先天性心脏病危险因素的病例对照初步研究

目的探讨西安地区先天性心脏病(CHD)的危险因素,为CHD的科学预防及其病因学研究提供参考依据。方法采用前瞻性、以医院为基础的病例对照研究。对在西京医院进行胎儿心脏超声检查的637名孕妇进行问卷式调查、统计CHD的危险因素;经胎儿尸检或婴儿生后复查心脏超声确诊CHD和非CHD(non-CHD);对98例病例组(CHD组)和196例对照组(non-CHD组)进行1:2病例对照研究,应用χ2检验、单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析CHD的危险因素。统计软件采用SPSS13.0软件包。结果按α=0.05水准,用χ2检验对59个研究因素进行分析,初步筛选出32个可疑危险因素,再经单因素Logistic回归分析从32个可疑危险因素中筛出13个CHD的危险因素,最后进行多因素Logistic回归分析,最终筛选出6个CHD的主要危险因素。(1)单因素Logistic回归分析结果表明13个CHD的危险因素:孕早期接触射线(OR=10.482)、孕早期饲养宠物(OR=8.668)、孕早期饮酒(OR=6.326)、发现怀孕周数晚(≥13周OR=11.158)、严重早孕呕吐(OR=2.369)、孕期12周前感冒发热(OR=6.334)、孕早期住地离最近交通主干道的距离(<50mOR=3.223,50～100mOR=7.877)、住地或单位附近污染企业(OR=7.617)、孕期负性生活事件(≥10个OR=3.628)是CHD的危险因素;孕妇孕期12周前补充复合维生素(OR=0.535)及叶酸(OR=0.519)、孕期经常食用蛋肉鱼水产品、牛奶及豆制品可降低CHD的患病风险。(2)多因素非条件Logistic回归分析结果表明6个CHD的主要危险因素:孕早期接触射线、孕早期饮酒、孕早期住地离最近交通主干道的距离、住地或单位附近污染企业是CHD发生的主要危险因素;孕期经常食用蛋肉鱼水产品、牛奶及豆制品可降低CHD的患病风险。结论孕早期是胎儿心脏发育的关键时期,孕早期接触射线、孕早期饮酒、孕早期住地离最近交通主干道的距离、住地或单位附近污染企业等4项是CHD发生的主要危险因素;孕期经常食用蛋肉鱼水产品、牛奶及豆制品可降低CHD的患病风险。认识这些危险因素,加强孕早期保健防护、重视孕期产前检查及孕期营养均衡对预防CHD发生具有重要现实意义。     

2016－2020年海口市新生儿出生缺陷的监测结果及危险因素研究

  目的   了解2016—2020年海南省海口市新生儿出生缺陷发生情况及相关危险因素，为制定预防措施提供参考依据。  方法   选取2016年1月至2020年12月在海南省妇幼保健院和海口市妇幼保健院出生的新生儿31 860名进行回顾性分析，对新生儿出生缺陷的检出率进行统计。 将有出生缺陷患儿设为病例组，另选取与病例组性别、年龄、出生时间匹配的健康新生儿为对照组，采用logistic逐步回归分析新生儿出生缺陷的危险因素。  结果   31 860名新生儿中共检出出生缺陷患儿419例，出生缺陷发生率1.32%。 出生缺陷发生率前5位依次为先天性心脏病、多指（趾）、唇腭裂、神经管缺陷、尿道下裂。 logistic逐步回归分析显示，2016—2017年（OR=2.903，95%CI:1.815～4.612）、异常生育史（OR=2.518，95% CI:1.604～3.805）、出生体质量（OR=5.182，95% CI:3.627～8.519）、孕期饮酒（OR=4.257，95% CI:3.106～6.115）、孕期吸烟（OR=4.613，95% CI:3.327～7.185）、孕早期病毒感染（OR=3.526，95% CI:2.413～5.114）、孕期服药史（OR=8.903，95% CI:5.275～15.927）、孕期有毒物质接触史（OR=7.602，95% CI:4.713～13.165）、孕期营养不良（OR=6.127，95% CI:3.952～11.864）及孕期不良精神刺激（OR=2.308，95% CI:1.462～3.287）是发生出生缺陷的危险因素。  结论   海南省海口市新生儿出生缺陷发生率仍较高，影响新生儿出生缺陷发生的危险因素众多，应针对性地加强孕期健康教育，降低出生缺陷的发生率。     

