Correlation of carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasonography parameters with nerve damage and plaque properties in patients with atherosclerosis cerebral infarction

Objective: To explore the correlation of carotid contrast-enhanced ultrasonography parameters with nerve damage and plaque properties in patients with atherosclerosis cerebral infarction. Methods: A total of 176 patients with atherosclerosis cerebral infarction who were sent to this hospital for medical treatment between August 2014 and February 2018 were enrolled in cerebral infarction group, and 100 healthy elderly subjects who received physical examination in this hospital during the same period were enrolled in normal control group. Carotid CEUS parameter levels as well as serum contents of indexes related to nerve injury and plaque property were compared between the two groups, and Pearson test was used to evaluate the correlation of CEUS parameters levels with nerve damage and plaque properties in patients with cerebral infarction. Results: CEUS parameter Tp level in cerebral infarction group was lower than that in normal control group whereas P and AUC levels were higher than those in normal control group;serum nerve damage-related indexes SAA, NT-proBNP, Hcy, NSE and copeptin contents were higher than those of normal control group;serum plaque property-related indexes Lp-PLA2, MMP-9, Cat S and CD62P contents were higher than those of normal control group while APN and Cys C contents were lower than those of normal control group. Correlation analysis confirmed that carotid CEUS parameter levels in patients with cerebral infarction were correlated with the contents of indexes related to nerve damage and plaque property. Conclusion: Carotid CEUS parameters are obviously abnormal in patients with atherosclerosis cerebral infarction, they are directly correlated with the specific nerve damage and plaque properties, and they can be used as the reliable indexes to forecast the risk of cerebral infarction and evaluate its severity.

Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for evaluating the angiogenesis of carotid plaque in patients with cerebral infarction and its correlation with the changes of plaque properties

Objective: To study the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for evaluating the angiogenesis of carotid plaque in patients with cerebral infarction and its correlation with the changes of plaque properties. Methods: The patients with carotid low-echo plaque detected by carotid artery ultrasound in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Hospital between January 2014 and January 2016 were selected as the research subjects, received at least 2 years of follow-up and divided into the cerebral infarction group who were with acute cerebral infarction during follow-up and the control group who were without cerebral infarction. CEUS was conducted on inclusion to measure the peak intensity (Peak) and time to peak (TP), and the serum was collected to determine the contents of angiogenesis molecules, inflammatory cytokines and collagen metabolism indexes. Results: The Peak level as well as serum VEGF, HGF, Ang-1, PDGF-BB, VE-cadherin, FKN, IL-17, ICTP, MMP10 and Caspase-3 contents of cerebral infarction group was higher than those of control group whereas TP level as well as serum IL-4, IL-10, TIMP1 and Vaspin contents was lower than those of control group;serum VEGF, HGF, Ang-1, PDGF-BB, VE-cadherin, FKN, IL-17, ICTP, MMP10 and Caspase-3 contents of cerebral infarction group were positively correlated with Peak level, and negatively correlated with TP level;serum IL-4, IL-10, TIMP1 and Vaspin contents were negatively correlated with Peak level, and positively correlated with TP level. Conclusion: CEUS parameters can be used to evaluate the angiogenesis in carotid plaque and the changes of plaque properties in patients with cerebral infarction.

Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters of middle cerebral artery and other artery aneurysms utilizing transcranial Doppler ultrasonography

