The study included 96 patients with prostate cancer suspicion. In all patients multiparametric transrectal ultrasound of prostate and seminal vesicles was performed with Aixplorer scanner (Supersonic Imagine, France) using high-frequency (3-12 MHz) transrectal probe. Prostate was divided into 12 sectors for ultrasound assessment (grayscale imaging, power Doppler, and shear wave elastography) and following systematic prostate biopsy (12 cores). Targeted prostate biopsy in addition to systemic biopsy was performed in cases of detection of focal changes suspicious for malignancy. The next Young’s modulus parameters were used for statistical analysis: arithmetic average of three Emean measured in each sector (aveEmean) (1) and maximum of three Emean measured in each sector (maxEmean) (2). In cases of focal changes detection with shear wave elastography the similar approach was applied. Values of aveEmean and maxEmean were related to specific biopsy samples (the separate labeling of biopsy samples), followed by morphological verification for the subsequent analysis. A total of 1308 biopsy cores were analyzed. After morphological study prostate cancer was detected in 275 biopsy cores (main group). Remaining samples were included to comparison group (n = 1033). Values of aveEmean and Maximian in main and comparison groups are significantly differ at P < 0.0001. Significant correlations of Gleason sum with aveEmean (r_S - 0.558, P < 0.0001) and maxEmean (r_S - 0.548, P < 0.0001) were found in main group. Diagnostic test “aveEmean > 35.4 kPa - prostate cancer" (n = 1308) is characterized by sensitivity 85.1%, specificity 85.8%, and AUC 0.908. Sensitivity of diagnostic test “maxEmean > 37.9 kPa - prostate cancer" (n = 1308) is 88.4%, specificity - 80.4%, and AUC - 0.912. Sensitivity of predictive test “aveEmean > 59.2 kPa - prostate cancer" (n = 275) (prediction of morphologically significant prostate cancer) is 76.8%, specificity - 77.7%, and AUC - 0.807. Sensitivity of predictive test “maxEmean > 62.7 kPa - prostate cancer" (n = 275) (prediction of morphologically significant prostate cancer) is 79.3%, specificity - 71.5%, and AUC - 0.802. Shear wave elastography shows higher accuracy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, lower - in prediction of morphological significance (ISUP grade ≥3).

Three clinical cases, demonstrating the usefulness of multiparametric TRUS in locally advanced prostate cancer assessing, are presented in the article. TRUS findings were verified by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and 12-core TRUS-guided systemic transrectal biopsies with TRUS- targeted biopsies (suspicious areas, which were detected by multiparametric TRUS). Brief literature review shows inability of multiparametric TRUS to perform preoperative T-staging of prostate cancer with acceptable diagnostic accuracy. As other TRUS modalities (gray-scale imaging, 3D-ultrasound, power Doppler ultrasound), shear wave elastography is not routinely considered toperforming T-staging. But in cases of extraprostatic tumor extension or seminal vesicles invasion signs detection a doctor may indicate this fact in final report of TRUS examination.

Two clinical cases of false positive diagnosis of intact aortic valve vegetations in patients with no signs of infective endocarditis are described in the article. The reason of misdiagnosing was ultrasound beam width artifact. The mechanism of these artefact arising was described. Methods of correct differentiation of ultrasound beam width artifact from real echogenic masses were discussed.

The article is a literature review, reporting on echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary vascular resistance. Various approaches proposed for pulmonary vascular resistance calculation are described. The value of proposed pulmonary vascular resistance calculations in compare with invasive assessment in various patient populations is analyzed. The limitations for proposed pulmonary vascular resistance echocardiographic assessment approaches are discussed.

A total of 840 peripheral nerves of lower extremities (sciatic, tibial, and common peroneal nerves) were examined bilaterally. The control group included 480 nerves in 80 healthy children aged 5-17 years, the main group - 360 nerves in 60 children with type 1 diabetes mellitus aged 5-17 years. The main group was divided into two subgroups. Subgroup A included 126 nerves in 21 children aged 5-17 years with normal results of lower extremities peripheral nerves electroneuromyography, subgroup B - 234 nerves in 39 children aged 8-17 years with abnormal electroneuromyography results. For nerves sizes assessment each group was subdivided into 4 age categories (5-7 years, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-17 years). The study utilized US scanner DC-8 (Mindray, China) with linear probes 3-12 and 6-14 MHz. Following parameters were assessed (for each nerve at two levels): cross-sectional area (transverse scanning), echostructure and contours (longitudinal scanning). In children over 11 years old with type 1 diabetes mellitus cross-sectional area values of sciatic nerve were significantly higher compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Significant difference (P < 0.05) of sciatic nerve cross-sectional area between subgroups A and B was found only at the proximal level in children over 14 years old. Tibial nerve cross-sectional area values in children over 11 years old with type 1 diabetes mellitus were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the test “reduced differentiation of hypo- and hyperechoic linear structures with increased/decreased tibial nerve echogenicity - diabetic distal polyneuropathy" in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were 71.8%, 100.0%, and 0.859, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the test “reduced differentiation of hypo- and hyperechoic linear structures with increased tibial nerve echogenicity - diabetic distal polyneuropathy" in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were 66.7%, 100.0%, and 0.883, respectively. Significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation was found between nerves cross-sectional area assessed at all levels and patients age in the control group (r_S - 0.54-0.90) and the main group (r_S - 0. 17-0.62), and also between nerves cross-sectional area assessed at all levels and type 1 diabetes mellitus duration in the main group (r_S - 0,40-0,57). Ultrasound of lower extremities peripheral nerves can be used for diagnosis of diabetic distal polyneuropathy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.