Noninvasive pressure-strain loop quantitative assessment of left ventricular function in anemic preterm infants with different modes of respiratory support.

To investigate noninvasive pressure-strain loop (PSL) combined with two-dimensional speck tracking imaging and left ventricular pressure measurement in the evaluation of cardiac function changes in anemia of prematurity (AOP) with different modes of respiratory support, and to explore its value in detecting subclinical myocardial injury in preterm infants. This retrospective study included 79 preterm infants with anemia, according to different modes of respiratory support, who were divided into invasive respiratory support group (39 cases) and noninvasive respiratory support group (40 cases). A control group of 40 nonanemic preterm infants with matched age, sex, and gestational age were also included. Complete echocardiography was performed for each included infant. There are PSL parameters that used to evaluate cardiac function, including global longitudinal strain (GLS), global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) among the three groups were compared. Compared with the control group, the value of GWI, GCW, and GWE were significantly lower and GWW was higher in the AOP groups (P < 0.05), and GWI, GCW and GWE were much significantly lower in the invasive respiratory support group than in the noninvasive respiratory support group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in GLS among the three groups (P > 0.05). Noninvasive PSL analysis can quantitatively assess myocardial work in AOP with different respiratory support, which is more sensitive than other conventional echocardiographic indices. This technique may provide a new method for monitoring subclinical myocardial injury with AOP.

Quantitative evaluation of right ventricular myocardial function changes in patients with atrial septal defect before and after occlusion by noninvasive right ventricular pressure-strain loop.

OBJECTIVE: The noninvasive right ventricular pressure-strain loop (PSL) represents a novel method for the quantitative assessment of right ventricular myocardial function. Given that atrial septal defect (ASD) is a prevalent congenital heart anomaly associated with right ventricular volume overload, this study aimed to quantitatively assess the myocardial function of the right ventricle in ASD patients pre- and post-occlusion by noninvasive right ventricular PSL. METHODS: This study included 36 patients diagnosed with secundum ASD group and 30 healthy adults (control group). We compared conventional right ventricular echocardiographic parameters, right ventricular strain, and myocardial work in the ASD group before occlusion, two days post-occlusion, and three months post-occlusion, with those in the control group. RESULTS: Prior to and two days following occlusion, the ASD group exhibited higher right ventricular global work index (RVGWI), right ventricular global wasted work (RVGWW), and right ventricular global constructive work (RVGCW) compared to the control group (P < .05). Within the ASD group, post-occlusion, RVGWI, RVGCW, and RVGWW values were significantly reduced compared to pre-occlusion values (P < .001). Furthermore, RVGWI and RVGCW showed a significant decrease three months after occlusion compared to two days post-occlusion (P < .05). Multivariate regression analysis identified ASD diameter and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) as independent predictors of RVGWI (ß = .405, P < .001; ß = 2.307, P = .037) and RVGCW(ß = .350, P<.001; ß = 1.967, P = .023). CONCLUSIONS: The noninvasive right ventricular PSL effectively demonstrates the alterations in right ventricular myocardial function in ASD patients, pre- and post-occlusion. The metrics of right ventricular myocardial work (RVMW) offer a novel indicator for evaluating right ventricular myocardial function in these patients. Moreover, ASD diameter and PASP emerge as independent determinants of RVGWI and RVGCW.

Evaluation the Effect of Anthracyclines on Cardiac Function in Children Lymphoma Survivors by Left Ventricular Myocardial Work.

Anthracycline chemotherapy is associated with the left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, but the conventional echocardiographic parameter is insensitive in detecting subclinical cardiac dysfunction, and the role of echocardiography in children cancer survivors (CCSs) has not been well established. Here, the myocardial work (MW) was employed to evaluate the early effect of the anthracyclines on LV function in children lymphoma survivors, as well as to explore the clinical application value of this modality. 51 children lymphoma survivors treated with anthracyclines were included. During the treatments, the echocardiography was performed at baseline (T0 phase), the 3rd (T1 phase) and 6th (T2 phase) chemotherapeutic cycle, respectively. After that, the conventional echocardiographic parameters, LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), and global myocardial work (GMW) parameters were obtained. Finally, these echocardiographic parameters were compared to distinguish the differences among three groups, and correlation analysis was used to identify relationship between GMW parameters and LV GLS. Compared with the baseline, we found that there are no significant differences for LVEF and other conventional echocardiographic parameters after chemotherapy, but the value of LV lateral E/E' increased at T1 and T2 group. The GLS, global work index, global constructed work, and global work efficiency were decreased, while the global wasted work was increased after chemotherapy (all P < 0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the GLS has significant correlation with GMW parameters (all P < 0.001). The MW, as a new noninvasive echocardiography modality, could be used to quantitatively evaluate the LV MW in children lymphoma survivors treated with anthracyclines, which providing a sensitive method to early detect the children's LV dysfunction after the chemotherapy.

