Association of ultrasound morphological features with serum β subunit human chorionic gonadotrophin and histopathology among sonologically diagnosed cases of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in a tertiary hospital / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background@#Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) presents as vascular mass of varying morphology on ultrasound and confirmed through quantitative serum β subunit human chorionic gonadotrophin (β‑hCG). In regions with limited access to β‑hCG, ultrasound plays a crucial role in the initial diagnosis for timely management.@*Objectives@#This study aimed to investigate the associations between ultrasound vascular morphologic features, serum β‑hCG levels, and histopathology in GTN cases.@*Methodology@#A cross‑sectional review was conducted on 113 cases with ultrasound impression of GTN over an 8‑year period. The patient data were extracted from case records, and ultrasound images were categorized based on the distinct features. Associations with β‑hCG levels and histopathology were analyzed using the Chi‑square test and Mann–Whitney U‑test. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.@*Results@#A significant association was observed between ultrasound category and serum β‑hCG (P < 0.0001). The compact and diffuse types were more prevalent with β‑hCG levels between 104 to <105 mIU/mL, while the lacunar type was common among patients with ≥105 mIU/mL. However, there was no significant association between ultrasound categories and mean β‑hCG levels. Regarding histopathology, the lacunar type was more common in invasive moles, whereas the compact and diffuse types tended to be seen with choriocarcinoma, although these were not statistically significant (P = 0.182).@*Conclusions@#Morphologic types of GTN by gray scale and Doppler ultrasound vary across the different levels of serum β‑hCG and may suggest the histopathological diagnosis. This study provides valuable insights into the ultrasonographic characteristics of GTN, which can aid in its diagnosis and management.

Clinical significance of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian cysts / 中国辐射卫生

@#<b>Objective</b> To evaluate the clinical significance of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian cysts. <b>Methods</b> Patients who were diagnosed with clinically suspected or palpable adnexal masses and underwent gray-scale ultrasonography, transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) during the period from 2018 to 2021 were enrolled in this study. The pulsatility index (<i>PI</i>) and resistance index (<i>RI</i>) were estimated, and an ovarian cyst with the lowest <i>PI</i> value of < 1.0 or the lowest <i>RI</i> value of < 0.4 was considered as malignant. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of gray-scale ultrasound and transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian cysts were estimated with FNAC as the gold standard. <b>Results</b> A total of 180 patients with ovarian cysts were recruited, and FNAC revealed that 81 of them had malignant lesions and 99 of them had benign lesions. The transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonograms showed that 75 patients (92.59%) with malignant lesions had blood-flow signals in their cysts and 42 patients (42.24%) with benign lesions had blood-flow signals in their cysts, with a significant difference in the proportion between the two groups (<i>χ</i>² = 49.29, <i>P</i> < 0.01). Among the 75 patients with blood-flow signals in malignant ovarian cysts, 75 had <i>PI</i> < 1.0 and 24 had <i>RI</i> < 0.4; among the 42 patients with blood-flow signals in benign ovarian cysts, 15 had <i>PI</i> < 1.0 and no one had <i>RI</i> < 0.4; there were significant differences in the proportions of <i>PI</i> < 1.0 and <i>RI</i> < 0.4 between the two groups (<i>χ</i>² = 62.68, <i>P</i> < 0.01; <i>χ</i>² = 16.91, <i>P</i> < 0.01). In addition, compared with the combination of gray-scale ultrasound and transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound, gray-scale ultrasound alone had significantly lower sensitivity (51.85% <i>vs</i> 81.48%; <i>χ</i>² = 16.00, <i>P</i> < 0.01), specificity (75.76% <i>vs</i> 93.94%; <i>χ</i>² = 12.73, <i>P</i> < 0.01), PPV (63.64% <i>vs</i> 91.67%; <i>χ</i>² = 15.90, <i>P</i> < 0.01), and NPV (65.79% <i>vs</i> 86.11%; <i>χ</i>² = 12.44, <i>P</i> < 0.01) for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian cysts. <b>Conclusion</b> Gray-scale ultrasound is effective for diagnosing ovarian cysts; however, gray-scale ultrasound combined with transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound can improve the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian cysts.