围孕期危险因素对新生儿出生缺陷的Logistic回归分析

目的分析围孕期危险因素对新生儿出生缺陷的影响。方法选取2014年12月—2018年12月陕西省旬阳县妇幼保健院分娩的出生缺陷新生儿120例为观察组,另选取同期在本院分娩健康新生儿360例为对照组。调查2组新生儿父母情况,包含居住地、年龄、经济情况、职业和文化程度等;记录孕产妇不良孕产史、孕期不良情绪、多胎、孕早期感冒史、孕早期服用药物、孕早期被动吸烟、孕检及婚检情况等,对新生儿出生缺陷的影响因素行单因素、多因素Logistic回归分析。结果与对照组相比,观察组产妇文化程度、居住地、经济状况、职业均较差,差异有统计学意义(P 0. 05)。单因素Logistic分析显示,影响新生儿出生缺陷因素包含不良孕产史、孕期不良情绪、多胎、孕早期感冒史、孕早期服用药物、孕早期被动吸烟、孕检、孕前检查及婚检。Logistic分析结果显示,新生儿出生缺陷保护因素为孕检、婚检,新生儿出生缺陷独立危险因素为不良孕产史、孕期不良情绪、孕早期感冒史和孕早期服用药物(P 0. 05)。结论新生儿出生缺陷危险因素包含不良孕产史、孕期不良情绪、孕早期感冒史和孕早期服用药物,临床应倡导孕产妇行孕检,及时了解胎儿发育情况,做好相应预防工作。     

浙江省温州地区围生儿先天性心脏病相关因素病例对照研究

目的 探讨温州地区先天性心脏病（CHD）发病的相关影响因素,为CHD的病因学研究和制定预防措施提供科学依据。方法 本研究采用1:1病例对照研究,通过自行设计的调查问卷进行调查,采集温州地区2015-2016年围生儿中500名CHD患儿和500名正常儿童母亲的相关信息,采用单因素和多因素条件logistic回归分析进行CHD的相关因素分析。结果 单因素和多因素条件logistic回归分析结果显示,大专及以上文化程度、单胎妊娠、服用叶酸等为保护因素,OR值分别为0.741（95%CI:0.551~0.996）、0.191（95%CI:0.083~0.441）和0.528（95%CI:0.368~0.757）;接触化学物质、孕早期感冒、服促排卵药、接触宠物、居屋装修、染发、饮酒、异常生育史、丈夫吸烟9项为危险因素,OR值分别为9.033（95%CI:1.116~73.129）、1.616（95%CI:1.193~2.189）、17.333（95%CI:7.197~136.751）、2.679（95%CI:1.089~6.593）、15.240（95%CI:5.945~39.068）、3.030（95%CI:1.656~5.546）、8.448（95%CI:1.043~68.432）、3.028（95%CI:1.655~5.538）和1.336（95%CI:1.008~1.772）。结论 积极做好预防工作,针对危险因素进行有效干预,降低CHD的发生率,提高人口素质。     

妊娠期妇女抑郁状态现状与影响因素分析

目的 调查妊娠期妇女抑郁状态现状，并对影响因素进行分析，为干预手段的提出提供依据。方法 选取2021年6月至2022年3月于南方医科大学南方医院产科门诊建档的3 159例孕妇为调查对象，运用一般资料调查表、爱丁堡产后抑郁量表进行调查，并采用logistic回归分析妊娠期抑郁状态的影响因素。结果 妊娠期抑郁状态的发生率为15.07%。意外怀孕（OR:1.38,95%CI:1.05～1.81）、孕前痛经史（OR=1.28,95%CI:1.02～1.60）、孕前经前紧张史（OR=2.52,95%CI:1.82～3.49）、对睡眠质量不满意（OR=2.12,95%CI:1.68～2.67）、婆媳矛盾（OR=2.09,95%CI:1.54～2.85）、性格内向（OR=6.36,95%CI:4.54～8.92）、性格适中（OR=1.34,95%CI:1.01～1.77）、对胎儿的性别高期待（OR=2.82,95%CI:1.68～4.74）、孕期经历负性生活事件（OR=4.02,95%CI:2.53～6.40）均是目前妊娠期妇女抑郁状态的独立危险因素。结论 目前妊娠期妇女抑郁状态发生率仍处于较高水平...     