Quantitative assessment of left ventricular myocardial work in patients with different types of atrial fibrillation by non-invasive pressure-strain loop technique.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze myocardial work in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using a noninvasive pressure strain loop (PSL) technique to provide a basis for the quantitative assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. METHODS: LV myocardial work of 107 AF patients (56 with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 51 with persistent atrial fibrillation) and 55 healthy individuals were assessed by the noninvasive PSL and then compared. RESULTS: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) in absolute values, global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were significantly lower in the AF group than control group, whereas peak strain dispersion (PSD) and global wasted work (GWW) were significantly higher (P < .05). Further subdivision according to the AF type revealed that, compared with the controls, GLS in absolute values and GWE decreased significantly; PSD and GWW increased significantly in the paroxysmal AF group (P < .05). Nevertheless, GWI and GCW were not significantly different between paroxysmal AF and control groups (P > .05). Compared to paroxysmal AF, persistent AF induced a further decrease in absolute GLS and GWE and a further increase in GWW (P < .05), but PSD did not increase further (P > .05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that GWI and GCW were independently associated with systolic blood pressure. GWW was associated with types of AF and left atrial volume index (LAVI). GWE was correlated with age, types of AF, disease duration, and LAVI. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve predicting myocardial injury was higher for GWE and GWW than for GLS (area under the curve:  .880,  .846, and  .821, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive PSL can quantitatively assess LV systolic function in patients with different kinds of AF and detect early subclinical myocardial injury in patients with paroxysmal AF. GWE and GWW outperform GLS and LV ejection fraction when assessing myocardial injury. Systolic blood pressure, type of AF, LVAI, disease duration, and age may be associated with myocardial injury in patients with AF.

Assessing the early prognosis of heart failure after acute myocardial infarction using left ventricular pressure-strain loop: a prospective randomized controlled clinical study.

Background: The left ventricular pressure-strain loop (LV-PSL) technique, which is noninvasive and independent of pressure load, is more sensitive than is left ventricular speckle tracking imaging in detecting subtle changes in myocardial function. This study evaluated the improvement in cardiac function after application of LV-PSL in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after acute myocardial infarction (MI) treated with sacubitril/valsartan plus dapagliflozin as compared to treatment with sacubitril/valsartan monotherapy. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, open-label study recruited 60 MI survivors with HFrEF between March 2021 and June 2022. The patients were randomly assigned in 1:1 groups, as stratified by center. Patients were randomly categorized into either an observation group [n=30; conventional treatment + 100 mg (49/51 mg) of sacubitril/valsartan, + 10 mg of dapagliflozin] or a control group [n=30; conventional treatment + 100 mg (49/51 mg) of sacubitril/valsartan]. Patients were assessed at three time points: 1 month after discharge (T1), 3 months after discharge (T3), and 6 months after discharge (T6). Two-dimensional ultrasound images were routinely collected, two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging was applied to calculate the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) rate for both groups, and LV-PSL analysis was used for the assessment of myocardial work, including global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work, and global work efficiency. The results at the three follow-up visits were compared with the predischarge results (baseline, T0). Results: Compared with the values at T0, the LV-GLS and left ventricular myocardial work index (LVMWI) values increased in both the observation and control groups at T1, T3, and T6, with GWI and GCW showing significantly greater improvement in the observation group at T6 (GWI: 1,204±336 vs. 987±417 mmHg%, P=0.03; GCW: 1,401±348 vs. 1,206±356 mmHg%, P=0.04). Survival analysis revealed that the overall incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.03). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis including GCW, GWI, GLS, and left ventricular eject fraction (LVEF), GCW emerged as the only independent predictor of occurrence of MACEs (odds ratio =1.08; 95% CI: 0.63-0.93; P<0.001). Conclusions: Sacubitril/valsartan and dapagliflozin combination therapy led to a moderate improvement of cardiac function in patients with post-MI heart failure (P-MI-HF) compared to treatment with sacubitril/valsartan alone. Moreover, LV-PSL analysis can be used to assess the early prognosis of patients with P-MI-HF.

