Evaluation of The Effectiveness of Abdominal and Vaginal B-Ultrasound in The Diagnosis of Acute Abdomen in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of the combined application of abdominal and vaginal B-ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute abdomen in obstetrics and gynecology. Methods: Eighty patients admitted to our hospital from March 2023 to March 2024 were selected, all of whom were acute abdomen patients admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In this study, the patients were divided into two groups. One group of 40 patients was given a simple abdominal B-ultrasound diagnosis (control group). The other group of 40 patients was given both abdominal and vaginal B-ultrasound examinations (experimental group). The diagnostic accuracy between the two groups was compared. Results: Patients in the experimental group had higher consistency rates with pathological diagnosis results in ectopic pregnancy rupture, embryonic arrest, acute pelvic inflammation, corpus luteum rupture, and intrauterine adhesions as compared to the control group. At the same time, the inspection accuracy rate of the experimental group (92.50%) was higher than that of the control group (70.00%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The combined application of abdominal and vaginal B-ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute abdomen was of great significance in improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and guiding doctors to provide effective treatment.

Analysis of the Efficacy of Prenatal B-Ultrasound in Diagnosing Fetal Abnormalities

Objective:To explore the positive significance of using prenatal B-ultrasound in diagnosing fetal abnormalities.Methods:A total of 200 pregnant women who visited Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital between January 2023 and January 2024 were recruited as the research subjects.All pregnant women received prenatal examinations.A retrospective analysis was carried out to analyze the positive significance of prenatal B-ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities.Results:Prenatal B-ultrasound examination detected 10 cases of fetal abnormalities,with a detection rate of 5.00%.When compared with the postnatal examination results of 5.50%,the difference was insignificant(P>0.05).Moreover,comparing the fetal limb abnormalities and cardiovascular abnormalities in prenatal B-ultrasound examination and postnatal examination,one case of congenital heart disease was missed in the prenatal B-ultrasound examination,and the others were consistent with the postnatal examination results,with a coincidence rate of 90.91%,indicating a high compliance rate.Conclusion:Fetal abnormalities have a great impact on mothers,babies,and families,and it is particularly important to strengthen diagnosis during this process.Prenatal B-ultrasound examination can improve the accuracy of diagnosis of fetal abnormalities and can be promoted in clinical practice as a basis for screening fetal abnormalities.

耳穴贴压在四维输卵管超声造影中的应用价值

目的:探讨耳穴贴压疗法在四维输卵管超声造影中的应用价值。方法:收集180例行四维输卵管超声造影的原发性不孕症患者。根据是否采用耳穴贴压疗法,分为耳穴贴压组和未贴压组各90例。2组根据输卵管的通畅性,又各分为双侧通畅、单侧通而不畅/梗阻、双侧通而不畅/梗阻3种状态,比较2组间相同输卵管状态患者在造影中及造影后疼痛感及其他不良反应。结果:耳穴贴压组和未贴压组间单侧、双侧通而不畅/梗阻患者在造影中的疼痛评分差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05),2组其他不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:耳穴贴压可减轻输卵管通畅性受损患者在四维输卵管超声造影中的疼痛感,值得推广。

