Objective To compare the ultrasonographic manifestations of ligamenta patella and their entheses of healthy volunteers with those of professional athletes. Methods Sonography was performed using a GE Logiq 700 MR Expert Series ultrasound equipment and a 5-10 MHz multifrequency linear array transducer. Fifty-two healthy volunteers and 20 professional athletes underwent sonography on ligamentum patella of both sides. Results The normal ligamenta patella′s contour was regular and sharply defined, appearing as tightly packed echoic structures with fine parallel internal linear echoes with a synovial sheath to a thickness of 0.02 cm. The attaching bone surface was smooth and continuous. The ligamenta patella of male was longer than that of the female(P

Objective:To explore the influence of nephroblastoma over expressed gene (CCN3)on differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs)into endothelial cells.Methods:BM-MSCs differentiation into endothelial cells induced by condition medium containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF,50ng/ml)was regarded as positive control group.BM-MSCs differentiation into endothelial cells induced by condition medium con-taining recombined CCN3 protein (100 ng/ml)and VEGF (50 ng/ml)was regarded as CCN3 group,and BM-MSCs incubated in pure complete medium was regarded as negative control group.Immunofluorescence staining and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method (RT-PCR)were used to measure expression of von Willebrand factor (vWF)after 16d to evaluate endothelial cell differentiation,and semi-quantitative RT-PCR method was used to measured expression of Notch1 gene mRNA before and after induced BM-MSCs differentiation. Results:On 16d after induced BM-MSCs differentiation,some cells of positive vWF fluorescence staining were ob-served in positive control group,those of CCN3 group was significantly more than those of positive control group, and expression of vWF mRNA [ratio of optical density (OD): (0.550±0.090)]of CCN3group was significantly higher than that of positive control group (0.358±0.080),(P<0.01),and no vWF-positive cells were observed in negative control group;Besides,before induced differentiation,expression of Notch1 gene mRNA were low in three groups without significant difference between any two groups (P>0.05 all),on 16d after induced differentiation, expressions of Notch1 gene mRNA in positive control group (0.232±0.047)and CCN3 group (0.352±0.029)were significantly higher than that of negative control group (0.132±0.033),P<0.01 all,it of CCN3 group was signifi-cantly higher that of positive control group (P<0.01).Conclusion:CCN3 can enhance BM-BMCs differentiation into endothelial cells by activating Notch1 signal pathway.

Purpose To explore the effect of ultrasonic section,patient position and other factors on Young's modulus and shear wave velocity measurement of the muscle,and to study the consistency between Young's modulus and shear wave velocity on reflection of muscle hardness.Materials and Methods Shear wave elastography was used to detect 10 healthy young men and 10 women.Longitudinal and transverse detection of the Young's modulus and shear wave velocity of gastrocnemius and soleus were performed in natural ankle joint position,maximum plantar flexion and maximum dorsiflexion position.Results ① Comparison of the elasticity measurement between gastrocnemius and soleus.There were significant differences in the Young's modulus in the maximum plantar flexion and Young's modulus and shear wave velocity in maximum dorsiflexion position in longitudinal detection (P＜0.05) that gastrocnemius measurements were higher than soleus measurements.There were significant differences in Young's modulus and the shear wave velocity (P＜0.05) in natural position and maximum dorsiflexion position that soleus measurements were higher than gastrocnemius measurements.② In the positions of the ankle joints,the differences between longitudinal detection values and transverse detection values of gastrocnemius or soleus were statistically significant (P＜0.01) and longitudinal detection values were higher than transverse detection values.③ Comparison of the elasticity measurement of gastrocnemius and soleus muscle among different positions of the ankle joints.The measurement in natural position and in the maximum plantar flexion were evidently higher than that in the maximum dorsiflexion position (P＜0.01) in longitudinal detection.The maximum dorsiflexion position showed higher elasticity measurement.Only elasticity measurement in natural position and the maximum plantar flexion of the soleus was statistically different from that in the maximum dorsiflexion position (P＜0.01) that it was higher in the maximum dorsiflexion position.Conclusion The ultrasound elasticity measurements of gastrocnemius and soleus are related with the ultrasonic longitudinal or transverse section and the relative ankle positions.Moreover,there are some differences in elasticity measurements between these two muscles.should be given to all of these in quantitative evaluation of muscle hardness using shear wave ultrasound elastography.

