Objective: To observe the efficacy of mild moxibustion combined with arthroscopic meniscal repair in the treatment of meniscal injury and to explore its action mechanism. Methods: Ninety-eight patients with meniscal injury were divided into a surgery group and a moxibustion plus surgery group by the random number table method, with 49 cases in each group. Both groups received arthroscopic meniscal repair, and the moxibustion plus surgery group was treated with add-on mild moxibustion. The Lysholm score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and mobility of the affected knee were measured before and after treatment, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) levels were measured in the fluid of the affected knee joint. The healing of the meniscus was recorded at a follow-up visit 3 months after the surgery. Results: After treatment, the Lysholm score increased, the VAS score decreased in both groups, and the intra-group differences in both groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The Lysholm score was higher in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group, and the VAS score was lower in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group. The differences between groups in both scores were statistically significant (P<0.05). The mobility of the affected knee joint increased in both groups (P<0.05), and it was greater in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group (P<0.05). When compared with pretreatment, the levels of TGF-β1 and PDGF in the fluid of the knee joint increased in both groups (P<0.05), and the levels of TGF-β1 and PDGF in the fluid of the affected knee joint were higher in the moxibustion plus surgery group than in the surgery group (P<0.05). The healing of the meniscus in the moxibustion plus surgery group was significantly better than that in the surgery group at the follow-up visit 3 months after the surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion: The effect of mild moxibustion combined with arthroscopic meniscal repair is better than the surgery alone in improving knee function, relieving pain, increasing mobility of the affected knee, and promoting meniscal healing, which may be related to the up-regulation of TGF-β1 and PDGF levels in the fluid of knee joint.

Objective:To explore the value of 3D/4D translabial ultrasound in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of female urethral diverticulum.Methods:The paired chi-square test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 2D translabial ultrasound and 3D/4D translabial ultrasound in 21 suspected urethral diverticulum patients who visited the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from November 2013 to January 2020. And Kappa consistency test was used to evaluate the consistency between these two methods and the pathological results.Results:All 21 patients with suspected urethral diverticulum were diagnosed by postoperative pathology, of which 16 cases were urethral diverticula and 5 cases were paraurethral cysts. The typical appearance of urethral diverticulum on 3D/4D translabial ultrasound was a cystic structure traversing the urethral rhabdosphincter. Additionally, septa, calcification or solid neoplasm can also be seen in some cases. The sensitivity/specificity of 2D translabial ultrasound and 3D/4D translabial ultrasound were 75.00%/100% and 93.75%/100%, respectively, no statistical differences were found both in sensitivity and specificity between these two methods(all P>0.05). The Kappa consistency test showed that the consistency between 2D translabial ultrasound and pathological diagnosis was general (Kappa=0.588, P=0.003), while the consistency between 3D/4D translabial ultrasound and pathological diagnosis was good (Kappa=0.877, P<0.001). Conclusions:3D/4D translabial ultrasound has a high value in the diagnosis of female urethral diverticulum, and it is worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the changes of midbrain raphe nucleus echo and blood trace metals, non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:A total of 177 patients with PD were recruited from Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from November 2017 to December 2019. Their non-motor symptoms were assessed by a series of PD-related scales. All subjects completed transcranial color-coded sonography, and were divided into two groups according to the continuity of raphe nucleus echo. The difference of trace metals in peripheral blood and the scores of non-motor symptoms were analyzed.Results:The serum iron level of PD patients in the continuous echo of raphe nucleus group (117 cases; 15.33 （11.30, 18.93） μmol/L) was higher than that of the discontinuous group (60 cases; 12.52 （4.15, 16.00） μmol/L, t=-2.294, P=0.022), so was the scores of Scale for outcomes in PD for Autonomic Symptoms (34.00 （28.00, 39.00） vs31.00 （26.25, 36.00）， t=-2.044, P=0.041). There was no significant difference in the level of serum copper, hemoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and the scores of Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale, Parkinson′s Disease Sleeping Scale, 39 items Parkinson′s Disease Questionnaire, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale between the two groups. Conclusion:There was significant difference in serum iron levels and the scores of SCOPA-AUT between the two groups, but no difference in depression, sleep, and daily living ability.

