Recognition of abnormal changes in echocardiographic videos by an artificial intelligence assisted diagnosis model based on 3D CNN / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic efficiency and clinical application value of an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis model based on a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D CNN) on echocardiographic videos of patients with hypertensive heart disease, chronic renal failure (CRF) and hypothyroidism with cardiac involvement. Methods: This study is a retrospective study. The patients with hypertensive heart disease, CRF and hypothyroidism with cardiac involvement, who admitted in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2019 to October 2021, were enrolled. Patients were divided into hypertension group, CRF group, and hypothyroidism group. Additionally, a simple random sampling method was used to select control healthy individuals, who underwent physical examination at the same period. The echocardiographic video data of enrolled participants were analyzed. The video data in each group was divided into a training set and an independent testing set in a ratio of 5 to 1. The temporal and spatial characteristics of videos were extracted using an inflated 3D convolutional network (I3D). The artificial intelligence assisted diagnosis model was trained and tested. There was no case overlapped between the training and validation sets. A model was established according to cases or videos based on video data from 3 different views (single apical four chamber (A4C) view, single parasternal left ventricular long-axis (PLAX) view and all views). The statistical analysis of diagnostic performance was completed to calculate sensitivity, specificity and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The time required for the artificial intelligence and ultrasound physicians to process cases was compared. Results: A total of 730 subjects aged (41.9±12.7) years were enrolled, including 362 males (49.6%), and 17 703 videos were collected. There were 212 cases in the hypertensive group, 210 cases in the CRF group, 105 cases in the hypothyroidism group, and 203 cases in the normal control group. The diagnostic performance of the model predicted by cases based on single PLAX view and all views data was excellent: (1) in the hypertensive group, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of models based on all views data were 97%, 89% and 0.93, respectively, while those of models based on a single PLAX view were 94%, 95%, and 0.94, respectively; (2) in the CRF group, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of models based on all views data were 97%, 95% and 0.96, respectively, while those of models based on a single PLAX view were 97%, 89%, and 0.93, respectively; (3) in the hypothyroidism group, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC of models based on all views data were 64%, 100% and 0.82, respectively, while those of models based on a single PLAX view were 82%, 89%, and 0.86, respectively. The time required for the 3D CNN model to measure and analyze the echocardiographic videos of each subject was significantly shorter than that for the ultrasound physicians ((23.96±6.65)s vs. (958.25±266.17)s, P<0.001). Conclusions: The artificial intelligence assisted diagnosis model based on 3D CNN can extract the dynamic temporal and spatial characteristics of echocardiographic videos jointly, and quickly and efficiently identify hypertensive heart disease and cardiac changes caused by CRF and hypothyroidism.

Quantitative evaluation of global left ventricular myocardial work in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis by pressure-strain loop / 中华肝脏病杂志

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate myocardial work in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis by using left ventricular pressure-strain loop. Methods: 70 cases with hepatitis B cirrhosis who were hospitalized in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from March to December 2020 were selected as the study group. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to the Child-Pugh score of liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A, B, and C groups: 25, 25, and 20 patients, respectively). At the same time, 25 healthy volunteers were included as the control group. Global longitudinal strain (GLS), global myocardial work index (GWI), global work efficiency (GWE), global constructive work (GCW), and global wasted work (GWW) were obtained by applying pressure-strain loops. The differences were analyzed and compared among the four groups parameters. Results: Compared with the control group, the Child-Pugh class A group had decreased GLS, while Child-Pugh class B and C had decreased GLS, GWI, GWE, GCW, and increased GWW, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with Child-Pugh class A group, Child-Pugh class B group had decreased GLS, GWE, and increased GWW, while Child-Pugh class C group had decreased GLS,GWI, GWE, GCW, and increased GWW, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with Child-Pugh class B group, Child-Pugh class C group had decreased GLS, GWI, GWE, GCW, and increased GWW, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The pressure-strain loop can detect early myocardial dysfunction, and has a certain value in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation of myocardial function changes in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.

