Experimental Study of Assessment on Ventricular Activation Origin and Contraction Sequence by Doppler Tissue Imaging

To evaluate the possibility and accuracy of Doppler tissue image (DTI) on assessment of normal and abnormal ventricular activation and contraction sequence, 9 open chest canine hearts were analyzed by acceleration mode, M mode, and spectrum mode DTI. Our results showed that: (1) Acceleration mode DTI could show the origin of activation and conduction sequence on line; (2) M mode DTI revealed that the activation in mid interventricular septum was earlier than that in mid left ventricular posterior wall at sinus activation; (3) Spectrum DTI showed the ventricular endocardium was activated earlier than the ventricular epicardium in all segments at sinus rhythm. The earliest site of activation of the normal ventricular wall was at middle interventricular septum; the latest site was at basal posterior wall; the contraction sequence was different at the different walls; (4) During abnormal ventricular activation, mid left ventricular posterior wall was activated earliest in accordance with the pacing sites. Abnormal ventricular activation was slower than sinus activation, and the contraction sequence varied at different sites of ventricular wall. It is concluded that DTI can be used to localize the origin of normal or abnormal myocardial activation and to assess the contraction sequence conveniently, accurately and non invasively.

Evaluation of Normal Fetal Left Cardiac Function by Tissue Doppler Imaging

To explore the feasibility of using tissue Doppler imaging technique for the evaluation of fetus＇s left ventrieular diastolic function, and to confirm its reliability by comparing it with traditional methods, this study examined 61 pregnant women in whom satisfactory images were obtained of fetal eehoeardiography. The peak velocity of blood stream were measured, including E, A and E/A at mitral valve orifice on the four chamber view with pulse wave. And then tissue Doppler imaging mode was employed to measure the velocity of mitral valve annulus including Ea, Aa, Sa and Ea / Aa. Correlation analysis was conducted between the velocity of orifice and that of annulus in terms of gestation age. And then correlation analysis was performed between above data and gestation ages. A positive correlation was found between the velocity of orifice and that of annulus, and the velocity increased with the gestation age. The change was the most significant between the 28th and the 34th week of gestation age. Our study showed that it is feasible to evaluate the fetus＇s left ven trieular diastole function by tissue Doppler imaging. Its stability can avoid the influence of fetal heart rates and preload.

ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS BY PUSLED WAVE DOPPLER TISSUE IMAGING

Objective To examine the clinical application of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging(DTI)for regional left ventricular function assessment in normal subjects. Methods We examined 50 healthy subjects(range 12-42 years,mean age 28.3 ± 6.9 years)using pulsed Doppler tissue imaging to characterize the diastolic and systolic velocity profiles of mitral annulus. Recordings were made along the long axis in the apical 4-chamber, 2-chamber, and long apical views of 6 sites(posterior-septum, lateral, anterior, inferior, anterior-septum, posterior)at the mitral annulus. Myocardial velocities were determined with use of variance F statistical analysis. Correlation analysis was employed to test the relationship between age and mitral annular velocities. Results Both early diastolic and systolic velocities at the septum were lower than other sites. There were no differences in mitral annulus late diastolic velocities. Mean early diastolic and systolic velocities was negatively correlated with age. Conclusions Doppler tissue imaging can directly reflect regional left ventricular function.

ASSESSMENT OF DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY BY DOPPLER TISSUE IMAGING

To determine the clinical application of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging in assessing the left ventricular diasto-lic function and in discriminating between normal subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with various stages of diastolic dysfunction. Methods We measured the peak diastolic velocities of mitral annulus in 81 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with various stages of diastolic dysfunction and 50 normal volunteers by Doppler tissue imaging using the apical window at 2-ch-amber and long apical views, respectively. The myocardial velocities were determined with use of variance F statistical analysis. Results Early diastolic myocardial velocities of mitral annulus were higher in normal subjects than in patients with hy-pertrophic cardiomyopathy with either delayed relaxation, pseudonormal filling, or restrictive filling. However, peak myocar-dial velocities of mitral annulus during atrial contraction were similar in normal subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Conclusion Doppler tissue imaging can directly reflect upon left diastolic ventricular function. Early phase of diastole was the best discriminator between control subjects and patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Value of Low Dose Dobutamine Doppler Tissue Imaging for Detecting Hibernating Myocardium

