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Objective:To analyze the correlation between the muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI) of the medial head of gastrocnemius and muscle mass, strength and functional parameters, and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of MT and EI for decreased muscle mass.Methods:Fifty-two subjects who visited the Department of Ultrasound Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from March to December 2021 were collected.MT of the medial head of gastrocnemius was measured by two-dimensional ultrasound, and EI values in the region of interest were analyzed using Image J software. Twenty of the subjects were selected to assess the intra-observer and inter-observer agreements in measuring MT and EI values using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Altman-Bland analysis was performed. The subjects were divided into healthy control group (30 cases) and decreased muscle mass group (22 cases) according to 2019 Asian Sarcopenia Working Group (AWGS) diagnostic criteria, the differences in MT and EI values between the two groups were compared, and the correlation between MT, EI values and muscle mass, strength, function were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. The diagnostic cutoff values of MT and EI values for decreased muscle mass were obtained using ROC curves, and the diagnostic efficacy was compared.Results:①The ICC of MT and EI in medial head of gastrocnemius detected by the same physician and different physicians were greater than 0.97, and the retest reliability was good. ②Compared with the healthy control group, the MT value in medial head of gastrocnemius decreased and the EI value increased in the decreased muscle mass group ( t=4.759, -3.789; all P<0.001). ③The MT value in medial head of gastrocnemius was positively correlated with appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), lower limb skeletal muscle mass (LLSM), grip strength, and gait speed ( r=0.579, 0.568, 0.585, 0.495, 0.415; all P<0.001), of which, the correlation with LLSM was the best; ④EI in medial head of gastrocnemius was negatively correlated with ASM and ASMI, LLSM, grip strength, and gait speed, ( r=-0.583, -0.591, -0.590, -0.537, -0.455; all P<0.001), and among which the correlation with ASMI was the best. ⑤The medial head of gastrocnemius MT and EI were 14.33 mm and 58.85 for predicting decreased muscle mass, respectively, and there was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of the two for decreased muscle mass ( Z=0.734 3, P>0.05). Conclusions:The MT and EI values of the medial head of gastrocnemius can accurately assess muscle mass and can be used in the evaluation of patients with decreased muscle mass.
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Objective To evaluate early skeletal muscle myopathy with contrast‐enhanced ultrasound ( CEUS) in diabetic rabbits . Methods Alloxan ( 100 mg/kg ) was given intravenously to 11 New Zealand w hite rabbits . Another 5 age‐matched normal rabbits were used as controls .CEUS was performed at baseline and 1 ,2 ,3 months after the establishment of diabetes ,respectively . T hen ,skeletal muscle samples were obtained for pathological observation . Additionally ,the diabetic rabbits were divided into 3 groups according to their pathologic findings : mild , moderate , and severe myopathy group . M icro‐perfusion parameters ,including artery‐to‐vein transit time ( A‐VT T ) ,muscle tissue mean transit time ( M‐M T T ) and muscle tissue peak intensity ( M‐PI) were calculated . Results T he diabetic rabbits exhibited a lower body weight increase and a decrease of muscle thickness .Plasma levels of triglyceride ,cholesterol and creatinine were significantly higher in diabetic group than those in control group ( P ＜0 .05) . T he A‐V T T and M‐M T T values of the diabetic rabbits significantly increased over time ( all P ＜ 0 .05 ) ,whereas M‐PI value significantly decreased compared with that in control group ( P ＝ 0 .013 ) . Besides ,the A‐V T T value was significantly higher in severe myopathy group than that in mild group ( P ＝0 .001) . T he M‐M T T values in both moderate and severe groups were significantly higher w hen compared to that in mild group ( all P ＜0 .05) . T he A‐VT T and M‐M T T values were correlated with the severity of diabetic myopathy( e＝0 .898 , P ＜0 .001 ;e＝ 0 .527 , P ＝ 0 .01 ) . Conclusions Diabetic rabbits have defective skeletal muscle micro‐ perfusion in the early stage . CEUS can quantify impaire muscle microcirculation ,and is a valuable tool for assessment of diabetic myopathy .
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Objective To establish the normal data of the fetal thorax,and to evaluate its values in the diagnosis of fetal thorax malformation.Methods Totally 398 normal singleton fetuses at 16 to 36 gestational weeks(GW) were enrolled,2D-US and 3D-US VOCAL technique were used to measure the 2D data and 3D volumes on the transverse section at the level of the four-chamber view,and the correlation among all measurements with GW was analyzed.Thirty fetuses collected randomly were examined to analyze the reliability.Nine fetuses with congenital thoracic dysplasia (CTD) and 10 fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) were assessed and compared with the normal fetuses.Results ① In healthy controls,the fetal thoracic 2D measurements and 3D volumes increased along with the growth of the GW.The regression equations were listed as follows:thoracic transverse diameter (cm) =-0.002 GW2 + 0.301 GW-1.510;thoracic anteroposterior diameter (cm) =0.003GW2 + 0.046GW + 0.666;thoracic area (cm2) =0.071GW2-1.466 GW + 14.728;thoracic circumference (cm) =0.01GW2 + 0.313GW + 3.341;thoracic volume (cm3) =0.285 GW2-7.797GW + 66.592;lung volume (cm3) =0.178 GW2-5.317GW + 45.539;the ratio of lung volume to thoracic volume =0.005GW + 0.396.② The reliabilities of the data obtained by the same/two different operators were good.③ CTD group was obviously lower than the healthy controls in all thoracic measurements (all P ＜0.01).There was no statistical difference in the 2D data between the CDH group and healthy controls (P ＞0.05),while the 3D volumes and the ratio of lung volume to thoracic volume were obviously lower than those in the healthy controls (P ＜0.01).Conclusions 2D-US can evaluate the fetal thoracic development and malformation preliminarily,but 3D-US VOCAL technology plays an important role in distinguishing different types of thoracic malformations.
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Objective To establish normative data for the fetal cisterna magna septa (CMS) at various gestational age,and to evaluate its clinical significance.Methods A total of consecutive fetal between 14 and 40 gestational week(GW) were included in this prospective study.The length and width of CMS were measured by two-dimensional ultrasonography.Regression analysis was used to study the relationship between the width and length of the fetal cisterna magna septa and gestational age.Twenty-five case of fetuses with the absence of CMS and 12 case of fetuses with the enlargement of CMS were retrospectively analyzed in the past six years in our hospital.Results ①The fetal CMS length and width increased gradually between 14 and 22 GW,then plateaued between 23 GW and 36 GW,and decreased after 37 GW.This ultrasonographic pattern was in agreement with normal development of rhombencephalon.②The absence of CMS in the fetuses were common in Dandy-Walker syndrome,holoprosencephaly,severe hydrocephalus,neural tube defects,rhombencephalon synapsis and Arnold-Chiari malformation.The enlargement of CMS in the fetuses may be shown in physiologic enlargement of posterior fossa.ConclusionsCMS is a potential new marker for normal development of rhombencephalon.The enlargement and absence of CMS are related to various malformations of central neural system,especially in the abnormalities of posterior fossa.