Healing Doctor

Chapter 454 Cat Meow Syndrome

A group of people were waiting anxiously outside the ultrasound room.

Upon seeing the camera, they were somewhat surprised, but their anxiety did not lessen; some even glared at them with hostility.

Director Fan groaned in despair; he had been hoping to witness the interaction between Ji Xiang and the other directors. But given the current situation, he realized he wouldn't be able to get in at all.

Invading someone's privacy while bringing a film crew is a mistake that Director Fan would never make.

"Director Kong?" Director Li called out from outside.

"Wait a minute, we're doing an inspection."

Director Li nodded and stood outside with Director Yang and Ji Xiang to wait for the inspection to finish.

But for some reason, even though it was just an ultrasound, Director Kong still hadn't come out after 10 minutes.

They were all in plain clothes, which made it inconvenient for them to go in and could cause resentment or even hostility from the patients' families.

Director Li kept checking the time on his phone and glancing at the door, but Director Kong still didn't come out.

Ten minutes later, a pregnant woman came out. After saying a few words to the patient's family, Director Kong walked up to Ji Xiang with a serious expression.

"You must be Dr. Ji Xiang." Director Kong extended his hand, and before Ji Xiang could raise his hand, he grabbed it and shook it up and down. "I heard from Li Ming that you gave that old man a good scolding when you were in Shanghai."

Ji Xiang smiled awkwardly, not expecting that cursing would earn him praise.

But he knew exactly why.

"Don't make things difficult for Ji Xiang," Director Li said with a smile. "Change your clothes and go eat. You're such a big shot, how come an ultrasound takes so long?"

"Don't even mention it. I always feel like there's something wrong, but I don't know what it is," Director Kong said, puzzled.

"Um?"

"The ultrasound showed a small amount of fluid in the fetal pericardium and a single umbilical artery," said Director Kong. "Malformations are highly probable, but the patient's family always clings to a sliver of hope."

Ji Xiang knew that under normal circumstances, a fetus's umbilical cord has two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein. However, a fetus with only one umbilical artery and one vein is called a single umbilical artery.

This phenomenon is relatively rare in humans, and its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Its clinical significance is still under investigation.

A single umbilical artery is generally considered to be one of the markers of abnormal fetal development. However, the presence of only a single umbilical artery does not indicate fetal developmental abnormalities or chromosomal abnormalities.

"Go get other tests done. Why are you checking so thoroughly? Even if you look at a lot more, will you be able to find another artery or vein?"

"Let's go out to eat."

"I've sent my family to get checked out. I'm going to change. Wait for me a moment." Director Kong knew they were right, and glanced at Ji Xiang again.

Seeing that Ji Xiang was in a daze, which was different from the sharp and fearless image in the legend, Director Kong thought that Ji Xiang must have been in a fit of anger when he pointed at Boss Qin's nose and cursed him.

As for normal times, there's no reason for him to be aggressive and menacing towards everyone he meets.

Moreover, a young man who can face Qin Chu with blood boiling with passion must be of good character.

This aligns with his understanding of resident physicians.

"Director Kong." Just as Director Kong turned to change his clothes, Ji Xiang suddenly said.

"Hmm, what's wrong, Dr. Ji Xiang?" Director Kong asked.

Did the pregnant woman have a history of severe vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy?

Directors Yang and Li frowned slightly. Why was Ji Xiang making such a fuss?

But Director Fan, who was not far away, perked up and made a gesture, signaling the film crew to follow.

"No," Director Kong replied calmly. "The patient in early pregnancy didn't feel anything and continued working."

"What does she do? Has she been in contact with chemicals?" Ji Xiang asked again.

"Chemicals..." Director Kong clearly didn't ask for as much detail. He looked up at Ji Xiang, "Dr. Ji Xiang, do you think it's necessary?"

"Yes," Ji Xiang replied seriously. "Although a single umbilical artery cannot be used as a marker of congenital disease, a small amount of pericardial effusion combined with a single umbilical artery, and if the pregnant woman has a history of exposure to chemicals, can be considered as a possible case of quadrupedal cat call syndrome."

"What?"

"What?"

Directors Yang and Li were both stunned. A fourth kitten named Syndrome? Did they hear that right? That name is too strange.

Director Kong's expression quickly turned serious. He gave Ji Xiang a deep look, nodded slightly, and turned to communicate with the patients and their families who had not yet left.

"Dr. Ji Xiang, what is quadruple cat meowing syndrome? I didn't mispronounce the name, did I?" Director Li Ming asked directly, without any hesitation.

"This disease is also called 5p partial monosomy syndrome, which is caused by a break and deletion at the end of the short arm of chromosome 5. It is an autosomal deletion disorder."

The condition is called Cat Cry Syndrome because the infants have a high-pitched, meow-like cry after birth.

In addition to the distinctive cry, affected children often present with intellectual disability, growth retardation, language disorders, congenital heart disease, intracranial lesions, and spinal deformities.

"..."

"..."

The two directors looked at Ji Xiang as if he were an alien.

If Ji Xiang is highly skilled, they will acknowledge it, but no matter how skilled he is, they should at least take a look at the ultrasound image.

Just by hearing Director Kong say that there was a small amount of pericardial effusion combined with a single umbilical artery, could Ji Xiang make a diagnosis?

Moreover, it's a very obscure diagnosis—Cri-du-chat syndrome.

"If there is only a small amount of pericardial effusion, a single umbilical artery cannot be used to make a diagnosis. However, if the pregnant woman has severe vomiting in early pregnancy or works in a chemical plant, a diagnosis can be made with a high probability."

As if he knew what the two directors were thinking, Ji Xiang gave an explanation directly.

The two directors watched Ji Xiang silently.

Director Fan was overjoyed; this was exactly what he wanted! This was exactly what he wanted!!

This is exactly what the audience wants to see!

He had a hunch that the second episode would garner over 500 million views across the entire network.

Become!

After finishing his conversation with the patient's family, Director Kong turned to Ji Xiang and said, "Dr. Ji Xiang, the patient has no history of exposure to chemicals."

The two directors chuckled in disbelief.

Ji Xiang's attempt to show off failed, and compared to his previous confident assertions, Ji Xiang now looks rather pathetic.

However, it's understandable, as Ji Xiang didn't have complete information, and diagnostic errors were inevitable.

Director Fan was slightly disappointed.

"Then..." Ji Xiang hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Director Kong, I see that the patient's hair looks like it has been dyed. If she frequently dyed her hair before pregnancy, that would be considered exposure to chemicals."

"frequently?"

"Depending on the type and frequency, I estimate that pregnant women dye their hair at least once a week before pregnancy."

"Then I'll go ask again." Director Kong wasn't impatient and turned around to ask the patient and the patient's family again.

This time, he returned quickly, his eyes sharp.

"Dr. Ji Xiang, you guessed right," Director Kong said in a deep voice. "This pregnant woman has had her hair done four times in six months. Isn't that just ridiculous?"

Director Fan was stunned. There was a connection between the hair and the cat-like meowing syndrome?!

(End of this chapter)