Purpose: A novel image-based method for speed of sound (SoS) estimation is proposed and experimentally validated on a tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom and normal human liver in vivo using linear and curved array tr...Purpose: A novel image-based method for speed of sound (SoS) estimation is proposed and experimentally validated on a tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom and normal human liver in vivo using linear and curved array transducers. Methods: When the beamforming SoS settings are adjusted to match the real tissue’s SoS, the ultrasound image at regions of interest will be in focus and the image quality will be optimal. Based on this principle, both a tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom and normal human liver in vivo were used in this study. Ultrasound image was acquired using different SoS settings in beamforming channels ranging from 1420 m/sec to 1600 m/sec. Two regions of interest (ROIs) were selected. One was in a fully developed speckle region, while the other contained specular reflectors. We evaluated the image quality of these two ROIs in images acquired at different SoS settings in beamforming channels by using the normalized autocorrelation function (ACF) of the image data. The values of the normalized ACF at a specific lag as a function of the SoS setting were computed. Subsequently, the soft tissue’s SoS was determined from the SoS setting at the minimum value of the normalized ACF. Results: The value of the ACF as a function of the SoS setting can be computed for phantom and human liver images. SoS in soft tissue can be determined from the SoS setting at the minimum value of the normalized ACF. The estimation results show that the SoS of the tissue-mimicking phantom is 1460 m/sec, which is consistent with the phantom manufacturer’s specification, and the SoS of the normal human liver is 1540 m/sec, which is within the range of the SoS in a healthy human liver in vivo. Conclusion: Soft tissue’s SoS can be determined by analyzing the normalized ACF of ultrasound images. The method is based on searching for a minimum of the normalized ACF of ultrasound image data with a specific lag among different SoS settings in beamforming channels.展开更多
Introduction: Obesity and pregnancy is a major public health problem worldwide, both maternal and fetal. Objective: This is to describe the epidemiological and prognostic aspects of obesity and pregnancy in the gyneco...Introduction: Obesity and pregnancy is a major public health problem worldwide, both maternal and fetal. Objective: This is to describe the epidemiological and prognostic aspects of obesity and pregnancy in the gynecology-obstetrics department at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center (CHU SO) in Lomé. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study concerning obesed pregnant women. The survey was conducted from the 1<sup>st</sup> to the 30th of June 2022 at the CHU SO. Results: We enrolled 55 obese pregnant women. The frequency of obesity and pregnancy was 5.14%. Resellers were represented at 41.8%. The average age was 31 years old. As risk factors, 85.5% claimed to have a fatty diet and 76% did not practice sports. The gestational pathologies found during pregnancy were hypertension in 47.4% of cases, preeclampsia in 24.6% and gestational diabetes in 7%. Caesarean section was the way of delivery in 63.6% of cases and those who gave birth vaginally presented a tear of the soft tissues in 85% of cases. Birth weight was abnormal (low weight and excess weight) in 61.8% of cases. Conclusion: The association between obesity and pregnancy constitutes an important risk factor for the mother and the fetus.展开更多
文摘Purpose: A novel image-based method for speed of sound (SoS) estimation is proposed and experimentally validated on a tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom and normal human liver in vivo using linear and curved array transducers. Methods: When the beamforming SoS settings are adjusted to match the real tissue’s SoS, the ultrasound image at regions of interest will be in focus and the image quality will be optimal. Based on this principle, both a tissue-mimicking ultrasound phantom and normal human liver in vivo were used in this study. Ultrasound image was acquired using different SoS settings in beamforming channels ranging from 1420 m/sec to 1600 m/sec. Two regions of interest (ROIs) were selected. One was in a fully developed speckle region, while the other contained specular reflectors. We evaluated the image quality of these two ROIs in images acquired at different SoS settings in beamforming channels by using the normalized autocorrelation function (ACF) of the image data. The values of the normalized ACF at a specific lag as a function of the SoS setting were computed. Subsequently, the soft tissue’s SoS was determined from the SoS setting at the minimum value of the normalized ACF. Results: The value of the ACF as a function of the SoS setting can be computed for phantom and human liver images. SoS in soft tissue can be determined from the SoS setting at the minimum value of the normalized ACF. The estimation results show that the SoS of the tissue-mimicking phantom is 1460 m/sec, which is consistent with the phantom manufacturer’s specification, and the SoS of the normal human liver is 1540 m/sec, which is within the range of the SoS in a healthy human liver in vivo. Conclusion: Soft tissue’s SoS can be determined by analyzing the normalized ACF of ultrasound images. The method is based on searching for a minimum of the normalized ACF of ultrasound image data with a specific lag among different SoS settings in beamforming channels.
文摘Introduction: Obesity and pregnancy is a major public health problem worldwide, both maternal and fetal. Objective: This is to describe the epidemiological and prognostic aspects of obesity and pregnancy in the gynecology-obstetrics department at the Sylvanus Olympio University Hospital Center (CHU SO) in Lomé. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study concerning obesed pregnant women. The survey was conducted from the 1<sup>st</sup> to the 30th of June 2022 at the CHU SO. Results: We enrolled 55 obese pregnant women. The frequency of obesity and pregnancy was 5.14%. Resellers were represented at 41.8%. The average age was 31 years old. As risk factors, 85.5% claimed to have a fatty diet and 76% did not practice sports. The gestational pathologies found during pregnancy were hypertension in 47.4% of cases, preeclampsia in 24.6% and gestational diabetes in 7%. Caesarean section was the way of delivery in 63.6% of cases and those who gave birth vaginally presented a tear of the soft tissues in 85% of cases. Birth weight was abnormal (low weight and excess weight) in 61.8% of cases. Conclusion: The association between obesity and pregnancy constitutes an important risk factor for the mother and the fetus.
