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 explore the difference of the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) and the segment strains between cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods Twenty patients with immunoglobulin light chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA) as CA group and 20 patients with non-obstructive HCM selected as controls (HCM group) were enrolled from January 2016 to April 2022 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. All patients underwent two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). The left ventricle GLS and the segmental strains were calculated. The values of these strains to distinguish AL-CA from HCM were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and logistic regression analysis. Results In the CA group, the GLS parameters (3P, 4Ch, 2Ch, 3Ch), as well as the left ventricle segmental strains (MID-ANT/LAT, MID-INF/SEPT, BASAL-ANT/LAT, BASAL-INF/SEPT, MID-ANT, MID-INF, BASAL-ANT, BASAL-INF, MID-INF/LAT, BASAL-ANT/SEPT, and BASAL-INF/LAT) were all lower than those in the HCM group (P＜0.01). ROC results showed that GLS(4Ch), GLS(2Ch), GLS(3Ch), GLS(3P), BASAL-ANT/LAT, BASAL-INF/SEPT, BASAL-ANT, BASAL-INF, BASAL-ANT/SEPT and BASAL-INF/LAT had good efficacy in distinguishing AL-CA from HCM. Logistic regression analysis showed that BASAL-ANT/LAT was an independent factor in distinguishing AL-CA from HCM (P＜0.01). The consistency of test results was good. Conclusions The left ventricular segmental myocardial strains show good efficacy in distinguishing AL-CA from HCM, and BASAL-ANT/LAT has highest application value.

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 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 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 analyze the changes in left ventricular deformation function in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL)treated with different doses of anthracycline chemotherapy using 3D speckle-tracking imaging(3D-STI).Methods 66 DLBCL patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy were enrolled.Based on the cumulative dose of anthracycline received,the patients were divided into a high-dose group(＞360 mg/m2,n=39)and a low-dose group(≤360 mg/m2,n=27).Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography before chemotherapy and within one week after completion of the entire chemotherapy cycle.Left ventricular global longitudinal strain(LVGLS),left ventricular global circumferential strain(LVGCS),and other indices were analyzed using 3D-STI to assess changes in left ventricular deformation indices after chemotherapy and between two groups.Results Compared to baseline,DLBCL patients showed significant reductions in LVGLS,LVGCS and left atrial global longitudinal strain(LAGLS)after treatment completion(P＜0.001).When comparing the high-dose group with the low-dose group,there was a significant increase in relative LVGCS change rate at the end of chemotherapy(21.12[6.52,35.37]vs 5.49[-14.73,27.01];P=0.03).However,there were no statistically significant differences in relative left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),LVGLS,LVGCS,LVEF change rate,or LVGLS change rate between the two groups.Conclusions 3D-STI can be a potential method to identify the sub-clinical deterioration of left ventricular systolic function in patients received anthracycline chemotherapy,the difference of change rate of LVGCS may predict the variation of sub-clinical deterioration of left ventricular function between patients received high and low doses of anthracycline chemotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of whole exome sequencing (WES), as a molecular diagnosis technique, for adult patients with genetic diseases.Methods:The present retrospective analysis included 445 adult patients (ages 18-80 years) with suspected genetic diseases who underwent whole exome sequencing (WES) from August 2021 to December 2022. The pathogenicity classification of each variant was assessed in accordance with the recommendations developed by the American Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics.Results:The overall positive rate of WES among adult patients with suspected genetic diseases was 28.08% (125/445). The highest positive rate was observed in the age group of 41-50 years (34.33%, 23/67). Among the diagnosed genetic diseases, those affecting the cardiovascular system (63.16%, 84/133), nervous system (18.05%, 24/133), and endocrine system (13.53%, 18/133) ranked as the top three. The most common genetic diseases identified through WES in adult patients were hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (18.80%, 25/133), dilated cardiomyopathy (16.54%, 22/133), Marfan syndrome (15.04%, 20/133), epilepsy (9.02%, 12/133), and familial hypercholesterolemia (4.51%, 6/133). The main causative genes identified included FBN1 (14.29%, 19/133), MYBPC3 (9.02%, 12/133), MYH7 (9.02%, 12/133), LDLR (3.76%, 5/133), TTN (3.76%, 5/133), and TNNI3 (3.01%, 4/133).Conclusion:Applying the WES technique in clinical practice can improve the diagnostic rate of adult genetic diseases, especially in adult patients with suspected genetic conditions involving the cardiovascular system, nervous system, and endocrine system.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has entered a new and critical stage after nearly 20 years of rapid development in China. There are various types of TAVR valves with different advantages. TAVR can be performed through various approaches such as transfemoral artery, transapical, trans-carotid artery, or trans-ascending aorta. The first two are more common. Echocardiography plays an important role in the perioperative period of TAVR. Compared to transfemoral approach, transapical TAVR has different key points in perioperative echocardiography which is lack of unified and accurate standards. This standard is specially formulated to focus on the key points of echocardio-graphy in preoperative screening, intraoperative monitoring and postoperative follow-up in order to promote the safe and effective application of transapical TAVR in the clinic.

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.