Echocardiographic Myocardial Work: A Novel Method to Assess Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetes Mellitus.

Myocardial ischemia caused by coronary artery disease (CAD) and the presence of metabolic abnormalities and microvascular impairments detected in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are a common cause of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Transthoracic echocardiography is the most-used, non-invasive imaging method for the assessment of myocardial contractility. The accurate evaluation of LV function is crucial for identifying patients who are at high risk or may have worse outcomes. Myocardial work (MW) is emerging as an alternative tool for the evaluation of LV systolic function, providing additional information on cardiac performance when compared to conventional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) because it incorporates deformation and load into its analysis. The potential of MW in various conditions is promising and it has gained increased attention. However, larger studies are necessary to further investigate its role and application before giving an answer to the question of whether it can have widespread implementation into clinical practice. The aim of this review is to summarize the actual knowledge of MW for the analysis of LV dysfunction caused by myocardial ischemia and hyperglycemia.

Study of stress-strain loops on cardiotoxicity related to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on left ventricular myocardial work by pressure-strain loop (PSL). METHODS: Forty-three immunotherapy patients were enrolled in the case group, and another 43 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the control group. They were examined by echocardiography before immunotherapy (T0 phase), after three cycles of treatment (T3 phase) and after six cycles of treatment (T6 phase). Conventional echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), and myocardial work indices, including global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE), were collected for analysis to compare the results of the different immunotherapy cycles. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences of baseline characteristics, conventional echocardiographic parameters, left ventricular strain, and myocardial work indices between T0 phase and control group (all p > .05). There were no statistically significant differences in LVEF between T0, T3, and T6 phase (all p > .05). GLS, GWI, GCW, and GWE were decreased and GWW was increased in T3 and T6 phase. There were no statistically significant difference between GLS in T3 and T0 phase (q = .9057, p > .05). The difference was statistically significant between GLS in T6 and T0 phase (q = 5.5651, p < .01). The difference was statistically significant between GLS in T3 and T6phase(q = 4.6594, p < .01). There were statistically significant difference in GWI, GCW, GWE, and GWW in the T3 and T6 phase compared with the T0 phase (p < .01). CONCLUSION: PSL can effectively evaluate the effect of ICIs on left ventricular myocardial work, to provide a new method for the early clinical detection of ICIs-related cardiotoxicity.

Non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop study on cardiac fibrosis in primary aldosteronism: a comparative study with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

We investigated the potential diagnostic value of the myocardial work indices based on speckle tracking echocardiography for cardiac fibrosis in patients with primary aldosteronism. Our observational study included 48 patients with primary aldosteronism. We performed conventional echocardiography and the left ventricular pressure-strain loop analysis. We also performed cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate cardiac replacement fibrosis defined as late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). Patients with LGE (n = 30, 62.5%) had longer duration of hypertension and higher plasma NT-proBNP than those without LGE. Besides, they had a significantly (P ≤ 0.04) higher left ventricular mass index (121.3 ± 19.5 vs. 103.3 ± 20.0 g/m2) and global wasted work (205 ± 78 vs. 141 ± 36 mmHg%) and lower global longitudinal strain (-17.7 ± 1.8 vs. -19.0 ± 2.4%) and work efficiency (GWE, 90.9 ± 2.4 vs. 93.8 ± 1.5%). Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis showed that GWE ≤ 92% had a sensitivity and specificity of 76.7% and 83.3%, respectively, for LGE with the area under curve 0.85 (P < 0.001). In conclusion, both cardiac structure and function were impaired in patients with primary aldosteronism and cardiac fibrosis. The myocardial work index GWE showed significant value for the indication of cardiac fibrosis. Characterization of cardiac fibrosis in primary aldosteronism and the detective value of clinical and echocardiographic indices. Cardiac fibrosis was presented in 30 of the 48 analyzed primary aldosteronism patients with focal high signal intensity in mid-layer myocardium in limited segments as its characterization. The global work efficiency (GWE) had a significantly higher detective value for myocardial replacement fibrosis than other measurements such as left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and NT-proBNP.

