To investigate the clinical value of fetal heart quantification (Fetal HQ) technology in evaluating fetal cardiac geometric remodeling and right ventricular systolic functional alterations in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and to assess its utility in identifying subclinical fetal myocardial impairment associated with HDP.

This study prospectively enrolled 135 fetuses from pregnant women with HDP who underwent prenatal ultrasound examinations at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between March 2021 and September 2024, along with 135 gestational age-matched normal fetuses from routine prenatal examinations as controls. Thirty patients with chronic hypertension were excluded from the HDP group, resulting in a final cohort of 105 cases, which were subdivided into three subgroups: gestational hypertension (GH, n=39), mild preeclampsia (mPE, n=26), and severe preeclampsia (sPE, n=40). Fetal HQ software was employed to analyze standard four-chamber view dynamic videos, yielding the global spherical index (GSI), left and right ventricular end-diastolic areas, global longitudinal strain (GLS), fractional area change (FAC), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as well as 24-segment end-diastolic diameter (EDD), spherical index (SI), and fractional shortening (FS). Intergroup differences in cardiac parameters between the HDP and control groups were compared using the independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, while comparisons among the three HDP subgroups were performed using one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The Bonferroni correction was applied for global parameters, and the Benjamini-Hochberg method was used for segment-specific parameters. Intra- and inter-observer measurement consistency was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Compared with the control group, the HDP group exhibited a significantly lower GSI [1.11 (1.08, 1.14) vs 1.13 (1.10, 1.17), adjusted P＜0.05]. Segmental SI was also significantly decreased in left ventricular segments 1-4 and 8-12, as well as in right ventricular segments 1-2 (all adjusted P＜0.05), with more extensive involvement observed in the left ventricle. No significant differences were found between the two groups in left ventricular global systolic function parameters, including GLS, FAC, and LVEF (all adjusted P＞0.05). However, right ventricular FAC was significantly reduced in the HDP group [(36.06±6.24)% vs (38.09±5.66)%, adjusted P＜0.05], and FS was widely decreased in right ventricular segments 3-24 (all adjusted P＜0.05). Repeatability analysis demonstrated that the ICCs for global parameters ranged from 0.776 to 0.997, and most segmental parameters exhibited ICCs ≥ 0.85. Subgroup analysis, after adjustment for gestational age, revealed no significant differences in GSI or mean right ventricular FS among the GH, mPE, and sPE groups (both adjusted P＞0.05).

Fetuses of mothers with HDP demonstrate characteristic non-uniform cardiac geometric remodeling and right ventricle-dominant systolic dysfunction. The multi-parameter analysis integrating geometric remodeling and segmental functional parameters via Fetal HQ technology facilitates the detection of subclinical fetal myocardial involvement and offers a novel perspective for the objective quantification of HDP-related fetal cardiac changes.

This study aimed to develop and validate a multi-task deep learning model that uses a single-plane echocardiographic video as input to predict hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and its associated signs.

In this retrospective study, 377 subjects were included, comprising patients with HCM and a control group (non-HCM group) who visited Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2016 and May 2025 (the two groups were matched at a ratio of approximately 1∶2). Standard transthoracic two-dimensional gray-scale echocardiographic video data of the parasternal long-axis view (PLAX) at rest were collected for each subject. The entire dataset was divided into a training set and a test set at a 4∶1 ratio using random stratified sampling. A multi-task deep learning model was trained on single-plane video data and simultaneously outputs probability estimates for predicting HCM, LVOTO, and SAM. On the training set, the model underwent 4-fold cross-validation, and the final version of the deep learning model was developed. The performance of the final model was evaluated on the test set using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) and the area under the precision-recall curve (PR-AUC) for the three tasks.

Among the 377 subjects, 117 had HCM and 260 were in the control group. A total of 452 videos were collected (including 179 positive HCM videos, 111 positive LVOTO videos, and 91 positive SAM videos). In the test set, the ROC-AUC and PR-AUC of the final version of the deep learning model for predicting HCM were 0.987 [95%(confidence interval, CI): 0.966-0.999] and 0.981 (95%CI: 0.945-1.000), respectively; for predicting LVOTO, they were 0.899 (95%CI: 0.769-0.978) and 0.789 (95%CI: 0.585-0.925); and for predicting SAM, they were 0.980 (95%CI: 0.943-1.000) and 0.940 (95%CI: 0.837-1.000).

This multi-task deep learning model based on single-view echocardiographic video can accurately and simultaneously identify HCM and its associated signs (LVOTO and SAM), demonstrating its potential as a real-time decision support tool and helping reduce missed diagnoses of HCM.

To investigate the diagnostic value of combined shear wave elastography (SWE)-derived mean Young's modulus (Emean) of the optic disc and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) for detecting increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to intracerebral hemorrhage, and to explore the correlation of these parameters with the severity of optic disc edema.

