and 20.75%(11/53), all P<0.05). Moreover, the postoperative complications were not significantly different in TPBx group compared to that in TRBx group [10.19% (16/157) vs. 12.61%(15/119), P= 0.567]. Conclusions:Our investigations revealed that the overall positive rate of PCa, CsPCa, and the complications were not statistically different between COG-TPBx and COG-TRBx. COG-TPBx has a significantly higher positive rate of both PCa and CsPCa in apex zone.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of single-plane bi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 343 patients who underwent transperineal template prostate magnetic resonance-transrectal ultrasound (MRI-TRUS) cognitive fusion biopsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2020 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, with median age of [65.0(59.0, 72.0)] years, median body mass index (BMI) of [24.1(22.2, 25.6)]kg/m 2, median prostate volume (PV) of [41.7(29.1, 53.3)]ml, median PSA[6.9 (5.5, 8.4) ng/ml], median PSAD of[0.17(0.12, 0.22) ng/ml 2], and abnormal rate of digital rectal examination (DRE) [6.4%(22/343)]. All patients underwent initial biopsy and bi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) examination before biopsy, and the images were interpreted using prostate image reporting and data system version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1). The detection rates of prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) were compared between single-plane bpMRI and bpMRI. When PI-RADS≥3 score, MRI results were positive; when PI-RADS ≤2 score, MRI results were negative. Results:In the single-plane bpMRI group, 121 MRI results were negative and 222 were positive. Positive patients included 95 with PI-RADS 3 score, 94 with PI-RADS 4 score, and 33 with PI-RADS 5 score. In bpMRI group, 141 MRI results were negative and 202 were positive. Among the positive patients, 67 patients with PI-RADS 3 score, 102 patients with PI-RADS 4 score, and 33 patients with PI-RADS 5 score. The detection rates of single-plane bpMRI and bpMRI for prostate cancer were 22.3% (27/121) and 15.6% (22/141) in MRI negative cases[22.3% (27/121) and 15.6% (22/141), P=0.17], and PI-RADS scores with 3 points [35.8% (34/95) vs. 44.8% (30/67), P=0.25], 4 points [89.4% (84/94)vs. 90.2% (92/102), P=0.85] and 5 points [90.9% (30/33) vs. 93.9% (31/33), P=1.00] showed no significant difference in stratification. The detection rate of csPCa in the single-plane bpMRI group and bpMRI group was significantly different in the MRI negative cases [7.4% (9/121) and 2.1% (3/141), P=0.04]. PI-RADS scores with 3 points [22.1% (21/95) vs. 29.9% (20/67), P=0.27], 4 points [80.9% (76/94) vs. 79.4% (81/102), P=0.80] and 5 points [84.9% (28/33) vs. 90.9% (30/33), P=0.71] showed no significant difference in stratification. Conclusions:For those suspected of prostate cancer patients with PSA 4-10 ng/ml and PI-RADS score ≥3, single-plane bpMRI or bpMRI examination has the same efficacy in term of the detection rate of prostate cancer and csPCa.

Objective:To explore the optimal core numbers in targeted prostate biopsy (TB).Methods:The clinical data of 138 patients with prostate cancer diagnosed by six needle trans-perineal TB combined with system biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2018 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Their age was (69.07 ± 7.97) years old, the PSA value was 9.15 (6.66, 12.95) ng/ml, the prostate volume was 35.01 (27.65, 43.27) cm 3and the PSA density was 0.25 (0.17, 0.36) ng/(ml ·cm 3). All patients accepted bi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging examination and had regions of interests (ROIs) with prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) version 2.0 scores ≥ 3. The detective rate of prostate cancer (PCa), clinically significant PCa (CsPCa) and clinically insignificant PCa (CIPCa), along with the Gleason score upgrading rate after radical prostatectomy were compared between different numbers of prostate TB cores. Results:The detective rates for present PCa or CsPCa for the first 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-core TB were 74.64%(103/138), 85.51%(118/138), 94.20%(130/138), 98.55%(136/138) and 100.00%(138/138) compared with the total number of cores taken, respectively. The detective rates for CsPCa for the first 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-core TB were 67.52%(79/117), 77.78%(91/117), 88.89%(104/117), 93.16%(109/117) and 98.29%(115/117) compared with the total number of cores taken, respectively. Additionally, 20.72%(23/111) patients had Gleason score upgrade after RP. Compared with 6-core TB, the rates of postoperative upgrading for the first 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-core TB were 50.00%(44/88), 67.05%(59/88), 81.82%(72/88), 88.64%(78/88) and 95.45%(84/88), respectively. For the ROIs with PI-RADS score of 3, 4 and 5, the CsPCa detected by 5, 4 and 3 needles of TB were 95.00% (19/20), 94.92% (56/59) and 94.74% (36/38) respectively. Postoperative upgrading rates were 11.11% (2/18), 9.30% (4/43) and 7.41% (2/27) respectively.Conclusions:For ROIs with PI-RADS score of 3, 4 and 5, TB with 5, 4 and 3 cores respectively is enough to obtain higher diagnostic efficiency and accuracy.