2015－2020年广东省梅毒感染孕产妇不良妊娠结局状况及影响因素分析

  目的   分析广东省梅毒感染孕产妇的感染特征和不良妊娠结局的影响因素,为制定降低不良妊娠结局发生的政策提供依据。  方法   从“全国预防艾滋病、梅毒和乙肝母婴传播信息管理系统”中收集2015—2020年广东省梅毒感染孕产妇及所生新生儿的相关信息,对梅毒感染孕产妇不良妊娠结局的相关危险因素进行χ2检验和多因素logistic回归分析。  结果   不同年龄段、文化程度、婚姻状态、既往诊断情况、本次诊断时期、本次诊断梅毒分期、治疗情况、初次治疗时期发生不良妊娠的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;多因素logistic回归分析显示,年龄≤20岁、文化程度小学及以下者发生不良妊娠的风险较大;既往未诊断梅毒者发生不良妊娠的风险较大（OR=1.350,95%CI:1.202～1.517）;产时、产后诊断感染者较孕期诊断者发生不良妊娠的风险大;不在婚者较在婚者发生不良妊娠的风险大（OR=1.280,95%CI:1.027～1.420）;本次诊断为Ⅱ、 Ⅲ期梅毒者较隐性梅毒者发生不良妊娠的风险大（OR=1.882,95%CI:1.039～3.195）;未进行治疗者不良妊娠发生的风险较大（OR=3.465,95%CI:2.508～4.786）;孕晚期再治疗者较孕早期治疗者发生不良妊娠的风险大（OR=2.245,95%CI=1.850～2.724）。  结论   年龄、文化程度、婚姻状况、诊断与治疗时期是梅毒感染孕产妇发生不良妊娠结局的影响因素。早期筛查、诊断并及时进行规范治疗对阻断梅毒母婴传播及预防不良妊娠结局具有重要意义。     

血清乳酸水平和线粒体DNA突变与癫痫关系临床研究

目的探讨癫痫患者血清乳酸水平和线粒体DNA(mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA)突变与癫痫发病的关系。方法 60例癫痫患者为观察组,同期住院非癫痫患者60例为对照组,2组采用乳酸脱氢酶法检测血清乳酸水平,采用PCR联合限制性酶切法检测mtDNA突变发生情况,采用单因素logistic回归分析癫痫的危险因素。结果观察组血清乳酸水平[(4.23±1.51)mmol/L]和mtDNA突变率[(41.56±11.21)%]高于对照组[(1.68±0.34)mmol/L、(2.03±0.05)%],差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);有脑外伤史(OR=13.439,95%CI:2.966~60.890,P=0.000)、母亲妊娠年龄≥35岁(OR=3.182,95%CI:1.386~7.306,P=0.005)、有颅内感染史(OR=4.714,95%CI:1.619~13.782,P=0.003)、有热性惊厥史(OR=6.000,95%CI:1.891~19.043,P=0.001)、有癫痫家族史(OR=7.429,95%CI:3.018~18.285,P=0.000)和发生mtDNA突变(OR=35.905,95%CI:8.280~155.702,P=0.000)是癫痫发生的危险因素。结论脑外伤史、母亲妊娠年龄≥35岁、颅内感染史、热性惊厥史、癫痫家族史和发生mtDNA突变是癫痫发生的危险因素,检测血清乳酸水平与mtDNA突变发生情况对癫痫患者的诊断及鉴别诊断有重要价值。     

孕前BMI和孕期体重增长对妊娠期糖尿病患者妊娠结局的影响

目的 探讨孕前BMI和孕期体重增长对妊娠期糖尿病(GDM)患者妊娠结局的影响。方法 回顾性收集2020年1月-2021年12月在北京大学第一医院宁夏妇女儿童医院住院分娩的752例GDM患者的病历资料。根据中国营养学会制定的妊娠期体重监测与评价标准,将GDM患者孕前BMI分为低体重组、正常体重组及超重肥胖组,将孕期体重增长分为适宜、不足及过度组。分析比较孕前BMI及孕期体重增长对妊娠结局的影响。结果 孕前低体重47例(6.25%)、正常体重399例(53.06%)、超重肥胖306例(40.69%);孕期体重增长不足47例(6.25%)、增长适宜295例(39.23%)、增长过度410例(54.52%)。(1)校正混杂因素后,与孕前正常体重组相比,孕前超重肥胖组发生妊娠期高血压(OR=2.715,95%CI为1.438～5.126,P=0.002)、子痫前期(OR=4.727,95%CI为1.854～12.055,P=0.001)、剖宫产术分娩(OR=1.469,95%CI为11.039～2.077,P=0.030)、妊娠合并贫血(OR=1.606,95%CI为1.132～2.278,P&...     

