The diagnostic value of ultrasonography in evaluation of the intraneural vascular anomalies of peripheral nerves.

BACKGROUND: The imaging diagnosis of intraneural vascular anomalies of peripheral nerves mostly depended on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), whereas high-frequency ultrasonography evaluation of intraneural vascular anomalies has been seldom done. PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of intraneural vascular anomalies of peripheral nerves. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 69 consecutive patients seen at Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University between February 2013 and June 2022, each with a clinical suspicion of intraneural vascular anomaly, were included. The ultrasonographic images of intraneural vascular anomalies of peripheral nerves were analyzed and the ultrasonographic features were summarized. These data were compared with MRI, which served as the gold standard for the diagnosis of intraneural vascular anomalies. The kappa statistic was adopted to determine the level of agreement. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and Youden index of high-frequency ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool were assessed. RESULTS: Ultrasonography findings were positive in 20 of 69 patients with a clinical suspicion of intraneural vascular anomaly. The diagnosis was confirmed by MRI in 21 patients. There was one false-positive result and two false-negative results by ultrasonography. The κ value was 0.896. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and Youden index of ultrasonography were 90.5%, 97.9%, 95%, 95.9%, 95.7%, and 0.884, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography could be an accurate, reliable, and convenient imaging tool for the diagnosis of intraneural vascular anomalies of peripheral nerves.

Diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound in omohyoid muscle syndrome.

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound in omohyoid muscle syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 11 patients diagnosed with omohyoid muscle syndrome was carried out, and the characteristics of high-frequency ultrasound images were summarized. RESULTS: Ultrasonography of the omohyoid muscle showed a narrow band of hypoechoic muscle bundle. The ultrasonographic manifestation of omohyoid muscle syndrome showed a thickening of the omohyoid muscle on the affected side. The omohyoid muscle on the affected side bulged forward during swallowing and lifted the overlying sternocleidomastoid muscle. The difference between the thickness of the omohyoid muscle intermediate tendon on the affected side and the healthy side at rest was statistically significant (t = 58.23, P < 0.001). The difference between the thickness of the affected omohyoid muscle intermediate tendon at rest and during swallowing was statistically significant (t = 14.57, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the thickness of the omohyoid muscle intermediate tendon on the healthy side at rest and during swallowing (t = 0.56, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: High-frequency ultrasound is the preferred imaging method in the diagnosis of omohyoid muscle syndrome.

Hard carbon micro-nano tubes derived from kapok fiber as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries and the sodium-ion storage mechanism.

Hard carbon materials are considered as the most promising anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the high cost and poor rate performance hinder their application in SIBs. Moreover, the controversial mechanism of Na-ion storage restricts the improvement of hard carbon anodes. Herein, hard carbon micro-nano tubes (HCMNTs) from low-cost biomass kapok fibers are prepared as a promising anode for SIBs. Benefitting from the micro-nano structure, which offers low surface area and short Na+ diffusion path, 1400HCMNT possesses a good initial Coulombic efficiency of 80%, a high reversible capacity of 290 mA h g-1, and an excellent rate capacity. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to investigate the Na-ion storage mechanism in the HCMNTs. Sodium is stored in the hard carbon in an ionic state in the slope region and as quasi-liquid metallic sodium clusters in the low-voltage plateau.