Maeda N, Onoue S, Ikuta Y
… +9 more, Arima S, Ishihara H, Ishida A, Brand A, Nishikawa Y, Asaeda M, Nakasa T, Adachi N, Tashiro T
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2026 Jan · PMID 40963046
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the dynamics of the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus during the stance phase of gait and confirm any sex differences. METHODS: The distance between the talus and latera...PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the dynamics of the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus during the stance phase of gait and confirm any sex differences. METHODS: The distance between the talus and lateral malleolus was quantified during gait in 25 healthy participants. Noninvasive ultrasound with three-dimensional motion analysis was used to assess the kinematic properties during the walking stance phase. RESULTS: The distance between the talus and lateral malleolus widened immediately after initial contact, narrowed during mid-stance, and widened during the stance cycle in all participants. The distance was significantly wider in females, especially during the early and terminal stance phases, contributing to differences in sagittal mobility. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative measurement of the anterior talofibular ligament attachment distance may aid in the early detection of ankle abnormalities. The dynamic characteristics observed in females during gait may be associated with chronic ankle instability or osteoarthritis risk.
Ishii Y, Sugimoto M, Nekomoto A
… +7 more, Nakamae A, Zhu K, Hashizume T, Matsumura K, Nakashima Y, Takahashi M, Adachi N
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2026 Jan · PMID 40936010
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PURPOSE: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is symptomatic, especially in terms of motion during activities of daily living. The infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) has a buffering function, owing to morphological changes within the knee...PURPOSE: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is symptomatic, especially in terms of motion during activities of daily living. The infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) has a buffering function, owing to morphological changes within the knee joint, whereas poor morphological change in the anterior space of the IFP is often observed in symptomatic knee OA. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between morphological changes in the anterior space of the IFP during walking and symptoms in patients with knee OA. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with knee OA (OA group) and 11 healthy volunteers (control group) participated in this study. Ultrasonography revealed the IFP thickness in the anterior space during static and dynamic evaluations in the supine and walking positions. The waveform of the IFP during walking was constructed with a continuance value of the IFP in video mode. Moreover, it identified the difference in IFP between maximum and minimum values on the waveform as morphological change in IFP (ΔIFP). A three-dimensional motion analysis system was used to calculate the kinetics and kinematics of walking. The OA group underwent clinical evaluation using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). RESULTS: ΔIFP in the OA group was smaller than that in the control group, whereas there was no significant difference in supine IFP thickness. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between ΔIFP and KOOS-pain in the knee OA group, but not in terms of other parameters of IFP, kinetics, and kinematics. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with symptomatic knee OA exhibit restricted morphological change in IFP during walking.
Hashiguchi N, Fujiwara Y, Sato N
… +5 more, Matsumoto A, Murakami Y, Kotaka S, Ota R, Adachi N
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2026 Jan · PMID 40936009
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PURPOSE: Accurate identification of lumbar vertebral levels is crucial for the success of various interventional procedures, but conventional fluoroscopic guidance exposes both patients and physician to radiation. While...PURPOSE: Accurate identification of lumbar vertebral levels is crucial for the success of various interventional procedures, but conventional fluoroscopic guidance exposes both patients and physician to radiation. While ultrasound has emerged as a potential radiation-free alternative, its accuracy in elderly patients with spinal deformities remains unclear. METHODS: In this single-center cross-sectional study, we compared ultrasound-guided versus palpation-guided lumbar level identification in 115 patients scheduled for lumbar surgery between July 2019 and January 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to ultrasound guidance (U group, n = 57) or conventional palpation (P group, n = 58). The primary outcome measure was accuracy of vertebral level identification, verified by intraoperative fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The U group demonstrated significantly higher accuracy (82.5%) compared to the P group (50.0%) (p = 0.0003, 95% CI [1.5-4.4]). Accuracy was particularly high at the L4 level (U group: 90.3%, P group: 55.9%, p = 0.0023). After adjusting for age and planned needle insertion site, ultrasound guidance maintained superior accuracy (OR = 5.5, 95% CI: 2.3-14.0, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound guidance provides superior accuracy in lumbar level identification compared to conventional palpation, even in elderly patients with spinal deformities. This technique may offer a reliable, radiation-free alternative, potentially reducing radiation exposure while maintaining high accuracy.