妊娠高血压疾病母亲其新生儿发生脑损伤的高危因素

目的探讨妊娠高血压疾病母亲所生新生儿发生脑损伤的高危因素。方法妊娠高血压疾病母亲所生新生儿195例,经头颅影像学、临床表现及随访结果证实有脑损伤62例为观察组,无脑损伤133例为对照组。记录2组母亲孕期情况、患儿出生史及出生后诊治和随访结果,多因素logistic回归分析引起新生儿脑损伤的高危因素。结果单因素分析显示,胎儿宫内窘迫、胎龄37周、小于胎龄儿、体质量2 500g、羊水Ⅲ度粪染、新生儿窒息、反复呼吸暂停、呼吸窘迫、呼吸衰竭、机械通气、休克、代谢性酸中毒与新生儿脑损伤有关(P0.05);多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,胎儿宫内窘迫(OR=5.211,95%CI:1.799~12.452,P=0.004)、胎龄37周(OR=4.689,95%CI:1.323~17.341,P=0.041)、小于胎龄儿(OR=4.632,95%CI:2.112~10.432,P=0.039)、体质量2 500g(OR=1.877,95%CI:1.458~7.478,P=0.026)、新生儿窒息(OR=4.121,95%CI:1.323~5.325,P=0.011)、呼吸窘迫(OR=3.436,95%CI:1.315~6.871,P=0.012)、呼吸衰竭(OR=3.562,95%CI:1.412~5.621,P=0.021)、机械通气(OR=4.115,95%CI:1.611~4.72,P=0.030)是妊娠高血压疾病母亲其新生儿发生脑损伤的独立危险因素。结论妊娠高血压疾病母亲所生新生儿发生脑损伤与多种因素有关,临床对妊娠高血压疾病母亲及新生儿应进行积极治疗,降低脑损伤发生率。     

hs-CRP、Lp-PLA2和DD在预测冠心病患者预后中的价值研究

目的研究超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)、脂蛋白相关的磷脂酶A2酶活性(Lp-PLA2)、D-二聚体(DD)与冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(CHD)患者预后的关系。方法选取2009年8月至2010年9月鄂州二医院和鄂钢医院行冠状动脉造影明确诊断为CHD的住院患者480例,记录患者入院后24h内空腹hs-CRP、Lp-PLA2、DD及其他临床资料。于2012年8月至10月进行电话、门诊或者住院随访,了解心脏不良事件的发生情况。依据是否发生心脏不良事件进行单因素分析和多因素Logistic回归分析。结果 (1)成功随访458例(95.4%),随访时间为(30.8±3.9)个月。72例发生不良事件(15.7%),死亡14例(3.1%)。(2)单因素分析显示:性别、高血压、糖尿病、hs-CRP、Lp-PLA2、DD、左心室舒张末期直径(LVEDD)是心脏不良事件发生的危险因素(P0.05)。(3)多因素Logistic逐步回归分析显示性别、hs-CRP、Lp-PLA2、DD水平进入回归方程,与未发生不良事件组相比,发生不良事件组的性别OR值1.647(95%CI:1.543~1.759,P0.001),hs-CRP的OR值为2.235(95%CI:2.064~2.420,P0.001),Lp-PLA2的OR值为0.644(95%CI:0.569~0.729,P0.001),DD的OR值为1.918(95%CI:1.594~2.309,P0.001)。结论 hs-CRP、Lp-PLA2、DD水平可以预测CHD患者的不良预后。     

Guns and Knives in New Mexico: Patterns of Penetrating Trauma, 1978–1993

Objective: To identify patterns of nonfatal and fatal penetrating trauma among children and adults in New Mexico using ED and medical examiner data.
Methods: The authors retrospectively sampled in 5-year intervals all victims of penetrating trauma who presented to either the state Level-1 trauma center or the state medical examiner from a 16-year period (1978–1993). Rates of nonfatal and fatal firearm and stabbing injury were compared for children and adults.
Results: Rates of nonfatal injury were similar (firearm, 34.3 per 100,000 person-years; stabbing, 35.1). However, rates of fatal injury were significantly different (firearm, 21.9; stabbing, 2.7; relative risk: 8.2; 95% confidence interval: 5.4, 12.5). From 1978 to 1993, nonfatal injury rates increased for children (p = 0.0043) and adults (p < 0.0001), while fatal penetrating injury remained constant. The increase in nonfatal injury in children resulted from increased firearm injury rates. In adults, both stabbing and firearm nonfatal injury rates increased.
Conclusions: Nonfatal injury data suggest that nonfatal violence has increased; fatal injury data suggest that violent death rates have remained constant. Injury patterns vary by age, mechanism of trauma, and data source. These results suggest that ED and medical examiner data differ and that both are needed to guide injury prevention programs.     