Summary: In order to assess the value of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) in detecting viable hibernating myocardium, 20 patients with coronary artery disease and chronic left ventricular dysfunction underwent low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography and low dose dobutamine stress DTI. The results showed that among the 100 asynergic segments, 35 segments showed improvement after dobutamine infusion (group H) and no changes were observed in the remaining 65 segments (group N). The left ventricular echocardiographic score index decreased from 1.60±0. 35 to 1.44±0.36 ( n =20, P <0.01). During low dose dobutamine stress DTI, there was no difference in the values of velosity of S wave (V s) before dobutamine infusion between two groups. However, after dobutamine infusion, the values of V s and VR in group H were significantly higher than those in group N (V s:10.1±3.0 cm/s vs 7.3±2.2 cm/s, P <0.01; VR: 60 %±41 % vs 25 %±32 %, P <0.001). 95.7 % asynergic myocardial segments with VR≤0 had no viability while 86 % asynergic segments with VR>80 % were viable myocardium. It is concluded that the different reactions to dobutamine stress between hibernating and necrosis myocardium could be showed by DTI and it is more clinically significant when VR≤0 and VR>80 %.

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on regional arterial stiffness:Assessment by tissue Doppler imaging

AIM: To evaluate the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on regional arterial stiffness assessed by strain rate using tissue Doppler imaging. METHODS: Nineteen eligible patients were prospectively studied (mean age 62 ± 8 years, 68% men). Subjects with large vessel complications and/or diabetes mellitus were excluded. The strain rate of the ascending aorta was measured by tissue Doppler imaging as an index of regional arterial stiffness, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured as an index of degree of systemic arteriosclerosis. These indices were compared before and after administration of EPA at 1800 mg/d for one year. RESULTS: The plasma concentration of EPA increased significantly after EPA administration (3.0% ± 1.1% to 8.5% ± 2.9%, P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in baPWV (1765 ± 335 cm/s to 1745 ± 374 cm/s), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (114 ± 29 mg/dL to 108 ± 28 mg/dL), or systolic blood pressure (131 ± 16 mmHg to 130 ± 13 mmHg) before and after EPA administration. In contrast, the strain rate was significantly increased by administration of EPA (19.2 ± 5.6 s-1, 23.0 ± 6.6 s-1, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: One year of administration of EPA resulted in an improvement in regional arterial stiffness which was independent of blood pressure or serum cholesterol levels.

Diagnostic value of dobutamine stress Doppler tissue imaging in diabetic patients with suspected coronary artery disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is often silent in diabetic patients, and it is typically in ad-vanced stages of development by the time it manifests. Various forms of stress testing have been investigated to detect obstructive CAD in diabetes mellitus. Ob-jectives: To assess the diagnostic value of dobutamine stress pulsed-wave Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) compared with standard wall motion analysis in de-tection of myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients with suspected CAD. Methods: The study comprised 46 diabetic patients with suspected CAD underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) with DTI within 4 weeks before coronary angiography(CA). Dobutamine infusion started at 5 μ/kg/min and in-creased up to 40 μ/kg/min with additional atropine during submaximal heart rate responses. In addition to wall-motion score index (WMSI) analysis, pulsed- wave DTI examination of basal and mid segments of posteroseptal, lateral, anterior, inferior and antero- septal walls was performed. Myocardial velocities were measured at rest in the apical 4, 3 and 2-cham- ber views. The measurements were repeated at low dose (10 - 15 μ/kg/min) and at peak stress (40 μ/kg/min). DTI measurements included peak systolic velocity (S), peak early diastolic velocity (E) and peak late diastolic velocity (A) and the results were com-pared to WMSI analysis. Patients were classified into two groups according to CA results;group (I) di-abetics with positive CA (n = 27) and group (II) di-abetics with negative CA (n = 19). Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in duration of diabetes, global WMSI at rest or the ? changes (stress-rest/rest) of WMSI (P > 0.05). Global S and global E were significantly lower in group I compared to group II at peak stress (11.3 ± 3.7 cm/sec vs. 14.5 ± 2.2 cm/sec, p < 0.01) and (11.3 ± 1.6 cm/sec vs. 13.1 ± 2.1 cm/sec, p < 0.01) respectively. The cutoff points for global S and global E to detect obstructive CAD in diabetics were 11.3 cm/s and 11.2 cm/s re-spectively with 75.7%, 73.4% sensitivity and 94.7%, 89.47% specificity respectively. An increment (? changes) less than 0.56 in S or 0.26 in E from rest to peak stress identified CAD with 78.8 %, 89.3% sensi-tivity and 94.7%, 90.7% specificity respectively. The accuracy of DTI parameters during peak stress was higher than WMSI analysis (sensitivity 74.1% vs. 59.3% and specificity 90% vs. 79%, P < 0.01 for each). In multivariate regression analysis, only ?S and ?E were independent predictors of obstructive CAD in diabetics (odd ratio: 36.16, 95% CI, 1.34- 532.01 and 63.77, 95% CI, 3.19-721.47) respectively. Conclusion: Quantitative analysis, using DTI during DSE, adds new dimension in diagnosis of myocardial ischemia. It is more sensitive, specific, accurate and reproducible compared with standard wall motion analysis for recognition of significant CAD in diabetic patients.