Application of clinical and ultrasound-based model in evaluating the severity of secondary hyperparathyroidism / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To analyze the gray-scale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound features in secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) to construct a clinical and ultrasound-based model, and to investigate the relationship between this model and serum intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH) level in order to find proper indicators for evaluation of the severity of SHPT.Methods:From February 2016 to March 2021, a total of 59 SHPT patients with 181 parathyroid glands (PTGs) admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were enrolled. Gray-scale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound were performed in every participant. Patients were divided into low-iPTH group ( iPTH<800 ng/L) and high-iPTH group (iPTH≥800 ng/L) according to the serum iPTH level. The characteristics of gray-scale ultrasonic imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonic imaging were analyzed by 2 sonographers.Biochemical parameters were collected and combined with ultrasonic characteristics to construct the clinical and ultrasound-based model. The relationship between the model and serum iPTH level was analyzed by multivariate linear regression (stepwise). Independent influencing factors on serum iPTH level was investigated in SHPT patients without iPTH-reducing drugs using history.Results:There were 19 patients in low-iPTH group and 40 patients in high-iPTH group.Serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum creatinine, PTG number, total PTG volume, blood scores, calcification and cysts scores, CEUS scores (washing-in phase and washing-out phase) were significantly different between two groups(all P<0.05). The multivariate linear regression (stepwise) showed that serum phosphorus, total PTG volume and blood scores were independently related with serum iPTH level (standardized β coefficient were 0.387, 0.254 and 0.242 respectively; all P<0.05). Conclusions:Serum phosphorus, total PTG volume and blood scores are independent influencing factors on serum iPTH level. Ultrasonography combined with clinical parameters can help evaluate the severity of SHPT more accurately.

Role of duplex ultrasonography in patients with renal parenchymal disease: renal resistive index vs serum creatinine level

Background: In view of the fact that Brightness (B)-mode ultrasound findings in patients with renal parenchymal disease are profoundly non-specific, this study was carried out to determine the efficiency of color Doppler sonography for assessing renal function. In this series, the relationship between the resistive index (RI) of renal interlobar artery and serum creatinine level was analyzed for any relevant association of this color Doppler index with the serum creatinine level.Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 40 patients with renal parenchymal disease having serum creatinine level >1.4 mg/dL were chosen midst routine revisits. The control group comprised of 40 normal subjects with serum creatinine levels <1.4 mg/dL. After assessing the kidneys of these subjects with gray-scale ultrasound for presence of any stones, hydronephrosis, and/or space occupying lesions instead of, they were subsequently interrogated with color Doppler sonography and RI calculated.Results: The mean serum creatinine levels±SD in the case and control groups were 6.7±0.7 mg/dL and 1.0±0.4 mg/dL, respectively. The mean±SD resistive index (RI) was 79.0%±1.8% in the diseased group and 60.3%±0.7% in the healthy subjects (p<0.001). The correlation between the RI and the serum creatinine level was statistically significant (p<0.001).Conclusions: Resistive index (RI) measurement by color doppler ultrasonography is a reasonable prognosticator of functional outcome in patients with renal parenchymal disease.

B-mode ultrasonography and gray scale histogram for evaluation of the nuchal ligament in Quarter horse / Ultrassonografia modo-B e histograma em escala de cinza para avaliação do ligamento nucal em equinos da raça Quarto de Milha

The gray scale histogram (GSH) makes it possible to measure the amount and distribution of gray shade frequencies, providing quantitative information on both echogenicity and echotexture of tissues. There is a need to diminish the subjectivity of the ultrasound images of the nuchal ligament (NL). This work proposes to evaluate the NL by ultrasound B-mode GSH images in different ages of Quarter horses. It used 15 healthy Quarter horses, which were classified by age into three different groups: "baby" (1), "sobreano" (2) and "adult" (3). The animals were submitted to chemical restraint for the ultrasound examination. Subsequently, the GSH tool was used in each image for statistical analysis. There was a significant difference between Mean and Mode between groups. Group 1 differed significantly when compared to Group 2 and 3. Group 2 presented superior echogenicity to Group 1 and 3. The height of the NL did not vary considerably between groups. GSH indicated that the echogenicity of NL in Quarter horses varies with age.(AU)