Systematic Reviews Published in the January 2011 Issue of The Cochrane Library

ABSTRACT

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD and monthly online. The January 2011 issue (first quarterly DVD for 2011) contains 4515 complete reviews, 1985 protocols for reviews in production, and 13,521 one-page summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 641,000 randomized controlled trials, and 14,018 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The health technology assessment database contains over 9300 citations. One hundred and seven new reviews have been published in the last 3 months, of which five have potential relevance for practitioners in pain and palliative medicine.     

Interprofessional approaches to creating safe,high quality health care

Three supplementary perspectives are presented arguing that interprofessional collaboration is both necessary and desirable. Nonetheless, there are often too many serious intra-professional barriers and obstacles to interprofessional collaboration to make it successful. Some of these barriers, it is argued and illustrated, are found in the multiple ways in which professional identity is tacitly acquired and embodied in the practitioners' habitual, everyday practice. The paper then explores ways in which reflection, especially Second order reflection, can help to elucidate and overcome these obstacles, as well as increasing professional adaptability and competence.     

Determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity in serum using immunological inhibition of creatine kinase M subunit activity. Activity kinetics and diagnostic significance in myocardial infarction.

This is a new method for the determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB activity in serum. The method uses direct activity measurement of creatine kinase B subunit activity after blocking of CK-M subunit activity by inhibiting antibodies. The test takes no longer than 15 min. The method yields an intra-serial C.V. of 2.0-12.9%, and a C.V. from day to day of 5.5%. The detection limit is 3.4 U/l creatine kinase MB. In the 95 cases with proven myocardial infarction several types of creatine kinase MB activity kinetics could be determined. The percentage of creatine kinase MB of peak CK-total is 6-25%, with a mean of 11.1%. The amount of creatine kinase MB with respect to total CK activity after reinfarction is higher than the amount after initial infarction.     

Prise en charge des entorses externes de cheville : étude clinique préliminaire sur l’efficacité du dispositif Myolux™

Ankle sprains are the most common injury of the musculoskeletal system and are associated with significant societal and economic impacts. It has been proven that classical therapeutic strategies may not be effective in preventing recurrent injuries: the recurrence rates reported in the literature can reach 73%. In order to provide an effective rehabilitation solution, a destabilizing orthosis was developed. This device is equipped with a mechanical articulator reproducing the subtalar mechanics and placed under the heel. In this paper, we present the main results of a preliminary clinical study conducted between 2004 and 2007. All subjects included in this study were treated with the abovementioned orthosis during 10 rehabilitation sessions of 30 minutes each. Data show a relatively low recurrence rate of 12% for the overall population. Moreover, it's of primary importance to note that this satisfactory ratio is largely reduced (3% of recurrence rate) for the 29 patients who performed one training session per month after the 10th initial rehabilitation sessions. Hence, the destabilizing orthosis appears to be an effective solution to prevent recurrent ankle sprains. However, joint protection requires long-term and regular training sessions. This result has motivated the development of a similar device allowing patients to perform training sessions at home. Finally, data obtained in this study are promising awaiting the final results of the comparative, multicentric and independent clinical trials currently managed by the Hospices Civils de Lyon.     

