Objective:To explore the prenatal ultrasound diagnostic features and prognosis of congenital megalourethra (CM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and prenatal ultrasound features of two fetuses with CM diagnosed and treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from July to December 2023. Literature related to the prenatal diagnosis of fetal CM was searched using the Chinese keywords "megalourethra" and "congenital megalourethra" in CNKI, Wanfang, Yiigle, and VIP Chinese Journal Database; and the same keywords in English were used for the retrieval in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, with the search period from January 1, 1955, to December 31, 2023. Descriptive methods were used to analyze and summarize the prenatal ultrasound features, outcomes, and prognosis of all included cases.Results:(1) Cases from our hospital: Case 1, at 19 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound revealed the symptoms of penile urethral dilation and urinary tract obstruction, with the distal urethral opening visible. Case 2, at 17 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound showed the entire urethra of the fetus was dilated, particularly the penile urethra, with the urethral opening visible at the front end, and bilateral mild pyelectasis. Both cases were considered as fetal CM. The first case decided to terminate the pregnancy after examination at a higher-level hospital; the second case was re-examined two weeks later, showing linear separation of the penile urethra and significant relief in bilateral pyelectasis. Subsequent ultrasound examinations showed no significant changes, and a male infant was delivered by cesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation, with normal urination. (2) Literature review: A total of 54 fetal CM cases were retrieved, plus two cases from our hospital, making a total of 56 cases. Among the 56 cases, 49 cases (88%) were detected in the second trimester; penile urethral dilation was observed in all cases, with 54 cases (96%) being complicated by urinary system abnormalities, and 30 cases (54%) having other system abnormalities; 24 cases (43%) had oligohydramnios or no amniotic fluid. Eighteen cases (32%) resulted in the termination of pregnancy, one case (2%) involved intrauterine fetal death, and 37 cases (66%) resulted in live births, among which, six neonatal deaths occurred (all with oligohydramnios, three with renal dysplasia, two with increased renal parenchymal echogenicity, and one with impaired renal function). Among the 31 surviving cases, six experienced spontaneous resolution of fetal megalourethra in utero, with a favorable prognosis. Of the 20 cases with increased renal parenchymal echogenicity or renal dysplasia, nine (45%) resulted in termination of pregnancy, five (25%) in neonatal death, and among the six (30%) surviving infants, four underwent renal function tests, all showing renal impairment. Among the four cases detected in early pregnancy, two resulted in termination of pregnancy, one in neonatal death, and one infant developed end-stage renal disease.Conclusions:Fetal CM ultrasound images are characterized by dilatation of the penile urethra. Early detection, increased renal echogenicity or renal dysplasia, and oligohydramnios may be associated with adverse outcomes such as neonatal death or renal impairment.

Objective:To investigate the effect of astragalus polysaccharide(APS)on macrophage phagocytosis of P.aerugino-sa and its related mechanism.Methods:The effect of APS on the activity of macrophages was detected by CCK-8 assay.The effect of APS on macrophage phagocytosis related signal pathways were detected by Western blot.Gentamicin protection test and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate the effect of APS on macrophage phagocytosis of P.aeruginosa.Then the macrophages were pretreated with the inhibitors of TLR4,NF-κB,STAT3,MAPK and PI3K to assess the mechanism mediating APS on macrophage phagocytosis.Results:APS promotes the activity of macrophages,and significantly promoted the phagocytosis of P.aeruginosa by macrophages.Fur-thermore,macrophage phagocytosis of P.aeruginosa was significantly inhibited by TLR4 inhibitors(TAK242)and PI3K inhibitors(LY294002),but not affected by NF-κB,STAT3 and MAPK inhibitors.Conclusion:APS has no toxicity on macrophages,and can promote the phagocytosis of macrophages to P.aeruginosa,the underlying mechanism may be related to TLR4/PI3K pathway.