Objective To investigate the correlation of substantia nigra hyperecho with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson disease (PD).Methods The clinical data of 158 patients with ET or PD who underwent transcranial ultrasonography in Tongji Hospital from March 2016 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 35 patients with ET (ET group),113 patients with PD who had no previous history of ET (PD group),and 10 PD patients with previous history of ET (ET-PD group).And 58 healthy subjects served as controls (control group).The hyperechoic area of substantia nigra in different groups was compared.Results The hyperechoic areas of the substantia nigra were [0 (0,0)]cm2 (control group),[0.27(0,0.41)]cm2 (ET group),[0.33(0.21,0.40)]cm2 (ET-PD group) and [0.35(0.29,0.45)]cm2 (PD group);the differences between control group and ET group,between the ET group and PD group were statistically significant (Z=-5.24,P=0.01;Z=-3.09,P=0.02),and there were no significant difference between the ET group and ET-PD group,between ET-PD group and PD group (Z=-0.98,P=0.32;t=-0.98,P=0.33).The ratio of substantia nigra hyperechoic positive to negative in ET-PD group was 9.00 (9/1),while that in ET group was 0.94 (17/18) (OR=9.53,95％ CI:1.09-83.43,x2=3.91,P=0.04).Conclusion Substantia nigra hyperecho is an objective imaging indicator for patients with ET and PD,and has a certain differential value for their diagnosis.

Objective To explore the influences of individualized extended care on the therapeutic effects of children with asthma. Methods A total of 80 hospitalized children patients with asthma from August 2013 to March 2014 were randomly admitted to intervention group ( n=40 ) and control group ( n=40 ) . The patients in the control group adopted routine care and the patients of intervention group received post-discharge extended care ( telephone interviews, internet discussions, home visits, etc. ) . 6 months after the data collection and health surveys, outcome quality was measured and analyzed. Results Before intervention, there were no significant differences (P>0. 05) between the two groups about the age, gender, disease duration, illness etc. We assessed compliance (intervention group vs. control group:24 vs. 11), the average frequency of asthma attacks [intervention group vs. control group:(2. 3 ± 0. 7) vs (4. 2 ± 1. 5)], emergency treatment [intervention group vs. control group:(1. 4 ± 0. 6) vs (3. 8 ± 1. 7)], times of re-hospitalization [intervention group vs. control group:(0. 3 ± 0. 1) vs (0. 7 ± 0. 2)] and curative effects (intervention group vs control group:55. 0% vs 50. 0%) after the intervention. The difference between two groups was significant ( P <0. 05). The curative effects in the intervention group was apparently higher than that of control group, but the recurrence of intervention group was lower that of the control group. Conclusions The individualized extended care is effective to improve the compliance of children, curative effects, and reduce recurrence rate.

Aim To evaluate the effects of notoginsen-oside R1 on store-operated calcium entry ( SOCE ) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells ( PASMCs ) of chronic hypoxia ( CH)-and monocrotaline ( MCT)-in-duced pulmonary hypertension ( PH) rats. Methods Mn2+ quenching of Fura-2 and measurement of intra-cellular free calcium concentration ( [ Ca2+] i ) using fluo-3 were examined in PASMCs of CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats. Results ①CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats exhibited profound PH when examined 3 weeks after hypoxia exposure or MCT injection, respec-tively. ②In the presence of 3 μmol·L-1 nifedipine, 10 μmol · L-1 notoginsenoside R1 significantly re-duced cyclopiazonic acid ( CPA )-induced the percent reduction in Fura-2 fluorescence measured 500 sec af-ter application of Mn2+, the maximal rate of Mn2+quenching, the amplitude of the Ca2+ influx transient and the resting [ Ca2+] i in PASMCs of CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats. Conclusion Notoginsenoside R1 inhibits SOCE and reduces resting [ Ca2+] i in PASMCs of CH-and MCT-induced PH rats.

