This editorial refers to ‘Feasibility and reproducibility of left ventricular rotation parameters measured by speckle tracking echocardiography’ by Bas M. van Dalen et al., pp. 669–76, ‘Interpretation of two-dimensional and tissue Doppler-derived strain (1) and strain rate data: is there a need to normalize for individual variability in left ventricular morphology?’ by David Oxborough et al., p...

In this paper we present a new microscopy configuration based upon temporal tracking of a secondary reflected speckle by imaging the speckle through properly defocused optics. The configuration is used to monitor three-dimensional (3-D) spontaneous contraction of rat cardiac muscle cells while achieving nanometer tracking accuracy at a rate of 30 frames per second (fps) without using interferom...

Objective: Assessment of left atrium (LA) deformation by 2-Dimensional Speckle Strain Imaging (2DSI) has been recently proposed as an alternative method of exploring LA function. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of LA function, particularly reservoir function, with LA structural remodeling related to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with hypertension (HTN) ...

Speckle-tracking analysis is a new available tool in order to assess left ventricular function in cardiology. Its novelty relies on the technological ability to track natural acoustic markers (known as speckle) within the myocardium during the cardiac cycle. This technology allows the evaluation of myocardium strain during systole and diastole. To date, global longitudinal strain (GLS) has been...

Shear wave propagation provides rich information for material mechanical characterization, including elasticity and viscosity. This Letter reports tracking of shear wave propagation in turbid media by laser-speckle-contrast analysis. The theory is described, and a Monte Carlo simulation of light shear wave interaction was developed. Simulation and experiments on tissue-mimicking phantoms agree ...

It is well known that arterial function relates to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The noninvasive technology for the assessment of arterial function has developed as the importance of prevention of early cardiovascular disease has been emphasized. Over 2-D and Doppler echocardiography, speckle-tracking echocardiography has emerged as a valuable ultrasound imaging technique that allows ...

BACKGROUND The role of speckle tracking in the assessment of left atrial (LA) deformation dynamics is not established. We sought to determine the feasibility and reference ranges of LA longitudinal strain indices measured by speckle tracking in a population of normal subjects. METHODS In 60 healthy individuals, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) and time to peak longitudinal strain (TPLS)...

In this paper, the authors attempt to concisely present the anatomical and pathophysiological bases as well as the principles for echocardiographic evaluation of mechanical aspects of cardiac function based on speckle tracking method. This technique uses a phenomenon involving the formation of characteristic image units, referred to as speckles or acoustic markers, which are stable during cardi...

I. Nemes A, Domsik P, Piros GÁ, Kalapos A, Lengyel C, Orosz A, Forster T. Relationships between three-dimensional speckle tracking echocadiography-

Title: Speckle tracking echocardiography-determined measures of global and regional left ventricular function correlate with functional capacity in patients with and without preserved ejection fraction