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Objective We developed a universal lesion detector (ULDor) which showed good performance in in-lab experiments. The study aims to evaluate the performance and its ability to generalize in clinical setting via both external and internal validation. Methods The ULDor system consists of a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on around 80K lesion annotations from about 12K CT studies in the DeepLesion dataset and 5 other public organ-specific datasets. During the validation process, the test sets include two parts: the external validation dataset which was comprised of 164 sets of non-contrasted chest and upper abdomen CT scans from a comprehensive hospital, and the internal validation dataset which was comprised of 187 sets of low-dose helical CT scans from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST). We ran the model on the two test sets to output lesion detection. Three board-certified radiologists read the CT scans and verified the detection results of ULDor. We used positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity to evaluate the performance of the model in detecting space-occupying lesions at all extra-pulmonary organs visualized on CT images, including liver, kidney, pancreas, adrenal, spleen, esophagus, thyroid, lymph nodes, body wall, thoracic spine,
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Computer Simulation , Computers , Neural Networks, Computer , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Objective To make a systematical review of the safety and efifcacy of Etomidate plus Fentanyl-class drugs and Propofol plus Fentanyl-class drugs in older patients undergoing gastroscopy. Methods We searched the Cochrane library, PubMed, Embase, China Biology Medicine (CBM), CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Database for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the efifcacy of Etomidate plus Fentanyl-class drugs(Fentanyl, Sufentanil, remifentanil) in older patients undergoing gastroscopy. The quality of the studies was evaluated by the method recommended by the Jadad scale. Meta-analysis was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.3 software. Results 11 RCTs involving 1 535 patients were analyzed. Meta-analysis showed that patients in the Etomidate group had a lower heart rate [Weighted Mean Difference (WMD)=2.25, 95%CI(0.93, 3.56), P=0.001] and mean arterial pressure [WMD=9.09, 95%CI (7.60, 10.57), P=0.000] lfuctuation than whose of the Propofol group.The hypoxemia occurrence [O
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Objective To evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy of She medicine on cerebral hemodynamics in migraine patients, and to further verify its therapeutic efficacy and preliminarily reveal the action mechanism in treating migraine. Method 120 Eligible subjects were randomized into two groups. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture of She medicine, while the control group was intervened by Western medication, 10 d as a treatment course, for 2 courses in total at a 2-day interval. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) was adopted to observe the average blood flow velocity of cerebral arteries before and after the treatment. Result The total effective rate was 82.8% in the treatment group versus 71.4% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) by rank-sum test. Before the treatment, the abnormity rate of cerebral artery blood flow was 62.8% in the treatment group versus 61.9% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05), indicating the comparability; after the treatment, the abnormity rate of cerebral artery blood flow was 25.9% in the treatment group versus 35.3% in the control group, and the between-group was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture of She medicine is effective in treating migraine, and it can significantly improve the cerebral hemodynamics.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of She medicine therapy in rehabilitation after endoscopic surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.Methods Sixty patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were allocated, using random number table method following registration order, to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received She medicine therapy and the control group, oral administration of conventional drugs. The excellent and good rate was observed in the two groups after treatment. Post-treatment active straight leg raising times and analgesic dosages were compared between the two groups.Results Active straight leg raising time was significantly advanced (P<0.01) and the number of potent analgesic uses was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the treatment group after endoscopic surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. The excellent and good rate was 93.3％ in the treatment group and 80.0％ in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion She medicine therapy can help rapid rehabilitation after endoscopic surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.