Objective:To explore the prenatal ultrasound diagnostic features and prognosis of congenital megalourethra (CM).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and prenatal ultrasound features of two fetuses with CM diagnosed and treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from July to December 2023. Literature related to the prenatal diagnosis of fetal CM was searched using the Chinese keywords "megalourethra" and "congenital megalourethra" in CNKI, Wanfang, Yiigle, and VIP Chinese Journal Database; and the same keywords in English were used for the retrieval in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, with the search period from January 1, 1955, to December 31, 2023. Descriptive methods were used to analyze and summarize the prenatal ultrasound features, outcomes, and prognosis of all included cases.Results:(1) Cases from our hospital: Case 1, at 19 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound revealed the symptoms of penile urethral dilation and urinary tract obstruction, with the distal urethral opening visible. Case 2, at 17 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound showed the entire urethra of the fetus was dilated, particularly the penile urethra, with the urethral opening visible at the front end, and bilateral mild pyelectasis. Both cases were considered as fetal CM. The first case decided to terminate the pregnancy after examination at a higher-level hospital; the second case was re-examined two weeks later, showing linear separation of the penile urethra and significant relief in bilateral pyelectasis. Subsequent ultrasound examinations showed no significant changes, and a male infant was delivered by cesarean section at 37 weeks of gestation, with normal urination. (2) Literature review: A total of 54 fetal CM cases were retrieved, plus two cases from our hospital, making a total of 56 cases. Among the 56 cases, 49 cases (88%) were detected in the second trimester; penile urethral dilation was observed in all cases, with 54 cases (96%) being complicated by urinary system abnormalities, and 30 cases (54%) having other system abnormalities; 24 cases (43%) had oligohydramnios or no amniotic fluid. Eighteen cases (32%) resulted in the termination of pregnancy, one case (2%) involved intrauterine fetal death, and 37 cases (66%) resulted in live births, among which, six neonatal deaths occurred (all with oligohydramnios, three with renal dysplasia, two with increased renal parenchymal echogenicity, and one with impaired renal function). Among the 31 surviving cases, six experienced spontaneous resolution of fetal megalourethra in utero, with a favorable prognosis. Of the 20 cases with increased renal parenchymal echogenicity or renal dysplasia, nine (45%) resulted in termination of pregnancy, five (25%) in neonatal death, and among the six (30%) surviving infants, four underwent renal function tests, all showing renal impairment. Among the four cases detected in early pregnancy, two resulted in termination of pregnancy, one in neonatal death, and one infant developed end-stage renal disease.Conclusions:Fetal CM ultrasound images are characterized by dilatation of the penile urethra. Early detection, increased renal echogenicity or renal dysplasia, and oligohydramnios may be associated with adverse outcomes such as neonatal death or renal impairment.

Objective:To investigate the effect of astragalus polysaccharide(APS)on macrophage phagocytosis of P.aerugino-sa and its related mechanism.Methods:The effect of APS on the activity of macrophages was detected by CCK-8 assay.The effect of APS on macrophage phagocytosis related signal pathways were detected by Western blot.Gentamicin protection test and flow cytometry were employed to evaluate the effect of APS on macrophage phagocytosis of P.aeruginosa.Then the macrophages were pretreated with the inhibitors of TLR4,NF-κB,STAT3,MAPK and PI3K to assess the mechanism mediating APS on macrophage phagocytosis.Results:APS promotes the activity of macrophages,and significantly promoted the phagocytosis of P.aeruginosa by macrophages.Fur-thermore,macrophage phagocytosis of P.aeruginosa was significantly inhibited by TLR4 inhibitors(TAK242)and PI3K inhibitors(LY294002),but not affected by NF-κB,STAT3 and MAPK inhibitors.Conclusion:APS has no toxicity on macrophages,and can promote the phagocytosis of macrophages to P.aeruginosa,the underlying mechanism may be related to TLR4/PI3K pathway.

Objective:To summarize the ultrasound manifestations of submucosal cleft palate, and explore the diagnostic value of prenatal ultrasound for submucosal cleft palate.Methods:A total of 21 146 pregnant women who underwent fetal ultrasound examination in the second and third trimesters in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2013 to May 2018 were collected. They were all singleton pregnancy. The ultrasound image which was the horizontal plate of the palatine bone at the posterior border of the fetal hard palate was routinely obtained. The presence of bone loss at the posterior border of the hard palate was defined as a positive case. Then the palate targeted ultrasound examinations of the positive cases were performed to observe the continuity of the soft palate. The ultrasound images of positive cases were compared with the results of induction or delivery, and their postpartum diagnosis and treatment were tracked.Results:A total of 44 simple cleft palate were detected in 21 146 fetuses, including 23 dominant cleft palate and 21 submucosal cleft palate. Two cases of 21 submucosal cleft palate were induced because of other deformities, the other 19 cases were born. The follow-up of the 19 submucosal cleft palate cases showed that 15 cases visited to stomatology department before 3 years of age, and 2 cases of newborns with dominant cleft palate were misdiagnosed as submucosal cleft palate by prenatal ultrasound, and the other13 of them were clinically diagnosed as submucosal cleft palate. The ultrasound of the submucosal cleft palate showed there was no inverted "V" -shaped bone in the posterior edge of the hard palate which was connected by a membranous connection, and the soft palate was complete, but the center of soft palate was thinner or even present membranous hyperechoic in ultrasound.Conclusions:Submucosal cleft palate has characteristic ultrasound features, and prenatal ultrasound make a diagnosis and provide some basis for obtaining early diagnosis and treatment after birth.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility and safety of total aortic arch surgery under mild hypothermicvia single upper hemisternotomy approach.Methods:From January 2019 to July 2019, 35 patients(31 male and 4 female) with Stanford A type aortic dissection were diagnosed, who were(43.7±5.7)years old. Aortic arch surgeries were carried out under mild hypothermic via single upper hemisternotomy approach and the perioperative mortality, time of cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB), aortic cross clamp(ACC), circulation arrest(CA) and morbidity of neurological dysfunction were respectively were recorded.Results:All patients were finished aortic arch surgery under mild hypothermic single upper hemisternotomy approach, with 8.6% of mortality(3 patients died perioperation). The time of CPB, ACC and CA were respectively(202±53)min, (128±28)min and(8±3)min. There were 6 cases of transient neurological dysfunction(17.1%) and 1 case of permanent neurological dysfunction(2.9%).Conclusion:Aortic arch surgery under mild hypothermic for Standford A dissectionvia single upper hemisternotomy approach is safe and feasible.