Myocardial work indices in bileaflet mitral valve prolapse patients.

AIMS: Mechanisms underlying left ventricular dysfunction and arrhythmogenesis in bileaflet mitral valve prolapse (BMVP) patients are not well defined. Myocardial work index (MWI) is a noninvasive assessment that correlates with myocardial oxygen consumption. We aimed to compare global and regional MWI in BMVP patients with normal controls. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this retrospective study, we calculated MWI in BMVP patients and controls using GE EchoPAC (GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL) software. Of 147 BMVP patients (59% women, mean age 54 ± 15 years), 16 had a flail mitral leaflet. There was regional heterogeneity in MWIs, with increased posterolateral trident myocardial work (2099 ± 271 vs. 1895 ± 321 mm Hg%, P = .039), constructive work (2831 ± 366 vs. 2257 ± 338 mm Hg%, P < .001), wasted work (87 [52-194] vs. 71 [42-103] mm Hg%, P = .015), peak systolic strain (-23.0 ± 2.4 vs. -19 ± 3%, P < .001), and reduction in myocardial work efficiency (95.00 [93.50-97.75] vs. 96.75 (95.00-97.75) %, P = 0.020) in 100 BMVP patients compared with age- and sex-matched controls. BMVP patients' basal septal wall MWIs were lower than those of controls. The higher work indices in patients with BMVP were reduced in those who developed flail leaflets. No significant differences in work indices were seen between ventricular arrhythmia and non-arrhythmia BMVP patients. CONCLUSION: Regional differences in MWIs were noted in the BMVP patients compared with controls, with overall reduced myocardial efficiency in the posterolateral trident and basal septal regions. In cross-sectional analysis, MWIs were not different in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Impact of MWI in long-term prognosis needs to be determined.

Global and regional myocardial function assessment in symptomatic patients with chronic coronary syndrome using longitudinal strain and noninvasive myocardial work.

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) derived longitudinal strain (LS) and noninvasive pressure-strain loop (PSL) derived myocardial work (MW) are more sensitive than conventional echocardiographic parameters in quantitative assessment of early myocardial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) global and regional myocardial function in symptomatic chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients using the two promising methods. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on patients with angina or equivalent symptoms before coronary angiography. STE-based LS and PSL-based MW analysis were carried out on each patient for global and regional myocardial function assessment. A total of 102 patients were classified into significant and nonsignificant coronary artery stenosis (CAS) groups. Among global myocardial function parameters, LS had the biggest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.735, with cutoff value of 18.4% (sensitivity, 79.6%; specificity, 72.9%), but remained statistically alike with all MW indices in predicting significant CAS (P>0.05 for all). Among regional myocardial function parameters, both LS and MW indices had predictive value for significant left anterior descending artery (LAD) or left circumflex artery (LCX) stenosis, while only myocardial work efficiency (MWE) for right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis. Both global and regional LS and MW have predictive value for significant CAS, but their value of regionalized assessment varies with specific coronary artery involvement.

Evaluation of global and regional myocardial work in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients by left ventricular pressure-strain loop.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the value of left ventricular (LV) press-strain loop (PSL) in evaluating global and regional myocardial work (MW) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients. METHODS: A total of 30 HCM patients with interventricular septum hypertrophy (HCM group) and 35 healthy subjects (control group) were selected from First Hospital of Qinhuangdao. The general clinical data and conventional ultrasound parameters of two groups were acquired. The MW parameters were analyzed using LV PSL. The regional MW parameters in the HCM group were compared between ventricular septum and the free walls of left ventricle. RESULTS: The epicardial adipose tissue thickness of the HCM group was significantly greater than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Global work efficiency was significantly reduced, while global wasted work was increased in patients with HCM compared with controls (all P < 0.05). The HCM group was compared in the group, to be specific, in the HCM group, the work index, the work efficiency, and the longitudinal strain on the interventricular septum were lower than those on the free wall (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PSL is more effective than LVEF in assessing left ventricular systolic function in HCM and is able to quantify regional myocardial work in the ventricular septum in HCM patients with preserved LVEF, suggesting a novel idea for clinical diagnosis and assessment.

Pressure-strain loops unveil haemodynamics behind mechanical circulatory support systems.

