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 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.

AIM: To investigate the effect of advanced glycosylation end products on the expression of receptor for advanced glycosylation end products in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. METHODS: Monocytes were purified (over 98%) using anti-CD14+ microbeads. After 8 d culture in RPMI-1640 medium containing rhGM-CSF (100 ?g/L) and rhIL-4 (50 ?g/L), immature MDCs were derived, then exposed to AGE-BSA (0 or 200 mg/L) for 24 h. Expression of RAGE was semi-quantified by RT-PCR and Western blotting. At the same time, supernatants were collected. IFN-? and IL-12 were analyzed by ELISA. RESULTS: mRNA and protein of RAGE incubated by 200 mg/L AGE-BSA was higher than that in control at 24 h. Treatment of DCs with AGE-BSA resulted in about two-fold increase in the expression of RAGE (P

AIM: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanisms related to oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL) and dendritic cells(DCs) in the process of atherosclerosis.METHODS: Human DCs were prepared from human CD14~+ peripheral blood monocytes using rhGM-CSF((100 ?g/L)) and rhIL-4(40 ?g/L).Cells were incubated with(100 mg/L) native or oxidized LDL for 72 h.The formation of foam cells was investigated by electron microscopy and oil red O staining.Phenotypic and immune functional assays were used with FACS,FITC-dextran phagocytosis,allogeneic mixed T lymphocytes reaction and secretion of Th1/Th2(IL-12/IL-2) cytokines were also conduced.RESULTS: DCs treated with ox-LDL,but not native LDL were induced into foam cells after cultured for 72 h.Compared with native LDL,ox-LDL-treated DCs were less potent in FITC-dextran phagocytosis.ox-LDL promoted allogeneic T cells proliferation.Moreover,ox-LDL upregulated CD80(72.4? 9.6 vs 89.5?10.1,P

Objective To explore imaging feature of muscle crush injury of extremity on contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) by an animal experiment.Methods Twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits were anesthetized by intramuscular pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg).A special balloon cuff device was used to create left hind leg crush injury with a force of (18.6 kPa).23 of the 28 rabbits had crush injury of extremity and survived for 72 hours.CEUS evaluated infusion model and contrast intensity in crush region of hind leg at the 0.5,2,6,24 and 72 hour after the release of the crushing pressure.Peak intensity (PI) was analyzed by comparing with serum creatinekinase (CK) and myoglobin (MYO).Results Twenty-three rabbits presented that the area of crushed region in left hind leg was 60 cm2,accounting for 2.6％-3.0％ of body surface area.In different time after decompression,the crushed regions showed rapid enhancement and the intensity was higher than that of no-crushed region.The time-intensity curves of crushed regions all appeared as fast wash-in and slow wash-out.PIs of rushed regions were higher obviously than those of nocrushed regions (P ＜0.001).ROC curves were employed in diagnosis value of PI for crushed region.And PIs showed positive correlation with CK and MYO and the correlation coefficient was 0.833-0.996.Conclusions CEUS presents that the micro-circulation perfusion of the crushed muscle increased obviously after the release of the crush pressure.PIs evaluated quantitatively the micro-circulation perfusion changes.It suggests a potential alternative for evaluating micro-circulation abnormality and ischemia reperfusion injury of the muscle crush injury to extremities.

Purpose:The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of color Doppler Ultrasound in Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) with hepatic venous(HV) outflow obstruction.Materials and Methods:The features of ultrasonography in 138 patients of Budd-Chian Syndrome were analyzed and compared with that of angiography.Results:83 patients had membranous obstruction and 45 segmental occlusion of HV.10 patients had HV stenosis.The ultrasound was able to reveal stenosis,atresia,emboli,or membranous obstruction in hepatic venous outflow tract.Collateral branches could be seen between the hepatic veins with short hepatic vein expanded.Both HV and IVC were involved in 35 cases,with thrombus in IVC in 11 and HV in 7.There was two false positive cases and 3 false negative in ultrasound diagnosis.Conclusion: The position and type of occlusion in HV could be accurately detected by color Doppler ultrasound,and so was the existence and degree of collateral circulation,which were of aid for the operation and follow-up.

Objective To assess the number of peripheral blood Th17 cells and mRNA expressions of IL-17A and IL-23R and their correlations with disease severity in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV).Methods Tissue specimens were resected from the lesions of 25 patients with PV and normal skin of 10 human controls,and venous blood samples were obtained from 20 of the patients and all of the normal human controls.Reverse transcription PCR and flow cytometry were carried out to measure the mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-23R in these tissue specimens and quantify the number of peripheral blood CD4+IL-17+ T lymphocytes.Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was calculated for these patients.Results A significant increase was observed in the IL-17A and IL-23R mRNA levels in the patients compared with the controls (0.996 ± 0.231vs.0.437 ± 0.096,t =10.572,P ＜ 0.05; 1.006 ± 0.339 vs.0.491 ± 0.196,t =6.015,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of both IL-17A mRNA and IL-23R mRNA were positively correlated with PASI (r,=0.67,0.70,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).The number of CD4+IL-1 7+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood showed no significant differences between the patients and controls.No statistical correlation was observed between the counts of CD4+IL-17+ T lymphocytes and expression levels of IL-17A or IL-23R mRNA in psoriatic lesions.Conclusions In patients with PV,there is an increase in the expressions of IL-17A and IL-23R mRNA in lesions,which are correlated with disease severity,while no significant change is observed in the number of peripheral blood CD4+IL-17+ T cells.