OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the partial biomechanical properties of the posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, and obliquus capitis inferior) in patients with cervical vertigo. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with cervical vertigo admitted from April 2024 to September 2024 were included in the vertigo group, and 30 age-and gender-matched healthy subjects were recruited as the normal group. In the vertigo group, there were 21 females and 9 males, with an average age of (24.00±2.25) years;in the normal group, there were 22 females and 8 males, with an average age of (23.00±3.00) years. Shear wave elastography was used to measure the thickness and stiffness of the posterior occipital muscles in both groups. RESULTS: In the vertigo group, there were no statistically significant differences in the Young's modulus values (E) of stiffness of the posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior) between the left and right sides(P>0.05). The Young's modulus values(E) of stiffness of the right posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior) in the cervical vertigo group were (39.66±8.21) kPa, (45.61±5.85) kPa, and (43.73±5.22) kPa, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the normal group 33.97(17.76) kPa, 41.38(8.99) kPa, 38.27(12.58) kPa, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). In the vertigo group, the Young's modulus values(E) of stiffness of the left rectus capitis posterior major and left obliquus capitis inferior were (40.41±9.13) kPa and (42.11±6.20) kPa, respectively, which were significantly greater than those in the normal group (33.30±11.31) kPa, 38.94(14.62) kPa, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05);however, there was no statistically significant difference in the left rectus capitis posterior minor between the two groups(P>0.05). In the vertigo group, there were no statistically significant differences in the stiffness of the posterior occipital muscles (rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior) between the left and right sides(P>0.05). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in the thickness of the bilateral posterior occipital muscles between the vertigo group and the normal group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The posterior occipital muscles of patients with cervical vertigo are stiffer than those of healthy individuals, while there is no significant difference in muscle thickness between the two groups.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Adult ; Vertigo/physiopathology* ; Neck Muscles/physiopathology* ; Young Adult

Male factor infertility has been rising, which accounts for up to 30% of infertility cases and contributes to 50% of overall cases. The aim of this review is to explore the recent advances that have emerged in the field through a narrative review. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using multiple databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Gray literature was also reviewed through ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The findings were presented narratively to encompass the extensive range of published data on male infertility. Significant strides have been made in the field of male infertility, particularly with biomarkers, shear wave elastography, 3-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotic and microsurgical treatment, offering promising avenues for diagnosis and treatment. Continued research and technological innovation are essential to further improve outcomes for patients facing male factor infertility.
Humans ; Male ; Infertility, Male/diagnosis* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Bioprinting ; Microsurgery ; Biomarkers ; Robotic Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of shear wave elastography (SWE) for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 359 cases with suspected prostate cancer (PCa) in Baoji Central Hospital from June 2017 to July 2023. All the patients underwent the following examinations in the order of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), measurement of the stiffness of the entire prostate gland by SWE, and TRUS-guided prostate puncture biopsy. The stiffness of the entire prostate gland was defined as the average of Young's modulus at both sides of the base, middle, and apex of the prostate, including the maximum Young's modulus (Emax), mean Young's modulus (Emean), and minimum Young's modulus (Emin). We analyzed the correlation of the parameters of the stiffness of the entire prostate gland with the pathological results, focusing on their diagnostic performance for csPCa. RESULTS: Of the 359 cases, 189 were diagnosed by pathological puncture biopsy as BPH, 26 as non-csPCa, and 