Pig model of chronic myocardial ischemia and its investigation by ultrasonic integrated backscatter and Doppler tissue imaging

Objective: To construct an animal model of chronic ischemic myocardium, and evaluate it by ultrasonic integrated backscatter (IBS) and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI). Methods: An Ameroid constrictor was placed around the porcine left circumflex coronary artery (LCX). The calibrated average image intensity (%AII), cyclic variation of IBS (CVIB), transmural gradient index (TGI) of CVIB in lateral-posterior wall (LPW), and DTI spectrum of LPW in left ventricular papillary muscle level short axis view (LVPM-SAM) and apical four chamber view (AP-4CV) at normal state, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks postoperatively were measured. Results: Normal %AII, CVIB and TGI were 2.29±0.32, 9.69±2.22dB and 0.22±0.08, respectively. The %AII increased gradually postoperatively. The CVIB decreased also gradually, and the decrease was higher in subepicardium than in subendocardium. Most of TGI decrease occurred from 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively and became zero at 8 weeks (P<0.01); Normal V S (peak systolic velocity) of AP-4CV was higher than that of LVPM-SAM (P<0.01). V E (peak early diastolic velocity) of AP-4CV was lower than that of LVPM-SAM (P<0.05). V S and V E were all decreased after operation (P<0.01). The decrease of V S in AP-4CV was greater than that in LVPM-SAM. Conclusion: The pathological changes of the myocardium in human ischemic heart disease (IHD) are similar to that of Ameriod model. IBS and DTI can detect echo changes and ventricular wall motion in chronic ischemic myocardium, and provide more information for clinical investigation and treatment of IHD.

Value of Pulsed Tissue Doppler Imaging in Predicting the Presence of Significant Coronary Artery Insufficiency

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a paramount cause of death. Global and regional left ventricular (LV) systolic function is an important non-invasive marker of CAD. We can use tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to measure the low velocities generated by myocardium which are: S'-wave, E'-wave, and A'-wave. We aimed to examine the value of the S'-wave dispersion of TDI across mitral valve annular velocities to predict angiographically significant coronary artery obstruction. Patients and Methods: We included 100 patients with symptoms suggesting CAD. All patients had undergone full history taken and clinical examination;ECG, echocardiographic with assessment of LV function, and Doppler derived mitral valve velocities;TDI with measuring of S'-wave and coronary angiography. Lesions with ≥70% or more stenosis in major epicardial artery or ≥50% stenosis in the left main coronary artery were considered significant. Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of significant coronary stenosis. Results: Clinical and conventional echocardiographic and Tissue Doppler measures were comparable between the two groups;there was statisticallysignificant difference between Group I and Group II (P value;patients with significant coronary arteries lesions have higher S' wave dispersion as compared with patients with normal or mild significant coronary lesions. Conclusion: S'-wave dispersion may consider a good predictor of angiographically significant coronary artery disease.

