Left Ventricular Systolic Intraventricular Flow Field Assessment in Hyperthyroidism Patients Using Vector Flow Mapping

Summary： Intraventricular hydrodynamics is considered an important component of cardiac function assessment. Vector flow mapping （VFM） is a novel flow visualization method to describe cardiac pathophysiological condition. This study examined use of new VFM and flow field for assessment of left ventricular （LV） systolic hemodynamics in patients with simple hyperthyroidism （HT）. Thirty-seven simple HT patients were enrolled as HT group, and 38 gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers as control group. VFM model was used to analyze LV flow field at LV apical long-axis view. The follow- ing flow parameters were measured, including peak systolic velocity （Vs）, peak systolic flow （Fs）, total systolic negative flow （SQ） in LV basal, middle and apical level, velocity gradient from the apex to the aortic valve （AV）, and velocity according to half distance （V1/2）. The velocity vector in the LV cavity, stream line and vortex distribution in the two groups were observed. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the conventional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter （LVEDD） and left atrium diameter （LAD） between HT group and control group （P〉0.05）. Compared with the control group, a brighter flow and more vortexes were detected in HT group. Non-uniform distribution occurred in the LV flow field, and the stream lines were discontinuous in HT group. The values of Vs and Fs in three levels, SQ in middle and basal levels, AV and V1/2 were higher in HT group than in control group （P〈0.01）. AV was positively correlated with serum free thyroxin （FT4） （r=0.48, P〈0.01）. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that LVEDD, FT4, and body surface area （BSA） were the influence factors of △V. The unstable left ventricular sys- tolic hydrodynamics increased in a compensatory manner in simple PIT patients. The present study in- dicated that VFM may be used for early detection of abnormal ventricle contraction in clinical settings.

Development of Measurement System for Flow and Shape Using Array Ultrasonic Sensors

In Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, the fuel debris formed in the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) and Primary Containment Vessel (PCV) at Unit 1 - 3. To accelerate and decide further decommissioning steps of the FDNPP, it is crucial to obtain realistic information of the debris and localize contaminated water leakage from PCV. Due to high radiation and dark environment inside the PCV, investigating instruments and techniques should necessarily to meet specification of radiation resistance, waterproofness, dust resistance and so on. This study focuses on development of ultrasonic measurement system using a couple of sectorial array sensors to localize contaminated water leakage and visualize shape of object that repre- senting fuel debris, simultaneously. In this study, Total Focusing Method (TFM) and Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler (UVP) methods are considered to visualize object shape and flow pattern around it, respectively. To demonstrate applicability and reliability of developed measurement system with sectorial array sensors, a mock-up experiment result of simulated water leakage and fuel debris shape were discussed in this paper.

Left ventricle energy loss in normo-and hypertensive subjects

Background Vector flow mapping is a novel echocardiographic technique that enables the visualization of the intraventricular flow. We aimed to evaluate and compare the index of hemodynamic dissipative energy loss in patients with hypertension and the ones with normotensive, unaffected control subjects. Methods & Results Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in eighty-nine hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, fifty-one hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH group) and thirty-eight hypertensive patients without LVH(non-LVH group). Forty-two healthy volunteers were enrolled as the control group. The stored images were analyzed to calculate the energy loss. The average energy loss of diastole in the LVH group was significantly increased(controls vs. non-LVH vs. LVH: 7.07 ± 0.91 vs. 12.44 ± 3.14 vs. 16.29 ± 3.17 J/s per m^3). Compared with the control group, the energy loss was significantly increased in the LVH group during the different periods in diastole. The energy loss in the non-LVH group was the greatest among the three groups during the atrial contraction period. Conclusions Energy loss provides a promising method for evaluating the energy efficiency in the left ventricle and may be a new indicator of left ventricular cardiac dysfunction.