144 as csPCa. The PSA level, Emax, Emean and Emin were significantly higher in the csPCa than those in the BPH and non-csPCa groups (all P < 0.01), but showed no statistically significant difference between the BPH and non-csPCa groups (all P > 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), optimal cut-off value, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of Emax in the diagnosis of csPCa were 0.852, 143.92 kPa, 72.22%, 84.65%, 75.91%, 81.98% and 79.67%; those of Emean were 0.868, 82.42 kPa, 67.36%, 91.16%, 83.62%, 80.66% and 81.62%; and those of Emin were 0.682, 32.73 kPa, 47.22%, 89.30%, 73.91%, 71.54% and 72.14%, respectively. In the non-csPCa group, Emax, Emean and Emin were found below the optimal cut-off value in 73.08% (19/26), 92.31% (24/26) and 88.46% (23/26), respectively. CONCLUSION The stiffness of the entire prostate gland measured by SWE contributes to the diagnosis of csPCa, reduces unnecessary detection of non-csPCa, and provides some reference for its active surveillance.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Retrospective Studies ; Prostate/pathology* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen/blood* ; Aged ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVES: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a novel quantitative elastography technique that can assess the hardness of different tissues. This study introduces a novel shear wave parameter-frequency of mass characteristic (f_mass)-and investigates its correlation, along with other shear wave parameters, with the histopathological features and immunohistochemical (IHC) biomarkers of invasive breast cancer (IBC). The study aims to explore whether SWE can provide useful information for IBC treatment and prognosis. METHODS: With the pathological results as the gold standard, 258 malignant breast lesions were collected, and all patients underwent conventional ultrasound and SWE examinations. The SWE parameters [maximum elastic value (E_max), minimum elastic value (E_min), mean elastic value (E_mean), standard deviation of elastic value of the whole lesion (E_sd)] and f_mass] in the transverse and longitudinal orthogonal sections were measured, and their correlations with the prognostic factors of IBC [including tumor diameters, axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI), calcification, histological type, histological grade, and IHC biomarkers (ER, PR, HER-2, Ki-67), and molecular subtypes] were analyzed. The correlations between the SWE parameters of the transverse and longitudinal sections of the tumors with different prognostic factors and the above indicators were analyzed. At the same time, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of f_mass in predicting ER and PR expression. RESULTS: E_mean, E_max, E_sd, and f_mass were correlated with tumor diameters; E_mean, E_max and E_sd were correlated with histological types and histological grades. E_max and E_sd were correlated with ALN metastasis, LVI and pathological types. In the IHC biomarker-labeled masses, f_mass was correlated with ER and PR (both P<0.05), and E_mean, E_max, and E_sd were correlated with HER-2 and Ki-67 (all P<0.05). E_mean, E_max, and f_mass were all correlated with breast cancer subtypes (all P<0.05), and E_mean and E_max were higher in Luminal B [HER-2(+)] breast cancer, while f_mass was lower in HER-2(+) and triple-negative breast cancer. Among the statistically significant prognostic factors, the P values of the transverse sections of the masses were all less than or equal to those of the longitudinal sections. The AUC of f_mass in the transverse sections of the masses for predicting ER and PR expression were 0.73 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.80) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.74), respectively, with the optimal cut-off values being 76.50 and 60.66, the sensitivities being 72.45% and 81.98%, the specificities being 66.13% and 45.35%, and the accuracies being 70.93% and 69.77%, respectively. The AUC of f_mass in the longitudinal sections of the masses for predicting ER and PR expression were 0.74 (95% CI 0.67 to 0.81) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.72), respectively, with the optimal cut-off values being 131.8 and 137.5, the sensitivities being 69.90% and 66.28%, the specificities being 72.58% and 60.47%, and the accuracies being 70.54% and 64.34%, respectively. The f_mass in the transverse sections of the masses was more statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The poor prognosis factors of IBC are related to high E_mean, E_min, E_max, E_sd, and low f_mass. The f_mass can predict the expression of ER and PR, and the transverse cut data are more meaningful. SWE is helpful for predicting the invasiveness of IBC.