Sugiya R, Arizono S, Higashimoto Y
… +7 more, Shiraishi M, Mizusawa H, Sunagawa K, Shigeoka H, Uchiyama Y, Bakker J, Shinozaki K
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40913673
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate muscle atrophy in critically ill patients using ultrasonography. We compared the rectus femoris (a major muscle of the lower limbs) with the sternocleidomastoid (an accessory resp...PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate muscle atrophy in critically ill patients using ultrasonography. We compared the rectus femoris (a major muscle of the lower limbs) with the sternocleidomastoid (an accessory respiratory muscle). METHODS: Thirty-four patients hospitalized at the Critical Care Medical Center of Kindai University Hospital between January 2022 and March 2023 were enrolled. Muscle dysfunction was measured based on the thickness and cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris and sternocleidomastoid using ultrasonography. These values were evaluated every alternate day for 13 days after admission or until discharge, whichever occurred first. Factors that correlated with percentage changes in sternocleidomastoid thickness were also analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.3 ± 15.3 years, and 20 (59%) were men. Seven patients (21%) were admitted for trauma, and 27 (79%) for medical or other non-trauma-related emergency conditions. The rectus femoris thickness and cross-sectional area significantly decreased after day 7 (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in sternocleidomastoid thickness. However, it negatively correlated with the length of hospitalization and duration of mechanical ventilation use (r = - 0.38, P < 0.05; r = - 0.64, P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although rectus femoris thickness decreased significantly, changes in sternocleidomastoid thickness may be related to the use of mechanical ventilation.
Li X, Liu L, Yan F
… +3 more, Yang X, Xiu G, Dong X
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40847245
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the four-section approach using two-dimensional sonography in diagnosing Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) during second-trimester screening. METHODS: A prospective st...PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the four-section approach using two-dimensional sonography in diagnosing Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) during second-trimester screening. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on low-risk pregnant women undergoing routine mid-trimester screening. Cases with suspected micrognathia prenatally were included and examined using the four-section approach. Initially, we measured the inferior facial angle (IFA) for fetuses suspected of having micrognathia. Subsequently, in the oblique coronal section via the oral fissure, we examined the continuity of the hard and soft palate line. Finally, dynamic scanning of both the sagittal and coronal sections of the mandible was performed to confirm whether the echogenic tongue was displaced posteriorly. All fetuses diagnosed with PRS were followed up through autopsy and postnatal evaluation. RESULTS: Forty-three fetuses were initially subjectively suspected of having micrognathia by sonographers. After objective IFA measurement, 25 cases had an IFA < 50°, while 18 had an IFA > 50°. Among the 25 cases with IFA < 50°, we identified 13 cases of PRS with micrognathia, cleft palate (CP), and glossoptosis. However, one case failed to be diagnosed prenatally because it had micrognathia and CP but no glossoptosis. Eleven cases had neither CP nor glossoptosis yet exhibited other malformations. Among the 18 fetuses with IFA > 50°, 15 cases were normal, while three cases had other deformities. In this study cohort, no false-positive results were found. The four-section approach for diagnosing PRS showed a sensitivity of 92.9%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 91.7%. CONCLUSION: The four-section method proved highly effective in assessing PRS during second-trimester sonographic scans. The combined evaluation of micrognathia and glossoptosis can remarkably enhance the accuracy of prenatal PRS diagnosis.
Qin K, Qi H, Wang T
… +4 more, Wang Y, Chen W, Zhang H, Teng J
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40804597
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PURPOSE: To explore the value of ultrasound in evaluating the anatomical structures around the master knot of Henry (MKH). METHODS: Ultrasound examinations were performed on 200 feet of 100 adult volunteers. The length o...PURPOSE: To explore the value of ultrasound in evaluating the anatomical structures around the master knot of Henry (MKH). METHODS: Ultrasound examinations were performed on 200 feet of 100 adult volunteers. The length of each foot was measured, and the distances from the medial border of the MKH to the medial malleolus (MM), the navicular tuberosity (NT), the interphalangeal joint of the hallux (IP), and the medial plantar artery (MPA) were measured. The layered tissues formed by the slipping of the tendon of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL), the quadratus plantae muscle (QP), and the tendon of the flexor digitorum longus (FDL) were determined. The ratios of each length variable to the foot length were calculated, and the relationship between each tendon-related parameter and the foot length was estimated based on regression analysis. The ability of ultrasound to display the relationship with plantar blood vessels, layered tissues, and other aspects was evaluated. RESULTS: The average foot length was 23.27 ± 1.43 cm. Distances from MKH to MM, NT, IP, and MPA were 7.51 ± 0.75 cm, 1.92 ± 0.23 cm, 13.03 ± 0.69 cm, and 0.18 ± 0.05 cm, respectively. Layered structures: 97% two-layer, 3% three-layer. Foot length strongly correlated with MKH-MM, MKH-NT, and MKH-IP. A regression equation was derived to predict tendon-related parameters, aiding MKH-anatomical landmark relationships. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound examination holds significant value in evaluating the anatomical structures of the plantar region.