BACKGROUND： Hemodynamic changes accompany the initiation, development and rupture of middle cerebral artery （MCA） aneurysms. The complexity of the intraaneurysmal hemodynamic factors has not been completely clarified by the indirect measures and methods used in previous studies. OBJECTIVE： To evaluate correlations of intraoperative hemodynamic factors to initiation and rupture of MCA aneurysms. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A case-control study was performed at the Department of Neurosurgery, Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, China between March and October 2008. PARTICIPANTS： A total of 12 consecutive patients diagnosed with MCA aneurysms （MCA aneurysms group） and five patients without middle cerebral artery aneurysms （with aneurysms located at other arteries, control group） were enrolled at the Department of Neurosurgery, Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, China. METHODS： The proximal and distal arteries of MCA aneurysms were exposed visibly in the MCA aneurysm group. The M1 segment of MCA without the aneurysm and the aneurysm on other arteries were also exposed visibly in the control group. Hemodynamic indices were then measured using an intraoperative 16 MHz probe installed in a Multi-Dop TCD8X4 device. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Mean （time-averaged velocity） difference, maximum mean, pulsatility index difference, maximum pulsatility index, resistance index difference, maximum resistance index; correlation of development and rupture of MCA aneurysms to intraoperative hemodynamic factors of the parent artery. RESULTS： A total of 12 patients underwent microsurgery for treatment to occlude 15 MCA aneurysms. Of the 15 MCA aneurysms, 12 were located at the bifurcation, two at the M1 segment and one at the M3 segment; eight of the aneurysms were unruptured and seven were ruptured. The whole indices with combination mean difference, maximum mean, and maximum pulsatility index of the aneurysms were important factors influencing the rupture of MCA aneurysms （t = 2.92, P = 0.03, constant）. A higher velocity intraaneurismal flow at the bifurcation was identified （t = 3.48, P = 0.01, constant）. After the aneurysm was completely occluded, global high-velocity flow could not be detected in the parent arteries （t = 2.57, P=0.03, constant）. CONCLUSION： When short-term high-velocity blood flow is present, aneurysms can be easily initiated and ruptured at the bifurcation of MCA.

Relationship between neonatal respiratory distress syndrome pulmonary ultrasonography and respiratory distress score,oxygenation index,and chest radiography grading

BACKGROUND Accurate condition assessment is critical for improving the prognosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(RDS),but current assessment methods for RDS pose a cumulative risk of harm to neonates.Thus,a less harmful method for assessing the health of neonates with RDS is needed.AIM To analyze the relationships between pulmonary ultrasonography and respiratory distress scores,oxygenation index,and chest X-ray grade of neonatal RDS to identify predictors of neonatal RDS severity.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed the medical information of 73 neonates with RDS admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Liupanshui Maternal and Child Care Service Center between April and December 2022.The pulmonary ultrasonography score,respiratory distress score,oxygenation index,and chest Xray grade of each newborn before and after treatment were collected.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationships among these values and neonatal RDS severity.RESULTS The pulmonary ultrasonography score,respiratory distress score,oxygenation index,and chest X-ray RDS grade of the neonates were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that before and after treatment,the pulmonary ultrasonography score of neonates with RDS was positively correlated with the respiratory distress score,oxygenation index,and chest X-ray grade(ρ=0.429–0.859,P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that pulmonary ultrasonography screening effectively predicted the severity of neonatal RDS(area under the curve=0.805–1.000,P<0.05).CONCLUSION The pulmonary ultrasonography score was significantly associated with the neonatal RDS score,oxygenation index,and chest X-ray grade.The pulmonary ultrasonography score was an effective predictor of neonatal RDS severity.

Cerebral arterial blood flow,attention,and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Intracerebral hemorrhage mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension,and surgery is currently the main treatment for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage,but the bleeding caused by surgery will cause damage to the patient's nerve cells,resulting in cognitive and motor dysfunction,resulting in a decline in the patient's quality of life.AIM To investigate associations between cerebral arterial blood flow and executive and cognitive functions in depressed patients after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage.METHODS Eighty-nine patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who were admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and July 2021 were selected as the observation group,while 100 patients without depression who had acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage were selected as the control group.The attention span of the patients was assessed using the Paddle Pin Test while executive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST)and cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA).The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD-24)was used to evaluate the severity of depression of involved patients.Cerebral arterial blood flow was measured in both groups.RESULTS The MoCA score,net scores I,II,III,IV,and the total net score of the scratch test in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).Concurrently,the total number of responses,number of incorrect responses,number of persistent errors,and number of completed responses of the first classification in the WCST test were significantly higher in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).Blood flow in the basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery were positively correlated with the net and total net scores of each part of the Paddle Pin test and the MoCA score(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with each part of the WCST test(P<0.05).In the observation group,the post-treatment improvement was more prominent in the Paddle Pin test,WCST test,HAMD-24 score,and MoCA score compared with those in the pre-treatment period(P<0.05).Blood flow in the basilar artery,left middle cerebral artery,right middle cerebral artery,left anterior cerebral artery,and right anterior cerebral artery significantly improved in the observation group after treatment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Impaired attention,and executive and cognitive functions are correlated with cerebral artery blood flow in patients with depression after acute hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage and warrant further study.

