Vivid e7

In the study, we used the same method (a two‐dimensional echocardiographic measurement), measurement site (2 cm above the aortic valve annulus), and cardiac cycle phase (end diastolic) in all patients. The echocardiogram was performed at rest in the left lateral decubitus position with the GE Vivid E7 ultrasound system according to guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography.¹⁷ Images of the proximal aortic root were obtained from a parasternal long‐axis view. The diameter of the proximal ascending aorta was measured as the maximal distance between the two leading edges of the anterior and posterior aortic wall 2 cm above the aortic valve annulus at the end diastole. Aortic dilation, with or without BSA adjustment was defined as an aortic diameter >34 mm in men and >31 mm in women; or >17 mm/m² in men and >19 mm/m² in women, adjusted.¹⁷

The animals were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of 3% sodium pentobarbital (1 ml/100 g). The ultrasound treatment of the tumor was assessed using GE Vivid E7 ultrasonic diagnostic equipment, ML6-15 probe, frequency 15 MHz, imaging depth 2 cm. MRI was performed on a 3.0 T MRI scanner (GE Discovery MR 750, 3.0 T). In order to obtain the maximum signal-to-noise ratio image, the orthogonal knee joint coil was adopted. The scan sequence used time-of-flight (TOF) 3D fast gradient echo sequence. Parameters were as follows: TR/TE = 22/5.7 ms, excitation angle = 15°, FOV = 8 cm × 6 cm, matrix = 512 × 512, layer thickness = 1.2 mm. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was used to measure and analyze the video intensity before and after contrast. CNR = ROI signal intensity-signal intensity of surrounding muscle tissue/background noise signal intensity.

All patients underwent a comprehensive echocardiographic examination according to the current guidelines.14 (link) Transthoracic echocardiograms were obtained using commercially available equipment (Vivid E7 and E9, GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL and Acuson S2000, Siemens, Berlin, Germany) and interpreted by board certified physicians. Cardiac morphology was assessed using diameters in standard four and two chamber views. Left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated using the biplane Simpson method, and semiquantitative assessment of right heart function was performed by experienced readers using multiple acoustic windows and graded as normal, mild, moderate, and severe. Secondary mitral regurgitation was graded by an integrated approach comprising mitral valve morphology, width of the proximal regurgitant jet, proximal flow convergence, and pulmonary venous flow pattern, as previously described.2 (link) Systolic pulmonary artery pressures were calculated by adding the peak tricuspid regurgitation systolic gradient to the estimated central venous pressure. Echocardiographic characteristics were extracted without alteration from the echocardiographic database.

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) within the first 24 h after admission and 3 months later were measured by the modified Simpson's equation with a GE ViVid E7 ultrasonography machine (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ, USA). Reduced LVEF was defined as LVEF ≤ 50%.