Inubashiri E, Kaishi Y, Miyake T
… +8 more, Yamaguchi R, Hamaguchi T, Inubashiri M, Ota H, Watanabe Y, Deguchi K, Kuroki K, Maeda N
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2026 Jan · PMID 40785001
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to objectively and quantitatively analyze fetal motor behavior using DeepLabCut (DLC), a markerless posture estimation tool based on deep learning, applied to four-dimensional ultrasound (4DUS)...PURPOSE: This study aimed to objectively and quantitatively analyze fetal motor behavior using DeepLabCut (DLC), a markerless posture estimation tool based on deep learning, applied to four-dimensional ultrasound (4DUS) data collected during the second trimester. We propose a novel clinical method for precise assessment of fetal neurodevelopment. METHODS: Fifty 4DUS video recordings of normal singleton fetuses aged 12 to 22 gestational weeks were analyzed. Eight fetal joints were manually labeled in 2% of each video to train a customized DLC model. The model's accuracy was evaluated using likelihood scores. Intra- and inter-rater reliability of manual labeling were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Angular velocity time series derived from joint coordinates were analyzed to quantify fetal movement patterns and developmental coordination. RESULTS: Manual labeling demonstrated excellent reproducibility (inter-rater ICC = 0.990, intra-rater ICC = 0.961). The trained DLC model achieved a mean likelihood score of 0.960, confirming high tracking accuracy. Kinematic analysis revealed developmental trends: localized rapid limb movements were common at 12-13 weeks; movements became more coordinated and systemic by 18-20 weeks, reflecting advancing neuromuscular maturation. Although a modest increase in tracking accuracy was observed with gestational age, this trend did not reach statistical significance (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: DLC enables precise quantitative analysis of fetal motor behavior from 4DUS recordings. This AI-driven approach offers a promising, noninvasive alternative to conventional qualitative assessments, providing detailed insights into early fetal neurodevelopmental trajectories and potential early screening for neurodevelopmental disorders.
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40785000
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We aimed to compare the outcomes of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) between elderly and non-elderly patients utilizing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Repositories of PubMed,...We aimed to compare the outcomes of endobronchial ultrasound-transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) between elderly and non-elderly patients utilizing a systematic review and meta-analysis. Repositories of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to 25 January 2025 for all comparative studies providing data on the adequacy of the sample obtained from the procedure, procedure duration, and complications. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. Six studies were eligible. Meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference in procedure duration, inadequate sampling, and all complications between elderly and non-elderly groups. There was no statistically significant difference between elderly and non-elderly for specific complications like bleeding, cardiovascular events, and hypoxemia. Subgroup analysis based on the definition of elderly did not change the results of inadequate sampling and all complications. Descriptive analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for malignant lesions showed no difference between the two groups. EBUS-TBNA seems to have similar diagnostic yield and complication rates in the elderly as compared to the non-elderly population. More studies are needed to improve the quality of evidence.
