• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.112-122
• /
• 2022

BACKGROUND: Few studies have utilized right atrial (RA) strain to evaluate right ventricular (RV) diastolic dysfunction in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We aimed to evaluate the associations of RA strain with BPD severity and respiratory outcomes in preterm infants with BPD. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 153 infants with BPD born before 32 weeks of gestational age at CHA Bundang Medical Center. Peak longitudinal right atrial strain (PLRAS) was obtained using velocity vector imaging and compared among infants across BPD severity. Conventional echocardiographic parameters and clinical characteristics were also evaluated. RESULTS: In infants with severe BPD, mean gestational age (27.4 ± 2.1 weeks) and mean birth weight (971.3 ± 305.8 g) were significantly smaller than in those with mild BPD (30.0 ± 0.9 weeks, 1,237.3 ± 132.2 g) and moderate BPD (29.6 ± 1.3 weeks, 1,203.2 ± 214.4 g). PLRAS was significantly lower in infants with severe BPD (26.3 ± 10.1%) than in those in the moderate BPD group (32.4 ± 10.9%) or mild BPD group (31.9 ± 8.3%). Tricuspid E/e' and maximum RA volume index were similar across BPD severity. A decrease in PLRAS was significantly correlated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation duration; however, tricuspid E/e' and maximum RA volume index were not. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating PLRAS with other parameters in infants with BPD might detect RV diastolic dysfunction. Longer follow-up and larger study populations may elucidate the association between PLRAS and respiratory outcomes in infants with BPD.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• 제31권3호
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the residual echocardiographic findings including strain analysis among post-coronavirus disease (COVID) patients. The aim of our study is to prospectively phenotype post-COVID patients. METHODS: All patients discharged following acute COVID infection were systematically followed in the post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital. At 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic assessment. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed by 3D, 2D Biplane Simpson's, or visual estimate. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was measured using a vendor-independent 2D speckle-tracking software (TomTec). RESULTS: A total of 127 patients (53% female, mean age 58 years) were included in our analyses. At baseline, cardiac conditions were present in 58% of the patients (15% coronary artery disease, 4% heart failure, 44% hypertension, 10% atrial fibrillation) while the remainder were free of cardiac conditions. COVID-19 serious complications were present in 79% of the patients (76% pneumonia, 37% intensive care unit admission, 21% intubation, 1% myocarditis). Normal LVEF was seen in 96% of the cohort and 97% had normal right ventricular systolic function. A high proportion (53%) had abnormal LV GLS defined as < 18%. Average LV GLS of septal and inferior segments were lower compared to that of other segments. Among patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions, LVEF was abnormal in only 1.9%, but LV GLS was abnormal in 46% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most post-COVID patients had normal LVEF at 4-18 weeks post diagnosis, but over half had abnormal LV GLS.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.98-104
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) in end-stage renal disease patients and its change after kidney transplantation (KT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent KT between 2007 and 2018 at two tertiary centers. We analyzed 488 patients (median age, 53 years; 58% male) who had obtained echocardiography both before and within 3 years after KT. Conventional echocardiography and LV GLS assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography were comprehensively analyzed. Patients were classified into three groups according to the absolute value of pre-KT LV GLS (|LV GLS|). We compared longitudinal changes of cardiac structure and function according to pre-KT |LV GLS|. RESULTS: Correlation between pre-KT LV EF and |LV GLS| were statistically significant, but the constant was not high (r = 0.292, p < 0.001). |LV GLS| was widely distributed at corresponding LV EF, especially when the LV EF was > 50%. Patients with severely impaired pre-KT |LV GLS| had significantly larger LV dimension, LV mass index, left atrial volume index, and E/e' and lower LV EF, compared to mildly and moderately reduced pre-KT |LV GLS|. After KT, the LV EF, LV mass index, and |LV GLS| were significantly improved in three groups. Patients with severely impaired pre-KT |LV GLS| showed the most prominent improvement of LV EF and |LV GLS| after KT, compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in LV structure and function after KT were observed in patients throughout the full spectrum of pre-KT |LV GLS|.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• 제37권2호
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of the imaging reformation of cone beam computed tomography for the assessment of bone defect healing in rat model. Materials and Methods: Sprague-Dawley strain rats weighing about 350 gms were selected. Then critical size bone defects were done at parietal bone with implantation of collagen sponge. The rats were divided into seven groups of 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 8 weeks. The healing of surgical defect was assessed by multi planar reconstruction (MPR) images and three-dimensional (3-D) images of cone beam computed tomography, compared with soft X-ray radiograph and histopathologic examination. Results: MPR images and 3-D images showed similar reformation of the healing amount at 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks, however, lower reformation at 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks. According to imaging-based methodologies, MPR image revealed similar reformation of the healing amount than 3-D images compare with soft X-ray image. Among the four threshold values for 3-D images, 400-500 HU revealed similar reformation of the healing amount. Histopathologic examination confirmed the newly formed trabeculation correspond with imaging-based methologies. Conclusion: MPR images revealed higher accuracy of the imaging reformation of cone beam computed tomography and cone beam computed tomography is a clinically useful diagnostic tool for the assessment of bone defect healing.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.215-222
• /
• 2011

We discuss the experimental procedure for extracting reliable phase information from a defocus series of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) dark-field images using the transport of intensity equation (TIE). Taking InGaN/GaN multi-quantum well light-emitting diode as a model system, various factors affecting the final result of reconstructed phase such as TEM sample preparation, TEM imaging condition, image alignment, the correction of defocus values and the use of high frequency pass filter are evaluated. The obtained phase of wave function was converted to the geometric phase of the corresponding lattice planes, which was then used for the two-dimensional mapping of lattice strain following the dark-field inline holography (DIH) routine. The strain map obtained by DIH after optimized image processing is compared with that obtained by the geometric phase analysis of high resolution TEM (HRTEM) image, manifesting that DIH yields more accurate and reliable strain information than HRTEM-based GPA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.1447-1452
• /
• 2012