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cell exosomes improve blood-brain barrier function after intracerebral hemorrhage by activating astrocytes via PI3K/AKT/MCP-1 axis

Cerebral edema caused by blood-brain barrier injury after intracerebral hemorrhage is an important factor leading to poor prognosis.Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cell exosomes(hiPSC-NSC-Exos)have shown potential for brain injury repair in central nervous system diseases.In this study,we explored the impact of hiPSC-NSC-Exos on blood-brain barrier preservation and the underlying mechanism.Our results indicated that intranasal delivery of hiPSC-NSC-Exos mitigated neurological deficits,enhanced blood-brain barrier integrity,and reduced leukocyte infiltration in a mouse model of intracerebral hemorrhage.Additionally,hiPSC-NSC-Exos decreased immune cell infiltration,activated astrocytes,and decreased the secretion of inflammatory cytokines like monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,macrophage inflammatory protein-1α,and tumor necrosis factor-αpost-intracerebral hemorrhage,thereby improving the inflammatory microenvironment.RNA sequencing indicated that hiPSC-NSC-Exo activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in astrocytes and decreased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 secretion,thereby improving blood-brain barrier integrity.Treatment with the PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 or the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 neutralizing agent C1142 abolished these effects.In summary,our findings suggest that hiPSC-NSC-Exos maintains blood-brain barrier integrity,in part by downregulating monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 secretion through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in astrocytes.

Management of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and atrial fibrillation:We are still far from precision medicine

The use of anticoagulation therapy could prove to be controversial when trying to balance ischemic stroke and intracranial bleeding risks in patients with concurrent cerebral amyloid angiopathy(CAA)and atrial fibrillation(AF).In fact,CAA is an age-related cerebral vasculopathy that predisposes patients to intracerebral hemorrhage.Nevertheless,many AF patients require oral systemic dose-adjusted warfarin,direct oral anticoagulants(such as factor Xa inhibitors)or direct thrombin inhibitors to control often associated with cardioembolic stroke risk.The prevalence of both CAA and AF is expected to rise,due to the aging of the population.This clinical dilemma is becoming increasingly common.In patients with coexisting AF and CAA,the risks/benefits profile of anticoagulant therapy must be assessed for each patient individually due to the lack of a clear-cut consensus with regard to its risks in scientific literature.This review aims to provide an overview of the management of patients with concomitant AF and CAA and proposes the implementation of a risk-based decision-making algorithm.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-related diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance on small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms

This research aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in the context of small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms(NENs).A total of 108 patients with rectal subepithelial lesions(SELs)with a diameter of<20 mm were included in the analysis.The diagnosis and depth assessment of EUS was compared to the histology findings.The prevalence of NENs in rectal SELs was 78.7%(85/108).The sensitivity of EUS in detecting rectal NENs was 98.9%(84/85),while the specificity was 52.2%(12/23).Overall,the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in identifying rectal NENs was 88.9%(96/108).The overall accuracy rate for EUS in assessing the depth of invasion in rectal NENs was 92.9%(78/84).Therefore,EUS demonstrates reasonable diagnostic accuracy in detecting small rectal NENs,with good sensitivity but inferior specificity.EUS may also assist physicians in assessing the depth of invasion in small rectal NENs before endoscopic excision.

