Ultrasound

BACKGROUND: In order to identify coronary lesions that cause myocardial ischaemia and require revascularisation, fractional flow reserve (FFR) is widely recommended. Recently, a method of estimating the FFR using morphological features measured by an imaging device was developed. However, all the previously developed methods are conducted offline, and such analysis takes approximately 10 minutes. AIMS: The aim of this present study was to develop an online measurement of the FFR using an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) quantitative method (IQ-FFR)...

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been most commonly guided by coronary angiography. However, to overcome the inherent limitations of conventional coronary angiography, there has been an increasing interest in the adjunctive tools of intracoronary imaging for PCI guidance. Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has garnered substantial attention as a valid intravascular imaging modality for guiding PCI. However, despite the unparalleled high-resolution imaging capability of OCT, which offers detailed anatomical information on coronary lesion morphology and PCI optimisation, its broad application in routine PCI practice remains limited...

A burst of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) induces vasoconstriction that transiently reduces regional vascular conductance and increases systemic blood pressure (BP) over the subsequent 4-8 cardiac cycles. These responses are termed sympathetic neurovascular transduction and sympathetic transduction of BP, respectively. Sympathetic transduction of BP is commonly calculated and interpreted as a proxy measure for regional sympathetic neurovascular transduction, despite the systemic nature of BP regulation...

The etiology of fetal growth restriction (FGR) is multifactorial, although many cases involve placental insufficiency. Placental insufficiency is associated with inadequate trophoblast invasion resulting in high resistance to blood flow, decreased availability of nutrients, and increased hypoxia. We have developed a non-viral, polymer-based nanoparticle that facilitates delivery and transient gene expression of human insulin-like 1 growth factor ( hIGF1 ) in trophoblast for the treatment of placenta insufficiency and FGR...

Piezocatalysis can effectively harvest various kinds of mechanical energy with high entropy from the environment and drive some redox reactions without light irradiation, where MoS2 - and g-C3 N4 -based piezocatalysts are recent research hotspots. This study constructs an architecture of ordered melamine hydrochloride-cyanuric acid/MoO4 2- supramolecular precursor via self-assembly, serving as a self-template for in situ tight growth of vertically aligned micron-scale MoS2 on porous foam-like g-C3 N4 (CM x ) under S vapor with a bioinspired rooting and sprouting-like process...

PURPOSE: We previously showed that the rapid TSH (rTSH) screening is able to detect a high prevalence of thyroid diseases in patients presenting to the Emergency department (ED), with a 7% prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunctions. The purpose of the present study is to implement our diagnostic flow-chart for thyroid dysfunctions in the ED with a rapid point-of-care thyroid ultrasound (rPOCUS). METHODS: rPOCUS was performed by an app-based mobile ultrasound device (Lumify® by Philips Healthcare) in patients with suppressed rTSH undergoing urgent procedures requiring iodinate contrast media...

PURPOSE: To assess the performance and the reproducibility of ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in patients with biopsy-proven metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). METHODS: This study included consecutive adult patients with MASLD who underwent ultrasound with UGAP, 2D-SWE and percutaneous liver biopsy. The median values of 12 consecutive UGAP measurements were acquired by two independent radiologists (R1 and R2)...

Prolonged passive heat treatment (PHT) has been suggested to trigger skeletal muscle adaptations that may improve muscle maintenance in older individuals. To assess the effects of PHT on skeletal muscle tissue capillarization, perfusion capacity, protein synthesis rates, hypertrophy and leg strength, 14 older adults (9 males, 5 females; 73 ± 6 years) underwent 8 weeks of PHT (infrared sauna: 3× per week, 45 min at ∼60°C). Before and after PHT we collected muscle biopsies to assess skeletal muscle capillarization and fibre cross-sectional area (CSA)...

The ductus arteriosus aneurysm (DAA) is considered a rare anatomical alteration that consists of a dilation of this vascular structure. It has been reported that the DAA can resolve in the immediate postnatal stage and do not generate any consequences for the neonate. However, have been described some cases in which the DAA is complicated due to thromboembolic events, rupture of the lesion, respiratory symptoms, and even death. We present a case report of aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus diagnosed at 24 weeks of gestation with detailed imaging study...

Objective: One potential solution to limited health care in rural and remote regions is remote presence robotic tele-presentation to allow health care providers to care for patients in their home community via a robotic interface. We synthesized evidence regarding the use of remote presence robotic tele-presentation in rural and/or remote Canadian health settings. Methods: Medline, PubMed, and Embase were searched up to August 2023. Remote presence robotic tele-presentation refers to any robotic device used for the purpose of presenting and/or collecting patient information...