COVID-19对前列腺增生患者逼尿肌收缩功能的影响

目的:采用超声影像尿动力学检查(sonography video urodynamics studies,SVUDS)分析新型冠状病毒肺炎(coronavirus disease-2019,COVID-19)对前列腺增生(benign prostatic hyperplasia,BPH)患者逼尿肌收缩功能的影响。方法:纳入桂林医学院第二附属医院及邵阳市中心医院2023年1—6月诊断为BPH伴或不伴COVID-19感染患者124例进行回顾性研究分析。根据病毒核酸检测阳性或阴性情况分为COVID-19(+)组51例和COVID-19(-)组73例。比较两组患者一般情况、炎症指标及SVUDS参数差异,分析COVID-19(+)组患者炎症指标及无创性SVUDS参数与逼尿肌收缩功能的相关性。结果:COVID-19(+)组患者C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)、白介素(interleukin,IL)-6高于COVID-19(-)组患者(P<0.05)。两组患者年龄、IL-1β、前列腺特异性抗原(prostate specific antigen,PSA)、游离前列腺特异性抗原(free prostate-specific antigen,fPSA)、fPSA/PSA、前列腺体积(prostate volume,PV)、前列腺特异性抗原密度(prostate specific antigen density,PSAD)、前列腺突入膀胱距离(intravesical prostatic protrusion,IPP)、最大尿流率(peak flow rate,Qmax)、尿道阻力因子(urethral resistance factor,URA)、膀胱出口梗阻指数(bladder outlet obstruction index,BOOI)、基点(footpoint)、曲率(curvature)差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。相比COVID-19(-)组,COVID-19(+)组最大逼尿肌压(maximum detrusor pressure,Pdet.max)、最大尿流率逼尿肌压(detrusor pressure at peak flow rate,Pdet.Qmax)、膀胱收缩指数(bladder contractility index,BCI)和最大瓦特因子(maximum Watts factor,WF_(max))降低,膀胱壁厚度(bladder wall thickness,BWT)和残余尿量(post-void residual volume,PVR)增加(P均<0.05)。COVID-19(+)组患者BWT与WF_(max)呈负相关(r=-0.313,P=0.036),PVR与BCI(r=-0.471,P=0.001)和WF_(max)(r=-0.491,P=0.001)均呈负相关。结论:BPH患者若合并COVID-19感染可能进一步加重逼尿肌活动低下,导致残余尿量增加甚至尿潴留,逼尿肌活动低下可能是BPH患者“long-COVID”尿动力学表现之一。

Evaluation of Tubal Patency with Transvaginal Three-dimensional Hysterosalpingo-contrast Sonography

Objective To investigate diagnostic efficacy of transvaginal three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography(3D-Hy Co Sy) in assessing tubal patency with chromolaporoscopy. Methods A total of 157 infertile women underwent 3D-Hy Co Sy to evaluate tubal patency. Among these patients, 39 patients were also examined by chromolaporoscopy. The concordance of the two clinical assessment methods was analyzed by the Kappa coefficient test. Results Among the 306 oviducts examined by 3D-Hy Co Sy, 99(32.4%) were patent, 126(41.2%) partially obstructed, and 81(26.5%) completely obstructed. Diagnostic results with 3D-Hy Co Sy were not statistically different from those obtained in the 39 women(78 oviducts) who also underwent chromolaporoscopy, and the two methods showed a high concordance(κ=0.747, P=0.000). The 3D-Hy Co Sy procedure had a sensitivity of 84.8%(28/33), a specificity of 96.2%(25/26), and positive and negative predictive values of 93.3%(28/30) and 86.2%(25/29) respectively. Conclusion Transvaginal 3D-Hy Co Sy can accurately reveal the spatial path and morphology of the oviduct and is a safe and effective method to evaluate tubal patency.

Characterization of focal liver lesions with SonoVue~-enhanced sonography: International multicenter-study in comparison to CT and MRI

AIM： To evaluate in a multicenter study whether the sonographic characterization of focal liver lesions can be improved using SonoVue-enhancement; and to compare this method with computed tomography （CT） and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）. METHODS： One hundred and thirty four patients withone focal liver lesion detected in baseline ultrasound （US） were examined with conventional US, contrastenhanced US （n = 134）, contrast-enhanced CT （n = 115） and/or dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI （n = 70）. The lesions were classified as malignant, benign or indeterminate and the type of lesion was determined. The final diagnosis based on the combined information of all imaging examinations, clinical information and histology （n = 32） was used. Comparisons were made to see whether the addition of contrast-enhanced US led to the improvement of the characterization of doubtful focal liver lesions.RESULTS： In comparison with unenhanced US, SonoVue markedly improves sensitivity and specificity for the characterization （malignant/benign） of focal liver lesions. In comparison with CT and/or dynamic MRI, SonoVue -enhanced sonography applied for characterization of focal liver lesions was 30.2% more sensitive in the recognition of malignancy and 16.1% more specific in the exclusion of malignancy and overall 22.9% more accurate. In the subgroup with confirmative histology available （n = 30）, sensitivity was 95.5% （CEUS）, 72.2% （CT） and 81.8% （MRI）, and specificity was 75.0% （CEUS）, 37.5% （CT） and 42.9% （MRI）. The sensitivity and specificity of CEUS for the identification of focal nodular hyperplasia （FNH） and hemangiomas was 100% and 87%, resulting in an accuracy of 94.5%.CONCLUSION： SonoVue-enhanced sonography emerges as the most sensitive, ost specific and thus most accurate imaging modality for the characterization of focal liver lesions.