Hashiramoto S, Kaneko M, Takita H
… +3 more, Yamashita Y, Matsuoka R, Sekizawa A
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2026 Jan · PMID 40553314
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PURPOSE: The detection rate of congenital morphological abnormalities during ultrasound examinations in early pregnancy is not sufficient with B-mode alone due to the small size of the target. This study aimed to evaluat...PURPOSE: The detection rate of congenital morphological abnormalities during ultrasound examinations in early pregnancy is not sufficient with B-mode alone due to the small size of the target. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of routine color Doppler mode compared to B-mode alone in the early detection of congenital heart disease (CHD) during first-trimester screening. METHODS: A before-after clinical study was conducted at Showa University Hospital between January 2012 and May 2023. In April 2018, the protocol was modified to incorporate routine color Doppler mode. We compared detection rates, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) between the B-mode only group and the B-mode with routine color Doppler group. RESULTS: Among the 12,321 fetuses screened, 5,907 were screened with B-mode only and 6,414 with routine color Doppler mode. The detection rate for CHD was significantly higher with color Doppler mode (29.26% vs. 64.15% for all CHDs, p < 0.001; 48% vs. 85.71% for major CHDs, p = 0.001) without impairing the specificity (99.96% vs. 99.98%) or PPV (94.44% vs. 92.31%). CONCLUSION: Routine use of color Doppler mode in first-trimester CHD screening significantly increases detection rates while maintaining high specificity and PPV. This protocol supports early CHD diagnosis, facilitating timely prenatal counseling and management.
Wakimoto T, Kunimoto S, Yamamoto R
… +2 more, Sasahara J, Ishii K
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40549287
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PURPOSE: To identify the ability of the definitions of fetal growth restriction (FGR) according to the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) to predict small...PURPOSE: To identify the ability of the definitions of fetal growth restriction (FGR) according to the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) to predict small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of Japanese women with singleton pregnancies who delivered at our hospital was analyzed. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of SGA neonates. The odds ratios (ORs) of SGA neonates according to the FGR definitions at 18 weeks (17-20 weeks, period 1) and 28 weeks (27-30 weeks, period 2) were calculated. RESULTS: During periods 1 and 2, the incidence rates of SGA neonates were 7.6% and 7.7%, respectively. The ORs of the JSOG and SMFM definitions were 8.24 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.27-14.4] and 5.88 (95% CI 3.90-8.88), respectively, during period 1 and 22.7 (95% CI 12.6-40.8) and 15.5 (95% CI 10.4-23.1), respectively, during period 2. Compared to the JSOG definition, the SMFM definition was more sensitive for predicting SGA neonates. During both periods, the positive likelihood ratio (LR +) of the JSOG definition was higher than that of the SMFM definition for predicting SGA neonates. CONCLUSION: The JSOG definition more strongly predicts SGA neonates and is associated with a higher LR + . The SMFM definition is highly sensitive for screening fetuses at risk for SGA status.
Izumikawa K, Inaba T, Yasutomi E
… +7 more, Takahashi S, Colvin HS, Sakakihara I, Yamamoto K, Tanaka S, Ishikawa S, Wato M
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40522581
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PURPOSE: This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in assessing induction therapy for active ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Thirty-two patients (12 with severe colitis and 20 with...PURPOSE: This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in assessing induction therapy for active ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Thirty-two patients (12 with severe colitis and 20 with moderate colitis) were analyzed. Disease activity was assessed using the Mayo endoscopic score (MES) obtained via colonoscopy. Ultrasound (US) grade and bowel wall thickness (BWT) before induction therapy were compared in terms of MES. Changes in US grade and BWT from pre-treatment to clinical improvement were analyzed at the most inflamed segments, oral side, and anal side. RESULTS: A correlation coefficient of 0.58 (p < 0.01) indicated a strong correlation between US grade and MES. US grade and BWT decreased at the most inflamed segments, oral side, and anal side for clinical improvement in all cases (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). However, changes in US grade were significantly greater on the oral side than the most inflamed segments or the anal side (p = 0.008 and p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: IUS is an effective method for assessing the efficacy of induction therapy for active UC. The assessment should be performed at the proximal part of the colon, rather than solely at the site of the most pronounced inflammation.
J Med Ultrason (2001)
· 2025 Oct · PMID 40504318
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Ultrasound is a good diagnostic technique for musculoskeletal system diseases in children. At present, musculoskeletal ultrasound is widely used in diagnosing soft tissue and joint diseases in pediatric patients, but its...Ultrasound is a good diagnostic technique for musculoskeletal system diseases in children. At present, musculoskeletal ultrasound is widely used in diagnosing soft tissue and joint diseases in pediatric patients, but its application for bone and cartilage diseases is limited. However, ultrasound examination is very important for the diagnosis of bone and cartilage diseases in children. Especially for lesions displaying periosteum, ultrasound has unique advantages, but there are few reports. This article summarized the normal, variant and abnormal ultrasound findings of periosteum on the surface of bone cortex, which could help to diagnose the diseases of children's skeletal system.