Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Objective:To investigate the effects of metformin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell growth, migration and angiogenesis by regulating the expression of ALKBH3.Methods:Human esophageal cancer TE-1 cells were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 mmol/L) of metformin, and they were divided into a blank control group, low- (0.5 mmol/L), medium- (1.0 mmol/L), and high- (2.0 mmol/L) concentration metformin groups, a metformin (2.0 mmol/L) +pcDNA-NC group, and a metformin (2.0 mmol/L) +pcDNA-ALKBH3 group. The cell viability was determined by the CCK-8 method. The cell proliferation ability was detected by the clone formation assay. The cell migration and invasion abilities were examined by the Transwell assay. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The tube formation ability of cells was detected by the angiogenesis assay. A xenograft tumor model was constructed using 4- to 6-week-old male BALB/c thymus-less nude mice, which were divided into a model control group, a metformin group, a metformin+pcDNA-NC group, and a metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group using a random number table method, and with six in each group. And the volume and weight of the tumor were measured. The protein expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, ALKBH3 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) were detected by Western blotting. The expression of CD31 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:After treating TE-1 cells with 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 mmol/L metformin for 48 hours, the cell viability was (100.00±0.00) %, (90.31±5.23) %, (81.25±8.65) %, (63.52±6.80) %, (54.64±5.35) %, and (31.48±4.21) %, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=98.11, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in cell viability between 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 mmol/L and 0 mmol/L (all P<0.05). The IC 50 of metformin for TE-1 cells was 4.46 mmol/L. The numbers of colony formations of TE-1 cells in the blank control group, low-, medium-, and high-concentration metformin groups, metformin+pcDNA-NC group, and metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group were 153.15±13.55, 134.80±11.62, 116.24±10.43, 93.17±8.85, 89.39±8.46, 110.26±7.21, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=34.28, P<0.001); the numbers of colony formations of TE-1 cells in the metformin groups at different concentrations decreased significantly with the increase in metformin concentration (both P<0.05); compared with the metformin+pcDNA-NC group, the number of colony formations of cells in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group increased ( P<0.05). The numbers of migration of TE-1 cells of 6 groups were 152.13±13.40, 133.85±10.72, 115.28±8.64, 91.16±7.89, 85.39±7.23, 116.85±8.36, the numbers of invasion were 135.22±10.77, 112.07±9.53, 86.30±7.45, 69.53±6.74, 65.81±5.65, 79.80±6.32, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( F=41.35, P<0.001; F=69.06, P<0.001); the numbers of migrated and invaded cells in the metformin groups at different concentrations decreased significantly with the increase in metformin concentration (all P<0.05); compared with the metformin+pcDNA-NC group, the numbers of migrated and invaded cells in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group increased significantly (both P<0.05). The apoptosis rates of TE-1 cells in 6 groups were (3.22±1.13) %, (13.82±1.90) %, (22.67±2.53) %, (29.18±3.24) %, (26.84±2.75) %, and (16.36±1.63) %, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=103.66, P<0.001); the apoptosis rates of cells in the metformin groups at different concentrations gradually increased with the increase in metformin concentration (both P<0.05); compared with the metformin+pcDNA-NC group, the apoptosis rate of cells in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group was relatively lower ( P<0.05). The tubular structure of cells in blank control group was intact, and there were different degrees of damage to the tubular structure of cells in the low-, medium-, high- concentration metformin groups, the degree of damage to the tubular structure of cells in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group was reduced. The numbers of cellular tubular structures of TE-1 cells in the 6 groups were 38.35±3.20, 27.15±2.64, 15.92±3.14, 7.39±1.50, 8.61±1.37, and 29.33±4.20, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=113.92, P<0.001); the number of cellular tubular structures in the low-, medium-, and high- concentration metformin groups gradually decreased (both P<0.05); the number of cellular tubular structures in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group was more than that in the metformin+pcDNA-NC group ( P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, ALKBH3, and VEGF-A in TE-1 cells among 6 groups ( F=56.36, P<0.001; F=57.26, P<0.001; F=159.30, P<0.001; F=132.89, P<0.001); compared with the blank control group, the protein expressions of Bcl-2, ALKBH3, and VEGF-A in the metformin groups at different concentrations decreased, while the protein expression of Bax increased (all P<0.05); compared with the metformin+pcDNA-NC group, the protein expressions of Bcl-2, ALKBH3, and VEGF-A in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group increased, and the expression level of Bax decreased (all P<0.05). The weights of tumors in the model control group, metformin group, metformin+pcDNA-NC group, and metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group were (1.16±0.12), (0.46±0.05), (0.50±0.06), (1.19±0.14) g, the volumes of tumors were (878.36±108.93), (413.59±50.23), (439.78±51.39), (793.75±96.98) mm 3, with statistically significant differences ( F=96.61, P<0.001; F=51.90, P<0.001); the weight of tumors were lower and the volume of tumors were smaller in the metformin group than those in the model control group (both P<0.05), the weight of tumors were higher and the volume of tumors were bigger in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group than those in the metformin group and the metformin+pcDNA-NC group (all P<0.05). CD31 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm and cell membrane of tumor cells. There were statistically significant differences in the positive rates of CD31 and the protein expression levels of VEGF-A in transplanted tumor tissues among 4 groups ( F=7.12, P=0.002; F=48.81, P<0.001); the positive rate of CD31 and the protein expression level of VEGF-A in the metformin group were lower than those in the model control group; the positive rate of CD31 and the protein expression level of VEGF-A in the metformin+pcDNA-ALKBH3 group were higher than those in the metformin group and the metformin+pcDNA-NC group (all P<0.05) . Conclusions:Metformin may inhibit the proliferation, migration, and tumor angiogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by reducing ALKBH3 expression.

Objective To explore the efficacy of endoscopic minimally invasive release surgery and ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle knife release in treating carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS).Methods A total of 96 patients with CTS,who received treatment at Yixing People's Hospital and Wuxi Ninth Hospital Orthopedic Hospital from January 2021 to December 2024,were selected for this study.Using a random number table method,the 96 patients were divided into an endoscopic group and an ultrasound group,with 48 patients in each group.The patients of endoscopic group received endoscopic minimally invasive release surgery,while the patients of ultrasound group received ultrasound-guided needle knife treatment.The surgical indicators,efficacy,wrist function,median nerve electrophysiological indicators,anatomical indicators,efficacy,and safety were compared between the two groups.Results In the ultrasound group,the surgical duration and postoperative recovery time were shorter than those in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05),and the surgical cost was lower than that in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).The postoperative Symptom Severity Score(SSS)and Functional Status Scale(FSS)score of both groups were decreased when compared with their preoperative values(P＜0.05),and the SSS and FSS of the ultrasound group were lower than those of the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).After treatment,the resting pain score and activity pain score of both groups were decreased when compared with their preoperative values(P＜0.05),and the resting pain score and activity pain score in the ultrasound group were lower than those in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).After treatment,both groups showed a reduction in median nerve flattening ratio(FR)and transverse carpal ligament(TCL)thickness when compared with their preoperative values(P＜0.05),and the reduction degree in the ultrasound group was greater than that in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).After treatment,both groups showed an increase in sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV),sensory nerve action potential amplitude(SNAP),and motor nerve action potential amplitude(CMAP)when compared with their preoperative values(P＜0.05),which in the ultrasound group showed a greater improvement than those in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).The postoperative distal motor latency(DML)was decreased in both groups(P＜0.05),and the DML in the ultrasound group was lower than that in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).The therapeutic efficacy in the ultrasound group was higher than that in the endoscopic group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared to endoscopic minimally invasive release surgery,ultrasound-guided needle knife treatment is more effective in promoting the recovery of wrist joint function in patients with CTS.It can effectively decrease the pain severity of patients,repair anatomical injuries in the wrist,promote the recovery of nerve electrophysiological indicators of the median nerve,with good safety and lower medical costs.