Humans ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Female ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Prognosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Aged ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism* ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism* ; Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional shear wave elastography (3D-SWE) is a promising method in distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules. By combining with conventional method, it may further improve the diagnostic value. The study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) combined with 3D-SWE in ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules. METHODS: All nodules were examined by conventional ultrasonography, ACR TI-RADS classification, and 3D-SWE examination. Conventional ultrasonography was used to observe the location, size, shape, margin, echogenicity, taller-than-wide sign, microcalcification, and blood flow of thyroid nodules, and then ACR TI-RADS classification was performed. The Young's modulus values (3D-C-Emax, 3D-C-Emean, and elastography standard deviation [3D-C-Esd]) were measured on the reconstructed coronal plane images. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the best diagnostic efficiency among 3D-C-Emax, 3D-C-Emean, and 3D-C-Esd was selected and the cut-off threshold was calculated. According to the surgical pathology, they were divided into benign group and malignant group. And appropriate statistical methods such as t -test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the difference between the two groups. On this basis, 3D-SWE combined with conventional ACR TI-RADS was reclassified as combined ACR TI-RADS to determine benign or malignant thyroid nodules. RESULTS: Of the 112 thyroid nodules, 62 were malignant and 50 were benign. The optimal cut-off value of three-dimensional maximum Young's modulus in coronal plane (3D-C-Emax) was 51.5 kPa and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.798. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of conventional ACR TI-RADS were 0.828, 83.9%, 66.0%, and 75.9%, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of combined ACR TI-RADS were 0.845, 90.3%, 66.0%, and 79.5%, respectively. The difference between the two AUC values was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Combined ACR TI-RADS has higher diagnostic efficiency than conventional ACR TI-RADS. The sensitivity and accuracy of combined ACR TI-RADS showed significant improvements. It can be used as an effective method in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
Humans ; Thyroid Nodule/pathology* ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography/methods*

Objective: To explore the role of transient elastography technology in the assessment of disease staging and treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: Patients who were clinically diagnosed with chronic HBV infection at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 was collected. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) examination was performed more than once by transient elastography. The count data were expressed as cases (%) and the χ (2) test was made. Fisher's exact test was used with theoretical frequency less than 5. The measurement data between two groups was compared by t-test. Multiple groups were compared with an analysis of variance. Results: 1 055 patients were included in this study, including 669 (63.4%) males and 386 (36.6%) females. 757 (71.8%) patients were untreated. Among the untreated patients, the LSM value in the immune clearance (10.2 ± 3.8) kPa (187 cases, 40.4%), and the reactivation stages (9.1 ± 3.4) kPa (114 cases, 24.6%) was significantly higher than that in the immune tolerance (8.7 ± 3.6) kPa (78 cases, 16.8%) and immune control stages (8.4 ± 3.5) KPa (84 cases, 18.1%), and the difference between the four groups was statistically significant (F = 5.31 and P = 0.03). With ALT (male: 30 U/L, female: 19 U/L) as defined the normal value, the LSM value in the immune tolerance and the immune control stages were (5.8 ± 0.9) kPa and (7.1 ± 2.5) kPa, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of patients in the immune tolerance and immune control stages, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There were 294 (38.8%) patients with uncertain period, excluding patients with fatty liver. Patients with uncertain periods were divided into four gray zone (GZ) groups: immune tolerance stage: LSM (5.1 ± 1.3) kPa was significantly lower than GZ-A (6.5 ± 2.4) kPa, t = 2.06, P = 0.03, and the difference was statistically significant; immune control stage: LSM was (5.6 ± 1.5) kPa, which was also lower than GZ-C (6.8 ± 1.3) kPa, t = 3.08, P = 0.02, and the difference was statistically significant; immune clearance stage: LSM > 8.0 kPa. LSM values showed a year-by-year reduction in patients with expanded indications who started antiviral treatment and were followed up for three years. Conclusion: The LSM value is significantly lower after the decrease of the defined high-normal ALT value in patients with the immune tolerance and immune control stages of chronic HBV infection. The LSM values of GZ-A and GZ-C in the uncertain periods of chronic HBV infection are higher than those of patients in the immune tolerance and immune control stages.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy* ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Liver/pathology*

The purpose of this study was to analyze the value of transrectal shear-wave elastography (SWE) in combination with multivariable tools for predicting adverse pathological features before radical prostatectomy (RP). Preoperative clinicopathological variables, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) manifestations, and the maximum elastic value of the prostate (Emax) on SWE were retrospectively collected. The accuracy of SWE for predicting adverse pathological features was evaluated based on postoperative pathology, and parameters with statistical significance were selected. The diagnostic performance of various models, including preoperative clinicopathological variables (model 1), preoperative clinicopathological variables + mp-MRI (model 2), and preoperative clinicopathological variables + mp-MRI + SWE (model 3), was evaluated with area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) analysis. Emax was significantly higher in prostate cancer with extracapsular extension (ECE) or seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) with both P < 0.001. The optimal cutoff Emax values for ECE and SVI were 60.45 kPa and 81.55 kPa, respectively. Inclusion of mp-MRI and SWE improved discrimination by clinical models for ECE (model 2 vs model 1, P = 0.031; model 3 vs model 1, P = 0.002; model 3 vs model 2, P = 0.018) and SVI (model 2 vs model 1, P = 0.147; model 3 vs model 1, P = 0.037; model 3 vs model 2, P = 0.134). SWE is valuable for identifying patients at high risk of adverse pathology.