BACKGROUND: Calcified nodules (CNs) are an advanced stage of coronary calcification that can have significant clinical implications. We investigated factors associated with CNs, the etiology of which is not fully understood. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 619 patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). CNs in the culprit lesion were evaluated via IVUS, and all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were compared between the CN and non-CN groups...

BACKGROUND: Neonates are relatively prone to immediate, early, and late complications related to central venous cannulation (CVC). Ultrasound-guided brachiocephalic vein (BCV) cannulation has proven to be safe in neonates. Although studies addressed the immediate and early complications of CVC via BCV in neonates, few explored long-term maintenance-related complications. AIMS: To evaluate the incidences of long-term maintenance-related complications including central line-associated blood stream infection (CLABSI), central line-associated thrombosis (CLAT), and mechanical complications (CLAMC) of nontunneled BCV cannulation in neonates and their relationship with patient and catheter-related factors...

BACKGROUND: We have retrospectively reviewed our series of brain tumor patients operated on using 3D IntraOperative UltraSound (IOUS) to report technical advantages and areas of improvement. METHODS: Clinical and radiological data of patients with a diagnosis of high-grade glioma IV operated with and without IOUS were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: We have found 391 patients operated using IOUS coupled with neuronavigation and 257 using neuronavigation standalone...

BACKGROUND: The use of ultrasonography to diagnose and manage peripheral nerve injury is not routinely performed, but is an advantageous alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the pediatric population. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors report a case of a toddler-aged female who sustained a supracondylar fracture and subsequent median and ulnar nerve injuries. All preoperative and postoperative imaging was performed through high-resolution ultrasound as opposed to MRI...

BACKGROUND: For body contouring, the waist plays an important role in both male and female body structure. Currently, there are procedures that aim to achieve a narrow waist as a result, to achieve an adequate waist-to-hip ratio. This study proposes a technique of ultrasound-guided deep liposuction of the lumbar triangle to achieve favorable and safe aesthetic results. METHODS: The technique was applied in 142 patients who provided informed consent. During liposuction, ultrasound was used as a guide to avoid contact with vital organs, and in the postoperative stage, a satisfaction survey was administered on the aesthetic results obtained...

BACKGROUND: This investigation delves deep into the lifting degree for each area of noninvasive facial rejuvenation through high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The study meticulously examines the lifting effects of HIFU treatment across seven distinct facial aesthetic-units, using advanced three-dimensional scanner analysis. METHODS: The study examined a cohort of 50 patients treated with HIFU. Pre- and immediate posttreatment evaluations were conducted using three-dimensional scanner analysis, allowing for precise quantification of lifting effects across seven aesthetic units...

BACKGROUND: Granular Cell Tumors (GCTs), also known as Abrikossoff tumors, are rare neoplasms that typically originate from Schwann cells. These tumors most commonly occur in the head and neck region, particularly the tongue. While GCTs are generally benign, less than 2% of cases exhibit aggressive biological features such as rapid growth, high recurrence rates, and metastasis. In this report, we present a rare case of a Malignant Granular Cell Tumor (MGCT) of the chest wall, which posed significant challenges in both characterization and management...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Non-metastatic radioactive iodine (RAI) uptake can complicate the interpretation of whole-body scan (WBS) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) post-thyroidectomy. We present a patient with DTC whose follow-up WBS showed nonmetastatic multifocal avidity in skeletal tissue, an uncommonly reported site of RAI uptake. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old woman underwent a right hemithyroidectomy, followed by completion thyroidectomy and RAI remnant ablation therapy, for a 4...

PURPOSE: Previous research has demonstrated that real-time ultrasound-guided (UG) spinal anesthesia requires a higher minimum local anesthetic dose (MLAD) compared to traditional methods. However, the precise MLAD of ropivacaine for UG cesarean sections remains undetermined. In this study, we ascertained the MLAD of ropivacaine for cesarean section. We also investigated the mechanism underlying the diffusion of ropivacaine within the spinal canal using fluid simulation technology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We randomly placed 60 healthy parturients undergoing elective cesarean section with real-time UG spinal anesthesia into Groups I (26-gauge spinal needle) and II (24-gauge spinal needle)...

PURPOSE: To investigate whether fetal prenatal ultrasound, fetal growth rate, and pregnancy outcome statistically differ between women infected with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in mid-pregnancy and an uninfected control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), and z-scores for each among 46 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-pregnancy between December 01, 2022 and June 31, 2023 was conducted...