This prospective study enrolled 36 patients with intracranial hypertension secondary to intracerebral hemorrhage and 36 healthy volunteers at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between February 2022 and December 2024. All patients underwent funduscopic examination, and optic disc edema was graded using the Frisén scale. Based on the grading results, the intracranial hypertension group was further subdivided into a no/mild edema subgroup and a moderate/severe edema subgroup. ONSD was measured using two-dimensional ultrasound, while Emean of the optic nerve head was assessed via SWE. Intergroup differences in ONSD and Emean were compared using independent-samples t-tests. The diagnostic performance of each individual parameter and the combined model (constructed by binary logistic regression) was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to assess the relationship between each parameter and the optic disc edema grade within the intracranial hypertension group.

Both ONSD and Emean were significantly higher in the intracranial hypertension group than in the control group [(5.42±0.72) mm vs (4.53±0.25) mm, t=6.881; (25.38±2.72) kPa vs (17.65±1.48) kPa, t=14.786; both P＜0.001]. The optimal cutoff values of ONSD and Emean for diagnosing intracranial hypertension were 5.10 mm and 21.2 kPa, yielding areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 and 0.93, respectively. The combined model achieved an AUC of 0.95, surpassing that of either parameter alone. Subgroup analysis revealed that both ONSD and Emean were significantly higher in the moderate/severe edema subgroup than in the no/mild edema subgroup [15 vs 21 cases; (5.86±0.65) mm vs (5.12±0.61) mm, t=3.452, P=0.002; (28.02±1.98) kPa vs (23.45±2.01) kPa, t=6.577, P＜0.001]. Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that both Emean and ONSD were positively correlated with the grade of optic disc edema (r=0.782 and 0.621, respectively; both P＜0.001).

The multimodal ultrasound parameters comprising ONSD and SWE-derived Emean demonstrate good diagnostic value for intracranial hypertension caused by intracerebral hemorrhage, and their changes correlate with the severity of optic disc edema. The combination of these two parameters further enhances diagnostic performance, providing a novel non-invasive imaging approach for the assessment of elevated intracranial pressure.

To investigate the clinical and cranial ultrasound (CUS) characteristics of moderate-to-severe (Grade Ⅲ–Ⅳ) neonatal intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), with the aim of providing a scientific basis for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation.

We retrospectively collected clinical data from 64 neonates diagnosed with Grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ ICH by cranial ultrasound at Suzhou Municipal Hospital between January 2023 and August 2025. The data included perinatal baseline characteristics, CUS imaging features, and clinical outcomes. Based on outcomes at discharge, patients were divided into a good outcome group and a poor outcome group to analyze risk factors for adverse prognosis. The χ² test was used to compare differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups, and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent factors associated with poor prognosis in neonates with ICH.

Among the 64 included neonates with moderate-to-severe ICH, 39 (60.9%) had a gestational age of ≤ 28 weeks, and 43 (67.2%) had a birth weight of ＜1500 g. At the initial CUS diagnosis, 43 cases (67.2%, 43/64) had Grade III ICH and 21 (32.8%, 21/64) had Grade IV ICH. During follow-up, 36 infants (56.3%, 36/64) developed progressive ventricular dilation (hydrocephalus), and 18 (28.1%, 18/64) developed periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). The poor outcome group comprised 40 cases (62.5%, 40/64), while the good outcome group comprised 24 cases (37.5%, 24/64). The rates of Grade Ⅳ hemorrhage and PVL were significantly higher in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group (χ²=4.021 and 5.21, respectively; both P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for confounding factors, indicated that very low birth weight (VLBW) was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis (OR=4.37, 95%CI: 1.47-12.99, P＜0.05).

Neonates with moderate-to-severe ICH have a poor prognosis with a high rate of adverse outcomes. Grade IV hemorrhage, PVL formation, and VLBW are closely associated with poor prognosis. Cranial ultrasound can accurately diagnose early intracranial hemorrhage and dynamically monitor disease evolution, providing imaging evidence to guide clinical treatment plans and improve patient outcomes.

To investigate the preoperative ultrasound (US) quality control status of thyroid follicular tumors of uncertain malignant potential (FT-UMP), and to compare differences in quality control indicators before and after the implementation of the thyroid imaging reporting and data systems (TI-RADS) guidelines.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent surgical resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2017 and December 2025. All included patients had a pathological diagnosis of FT-UMP and had undergone preoperative thyroid US examination. US reports and images were systematically reviewed to assess three core quality control indicators: the completeness rate of US report descriptions, the image storage completeness rate, and the utilization rate of TI-RADS classification. These indicators were compared between the periods before and after the implementation of TI-RADS guidelines using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Static US images of FT-UMP nodules were independently interpreted by two radiologists with over 7 years of diagnostic experience in thyroid US. According to the Chinese TI-RADS (C-TIRADS) and the American College of Radiology TI-RADS (ACR TI-RADS) criteria, US features (composition, shape, margin, echogenicity, and echogenic foci) and malignancy risk stratification (TI-RADS categories) were recorded. Differences in US feature description and malignancy risk assessment between the two classification systems for FT-UMP were compared.