Doppler Tissue Imaging Assessment of Left Ventricular Systolic Dyssynchrony in Severe Heart Failure Patients With a Normal QRS Duration

Objectives To assess the prevalence of systolic dyssynchrony of the left ventricular （LV） walls in patients of heart failure（HF） with a normal QRS duration by Doppler tissue imaging （DTI）. Methods 20 patients of HF with a normal QRS duration and 20 healthy individuals were investigated with DTI to quantitatively analyze their pulsed-wave Doppler spectrum of basal and middle segments in six walls of left ventricle. The time between the onset of the QRS complex of the surface ECG and the onset of the systolic wave of pulsed-wave Doppler spectrum was measured （TS）. LV systolic synchronization was assessed by the maximal difference （MD） in time of TS, the standard deviation （SD） and the coefficient of variation （CV） of TS in the all 12 LV segments. Results When a TS-MD of TS〉 53.08 ms, a TS-SD of TS 〉18.08 ms and a TS-CV of TS 〉 0.91 （＋1.65 SD of normal controls） was used to define significant systolic dyssynchrony, the prevalence of systolic dyssynchrony was 55.0 %, 55.0 % and 55.0 %, respectively, in the HF patients group, significantly higher than those in the normal control and the locations of delayed contraction of these patients were different. Conclusions LV systolic dyssynchrony could be commonly demonstrated by DTI in HF patients with a normal QRS duration. This finding will support the view about the possibility that more HF patients could benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Pulsed Doppler Tissue Imaging for Assessment of Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Synchronicity in Normal Subjects

Objectives To quantitatively analyze the longitudinal myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities and time intervals of the left ventricle in normal subjects, and to explore the value of pulsed Doppler tissue imaging （DTI） for the assessment of left ventricular systolic and diastolic synchronicity. Methods Twenty and six healthy subjects were studied by pulsed DTI. The septal and lateral, anterior and inferior walls of the left ventricle were displayed respectively, and basal and middle segments of each wall were selected for myocardial motion spectrum sampling. DTI parameters were： peak systolic myocardial velocity （s）, regional pre-ejection period （PEP）, time to the peak of s wave （Ts）, regional ejection time （ET） ; peak early diastolic velocity （e）, peak late diastolic velocity （a）, e/a ratio, time to the beginning of e wave （QE）, time to the peak of e wave （Te） and regional isovolumic relaxation time （IVRT）. Results The e and e/a were significantly different among basal segments, and s and e/a were significantly different among middle segments, with the highest value in lateral segments and the lowest value in septal segments. The s, e and a were all significantly higher in basal segments than middle segments. None of the systolic time intervals （PEP, Ts and ET） and diastolic time intervals （QE, Te and IVRT） were significantly different among basal segments and middle segments, neither were they when basal segment was compared with middle segment. Conclusions In normal subjects, the longitudinal myocardial systolic and diastolic velocities of the left ventricle are not homogeneous, but the contraction and relaxation are highly synchronized. Pulsed DTI can be used to quantitatively analyze the systolic and diastolic synchronicity of the heart.

In Vitro Validation of Tissue Doppler Left Ventricular Regional Wall Velocities by Using a Novel Balloon Phantom

To investigate the validity and accuracy of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) using a novel balloon phantom, validation of TDI myocardial velocity measurements has been carried out indirectly from conventional M mode images. However it is not a true and independent gold standard. We described a new TDI validation method by using a specially developed left ventricular balloon model mounted in a water bath and constructed using two pear shaped balloons. It was connected to a pulsatile flow pump at 8 stroke volumes (50-85 ml/beat). The displacement and velocity of the balloon walls were recorded simultaneously by video imaging and TDI on a GE Vingmed System Five with a 5 MHz phased array probe at the highest frame rates available. Conventional M mode and 2 D imaging verified that our balloon model mimicked the shape and wall motion of left ventricle. There was a good correlation and agreement between the maximum video excursion of the anterior and posterior walls of the phantom and the results of the temporal integration of digital distance data by TDI (Anterior wall: r =0.97, SEE=0.24 mm, ±s =0.04±0.24 mm; Posterior wall: r =0.95, SEE=0.22 mm, ±s =0.03±0.24 mm). Analysis of the velocity profile by the TDI method showed that the velocity at each measured point was correlated well with the velocity obtained from the video images (Anterior wall: r =0.97, SEE=0.30 mm, ±s =-0.04±0.28 mm; Posterior wall: r =0.97, SEE=0.30 mm, ±s =0.04±0.28 mm). Our balloon model provided a new independent method for the validation of TDI data. This study demonstrated that the present TDI system is reliable for measuring wall motion distance and velocity.