AIMS: Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) systems are increasingly employed in cardiogenic shock and advanced heart failure. A thorough understanding of the complex interactions occurring among heart, vasculature, and device is essential to optimize patient's management. The aim of this study is to explore non-invasive haemodynamic profiling of patients undergoing MCS based on pressure-strain (PS) analysis. METHODS: Clinical and echocardiographic data from consecutive patients undergoing different MCS systems positioning/implantation admitted to the third level cardiological intensive care unit of Siena Hospital from August 2021 to November 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients without a useful echocardiographic exam or without arterial blood pressure recording at the time of echocardiography were excluded. Myocardial work analysis was performed in the included patients. RESULTS: We reviewed 18 patients, of which nine were excluded. Included patients were three patients with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), two patients with durable left ventricular assist device (dLVAD), two patients with Impella®, one patient with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and one patient with ECMO and IABP. Myocardial work analysis was feasible in each included patient. The use of IABP shifted the PS curve rightward and downward. Global work index (GWI) and global wasted work (GWW) decreased after IABP positioning, whereas global work efficiency (GWE) increased. The use of continuous-flow pumps, whether temporaneous (Impella®) or long term (dLVAD), induced a change in the PS loop morphology, with a shift towards a triangular shape. ECMO positioning alone resulted in a narrowing of the PS loop, with a decrease in GWI and GWE and an increase in GWW and mean arterial pressure. The combined used of IABP with ECMO widened the PS loop and improved GWI and GWE. CONCLUSIONS: PS loops analysis in patients undergoing MCS seems to be feasible and may unveil MCS-induced haemodynamic variations. Myocardial work could be used to monitor ventricular-arterial-device coupling and guide tailored MCS management.

Evaluation of left ventricular myocardial work in patients with hyperthyroidism with different heart rates with noninvasive pressure-strain loop based on two-dimensional speck tracking imaging.

Background: We investigated the application value of no-invasive myocardial work in evaluating left ventricular (LV) function in patients with hyperthyroidism. Methods: Sixty-five patients with an initial hyperthyroidism diagnosis were sorted into tachycardia (group TH1, n=31) and without tachycardia (group TH2, n=34) groups. Thirty healthy participants served as the control group (group CON). LV strain parameters and LV myocardial work parameters were evaluated at rest. Each parameter's value in identifying myocardial damage was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves. The correlation of myocardial work parameters with global longitudinal strain (GLS), longitudinal peak strain dispersion (normalized by heart rate, PSDN), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was analyzed. Results: There was no difference in classic echocardiographic parameters between the groups. Compared with that in group CON, GLS decreased in groups TH1 and TH2 (TH1 17.99%±2.21% and TH2: 19.00%±2.85% vs. 20.27%±1.49%; both P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups TH1 and TH2. PSDN increased in groups TH1 and TH2 (TH1 73.13±19.51 ms and TH2 55.06±17.03 vs. 44.13±8.65 ms; both P<0.05); it was higher in group TH1 than in group TH2 (P<0.05). Myocardial global work efficiency (GWE) decreased in groups TH1 and TH2 {TH1 95% [interquartile range (IQR), 94-95%] and TH2 96% (IQR, 95-97%) vs. 97% (IQR, 96-97%); both P<0.05}; it was lower in group TH1 than in group TH2 (P<0.05). Global constructive work (GCW) decreased in group TH1 (1,865.29±284.13 vs. 2,030.33±252.52 mmHg%; P<0.05), but was not different from that in group TH2; there was no difference between groups TH2 and CON. Global wasted work (GWW) increased in groups TH1 and TH2 [TH1 83.00 (IQR, 74.00-97.00) mmHg% and TH2 69.50 (IQR, 51.25-84.25) vs. 50.50 (IQR, 40.75-65.25) mmHg%; both P<0.05]; it was higher in group TH1 than in group TH2 (P<0.05). The area under the GWE curve was the largest (area under the curve =0.835), and the optimal cutoff point was 96.5%, with a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.70. GWE and GCW were positively correlated with GLS and negatively correlated with PSDN. GWW was negatively correlated with GLS and positively correlated with PSDN. In group CON, GCW and GWW were positively correlated with SBP; GWE was not correlated with SBP. In groups TH1 and TH2, GCW was positively correlated with SBP, but not with GWW or GWE. Conclusions: Hyperthyroidism can significantly decrease the GWE and increase GWW of the left ventricle. This change is more pronounced in patients with tachycardia. Myocardial work could be a novel method for the evaluation of LV myocardial function in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Echocardiographic Study of Left Ventricular Pressure-Strain Loop in Evaluating Changes in Left Ventricular Myocardial Work in Breast Cancer Patients After Chemotherapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the left ventricular (LV) myocardial work (MW) in breast cancer patients following chemotherapy by left ventricular pressure-strain loop (LVPSL).A total of 50 patients with newly breast cancer undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy containing anthracycline were selected. Echocardiography was performed before the treatment (T0), the second (T2) and fourth (T4) cycles of chemotherapy, and 3 (P3 m) and 6 (P6 m) months after the end of chemotherapy. The standard dynamic images of the required sections were collected. After off-line analysis, the routine, global myocardial strain, and global MW parameters were obtained, and the average regional MW index (RMWI) and regional MW efficiency (RMWE) at three levels of LV were calculated.Compared with those at T0 and T2, the global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work efficiency (GWE), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) gradually decreased and global wasted work (GWW) gradually increased at T4, P0, and P6 m. The mean RMWI and RMWE of the three levels of LV exhibited a gradually decreasing trend at T4, P0, and P6 m compared with those at T0 and T2. The GWI, GCW, GWE, mean RMWI, and RMWE (basal, medial, and apical) were negatively correlated with the GLS (r = -0.76, -0.66, -0.67, -0.76, -0.77, -0.66, -0.67, -0.59, and -0.61, respectively), whereas the GWW was positively correlated with the GLS (r = 0.55).The mean RMWI and RMWE are effective parameters to reflect the cardiotoxicity of LV, and LVPSL has certain value in the evaluation of the left ventricular myocardial work (LVMW) during anthracycline treatment and follow-up in breast cancer patients.

