OBJECTIVE: To enhance the quality of low-resolution (LR) ultrasound images and mitigate artifacts and speckle noise, which can impede accurate medical diagnosis, a novel method called the dual frequency-domain guided adaptation model (DF-GAM) is proposed. The method aims to achieve high-quality image reconstruction across diverse domains, including different ultrasound machines, diseases and phantom images.
METHODS: DF-GAM utilizes a dual-branch network architecture combined with frequency-domain self-adaptation and self-supervised edge regression. This approach enables cross-domain enhancement by focusing on the reconstruction of clear tissue structures and speckle patterns. The model is designed to adapt to various ultrasound imaging (USI) scenarios, ensuring its applicability in real-world clinical settings.
RESULTS: Experimental evaluations of DF-GAM were conducted using five different datasets. The results demonstrated the method\'s effectiveness, with DF-GAM outperforming existing enhancement techniques. The average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) achieved was 34.62, and the structural similarity index (SSIM) was 0.91, indicating a significant improvement in image quality compared to other methods.
CONCLUSIONS: DF-GAM shows great potential in improving medical image diagnosis and interpretation. Its ability to enhance LR ultrasound images across various domains without the need for extensive training data makes it a valuable tool for clinical use. The high PSNR and SSIM scores validate the method\'s effectiveness, suggesting that DF-GAM could significantly contribute to the field of USI diagnostics.

Imaging methods capable of detecting inflammation, such as MR imaging and ultrasound, are of paramount importance in rheumatic disease management, not only for diagnostic purposes but also for monitoring disease activity and treatment response. However, more advanced stages of arthritis, characterized by findings of cumulative structural damage, have traditionally been accomplished by radiographs and computed tomography. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of imaging of some of the most prevalent inflammatory rheumatic diseases affecting the lower limb (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout) and up-to-date recommendations regarding imaging diagnostic workup.

OBJECTIVE: A single therapeutic approach is not always successful in the treatment of herpes zoster neuralgia, and the appropriate combination of different treatments deserves further exploration. In this study, we investigated the clinical efficacy of high-voltage long-duration pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) combined with stellate ganglion block (SGB) in the acute phase of thoracic and dorsal herpes zoster neuralgia under dual guidance of ultrasound and C-arm.
METHODS: 79 cases of acute zoster neuralgia were grouped premised upon differing therapeutic approaches: standard voltage PRF (group S, the temperature, duration, pulse width, frequency and voltage were set to 42 °C, 300 s, 20 ms, 2 Hz, and 45 V), high-voltage long-duration PRF (group H, parameters of PRF were set to 42 °C, 900 s, 20 ms, 2 Hz, and 90 V, respectively), and high-voltage long-duration PRF combined with SGB (group C, parameter settings for PRF are the same as those for group H). The therapeutic outcomes were assessed utilizing the numeric rating scale (NRS), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA). The incidence of clinically significant postherpetic neuralgia post-treatment had been documented.
RESULTS: Compared to baseline, scores of NRS, PSQI, and HAMA at each time point post-treatment decreased across all groups, and the decrease was more significant in the C group than in the S group. At the later stage of treatment, the consumption of pregabalin and tramadol and the plasma levels of interleukin-6 and galectin-3 in the C group were significantly lower than those in the S group. The incidence of PHN in the C group was significantly lower than in the S group.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of high-voltage long-duration PRF combined with SGB under dual guidance of ultrasound and C-arm represents a safe, effective, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient method for treating AZN, significantly improving sleep quality, alleviating anxiety, and reducing the risk of PHN occurrence.

Sonoporation is a non-invasive method that uses ultrasound for drug and gene delivery for therapeutic purposes. Here, both Finite Element Method (FEM) and Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) are applied to study the interaction physics of microbubble oscillation and collapse near flexible tissue. After validating the Finite Element Method with the nonlinear excited lipid-coated microbubble as well as the Lattice Boltzmann Method with experimental results, we have studied the behavior of a three-dimensional compressible microbubble in the vicinity of tissue. In the FEM phase, the oscillation microbubble with a lipid shell interacts with the boundary. The range of pressure and ultrasound frequency have been considered in the field of therapeutic applications of sonoporation. The viscoelastic and interfacial tension as the coating properties of the microbubble shell have been investigated. The presence of an elastic boundary increases the resonance frequency of the microbubble compared to that of a free microbubble. The increase in pressure leads to an expansion in the range of the microbubble\'s motion, the velocity induced in the fluid, and the shear stress on the boundary walls of tissue. An enhancement in the surface tension of the microbubble can influence fluid flow and reduce the shear stress on the boundary. The multi-pseudo-potential interaction LBM is used to reduce thermodynamic inconsistency and high-density ratio in a two-phase system for modeling the cavitation process. The three-dimensional shape of the microbubble during the collapse stages and the counter of pressure are displayed. There is a time difference between the occurrence of maximum velocity and pressure. All results in detail are presented in the article bodies.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, ultrasound utilization has increased within anesthesia and intensive care medicine, enhancing patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. However, the frequency of ultrasound usage and operator training in the Nordic countries remain unclear. This project aims to perform a survey on ultrasound availability, daily clinical use, and how ultrasound skills are trained and assessed, among anesthesiologists.
METHODS: This online cross-sectional survey will include anesthesiologists from the Nordic countries. The survey will adhere to the CROSS checklist. Survey items will be developed based on a formative model with a conceptual model, consisting of three main parts, including demographics, ultrasound machines and use, and skills development and assessment. The clinical relevance of items will be secured by including anesthesiologists of various levels of experience in the development of the survey. Furthermore, experienced researchers in medical education will participate in the development, contributing with relevant medical educational perspectives. Data will be summarized using a non-parametric descriptive approach. A chi-squared test will examine relevant relationships between certain answers.
RESULTS: Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant scientific conferences and meetings.
CONCLUSIONS: This study may find a high availability of ultrasound machines and frequent use in the clinical departments. Despite this expected daily use of ultrasound, missing standardized structured skills acquisition and assessment could be uncovered. The results of this study may contribute to mapping various aspects of clinical ultrasound and skills development for further use in research.

