Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Yinlian Gargle in the treatment of acute radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis after nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy.Methods Thirty-two patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma,who had received first radiation,were randomly split into two groups:the trial group(19 cases)and the control group(13 cases).After all groups were treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy,the control group was given rinse treatment with saline whereas the trial group was given Yinlian Gargle.The incidence of severe acute radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis,the duration and intensity of oropharyngeal discomfort and pain(NRS score),quality of life(QOL-NPC score),duration and intensity of radiation-induced side effects(SE-QOL-NPC score)and symptoms of dry mouth(SE1 score)were monitored before and after intervention in two groups.Results The incidence of grade Ⅲ or above radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis until the sixth week of radiotherapy in the trial group was considerably lower than that in the control group(P＜0.001),while the incidence of grade I or above radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis at 1 month after radiotherapy in the trial group was obviously lower than that in the control group(P＜0.001).The NRS score of pharyngeal discomfort of the trial group was lower than that of the control group starting from the second week of radiotherapy(P＜0.05).The NRS score of oral and oropharyngeal pain was lower than that of the control group starting from the fourth week of radiotherapy(P＜0.05).The SE1 score of the trial group was higher than that of the control group starting from the fifth week of radiotherapy(P＜0.05).After one month of the completion of the radiotherapy,the NRS score of pharyngeal discomfort and the NRS score of oral and oropharyngeal pain in the trial group were lower than those of the control group(P＜0.001).The QOL-NPC score,SE-QOL-NPC score,and SE1 score were all higher than those in the control group(P = 0.05 or P＜0.05).Conclusion Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer can greatly reduce their risk of developing severe acute radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis,effectively delay and relieve related symptoms,and enhance quality of life by consistently using Yinlian Gargle during radiotherapy.Additionally,a month after the completion of radiotherapy,it still has positive therapeutic effects on acute radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis.

Objective:To determine the clinical application value of transcranial sonography (TCS) in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.Methods:A total of 50 children aged 6-12 years diagnosed with ADHD (ADHD group) and 45 age-matched healthy children (control group) who presented to Suzhou Municipal Hospital and Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from August 2021 to August 2022 were prospectively enrolled for TCS examination. ADHD was diagnosed in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-Ⅴ) criteria established by the American Psychiatric Association.Based on clinical symptom characteristics, ADHD was further classified into 3 subtypes, including 14 cases of predominantly inattentive, 3 cases of predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and 33 cases of combined presentation. The substantia nigra(SN) hyperechoic area and the ratio of SN hyperechoic area to midbrain area (S/M) were measured and compared between the two groups. The examination of the correlation was performed between SN hyperechoic area, S/M ratio, and DSM-Ⅴ scores within the ADHD group.Results:Semi-quantitative analysis: the proportion of the SN grade Ⅲ or more in ADHD group was significantly higher than that in control group [96.00%(48/50) vs 13.3%(6/45), P<0.05]. Quantitative analysis: the area of SN hyperechogenicity and the ratio of S/M were significantly larger in ADHD group than in control group [0.32(0.22, 0.38)cm 2 vs 0.00(0.00, 0.00)cm 2, 7.08(5.11, 8.75)% vs 0.00(0.00, 0.00)%, all P<0.05]. Correlation analysis: The SN hyperechoic area and S/M ratio showed no significant correlations with DSM-Ⅴ scores in the ADHD group ( r=0.144, 0.142, all P>0.05). Conclusions:TCS can detect the SN echo enhancement of ADHD children, and the proportion of SN echo enhancement, SN hyperechoic area and S/M ratio are significantly higher than those of normal children, but the SN hyperecho area and S/M ratio are not significantly correlated with DSM-Ⅴ scores.