Tissue Doppler Study before and after PCI in Patients with Chronic Stable Angina and Apparent Normal Ventricular Function for Evaluation of Myocardial Function

Background: This study aimed to determine the impact of the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on myocardial function assessed by tissue Doppler echocardiography. Methods: Conventional two-dimensional echocardiography and Myocardial tissue peak velocities were recorded at the lateral, ant.septal, post.septal, posterior, ant. and inferior angles of the mitral annulus as well as at the lateral tricuspid annulus by pulsed-wave tissue Doppler echocardiography before PCI, as well as 1 day and 6 weeks after intervention. Results: Fifty consecutive patients with chronic stable angina and preserved systolic left ventricular function (mean age, 58.3 ± 6.594 years;32 men) undergoing PCI were studied. Conventional echocardiographic revealed no statistically significant difference between pre- and post-PCI (1 day after PCI and 6 weeks after PCI) as regarding trans-mitral and trans-tricuspid flow velocities except as regarding LVEDD, LVESD and LVEF which showed a significant improvement post-PCI. Compared with pre-interventional values, systolic peak velocity and early diastolic velocities improved at all sites (P ≤ 0.05 for each). The most pronounced improvement occurred in the septal area. Similarly, late diastolic velocities improved at all sites (P ≤ 0.05 for each) except at post Wall A’. Also, there was a significant improvement of E’DT & E’/A’ ratio after PCI (P value is significant <0.05 for each) but there was insignificant difference between pre & post PCI for E/E’ (P-value = 0.154). There was a significant improvement in tissue Doppler measures of early, late diastolic function and E’/A’ at the lateral tricuspid annulus after PCI compared with baseline values (P value is significant <0.05) but there was an insignificant change in tissue Doppler measures at the lateral tricuspid annulus of E’DT & E/E’ after PCI (repeated measures ANOVA P-value is >0.05 for each). There were significant reductions in IVRT, IVCT & MPI after PCI (P value is significant <0.05 for each) but there was insignificant change in ET after PCI (P-value = 0.09) at the septal angle of the mitral annulus and the lateral angle of the tricuspid annulus. Conclusions: Tissue Doppler parameters of diastolic and systolic function improve early after successful PCI, and this effect persists to 6 weeks after the intervention that emphasizes its value in the improvement of regional and global LV functions and myocardial contractility.

Tissue Doppler imaging study of right ventricular myocardial systolic activation in subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background Tissue Doppler imaging （TDI） has provided an objective means to quantify global and regional left ventricular （LV） and right ventricular （RV） function with improved accuracy and greater reproducibility than conventional echocardiography. This study was conducted to assess RV myocardial systolic activation by TDI in subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension （PAH）. Methods A total of 30 patients with PAH and 30 healthy volunteers, all comparable in age and sex, underwent standard Doppler echo and TDI. Using pulsed Doppler echocardiography combined with TDI, the following regional parameters were evaluated in three different myocardial segments （RV basal lateral wall, basal septal, and LV basal lateral） on apical 4-chamber view： systolic （Sm）, early- and late-diastolic （Em and Am） peak velocities. RV myocardial systolic activation delay was defined as the difference in time to peak TDI systolic velocities between the RV basal lateral wall and basal septal. In addition, RV end-diastolic and end-systolic areas were measured to calculate RV fractional area change from the same apical 4-chamber view. Results Compared with the control group, patients with PAH showed increased RA and RV end-diastolic diameter （RA： （4.5±1.2）cm vs （3.0±0.8）cm, P〈0.05 and RV： （4.8±1.9）cm vs （3.4±0.5）cm, P〈0.05） and reduced RV fractional area change; （35±14）% vs （56±9）%, P〈0.05. These PAH patients showed lower myocardial peak velocities and a significant activation delay compared with controls （P〈0.05）. Moreover, a strong correlation between RV myocardial systolic activation delay and RV fractional area change was shown in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension （r = -0.82）. Conclusions In PAH, RV myocardial systolic activation was markedly delayed, which was directly related to the RV fractional area change. RV myocardial systolic activation delay assessed by TDI could offer a unique approach to predict RV dysfunction.