Sonographic appearance of anal cushions of hemorrhoids

AIM to evaluate the diagnostic value of different sonographic methods in hemorrhoids. METHODS Forty-two healthy volunteers and sixty-two patients with grades I -IV. hemorrhoids received two different sonographic examinations from January 2013 to January 2016 at the First and Second Hospitals of Xinjiang Medical University in a prospective way. We analyzed the ultrasonographic findings of these participants and evaluated the outcomes. Resected grades. and. hemorrhoid tissues were pathologically examined. The concordance of ultrasonographic results with pathology results was assessed with the Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS All healthy volunteers and all patients had no particular complications related to sonography. There were no statistically significant differences between the participants regarding age (P = 0.5919), gender (P = 0.4183), and persistent symptoms (P > 0.8692). All healthy control participants had no special findings. However, 30 patients with hemorrhoids showed blood signals around the dentate line on ultrasonography. When grades I and II hemorrhoids were analyzed, there were no significant differences between transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), transperianal ultrasound (TPUS), and transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) (P > 0.05). Grades III and IV hemorrhoids revealed blood flow with different directions which could be observed as a 'mosaic pattern'. In patients with grades III and IV hemorrhoids, the number of patients with 'mosaic pattern' as revealed by TRUS, TPUS and TVUS was 22, 12, and 4, respectively. Patients with grades III and IV disease presented with a pathologically abnormal cushion which usually appeared as a 'mosaic pattern' in TPUS and an arteriovenous fistula in pathology. Subepithelial vessels of resected grades III and IV hemorrhoid tissues were manifested by obvious structural impairment and retrograde and ruptured changes of internal elastic lamina. Some parts of the Trietz's muscle showed hypertrophy and distortion. Arteriovenous fistulas and venous dilatation were obvious in the anal cushion of hemorhoidal tissues. After pathological results with arteriovenous fistulas were taken as the standard reference, we evaluated the compatibility between the two methods according to the Cohen's kappa co-efficiency calculation. The compatibility (Cohein kappa co-efficiency value) between 'mosaic pattern' in the TPUS and arteriovenous fistula in pathology was very good (K = 0.8939). When compared between different groups, TRUS presented the advantage that the mosaic pattern could be confirmed in more patients, especially for group A. There was a statistical difference when comparing group A with group B or C (P < 0.05 for both). There were obvious statistical differences between group A and group B with regard to the vessel diameter and blood flow velocity measured by TRUS (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Patients with grades III and IV hemorrhoids present with a pathologically abnormal cushion which usually appears as a 'mosaic pattern' in sonography, which is in accord with an arteriovenous fistula in pathology. There are clearly different hemorrhoid structures shown by sonography. 'Mosaic pattern' may be a parameter for surgical indication of grades III and IV hemorrhoids.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the liver: sonographic and CT findings

BACKGROUND： A preoperative diagnosis of primary hepatic lymphoma（PHL） can have profound therapeutic and prognostic implications. Because of the rarity of PHL, however, there are few reports on diagnostic imaging. We reviewed the clinical and radiologic findings of 29 patients with PHL, the largest series to date, to evaluate the diagnostic features of this disease.METHODS： Clinical data and radiologic findings at presentation were retrospectively reviewed for 29 patients with pathologically confirmed PHL from January 2005 to June 2013. Imaging studies, including ultrasound（US）（n=29） and contrast-enhanced computed tomography（CECT）（n=24）, were performed within 2 weeks before biopsy or surgery.RESULTS： Among the 29 patients, 23（79%） were positive for hepatitis B virus（HBV） and 26（90%） had a significantly elevated level of serum lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）. There were two distinct types of PHL on imaging： diffuse（n=5） and nodular（n=24）. Homogeneous or heterogeneous hepatomegaly was the only sign for diffuse PHL on both US and CECT, without any definite hepatic mass. For the nodular type, 63%（15/24） of patients had solitary lesions and 38%（9/24） had multiple lesions. On US, seven patients displayed patchy distribution with an indistinct tumor margin and a rich color flow signal. CECT showed rim-like enhancement（n=3） and slightly homogeneous or heterogeneous enhancement（n=14） in the arterial phase and isoenhancement（n=5） and hypoenhancement（n=12） in the portal venous and late phases. Furthermore, in five patients, CT revealed that hepatic vessels passed through the lesions and were not displaced from the abnormal area or appreciably compressed.CONCLUSIONS： The infiltration type of PHL was associated with the histologic subtype. Considered together with HBV positivity and elevated LDH, homogeneous or heterogeneous hepatomegaly may indicate diffuse PHL, whereas patchy distribution with a rich color flow signal on US or normal vessels extending through the lesion on CECT may be the diagnostic indicators of nodular PHL.

