Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Acoustic Emission Source Localization Using an Enhanced Guided Wave Phased Array Method.

To detect damage in mechanical structures, acoustic emission (AE) inspection is considered as a powerful tool. Generally, the classical acoustic emission detection method uses a sparse sensor array to identify damage and its location. It often depends on a pre-defined wave velocity and it is difficult to yield a high localization accuracy for complicated structures using this method.

Pathological Intraplaque Hemorrhage as the Gold Standard to Assess the Efficacy of Ultrasound in Predicting Vulnerable Carotid Plaque Rupture.

Objective: To assess the clinical utility of ultrasound in predicting the risk of carotid vulnerable plaque rupture using pathological intraplaque hemorrhage as the gold standard.

Methods: A total of 118 patients who underwent endarterectomy due to symptomatic carotid artery stenosis were enrolled. Conventional ultrasound assessed the plaque thickness, area stenosis rate, echo, and surface morphology.

Application of laparoscopic ultrasound in retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with Type II inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the application value of laparoscopic ultrasound (LU) in retroperitoneal radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with Type II inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy (RRN-RCC-TII-IVCTT).

Methods: The clinical data (operative time, length of tumor thrombus, tumor length, intraoperative bleeding, clinical stage, histological type, residual tumor tissue, and postoperative follow-up) of 6 patients who underwent LU-guided RRN-RCC-TII-IVCTT were retrospectively analyzed, and the intraoperative experience of LU was also summarized.

Results: All 6 patients recovered well with liver and kidney functions returning to normal, and no tumor recurrence, metastasis, or vena cava tumor thrombus.

Clinical application of ultrasound-guided mediastinal lymph node biopsy through cervical mediastinoscopy.

Background: Cervical mediastinoscopy is useful for diagnosing lung and mediastinal disease. Ultrasound is a safe real-time diagnostic tool widely employed in many surgical fields. Ultrasound was used in cervical mediastinoscopy in our cohort with satisfactory results.

Use of intravoxel incoherent motion imaging to monitor a rat kidney chronic allograft damage model.

Background: Chronic allograft damage (CAD) is the leading cause of long-term graft dysfunction. A noninvasive method that can diagnose CAD early and monitor its development is needed.

Methods: Kidneys from Fisher rats were transplanted into Lewis rats to establish a CAD model (n = 20).

Use of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography to Evaluate Chronic Allograft Nephropathy in Rats and Correlations between Time-Intensity Curve Parameters and Allograft Fibrosis.

This study quantitatively analyzed changes in the hemodynamic characteristics of renal allografts at different stages in a rat chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) model as well as the relationship between hemodynamic parameters and renal allograft fibrosis using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). The experimental group used a CAN rat model (n = 30), and the control group used an orthotopic syngeneic renal transplant model (n = 30). After surgery, creatinine clearance rates were regularly monitored every 2 wk.

The Prevalence and Association of Varicoceles on Male Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Objective: To investigate the association between the prevalence of varicocele and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elder man in China.

Methods: A total of 831 BPH/LUTS outpatients who were 40 years or older were recruited. The patients' age, total prostatic volume (TPV), International Prostate Symptom Score, total prostate-specific antigen, nocturia, and body mass index were recorded.

Assessment of postoperative perfusion with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in kidney transplantation.

The aim of this study was to use contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to evaluate renal perfusion after kidney transplantation and investigate the clinical significance of CEUS in monitoring postoperative renal perfusion. Thirty-five patients who underwent kidney transplantations were included in this study and divided into two groups-normal and abnormal-based on their serum creatinine (SCr) levels. Conventional ultrasound and CEUS were used to monitor renal perfusion after kidney transplantation.

Renal Doppler and Novel Biomarkers to Assess Acute Kidney Injury in a Swine Model of Ventricular Fibrillation Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Majority of the research on cardiac arrest (CA) have focused on post-CA brain injury and myocardial dysfunction, the renal dysfunction and acute kidney injury (AKI) in other critical illnesses after CA have not been well described. This study was designed to assess AKI with renal Doppler and novel AKI biomarkers in a swine model of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest (VFCA).

Methods: Thirty healthy piglets were divided into VFCA group (n = 22) and Sham group (n = 8) in a blinded manner.

Application of laparospic ultrasonography in surgery of small renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: : To assess the clinic value of application of laparospic ultrasonography (LU) in partial nephrectomy of small renal cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: From 2007 to 2011, 28 small renal cell carcinoma patients in ou clinic underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with LU. For comparison with preoperative conventional ultrasound and CT, we collected ultrasonic performance of the affected side kidney, renal tumor location, size, echo change, blood supply situation and the relationship with the surrounding tissue.

Comparison of ultrasound echo-tracking technology and pulse wave velocity for measuring carotid elasticity among hemodialysis patients.

This study aims to investigate the correlation between carotid elasticity in hemodialysis patients as evaluated by ultrasound echo-tracking technology and aortic pulse wave velocity. A total of 103 patients with end-stage renal disease who underwent stable hemodialysis were enrolled. An ultrasonic echo-tracking method was used to evaluate the elastic modulus and the stiffness index (β), which were compared with pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Intraoperative ultrasonography: a useful tool in retrolaparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the value of intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography (ILUS) in retrolaparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery.

Methods: A total of 81 cases were studied during a 5-year period: 38 patients with a benign renal tumor who underwent enucleation of the tumor and 43 patients with a suspected malignant renal tumor who underwent wedge resection of the tumor. ILUS was used to evaluate renal perfusion, locate the tumor, precisely delineate the tumor border, characterize the tumor, and look for any suspected satellite renal masses.

Association of serum pentosidine with arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients.

Pentosidine is an advanced glycation end product (AGE). The present study was undertaken to investigate the association of serum pentosidine with carotid distensibility as a measure of arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients. One hundred and three patients on maintenance hemodialysis were recruited.

Association between insulin resistance and carotid arterial stiffness in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease are known to have insulin resistance and advanced arterial stiffness. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether insulin resistance was correlated with carotid arterial stiffness in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Eighty nondiabetic hemodialysis patients were recruited.