Correlation analysis between myocardial work indices and liver function classification in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis: A study with non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is closely associated with cardiac dysfunction. The aims of this study were to evaluate left ventricular systolic function in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis by non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop (LVPSL) technique, and to explore the correlation between myocardial work indices and liver function classification. Methods: According to the Child-Pugh classification, 90 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were further divided into three groups: Child-Pugh A group (n = 32), Child-Pugh B group (n = 31), and Child-Pugh C group (n = 27). During the same period, 30 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control (CON) group. Myocardial work parameters, which included global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE), were derived from the LVPSL and compared among the four groups. The correlation between myocardial work parameters and Child-Pugh liver function classification was evaluated, and the independent risk factors affecting left ventricular myocardial work in patients with cirrhosis were investigated by univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis. Results: GWI, GCW and GWE of Child-Pugh B and C groups were lower than those of CON group, while GWW was higher than that of CON group, and the changes were more obvious in Child-Pugh C group (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that GWI, GCW, and GWE were negatively correlated with liver function classification to various degrees (r = -0.54, -0.57, and -0.83, respectively, all P < 0.001), while GWW was positively correlated with liver function classification (r = 0.76, P < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that GWE was positively correlated with ALB (ß = 0.17, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with GLS (ß = -0.24, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The changes in the left ventricular systolic function in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were identified using non-invasive LVPSL technology, and myocardial work parameters are significantly correlated with liver function classification. This technique may provide a new method for the evaluation of cardiac function in patients with cirrhosis.

Quantitative Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using the Novel Non-invasive Pressure-Strain Loop.

OBJECTIVE: Current echocardiography evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function, which heralds the prognosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is of limited utility. The non-invasive pressure-strain loop (PSL), an emerging technique, has been found to feasible, sensitive and accurate in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate, using the non-invasive PSL, the right ventricular myocardial work (RVMW) in SLE patients. METHODS: Seventy-five SLE patients were recruited and grouped by pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) into normal (group A, N = 26), mild (group B, N = 22) and moderate to severe (group C, N = 27) groups. Twenty-five healthy volunteers undergoing physical examination were recruited as the control group. Right ventricular global myocardial work index (RVGWI), global constructive work (RVGCW), global wasted work (RVGWW), global work efficiency (RVGWE), global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) and other conventional parameters were measured. DISCUSSION: There were no differences between group A and the control group with respect to RVLS, RVGLS and all RVMW parameters (all p values > 0.05). RVGWI and RVGCW significantly differed among the other groups (all p values < 0.05). RVGWE was significantly lower and RVGWW was significantly higher in group C than in the control group and groups A and B (all p values < 0.05). Compared with the control group, RVGWW was significantly increased and RVGLS was significantly decreased in group B (all p values < 0.05). All but one RVMW parameter moderately to strongly correlated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and World Health Organization Functional Class (WHO-FC). RVGWW (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.893) and RVGWE (AUC = 0.877) were sensitive parameters in detecting earlier cardiac dysfunction in SLE patients. CONCLUSION: RVGWW and RVGWE serve as sensitive and promising parameters in the integrative analysis of early right ventricular dysfunction in SLE patients. To conclude, non-invasive PSL, the novel method, facilitates the quantitative assessment of RVMW in SLE patients.