The value of myocardial work in detecting the reduction of left ventricular global systolic function in acute myocardial infarction patients with preserved ejection fraction / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis value of myocardial work (MW) in evaluating left ventricular global systolic function among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with preserved ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: This study was a diagnostic trial in a prospective case-control design. AMI patients with preserved LVEF were enrolled as AMI(LVEF>50%) group and age and sex-matched healthy individuals undergoing healthy checkup in our hospital were collected as control group. Two-dimensional dynamic images, including standard apical two-chamber, long-axis and four-chamber views in 3 consecutive cardiac cycles were acquired. General clinical data, routine echocardiography and myocardial work parameters were obtained from all subjects. The indices were compared between the two groups. Intra-observer and inter-observer repeatability of myocardial work parameters were evaluated by intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the diagnostic value of global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), global work efficiency (GWE) and global work index (GWI) on the reduction of left ventricular global systolic function in AMI(LVEF>50%) group. Results: There were 30 patients in AMI(LVEF>50%) group, the age was (67.3±9.7)years, and 14 cases were female(46.7%). Thirty participants were included in the control group, the age was (68.1±8.6)years, and 12 cases were female (40.0%). Compared with the control group, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), interventricular septum thickness (IVSD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), peak early diastolic velocity of mitral orifice/tissue Doppler velocity of posterior mitral annulus (E/e), left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were significantly higher, while E and e values were significantly lower in AMI (LVEF>50%) group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, GCW ((1 145.9±440.1)mmHg% (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) vs. (1 425.7±355.4)mmHg%), GWE ((80.9±9.5)% vs. (87.3±5.5)%), GWI ((1 001.3±416.2)mmHg% vs. (1 247.6±341.7)mmHg%) and the absolute value of long axis integral strain (GLS) ((8.5±3.4)% vs. (11.4±3.7)%) were significantly lower, while peak strain dispersion(PSD)((101.3±66.4)ms vs. (74.7±31.9)ms) was significantly higher in AMI(LVEF>50%) group (P all<0 05). There was no significant difference in GWW((177.2±71.1)mmHg% vs. (155.7±64.6)mmHg%) between the two groups (P>0.05). The reproducibility of GCW, GWW, GWE and GWI within and between observers were satisfactory (all ICC>0.75). ROC curve analysis showed that all four parameters, GCW, GWW, GWE, and GWI, could be used for the diagnosis of reduced left ventricular systolic function in patients with AMI (LVEF>50%), and their areas under the ROC curve were 0.896,0.929,0.808,0.862. Conclusion: Myocardial work assessment is valuable on diagnosing left ventricular global systolic function reduction in AMI patients with preserved LVEF.

Deep learning applied to two-dimensional color Doppler flow imaging ultrasound images significantly improves diagnostic performance in the classification of breast masses: a multicenter study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#The current deep learning diagnosis of breast masses is mainly reflected by the diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions. In China, breast masses are divided into four categories according to the treatment method: inflammatory masses, adenosis, benign tumors, and malignant tumors. These categorizations are important for guiding clinical treatment. In this study, we aimed to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) for classification of these four breast mass types using ultrasound (US) images.@*METHODS@#Taking breast biopsy or pathological examinations as the reference standard, CNNs were used to establish models for the four-way classification of 3623 breast cancer patients from 13 centers. The patients were randomly divided into training and test groups (n = 1810 vs. n = 1813). Separate models were created for two-dimensional (2D) images only, 2D and color Doppler flow imaging (2D-CDFI), and 2D-CDFI and pulsed wave Doppler (2D-CDFI-PW) images. The performance of these three models was compared using sensitivity, specificity, area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), positive (LR+) and negative likelihood ratios (LR-), and the performance of the 2D model was further compared between masses of different sizes with above statistical indicators, between images from different hospitals with AUC, and with the performance of 37 radiologists.@*RESULTS@#The accuracies of the 2D, 2D-CDFI, and 2D-CDFI-PW models on the test set were 87.9%, 89.2%, and 88.7%, respectively. The AUCs for classification of benign tumors, malignant tumors, inflammatory masses, and adenosis were 0.90, 0.91, 0.90, and 0.89, respectively (95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.87-0.91, 0.89-0.92, 0.87-0.91, and 0.86-0.90). The 2D-CDFI model showed better accuracy (89.2%) on the test set than the 2D (87.9%) and 2D-CDFI-PW (88.7%) models. The 2D model showed accuracy of 81.7% on breast masses ≤1 cm and 82.3% on breast masses >1 cm; there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001). The accuracy of the CNN classifications for the test set (89.2%) was significantly higher than that of all the radiologists (30%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The CNN may have high accuracy for classification of US images of breast masses and perform significantly better than human radiologists.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#Chictr.org, ChiCTR1900021375; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=33139.