Aim: To evaluate the differential diagnostic potential of lesion stiffness assessed by the sonoelastographic strain index ratio (SR) and elastographic color scoring system (UE) for breast lesions. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and forty two breast masses (158 benign and 184 malignant) from 325 consecutive patients (mean age 44.2 years; range 16-81)who had been scheduled for a sonographically guided core biopsy were examined proposed by Itoh et al, with scoring 1-3=benign and 4-5=malignant. Strain and area ratios of each lesion were calculated within the same machine. Histological diagnosis was used as the reference standard. The area under the curve (AUC) and cut-off point were obtained by receiver operating curve and the cross table Fischer Test was carried out for assessing diagnostic value. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, accuracy and false-discovery rates were compared. Results: The mean strain ratios for benign and malignant lesions were 1.87 and 7.9 respectively. (P<0.0001). When a cutoff point of 3.54 was used, SR had a sensitivity of 94.6%, a specificity 94.3%, a PPV of 95.1%, an NPV of 93.7% and an accuracy of 94.4%. The AUC values were 0.90 for the 5 point scoring system (UE) and 0.96 for the strain index ratio. The overall diagnostic performance was SR method was better (P<0.05). Conclusions: Strain ratio measurement could be another effective predictor in elastography imaging besides 5 the point scoring system for differential diagnosis of breast lesions.

• 비파괴검사학회지
• /
• 제32권5호
• /
• pp.484-493
• /
• 2012

초음파를 사용해 음속도, 감쇠 계수, 밀도, 비선형 B/A 파라미터 등을 측정하여 인체 조직의 특성을 정량적으로 영상화하고자 하는 연구가 1980년대부터 많이 진행되어 왔으나 아직 상용화 단계에는 도달하지 못했다. 하지만 1990년대 초에 시작된 탄성 영상법은 최근 들어 초음파 진단기에 상용화되어 임상에서 B-모드 영상법과 함께 전립선, 유방, 갑상선, 간, 혈관 등을 진단하기 위한 보완적이며 더 정량적인 모드로 사용되고 있는 단계에 진입하였다. 본고에서는 주로 준정적 또는 정적탄성 영상법에 사용되는 여러 가지 알고리듬을 소개하고 특성을 비교하고자 한다. 대부분의 알고리듬은 상호상관함수 또는 자기상관함수 방법에 그 기반을 두고 있으며 전자는 래그를 변화시켜가면서 시간 이동량을 찾지만 후자는 보간 과정 없이 고정된 래그에서의 위상차로부터 시간 이동량을 바로 구해 변위를 추정하는 점이다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.2081-2085
• /
• 2012

Background: To investigate the value of ultrasound elastography (UE) in the differentiation between benign and malignant enlarged cervical lymph nodes (LNs). Methods: B-mode ultrasound, power Doppler imaging and UE were examined to determine LN characteristics. Two kinds of methods, 4 scores of elastographic classification and a strain ratio (SR) were used to evaluate the ultrasound elastograms. Results: The cutoff point of SR had high utility in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant of cervical lymph nodes, with good sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Conclusion: UE is an important aid in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical LNs.

• 한국정밀공학회지
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 1990

Speckle photography is a simple non-contacting method for analysing surface displacement. In its basic form, the object to be studied is illuminated with a beam of laser light from any convenient direction, and a double exposure photography of the surface recorded on the fine-grain film, the object is undergone the displacement to be measured between exposures. Like this, it allows the strain field to be evaluated in two dimensions. A direct experimental comparison of speckle photography with theoretical value on a notched tensile test specimen showed that serious errors could, however, occur due to local surface tilting and due to aberra- tions of the imaging lens. Methods of minimising these effects and those of the speckle de-correlation which occurs by the various conditions are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.431-441
• /
• 2020

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance and interobserver variability of strain ratio obtained from one or two regions of interest (ROI) on breast elastography. Materials and Methods: From April to May 2016, 140 breast masses in 140 patients who underwent conventional ultrasonography (US) with strain elastography followed by US-guided biopsy were evaluated. Three experienced breast radiologists reviewed recorded US and elastography images, measured strain ratios, and categorized them according to the American College of Radiology breast imaging reporting and data system lexicon. Strain ratio was obtained using the 1-ROI method (one ROI drawn on the target mass), and the 2-ROI method (one ROI in the target mass and another in reference fat tissue). The diagnostic performance of the three radiologists among datasets and optimal cut-off values for strain ratios were evaluated. Interobserver variability of strain ratio for each ROI method was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient values, Bland-Altman plots, and coefficients of variation. Results: Compared to US alone, US combined with the strain ratio measured using either ROI method significantly improved specificity, positive predictive value, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (all p values < 0.05). Strain ratio obtained using the 1-ROI method showed higher interobserver agreement between the three radiologists without a significant difference in AUC for differentiating breast cancer when the optimal strain ratio cut-off value was used, compared with the 2-ROI method (AUC: 0.788 vs. 0.783, 0.693 vs. 0.715, and 0.691 vs. 0.686, respectively, all p values > 0.05). Conclusion: Strain ratios obtained using the 1-ROI method showed higher interobserver agreement without a significant difference in AUC, compared to those obtained using the 2-ROI method. Considering that the 1-ROI method can reduce performers' efforts, it could have an important role in improving the diagnostic performance of breast US by enabling consistent management of breast lesions.