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Objective To explore the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) technology in evaluating carotid atherosclerosis and left ventricular function in elderly patients with coronary artery disease(CAD) and hypertension. Methods The general data of 82 inpatients with CAD were retrospectively analyzed. According to the presence or absence of hypertension, these patients were divided into CAD+HT group (CAD complicated with hypertension, 35 cases) and CAD group (47 cases). Meanwhile, 45 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. All subjects underwent 3D-STE examination. The conventional echocardiographic parameters, echocardiographic ventricular morphology, 3D-STE related parameters, and left ventricular segmental strain values in different groups were comparatively analyzed. Results Diameter of left anterior descending branch, LAV, IVST, LVPWTd, RWT, LVMI and LVEDd of the CAD+HT group were all significantly higher than those of the CAD group and the control group. LVEF and E / A were both lower than those of the other groups (P<0. 05). There were significant differences between the CAD group and the control group in terms of the diameter of left anterior descending branch, LVEDd, IVST, E / A, and LVEF ( P < 0. 05 ). The normal rate of ventricular morphology in the CAD+HT group was significantly lower than that in the CAD group and the control group; the proportions of centripetal remodeling in the CAD+HT group and the CAD group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0. 05). The spherical index, LVM, GLS, GCS and GAS of the CAD+HT group were all significantly higher than those of the CAD group and the control group while GRS was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P<0. 05). There were significant differences in GLS and GCS between the CAD group and the control group (P<0. 05). The strain values of the basal, middle, and apical segment in the CAD+HT group and the CAD group were significantly higher than those of the control group; the strain values of the anterior, lateral and posterior wall of the basal segment, and the values of the anterior and lateral wall of the middle segment in the CAD+HT group were significantly higher than those in the CAD group (P<0. 05). Conclusion The technology of 3D-STE can provide objective and reliable data for evaluating segmental ventricular dyskinesia in elderly patients with CAD and hypertension. It can also be used as an important method for evaluating carotid atherosclerosis and left ventricular function damage in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Breast cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common malignant tumor in women. Early breast cancer patient can achieve a long survival time after comprehensive treatment, however the cardiotoxicity caused by radiotherapy may affect its long-term prognosis. Therefore, early monitoring of radiation-induced heart disease is important for improving the survival of breast cancer patients. Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is a new technique to study myocardial deformation. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a good parameter for evaluating early cardiotoxicity caused by radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of GLS in evaluating radiotherapy-induced early cardiotoxicity in breast cancer. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched by computer from January 2010 to March 2022. According to the pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria, screening studies was performed using GLS and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to evaluate myocardial function changes during and after radiotherapy for breast cancer. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction. Review Manager5.4 analysis software was used for data analysis. Results: Finally, 9 studies were included, involving a total of 543 patients. Meta-analysis results showed that LVEF of patients with left breast cancer decreased slightly immediately after radiotherapy, and WMD was -0.98. LVEF of those patients increased at 6 months after radiotherapy, and the WMD was -0.83, which was still lower than baseline. LVEF was almost unchangeable after radiotherapy for right breast cancer. GLS of left-sided breast cancer patients decreased significantly immediately after radiotherapy, at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after radiotherapy, and WMD was 1.57, 1.84, 1.04 and 1.69, respectively. The differences were statistically significant. There was no significant heterogeneity among the studies. However, there was no significant change in GLS after radiotherapy for right breast cancer. There was no significant difference in GLSr between breast cancers of different sides. Conclusion: GLS may be a good predictor of radiation-induced heart disease in patients with left-sided breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the application value of real time three dimensional speckle tracking (3D STE) technology in evaluating left ventricular systolic function of asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) and normal ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods A total of 51 asymptomatic patients with T2DM and normal LVEF who visited the clinic from September 2018 to September 2020 were selected as the case group (T2DM group), and 48 healthy volunteers with physical examination were selected as the control group during the same period. Two groups of subjects were left with conventional two dimensional ultrasound parameters [left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular mass index (LVMD, left ventricular LVEF] and 3D STE data [left ventricular global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS), left ventricular global circumferential systolic strain (GCS), left ventricular global radial systolic strain (GRS), and left ventricular global area contraction periodic s train (GAS) and offline analysis]. The T2DM group was followed up for 2 years, and the above mentioned conventional two dimensional ultrasound parameters and 3D STE strain data were also retained. Results Compared with the control group, the values of LVEDV, LVESV, LVEF, LVMI and GRS in the T2DM group had no significant changes, and the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05); the values of GLS, GCS and GAS were significantly reduced, and the differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05). After 2 years of follow up, the values of LVEDV, LVESV and LVEF in the T2DM group had no significant changes compared with the control group, and the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05); while the values of LVMI were increased compared with the control group,and the values of GLS,GAS,GRS and GCS were decreased significantly compared with the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion 3D STE technology can accurately evaluate the overall left ventricular systolic function of asymptomatic T2DM patients with normal LVEF, and provide an important clinic basis for the later treatment of T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To detect left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) by two-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE), to explore the value and significance of 2D-STE for KD follow-up, and to analyze LV systolic function changes after KD and to find out whether there is a relationship between risk factors for acute coronary artery disease (CALs) in KD. Methods A total of 38 patients with