Objective To investigate the bilateral flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery (BA-FMD) and nitroglycerin mediated dilation (BA-NMD) in patients with cerebral infarct, and to find out if the vasodilation of internal catotid artery after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin can be detected as a more direct way to reflect the vasodilation in patients with cerebral vascular diseases. Methods High resolution ultrasonic system was used to measure 13 patients with acute cerebral infarction. The diameter of brachial artery, internal carotid artery and common carotid artery was measured at relaxation, reactive congestion in the brachial artery and after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. Meanwhile, the intima media thickness (IMT) and plaques of carotid artery was detected. Results Paralysis did not lead to differences in vasodilation of brachial artery (r=0.52, P=0.07). There was a correlation between ICA-NMD and BA-NMD (r=0.83, P=0.01). Conclusion There were no significant differences between brachial vasodilation in paretic and non-paretic limbs of patients with acute cerebral infarction. Ultrasonic measurement of ICA-NMD can be a more direct measure of the vasodilation of patients with cerebral infarction.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of prenatal ultrasound in fetal meningocele and encephalocele.Methods Thirty nine fetuses with meningocele and encephalocele confirmed by prenatal ultrasound and abortion were acquired and their clinical data and sonographic features were retrospectively analyzed.Results Ultrasound screening in 111 620 cases showed 39 fetuses were with meningocele and encephalocele,accounting for 0.35％.Among them,16 cases were diagnosed with meningocele (including 1 case with two bulging parts) and 23 cases with encephalocele.Prenatal ultrasound could clearly detect the location and size fetal skull defect,and bulging features.According to their sonographic features,meningocele or encephalocele was determined.Conclusion Ultrasound could be a reliable prenatal screening method,provide an important basis for clinical intervention and have a significant clinical value in fetal meningocele and encephalocele.

PurposeTo explore the value of prenatal ultrasound in diagnosis of fetuses with limb body wall complex (LBWC).Material and MethodsThe ultrasound images and follow-up results were studied retrospectively in 20 cases of LBWC, and the ultrasonic features of LBWC were analyzed.ResultsAll 20 cases showed rather severe body wall defect and spinal abnormality, including 16 cases of abdominal wall defect, 4 cases of abdominal thoracoabdominal defect, 8 cases of idiopathic scoliosis, 2 cases of kyphosis, 3 cases of twist into a corner, 1 cases of distortion as S shape, and 6 cases of vertebral body arranged in disorder. Moreover, 16 cases presented abnormal umbilical cord,among which 11 had too short umbilical cord, 1 without umbilical cord, and 7 as single umbilical artery (3 cases with short cord). Five cases showed limb abnormalities, among which 2 cases were left lower limb absence, 1 cases as left upper limb absent, 1 cases as left foot varus and right foot slightly varus, and 1 cases as left foot drop.ConclusionPrenatal ultrasonography can accurately diagnose LBWC in time, so as to provide evidence for early clinical intervention.

Objective To probe the diagnostic efficacy of fetal eehocardiography for characterizing complex congenital heart diseases.Methods Fetal echocardiography was performed on 49 cases of fetal complex congenital heart disease, the ultrasonic diagnosis was compared retrospectively with pathological results after autopsy.Results Antenatal sonographic diagnosis was in agreement with the pathological results in 42 cases (85.71 %), 7 cases were disagreed with pathological diagnosis (antenatal sonographic diagnosis was discrepancy in 3 cases, 4 cases were partially mis-classified).Twenty-four cases were combined with extra-cardiac malformations.Nine cases had chromosomal abnormality.Conclusions Fetal echocardiography is highly accurate for antenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease, but it is hard to detect some type of cardiac anomalies.

Objective To evaluate three dimensional fetal heart structure by sono-automatic volume count (SonoAVC) with spatio-temporal image correlation(STIC). Methods The heart volumes datas were acquired by STIC in 32 fetuses with postnatally confirmed diagnoses(20 cases of normal heart, 12 cases of complex congenital heart disease between 20 - 37 gestional weeks), then the volume datas were analyzed offline. SonoAVC software automaticly searched hypoechoic and anechoic structures, and assigned individual colors,and this can be corrected by manual splitting and/or removing and merging of individual segments.Results Individual segments of fetal heat could be separated,and digital casts were generated. The digital casts were obtained successfully in 4cases of transposition of the great arteries(TGA) ,2 cases of tetralogy of Follot,1 case of Ebstein's anomaly, 1 case of double-outlet right ventricle and 20 cases of normal heart.Conclusions Combination of STIC and SonoAVC can demonstrate the size, shape and connection of fetal cardiac cavities and great arteries in three dimensional spatial context. It has the potential both to help in obtaining strctural diagnostic,and to generate 3D visual displays for consultation and teaching.