Objective:To detect the value of utilizing bpMRI in prostate biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer with PSA≤20ng/ml.Methods:The clinical data of 394 patients who underwent prostate biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from November 2017 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Of all the patients, 177 underwent modified systematic biopsy, named TRUS group, 217 patients accepted pre-biopsy bpMRI examination, undergoing modified systematic biopsy if Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score < 3 or MRI-TRUS cognitive fusion targeted prostate + systematic biopsy if PI-RADS score ≥ 3, named MRI group. The median age of TRUS group was 66 (61, 74) years old, prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 9.52 (7.26, 12.30) ng / ml, and prostate volume (PV) was 36.84 (28.95, 57.72)ml. The median age of MRI group was 66 (59, 72) years old, PSA was 8.84 (6.65, 12.16) ng/ml, and PV was 39.45 (29.25, 58.69)ml. There was no difference in above parameters between the two groups. The χ 2 test was used to compare the detection rate of prostate cancer and clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) between the two groups. Results:There was no significant difference in the detection rates of prostate cancer between TRUS group and MRI group [51.41% (91/177) vs. 48.39% (105/ 217), P = 0.550], but the detection rates of CsPCa were significantly different [26.55% (47/177) vs. 36.41% (79/217), P = 0.037]. In patients with PSA ≤ 10 ng / ml, there was no significant difference in the detection rates of prostate cancer between the two groups [43.62% (41/94) vs. 43.08% (56/130), P = 0.936], but there was a significant difference in the detection rates of CsPCa [17.02% (16/94) vs. 28.46% (37/130), P = 0.047]. There was no significant difference in the detection rates of prostate cancer [60.24% (50/83) and 56.17% (48/87), P= 0.504] and the detection rates of CsPCa [37.35% (31/83) vs. 48.28% (42/87), P = 0.150] between the two groups. The total detection rates of the last two needles in TRUS group and MRI group were 23.16% (41/177) and 36.63% (86/217), respectively, with significant difference ( P=0.001); the detection rates of CsPCa in the last two needles were 11.86% (26/177) and 29.03% (63/ 217), respectively, with significant difference ( P < 0.001). In MRI group, the detection rates of prostate cancer in patients with PI-RADS score <3, 3, 4, 5 were 21.21% (7/33), 25.84% (23/89), 73.24% (52/71), 95.83% (23/24), respectively; the detection rates of CsPCa were 12.12% (4/33), 17.98% (16/89), 54.93% (39/71), 83.33% (23/24), respectively. Conclusions:In patients with PSA ≤ 20 ng / ml, prostate biopsy based on bpMRI may improve the detection of CsPCa, especially in patients with PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml.