经阴道三维容积超声评估肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征的临床价值分析

目的:探讨经阴道三维超声(3D-TVS)容积成像评估肥胖型与非肥胖型多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者卵巢超声指标差异及临床价值。方法:回顾性分析2020年3月—2021年9月于深圳市前海蛇口自贸区医院就诊的140例育龄期PCOS患者作为研究对象,根据体质量指数(BMI)将BMI≥28 kg/m^(2)归为肥胖型PCOS组(n=71),BMI<28 kg/m^(2)归为非肥胖型PCOS组(n=69)。所有患者均行内分泌水平、经阴道二维超声(2D-TVS)、3D-TVS、卵巢间质动脉血流及三维能量多普勒超声检查,分析两组的内分泌指标及超声检查结果的差异。结果:肥胖型PCOS组卵泡刺激素(FSH)、催乳素(PRL)、雌二醇(E_(2))浓度低于非肥胖型PCOS组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);组间黄体生成素(LH)差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);肥胖型PCOS组卵泡数、卵巢平均直径、卵巢体积及卵泡体积均大于非肥胖型PCOS组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);肥胖型PCOS组卵巢间质动脉阻力指数(RI)、搏动指数(PI)、血管化指数(VI)、卵巢间质的血流指数(FI)、血管化血流指数(VFI)值均高于非肥胖型PCOS组,而卵巢间质动脉的收缩期峰值流速和舒张末期血流速度低于非肥胖型PCOS组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:基于最新版的肥胖定义,肥胖型PCOS患者卵巢体积更大、卵泡数目更多、卵巢间质血流量更丰富。3D-TVS可以提供更全面有价值的卵巢影像学信息。

Relationship between sonographically measured median nerve cross-sectional area and presence of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic subjects

BACKGROUND Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus resulting from direct damage by hyperglycemia to the nerves and/or ischemia by microvascular injury to the endoneurial vessels which supply the nerves. Median nerve is one of the peripheral nerves commonly affected in diabetic neuropathy. The median nerve size has been studied in non-Nigerian diabetic populations. In attempt to contribute to existing literature, a study in a Nigerian population is needed.AIM To evaluate the cross-sectional area(CSA) of the median nerve using B-mode ultrasonography(USS) and the presence of peripheral neuropathy(PN) in a cohort of adult diabetic Nigerians.METHODS Demographic and anthropometric data of 85 adult diabetes mellitus(DM) and 85 age-and sex-matched apparently healthy control(HC) subjects were taken. A complete physical examination was performed on all study subjects to determine the presence of PN and modified Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument(MNSI) was used to grade its severity. Venous blood was taken from the study subjects for fasting lipid profile(FLP), fasting blood glucose(FBG) and glycated haemoglobin(HbA1 c) while their MN CSA was evaluated at a point 5 cm proximal to(5 cmCATL) and at the carpal tunnel(CATL) by high-resolution Bmode USS. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22.RESULTS The mean MN CSA was significantly thicker in DM subjects compared to the HC at 5 cmCATL(P < 0.01) and at the CATL(P < 0.01) on both sides. The presence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN) further increased the MN CSA at the CATL(P < 0.05) but not at 5 cmCATL(P > 0.05). However, the severity of DPN had no additional effect on MN CSA 5 cm proximal to and at the CATL. There was no significant association between MN CSA and duration of DM and glycemic control.CONCLUSION Thickening of the MN CSA at 5 cmCATL and CATL is seen in DM. Presence of DPN is associated with worse thickening of the MN CSA at the CATL but not at5 cmCATL. Severity of DPN, duration of DM, and glycemic control had no additional effect on the MN CSA.