Clinical research progress of myocardial work in assessment and prediction of coronary artery disease in noninvasive pressure-strain loop technique.

Early identification and treatment of high-risk coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main goal of current cardiovascular disease treatments. Speckle-tracking ultrasound technology can quantify myocardial work using pressure-strain loops. Because myocardial work takes into account the effect of the left ventricular systolic function afterload, it can more objectively reflect left ventricular myocardial mechanical function than the overall left ventricular longitudinal strain. Therefore, this technique is more widely used in diseases caused by CAD. This article reviews the evaluation and prediction of different CAD types using a variety of myocardial work parameters and provides a new method for clinical research to assess myocardial function, which is expected to become a new prediction method for CAD.

Clinical application of non-invasive myocardial work imaging in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with left ventricular remodeling after percutaneous coronary intervention / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To explore the application value of non-invasive myocardial work imaging in evaluating the cardiac function of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with left ventricular remodeling (LVR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods:One hundred and twenty-six patients with STEMI undergoing PCI in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from December 2021 to September 2022 were prospectively collected and divided into left ventricular remodeling group (LVR group, 34 cases) and non left ventricular remodeling group (NLVR group, 92 cases) according to whether there was left ventricular remodeling 3 months after surgery. General data were collected. Routine echocardiography and noninvasive myocardial work imaging were performed before, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery, the differences in the above parameters between the two groups were compared. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the indicators.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors of left ventricular remodeling after STEMI, and a predictive model was obtained. The diagnostic value of the model was judged by ROC curve.Results:①General information comparison: There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, average number of stents implanted, and history of hyperlipidemia (all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in other data (all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE) parameters and non-invasive myocardial work (MW) parameters between the two groups before and 1 week after operation (both P>0.05). ②2D-TTE parameter comparison: LVESV and LVEDV at 3 months after PCI in the LVR group were significantly higher than those in the NLVR group, and LVEF and E/A were significantly lower than those in the NLVR group (all P<0.05); There were no significant differences in other indexes between the two groups by conventional echocardiography at 3 months after PCI(all P>0.05). ③Comparisons of noninvasive myocardial work parameters: GLS, GWE, GWI, GCW at 1 month and 3 months after PCI in the LVR group were significantly lower than those in the NLVR group, and GWW were significantly higher than those in the NLVR group ( P<0.001). ④Correlation analysis: GLS, GWE, GCW, GWI and LVEDV were negatively correlated at 1 month after operation ( r=-0.42, -0.38, -0.50, -0.53, all P<0.001), GWW was positively correlated with LVEDV ( r=0.45, P<0.001). ⑤Logistic regression analysis: GLS<17%, GCW<1 900 mmHg%, GWW>105 mmHg%, and GWE<90 mmHg% at 1 month after PCI were independent predictors for LVR in STEMI patients after PCI (all P<0.05). The predictive model was Logit (P)=0.692GLS+ 0.804GCW+ 0.972GWW+ 0.880GWE. The AUC of this model was 0.886, 95% CI=0.845-0.926, which was significantly higher than single index, the sensitivity was 0.86, and the specificity was 0.79. Conclusions:GLS, GWE, GWI, GCW are positively correlated with LVR, while GWW is negatively correlated with left ventricular remodeling. Noninvasive myocardial work parameters are independent risk factors for left ventricular remodeling in patients with STEMI after PCI surgery. This technique can be used to evaluate LVR and has great clinical application value.

