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Objective@#: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy (PECF) using ultrasonic osteotome for the treatment of cervical osseous foraminal stenosis，focusing on introduction of the advantages of ultrasonic osteotome in partial pediculectomy and ventral osteophyte resection in PECF. @*Methods@#: Nineteen patients with cervical osseous foraminal stenosis who underwent PECF using ultrasonic osteotome in our institution between April 2018 and April 2021 were enrolled in this study. All the patients were followed up more than 12 months. The patients’ medical data, as well as pre- and postoperative radiologic findings were thoroughly investigated. The visual analogue score (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, cervical dysfunction index (Neck disability index, NDI), and modified MacNab criteria were used to assess the surgical efficacy. @*Results@#: All the patients were successfully treated with PECF using ultrasonic osteotome. The pre- and postoperative VAS, NDI, and JOA scores were significantly improved (p<0.05). According to the modified MacNab criteria, 17 patients were assessed as “excellent”, two patients were assessed as “good” at the last follow-up. There was no dura tear, nerve root damage, incision infection, neck deformity, or other complications. @*Conclusion@#: Adequate nerve root decompression can be accomplished successfully with the help of ultrasonic osteotome in PECF, which has the advantage of reducing the probability of damage to the nerve root and dura mater, in addition to the original merits of endoscopic surgery.
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Objective To explore the effects of adenosine stress on myocardial perfusion in healthy mice by myocardial contrast echocardiography ( MCE) . Methods MCE was carried out to quantify regional myocardial perfusion at rest and during adenosine stress using a VEVO 2100 system in 26 C57BL/6 mice . Echocardiography images from standardized parasternal long axis and short axis at papillary muscle level were consecutively acquired in real‐time . All dynamic images were recorded for off‐line analysis . Left ventricular myocardial perfusion quantitative parameters were acquired both under resting status and during adenosine stress . Replenishment curves of myocardial contrast were obtained and myocardial blood flow ( MBF) was calculated . Results Twenty‐six experimental animals successfully underwent MCE before and during adenosine stress . T here was no significant difference in heart rate ,left ventricular structure and functional parameters before and during adenosine stress ( all P ＞0 .05) . Rates of signal rise β values which were used to estimate blood velocity of middle anterior septum and posterior wall in left ventricular long‐axis view and anterior wall ,lateral wall ,inferior wall and septal wall in short‐axis view at papillary muscle increased significantly during stress compared with those at rest ( all P ＜0 .05 ) . T here was no significant difference in the plateau intensity A values( all P ＞0 .05 ) . T he MBF in each segment of the myocardium increased significantly during stress compared with those in resting state ( all P ＜0 .05) . Conclusions T he physiological characteristics of myocardial perfusion in mice before and during adenosine stress were preliminarily obtained ,w hich provided a basis for the application of adenosine stress echocardiography in cardiovascular disease models such as coronary heart disease in mice .
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Objective To explore the effects of adenosine stress on myocardial strain in healthy mice by speckle tracking imaging (STI).Methods A high-resolution rodent ultrasound machine Vevo 2100 was used to perform conventional transthoracic echocardiography at baseline and after intravenous infusion of adenosine in 34 C57BL/6 mice.Echocardiography images from standardized parasternal long axis and short axis at papillary muscle level were consecutively acquired in real-time.All dynamic images were recorded for off-line analysis.Left ventricular myocardial mechanical strain parameters were acquired both under resting status and during adenosine stress.Results Thirty-four experimental animals successfully underwent STI before and during adenosine stress. There was no significant difference in heart rate,left ventricular structure and functional parameters between before and after the adenosine stress ( P >0.05).Global peak longitudinal strain value in left ventricular long-axis view was significantly increased during stress compared with those at resting status ( P < 0.05);while there was no significant increase in the global peak circumferential strain and global peak radial strain values in short-axis view at papillary muscle ( P >0.05).Conclusions Myocardial strain is obtained in healthy mice before and after adenosine stress.This provides an evidence to the application of stress echocardiography in mice with coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular disease in the future.
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Objective To assess the reproducibility of contrast-enhanced echocardiography and conventional echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular volume in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Methods One hundred and two patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy were divided into satisfactory image group(36 subjects) and unsatisfactory image group(66 subjects) according to the quality of the recorded images.High frame rate two-dimensional and three-dimensional images were recorded from apical long-axis view,four-chamber view and two-chamber view of left ventricle. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography was performed in the unsatisfactory image group.Two equally experienced examiners measured the LVEF and left ventricular volume in all patients by EchoPac software. Results The reproducibilities of Simpson′s biplane method and 3D full-volume echocardiography were low for measurements of LVEF in unsatisfactory image group ( P < 0.01).But they were improved significantly with contrast-enhanced echocardiography ( P > 0.05 ). The reproducibilities of Simpson′s biplane method and 3D full-volume echocardiography for measurements of left ventricular end-diastolic volume in unsatisfactory image group were also improved by performing contrast-enhanced echocardiography ( P > 0.05). The reproducibilities for measurements of left ventricular end-systolic volume were well in both group.Conclusions The reproducibilities for measurements of LVEF and left ventricular volume are improved in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy with unsatisfactory images by using contrast-enhanced echocardiography.