High-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography: valuable for diagnosis of polyorchidism / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the application value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of polyorchidism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively studied 6 cases of polyorchidism diagnosed by ultrasound, 5 of which were pathologically confirmed, and analyzed the sonographic and clinical findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the 6 cases were triorchidism, 4 located in the scrotum, and 2 in the same groin with indirect hernia. The supernumerary testis was linked to the epididymis in 3 cases, 1 accompanied with repeated epididymis and vas deferens, and 2 connected to no vas deferens and epididymis. Color Doppler ultrasonography revealed blood flow signals in 4 cases, but not in the other 2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polyorchidism has typical sonographic appearances, and high-frequency color Doppler ultrasonography plays an important role in its diagnosis.</p>

Imaging manifestation and clinical value in herniation pit of femoral neck / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the imaging manifestation and clinical value in herniation pit of femoral neck.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One case proved by operation and pathology and twenty cases with typical imaging manifestation described by Pitt were reviewed retrospectively. There were 17 males and 4 females with an average age of 53 years old(ranging from 30 to 85 years). All cases were examined by X-ray films and CT, and 13 cases were performed with MRI.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-nine lesions were found in the 21 cases, 9 cases were in right side, 8 cases were in left side, 4 cases were in both sides. The lesions were all located in the superior lateral part of the femoral neck and anterior lateral base of femoral head. The lesions were round or oval, and most of their greatest diameter was less than 16 mm. X-ray films showed a central radiolucency with a thin clear sclerotic rim or simple sclerotic loop. CT scans showed a well-defined lesion of soft-tissue attenuation with sclerotic margin. The lesions had focal cortical perforation. On MRI images,most lesions showed uniformly long T1 and long T2 fluid signal intensity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Herniation pit of femoral neck have some specific imaging features, CT can make accurate diagnosis. X-ray and MRI are helpful to diagnosis.</p>

Quantitative assessment of left ventricular systolic synchrony in patients with chronic renal failure using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the left ventricular systolic synchrony in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE). Methods Thirty patients with CRF and twenty-five normal subjects were enrolled in this study.The M-mode ejection fraction (M-EF), left ventricular end diastolic internal diameter (LVIDd), interventricular septum diameter (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diameter (LVPWd) were obtained on two-dimension. The global and regional volume-time curves were obtained on three -dimensional. The end diastolic volume (LVEDV),end systolic volume (LVESV) and ejection fraction (LVEF) of left ventricule, the time to minimal systolic volume (Tmsv) of 16,12,6-segmental standard deviation (Tmsv16, 12, 6-SD), maximal difference (Tmsv16, 12, 6-Dif) were derived from Qlab software . The above parameters as a percentage of the cardiac cycle with different heart rates between patients were also calculated from the Qlab software, which were Tmsv16, 12, 6-SD% and Tmsv16, 12, 6-Dif %, rspectively. Results The indices of HR, LVIDd, IVSd, LVPWd and LVESV were significantly higher while LVEF was significantly lower in the CRF group than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); The indices of systolic asynchrony of Tmsv16,12-SD%, Tmsv16,12-Dif, Tmsv16 ,12 ,6-SD/R-R%,Tmsv16,12,6-Dif/R-R% were significantly larger in the CRF group than those of the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions RT-3DE provides a simple, intuitional and noninvasive approach to assess the systolic synchrony of all the LV segments simultaneously and LVEF in patients with chronic renal failure.

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia in Children / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the value of radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) on idiopathic ventricular tachycardia(IVT) in children.Methods The treatment efficiency of 35 patients accepting RFCA from March 2000 to February 2006 was analyzed,which was divided into control group and study group,randomly.The target site of IVT was localized by routine mapping in control group,and study group was localized by routine mapping combining doppler tissue imaging(DTI) on the basic treatment.Results Numbers of discharge,X-ray exposure time in study group were shorter than that in control group.There were no significance of radiofrequency energy,achievement rates and relapse rates between two groups.Conclusions RFCA is a safe and effective method on IVT.Children are localized combined with DTI shall decrease numbers of discharge and X-ray exposure time.