O histograma em escala de cinza (HEC) possibilita a mensuração da quantidade e distribuição da frequência de tonalidades de cinza, fornecendo informações quantitativas, tanto sobre a ecogenicidade quanto a ecotextura dos tecidos. Havendo a necessidade de diminuir a subjetividade das imagens ultrassonográficas do ligamento nucal (LN), esse trabalho propôs avaliar o LN por imagens ultrassonográficas modo-B pelo HEC em diferentes idades de cavalos da raça Quarto de Milha. Utilizou 15 cavalos da raça Quarto de Milha saudáveis os quais foram classificados por idade em três grupos diferentes: "baby" (1), "sobreano" (2) e "adulto" (3). Os animais foram submetidos a contenção química para a realização do exame ultrassonográfico. Posteriormente, a ferramenta HEC foi empregada em cada imagem para análise estatística. Houve diferença significativa entre as variáveis "Mean" e "Mode" entre os grupos. O Grupo 1 diferenciou significativamente quando comparado ao Grupo 2 e 3. O Grupo 2 apresentou ecogenicidade superior ao Grupo 1 e 3. Quanto à altura do LN não teve variação considerável entre os grupos. O HEC indicou que a ecogenicidade do LN em cavalos Quarto de Milha varia conforme a idade.(AU)

Clinical value of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis / 中国基层医药

Objective@#To investigate the clinical value of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.@*Methods@#From March 2015 to April 2017, 60 patients with acute appendicitis admitted to Hangzhou Hospital of Zhejiang Medical Hospital Health Care Group were selected in this study.All patients were diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound and performed surgical treatment.The clinical value of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was analyzed.@*Results@#The diagnostic rate of acute simple appendicitis was 94%(33/35). The diagnostic rate of acute gangrene perforated appendicitis was 87%(7/8). The diagnostic rate of abscess classification around the appendix was 100%(5/5). The diagnosis of abdominal gray-scale ultrasound examination was consistent with the results of surgical pathological diagnosis, with an accuracy rate of 93%(56/60).@*Conclusion@#In the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, abdominal gray-scale ultrasound examination is a direct, simple, safe and accurate method, which is worthy of extensive promotion and application.

The value of ultrasound gray scale ratio in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma with different sizes / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To explore the value of ultrasound gray scale ratio (UGSR) in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC) with different sizes.Methods A retrospective study was made in 702 patients with 1107 nodules which were confirmed by surgery in the Department of Oncology or fineneedle aspiration of HangZhou First people's Hospital,Zhejiang University of medical school from Jan.2016 to Oct.2017.All the thyroid nodules were divided into three groups:D≤ 1 cm group,1＜D≤2 cm group and ＞2 cm group according to their sizes.The UGSR of the PTC and NG were obtained through the RAD info system.Their differences were analyzed and ROC was established to confirm the optimal threshold in the differential diagnosis between PTC and NG among the groups.Results There were 483 PTC and 624 NG in this study.The UGSR of D≤ 1 cm group,1＜D≤2 cm group and ＞2 cm group of PTC and NG were (0.48±0.12) vs (0.76±0.22)(t=33.21,P=0.00);(0.52±0.17) vs(0.80±0.21)(t=1.30,P=0.00) and (0.63±0.20) vs(0.89±0.24)(t=3.58,P=0.00) respectively.The area under the ROC of UGSR in the differentiation of PTC and NG in the three groups were 0.873,0.840 and 0.811 respectively.The Youden indexes were greatest (0.631,0.536 and 0.535 respectively),when the cut-offs of the UGSR were 0.682,0.652 and 0.831 respectively.The sensitivity and specificity to diagnose PTC were 94.8％ and 68.0％,75.0％ and 78.6％,80.3％ and 73.2％ respectively in the three groups.Conclusions The best UGSR value of PTC was variant in thyroid nodule with different size.Recognition of these differences accurately could improve the pre-operative diagnostic accuracy of PTC.Also the method is simple to operate and easy to apply.

