Objective To assess the value of thickness and arterial resistive index (RI) of wrist synovium in differentiation from activity to non-activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Ninety-two clinically confirmed RA patients underwent high frequency ultrasonography. Maximum thickness and arterial RI of the wrist synovium were measured in active and nonactive stage. Results Thickened synovium was found in 75 of 92 patients. Color signal in the synovium was detected and then RI was measured in 67 patients, including 31 in active stage and 36 in nonactive stage. The wrist synovium thickness of 67 patients was (2.97±1.49) mm and arterial RI was 0.74±0.17. RI decreased significantly in patients in active stage compared with that in nonactive stage (P<0.001). Conclusion Arterial RI measurement with high frequency ultrasonography may be served as an objective marker of synovial membrane disease in RA. The thickness of synovium cannot predict the activity of RA.

ObjectiveTo assess the value of transvalvular pressure gradient (TPG) by use of realtime color Doppler echocardiography in percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV).Methods Patients with pulmonic stenosis (80 cases) were performed by PBPV,in which the pilmonic annular diameter and TPG were measured by using of 2-D and color Doppler echocardiography in the different periods of this operation.Results The pilmonic annular diameter was not significantly difference by intraoperative echocardiography and radiography measurement (t =2.013,P ＞ 0.05).And pressure measurement by catheterization pre- and post-dilatation was not markedly significant ( t =1.258,P ＞0.05).However,TPG in patients with the different degree of pulmonic stenosis were decreased significantly ( P ＜0.01).PBPV treatments in the mild pulmonic stenosis for twice got an excellent effect according to operation criteria,but PBPV treatment in patients with the moderate and severe pulmonic stenosis need to be done for three times.ConclusionsReal-time color Doppler echocardiography is an effective way and plays a guiding role in PBPV.