Objective:To explore the correlation between transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with serum homocysteine (Hcy), blood glucose, blood lipids, the cognitive status of Parkinson′s disease (PD) patients, and to analyze the clinical application value of these parameters in assessing the cognitive status of PD patients.Methods:A total of 152 PD patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected as the PD group, and 101 healthy examinees matched for age and gender during the same period were selected as control group. Clinical data [age, gender, duration of illness, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale Part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ) score, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) stage, etc.], serum tests (Hcy, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein concentration), and TCS examination results (third ventricular width, midbrain area, peak systolic velocity of bilateral middle cerebral arteries, bilateral middle cerebral artery resistance index, bilateral substantia nigra hyperechoic area) were collected. The two groups were divided into pure PD group and PD group with elevated Hcy, pure control group and control group with elevated Hcy, based on an Hcy concentration threshold of ≥15 μmol/L. The differences in the above parameters among the four groups were compared. The correlation between Hcy and cognitive status (MoCA score, MMSE score) of PD patients and the above parameters were analyzed.Results:The MoCA score and MMSE score of the PD group with elevated Hcy were lower than those of the pure PD group, and the UPDRS-Ⅲ score and H-Y stage were higher than those of the pure PD group (all P<0.001). The order of Hcy concentration from high to low was PD group with elevated Hcy, pure Hcy elevation group, pure PD group, and pure control group. The differences in serum data and TCS data among the four groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed: ①In the PD group, the concentration of Hcy was positively correlated with glucose concentration, H-Y stage, low-density lipoprotein concentration, right middle cerebral artery resistance index, UPDRS-Ⅲ score, total cholesterol concentration, triglyceride concentration, left middle cerebral artery resistance index, third ventricular width, and age ( rs=0.422, 0.350, 0.348, 0.334, 0.325, 0.300, 0.293, 0.283, 0.221, 0.164, all P<0.05); Hcy concentration was negatively correlated with midbrain area, MMSE score, MoCA score, peak systolic velocity of right middle cerebral artery, peak systolic velocity of left middle cerebral artery, and high-density lipoprotein concentration ( rs=-0.328, -0.282, -0.245, -0.229, -0.224, -0.192, all P<0.05). ②Clinical data, serum data, and TCS data of PD patients were all correlated with MoCA score and MMSE score, with midbrain area showing the largest positive correlation ( rs=0.524, 0.516; both P<0.05) and H-Y stage showing the largest negative correlation( rs=-0.490, -0.468; both P<0.05). Conclusions:PD patients with elevated Hcy have lower cognitive scores than pure PD patients. The correlation between Hcy concentration and blood glucose concentration is the highest in PD patients, followed by H-Y stage. The cognitive scores of PD patients are most correlated with midbrain area and unrelated to substantia nigra hyperechoic area. Lowering serum Hcy concentration in PD patients may be one of the ways to delay cognitive impairment.

Objective To analyze and discuss the medication rule of professor Ruan Yan in the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis by using data mining method,and to provide reference for the clinical research and patented drugs development for the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis.Methods The outpatient medical records of professor Ruan Yan for the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis were collected.Microsoft Excel 2010 software was used for frequency statistics.SPSS Clementine 12.0 software was used for association rule analysis,cluster analysis and factor analysis to obtain the data.The frequency of use of various drugs and the association rules between drugs were obtained.Then the medication rules in professor Ruan Yan's prescription were analyzed.Results A total of 308 Chinese medicine compounds were included,involving 80 kinds of Chinese medicines,among which relieving drugs and qi-invigorating herbs were high-frequently used.The distribution of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types was mainly characterized by lung-qi deficiency-cold syndrome and lung-spleen qi deficiency syndrome.The medicinal properties were mainly spicy,warm and sweet,and most of them belonged to the lung,spleen and stomach meridians.Five core prescriptions were extracted by factor analysis.Four drug combinations were obtained by systematic cluster analysis.Conclusion Ventilating lung and opening the orifices,expelling wind and removing cold,strengthening the spleen and replenishing qi are basic therapeutic principles for professor Ruan Yan in the treatment of children with allergic rhinitis.The treatment mainly focused on dispelling evil,ventilating lung and opening the orifices,expelling wind and removing cold during the acute stage of allergic rhinitis.In the remission period,according to the principle of"treating disease must be based on its origin",the treatment should enhance children's physical fitness,tonify lung and strengthen spleen,thereby reducing recurrence.

Objective:To explore the pathological mechanism of SN hyperechogenicity by investigating the characteristics of substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity on transcranial sonography (TCS) and serum iron metabolism parameters in the postural instability gait difficulty and tremor dominant subtypes of Parkinson′s disease (PD), and the correlation between them.Methods:A total of 155 PD patients recruited in Parkinson′s Disease Specialty in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to December 2021 were divided into postural instability gait difficulty group( n=95) and tremor dominant group( n=60). Meanwhile, 49 healthy gender- and age-matched healthy individuals who sought for physical examination during the same period were included as the control group. All subjects underwent TCS and blood test, and the echo of SN between the postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group, serum iron metabolism parameters among the three groups were compared. The postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were subdivided into with SN hyperechogenicity (SN+ )subgroup and without SN hyperechogenicity (SN-) subgroup respectively according to TCS results, and the differences in serum iron metabolism parameters between the subgroups were further compared. The association between SN hyperechogenicity and serum iron metabolism parameters of the postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were further analyzed. Results:The total area of bilateral SN+ , the area of SN+ on the larger side, and the ratio of the total area of SN+ to the midbrain area (S/M) in postural instability gait difficulty group were larger than those in tremor dominant group (all P<0.001). The value of serum ceruloplasmin and transferrin in both postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were lower than those in control group (all P<0.001), and compared with tremor dominant group and control group, the postural instability gait difficulty group had lower serum ferritin(all P<0.01). In both postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group, serum ceruloplasmin in SN+ subgroup was lower than that in SN-subgroup ( P=0.001, 0.032). Moreover, there was a negative correlation between serum transferrin and the area of SN hyperechogenicity in two subgroups(postural instability gait difficulty group: rs=-0.454, P<0.001; tremor dominant group: rs=-0.494, P<0.001). Conclusions:Compared with the tremor dominant patients, the postural instability gait difficulty patients have larger area of SN hyperechogenicity and lower serum ferritin level. The area of SN hyperechogenicity is significantly negatively correlated with serum transferrin level, indicating that the production of this imaging characteristics is related to iron metabolism.