Diagnostic utility of gray scale ultrasound and elastography in solitary thyroid nodules

Background: A firm and hard thyroid nodule on palpation is associated with an increased risk of malignancy .Palpation is subjective. Elastography has been introduced to evaluate the tissue hardness objectively and to augment the diagnostic accuracy of gray-scale ultrasonography (US). Aim and objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of gray-scale ultrasonography (US) and elastography in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of Gray scale US and Elastography of 70 solid thyroid nodules in 50 patients was done in our Dhiraj General Hospital over a 6 month period. Diagnostic performances of gray scale US, Elastography with Rago and Asteria criteria, and Odd’s ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals for predicting thyroid malignancy were compared with gold standard FNAC using generalized estimating equation. Results: 70 solid thyroid nodules in 50 patients were evaluated. 21 were malignant and 49 were benign. Sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and Odd’s ratio(OR) of gray-scale US for the 70 nodules were 91.6%, 94.5% and 22.2 respectively, and these values were higher than the 15.6% and 65.3% sensitivity, 71.6% and 79.2% NPV and 3.6 and 2.7 ORs found for elastography with Rago and Asteria criteria, respectively. Conclusion: Elastography alone as well as the combination of elastography and gray-scale US showed inferior performance in the differentiation of malignant and benign thyroid nodules compared with gray-scale US features. Hence elastography is not a useful tool in recommending FNAC.

Prenatal diagnosis of morbidly adherent placenta using gray-scale, color doppler, three-dimensional power doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging – A case report / Philippine Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background@#Morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) refers to a spectrum of conditions characterized by abnormal adherence of the placenta to the implantation site. It is usually associated with peripartum hysterectomies, excessive blood loss, and bladder and bowel injuries. Reliable antenatal diagnosis of MAP is needed as unexpected encounter with such condition can lead to catastrophic outcomes. It allows the pre-operative assembly of a multidisciplinary team in the surgical management of such cases, an approach which has been shown to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.@*Case summary@#A case of a morbidly adherent placenta diagnosed antenatally using gray-scale, Color Doppler, 3-Dimensional power Doppler ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging is reported. A multidisciplinary team consisting of OB - GYN ultrasonologist, radiologist, maternal fetal medicine specialist, gynecologic oncologist, anesthesiologist, neonatologist, internist, urologic-oncologist, vascular and general surgeons, was used to manage the case. Favorable maternal and fetal outcomes resulted from the use of this team.@*Conclusion@#Prenatal diagnosis of MAP with gray-scale, Color Doppler, 3-Dimensional power Doppler ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the use of standardized imaging descriptors for AIP allowed the development of a multidisciplinary care team approach during delivery which provided a safe outcome for both mother and baby.

Determinación de valores numéricos en la escala de grises de diferentes materiales dentales mediante tomografía computarizada de haz cónico (CBCT) / Determination of numeric gray scale values of different dental materials using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)