Abstract: Objective To investigate the nutritional status of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and its effects on conventional anti-tuberculosis treatment, so as to provide a basis for improving the efficacy of conventional treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods The relevant data of 168 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Suining Central Hospital from April 2020 to April 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Nutritional status of the patients before treatment was investigated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score, and the influencing factors of nutritional status before treatment were analyzed. Therapeutic effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs in the non-nutritional risk group and the nutritional risk group were comparatively analyzed. Results Among the 168 patients, 64 were assessed as having good nutritional status before treatment, 59 had the risk of malnutrition and 45 were malnourished according to the MNA score. Univariate analysis and linear regression analysis showed that age, underlying diseases, and clinical symptoms were factors affecting the MNA score before treatment (t=3.173, 3.718, 2.018, P all<0.05); whereas gender and education level were not factors affecting MNA score before treatment (t=0.065, 0.059, P all>0.05). According to the MNA score before treatment, the patients were dividedinto a non-nutritional risk group (MNA score > 23.5) and a nutritional risk group (MNA score ≤23.5). The negative conversion rate of sputum bacteria, effective rate of focal absorption in the non-nutritional risk group were 92.19% (59/64)and90.63% (58/64) , respectively, which were significantly higher than corresponding 79.85% (82/104)and76.92% (80/104) in the nutritional risk group. The drug resistance rate, adverse reaction rate, and average treatment cost of the no nutritional risk group and nutritional risk group were 7.81% (5/64) and 21.15% (12/104), 15.63% (10/64) and 31.73% (33/104), (0.62±0.13) million yuan and (0.89±0.26) million yuan, respectively, with significant differences (χ2=5.228, 5.071, 7.685, 5.396, 7.728, P all<0.05). Conclusions Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis exhibit poor nutritional status before treatment. The patients’nutritional status is easily affected by age, underlying diseases, and clinical symptoms, thereby affecting the effect of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Therefore, early nutritional intervention for tuberculosis patients should be recommended in order to prevent malnutrition and enhance the effectiveness of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Objective To approach the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS)for the detection of traumatic laceration of pancreas. Methods Sixty cases of pancreatic traumatic model were made in twelve healthy swines after the animals were anesthetized and laparotomized. Then the conventional ultrasonography(US) and CEUS were performed in each case to diagnose the traumatic region,immediately. The results were compared with surgical findings. Results Among sixty injuries,the detection rate of conventional ultrasonography was 66. 7%,the detection rate of CEUS was 88.3%. Conclusions CEUS shows higher detection rate than conventional US in diagnosing pancreatic laceration,and it also can improve the diagnostic value of ultrasound for the detection of pancreatic laceration.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of gray scale contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in the diagnosis of active hemorrhage of the kidney.Methods Forty-six active hemorrhage animal models were created within the kidney of 23 New Zealand rabbits heparinized under general anesthesia,rabbit kidneys were examined by routine two dimensional ultrasonography and CEUS.Results Routine ultrasonography showed 26 traumas with irregular and poorly defined margins.CEUS showed all active bleeding sites,contrast agents overflowed from injured blood vessel and formed irregular remarkable enhanced parts.After average 85s for contrast agent was injected,the intensity of the enhanced regions in the kidneys were significantly higher than those of normal renal parenchyma.Conclusions CEUS could clearly demonstrate the active hemorrhage in traumatic kidney and could significantly improve the diagnostic level of ultrasonography.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging in the evaluation of liver functional reserve in patients with hepatic focal lesions. Methods Eighty-six patients with hepatic focal lesions in General Hospital of the People′s Liberation Army from September 2011 to August 2012 were studied. According to Child-Pugh score, 54 of them were classified as grade A, 18 patients were classiifed as grade B, and 14 patients were classiifed as grade C. Seventy patients underwent surgery and 16 patients underwent non-surgical treatment. Shear wave velocity (SWV) values were measured using ARFI technique, and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance tests were also performed to achieve ICG clearance rate constant (ICGK) and ICG retention rate at 15 minutes (ICG15). Correlation between SWV and ICGK, SWV and ICG15 were studied using Pearson correlation, and correlation between SWV and Child-Pugh score were analyzed using Spearman rank correlation. Difference between SWV values of patients underwent surgery and those of patients underwent non-surgical treatment was compared using t-test for independent samples. Analyses of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed to investigate the value of ARFI in the evaluation of surgical feasibility for patients with hepatic focal lesion, with the clinical decisions serving as the golden standard. Results There was correlations between SWV and ICGR15, SWV and ICGK, and SWV and Child-Pugh scores (r=0.764,P <0.001;r=-0.686,P=0.000;r=0.864,P=0.000). The SWV of patients who underwent surgery was (2.46±0.45) m/s, and the SWV of patients who underwent non-surgical treatment was (1.54±0.36) m/s, with a signiifcant difference (t=-0.80, P=0.000). The ROC curve analysis demonstrated a highest Youden′s index of 0.775 when the cut-off was 2.06m/s. The corresponding sensitivity was 87.5% and the specificity was 90.0% for ARFI in the diagnosis liver functional reserve deficiency. Conclusion ARFI can effectively evaluate the liver functional reserve in patients with hepatic focal lesions and thus could be beneifcial in the decision of clinical treatment.

