Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with increasing global prevalence lacks effective therapeutic targets to halt or reverse its progression. Therapeutic targets supported by causal genetic evidence are more likely to succeed in randomized clinical trials. In this study, we integrated large-scale plasma proteomics, genetic-driven causal inference, and experimental validation to identify prioritized targets for DKD using the UK Biobank (UKB) and FinnGen cohorts. Among 2844 diabetic patients (528 with DKD), we identified 37 targets significantly associated with incident DKD, supported by both observational and causal evidence. Of these, 22% (8/37) of the potential targets are currently under investigation for DKD or other diseases. Our prospective study confirmed that higher levels of three prioritized targets-insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP4), family with sequence similarity 3 member C (FAM3C), and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS)-were associated with a 4.35, 3.51, and 3.57-fold increased likelihood of developing DKD, respectively. In addition, population-level protein-altering variants (PAVs) analysis and in vitro experiments cross-validated FAM3C and IGFBP4 as potential new target candidates for DKD, through the classic NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-caspase-1-gasdermin D (GSDMD) apoptotic axis. Our results demonstrate that integrating omics data mining with causal inference may be a promising strategy for prioritizing therapeutic targets.

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

In recent years, the clinical application of ultrasonic medical technology has expanded rapidly. According to clinical needs, a variety of new imaging technologies and diagnosis and treatment methods have been continuously innovated. The value of ultrasound imaging is increasingly prominent in the diagnosis of pediatric abdominal difficult and critical diseases and the interventional treatment of pediatric diseases; In chronic joint injury, rheumatic metabolic disease and other diseases, ultrasound has become an indispensable diagnostic and therapeutic technology in this field; In terms of improving the specificity and sensitivity of ultrasound diagnosis, the new technology of contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and elastography has significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of disease diagnosis on the basis of traditional ultrasound imaging. In addition, with the introduction of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) management mode, it has played a significant role in the optimization of ultrasonic quality control process and the improvement of diagnostic quality. This article will introduce the new progress of ultrasound imaging clinical application from the aspects of pediatric abdominal ultrasound, muscle and bone ultrasound, new ultrasound technology, and ultrasound quality control.

Objective:To explore the value of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) management model in improving the quality of breast ultrasound diagnosis.Methods:From January 1 to December 31, 2021, patients undergoing breast nodule surgery in the Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were selected for breast ultrasound Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) classification diagnosis and follow-up. Using pathological results as the gold standard, the malignant rate of different BI-RADS grade and the coincidence rate of ultrasound diagnosis of breast cancer before the first treatment were analyzed. PDCA cycle management mode was introduced to analyze, learn and sort out the quality of breast ultrasound diagnosis. The same method was used to follow up the breast ultrasound diagnosis in the ultrasound department of our hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2022. The results of two follow-up visits were compared.Results:Compared with 2021, the malignancy rates of category 3 and 4a BI-RADS diagnosed by ultrasonic diagnosis of breast nodules in hospitals in 2022 were closer to the malignancy rates recommended by the classification guidelines of BI-RADS (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the malignant rate of BI RADS 4b, 4c and 5 types of nodules (all P>0.05). In 2022, compared with 2021, the ultrasound diagnosis coincidence rate before the first treatment of breast disease increased from 90.4%(1 592/1 761) to 95.9%(1 806/1 884). Conclusions:PDCA management mode is helpful to improve the classification and diagnosis quality of breast ultrasound BI-RADS, and better assist clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of cystic biliary atresia (CBA) and choledochal cyst (CC) in infants.Methods:CBA or CC children <3 months of age diagnosed by surgery in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from 2015 to 2023 were collected, and the differences in general conditions and ultrasound manifestations between CBA group and CC group were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 55 children, 30 were in CBA group and 25 were in CC group. The mean length diameter and width diameter of cysts in the CBA group were about (1.45±1.05)cm and (1.04±0.73)cm, respectively, which were significantly smaller than those in the CC group (5.41±2.98)cm and (3.21±2.90)cm ( P<0.001). The incidence of fibrous plaque (50.0%, 15/30) and abnormal gallbladder morphology (73.3%, 22/30) in the CBA group was significantly higher than that in the CC group [4.0%(1/25) and 16.0%(4/25), respectively]. The incidence of intrahepatic biliary mud deposition (52.0%, 13/25) and intrahepatic biliary duct dilation (64.0%, 16/25) in the CC group was significantly higher than that in the CBA group [0, 3.3%(1/30), respectively]. Conclusions:There are some differences in ultrasonography between CBA and CC children. The length and width of cysts in children with CC are significantly larger than those in children with CBA, and biliary mud deposits or intrahepatic bile duct dilatation are seen in the cysts. The incidence of fibrous plaque and abnormal gallbladder morphology in CBA children is significantly higher than that in CC children.