Objective:To investigate the characteristic of ultrasound in diagnosing fetal intestinal volvulus.Methods:From April 2015 to May 2018, four cases of fetal intestinal volvulus indicated by prenatal ultrasound in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College and confirmed either by autopsy or by postnatal surgery, were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 11 ultrasound scans had been performed on the four cases, and the dynamic and static ultrasound features were summarized. Pregnancy outcomes and concomitant malformations were also followed up. Descriptive statistical analysis was used.Results:The direct ultrasonographic patterns of intestinal volvulus in the four cases were "whirlpool" signs (six times), clockwise wrapping of branch vessels of the superior mesenteric vein and the superior mesenteric artery (five times), and "coffee bean" sign (three times); the indirect signs included dilated small intestine (11 times), ascites (eight times), polyhydramnios (five times), peritoneal calcification(four times), pseudocysts(once). Out of the 11 ultrasound examinations, early-stage volvulus was detected on three occasions, all with "whirlpool" signs and clockwise wrapping of branch vessels of the superior mesenteric vein and the superior mesenteric artery. As the disease progressed to the meconium peritonitis stage, indirect signs emerged while the initial two signs can diminished. Postnatal surgery or autopsy after labor induction confirmed the segmental volvulus in the four cases, of which three were complicated by intestinal atresia. No intestinal malrotation was found.Conclusion:Typical direct signs and atypical indirect signs could be identified in the sonogram findings of fetal volvulus, and are important for diagnosing fetal volvulus.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of Sun's procedure for Stanford A type aortic dissection through single upperhemisternotomy approach ( from the Strernal Notch to the level of fourth intercostal space ) .Methods 58 patients(39 male and 19 female) with Stanford A type aortic dissection were retrospective for this study, who were(46.3 ±9. 5) years old.Sun's prcedure were carried out through single upperhemisternotomy approach and the perioperative characteris-tics were recorded.Results All patients were finished Sun's procedure through single upperhemisternotomy approach, with 5.2％ of mortality(3 patients died postoperation).The time of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross clamp and circulation ar-rest were respectively(181.6 ±25.5)min,(114.2 ±19.8)min and(29.0 ±5.8)min.Non serious adverse event were found after 2 to 15 months follow-up.Conclusion Sun's procedure through single upperhemisternotomy approach was one of the safe and feasible treatment for Stanford A type aortic dissection , which can reduce the operative wound and improve the patients ' satisfactory.

Purpose To investigate the prenatal ultrasonic features of fetal hypospadias and to compare the diagnostic accuracy.Materials and Methods The clinical data of 28 patients with suspected or confirmed hypospadias were retrospectively analyzed.The prenatal ultrasonic features,missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis of the patients were analyzed,and the diagnostic accuracy of different ultrasonic features for hypospadias was compared.Results In 28 cases,21 cases of hypospadias were confirmed by examination after birth or induced abortion with 2 cases of missed diagnosis by ultrasound,and 7 cases of non hypospadias were misdiagnosed by prenatal ultrasound.The diagnostic accuracy rate of 2D ultrasound was 67.9％ (19/28),and that of 3D ultrasound combined with 2D ultrasound was 92.9％ (13/14).The diagnostic accuracy rates of ultrasonic features such as abnormal urinary jet,abnormal urethra,tulip sign,abnormal penis tip,scrotum separation with or without penoscrotal transposition and short penis were 100.0％ (6/6),92.9％ (13/14),88.2％ (15/17),83.3％ (5/6),25.0％ (1/4) and 33.3％ (1/3),respectively.Conclusion The ultrasonic features including abnormal urinary jet,abnormal urethra,tulip sign and abnormal penis tip have great value for prenatal diagnosis of fetal hypospadias.3D ultrasound is more intuitive than 2D ultrasound and provides more details.Comprehensive analysis of all ultrasonic features is helpful for prenatal diagnosis.