UNASSIGNED: Idiopathic scrotal calcinosis is a rare and benign disease of the scrotal skin that presents as solitary or multiple painless calcified nodules or papules in the absence of systemic disorders of calcium or phosphorus metabolism. Although some theories have been proposed as to the cause of this rare disease, the exact cause remains unknown. In a resource-poor medical setting like Nigeria, a confident diagnosis of this condition can be made with ultrasonography.
UNASSIGNED: The objective of this report is to emphasize the role of ultrasound in the imaging diagnosis of idiopathic scrotal calcinosis.
UNASSIGNED: This is a case report of a 38-year-old man who presented with recently discharging but longstanding multiple painless scrotal nodules of 22-years duration.
UNASSIGNED: This case illustrates the prompt and accurate diagnosis of idiopathic scrotal calcinosis using an ultrasound, a readily available imaging modality in a low-resource setting.Although histology remains the gold-standard for diagnosing idiopathic scrotal calcinosis following surgical excision, this benign disorder has unique sonographic characteristics that could aid the radiologist in making a confident diagnosis.

Purpose  To introduce the cranial-dorsal-hip angle (∠CDH) as a novel quantitative tool for assessing fetal position in the first trimester and to validate its feasibility for future AI applications. Materials and Methods  2520 first-trimester fetal NT exams with 2582 CRL images (January-August 2022) were analyzed at a tertiary hospital as the pilot group. Additionally, 1418 cases with 1450 fetal CRL images (September-December 2022) were examined for validation. Three expert sonographers defined a standard for fetal positions. ∠CDH measurements, conducted by two ultrasound technicians, were validated for consistency using Bland-Altman plots and the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). This method allowed for categorizing fetal positions as hyperflexion, neutral, and hyperextension based on ∠CDH. Comparative accuracy was assessed against Ioannou, Wanyonyi, and Roux methods using the weighted Kappa coefficient (k value). Results  The pilot group comprised 2186 fetal CRL images, and the validation group included 1193 images. Measurement consistency was high (ICCs of 0.993; P<0.001). The established 95% reference range for ∠CDH in the neutral fetal position was 118.3° to 137.8°. The ∠CDH method demonstrated superior accuracy over the Ioannou, Wanyonyi, and Roux methods in both groups, with accuracy rates of 94.5% (k values: 0.874, 95%CI: 0.852-0.896) in the pilot group, and 92.6% (k values: 0.838, 95%CI: 0.806-0.871) in the validation group. Conclusion  The ∠CDH method has been validated as a highly reproducible and accurate technique for first-trimester fetal position assessment. This sets the stage for its potential future integration into intelligent assessment models.

Elbow arthroplasty is increasing in popularity and can be used to treat many conditions, such as trauma, primary and secondary osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, and osteonecrosis. Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is reserved for patients with severe symptoms refractory to more conservative management. In addition to TEA, hemi-arthroplasty, interposition arthroplasty, and resection arthroplasty also play roles in the management of elbow pain. There are specific indications for each type of arthroplasty. Postoperative complications may occur with elbow arthroplasties and may be surgery or hardware related. Imaging is important in both pre-operative planning as well as in post-surgical follow-up. This article reviews the different types of elbow arthroplasties, their indications, their normal postoperative imaging appearances, and imaging findings of potential complications.

UNASSIGNED: The surface of the aorta generally does not show motion unless mobile atheroma, thrombi, vegetations, or intimal flaps are present. We previously described unusual mobile filamentous structures in the carotid artery. Here, we describe similar findings in the aorta and their possible cause.
UNASSIGNED: An 88-year-old female with progressive exertional dyspnoea and severe aortic stenosis had a successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). A filamentous structure was noted on the focused pre-operative 2D transoesophageal echocardiography in the proximal descending aorta and post-TAVR as long strand-like structures attached to the thickened intimal wall with a planar component on 3D imaging. These findings were not associated with symptoms or clinical sequelae on short- and long-term follow-up.
UNASSIGNED: The mobile structures that we describe are atypical for atheroma, thrombi, vegetations, and dissections in terms of their form and clinical presentation. 2D imaging showed that the filaments had focal thickening and emerged from the aortic surface. These findings suggest a relationship with the intima, perhaps from atherogenesis or injury with disruption or lifting of the intimal surface. No clinical sequelae were detected that may also relate to their position in the descending aorta and not the arch.

Total supported abduction, or TSA, is a position for ultrasound evaluations and guided interventions of the upper extremity. It provides optimal access to the medial arm through the volar wrist and palmar hand for diagnostic evaluations of the median and ulnar nerves as well as procedures including injections for carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy at the elbow, and stenosing tenosynovitis. It enables ease of both ipsilateral and bilateral evaluations/interventions without the need for significant positional changes by the patient or physician. Incorporation of TSA may enhance clinical efficiency by reducing the amount of time, materials, and space required to provide such services.