Male ; Humans ; Prostate/pathology* ; Seminal Vesicles/diagnostic imaging* ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Retrospective Studies ; Extranodal Extension/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*

For the detection of steatosis, quantitative ultrasound imaging techniques have achieved great progress in past years. Magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction is currently the most accurate test to detect hepatic steatosis. Some blood biomarkers correlate with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but the accuracy is modest. Regarding liver fibrosis, liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography (TE) has high accuracy and is widely used across the world. Magnetic resonance elastography is marginally better than TE but is limited by its cost and availability. Several blood biomarkers of fibrosis have been used in clinical trials and hold promise for selecting patients for treatment and monitoring treatment response. This article reviews new developments in the non-invasive assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Accumulating evidence suggests that various non-invasive tests can be used to diagnose NAFLD, assess its severity, and predict the prognosis. Further studies are needed to determine the role of the tests as monitoring tools. We cannot overemphasize the importance of context in selecting appropriate tests.
Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Humans ; Liver/pathology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This study explored the usefulness of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in the early assessment of corpora cavernosa fibrosis (CCF). New Zealand male rabbits were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group. Recombinant human transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) was injected into the dorsal penis tissue of rabbits in the experimental group. Conventional ultrasound and 2D-SWE examinations were performed before and 20 days after injection. Penile histological analysis was performed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, sirius red staining, and immunohistochemistry. Measurement of 2D-SWE examination results was performed using shear wave elastography quantitative measurement (SWQ). Histological analysis outcomes were the proportion of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), collagen fibers (CFs), collagen type I (Col I), and collagen type III (Col III), as well as the SMCs/CFs ratio, measured by sirius red staining. Other histological analysis outcomes were the positive area proportion (PAP) of TGF-β1 (PAP_T), fibronectin (PAP_F), and Col III (PAP_C), measured by immunohistochemistry. After recombinant human TGF-β1 injection, SWQ was higher in the experimental group than that in the control group (P < 0.001); however, there were no differences in conventional ultrasound results. There were significant differences in histological outcomes between the two groups (all P < 0.05). These results indicated that 2D-SWE was superior for identifying early histological changes in CCF.
Animals ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods* ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Penis/pathology* ; Rabbits ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*

We wanted to determine whether shear wave elastography (SWE) could be used to evaluate the aging degree of the corpus cavernosum (CC) and to identify the histological basis of changes in SWE measurements during the aging process. We performed a cross-sectional study enrolling healthy participants of different ages. We measured the Young's modulus (YM) of the penile CCs by SWE and assessed erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Histological investigation was performed in surgically resected penile specimens from a separate group of patients to examine the smooth muscle and collagen content of the CCs. Furthermore, we measured the YM, erectile function, smooth muscle, and collagen content of the CCs in different age groups of rats. Finally, we enrolled 210 male volunteers in this study. The YM of the CC (CCYM) was positively correlated with age (r = 0.949, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with erectile function (r = -0.843, P < 0.01). Histological examinations showed that CCs had increased collagen content but decreased smooth muscle content with increased age. The same positive correlation between CCYM and age was also observed in the animal study. In addition, the animal study showed that older rats, with increased CCYM and decreased erectile function, had lower smooth muscle content and higher collagen content. SWE can noninvasively and quantitatively evaluate the aging degree of the CC. Increased collagen content and decreased smooth muscle content might be the histological basis for the effect of aging on the CC and the increase in its YM.
Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Penis/pathology* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Aging ; Collagen