Intraoperative cholangio-ultrasonography(IOCUS)during hepatectomy with resection of the biliary confluence:An effective alternative to intraoperative cholangiography

Intraoperative ultrasonography(IOUS)in hepatobiliary surgery is well known as an essential tool for radical and safe hepatectomies,allowing to perform parenchymal sparing surgery and,as consequence,to expand the surgical indications for patients otherwise considered unresectable.Nevertheless,since many years,despite its effectiveness in the study of vascular anatomy of the liver,the gold standard for the assessment of biliary anatomy during surgery is intraoperative cholangiography(IOC),which is used for the validation of preoperative imaging as well as for guiding reconstruction in case of bile duct injury or resection.

Could near infrared spectroscopy be the new weapon in our understanding of the cerebral and muscle microvascular oxygen demand during exercise?

Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)has been increasingly utilized in both sport and health sciences to assess various physiological parameters related to exercise performance.1 NIRS methods coupled with the recent development of portable and wearable devices suitable for field-based measurements have revolutionized the study of exercise physiology and the determinants of exercise performance by providing real-time,non-invasive,and spatially localized measurements of tissue oxygenation dynamics.

Migratory mode transition of astrocyte progenitors in the cerebral cortex: an intrinsic or extrinsic cell process?

The cerebral cortex is comprised of properly localized cell types that exert their specific functions.In the developing brain,cells migrate from the germinal region to their functional locations(Silva et al.,2019;Cossart and Garel,2022).For example,neocortical excitatory neurons are generated in the cerebral ventricular and subventricular zones,move to the developing cortical plate via radial migration,and reside in a radial array of six neuronal layers(Oishi and Nakajima,2018).On the other hand,cortical interneurons are mainly generated in ganglionic eminences,migrate tangentially across the cerebral cortex,and reach their final destinations in the cortex(Lim et al.,2018).The failure of neuronal migration leads to defects in cortical layer formation.While the mechanisms of neuronal distribution have been well examined,how astrocytes are diffusely distributed in the cortex is still unclear.Astrocytes are glial cells in the cerebral cortex with several functions,including metabolic support and synapse formation(Abbott et al.,2006;Bosworth and Allen,2017;Allen and Lyons,2018).For example,astrocytes establish synaptic connectivity in the developing brain while they contact numerous synapses and maintain optimal neuronal activity in the adult brain.In the developing brain,astrocytes are primarily generated from radial glia after the neurogenic period.While a certain type of astrocyte called fibrous astrocytes populates the white matter,protoplasmic astrocytes migrate to the cortical plate during neural network formation.

Roles of N-cadherin in cerebral cortical development:cooperation with membrane trafficking and actin cytoskeletal regulation

Cell adhesion plays pivotal roles in the morphogenesis of multicellular organisms.Epithelial cells form several types of cell-to-cell adhesion,including zonula occludens(tight junctions),zonula adhaerens(adherens junctions),and macula adhaerens(desmosomes).Although these adhesion complexes are basically observed only in epithelial cells,cadherins,which are the major cell adhesion molecules of adherens junctions,are expressed in both epithelial and non-epithelial tissues,including neural tissues(Kawauchi,2012).The cadherin superfamily consists of more than 100 members,but classic cadherins.

Beta-HCG Levels and Ovarian Ultrasonography Results among Non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Certain ovarian cancers that were previously common in postmenopausal women are now increasingly observed in women of reproductive age. The research on using β-HCG as a diagnostic biomarker for ovarian cancer in women of reproductive age is ongoing. Aim: This study assessed the level of serum β-HCG in non-pregnant women of reproductive age and determined its potential association with suspicious ovarian ultrasonography results. Methods: The study was conducted in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This study adopted a cross-sectional design on a quota sample of 224 case notes of women aged 18 - 40 years obtained from eight diagnostic centres. A data extraction form was used for data collection. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and Odds Ratio at 95% confidence and 5% significance levels. Results: About 5.8% of the participants exhibited detectable levels of serum β-HCG above 5 IU/L (World Health Organization reference) at a mean concentration of 5.87 (±1.75) IU/L. About 4.0% of the participants had suspicious ovarian lesions identified through ultrasonography. Participants with elevated serum β-HCG levels above the WHO reference were 59 times more likely to have suspicious ovarian lesions (Odds ratio: 59.4, 95%CI: 12.3 - 287.8, p β-HCG level and age (p = 0.041) as well as parity (p Conclusion: Serum β-HCG levels above the WHO reference in non-pregnant women were associated with suspicious ovarian lesions. More rigorous primary research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are needed to confirm the findings of this study.

