Objective To observe the feasibility of Fourier ring correlation(FRC)for measuring the overall resolution of ultrasonic microvascular images.Methods Liver contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)images of 1 patient with suspected hepatic hemangioma(dataset 1)were processed with singular value decomposition(SVD)filter(dataset 2)and Frangi filter(dataset 3),respectively.Three ROI were selected on CEUS image in each dataset,and the signal-intensity curves were drawn,and local resolution of CEUS image in each dataset was measured using full width at half maxima(FWHM)method.Then the above datasets were divided into odd frame subset and even frame subset,respectively,which were converted into frequency domain using fast Fourier transform.FRC curves were generated to calculate the overall resolution of each kind images.Results The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of CEUS images in dataset 1,2,3 was(19.94±2.33),(30.36±0.78)and(69.52±16.38)dB,respectively,the local resolution was(4.07±9.82),(1.53±0.04)and(1.27±0.06)mm,both successively increased(all P＜0.05).The overall resolution of CEUS images in dataset 1,2,3 was 2.07,0.91 and 0.51 mm,respectively.Conclusion FRC was feasible for measuring the overall resolution of ultrasonic microvascular images.

Objective To observe the effect of extracting different speed contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)signals using singular value decomposition filtering and implementing fused imaging for improving visualization of microvascular structures.Methods Singular value decomposition and filtering were performed on 200 frames of mouse subcutaneous tumor and 250 frames of human liver CEUS image datasets.The singular value inflection point was used as the threshold for separating low-speed and high-speed contrast signals by exponential projection of singular values on the singular value sequence.The low-speed and high-speed signals in dataset were extracted,and dual-modal fusion imaging was performed on the processed images.The image resolution differences of ultrasound microvascular imaging regions with different flow velocities were evaluated.Results The high-speed blood flow images processed by the high singular value sequence range retained the fast-moving contrast signals which mainly showed the thicker blood vessel structures,while the low-speed blood flow images processed by the low singular value sequence range retained the low-speed moving contrast signals which reflected the microvascular structures on high singular value images.The fusion imaging displayed microvascular network more completely.Conclusion Appropriate selection of singular value range was crucial to optimization of CEUS images using singular value decomposition filtering.Fusion imaging was beneficial to improving visualization of microvascular structures.

Objective:To explore the application value of singular value decomposition(SVD)in optimizing the image quality of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)and perioperative CEUS assessment of microwave ablation(MWA)for thyroid nodule.Methods:The data sets of two-dimensional ultrasound and CEUS images of two patients with thyroid nodules,who underwent MWA in China Resources&Wisco General Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology from April 2023,were collected.The contrast images based on CEUS images after SVD filtering were obtained according to the normalized cross-correlation algorithm,and the differences of signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and micro-vessel density(MVD)between the contrast images after SVD filtering and original CEUS images were compared.Results:Compared with the original CEUS images of thyroid nodules before and after MWA,the contrast images that were processed by SVD filtering can more clearly show the vascular structure with thyroid nodules,and can detect more signals of blood flow.The results showed that the average SNR of the original CEUS images after operation was(1.07±0.66)dB,and the average SNR of the contrast images by SVD filtering after operation was(6.21±1.01)dB(t=-6.015,P=0.038).The average MVD of the original CEUS images after operation was(0.60±0.33)%,and the average MVD of the contrast images of SVD filtering after operation was(5.42±0.67)%(t=-9.076,P=0.029).It can show that the SNR and MVD of the contrast images of SVD-filtering after operation were significantly higher than these of the original CEUS images after operation,and the results of these studies were significant.Conclusion:SVD filtering can effectively suppress noise and enhance the signals of micro-blood flow.The improved quality of contrast images can be used in the accurate diagnosis of perioperative MWA of thyroid nodules,it can sensitively detect the residually incomplete areas of ablation after operation,so as to guide clinicians to carry out more thorough ablation treatment and provide decision support for the assessment of curative effect of accurate ablation.