KD for at least 6 months (KD group) were enrolled. Patients with KD with coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) were assigned to group KD, and patients with mild to moderate CALs were group B. Others were named group C. Meanwhile 50 normal age-matched subjects were selected as the control group. The 2D-STE technique was used to evaluate the longitudinal strain in each subgroup and the control group. We analyzed whether there were differences in different segment longitudinal strain between the KD subgroup and the control group. We investigated whether the risk factors related to CALs in acute KD had an effect on myocardial contractile function in the late stage of KD. Results (1) The LV basal segment, middle segment, apical segment and longitudinal strain value of KD subgroup were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and the strain values of the segments in group A were the lowest. Compared with group B and C, there were statistically significant differences in each segment and overall strain in group A (P < 0.05), and LV basal segment and overall strain in group B were lower than group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the above subjects with conventional echocardiography (P > 0.05). (2) In the KD group, PLT changes in the acute phase and showed impact on later LVGLS. The regression model was: LVGLS=19.66-0.36PLT. (3) There was no statistical difference in standard echocardiography index and basic information between the KD group and the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Patients with KD over 6 months have different degrees of left systolic disfunction, and the more severe the CALs, the lower strain value. 2D-STE can find subclinical changes of LV systolic function in KD, and could be an important reference technique for KD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To discuss the clinical value and accuracy of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) for the evaluation of left ventricular systolic function of the coronary slow flow (CSF) by assessing left ventricular layer-specific myocardial strains in patients with CSF. Methods CSF group contained 41 patients with CSF, and 59 patients with normal coronary angiography results were involved as the control group. All 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiographic images from 6 standard views (apical views of long-axis, 4-chamber, and 2-chamber; parasternal short-axis views of mitral valve, papillary muscle, and apical level) were acquired for offline analysis. Layer-specific strain from endocardium, mid-myocardium and epicardium of LV wall was analyzed by 2D-STE software. Layer-specific global longitudinal strains (GLS) and global circumferential strains (GCS) were assessed at endocardium, midmyocardium and epicardium by 2D-STE. The transmural gradient between endocardial and epicardial (△GLS, △GCS) were calculated. Results GLS and GCS of each myocardium showed gradient descent, which is subendocardium>midmyocardium>subepicardium in both CSF group and control group. As comparing to the control group, GLS and △GLS in CSF group were significantly lower (P<0.05); especially the endocardial GLS and △GLS (P<0. 001 ). There were no significant difference in both GCS and △GCS between CSF group and control group. The AUC of △GLS was biggest (AUC=0.766, P<0. 001), and when the cut off value was -4. 87%, the sensitivity and the specificity was 66.7% and 76.3%, respectively. Conclusions 2D-STE can identify left ventricular 3-layer contractility (especially the subendocardium) by assessing left ventricular layer-specific myocardial strains in patients with CSF. Meantime, lognitudinal transmural gradient △GLS can identify the abnormity of left ventricular contractility in patients with CSF and have the promising prospect of clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the clinical value of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) combined with high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) in early detection of the cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapy drug. Methods Seventy-five non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who received the CHOP regimen were recruited in this study. Conventional echocardiography and 2D-STE were performed on these patients before chemotherapy, the second day after the third course of chemotherapy (during chemotherapy) and the second day after the last course of chemotherapy (after chemotherapy). The parameters included left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), global longitudinal strain (LS), global circumferential strain (CS) and global radial strain (RS). The serum hs-cTNT levels were tested simultaneously. Results lliree cycles of CHOP were completed in 30 patients and 6-8 cycles of CHOP were completed in 45 patients. The LVEF of 75 patients before, during and after chemotherapy was (63.8± 2.6) %, (63. 8 ± 2. 8) % and (64.0±3.3 ) %, respectively, without significant difference (P = 0.91). However, the LS of 75 patients before, during and after chemotherapy was (-18.5±1.7)%, (-16.5± 1.9) % and (-16.0±1.6)%, respectively. The CS was (-20.9±2.9) %, (-19.3±3.5)% and (-19.2± 3.2)%, respectively. The RS was (39.2±6.4)%, (35.3±5.2)% and (35.0±6.2)%, respectively. The hs-cTnT was (0.001 0± 0.002 0) ng/ml, (0.006 3 ±0.008 9) ng/ml and (0.007 3 ±0.003 8) ng/ml, respectively. The LS, CS and RS were significantly decreased while hs-cTnT was significantly increased during chemotherapy when compared to those before chemotherapy (all of P<0.01). Alternatively, the LS, CS, RS and hs-cTnT after chemotherapy were marginally different from those during chemotherapy (all of P>0.05). Moreover, TLS-SD, TCS-SD and TRS-SD showed no significant difference before, during and after chemotherapy (all of P>0.05). The reduction of LS was positively associated with the enhancement of hs-cTnT after chemotherapy (r=0.60, P<0.0l). Conclusion 2D-STE combined with hs-cTnT can effectively and precisely detect the occult cardiotoxicity induced by anthracycline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of the regional wall motion in patients with suspected coronary artery disease by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) and two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). Methods A total of 143 hospitaized patients with suspected coronary artery disease and normal wall motion detected by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) were enrolled and devided into group A (coronary stenosis ≥75%) 73 cases and group B (coronary stenosis < 75%) that include 70 cases according to coronary angiography results. Left ventricular segmental ejection fraction (sEF) was measured by RT-3DE and peak systolic longitudial strain (SL) was measured by 2DSTI. ROC curves of the two measurements were generated and compared. Differences in sEF and SL between group A and group B were respectively analyzed. Results （1）Both sEF of RT-3DE and SL of 2D-STI in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (P＜0.05);（2）sEF was positively correlated with SL(r=0.689，P＜0.05);（3）Compared with SL, sEF had larger area under ROC curve in some segments of left ventricle where both parameters are abnormal for the diagnosis of the coronary stenosis ≥75% (0.922 vs 0.874). Conclusion Regional wall motion of left ventricular can be measured by both RT-3DE and 2D-STI which can be both used to estimate the extend of stenosis of coronary artery. And RT-3DE is superior over 2D-STI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]