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Figure 2 (A) Method. T0 = Infarction and vastus lateralis biopsy; M2 = two months after infarction: time for MR to develop and time of injections; M4 = four months after infarction: sacrifice. At each time point three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional echo analysis were performed. (B) 3D echo analysis. 3D left ventricular volumes were obtained using endocardial borders from nine views (left). The least-squares plane of the mitral annular hinge points was established as reference frame; projecting the annulus onto this plane gave annular area. Mitral geometry was analyzed at mid-systole (time of closest leaflet-annulus approach), including papillary muscle-to-annulus tethering distance (right). MI = myocardial infarction; MR = mitral regurgitation.