Effect of Shenmai Injection(参麦注射液)on Ventricular Diastolic Function in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure:An Assessment by Tissue Doppler Imaging

Objective：To assess the effect of Shenmai Injection（参麦注射液,SMI） on left ventricular diastolic function（LVDF） in patients with chronic heart failure（CHF） by tissue Doppler imaging（TDI）.Methods：Sixty-four CHF patients were randomly assigned to two groups,the observation group and the control group.Basic treatment including polarized liquid therapy was given to all the patients.In addition,SMI was given to patients of the observation group.The treatment duration was 14 days.TDI was performed in all the patients 3 days prior to the initiation of the treatment and one week after the medication to measure the average movement velocity of the mitral ring of the left ventricle at the early systolic stage and late diastolic stage（Ea and Aa）;the outcomes were compared with the corresponding parameters obtained from blood flow Doppler echocardiography, namely,the velocity of the E-wave（E） and A-wave（A）.Results：After treatment,Ea and Ea/Aa increased and Aa decreased significantly in the observation group（P〈0.05）.In the control group,although some improvement was seen,there was no statistically significant change（P〉0.05）.No statistical significance was shown between groups in these parameters after treatment.Conclusion：TDI assessment shows that SMI could effectively improve the LVDF in CHF patients.

Early Changes in Atrial Electromechanical Coupling in Patients with Hypertension： Assessment by Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background： Hypertension （HT） is associated with atrial electrophysiological abnormalities. Echocardiographic pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging （TDI） is one of the noninvasive methods for evaluation of atrial electromechanical properties. The aims of our study were to investigate the early changes in atrial electromechanical conduction in patients with HT and to assess the parameters that affect atrial electromechanical conduction. Methods： Seventy-six patients with HT （41 males, mean age 52.6 i 9.0 years） and 41 controls （22 males, mean age 49.8 ± 7.9 years） were included in the study. Atrial electromechanical coupling at the right （PRA）, left （PLA）, interatrial septum （PIS） were measured with TDI. Intra- （right： PIS-PRA, left： PLA-PIS） and inter-atrial （PLA-PRA） electromechanical delays were calculated. Maximum P-wave duration （Pmax） was calculated from 12-lead electrocardiogram. Results： Atrial electromechanical coupling at PLA （76.6 ± 14.1 ms vs. 82.9 ±15.8 ms, P - 0.036）, left intra-atrial （10.9 ±5.0 ms vs. 14.0 ± 9.7 ms, P = 0.023）, right intra-atrial （10.6 ± 7.8 ms vs. 14.5 ± 10.1 ms, P= 0.035）, and interatrial electromechanical （21.4± 9.8 ms vs. 28.3 ± 12.7 ms, P = 0.003） delays were significantly longer in patients with HT. The linear regression analysis showed that left ventricular （LV） mass index and Pmax were significantly associated with PLA （P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively）, and the LV mass index was the only related factor for interatrial delay （1~ = 0.001）. Conclusions： Intra- and interatrial electromechanical delay, PLA were significantly prolonged in hypertensive patients. LV mass index and Pmax were significantly associated with PLA, and the LV mass index was the only related factor for interatrial delay. The atrial TDI can be a valuable method to assess the early changes of atrial electromechanical conduction properties in those patients.

Cardiac function evaluated by Tei index of tissue doppler imaging and brain natriuretic peptide in patients with acute coronary syndrome and hyperglycemia

Background Recent studies demonstrated that N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide（NT-pro BNP） increases in patients with diabetes mellitus and raised concerns about the diagnostic validity of NT-pro BNP in assessment of cardiac function in patients with hyperglycemia.Current investigation was carried out to observe the influence of hyperglycemia on the correlation of NT-pro BNP and cardiac function index in patients with acute coronary syndrome（ACS）.Methods Fifty patients with ACS were enrolled and divided into hyperglycemia group（fasting plasma glucose（FPG） ≥ 6.1 mmol/L） and euglycemia group（FPG 〈 6.1 mmol/L）.All the patients underwent routine transthoracic ecocardiagraphy and tissue Doppler imaging（TDI） investigation.Blood sample were obtained with 24 hours of hospitalization for measuring of NT-proBNP level.Relation between TDI-Tei index and the level of NT-proBNP were analyzed in the two groups respectively.Result TDI-Tei index,systolic index and diastolic index were all significantly higher in hyperglycemia group than that in euglycemia group（0.679 ± 0.139 vs 0.600 ± 0.093,P = 0.022;0.294 ± 0.074 vs 0.258 ± 0.035,P = 0.036;0.385 ± 0.069 vs 0.342 ± 0.068,P = 0.032）.TDI-Tei index was significantly negatively correlated with the level of log NT-pro BNP in both hyperglycemia group and euglycemia group（rp = 0.673,P = 0.000;rp = 0.354,P = 0.000）.Conclusions（1）Cardiac function in patients with ACS complicated with hyperglycemia is inferior to that in patients with euglycemia;（2）Assessment of cardiac function with NT-proBNP is reliable in patients with hyperglycemia.