Perioperative and long-term results of ultrasonography-guided single-and multiple-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy for staghorn calculi

BACKGROUND It is possible that this condition will lead to urosepsis and progressive deterioration of renal function in the absence of surgical intervention.Several recent clinical studies have shown that multi-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL)has a similar stone free rate(SFR)as standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy(S-PCNL).As a result,M-PCNL was also recommended as a treatment option for staghorn calculi.AIM To examine the perioperative and long-term results of ultrasonography-guided single-and M-PCNL.METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study.Between March 2021 and January 2022,the urology department of our hospital selected patients for the treatment of staghorn calculi using percutaneous nephrolithotomy.The primary outcomes were com plication rate and SFR,and the characteristics of patients,operative parameters,laboratory measurements were also collected.RESULTS In total,345 patients were enrolled in the study(186 in the S-PCNL group and 159 in the M-PCNL group).The SFR in the M-PCNL group was significantly higher than that in the S-PCNL group(P=0.033).Moreover,the incidence rates of hydrothorax(P=0.03)and postoperative infection(P=0.012)were higher in the M-PCNL group than in the S-PCNL group.Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that post-operative white blood cell count(OR=2.57,95%CI:1.90-3.47,P<0.001)and stone size(OR=1.59,95%CI:1.27-2.00,P<0.001)were associated with a higher overall complication rate in the S-PCNL group.Body mass index(OR=1.22,95%CI:1.06-1.40,P=0.004)and stone size(OR=1.70,95%CI:1.35-2.15,P<0.001)were associated with increased overall complications in the M-PCNL group.CONCLUSION Multiple access tracts can facilitate higher SFR while slightly increasing the incidence of acceptable complications.

Double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography improves diagnostic accuracy of T staging compared with multi-detector computed tomography in gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is the most common malignant tumor and ranks third for cancer-related deaths among the worldwide.The disease poses a serious public health problem in China,ranking fifth for incidence and third for mortality.Knowledge of the invasive depth of the tumor is vital to treatment decisions.AIM To evaluate the diagnostic performance of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(DCEUS)for preoperative T staging in patients with GC by comparing with multi-detector computed tomography(MDCT).METHODS This single prospective study enrolled patients with GC confirmed by preoperative gastroscopy from July 2021 to March 2023.Patients underwent DCEUS,including ultrasonography(US)and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS),and MDCT examinations for the assessment of preoperative T staging.Features of GC were identified on DCEUS and criteria developed to evaluate T staging according to the 8th edition of AJCC cancer staging manual.The diagnostic performance of DCEUS was evaluated by comparing it with that of MDCT and surgical-pathological findings were considered as the gold standard.RESULTS A total of 229 patients with GC(80 T1,33 T2,59 T3 and 57 T4)were included.Overall accuracies were 86.9%for DCEUS and 61.1%for MDCT(P<0.001).DCEUS was superior to MDCT for T1(92.5%vs 70.0%,P<0.001),T2(72.7%vs 51.5%,P=0.041),T3(86.4%vs 45.8%,P<0.001)and T4(87.7%vs 70.2%,P=0.022)staging of GC.CONCLUSION DCEUS improved the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative T staging in patients with GC compared with MDCT,and constitutes a promising imaging modality for preoperative evaluation of GC to aid individualized treatment decision-making.