Objective:To explore the adjunctive diagnostic value of transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with olfactory test in early Parkinson′s disease (PD) and the clinical value of both in the cognitive function of PD patients.Methods:TCS and olfactory test were performed in 157 early PD patients(PD group) and 157 healthy controls(control group) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to January 2022. The differences in clinical characteristics, TCS, and olfactory test results between the two groups were analyzed. The values of TCS, olfactory test, and their combination in diagnosing early PD were evaluated using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. The correlations of the midbrain area, the midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, and the third ventricle width in TCS examination with the cognitive score were analyzed in the PD group. According to the olfactory test scores, 157 patients with early PD were divided into two groups: 110 cases of PD with olfactory dysfunction (PD-OD) and 47 cases of PD without olfactory dysfunction (PD-NOD). The differences in clinical scores and TCS results between the two groups were compared.Results:The midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, substantia nigra hyperechoic positivity rate, third ventricle width, and olfactory dysfunction rate were higher in the PD group compared to the control group, while the midbrain area and olfactory test scores were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The sensitivity and the coincidence rate of TCS combined with the olfactory test for early PD diagnosis (90.0%, 77.1%) were higher than those of TCS alone (60.0%, 71.3%) and olfactory test alone (70.1%, 72.3%), but the specificity (63.7%) was lower than that of both alone (82.8% for TCS and 75.2% for olfactory test), (all P<0.001). MoCA score, visual space and executive ability, memory, attention, and language were positively correlated with the area of the midbrain ( rs=0.38, 0.32, 0.27, 0.25, 0.23; all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.39, -0.22, -0.39, -0.22, -0.32; all P<0.05), and orientation was negatively correlated only with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.24, P<0.05). The MoCA score of PD-OD group[22(18, 25)] was lower than that of PD-NOD group[24(20, 26)]( P=0.040). Conclusions:The combination of TCS and olfactory test can enhance the sensitivity and diagnostic agreement rate for early PD diagnosis, providing some auxiliary value. The cognitive function of PD patients is positively correlated with the midbrain area and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle. The cognitive function of PD patients with olfactory dysfunction is lower than that of PD patients without olfactory dysfunction. TCS and olfactory test may help assess cognitive function in PD patients.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the diagnosis of sarcopenia by measuring the muscle mass and hardness of medial head of gastrocnemius.Methods:According to the diagnostic criteria of Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia(AWGS), 60 patients with sarcopenia were selected as the case group and 24 normal elderly people with matched age as the control group.Two dimensional gray-scale ultrasound was used to measure the muscle thickness, pinnate angle and fascicle length of the right gastrocnemius muscle, and the shear wave elastography was used to measure the Young's modulus(the dynamic stiffness)of the muscle in the states of relaxation and contraction, respectively.The differences of various ultrasound parameters between the two groups were compared, and the relativity of muscle thickness of the medial head of the right gastrocnemius muscle, the feather horn, fascicle length in the case group with sarcopenia was analyzed.The value of the ultrasound measurements in predicting sarcopenia was analyzed by ROC curve.Results:The muscle thickness(10.0±2.1)mm, pinnate angle(16.9±3.2)°, fascicle length(30.5±3.2)mm and Young's modulus[(11.5±2.2)kPa in relaxation state, (23.2±4.0)kPa in contraction state]of the right gastrocnemius muscle were lower in the sarcopenia group than in the control group with matched age[(14.8±1.2)mm, (21.7±2.5)°, (34.2±1.6)mm, (15.0±1.5)kPa, (30.6±2.8)kPa, respectively, t=10.454, 3.612, 5.631, 6.922, 8.173, all P<0.05]. The Young's modulus value was lower in relaxed state than in the contraction state.Pearson correlation analyses showed the muscle thickness and Young modulus were negatively correlated with the age( r=-0.307, -0.285, P<0.05), and the muscle thickness was positively correlated with the limb skeletal muscle mass index( r=0.838, 0.761, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed the muscle thickness and Young's modulus were significantly correlated with sarcopenia( OR=4.576, 3.867). ROC analysis revealed that the threshold values of ultrasound examination of the right gastrocnemius muscle medial head for diagnosis of sarcopenia were as follows: muscle thickness of 11 mm, pinnate angle of 17 degrees, fascicle length of 32 mm, Young modulus at the relaxation state of 12.4 kPa.The sensitivity and specificity of muscle thickness for diagnosis of sarcopenia were the best(86.7% and 100%, respectively)as compared with other measurements. Conclusions:The measurement of muscle mass and muscle hardness of the medial head of gastrocnemius by ultrasound can reflect the decrease of muscle mass and muscle hardness quantitatively, and provide imaging indicators for the prediction of sarcopenia.

