In this study we performed Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI), two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) on enrolled healthy, overweight and obese groups (34 subjects in each group), respectively, to analyze cardiac structure and its function. Compared with healthy group, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global area strain(GAS) and global radial strain (GRS) decreased progressively (P＜0.05). The ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to global early diastolic strain rate of left ventricle (E/e′sr) (r=0.466, P＜0.001), GLS(r=0.502, P＜0.001), GCS(r=0.426, P＜0.001), GAS(r=0.535, P＜0.001) and GRS(r=-0.554, P＜0.001) were correlated with body mass index (BMI). E/e′sr (r=0.37, P=0.003), GLS(r=0.455, P＜0.001), GCS(r=0.282, P=0.02), GAS(r=0.412, P＜0.001) and GRS (r=-0.471, P＜0.001) were correlated with free fatty acid (FFA). Stepwise multiple linear regression revealed that BMI was independently correlated with E/e′sr, GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) was independently correlated with GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. FFA was independently correlated with E/e′sr(P＜0.05). The study showed that cardiac structure changed and impaired left ventricular global systolic and diastolic function in overweight and obes population. Moreover, BMI, WHR and FFA may be independent influence factors of cardiac function in overweight and obese population.
Objective To evaluate the changes of right ventricular function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI). Methods Fifty patients with moderate and severe OSAHS were selected for CPAP treatment, and another 40 healthy volunteers were selected as a control group. 2D-STI and traditional echocardiography were conducted in the study group before treatment, after 3 months of continuous treatment and after 6 months of continuous treatment and in the control group. Results The differences between the control subjects and the OSAHS patients were statistically significant in right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS), right ventricular free lateral wall longitudinal strain (RVLLS), apical segment of the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (Apical RV-SL), basal segment of the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (Basal RV-SL), and media segment of the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (Media RV-SL) (all P<0.05). RVGLS, RVLLS and Apical RV-SL were significantly improved after 3 months of CPAP treatment (all P<0.05). Basal RV-SL was significantly improved after 6 months of CPAP treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions The right ventricular function of patients with OSAHS is abnormal. CPAP treatment can improve the right ventricular function of OSAHS patients. 2D-STI can accurately assess the changes of right ventricular function.
Objective To explore the application value of echocardiography in the differential diagnosis of Fabry disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods Baseline data and echocardiographic parameters of Fabry disease patients and HCM patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between January 2022 and January 2024 were selected and compared between groups. The diagnostic ability for Fabry disease and HCM was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve (AUC). Results A total of 16 Fabry disease patients and 41 HCM patients were included. The Fabry disease group had lower age, body mass index, proportion of electrocardiogram abnormalities, and smoking history than the HCM group (P<0.05); the Fabry disease group had a longer medical history than the HCM group (P<0.05). The maximum thickness of the left ventricular myocardium and the ascending aortic diameter in the Fabry group were both smaller than those in the HCM group (P<0.05). The e-peak velocity in the Fabry group was greater than that in the HCM group (P<0.05). For the differential diagnosis of Fabry disease and HCM, the AUC for the e-peak velocity was 0.698 [95% confidence interval (0.502, 0.894), P<0.05], sensitivity was 41.7%, specificity was 100%, and Youden index was 41.7%. When the three factors were combined, both sensitivity and accuracy were significantly higher than the e-peak. The AUC was 0.773 [95% confidence interval (0.585, 0.961), P<0.05], with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 45.5%. There were no statistically significant differences in the 2D-speckle tracking imaging echocardiography parameters between the two groups, including global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle, strain of the apical segment, strain of the basal segment, and so on (P>0.05). Conclusion Echocardiography may have certain significance in the diagnosis of Fabry disease and HCM.