Vagus nerve stimulation in cerebral stroke:biological mechanisms,therapeutic modalities,clinical applications,and future directions

Stroke is a major disorder of the central nervous system that poses a serious threat to human life and quality of life.Many stro ke victims are left with long-term neurological dysfunction,which adversely affects the well-being of the individual and the broader socioeconomic impact.Currently,poststroke brain dysfunction is a major and difficult area of treatment.Vagus nerve stimulation is a Food and Drug Administration-approved exploratory treatment option for autis m,refractory depression,epilepsy,and Alzheimer’s disease.It is expected to be a novel therapeutic technique for the treatment of stroke owing to its association with multiple mechanisms such as alte ring neurotransmitters and the plasticity of central neuro ns.In animal models of acute ischemic stroke,vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to reduce infarct size,reduce post-stroke neurological damage,and improve learning and memory capacity in rats with stroke by reducing the inflammatory response,regulating bloodbrain barrier permeability,and promoting angiogenesis and neurogenesis.At present,vagus nerve stimulation includes both invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation.Clinical studies have found that invasive vagus nerve stimulation combined with rehabilitation therapy is effective in im proving upper limb motor and cognitive abilities in stroke patients.Further clinical studies have shown that non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation,including ear/ce rvical vagus nerve stimulation,can stimulate vagal projections to the central nervous system similarly to invasive vagus nerve stimulation and can have the same effect.In this paper,we first describe the multiple effects of vagus nerve stimulation in stroke,and then discuss in depth its neuroprotective mechanisms in ischemic stroke.We go on to outline the res ults of the current major clinical applications of invasive and non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation.Finally,we provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of different types of vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of cerebral ischemia and provide an outlook on the developmental trends.We believe that vagus nerve stimulation,as an effective treatment for stroke,will be widely used in clinical practice to promote the recovery of stroke patients and reduce the incidence of disability.

Clinical value of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in diagnosis of gastric tumors

BACKGROUND The incidence of gastric cancer remains high,and it is the sixth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.Oral contrastenhanced ultrasonography is a simple,non-invasive,and painless method for the diagnosis of gastric tumors.AIM To explore the diagnostic value of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the detection of gastric tumors.METHODS The screening results based on oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and electronic gastroscopy were compared with those of the postoperative pathological examination.RESULTS Among 42 patients with gastric tumors enrolled in the study,the diagnostic accordance rate was 95.2%for oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(n=40)and 90.5%for electronic gastroscopy(n=38)compared with postoperative pathological examination.The Kappa value of consistency test with pathological findings was 0.812 for oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and 0.718 for electronic gastroscopy,and there was no significant difference between them(P=0.397).For the TNM staging of gastric tumors,the accuracy rate of oral contrast enhanced ultrasonography was 81.9%for the overall T staging and 50%,77.8%,100%,and 100%for T1,T2,T3,and T4 staging,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity were both 100%for stages T3 and T4.The diagnostic accuracy rate of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was 93.8%,80%,100%,and 100%for stages N0,N1-N3,M0,and M1,respectively.CONCLUSION The accordance rate of qualitative diagnosis by oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is comparable to that of gastroscopy,and it could be used as the preferred method for the early screening of gastric tumors.

Genetic pathways in cerebral palsy:a review of the implications for precision diagnosis and understanding disease mechanisms