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of automatic coagulation detection assembly line in high-throughput specimen detection.Methods The relevant information of sodium citrate anticoagulation samples in Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from June to August 2021 was collected,inclu-ding sample collection time,receiving time,instrument sucking time,test completion time,and whether it pas-sed autoverification or not.The sample pretreatment time,testing time and turnaround time(TAT)of the au-tomatic coagulation detection assembly line were compared before and after installation,and the detection speed of the automatic coagulation detection assembly line was evaluated.Results The automatic coagulation detection line was expected to detect 650-900 samples per hour.The increase in the number of turbidimetric tests would slow down the detection speed of the instrument.Automatic coagulation detection assembly line test specimen to clinic and ward of pretreatment time and testing time were shorter than single detection,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The automatic coagulation detection assembly line could shorten TAT(P＜0.05).After the application of automatic coagulation detection assembly line,the autoveri-fication rate was 25.6％.Conclusion The automatic coagulation detection assembly line is suitable for high-throughput specimen detection in laboratory.Compared with stand-alone coagulation detection,the automatic coagulation detection assembly line could shorten TAT and testing time,and help to reduce the work pressure of laboratory personnel.

[Objective]To explore the clinical characteristics of neurobrucellosis in Kashi,Xinjiang Uygur Autono-mous Region,thus improve the diagnosis and treatment.[Methods]A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 18 cases of neurobrucellosis who were admitted to the First People's Hospital of Kashi Prefecture between Decem-ber 2019 and January 2024.[Results]The study included 9 males and 9 females,with a median age of 36 years(range:17-54.5).A clear epidemiological history was found in all the 18 brucllosis patients,12 of whom presented with meningo-encephalitis,5 meningitis,and 1 encephalitis.Two comorbided with spinal meningitis,2 osteoarthritis and 1 epididymitis.Most frequently reported clinical symptoms were headache,fever and fatigue.The prevalence rates of brucellosis by rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT)and serum agglutination test(SAT)were 11/12 and 8/9,respectively.Two of 10 patients had positive blood cultures,four of 16 had positive cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)cultures and five of five were detect-ed to be positive by next-generation sequencing(NGS)for pathogens in CSF.CSF showed exudative changes and elevated number of leukocytes,with predominance of single nucleated cells.All patients were treated with the combined use of two to four from the drugs like doxycycline,rifampicin,ceftriaxone,cefixime,minocycline,levofloxacin and sulfanilamide.Most patients had a favorable prognosis.[Conclusions]Neurobrucellosis should be considered in all patients with central nervous system manifestations from endemic areas.If there are exudative changes in CSF,differential diagnoses can be made by serological testing,blood culture,CSF culture and NGS.NGS could significantly increase the accuracy for neuro-brucellosis diagnosis.

Objective:To analyze the bubble dynamic characteristics of shock wave enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming(SWEEPS)technique in free water region under different temporay delays.Methods:The Er∶YAG laser tip was activated in free water model with SWEEPS mode at 150-600 μs pulse delay.The bubble dynamic process during irrigation was recorded by a high-speed camera(200 000 Hz).Matlab was used to analyze the interaction between bubble made by the dual pulses frame by frame.The distance between bubble remnants and laser tip was measured before the bubble disappeared.The experimental data were statisti-cally analyzed by SPSS 19.0.Results:In free water region,different temporal delays caused different interaction between the bub-bles activated by the SWEEPS technique with a dual pulse modality.The interactions include bubble fusion,bubble collision and bubble separation.When the temporal delay between 360-440 μs,bubble collision was the most violent,and the farthest distance between bubble remnants and laser tip was reached.Conclusion:In free water region,the dual pulse of SWEEPS technique can lead to bubble interaction which may enhance the cavitation effect of Er∶YAG laser irrigation,and improve the debridement in clinic ap-plication.