Objective To study the clinical value of acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI) in patients with ischemic type biliary lesion (ITBL) after orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods Between July 2012 to January 2013, forty-one patients in General Hospital of the People′s Liberation Army were enrolled in this study who were admitted for post-transplantation follow-up. Among them, 15 patients were diagnosed as ITBL by ultrasonography. Besides conventional ultrasonography, ARFI was used to detect the shear wave velocity (SWV) of liver tissue at depth of 4 cm and 5 cm respectively. Simultaneously liver function test was performed. Independent-samples t test was performed to compare the difference of SWV between ITBL and non-ITBL group at the same depth. Paired-sample t test was performed to compare the difference of SWV for the same ITBL patient. Pearson correlation analysis was used in analyzing the relation between SWV and liver function. Results The average SWV in depth of 4 cm was (1.561±0.425) m/s and (1.121±0.160) m/s in ITBL and non-ITBL group, respectively. Signiifcant differences were found among the ITBL and non-ITBL groups (t=-3.173, P=0.01). The average SWV in depth of 5 cm was (1.608±0.545) m/s and (1.175±0.173) m/s in ITBL and non-ITBL group, respectively. Signiifcant differences were found among the ITBL and non-ITBL groups (t=-2.454, P=0.034). There was no signiifcant difference between SWV measurements at different depth for the same ITBL patient. For all patients, SWV at different depths were both strongly correlated with alkaline phosphatase (r=0.656, 0.667, respectively;both P=0.000) andγ-glutamyl transpeptidase (r=0.482, P=0.007;r=0.508, P=0.004). Conclusion The liver stiffness measurement is valuable for the clinical evaluation of post-transplantation ITBL.

ObjectiveTo study the value of strain ratio from longitudinal section and cross section in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules using ultrasonic elastography.MethodsA total of 118 patients with 153 thyroid nodules underwent examinations with real-time ultrasonic elastography to obtain the strain ratio from longitudinal section and cross section. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the value of elastography. The nodules are divided into two groups, group one included nodules which were near the isthmus and group two included other nodules. Diagnostic results were compared with pathological results.ResultsThe area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the strain ratios for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 0.906 and 0.844. There was no statistical difference (Z=1.542,P>0.05). The best diagnostic cut-off points of the strain ratios were 3.65 and 3.58. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of the strain ratio from longitudinal section for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 81.2%, 80.8%, 81.0%, 87.2% and 71.2% and those of strain ratio from cross section were 77.2%, 76.9%, 77.1%, 84.4% and 63.4%. In group one, the AUC were 0.903 and 0.830. There was no statistical difference (Z=1.125,P>0.05). The best diagnostic cut-off points were 3.30 and 3.28. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of the strain ratio from longitudinal section for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 86.2%, 68.8%, 80.0%, 83.3% and 73.3% and those of strain ratio from cross section were 78.6%, 58.8%, 71.1%, 75.9% and 62.5%. In group two, the AUC were 0.906 and 0.852. There was no statistical difference (Z=0.936,P>0.05). The best diagnostic cut-off points were 3.33 and 3.71. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of the strain ratio from longitudinal section for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules were 90.1%, 75.7%, 85.2%, 87.7% and 80.0% and those of strain ratio from cross section were 84.7%, 70.3%, 80.6%, 83.6% and 72.2%. ConclusionReal-time ultrasonic elastography is helpful to the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but there is no statistical difference between the strain ratio from longitudinal section and cross section.

Purpose To investigate the prognosis and influencing factor of hematoma complicated from ultrasonography-guided EnCor vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system in minimally invasive surgery for breast lesions, and to provide reference for clinical treatment. Materials and Methods 280 female patients with 486 benign breast lesions underwent minimally invasive excision using a ultrasonography-guided EnCor vacuum-assisted device, occurrence and the inlfuence factors of hematoma complicated from the operation was observed. Results All the 486 lesions were completely excised with EnCor system, hematoma (≥1cm) were found in 47 cases after 24 hours and almost disappeared in 6 months. After analysis of the occurrence of hematoma, it was found that the following situations would lead to a higher incidence of hematoma, which included lumps ≥ 2.5 cm, more than two lesions removed at one time, lumps locating deep inside the areola or the edge of breasts, bigger and less dense breasts, operation in menstrual period, pressure bandaging after operation less than 12 hours and operation without using adrenaline (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Benign lesions breast can be effectively excised using ultrasonography-guided EnCor vacuum device, and the factors listed below could affect the occurance of hematoma complicated from the surgery, including the size, location and number of the resected nodules, breast shape, surgery during menstrual period, postoperative pressure bandaging and the use of hemostatics.