Objective:To investigate the difference of prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate between transperineal cognitive fusion targeted biopsy (COG-TB) and software fusion targeted (FUS-TB).Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 157 patients accepted transperineal targeted biopsies from December 2018 to December 2019, including 67 cases of COG-TB and 90 cases of FUS-TB. All patients were prostate biopsy na?ve, with PSA levels ≤ 20 ng/ml and prostate imaging reporting and data system version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1) scores ≥ 3. There was no significant difference between COG-TB and FUS-TB in the age [(70.78 ± 8.86) vs. (70.52 ± 8.79) years old], body mass index [(24.36 ± 2.69)vs. (24.14 ± 3.15) kg/m 2], prostate volume [36.69 (27.52, 47.40) vs. 38.81 (28.80, 53.46) cm 3], PSA level [8.27 (6.0, 11.65) vs. 8.88 (6.40, 13.54) ng/ml], PSAD [0.23 (0.15, 0.36) vs. 0.21 (0.14, 0.34) ng/ml 2], suspicious digital rectal examination findings [16 (23.9%) vs. 17 (18.9%)] and PI-RADS scores [24 (35.8%), 24 (35.8%), 19 (28.4%) and 21 (23.3%) vs. 21 (23.3%), 42 (46.7%), 27 (30.0%) for PI-RADS 3, 4, and 5, respectively]. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P<0.05). The overall and stratified detection rates of PCa and clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) were compared between the two groups. The upgrading rates of Gleason score after radical prostatectomy against biopsy Gleason score were compared between the two groups. Results:There was no significant difference between COG-TB and FUS-TB in the detection rate of PCa [76.1% (51/67) vs. 68.9% (62/90), P=0.32]. Also, no significant difference was found in the detection rate of PCa stratified by PSA [0-10ng/ml: 69.1% (29/42) vs. 57.1% (28/49); 10-20ng/ml: 88.0% (22/25) vs. 82.9% (34/41); all P>0.05] and PI-RADS score [3: 45.8% (11/24) vs. 23.8% (5/21); 4: 91.7% (22/24) vs. 81.0% (34/42); 5: 94.7% (18/19) vs. 85.2% (23/27); all P>0.05]. Similarly, there was no dramatically difference between COG-TB and FUS-TB in the detection rate of CsPCa [58.2% (39//67) vs. 50.0% (45/90), P>0.05]. No significant difference was found in the detection of CsPCa stratified by PSA [0-10ng/ml: 45.2% (19/42) vs.36.7% (18/49); 10-20 ng/ml: 80.0% (20/25) vs. 65.9% (27/41) ; all P>0.05] and PI-RADS score [3: 29.2% (7/24) vs. 9.5% (2/21), 4: 66.7% (16/24) vs. 57.1% (24/42), 5: 84.2%(16/19) vs. 70.4% (19/27) ; all P>0.05]. Additionally, the two technique was not different significantly in the upgrading rate [28.9% (13/45) vs. 26.2% (11/42), P=0.78]. Conclusions:There is no significant difference between FUS-TB and COG-TB in the detection rate of PCa and CsPCa, along with the upgrading rate after RP in patients with PSA ≤ 20 ng / ml and PI-RADS v2.1 score≥3.

Objective:To investigate the use of bi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI)-based cognitive fusion targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy in patients with prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS)≥3.Methods:The clinical data of 220 patients with PI-RADS ≥3 who underwent bpMRI-transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) cognitive fusion targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2018 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 66 (60, 73) years old, median prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 8.73 (6.52, 11.93) ng/ml, medlian prostate volume was 39.25(29.26, 58.39) ml and the mean body mass index (BMI) was (24.02±2.60) kg/m 2. For each patient, bpMRI-TRUS cognitive fusion targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy were performed by two independent experienced urologists. The primary endpoint was the detection rate of CsPCa-A [clinically significant prostate cancer-A, defined as International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group 2 or higher tumors]. The secondary endpoints were the detection rates of CsPCa-B (defined as ISUP grade group 3 or higher tumors) and CIPCa (clinically insignificant prostate cancer, defined as ISUP grade group 1 tumors). McNemar test and Chi-square test were used to compare the positive rates of CsPCa-A, CsPCa-B and CIPCa between targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy. Results:In this study, 112 patients (50.91%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the detection was 42.73% (94/220) in targeted biopsy and 46.82% (103/220) in systematic biopsy.CsPCa-A was detected in 84 (38.18%) patients. Detection of CsPCa-A by targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy was not different significantly [30.00% (66/220) vs.34.09% (75/220), P=0.120]. CsPCa-A would have been missed in 8.18% (18/220) patients had not performed systematic biopsy, and in 4.09% (9/220) patients had not performed targeted biopsy. CsPCa-B was detected in 26.36% (58/220) patients. Detection of CsPCa-B by targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy was not different significantly [20.00% (44/220) vs. 23.18% (51/220), P=0.190]. CsPCa-B would have been missed in 6.36% (14/220) patients had not performed systematic biopsy, and in 3.18% (7/220) patients had not performed targeted biopsy. In addition, there was no difference in the positive rates of CIPCa between targeted biopsy combined with systematic biopsy, targeted biopsy only or systematic biopsy only [all three were 12.73% (28/220), P=1.000]. Nine post-biopsy adverse events were reported, including 5 cases of infection, 2 cases of vagal reflex and 2 cases of urinary retention. All of them were improved after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions:No significant difference was identified in the detection rate of CsPCa between targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy. However, combination of targeted biopsy and systematic biopsy could further improve the detection rate of CsPCa without increasing the detection of CIPCa. Therefore, a pre-biopsy bpMRI did have significant importance in the biopsy-na?ve patients, but did not seem to skip the need for systematic biopsy.