Sonographic markers for early diagnosis of fetal malformations

Fetal malformations are very frequent in industrialized countries.Although advanced maternal age may affect pregnancy outcome adversely,80%-90%of fetal malformations occur in the absence of a specific risk factor for parents.The only effective approach for prenatal screening is currently represented by an ultrasound scan.However,ultrasound methods present two important limitations:the substantial absence of quantitative parameters and the dependence on the sonographer experience.In recent years,together with the improvement in transducer technology,quantitative and objective sonographic markers highly predictive of fetal malformations have been developed.These markers can be detected at early gestation(11-14 wk)and generally are not pathological in themselves but have an increased incidence in abnormal fetuses.Thus,prenatal ultrasonography during the second trimester of gestation provides a"genetic sonogram",including,for instance,nuchal translucency,short humeral length,echogenic bowel,echogenic intracardiac focus and choroid plexus cyst,that is used to identify morphological features of fetal Down’s syndrome with a potential sensitivity of more than 90%.Other specific and sensitive markers can be seen in the case of cardiac defects and skeletal anomalies.In the future,sonographic markers could limit even more the use of invasive and dangerous techniques of prenatal diagnosis(amniocentesis,etc.).

Prospective study of differential diagnosis of hepatic tumors by pattern-based classification of contrast-enhanced sonography

AIM: To prospectively evaluate the usefulness of a pattern-based classification of contrast-enhanced sonographic findings for differential diagnosis of hepatic tumors. METHODS: We evaluated the enhancement pattern of the contrast-enhanced sonography images in 586 patients with 586 hepatic lesions, consisting of 383 hepatocellular carcinomas, 89 metastases, and 114 hemangiomas. After injecting a galactose-palmitic acid contrast agent, lesions were scanned by contrast- enhanced harmonic gray-scale sonography in three phases: arterial, portal, and late. The enhancement patterns of the initial 303 lesions were classified retrospectively, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify enhancement patterns that allowed differentiation between hepatic tumors. We then used the pattern-based classification of enhancement we had retrospectively devised to prospectively diagnose 283 liver tumors. RESULTS: Seven enhancement patterns were found to be significant predictors of different hepatic tumors. The presence of homogeneous or heterogeneous enhancement both in the arterial and portal phase was the typical enhancement pattern for hepatocellular carcinoma, while the presence of peritumoral vessels in the arterial phase and ring enhancement or a perfusion defect in the portal phase was the typical enhancement pattern for metastases, and the presence of peripheral nodular enhancement both in the arterial and portal phase was the typical enhancement pattern forhemangioma. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of prospective diagnosis based on the combinations of enhancement patterns, respectively, were 93.2%, 96.2%, and 94.0% for hepatocellular carcinoma, 87.9%, 99.6%, and 98.2% for metastasis, and 95.6%, 94.1%, and 94.3% for hemangioma. CONCLUSION: The pattern-based classification of the contrast-enhanced sonographic findings is useful for differentiating among hepatic tumors.

Sonographic assessment of a suspected biloma:A case report and review of the literature

A biloma is a rare disease characterized by an abnormal intra-or extrahepatic bile collection due to a traumatic or spontaneous rupture of the biliary system.Laboratory findings are nonspecific.The diagnosis is usually suspected on the basis of a typical history(right upper quadrant abdominal pain,chills,fever and recent abdominal trauma or surgery) and is confirmed by detection of typical radiologic features.We report the case of a patient with a history of previous cholecystectomy for lithiasis who presented with clinical symptoms and laboratory data suggestive of acute pancreatitis.Imaging studies also revealed the presence of a chronic and asymptomatic biloma,which could be mistaken for a pseudocyst.The atypical location and ultrasound findings suggested an alternative diagnosis.We therefore reviewed the known literature for bilomas,focusing on the role of ultrasonography,which can reveal some typical aspects,such as location and imaging features.Weconclude that ultrasound plays a key role in the assessment of a suspected biloma in patients with appropriate history and clinical features and provides valuable diagnostic clues even in the absence of these.

Hemodynamic and morphologic changes of peripheral hepatic vasculature in cirrhotic liver disease: A preliminary study using contrast-enhanced coded phase inversion harmonic ultrasonography

