Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasonic elastography for diagnosis of chronic nonspecific low back pain. Methods From March to September, 2016, 32 patients diagnosed as chronic nonspecific low back pain and other 32 healthy people (controls) were measured lumbar erector spinae with ultrasonic elastography, and calculated Yang's modulus. The correlation between Yang's modulus and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score in the patients were investigated with Pearson's analysis. Re-sults There was no significant difference in Yang's modulus between bilateral lumbar erector spinae in both the patients and the controls (t<1.849, P>0.05), but it was more in the patients than in the controls (t=9.931, P<0.001). The Yang's modulus was positively correlated with VAS score in the patients (r=0.614, P<0.001), but not with the JOA score (r=-0.243, P=0.180). Conclusion Ultrasonic elastography can be applied to differentiate low back pain from the healthy, and measure the intensity of pain.

Objective To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with β-thalasse-mia major and their parents,and to analyze its affecting factors.Methods PedsQLTM 4.0 generic core scale and a demographic questionnaire were used to assess HRQoL in 45 children with β-thalassemia major and their parents,which were between 5 and 12 years old,had received blood transfusion in Chengdu Women and Children's Central Hospital during 2016.Results The total summary score of patients' HRQoL was (74.58 ± 7.29) score,in which,the social functioning subscale score was the highest,and school functioning subscale score was the lowest.The total summary score of parents' HRQoL was (64.43 ± 11.54) score,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Parents' s core of the psychosocial health [(69.03 ± 12.24) score],the emotional functioning [(67.78 ± 12.67)score]and the School functioning [(57.92 ± 11.61) score]were significantly lower than those of children[(78.19 ±13.42) score,(83.75 ±9.05) score,(69.58 ± 10.30) score],and the differences were statistically significant(all P ＜0.05).The HRQoL of children was positively correlated with onset age of anemia and hemoglobin (Hb) level before transfusion (r =0.771,0.824,all P ＜ 0.01),but which was negatively correlated with iron chelation therapy (r =-0.573,P ＜ 0.01).In contrast,gender,frequency of blood transfusions during the previous 3 months,the type of blood transfusion and iron chelation treatment were not significantly related to HRQoL among these patients.All of these factors were not related to the HRQoL of their parents(P ＞ 0.05).A multiple regression analysis revealed that the HRQoL of children with β-thalassemia major was significantly correlated with onset age of anemia(P =0.005),Hb level before transfusion (P =0.026) and iron chelation therapy (P =0.000).Conclusions The HRQoL of children with β-thalassemia major and their parents were remarkably low.Comprehensive programs including social support,medical service and psychological care should be provided for these children and their parents.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for preoperative hypoxemia in geriatric patients with hip fracture.Methods:A case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 99 geriatric patients with hip fracture admitted to Zhongda Hospital affiliated to Southeast University between November 2020 and August 2021. There were 29 males and 70 females, aged 67-96 years [(82.6±6.2)years]. The patients were divided into hypoxemia group ( n=51) and non-hypoxemia group ( n=48) using partial arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2)<80 mmHg while breathing room air at emergency as the reference standard. The two groups were compared in terms of sex, age, fracture types, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, pulmonary diseases diagnosed by preoperative chest CT [atelectasis, pleural effusion, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)], time from injury to visit, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, Barthel index, KATZ index, modified Medicine Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, numeric rating scale (NRS), smoking, drinking, comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, Parkinson′s disease, Alzheimer′s disease, cerebral infarction, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease), body temperature, blood routine test at first examination (erythrocyte count, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin), biochemistry (serum albumin, blood glucose, blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen), electrolyte (serum potassium, serum sodium), and other related examinations [D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), lactic acid]. Univariate analysis was performed to the correlation of those indicators with preoperative hypoxemia. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for preoperative hypoxemia in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Results:Differences in sex, age, fracture types, BMI, pulmonary diseases diagnosed by preoperative chest CT, time from injury to visit, Barthel index, KATZ index, NRS, smoking, drinking, comorbidities, body temperature, first laboratory results of erythrocyte count, biochemistry, electrolyte and other related examinations were not statistically significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). The two groups showed statistical differences in ASA classification, NYHA classification, mMRC dyspnea scale, leukocyte count at first examination, C-reaction protein and hemoglobin (all P<0.05). Univariate analysis indicated that ASA classification, NYHA classification, mMRC dyspnea scale, leukocyte count at first examination and C-reaction protein were correlated with the occurrence of preoperative hypoxemia in geriatric patients with hip fracture (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regressions analysis indicated that higher mMRC dyspnea scale ( OR=2.30, 95% CI 1.10-4.81, P<0.05), higher leukocyte count at first examination ( OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.05-1.45, P<0.05), higher level of C-reaction protein ( OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.03, P<0.05) and higher level of hemoglobin ( OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, P<0.05) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of preoperative hypoxemia in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Conclusion:Higher mMRC dyspnea scale, higher leukocyte count, higher level of C-reaction protein and higher level of hemoglobin are independent risk factors for preoperative hypoxemia in geriatric patients with hip fracture.