Objective To investigate the characteristics of decision-making impairment in male patients with heroin dependence in methadone maintenance treatment(MMT). Methods A total of 45 male patients in MMT were compared with matched 32 health controls on the Iowa Gambling Task. Results Participants with anxiety or depression had to be excluded, MMT subjects were required to have negative urine toxicology screening tests.The MMT group selected more net disadvantageous cards (number of cards selected from the disadvantageous decks minus number of cards selected from advantageous decks) than health controls( (9.11 ± 19.60, -4.25 ±10.27 respectively), t=3. 884, P＜0.01). A 2(group) ×5(block) ANOVA (analysis of variance) on the cards of net disadvantageous from the gambling task revealed a significant main effect of group( F= 12.414, P＜0.01 ).The ANOVA also revealed a significant main effect of block( F=6.871, P＜0.01 ). The study indicated the totalnumber of net disadvantageous cards for MMT subjects was negative correlation to the age of initial drug use ( r=- 0. 320, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Meanwhile, methadone dose and the time of enrollment MMT did not reveal a significant main effect on decision-making biases. Conclusion The deficit of decision making for male heroin dependent patients might be attributed to the dysfunction of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and this effect does not resolve with abstinence, even very long term abstinence. Methadone may not get worse this impairment in male patients who have a history of heroin use during maintenance treatment intervention.

Objective:To evaluate the sternocleidomastoid muscle hardness in patients with tension-type headache (TTH) by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI), and to explore its clinical value in evaluating TTH.Methods:Thirty-five patients with TTH admitted to our hospital from March 2019 to March 2020 and 35 subjects accepted physical examination at the same time period were enrolled in this study. The thicknesses of sternocleidomastoid muscles were measured by two-dimensional ultrasound. On this basis, shear wave velocity (SWV) of sternocleidomastoid muscles was quantitatively evaluated by ARFI. The correlation between thicknesses of sternocleidomastoid muscles and headache was further analyzed.Results:The thickness of sternocleidomastoid muscles, SWV in transverse and longitudinal sections, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores in patients with TTH during headache and after massage were significantly higher than those in the heathy subjects ( P<0.05). Meanwhile, SWV in transverse and longitudinal sections, VAS scores decreased significantly in TTH after massage, which showed significant difference as compared with those during headache ( P<0.05). During headache, the thickness of sternocleidomastoid muscles was negatively correlated with VAS scores ( r=-0.397, P=0.002), SWV in longitudinal section of sternocleidomastoid muscles was positively correlated with VAS scores ( r=0.643, P=0.000). Conclusions:The thickness and hardness of sternocleidomastoid muscle are closely related with TTH. ARFI can quantitatively evaluate the thickness and hardness of sternocleidomastoid muscle.