Objective To observe the value of ultrasound vector flow imaging(VFI)combined with singular value decomposition(SVD)filtering for depicting deep microvasculature flow velocity of liver.Methods Grayscale ultrasound,CDFI and contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)were prospectively performed in a patient with suspected liver hemangioma.Images of CEUS were dealt with SVD filtering.Cross-correlation algorithm was used to obtain images of VFI based on grayscale ultrasound,original CEUS and SVD filtered CEUS,respectively,and the ability of the above images for depicting liver microvascular flow direction and velocity were compared.Results The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of liver grayscale ultrasound,original CEUS and SVD filtered CEUS images was 7.56,17.65 and 22.43 dB,respectively,while their contrast-to-issue ratio(CTR)was 1.12,7.56 and 16.34 dB,respectively.Compared with VFI based on grayscale ultrasound and original CEUS,VFI based on SVD filtered CEUS could display faster velocity and more uniform direction of blood flow.Before and after SVD filtering,liver microvascular flow velocity measured with VFI was 1.91(0.81,4.11)and 6.83(4.25,9.41)mm/s,respectively,which were significantly different(Z=-10.671,P＜0.001).Conclusion Combined with SVD filtering could significantly improve the efficiency of VFI for depicting liver deep microvasculature flow velocity.

Objective:To compare the clinical value of visual analogue scale （VAS）, Lebel scale and total nasal symptom scores （TNSS） in evaluating nasal allergen provocation test （NAPT）. Methods:A total of 151 patients suspected of allergic rhinitis admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of our hospital from April 2020 to September 2020 were included, of which 76 were positive for house dust mites and 75 were negative for allergens. Nasal airway resistance（NAR） was measured by active anterior nasal manometry. Nasal symptoms were evaluated by VAS, Lebel and TNSS. House dust mite allergen was used for NAPT by spray method. An increase≥40% in NAR was used as the gold standard for objective evaluation of NAPT. ROC curves of VAS, Lebel and TNSS were drawn to compare the evaluation effectiveness of different subjective evaluation methods, and the optimal critical point of each ROC curve was obtained. Results:With NAR increased by ≥40% as the gold standard, the area under ROC curve of VAS was 0.884, and the sensitivity and specificity were 97.75% and 80.65%, respectively. The area under ROC curve of Lebel was 0.773, and the sensitivity and specificity were 68.54% and 75.81%, respectively. The area under ROC curve of TNSS was 0.792, and the sensitivity and specificity were 68.54% and 79.03%, respectively. There was no significant difference between Lebel and TNSS（P>0.05）. The VAS differed significantly from Lebel and TNSS（P<0.05）. The Kappa values of VAS, Lebel, TNSS and NAR were 0.803, 0.432 and 0.459, respectively. Conclusion:The VAS, Lebel, TNSS subjective scale and NAR are consistent in evaluating the efficacy of NAPT, with the VAS assessment showing highest consistency with NAR. As objective assessment instruments are not widely used in China, subjective assessment method could be adopted to evaluate the efficacy of NAPT in clinical practice, and VAS scale is recommended as a priority.
Animals ; Humans ; Allergens ; Nasal Provocation Tests/methods* ; Rhinitis, Allergic/diagnosis* ; Nose ; Pyroglyphidae

Objective:To analyze the genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to the development of allergic rhinitis (AR) in patients, and provide a scientific basis for formulating intervention measures.Methods:This is a case-control study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on AR patients who received treatment at The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from June 2017 to March 2019 using a self-designed questionnaire on AR susceptibility factors. Logistic regression analysis of AR susceptibility factors was performed.Results:There were 242 patients in the AR group and 258 patients in the non-AR group (control group). The average age of all patients was (13.16 ± 5.63) years. 56.8% of included patients were male. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that AR onset was associated with neonatal jaundice ( OR = 6.043), respiratory infections within 6 months after birth ( OR = 8.123), diarrhea ( OR = 3.868), eczema ( OR = 4.540), living in urban areas ( OR = 2.477), home decoration after birth ( OR = 3.042), moldy ceilings or walls ( OR = 38.255), home gardening ( OR = 3.752), and exposure to smoking environments ( OR = 2.574). Conclusion:The etiology of AR is complex, and its onset is influenced by various factors such as genetic factors, environmental factors, and related disease factors. It is necessary to strengthen the promotion and education of AR prevention knowledge, pay attention to environmental hygiene, and take personal protection measures.