Los materiales dentales (MD) tienen diferentes densidades, es decir, dependiendo de sus características estructurales generarán diferentes imágenes al ser atravesados por los rayos X, por lo tanto, la obtención de los índices absorcionales específicos o coeficientes de atenuación de los rayos X (valor numérico en la escala de grises en la imagen) para un MD ayudaría a predecir su presencia, aportando información útil para el diagnóstico, pronóstico y tratamiento de los pacientes odontológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los índices absorcionales de algunos MD, con 3 diferentes equipos CBCT. Se realizó un estudio experimental utilizando dispositivos inanimados, consistentes en bloques de cera odontológica rosada con forma de herradura a semejanza de una arcada dentaria donde se tallaron cavidades y se colocaron seis materiales: resina compuesta, amalgama, vidrio ionómero de autocurado, acrílico, vidrio ionómero modificado con resina y cemento de eugenato. Estos materiales fueron elegidos por su relevancia en el quehacer odontológico. Se adquirieron exámenes con 3 equipos CBCT de las marcas comerciales iCat, Galileos Comfort (Sirona) y ProMax 3D s (Planmeca). Las imágenes fueron procesadas con el software de cada equipo y se obtuvieron valores de densidad radiográfica o índices absorcionales para cada MD, los cuales corresponden a un número que el software asigna a cada tono de gris generado. Al analizar los resultados obtenidos de cada CBCT para distintos MD, los valores de tonos de gris de los materiales estudiados son propios para cada equipo, es decir, no es homologable un resultado numérico obtenido en un cierto equipo con el de otra marca comercial debido a las diferencias significativas obtenidas en los valores numéricos de tonos de gris entre los diferentes equipos CBCT.

Dental materials (DM) have different densities, that is, depending on their structural characteristics generate different images when they are traversed by X-rays, thus obtaining specific absorcionales indices or x-ray attenuation coefficients (numerical value in the gray scale of the image) for an DM help predict its presence, providing useful information for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of dental patients. The aim of this study was to determine the gray values for some DM in 3 cone-beam CT (CBCT) scanners. An experimental study was performed using inanimate devices consisting of blocks of pink dental wax horseshoe shaped in the likeness of a dental arch where cavities were carved and six materials were placed: composite resin, amalgam, glass ionomer self-curing, acrylic, glass ionomer and resin-modified cement eugenate. These materials were chosen for their relevance in dental imaging. The devices were scanned with the following three CBCT scanners: iCat, Galileos Comfort (Sirona) and ProMax 3D s (Planmeca). The computed gray levels or density values for each material at predetermined points were measured with the corresponding softwares of each unit. When analyzing the values obtained from each CBCT for different DM, the gray levels of the materials studied are specific for each CBCT scanner, it is not homologable a numerical result in a CBCT unit with another trademark because of the significant differences in gray levels between different CBCT scanners.

Quantitative evaluation of changes in carotid plaques during drug treatment using three-dimensional ultrasound gray scale median / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To explore the value of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) gray scale median (GSM) in quantitative evaluation of the drug treatment of carotid plaques.Methods Eighty-one patients with 93 carotid plaques were enrolled from May 2015 to October 2015.Patients were received 3D-US,3.0T MRI and blood lipid examination including total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) before drug treatment.After atorvastatin therapy with a daily dose of 20mg for 6-12 months,3D-US and blood lipid examination were repeated,and 55 patients were followed successfully with a total of 62 plaques obtained.According to data acquired by MRI and 3D-US before treatment,the patients were divided into low-risk group,medium risk group,and high-risk group.The differences of GSM value and blood lipid levels were compared among groups and the changes of these parameters before and after the treatment in each group were compared.Results There was no significantly difference in serum TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C levels among the groups before treatment.After treatment,the serum TC and LDL-C levels were significantly lower than those before(P ＜0.05),the differences of TG and HDL-C levels were not significant,and the LDL-C level in high-risk group was significantly lower than those in other groups(P ＜0.05).The GSM values in of high-risk and medium-risk group were significantly increased after drug treatment than those of before (33.87 ± 6.53 vs 27.50 ± 7.82,47.35 ± 5.42 vs 44.56 ± 4.36,P ＜0.05),and had no significantly change in low risk group(62.01 ± 10.68 vs 63.13 ± 10.41,P ＞0.05).The difference of GSM between before and after treatment in each group was negatively correlated with the difference of LDL-C (r =-0.28,P =0.03).Conclusions Three-Dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) gray scale median (GSM) can be a reliable parameter in clinic quantitative evaluation drug treatment of carotid plaques,and has a better value especially for high-risk and medium-risk plaques.