Objective To investigate the value of quantitative analysis of the left ventricular longitudinal strain in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging.Methods Twenty-eight HCM patients with normal LVEF (all of the cases were non obstructive HCM),who were diagnosed by clinical and ultrasound echocardiography between January 1,2015 and January 1,2016 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University,served as the experimental group.And twenty healthy volunteers served as the healthy control group.The peak longitudinal strain (LPS) of the left ventricle and the systolic peak of the left ventricle were calculated by the STE technique.The indexes such as the transmural gradient (△ LS=LPSEndo-LPSEpi)and the transmural gradient percentage (△ LS％=△ LS/LPSEndo) were calculated.The Peak systolic longitudinal strain of endocardium (LPSEndo),the peak systolic longitudinal strain of mid-cardium (LPSMid),the peak systolic longitudinal strain of epicardium (LPSEpi),the peak systolic longitudinal strain of basal segment (LPSb),the peak systolic longitudinal strain of middle segment (LPSm),the peak systolic longitudinal strain of apical segment (LPSa),the global peak systolic longitudinal strain (GLPS) and other left ventricular myocardial strain,such as △ LS,△ LS％,in both the HCM group and the healthy control group,were analyzed by using independent samples t test comparison.For each layer of the left ventricle and the overall myocardial longitudinal strain,two independent sample t test was used for comparison between groups,and LSD-t test was used for intra-group comparison.Results (1) There was a gradient of LPS among the three layers and the three segments in both of the two groups:LPSEndo and LPSMid [(18.36±4.97)％ vs (13.80±4.23)％,(26.41±2.93)％ vs (22.19±2.49)％],the difference was statistically significant (t=5.550,8.529,P ＜ 0.05);LPSEndo and LPSEpi [(18.36±4.97) ％ vs (11.91 ±3.63)％,(26.41±2.93)％ vs (19.43±2.20)％],the difference was statistically significant (t=5.550,8.529,P ＜ 0.05);There was significant difference between LPSMid and LPSEpi in the healthy control group [(22.19 ± 2.49)％ vs (19.43 ± 2.20)％,t=3.709,P ＜ 0.05)],that was,LPSEndo ＞ LPSMid ＞ LPSEpi.LPSa and LPSm,the difference was statistically significant (t=4.029,6.839,P ＜ 0.05);LPSa and LPSb,the difference was statistically significant (t=5.304,9.887,P ＜ 0.05);There was significant difference between LPSm and LPSb in the healthy control group (t=4.170,P ＜ 0.05);that was,LPSa ＞ LPSm ＞ LPSb.In the HCM group,LPS in the 3 layers,3 segments,and the whole left ventricular wall were lower than that of the the healthy control group,the differences were statistically significant [GLPS:(14.63± 3.75)％ vs (22.68±2.51)％,t=-8.347;LPSEndo to LPSEpi:t=-6.477,-7.909,-8.242;LPSa to LPSb:t=-6.647,-8.790,-7.267;all P ＜ 0.05).(2) Compared with the healthy control group,both the segmental gradient and global transmural gradient in the HCM group were found reduced,but the difference had no statistical significance (all P ＞ 0.05).(3) The transmural gradient percentage both in the healthy control group and the HCM group were reduced from the apical segment to the basal segment,the difference were statistically significant (HCM group:t=9.985,5.969;healthy control group:t=17.513,7.043;all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the healthy control group,the △ LS％a and the △ LS％m of HCM group were significantly higher [(58.86± 11.32)％ vs (43.70±4.73)％,(28.43± 11.48)％ vs (20.30± 3.66)％],and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.634,3.049,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions (1) Using 2D-STI could accurately determine the regional or the global left ventricular systolic function in patients with HCM.(2) The transmural gradient percentage can be more sensitive to reflect the change of the transmural gradient,and more research needed to explore its value for clinical application.