Autostrain RV技术联合TDI-Tei指数对肺心病患者右心室收缩功能的评估价值

目的 探讨右心室自动应变定量技术(Autostrain RV)联合组织多普勒(TDI)-Tei指数对慢性肺源性心脏病(CPHD)患者右心室收缩功能的评估价值。方法 根据肺动脉收缩压(PASP)将111例CPHD伴三尖瓣反流患者分为3组:A组(35~49 mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)40例,B组(50~69 mmHg)36例,C组(≥70 mmHg)35例,纳入同期40名健康体检者作为对照组,测量4组常规超声参数及TDI-Tei指数,应用Autostrain RV技术获取右心室整体长轴应变(RV4CSL)、右心室游离壁纵向应变(RVFWSL)、游离壁基底部纵向应变(B-RVFWSL)、中部纵向应变(M-RVFWSL)及心尖部纵向应变(A-RVFWSL)数据,比较各组间差异。结果 与对照组相比,A、B、C组RV4CSL、RVFWSL、B-RVFWSL、M-RVFWSL、A-RVFWSL绝对值及三尖瓣环收缩期平面位移(TAPSE)均减小(P<0.05),且随着PASP升高依次降低,TDI-Tei指数升高(P<0.05),且随着PASP升高依次升高,组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。相关分析显示TDI-Tei指数与RVFWSL相关性较高(r=0.553,P<0.001)。ROC曲线显示Autostrain RV技术、TDI-Tei指数单独及联合评估右心室收缩功能的AUC均大于0.70,联合评估价值更高。结论 Autostrain RV技术能够敏感、准确地评价CPHD患者早期心肌功能障碍,联合TDI-Tei指数可进一步提高评估效能,为临床及时干预提供客观依据。

心脏超声组织多普勒成像早期识别脓毒性心功能障碍的价值

目的比较传统二维超声和组织多普勒成像(TDI)对早期识别脓毒性心脏功能障碍的价值。方法纳入2015年1月至2017年1月就诊于遵义医科大学附属医院重症医学科并诊断为脓毒症或脓毒性休克的患者,分为脓毒症组(n=40)和脓毒性休克组(n=30),以性别、年龄及体重指数匹配的健康人群作为对照组(n=40),并在入院24 h内同时进行床旁传统二维超声和TDI检查,并收集相关超声指标。结果3组研究对象比较发现,脓毒症组和脓毒性休克组的心率及体温均较对照组明显升高;脓毒性休克组平均动脉压(MAP)较对照组明显降低;与脓毒症组相比,脓毒性休克组血Lac、cTn-I、CRP及PCT水平更高,机械通气和使用缩血管药物(去甲肾上腺素、肾上腺素、多巴胺)的比例更高,心率明显增加及MAP明显降低。传统二维超声检测的心功能指标LVEDD、LVESD、LVEF、RVs、RVd在3组之间无显著统计学差异,脓毒症组和脓毒性休克组的E_(2)/A_(2)和E_(3)/A_(3)明显低于对照组,且脓毒性休克组E_(2)/A_(2)明显低于脓毒症组。TDI检测发现,Am、e′、a′在3组中无显著统计学差异;脓毒症组和脓毒性休克组的Sm、Em、Em/Am、s′、e′/a′明显低于对照组,LVMPI和RVMPI在脓毒症组和脓毒性休克组明显高于对照组;脓毒性休克组的Sm、Em/Am、s′、e′/a′低于脓毒症组,但脓毒性休克组的LVMPI明显高于脓毒症。结论传统二维超声和TDI均可早期检测到脓毒症心脏舒张功能异常,而在心脏收缩功能方面,TDI更具优势。