Design of high-frequency ultrasound grayscale blood flow imaging system based on field programmable gate array / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To develop a set of high-frequency ultrasound grayscale blood flow imaging system based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) to execute simultaneous imaging of superficial blood flow and tissues.Methods This system was mainly composed of an ultrasonic transducer,an ultrasonic transmission and receiving modules,imaging software in host computer and peripheral equipment.A PVDF transducer with the frequency between 20 and 50 MHz was used for the ultrasonic transducer.In transmission and receiving modules,the radio frequency echo signals were digitized by high-speed A/D.Then the digital signals were transmitted,added,filtered,demodulated,log amplified,double sampled,and lastly transferred to the host computer by USB interface for real-time display.Results A vascular 1 mm far form the surface of the hand skin was examined by this system.Four blood flow images were obtained in corresponding with four transmission frequencies.Conclusion Real-time superficial organ blood flow imaging is realized by this system.The solution has the architecture concise and clear,and lays an experimental foundationfor high-frequency ultrasound gray-scale blood flow imaging.

Research and implementation of gray-scale blood flow imaging system of high frequency ultrasound / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective To study the method of gray-scale blood flow imaging and image processing in condition of high frequency ultrasound,and the implementation of the system.Methods On the base of research of scattered signals of red blood cells in high frequency ultrasound,20 MHz ultrasound mechanical and linear scanning probe was used to transmit a number of pulses on a scan line.Pulse-echo subtraction method was used to obtain the blood flow information.At the end,simulated blood vascular was used to conduct flow imaging,and the obtained images were analyzed.Results Experiment results showed that clear blood flow images were obtained using this system.The noise from perivascular tissue could be filtered and the signals from blood flow could be enhanced after image processing.Conclusions In the detection of superficial blood vessel,blood flow signals can be obtained even using single pulse emitting via high frequency ultrasound.The blood flow imaging system can be implemented after image processing.

Evaluation of placental thickness as a sonological indicator for estimation of gestational age of foetus in normal singleton pregnancy.

Background: Gestational age is frequently over or under estimated, as the conventional gestational estimation is based on the last menstrual period and on ultrasonography. Many people are unaware of their last menstrual period and irregular menstruation and ultrasonography is bound to have a bias, thereby posing difficulties in the estimation gestational age. Placental thickness measured at the level of umbilical cord insertion appears to be a new promising parameter for estimation of gestational age of fetus as placenta is a maternal foetal organ and its size is a reflection of the health and size of the foetus. It provides the physiological link between a pregnant woman and the fetus.Measurement of placental thickness is relatively simple and very useful. In our present study we have tried to measure Placental thickness at the level of umbilical cord and determine its relationship with gestational age of foetus in normal singleton pregnancy. Methods: The current crossectional study was conducted at the department of radiodiagnosis, Gandhi medical college and Hamidia hospital, Bhopal from April 2012 to December 2014. This is a hospital based study with a sample size of 199 normal antenatal women. All the subjects were enrolled with detailed oral and written consents. All examinations were performed using GE logic 3 expert scanner with 3.5 MHz convex array transducer. Placental thickness in millimeters was measured at the level of insertion of the umbilical cord. Data was compiled in MS excel sheet and analyzed using online statistical calculator, chi square test and pearson correlation coefficient were applied with value of P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In the total study group of 199 normal antenatal women, the age ranged between 18yrs to 34 years and the mean age was between 20 and 25 years of age. Anterior placenta was noted to be the most common location amongst the study sample. It is observed that placental thickness correlates with gestational age and gradually increases as gestational age increases. To prove that there was a correlation the between placental thickness and the gestational age, the Pearson correlation coefficient was found to be r = 0.98 and the p value was <0.001, thereby establishing a positive correlation between the two variables, indicating placental thickness measured in millimeters increases with gestational age measured in weeks and were statistically significant. Conclusion: A linear increase in mean placental thickness with gestational age was observed using correlation analysis in our present study conducted to determine the relationship between placental thickness and gestational age. Placental thickness measured in millimeters increases with gestational age from 11 weeks to 37 weeks. Placental thickness can be used as a predictor of the gestational age, in women in whom the last menstrual period is unreliable or is not known. In instances when femoral length was difficult to measure due to excessive foetal movements, Placental thickness was found to be a reliable alternative biometric measurement in calculating gestational age.

