To explore the spatial characteristics of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity (SNH) in Parkinson's disease (PD) via transcranial sonography (TCS)-magnetic resonance (MR) fusion imaging.

Inpatients who were diagnosed with PD in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University and underwent TCS-MR fusion imaging were prospectively enrolled from November 2023 to October 2024. For fusion images, three dual-sided planes were selected: substantia nigra (SN) 1 (the plane with the largest area of the red nucleus), SN2 (the plane with the largest area of SNH), and SN3 (the plane where the red nucleus is just out of view). ImageJ was used to outline the regions of interest (ROIs) on the fusion images based on the spatial relationships of the coordinates. We recorded the location of SNH in nuclei, calculated echogenicity and pixel values for each ROI, and analyzed the spatial features of SNH.

A total of 164 patients [average age (63.70 ± 7.65) years; 65.24% (107/164) male] with PD were included. SNH could be observed in nuclei beyond the SN, including the red nuclei, the dorsal band of the SN, and the ventral tegmental area. Among 109 cases of left-sided SNH, 18 were localized solely within the SN, 17 were found in the dorsal band of the SN, and the remaining 74 involved at least two nuclei. Conversely, on the right side, 18 out of 79 SNH cases were situated in the SN, 15 in the dorsal band of the SN, and 46 involved two or more nuclei. Two orientations of SNH were identified: medial-lateral (where the long diameter of the SNH is parallel to the long axis of the SN) and anterior-posterior (where the long diameter of the SNH is perpendicular to the long axis of the SN). A total of 66 cases of left SNH exhibited a medial-lateral orientation, while 43 followed an anterior-posterior orientation. On the right side, 62 cases showed a medial-lateral orientation, and 17 were oriented anterior-posteriorly. Compared to those with a medial-lateral orientation, the left SNH cases with an anterior-posterior orientation were characterized by younger age, longer disease duration, higher Hoehn-Yahr stage, narrower third ventricular width, larger SNH area, and a greater proportion of postural instability (P＜0.05). Additionally, statistically significant differences were observed in the caudal and rostral distribution, as well as in the nuclei distribution of SNH between the two orientations (P＜0.001).

In PD, SNH can extend beyond the SN and has two orientations: medial-lateral and anterior-posterior. The anterior-posterior orientation of the left SNH may reflect a more severe disease state.

To evaluate the predictive value of the Carotid Plaque Reporting and Data System (Plaque-RADS) for the severity of coronary artery stenosis and to explore its correlation with coronary atherosclerosis.

A total of 310 patients hospitalized for chest pain at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from October 2022 to October 2024 were retrospectively enrolled. Based on Gensini scores, the patients were divided into a no stenosis group (n=69, 0 points), a mild stenosis group (n=83, ≤10 points), a moderate stenosis group (n=80, 10–48 points), and severe stenosis group (n=78, ≥48 points). Baseline characteristics and ultrasound parameters, including Plaque-RADS score, carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT), and Crouse score, were compared among groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors associated with coronary artery stenosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive performance of each parameter.

Significant differences were found among the four groups in terms of baseline data and ultrasound features (P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified CIMT (odds ratio [OR]=4.02, 95% confidence itneval [CI]: 1.13–14.26), Crouse score (OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.03–1.31), Plaque-RADS score (score 3: OR=2.89, 95%CI: 1.08–7.70; score 4: OR=11.07, 95%CI: 3.02–40.50), and diabetes mellitus (OR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.07–3.13) as independent predictors of coronary artery stenosis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of Plaque-RADS combined with diabetes history was 0.790, higher than that of any single parameter, and the predictive power of Plaque-RADS alone exceeded that of CIMT and Crouse score (AUC: 0.773 vs 0.744 and 0.741, respectively).

The Plaque-RADS score, especially when combined with diabetes history, can effectively predict severe coronary artery stenosis. Its predictive efficacy is superior to traditional ultrasound parameters such as CIMT and Crouse score, providing a more comprehensive imaging basis for the early assessment of coronary artery disease.

To analyze the prenatal and postnatal ultrasonic imaging features of biliary atresia, and explore the prenatal ultrasonic diagnostic clues for this condition.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the prenatal and postnatal ultrasound sonograms of 8 children who underwent prenatal ultrasound examinations at Hubei Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from March 2021 to March 2025 and were diagnosed with biliary atresia by surgery.

Of the 8 cases, 3 showed no obvious abnormalities on prenatal ultrasound. Abnormalities in the biliary system were identified by prenatal ultrasound in 5 cases, among which 2 had prenatal ultrasound examinations (conducted 2 or 3 times) indicating that the gallbladder was not clearly visualized or only faintly visible. The remaining 3 cases had prenatal ultrasound findings suggesting either unclear visualization of the gallbladder, or the presence of a gallbladder with rigid morphology accompanied by irregular anechoic areas in the hepatic hilum. Ultrasonography performed on all 8 infants after birth revealed gallbladder abnormalities (including unclear visualization of the gallbladder, rigid gallbladder morphology, or a small gallbladder), fibrous cord sign in the hepatic hilar region, abnormal gallbladder contraction function, and hepatic artery dilatation. Among them, anechoic areas in the hepatic hilar region were observed in 3 infants after birth.

When the fetal gallbladder is not visualized prenatally, non-visualization of the gallbladder is accompanied by anechoic areas in the hepatic hilum, or the gallbladder has a rigid morphology combined with anechoic areas in the hepatic hilum, the possibility of biliary atresia should be suspected. Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of biliary atresia is relatively difficult. For cases with suspected biliary abnormalities identified prenatally, close attention should be paid to neonatal jaundice and stool characteristics after birth, and a follow-up ultrasound examination of the gallbladder is necessary. This aims to achieve early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment of the condition.

