*Cardiovascular Research Institute, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China; and

†Ultrasound Department, Anshan City Central Hospital, Anshan, Liaoning Province, China.

Correspondence: Nan Nan Liu, MD, Cardiovascular Research Institute, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No 83 Wenhua Rd, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning Province, China (e-mail: [email protected]).

The authors report no conflict of interest.

N. N. Liu conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments. Y. F. Chen, J. Y. Wang, and J. S. Sun performed the experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. Y. X. Wang, W.-W. Zhou, Z. L. Wang, and M. Liang analyzed the data and proofed the manuscript. All authors have proofed the article.

The study has been approved by the ethics committee of General Hospital of Northern Theater Command.

All the patients have signed the informed consent.

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.