The Suitability of Gray-Scale Electronic Readers for Dermatology Journals

BACKGROUND: The rapid development of information and communication technology has replaced traditional books by electronic versions. Most print dermatology journals have been replaced with electronic journals (e-journals), which are readily used by clinicians and medical students. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to determine whether e-readers are appropriate for reading dermatology journals, to conduct an attitude study of both medical personnel and students, and to find a way of improving e-book use in the field of dermatology. METHODS: All articles in the Korean Journal of Dermatology published from January 2010 to December 2010 were utilized in this study. Dermatology house officers, student trainees in their fourth year of medical school, and interns at Korea University Medical Center participated in the study. After reading the articles with Kindle 2, their impressions and evaluations were recorded using a questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that gray-scale e-readers might not be suitable for reading dermatology journals, especially for case reports compared to the original articles. Only three of the thirty-one respondents preferred e-readers to printed papers. The most common suggestions from respondents to encourage usage of e-books in the field of dermatology were the introduction of a color display, followed by the use of a touch screen system, a cheaper price, and ready-to-print capabilities. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that current e-readers might not be suitable for reading dermatology journals. However, they may be utilized in selected situations according to the type and topic of the papers.

Experimental study on ultrasound contrast for monitoring Salvia miltiorrhiza in treating rabbit renal ischemia-reperfusion injury / 重庆医学

Objective To apply the real-time gray scale contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) with quantitative analysis technique to monitor the change of the renal cortex blood perfusion before and after Salvia miltiorrhiza treatment of rabbit renal is-chemia-reperfusion injury and to investigate the application value of the ultrasound contrast for evaluating the effect of medication in the treatment of rabbit renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) .Methods The rabbit right kidney was resected and the left renal pedicle was occluded for 60 min ischemia ,then the perfusion was recovered for establishing the IRI model .Salvia miltiorrhiza injec-tion was given for observing the pathological changes of the left kidney and the renal cortex blood prefusion under the contrast-en-hanced ultrasonography .The parameters of renal cortex blood perfusion were quantitatively analyzed by the time-intension curves . Results After IRI occurrence ,the time-intensity curve (TIC) of the rabbit renal cortex was slowly ascended .The time to peak (TTP) was extened and the rising slope(Grad) of the curve ascending branch was declined (P< 0 .05);after Salvia miltiorrhiza treatment ,TTP decreased and Grad increased obviously(P<0 .05) .Conclusion CEUS combined with quantitative analysis can re-flect the renal blood perfusion abnormity caused by ischemia-reperfusion and discover the change of the renal blood perfusion after medication treatment .

Three-dimensional volumetric gray-scale uterine cervix histogram prediction of days to delivery in full term pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to figure out whether volumetric gray-scale histogram difference between anterior and posterior cervix can indicate the extent of cervical consistency. METHODS: We collected data of 95 patients who were appropriate for vaginal delivery with 36th to 37th weeks of gestational age from September 2010 to October 2011 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Ansan Hospital. Patients were excluded who had one of the followings: Cesarean section, labor induction, premature rupture of membrane. Thirty-four patients were finally enrolled. The patients underwent evaluation of the cervix through Bishop score, cervical length, cervical volume, three-dimensional (3D) cervical volumetric gray-scale histogram. The interval days from the cervix evaluation to the delivery day were counted. We compared to 3D cervical volumetric gray-scale histogram, Bishop score, cervical length, cervical volume with interval days from the evaluation of the cervix to the delivery. RESULTS: Gray-scale histogram difference between anterior and posterior cervix was significantly correlated to days to delivery. Its correlation coefficient (R) was 0.500 (P = 0.003). The cervical length was significantly related to the days to delivery. The correlation coefficient (R) and P-value between them were 0.421 and 0.013. However, anterior lip histogram, posterior lip histogram, total cervical volume, Bishop score were not associated with days to delivery (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: By using gray-scale histogram difference between anterior and posterior cervix and cervical length correlated with the days to delivery. These methods can be utilized to better help predict a cervical consistency.