Objective To investigate the status of health knowledge of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and its influencing factors, so as to provide a scientific basis for formulating targeted health education programs. Methods Using a self-designed questionnaire on health cognition after PCI, 433 patients with a history of PCI surgery at a Grade III, Class A hospital between January 2019 and December 2019 were selected as the research subjects to investigate their health cognition and the influencing factors by binary logistic regression analysis. Results The pass rate of health cognition of patients after PCI was 39%, and the total correct rate was 57.5%. The correct rate of drug knowledge and risk factors was the lowest (33.6% and 48.5%, respectively). Binary logistic regression showed that gender, age and cardiac function classification were risk factors for health cognition of patients after PCI, while education level, occupation category and recurrence of discomfort after PCI were protective factors. Conclusion The level of health cognition of patients after PCI is low. Gender, age, education level, occupation category, cardiac function classification and recurrence of discomfort after PCI are independent influencing factors. When implementing health education, medical staff should comprehensively consider the formulation of individualized health education to help.

In this paper, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene mutation was studied in a congenital hypothyroidism (CH) family with 2 patients, to explore the mechanism of c. 2268dupT homozygous mutation leading to thyroid nodules, as well as the relationship between TPO gene mutation and thyroid cancer. The result suggested that TPO gene mutation is one of the reasons for congenital hypothyroidism, TPO gene c. 2268 dupT mutations can lead to thyroid nodules, which may be related to long-term high TSH stimulation and truncated protein accumulation. TPO gene mutations have a certain correlation with thyroid cancer, the risk may increase with the increase of age, but the mechanism is not clear at present. In the future, further research on the correlation and mechanism between the two factors is needed, as well as to determine whether it is necessary to remove the thyroid gland to prevent the accarance of cancer in CH patients with TPO gene mutation with thyroid nodules.

AIM:To analyze the expression of CCR5 and correlation with the expression ofβ-arrestin 2 in the intestinal mucosa of the patients with inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) , so as to study the role of CCR5 andβ-arrestin 2 in the pathogenesis of IBD.METHODS:Paraffin sections of the colonic mucosa were prepared from 53 patients with active IBD, 26 patients with remissive IBD and 30 healthy people.Immunohistochemical EnVision two-step method was used to test the expression of CCR5 andβ-arrestin 2 in the biopsic intestinal mucosa.RESULTS:The positive rate, strongly posi-tive rate and immunohistochemical score of CCR5 expression in active IBD were significantly higher than those in normal controls or remissive IBD (P<0.05).No correlation of CCR5 expression with clinical severity, lesion distribution, and endoscopic grade in active IBD was observed.The expression ofβ-arrestin 2 was significantly lower in active IBD than that in the remissive IBD and normal controls, and there was a negative correlation ofβ-arrestin 2 expression with CCR5 expres-sion (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The expression of CCR5 is higher, and expression ofβ-arrestin 2 is lower, and there is a negative correlation of expression of CCR5 with expression ofβ-arrestin 2 in intestinal mucosa of the active IBD.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To pan the active peptides which specifically bound to the first and second extracellular membrane loops of rat CC chemokine receptor 5 ( CCR5 ) .METHODS: The technique of phage display peptide library was used and binding ability of the peptides was identified.The amino acid sequences of the first and second extracellular loops of rat CCR5 were searched in the protein database and chemically synthesized corresponding linear peptides were used as targets in the biopanning.After 3 to 4 rounds of screening with Ph.D.TM-7 Phage Display Peptide Library were per-formed, the specific phages were collected and primarily identified by ELISA.RESULTS:The sequences of the peptides displayed on the selected phages were GHWKVWL and HYIDFRW, both of them exhibited positive in phage binding ELISA and the binding to phages and targets were concentration dependent and saturable.CONCLUSION:Two antagonis-tic active peptides specifically binding to CCR5 were successfully obtained by the technique of phage display peptide librar-y, and the binding ability to the first and second extracellular membrane loops of rat CCR5 were proved in vitro.