Ce rebral palsy is a diagnostic term utilized to describe a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture.Patients with cerebral palsy are often only capable of limited activity,resulting from non-progressive disturbances in the fetal or neonatal brain.These disturbances severely impact the child’s daily life and impose a substantial economic burden on the family.Although cerebral palsy encompasses various brain injuries leading to similar clinical outcomes,the unde rstanding of its etiological pathways remains incomplete owing to its complexity and heterogeneity.This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the genetic factors influencing cerebral palsy development.It is now widely acknowledged that genetic mutations and alterations play a pivotal role in cerebral palsy development,which can be further influenced by environmental fa ctors.Des pite continuous research endeavors,the underlying fa ctors contributing to cerebral palsy remain are still elusive.However,significant progress has been made in genetic research that has markedly enhanced our comprehension of the genetic factors underlying cerebral palsy development.Moreove r,these genetic factors have been categorized based on the identified gene mutations in patients through clinical genotyping,including thrombosis,angiogenesis,mitochondrial and oxidative phosphorylation function,neuronal migration,and cellular autophagy.Furthermore,exploring targeted genotypes holds potential for precision treatment.In conclusion,advancements in genetic research have substantially improved our understanding of the genetic causes underlying cerebral palsy.These breakthroughs have the potential to pave the way for new treatments and therapies,consequently shaping the future of cerebral palsy research and its clinical management.The investigation of cerebral palsy genetics holds the potential to significantly advance treatments and management strategies.By elucidating the underlying cellular mechanisms,we can develop to rgeted interventions to optimize outcomes.A continued collaboration between researchers and clinicians is imperative to comprehensively unravel the intricate genetic etiology of cerebral palsy.

Cerebral syphilitic gumma misdiagnosed as brain abscess: A case report

BACKGROUND Cerebral syphilitic gumma is a relatively rare clinical disease.Its clinical manifest-ations are non-specific,and the imaging manifestations are similar to other in-tracranial occupying lesions,often misdiagnosed as tumors or abscesses.There are few reports on this disease in the relevant literature.To our knowledge,we have reported the first case of cerebral syphilitic gumma misdiagnosed as a brain abscess.We report this case and provide useful information for clinical doctors on neurosyphilis diseases.CASE SUMMARY We report the case to explore the diagnostic essentials of cerebral syphilitic gumma and attempt to mitigate the rates of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis by equipping physicians with knowledge of neurosyphilis characteristics.The cli-nical diagnosis and treatment of a patient with cerebral syphilitic gumma were reported.Clinical manifestations,classifications,and diagnostic points were retro-spectively analyzed.The patient was admitted to the hospital with fever and limb weakness.Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple space-occupying lesions and a positive serum Treponema pallidum gelatin agglutination test.The patient was misdiagnosed as having a brain abscess and underwent a craniotomy.A postoperative pathological diagnosis of syphilis gumma was made.The patient improved and was discharged after penicillin anti-syphilis treatment.Follow-up recovery was satisfactory.CONCLUSION Cerebral syphilitic gumma is rare in clinical practice,and it is often misdiagnosed and missed.Clinical diagnosis should be considered in combination with multiple examinations.

Dynamic ultrasonography for optimizing treatment position in superior mesenteric artery syndrome:Two case reports and review of literature

BACKGROUND Superior mesenteric artery(SMA)syndrome is a rare cause of duodenal obstruction by extrinsic compression between the SMA and the aorta(SMA-Ao).Although the left lateral recumbent position is considered effective in the treatment of SMA syndrome,individual variations in the optimal patient position have been noted.In this report,we present two elderly cases of SMA syndrome that exhibited rapid recovery due to ultrasonographic dynamic evaluation of the optimal position for each patient.CASE SUMMARY Case 1:A 90-year-old man with nausea and vomiting.Following diagnosis of SMA syndrome by computed tomography(CT),ultrasonography(US)revealed the SMA-Ao distance in the supine position(4 mm),which slightly improved in the lateral position(5.7–7.0 mm)without the passage of duodenal contents.However,in the sitting position,the SMA-Ao distance was increased to 15 mm accompanied by improved content passage.Additionally,US indicated enhanced passage upon abdominal massage on the right side.By day 2,the patient could eat comfortably with the optimal position and massage.Case 2:An 87-year-old woman with vomiting.After the diagnosis of SMA syndrome and aspiration pneumonia by CT,dynamic US confirmed the optimal position(SMA-Ao distance was improved to 7 mm in forward-bent position,whereas it remained at 5 mm in the supine position).By day 7 when her pneumonia recovered,she could eat with the optimal position.CONCLUSION The optimal position for SMA syndrome varies among individuals.Dynamic US appears to be a valuable tool in improving patient outcomes.