Objective To investigate the application value of transperineal ultrasound in female patients with cystocele.Methods Transperineal ultrasound were performed in 36 female patients with cystocele and the bladder neck movement degrees (BND),retrovesical angle and the degree of urethral rotation were observed at maximum Valsalva.The ultrasonic manifestation of 36 female patients with cystocele were summarized.Results On maximal Valsalva bladder neck mobility all increased in 36 patients,32 patients with open retrovesical angle (≥140°) and 30 female patients with urethral rotation ≥ 45°.There were 6 cases with type Ⅰ,bladder neck was lower than inferoposterior margin of the symphysis pubis,cystocele with open retrovesical angle (≥140°) and urethral rotation ＜45°.There were 26 cases with type Ⅱ,bladder neck was lower than inferoposterior margin of the symphysis pubis,cystocele with open retrovesical angle (≥140°) and urethral rotation ≥45°.There were 4 cases with type Ⅲ,bladder was lower than inferoposterior margin of the symphysis pubis,cystocele with intact retrovesical angle (＜ 140°) and urethral rotation ≥45°.Conclusions The transperineal ultrasound can be used for classification of cystocele in female patients and which may provide more reliable information for clinical diagnosis.

Objective To study the repeatability and consistency of normal female pelvic floor structure using transperineal real‐time three‐dimensional ultrasound .Methods Forty‐two cases of normal adult female were evaluated by two different experience operator ,using the real‐time three‐dimensional ultrasound diagnostic apparatus .The bladder neck movement degrees and the levator hiatus area were observed after Valsalva condition .Differences between the groups were compared .Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ,the coefficient of variation (CV) and Bland‐Altman analysis of consistency were evaluated . Results The bladder neck movement degrees and the levator hiatus area measured by the experienced operator (operator 1) and less experienced operator(operator 2) were (18 4.8 ± 5 8.4)cm and (17 7.9 ± 5 4.8) cm ,(17 5.3 ± 3 9.5)cm2 and (17 3.1 ± 4 3.2)cm2 ,respectively .There was no significant difference between the two operators ( P > 0 0.5) .The intra‐ICC were 0 8.9 and 0 9.0 ,CV were 7 2.6% and 3 0.3% .Experienced operator repeatability (ICC= 0 9.9 ,0 9.4) was slightly higher than the less experienced researchers (ICC 0 9.2 ,0 8.1) .The analysis results of Bland‐Altman image showed good consistency between two different operators .Conclusions The current study proves real‐time three‐dimensional ultrasound is a reproducible method for female pelvic floor structure assessment ,and the reproducibility is very well .The detection performance of experienced operator slightly better than the one with less experience ,strengthen the training of junior doctors may further improve the accuracy of measurement .

Objective To investigate the application value of transperineal ultrasound in female urethras and pathological change of circum-urethras.Methods 403 female patients were examined by transperineal ultrasound in condition of resting and maximum Valsalva,female urethras and pathological changes of circum-urethras were observed and ultrasonic manifestation were concluded.Results By transperineal ultrasound the images of normal urethras and pathological change of circum-urethras were clearly discernible.403 female patients were examined,380 normal.18 urethral calcification,there was hyperecho stripe in urethras.2 urethral cyst,there was round anechoic area in circum-urethras and no fistula between round anechoic area with urethras.2 urethral diverticulum,there was round anechoic area in circumurethras and a fistula between round anechoic area with urethras.1 urethrovaginal fistula,there was irregular hypoechoic area between urethras with vagina,the irregular hypoechoic area both communicate with urethras and vagina.Conclusions Transperinealr ultrasound can be used for examination urethras and pathological change of circum-urethras in female patients and may provide more reliable information for clinical diagnosis.

Objective To explore the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of subserous myoma (SM) and ovarian fibroma.Methods CEUS was performed on 58 patients with SM and 26 patients with ovarian fibroma.The enhancement pattern was observed.The diagnostic performance was evaluated by using diagnostic test.Results SM exhibited homogeneous isoenhancement synchronously with the myometrium in early phase.In the late phase,the pseudocapsule remained hyper-enhancement with obvious membraniform sign.Some myomas showed the feeding artery from uterus.Ovarian fibroma demonstrated hyper-enhancement at the periphery portion and hypoenhancement inside.Conclusions The SM and ovarian myomas showed different enhancement patterns,which may provide us some exact information in the differential diagnosis between the two diseases.