俯卧位通气对高海拔地区肺复张治疗无效急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者氧合的影响

目的 探讨俯卧位通气对高海拔地区肺复张术(RM)治疗无效急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者的治疗作用.方法 从海拔2260m的地区医院筛选RM治疗无效的41例ARDS患者[平均氧合指数( PaO2/FiO2)较RM前升高＜20％视为RM无效],依不同病因分为肺内源性ARDS组(ARDSp组)和肺外源性ARDS组(ARDSexp组),每组再按信封法随机分为俯卧位组和仰卧位组,即ARDSp俯卧位组(11例)、ARDSp仰卧位组(9例)、ARDSexp俯卧位组(10例)、ARDSexp仰卧位组(11例).在通气前及通气1、2、3、4h监测动脉血氧分压( PaO2)、PaO2/FiO2、静态顺应性(Cst)、气道阻力(Raw)的变化.结果 通气lh时,ARDSexp俯卧位组PaO2/FiO2( mm Hg,l mm Hg=0.133 kPa)即较通气前显著升高(157.4±40.6比129.3±48.7,P＜0.05),并随通气时间延长呈持续增高趋势,4h达峰值(219.1 ±41.1);且ARDSexp俯卧位组通气3h内PaO2/FiO2较其他3组显著增高,另3组间则差异无统计学意义.ARDSp俯卧位组、ARDSexp俯卧位组通气4h时PaO2/FiO2均较相应仰卧位组显著增高(208.8±39.7比127.4±47.1,219.1±41.1比124.9±50.8,均P＜0.05).4组通气前后Cst无显著改变,各组间差异也无统计学意义.ARDSp俯卧位组通气4h时Raw(cmH2O·L-1·s-1)较通气前显著降低(6.8±1.7比10.7±1.8,P＜0.05),且明显低于其他3组;其他3组各时间点Raw组内及组间比较差异均无统计学意义.结论 俯卧位通气作为ARDS机械通气重要策略之一,可以改善RM无效高原ARDS患者的氧合,为抢救患者赢得宝贵的时间.     

Digital imaging among medical facilities

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in the USA operates a network of 172 medical centres which all utilize a hospital information system (HIS) which has been developed and is currently maintained by the VA. During the past several years, an image management and communication module has been developed, installed and clinically utilized at the Washington DC and Maryland VA Medical Centres. This image management and communication system, referred to as the decentralized hospital computer program (DHCP) imaging system, is fully integrated with a commercial picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The system is utilized to capture, archive, and display all images generated within the hospital including radiology, nuclear medicine, pathology, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, and dermatology, intraoperative photographs, ECG data, and a limited number of paper documents. The ultimate goal of the project is to have all patient text and image data available at any clinical workstation to any authorized user anywhere within the network of medical centres. Clinical requirements for an imaging workstation include ease of use, rapid and reliable access to the complete set of patient information, and images which are of acceptable quality to meet the requirements of the user and the subspecialty. Patient confidentiality and data security must be safeguarded at all times. Integration of the images with the remainder of the patient's database was found to be critical to the success of the project. The experience at the Washington and Maryland facilities suggests that an imaging system that is successfully integrated with a hospital information system can provide substantial clinical and economic benefits both within and among medical centres. Clinical acceptance and utilization of the system has been excellent, particularly in diagnostic radiology where DHCP Imaging has been interfaced to a commercial PAC system. Based upon this initial experience, the VA has begun to deploy the system throughout its large network of medical centres.     

Myocardial elastography at both high temporal and spatial resolution for the detection of infarcts

Myocardial elastography is a novel method for noninvasively assessing regional myocardial function, with the advantages of high spatial and temporal resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this paper, in-vivo experiments were performed in anesthetized normal and infarcted mice (one day after left anterior descending coronary artery [LAD] ligation) using a high-resolution (30 MHz) ultrasound system (Vevo 770, VisualSonics Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada). Radiofrequency (RF) signals of the left ventricle (LV) in longitudinal (long-axis) view and the associated electrocardiogram (ECG) were simultaneously acquired. Using a retrospective ECG gating technique, 2-D full field-of-view RF frames were acquired at an extremely high frame rate (8 kHz) that resulted in high-quality incremental displacement and strain estimation of the myocardium. The incremental results were further accumulated to obtain the cumulative displacements and strains. Two-dimensional and M-mode displacement images and strain images (elastograms), as well as displacement and strain profiles as a function of time, were compared between normal and infarcted mice. Incremental results clearly depicted cardiac events including LV contraction, LV relaxation and isovolumetric phases in both normal and infarcted mice, and also evidently indicated reduced motion and deformation in the infarcted myocardium. The elastograms indicated that the infarcted regions underwent thinning during systole rather than thickening, as in the normal case. The cumulative elastograms were found to have higher elastographic SNR (SNR(e)) than the incremental elastograms (e.g., 10.6 vs. 4.7 in a normal myocardium, and 6.0 vs. 2.4 in an infarcted myocardium). Finally, preliminary statistical results from nine normal (m = 9) and seven infarcted (n = 7) mice indicated the capability of the cumulative strain in differentiating infracted from normal myocardia. In conclusion, myocardial elastography could provide regional strain information at simultaneously high temporal (>/=0.125 ms) and spatial ( approximately 55 microm) resolution as well as high precision ( approximately 0.05 microm displacement). This technique was thus capable of accurately characterizing normal myocardial function throughout an entire cardiac cycle, at the same high resolution, and detecting and localizing myocardial infarction in vivo.