Objective To observe the value of deep learning(DL)models for automatic classification of echocardiographic views.Methods Totally 100 patients after heart transplantation were retrospectively enrolled and divided into training set,validation set and test set at a ratio of 7∶2∶1.ResNet18,ResNet34,Swin Transformer and Swin Transformer V2 models were established based on 2D apical two chamber view,2D apical three chamber view,2D apical four chamber view,2D subcostal view,parasternal long-axis view of left ventricle,short-axis view of great arteries,short-axis view of apex of left ventricle,short-axis view of papillary muscle of left ventricle,short-axis view of mitral valve of left ventricle,also 3D and CDFI views of echocardiography.The accuracy,precision,recall,F1 score and confusion matrix were used to evaluate the performance of each model for automatically classifying echocardiographic views.The interactive interface was designed based on Qt Designer software and deployed on the desktop.Results The performance of models for automatically classifying echocardiographic views in test set were all good,with relatively poor performance for 2D short-axis view of left ventricle and superior performance for 3D and CDFI views.Swin Transformer V2 was the optimal model for automatically classifying echocardiographic views,with high accuracy,precision,recall and F1 score was 92.56％,89.01％,89.97％and 89.31％,respectively,which also had the highest diagonal value in confusion matrix and showed the best classification effect on various views in t-SNE figure.Conclusion DL model had good performance for automatically classifying echocardiographic views,especially Swin Transformer V2 model had the best performance.Using interactive classification interface could improve the interpretability of prediction results to some extent.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cause of cyanotic congenital heart disease,and it is related with the high incidence of pulmonary regurgitation in repaired tetralogy of Fallot that usually requires pulmonary valve replacement.Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement can replace traditional surgery in treating pulmonary regurgitation,which can make up for the shortcoming of large injury.Echocardiography is important in assessing ventricular function,however,conventional echocardiographic parameters have several limitations.This study reviewed the application of two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in evaluating the right and left ventricular function after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in pulmonary valve regurgitation after repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of flipped classroom combined with problem-based learning (PBL) on the standardized training for perioperative beside echocardiography.Methods:A total of 64 second-year standardized training students from the Department of Anesthesiology at Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, were selected between January 2021 and June 2022 and assigned to control group ( n=32) and test group ( n=32) using a random number table method. Control group employed the traditional teaching model, and test group utilized the flipped classroom combined with PBL. After a 3-month period of teaching standard views and hemodynamic evaluation of bedside echocardiography, the comprehensive theoretical and clinical practice scores (a score of≥80 was considered excellent or good) were compared between the two groups. Additionally, a questionnaire was distributed to assess students′ self-directed learning ability and initiative, interest in learning, efficiency in mastering professional knowledge, satisfaction with teaching, communication and collaboration skills, and clinical thinking ability. Results:Compared with control group, the students in test group showed significant improvements in both comprehensive theoretical ([87 ± 8] vs [80 ± 8]) and clinical practical ([86 ± 8] vs [78 ± 8]) echocardiography scores( P<0.05 or 0.01).The excellent or good rate for comprehensive theoretical scores (88% vs 47%) and clinical practice scores (84% vs 50%) was significantly higher in test group than in control group( P<0.05 or 0.01).A total of 64 questionnaires were distributed, and all of them were returned, yielding a response rate of 100%. The students in test group demonstrated enhanced self-directed learning ability and initiative (94% vs 69%), increased interest in learning (91% vs 66%), improved efficiency in mastering professional knowledge (97% vs 75%), greater satisfaction with teaching (94% vs 62%), enhanced communication and collaboration skills (84% vs 62%), and improved clinical thinking ability (88% vs 59%) compared to control group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The combination of a flipped classroom and PBL produces better effect than traditional teaching methods when used for standardized training for perioperative bedside echocardiography.

Premature constriction of fetal ductus arteriosus(DA)may cause stenosis or atresia of DA,resulting in right ventricular outflow tract obstruction and right heart failure or even death,which is usually caused by exposure to prostaglandin synthase inhibitors or intake of polyphenolic substances during pregnancy.Prenatal ultrasound can effectively and dynamically observe opening and constriction status of fetal DA,monitor blood flow using color Doppler,hence evaluate changes of cardiac function.The research progresses of prenatal ultrasound for premature constriction of fetal DA were reviewed in this article.