AIM: To provide the useful information for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis by observing the morphology of peripheral hepatic vessels and the hemodynamics of microbubble arrival time in these vessels.METHODS: Twenty-one subjects including 5 normal volunteers and 16 patients (liver cirrhosis, n=10;chronic hepatitis, n=6) were studied by contrast-enhanced coded phase inversion harmonic sonography (GE LOGIQ9 series) using a 6-8 MHz convex-arrayed wide-band transducer. The images of peripheral hepatic artery,portal and hepatic vein were observed in real-time for about 2 min after intravenous injection of Levovist. The time when microbubbles appeared in the peripheral vessels (microbubble arrival time) was also recorded. The morphologic changes of peripheral hepatic vasculature were classified as marked, slight, and no changes based on the regularity in caliber, course, ramification, and the delineation of vessels compared to normal subjects.RESULTS: The microbubble arrival time at peripheral artery, portal, and hepatic vein was shorter in cirrhotic patients than in chronic hepatitis patients and normal subjects. The marked, slight and no morphologic changes of peripheral hepatic vasculature found in 5 (5/6,83.3%), 1 (1/6, 16.7% ), and 0 (0/6, 0%) liver cirrhosis patients, respectively, and in 1 (1/10, 10%), 6 (6/10,60%), and 3 (3/10, 30%) chronic hepatitis patients,respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.001).CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the hemodynamics and morphology of peripheral hepatic vasculature by contrast-enhanced coded pulse inversion harmonic sonography can provide useful information for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.

Grey-scale sonography and sonoelastography for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is a common peripheral entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at wrist level, and is thought to be caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. There is no standard quantitative reference for the diagnosis of CTS. Greyscale sonography and sonoelastography(SEL) have been used as diagnostic tools. The most commonly agreed findings in grey-scale sonography for the diagnosis of CTS is enlargement of the median nerve cross-sectional area(CSA). Several authors have assessed additional parameters. "Delta CSA" is the difference between the proximal median nerve CSA at the pronator quadratus and the maximal CSA within the carpal tunnel. The "CSA ratio" is the ratio of CSA in the carpal tunnel to the CSA at the mid forearm. These additional parameters showed better diagnostic accuracy than CSA measurement alone. Recently, a number of studies have investigated the elasticity of the median nerve using SEL, and have shown that this also has diagnostic value, as it was significantly stiffer in CTS patients compared to healthy volunteers. In this review, we summarize the usefulness of grey-scale sonography and SEL in diagnosing CTS.

Sonographic fatty liver and hepatitis B virus carrier status: Synergistic effect on liver damage in Taiwan Residents adults

AIM: To examine the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus carrier status (HBVC) and sonographic fatty liver (SFL) in Taiwan Residents adults, and to evaluate their possible interaction in inducing liver damage (LD). From an epidemiological viewpoint, we analyzed previous studies which indicated that fatty liver sensitizes host immune response to HBV infection and enhances liver damage.METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective analysis of health records including medical history, physical examination, abdominal sonogram, blood biochemistry and hepatic virological tests. We utilized the Student's t-test, chi-square, multivariate logistic regression and synergy index to assess risks for LD.RESULTS: Among a total of 5406 Taiwan Residents adults (mean age 46.2 years, 51.5% males), the prevalence of LD, HBVC and SFL were 12.3%, 15.1% and 33.4%, respectively; 5.1% of participants had SFL plus HBVC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that male gender (odds ratio (OR) = 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-3.5), overweight state (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.3-2.0), HBVC (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 2.0-3.1) and SFL (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 2.2-5.3) were independently associated with LD. Synergism analysis showed that the adjusted OR for LD in adults with HBVC-alone was 3.3 (95% CI: 2.4-4.6), SFL-alone, 4.7 (95% CI: 3.7-6.1) and combined HBVC and SFL, 9.5 (95% CI: 6.8-13.3); the synergy index was 1.4 (95% CI: 1.001-2.0).CONCLUSION: In Taiwan Residents adults, SFL plus HBVC have a significant synergistic association with LD.

Hepatic malignancies:Correlation between sonographic findings and pathological features