Quantitative evaluation of left ventricular systolic function in hyperglycemia during pregnancy by left ventricular pressure-strain loop / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To detect the changes of left ventricular myocardial work parameters, and evaluate the left ventricular systolic function in patients with hyperglycemia during pregnancy by left ventricular pressure-strain loop (PSL).Methods:From June 2021 to March 2022, 97 pregnant women who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and clinically diagnosed as gestational hyperglycemia were prospectively and randomly selected. According to the blood glucose level, the patients were divided into gestational dominant diabetes mellitus (ODM) group(39 cases) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) group(58 cases). Meanwhile, another 62 healthy pregnant women were selected as control group. The basic clinical data of the pregnant women were collected, and the conventional two-dimensional parameters of the heart were collected. The global longitudinal strain (GLS) was analyzed by two-dimensional speckle tracking technique. Then the cuff blood pressure was used as the left ventricular pressure to construct a non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop. The global myocardial work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW) and global work efficiency (GWE) of each group were calculated and compared. The correlation between myocardial performance parameters and GLS, glycated hemoglobin(HbA 1c) were analyzed, and the independent factors affecting left ventricular systolic function were obtained by Logistic regression analysis. Twenty cases were randomly selected from the study subjects, and the intraclass correlation coefficients(ICC) of within the observers and between observers were calculated for repeatability test. Results:①Conventional ultrasound parameters: There were no significant differences among the three groups (all P>0.05). ②GLS and left ventricular myocardial performance parameters: GWI, GWE, GCW and GLS in GDM and ODM groups were significantly lower than those in control group (all P<0.001), GWW was significantly higher than control group ( P<0.001); GWI, GWE, GCW and GLS in ODM group were lower than those in GDM group (all P<0.001), while GWW was higher than control group ( P<0.001). ③GWE, GWI and GCW were negatively correlated with GLS ( r=-0.525, -0.408, -0.435; all P<0.05), GWW was positively correlated with GLS ( r=0.348, P<0.05). GWE, GWI and GCW were negatively correlated with HbA 1c ( r=-0.325, -0.262, -0.250; all P<0.05), while GWW was positively correlated with HbA 1c ( r=0.175, P<0.05). ④GWE, 1 h oral glucose tolerance test and HbA 1c were the influencing factors of left ventricular systolic function in patients with hyperglycemia during pregnancy. ⑤The predictive values of GWI, GWE, GCW, GWW and GLS for cardiac function in patients with gestational hyperglycemia were high, and the predictive value of GWE was the highest (AUC: 0.87, the best truncation value: 94.5%, specificity: 0.76, sensitivity: 0.82) and better than GLS. ⑥The repeatability of myocardial work parameters was better in both groups. Conclusions:Myocardial work parameters obtained by PSL are early and sensitive parameters for evaluating left ventricular systolic function impairment in patients with hyperglycemia during pregnancy which can provide reliable and objective quantitative indicators for early clinical intervention and improvement of prognosis.

Echocardiographic Reference Ranges of Non-Invasive Myocardial Work Indices in Newborns.

Background: Myocardial work (MCW), estimated using non-invasive pressure-strain loops, is a novel approach for assessing left ventricular function. MCW offers potential advantages over left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain (GLS). This study aimed to establish a reference range for MCW in newborns. Methods and Results: Overall, 113 healthy newborns (mean [±SD] birth weight 3,120±378 g) were included in the study. After entering peripheral systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) values, global constructive work (GCW), global work index (GWI), global work efficiency (GWE), and global wasted work (GWW) were calculated using EchoPAC software (version 204). Considering a mean [±SD] GLS of -16.3±2.8%, the mean [±SD] GWI, GCW, GWW, and GWE was 698.7±147.9 mmHg%, 1,008.5±200.1 mmHg%, 58.1±28.1 mmHg%, and 93.1±2.9%, respectively. All MCW parameters in newborns were lower than those previously reported in children and adults. However, GWI and GCW were more closely correlated with BP and GLS, as in adulthood and children. Estimation of the correlation between MCW and the frame rate index revealed no significant correlations among MCW parameters. Conclusions: Cardiac function in newborns was evaluated by assessing MCW. With the establishment of reference ranges and normative MCW data for newborns, routine clinical use and rotational mechanics are likely to become increasingly common. Future studies are needed to determine whether MCW is useful in screening for cardiac illness among newborns.