Significance of Gray-Level Histogram of the Uterine Cervix as a Predictor of Preterm Birth in Pregnant Women with Preterm Labor / 대한주산의학회잡지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the value of a gray-level histogram of the cervix as a predictor of preterm birth in women who admitted for preterm labor. METHODS: Ninety-seven women who admitted Chonnam national university for preterm labor were enrolled in this prospective study. A transvaginal ultrasonography for measurement of cervical length (CL), gray-scale histogram and cervical volume was performed when patients were admitted. Anterior and posterior cervical walls and AP (anterior and posterior) difference in MGL (mean gray level between anterior and posterior) were checked. And we analyzed the relationship between the value and preterm birth. RESULTS: The overall rate of preterm birth before 37 weeks was 53.6% and after 37 weeks was 46.4%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that not only cervix length (P=0.003; odds ratio [OR], 0.189; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.064-0.560) but also anterior histogram (P=0.028; OR, 0.319; 95% CI, 0.115-0.884) was independent predictor of preterm birth before 37 weeks. The receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves were analyzed for the anterior histogram, a value of 85.9 was the best cut-off value to determine the preterm birth. The areas under the ROC curve indicate that the variable provides a prognostic value for the prediction for preterm birth. To predict a preterm birth, anterior histogram had 78.8% sensitivity and 46.7% specificity. CONCLUSION: Gray-level histogram of the uterine cervix may predict the preterm birth in pregnant women with preterm labor.

Wrist ultrasound analysis of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

In the present study, we evaluated 42 wrists using the semi-quantitative scales power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) and gray scale ultrasound (GSUS) with scores ranging from 0 to 3 and correlated the results with clinical, laboratory and radiographic data. Twenty-one patients (17 women and 4 men) with rheumatoid arthritis according to criteria of the American College of Rheumatology were enrolled in the study from September 2008 to July 2009 at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). The average disease duration was 14 months. The patients were 66.6 percent Caucasians and 33.3 percent non-Caucasians, with a mean age of 42 and 41 years, respectively. A dorsal longitudinal scan was performed by ultrasound on the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints using GE LOGIQ XP-linear ultrasound and a high frequency (8-10 MHz) transducer. All patients were X-rayed, and the Larsen score was determined for the joints, with grades ranging from 0 to V. This study showed significant correlations between clinical, sonographic and laboratory data: GSUS and swollen right wrist (r = 0.546), GSUS of right wrist and swelling of left wrist (r = 0.511), PDUS of right wrist and pain in left wrist (r = 0.436), PDUS of right wrist and C-reactive protein (r = 0.466). Ultrasound can be considered a useful tool in the diagnosis of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis mainly when the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor are negative, and can lead to an early change in the therapeutic decision.

Quantitative Analysis of Optic Disc Color

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reproducibility of ImageJ software in analyzing the color of the optic disc. METHODS: One hundred twelve normal participants (56 males and 56 females) were enrolled in this study. The image of the optic disc was taken using Kowa digital disc photo-graphy, and the gray scales of the nasal rim (NR), brightest cupping center (BCC) and largest inferior retinal vein (IRV) were calculated using histogram in ImageJ. Three different observers calculated the gray scales three separate times. Reproducibility was assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 50.6 years old (range, 11 to 82 years). The mean gray scales of the nasal rim were 91.81, 94.91, and 93.24; those of the brightest cupping center were 174.84, 179.94, and 177.76; and those of the largest inferior retinal vein were 61.85, 53.48, and 56.73 for observers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Inter-observer reproducibility for NR, BCC and IRV was considered good based upon ICC values of 0.944, 0.860, and 0.789 for observers 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Significant age-related differences between the values of the brightest cupping center were noted, and the gray scale score was decreased in the older participants (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The gray scale of the brightest cupping center diminished with age. ImageJ can be a useful objective tool with high reproducibility in the analysis of optic disc color.