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 analyze the distribution of main lesion areas in pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat in rats by means of radiographic imaages and varied CT value by using MicroCT. Methods A total of 15 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly (random number) divided into control group and paraquat poisoned group. group. The rats in exposure group were treated with dilute solution of paraquat (4mg/ mL) in dose of 14mg/kg injected intraperitoneally, and the rats in control group were treated with the same volume of saline instead. The lung tissues of all rats were scanned in vivo by using MicroCT on the 3rd, 7th , 14th and 28th days after paraquat or saline administration, respectively. The data from scanned images, rates of observable signs of pulmonary fibrosis and average CT value variation in given regions (region of interest, ROI) were compared between groups and different durations after poisoning by using statistical methods as one factor analysis of variance (t-test). Results Compared with the control group, the rats with acute paraquat poisoning appeared varying degrees of the signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Most of the lesion areas predominantly spread over the lateral regions of the lower lobe of lung, and appeared mainly one week after paraquat poisoning. The opacity of lung shadow seen on the radiograph was significantly increased with time extended after exposure to PQ as a consequence of CT value variation in ROI, and there was no difference in the development of pulmonary fibrosis between right lung and left lung ( P > 0. 05), but there were differences in the extent of fibrosis at different areas in lung (P <0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusions The signs of pulmonary fibrosis predominantly appeared one week after poisoning. The opacity of lung shadow was increasing gradually during the course of pulmonary fibrosis developed in rats in paraquat poisoning group, and lesion areas predominantly spread over the lateral regions of the lower lube of lung.

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.