Efficacy and influencing factor analysis of high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy for abdominal wall endometriosis: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the short-term and long-term efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy for abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) and explore its potential influencing factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients with AWE who underwent HIFU therapy were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-ups were also conducted to evaluate the changes in lesion size and pain relief. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate factors influencing HIFU therapy for AWE. RESULTS: Among the 80 patients with AWE who received HIFU therapy, the effective rates were 76.3%, 80.5%, and 90.5% after 3, 12 and 24 months of follow-up, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the AWE lesion diameter and sonication intensity had statistically significant effects on the 3-month and 12-month efficacy of HIFU therapy for AWE, while age, BMI, disease duration, average sonication power and grey-scale changes did not have statistically significant effects. Four patients with AWE experienced recurrence after HIFU therapy, for a three-year cumulative recurrence rate of 6.3%. Furthermore, ten patients required reintervention after treatment, for a five-year cumulative reintervention rate of 13.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study further confirmed the safety and effectiveness of HIFU therapy for AWE. Factors such as AWE lesion diameter and sonication intensity have been identified as key influencers affecting the short-term and long-term efficacy of HIFU therapy for AWE. The first two years following HIFU therapy constitute crucial periods for observation, and judiciously extending follow-up intervals during this timeframe is advised.

Relationship between family function, self-perceived burden and loneliness in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-lagged analysis.

AIMS: To explore the inter-predictive role and causal relationship between family functioning, self-perceived burden and loneliness in people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In this study, patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to two tertiary care hospitals in China were selected for an 8-month follow-up, and the patients' scores on the Family Functioning, Self-perceived Burden, and Loneliness scales were measured repeatedly at three time periods: during hospitalisation (T1), 1 month after discharge (T2), and 3 months after discharge (T3). RESULTS: The results showed that family function at the T1 time point had a negative predictive effect on self-perceived burden at the T2 time point, ß = - 0.43, P = 0.005. Loneliness at the T1 time point had a positive predictive effect on self-perceived burden at the T2 time point, ß = 0.08, P = 0.021. Unlike the pathway at time point T1, family functioning at time point T2 negatively predicted loneliness at time point T3, ß = - 0.32, P = 0.013. Loneliness at time point T2 positively predicted family functioning at time point T3, ß = 0.025, P = 0.013. Loneliness at time point T2 negatively predicted self-perceived burden at time point T3 (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the cross-lagged analysis show that there is a mutually predictive and moderating relationship between family functioning and loneliness in patients with type 2 diabetes. Loneliness can predict the level of self-perceived burden at the next time point.