Objective To discuss the neuroimaging characteristics of transcranial ultrasound in end‐stage renal disease ( ESRD ) with restless legs syndrome . Methods T ranscranial sonography ( TCS ) was performed in ESRD with restless legs syndrome ( RLS + group , n ＝ 41 ) ,ESRD without restless legs syndrome ( RLS － group , n ＝57) and control group ( n ＝47) ,w ho were enrolled in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2017 to December 2018 . T he differences of the neuroimaging characteristics of TCS in substantia nigra ( SN ) ,brainstem raphe ( BR) and red nucleus ( RN ) among the three groups were analyzed . Results T he rate of SN hypoechogenicity was significantly higher in RLS +group ( 36 .6% ,15/41) than that in RLS － group ( 19 .3% ,11/57) and control group( 8 .5% ,4/47) ( χ2 ＝10 .6 ,P＜0 .05) . T he rate of abnormal BR echogenicity was significantly higher in RLS + group ( 34 .1% , 14/41) and RLS － group ( 29 .8% ,17/57) than that in control group( 10 .6% ,5/47) ( χ2 ＝7 .7 , P ＜0 .05) . T he rate of RN hyperechogenicity was significantly higher in RLS + group ( 51 .2% ,21/41 ) than that in RLS － group ( 21 .1% ,12/57) and control group ( 10 .6% ,5/47) ( χ2 ＝19 .8 , P ＜0 .05 ) . Between RLS+and RLS － groups ,when SN ,BR and RN were all of positive performance ,the accuracy of diagnosing RLS+ reached 70% ( 7/10 ) . Conclusions The echogenicity changes of SN ,BR and RN on TCS could provide valuable neuroimaging information for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ESRD with restless legs syndrome .

Objective: To discuss the neuroimaging characteristics of transcranial ultrasound in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with restless legs syndrome. Methods: Transcranial sonography (TCS) was performed in ESRD with restless legs syndrome (RLS+ group, n=41), ESRD without restless legs syndrome (RLS- group, n=57) and control group (n=47), who were enrolled in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2017 to December 2018. The differences of the neuroimaging characteristics of TCS in substantia nigra (SN), brainstem raphe (BR) and red nucleus(RN) among the three groups were analyzed. Results: The rate of SN hypoechogenicity was significantly higher in RLS+ group (36.6%, 15/41) than that in RLS- group (19.3%, 11/57) and control group(8.5%, 4/47) (χ²=10.6, P<0.05). The rate of abnormal BR echogenicity was significantly higher in RLS+ group (34.1%, 14/41) and RLS- group (29.8%, 17/57) than that in control group(10.6%, 5/47) (χ²=7.7, P<0.05). The rate of RN hyperechogenicity was significantly higher in RLS+ group (51.2%, 21/41) than that in RLS- group (21.1%, 12/57) and control group (10.6%, 5/47) (χ²=19.8, P<0.05). Between RLS+ and RLS- groups, when SN, BR and RN were all of positive performance, the accuracy of diagnosing RLS+ reached 70% (7/10). Conclusions The echogenicity changes of SN, BR and RN on TCS could provide valuable neuroimaging information for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ESRD with restless legs syndrome.

Objective To analyze the multimodal imaging findings of nonspecific granulomatous prostatitis (NSGP)and improve our understanding of the disease.Methods 1 427 patients underwent transrectal ultrasoundGguided prostate biopsies in our department,then 1 3 nodules in 11 patients were proven NSGP by pathology,of which 3 nodules were in inner gland and 10 were in outer gland.The characteristics of these nodules on MRI,transrectal ultrasound elastography (TRE)and contrastGenhanced ultrasonography (CEUS)were retrospectively analyzed. Results MRI:All of the nodules showed similar performances:hypointensity on T1 WI and T2 WI,low ADC and high signal on DWI (highGbGvalue),early enhancement and faded fast or slow,depressed citrate (Cit)and relatively elevated choline (Cho)peak.TRE:The cutGoff point of strain ratio (SR)was determined as 5.97 to diagnose prostate cancer and the SRs of 8 nodules were greater than 5.9 7.CEUS:1 1 nodules showed early enhancement and great intensity,but the rest of nodules showed same performance with normal tissue.Conclusion The multimodal imaging helps to improve the understanding of NSGP and plays a positive role in guiding targeted biopsy.Moreover,the operators could lessen the number of needle punctures properly according to the multimodal imaging findings, which would reduce the risk of puncture complications on patients.