A total of 219 FT-UMP nodules from 217 patients were included, comprising 69 males and 148 females, with a mean age of 45.78 years and a mean maximum nodule diameter of 41.07 mm. Following the standardized implementation of the C-TIRADS guidelines, the completeness rate of US report descriptions increased from 21.26% to 95.65%, the image storage completeness rate improved from 50.39% to 93.48%, and the TI-RADS classification utilization rate increased from 0% to 97.83% (χ²=117.862, 45.683, and 209.954, respectively; all P＜0.001). In routine clinical US diagnosis, FT-UMP was most commonly diagnosed as thyroid adenoma (46.33%) or nodular goiter (27.68%), and most nodules were assigned to C-TIRADS category 3 (42.22%) or category 4A (47.78%). Discrepancies were observed between C-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS in nodule composition description and malignancy risk assessment of FT-UMP. Based on C-TIRADS criteria, 66.67% of FT-UMP nodules exhibited solid composition; the proportions of nodules classified as C-TIRADS categories 3, 4A, and 4B were 28.77%, 59.36%, and 11.87%, respectively. According to ACR TI-RADS criteria, 82.65% of FT-UMP nodules presented as solid or almost entirely solid; the proportions of nodules assigned to ACR TI-RADS categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 12.79%, 34.25%, 42.92%, and 10.04%, respectively.

Standardized application of the C-TIRADS guidelines can effectively improve the completeness rate of US report descriptions, the image storage completeness rate, and the TI-RADS classification utilization rate for FT-UMP. FT-UMP is frequently diagnosed as thyroid adenoma or nodular goiter on preoperative US. Additionally, discrepancies in risk stratification exist between C-TIRADS and ACR TI-RADS for FT-UMP.

To investigate the current status of ultrasound professionals and ultrasound equipment in medical institutions across Shanghai, and to provide an evidence-based foundation for strengthening workforce management and disciplinary development.

A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data on sonography staff and ultrasound equipment in Shanghai medical institutions during 2025. Longitudinal comparisons were made with historical survey data from 2013 and 2018. The chi-square (χ²) test was used to compare differences in workforce structure and equipment allocation across hospitals of different grades, and the Bonferroni method was applied for pairwise comparisons between tertiary hospitals and secondary, primary, and private hospitals.

A total of 512 medical institutions in Shanghai were enrolled, comprising 55 tertiary hospitals, 77 secondary hospitals, 229 primary hospitals, and 151 private hospitals. (1) Workforce structure in 2025: a total of 3008 sonography professionals were included, of whom 80.3% (2414/3,008) were female. The total workforce increased by 19.9% and 58.1% compared with 2018 and 2013, respectively. There were 1279 sonography professionals aged ≤40 years (42.5%), of whom 58.7% (751/1279) worked in tertiary hospitals. A total of 203 sonography professionals were aged ≥60 years (6.8%), and 63.1% (128/203) of these were employed by private hospitals. The educational background and professional title composition of the workforce improved compared with previous years. Physicians with doctoral and master's degrees accounted for 9.8% and 21.4%, respectively, while intermediate and senior professional titles accounted for 54.8% and 21.8%. Tertiary hospitals had a higher proportion of staff with advanced academic degrees and senior titles, whereas primary and private hospitals concentrated staff with lower educational attainment. The mismatch rate of practicing scope among sonographers was 4.1%, and the overall possession rate of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) certification reached 72.3%. (2) Equipment allocation: there were 2627 ultrasound devices in Shanghai in 2025, representing an increase of 23.7% versus 2018 and 62.5% versus 2013, with domestically manufactured equipment accounting for 23.5%. Tertiary hospitals held 48.6% of all ultrasound devices citywide, with the highest average allocation of 23 units per hospital. New devices with a service life ≤5 years constituted 52.2% of the total inventory, while outdated equipment used for ＞10 years accounted for 10.4%. Private hospitals had only 3.2% of equipment with a service life ＞10 years, a proportion lower than that observed in other hospital tiers. (3) Comparisons among hospitals of different levels: overall comparisons of the constituent ratios of educational background, professional title, age, working years, and CDFI possession rate among ultrasound professionals, as well as the origin and service life of ultrasound equipment, revealed statistically significant differences across hospital grades (χ²=1050.75, 39.92, 423.17, 77.76, 9.05, 25.10, and 58.25, respectively; all P＜0.001). Pairwise comparisons demonstrated that educational background, professional title, age, working years, and equipment service life differed significantly between tertiary hospitals and other types of hospitals (all P＜0.0167), whereas no significant differences were observed in CDFI possession rate. Regarding equipment origin, a statistically significant difference was found between tertiary and primary hospitals (χ²=11.32, P=0.001), while no significant differences were identified between tertiary hospitals and secondary or private hospitals.

The number of ultrasound professionals and ultrasound devices in Shanghai has increased steadily, accompanied by an overall improvement in workforce structure, with superior resources concentrated in tertiary hospitals. Nevertheless, challenges remain prominent, including inadequate qualification supervision, uneven distribution of medical resources, and insufficient talent reserves at grassroots institutions. Integrated strategies encompassing talent training, certification administration, and equipment deployment should be implemented to advance the homogenized quality of ultrasound medical services in Shanghai.