Ultrasonography(US) findings are inevitably based on pathological features.Knowledge of the pathological features of hepatic malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),liver metastasis and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is essential for correct US diagnosis and appropriate management.One type of hepatocarcinogenesis is step-wise development from a low-grade dysplastic nodule(DN),high-grade DN,high-grade DN with malignant foci,and well-differentiated HCC,to classical HCC.The intranodular blood supply changes in accordance with this progression.Moreover,the malignant potential tends to change as the macroscopic configuration progresses.Therefore,typical US findings of advanced HCC are a mosaic pattern,septum formation,peripheral sonolucency(halo),lateral shadow produced by fibrotic pseudocapsule,posterior echo enhancement,arterial hypervascularity with dilated intratumoral blood sinusoids,and perinodular daughter nodule formation.Bull's eye appearance is a common presentation of metastases from gastrointestinal(GI) adenocarcinomas,and represents histological findings that show an area of central necrosis surrounded by a zonal area of viable tumor.Thick zonal area reflects the layer of viable cells that are fed by minute tumor vessels.US imaging features of liver metastases from the GI tract are as follows:Bull's eye appearance,multiple masses,irregular tumor border,arterial rim-like enhancement,and hypoenhancement in the late vascular phase.Most intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are ductal adenocarcinomas.The bile ducts peripheral to the tumor are usually dilated because of obstruction by tumors.US imaging features of mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma are as follows:peripheral bile duct dilatation,irregular tumor border,arterial enhancement due to minute intratumoral blood sinusoids,and hypoenhancement in the late vascular phase.

Problem analysis and solutions of the B-ultrasound-guided peripherally inserted central catheter process

Objective： The purpose of this study was to address the issues that occur during the B-ultrasound guided peripherally inserted central catheter（PICC） process and to give a summary of the effective management to these issues accordingly.Methods： The information was collected retrospectively on all of the 1950 PICCs inserted during the 2-year period from July 2013 to July 2015. PICC catheter insertion was performed using the Seldinger approach and was delivered from the basilic vein to the superior vena cava in a B-ultrasound guided manner. Moreover, the point raised during the PICC process would be treated immediately.Results： All of the PICCs were inserted successfully. The problems encountered are shown in the inserted central catheter（PICC） process, such as failures of venipuncture, the problem of inserting guide wire, the catheter was dif？cult to be delivered etc.Conclusions： The B-ultrasound guided approach enhanced the average success regarding the PICC insertion, particularly for the subset with a poor condition in the elbow super？cial vein. Due to the items that emerged in the PICC process, the effective prevention prior to surgery and treatment during the operation would be necessary.

Sonography of the small intestine

In the last two decades, there has been substantial development in the diagnostic possibilities for examining the small intestine. Compared with computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy, ultrasonography has the advantage of being cheap, portable, flexible and user-and patient-friendly, while at the same time providing the clinician with image data of high temporal and spatial resolution. The method has limitations with penetration in obesity and with intestinal air impairing image quality. The flexibility ultrasonography offers the examiner also implies that a systematic approach during scanning is needed. This paper reviews the basic scanning techniques and new modalities such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, elastography, strain rate imaging, hydrosonography, allergosonography, endoscopic sonography and nutritional imaging, and the literature on disease-specific findings in the small intestine. Some of these methods have shown clinical benefit, while others are under research and development to establish their role in the diagnostic repertoire. However, along with improved overall image quality of new ultrasound scanners, these methodshave enabled more anatomical and physiological changes in the small intestine to be observed. Accordingly, ultrasound of the small intestine is an attractive clinical tool to study patients with a range of diseases.

Effect of Chinese herbal compound on liver fibrosis in rabbits with schistosomiasis by B-ultrasound

Objective: To explore the value of B-ultrasound on the evaluation of the effects of traditional Chinese medicine compound of Radix astragali , Salvia miltiorrhiza and Angelica sinensis , and TCM + praziquantel on liver fibrosis in rabbits with schistosomiasis. Methods: The hepatic fibrosis model in rabbits with schistosomiasis was established. The experimental animals (24 rabbits) were randomly divided into four groups (group A, B, C and D, n =6). Group A (control group) was only treated by praziquantel; Group B was treated by mixture of Radix astragali and Salvia miltiorrhiza + praziquantel; Group C was treated by mixture of Radix astragali and Angelica sinensis + praziquantel; Group D was treated by mixture of Radix astragali, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Angelica sinensis + praziquantel. Then B-ultrasonogram was used to evaluate the effects. Results: Each group showed certain curative effect on liver fibrosis in rabbits with schistosomiasis. The efficacy of group B, C and D was better than group A, and that of group D was the best. The differences in long diameter, thickness diameter, transverse diameter and portal vein inner diameter of liver before and after treatment were statistically significant ( P <0.05). The liver function indexes and liver fibrosis indexes were significantly improved after treatment ( P <0.05). Conclusions: The mixture of Radix astragali, Salvia miltiorrhiza and Angelica sinensis combined with Western medicine treatment can obviously improve the efficacy on liver fibrosis of schistosomiasis.