To evaluate the value of multimodal ultrasound features combined with immune-inflammatory markers in predicting axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in breast cancer patients.

Data from patients with pathologically proven breast cancer between June 2023 to December 2024 at the Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University were reviewed. The multimodal ultrasound features, immune-inflammatory markers, and clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an ALNM group and a non-ALNM (NALNM) group based on axillary lymph node pathological results. The differences in multimodal ultrasound features and immune-inflammatory markers were compared between the ALNM and NALNM groups. The risk factors for ALNM in breast cancer patients were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive efficacy of multimodal ultrasound features and immunoinflammatory markers, alone and in combination, for ALNM.

This study ultimately included 166 patients with breast cancer, of whom 58 were assigned to the ALNM group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that maximum lesion diameter (odds ratio [OR]=2.265; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.478, 3.471), posterior echo attenuation (OR=4.430; 95%CI: 1.683, 11.658), enhancement degree (OR=9.100; 95%CI: 1.420, 76.160), enlarged enhancement range (OR=4.138; 95%CI: 1.127, 15.190), and systemic immune inflammation index (OR=1.003; 95%CI: 1.000, 1.005) were independent factors predicting ALNM (P＜0.05). The area under the ROC curve of multimodal ultrasound features combined with immune-inflammatory markers was 0.821 (95%CI: 0.754, 0.876), yielding an accuracy of 79.52%, sensitivity of 56.90%, and specificity of 91.67%. The DeLong test demonstrated that the combined diagnostic approach significantly outperformed individual features in diagnostic value (P＜0.001).

The combination of multimodal ultrasound features and immune-inflammatory markers has high clinical value for early prediction of ALNM in breast cancer.

To assess the diagnostic value of high-frequency ultrasound in distal biceps tendon injuries.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the ultrasound imaging data of 35 patients with distal biceps tendon injuries who were treated at Foshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from February 2020 to January 2025. The Kappa consistency test was used to evaluate the consistency between the ultrasound examination results and the results of surgery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Taking surgical results as the gold standard (and MRI results as the standard for non-surgical patients), the diagnostic efficacy of high-frequency ultrasound for three types of distal biceps tendon injuries was assessed.

Among the 35 patients, 16 underwent surgical treatment and 19 did not. Specifically, there were 9 cases of grade Ⅰ distal biceps tendon injury, 15 cases of grade Ⅱ injury (partial tear), and 11 cases of grade Ⅲ injury (complete rupture). High-frequency ultrasound misdiagnosed 1 case of grade Ⅱ injury (small partial tear) as grade Ⅰ injury, and 1 case of grade Ⅱ injury (large partial tear with anterior elbow hematoma) as grade Ⅲ injury. The diagnostic results of high-frequency ultrasound were in good consistency with those of surgery and MRI (Kappa = 0.91), with an overall diagnostic coincidence rate of 94.29% (33/35). For grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅰ injuries, the diagnostic sensitivity and negative predictive value of high-frequency ultrasound both reached 100%.

High-frequency ultrasound can clearly display the anatomical details and injury characteristics of the distal biceps tendon, and accurately evaluate the degree of injury, demonstrating unique advantages especially in dynamic assessment and acute injury scenarios. Therefore, it can be used as a first-line imaging examination method to provide a reliable basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of distal biceps tendon injuries.

To analyze regional heterogeneity in Young's modulus of the kidney following acute renal vein occlusion and identify optimal regions for diagnosis.

A total of 20 New Zealand White rabbits were used as the study subjects. At 2 hours after ligation of the left renal vein, Young's modulus was measured and compared across different sides (healthy side vs affected side), anatomical locations (upper pole vs mid portion vs lower pole), and organizational structures (cortex vs medulla vs renal sinus) of the kidney. The point-biserial correlation coefficient was employed to analyze the correlation between Young's modulus in various renal regions and the status of acute renal vein occlusion. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the reproducibility of the Young's modulus measurements.

Regarding anatomical locations, in the healthy side group, the differences in Young's modulus were statistically significant between the upper pole and mid portion, and between the mid portion and lower pole (P＜0.05). In the affected side group, no statistically significant differences in Young's modulus were observed among the upper pole, mid portion, and lower pole (P＞0.05). Regarding organizational structures, in the healthy side group, the differences in Young's modulus were statistically significant between the cortex and renal sinus, and between the medulla and renal sinus (P＜0.05). In the affected side group, the differences in Young's modulus among the cortex, medulla, and renal sinus were all statistically significant (P＜0.05). Three-way ANOVA revealed that the three-way interaction effect (acute renal vein occlusion status × anatomical location × organizational structure) was not statistically significant (F=1.575, P=0.190). The Young's modulus values in the affected side group were consistently higher than those in the healthy side group for identical anatomical locations and organizational structures, and all these differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Among these comparisons, the mid-portion cortex demonstrated the most prominent effect size (Cohen's d=2.770), eexhibited the strongest correlation with acute renal vein occlusion (r=0.867), and showed the optimal measurement reproducibility (ICC=0.987).

Renal elasticity in normal kidneys shows regional heterogeneity and undergoes remodeling under pathological conditions. Acute renal vein occlusion causes a significant increase in stiffness, identifying the mid-portion cortex as the optimal diagnostic region.