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Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of She medicine therapy in rehabilitation after endoscopic surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.Methods Sixty patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were allocated, using random number table method following registration order, to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. The treatment group received She medicine therapy and the control group, oral administration of conventional drugs. The excellent and good rate was observed in the two groups after treatment. Post-treatment active straight leg raising times and analgesic dosages were compared between the two groups.Results Active straight leg raising time was significantly advanced (P<0.01) and the number of potent analgesic uses was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the treatment group after endoscopic surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. The excellent and good rate was 93.3％ in the treatment group and 80.0％ in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion She medicine therapy can help rapid rehabilitation after endoscopic surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Neural stem cells (NSCs) not only are essential to cell replacement therapy and transplantation in clinical settings, but also provide a unique model for the research into neurogenesis and epigenesis. However, little attention has been paid to the electrophysiological characterization of NSC development. This work aimed to identify whether the morphological neuronal differentiation process in NSCs included changes in the electrophysiological properties of transient A-type K(+) currents (I(A)).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NSCs were isolated from early postnatal rat hippocampus and were multiplied in basic serum-free medium containing basic fibroblast growth factor. Potassium currents were investigated and compared using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with NSC-derived neurons, cloned NSCs (cNSCs) had a more positive resting membrane potential, a higher input resistance, and a lower membrane capacitance. Part of cNSCs and NSC-derived neurons possessed both delayed-rectifier K(+) currents (I(DR)) and I(A), steady-state activation of I(A) in cNSCs (half-maximal activation at (21.34 +/- 4.37) mV) occurred at a more positive voltage than in NSC-derived neurons at 1-6 days in vitro (half-maximal activation at (12.85 +/- 4.19) mV).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our research revealed a developmental up-regulation of the I(A) component during differentiation of postnatal NSCs. Together with the marked developmental up-regulation of I(DR) in vitro neuronal differentiation we have previously found, the voltage-gated potassium channels may participate in neuronal maturation process.</p>
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Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Electrophysiology , Hippocampus , Cell Biology , Membrane Potentials , Physiology , Neural Stem Cells , Metabolism , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Potassium , Metabolism , Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated , Metabolism , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the in-stent lumen visibility and image quality of coronary stents by dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography, and the diagnostic accuracy of DSCT in the detection of coronary in-stent restenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DSCT was performed at 147 stents in 78 patients at an interval of (21.8?22.2) months after coronary stent implantation. Axial multi-planar reconstruction of the stents and curved-planar reconstruction through the median of the stents were evaluated for stent image quality on a 5-point scale, and the stent lumen diameters were detected. Thirty out of these 78 patients underwent conventional coronary angiography within one month after CT angiography. The patency of 60 stents were independently evaluated by two blinded readers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Image quality was good to excellent on average score (1.6?0.6) . Stent image quality score was correlated with stent diameter, stent location, and heart rate. All stents were assessable in lumen visibility with an average visible lumen diameter percentage of (72.2?12.2) %. Visible lumen diameter percentage was correlated with stent diameter and stent location. For the stents with calcified plaques, the visible lumen diameter percentage at the calcified site was significantly lower than that at the non-calcified site (P<0.001) . Compared with the conventional coronary angiography, 12 out of 14 in-stent stenoses were correctly detected. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the detection of in-stent stenosis was 85.7%, 95.7%, 85.7%, and 95.7%, respectively. For stents whose diameter >0.275cm, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were all 100%. The agreement between CT findings and coronary angiography results was 93.3%, and it was correlated with stent diameter and heart rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Using a DSCT, coronary stent lumen is partially visible and the image quality is high. Stent diameter and location can influence the stent lumen visibility and image quality. DSCT has a high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of in-stent restenosis and may be a valuable modality for the follow-up of coronary artery stent patency."</p>
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Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Coronary Angiography , Methods , Coronary Restenosis , Diagnostic Imaging , Follow-Up Studies , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Stents , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Methods , Vascular PatencyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the image quality and radiation dose of prospectively electrocardiogram (ECG) -triggered spiral and sequential acquisition for coronary computed tomographic angiography by dual-source computed tomography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease were randomly divided into two groups. Group A underwent prospective ECG-triggering spiral scan and Group B underwent prospective ECG-triggering sequential scan. Both the image quality and radiation dose of the two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in age and body mass index of the two groups. The average image quality score was 1.12 ± 0.38 in group A and 1.14 ± 0.38 in group B (Z=-0.291,P=0.771) . The rates of diagnostic coronary segments for two groups were 98.87% and 99.56% respectively (X2=0.59,P=0.443) . The mean radiation dose of group A was significantly lower than that of group B [ (1.31 ± 0.30) mSv vs. (3.36 ± 0.93) mSv; t=11.47, P=0.000] .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with the prospective ECG-triggered sequential acquisition, the prospective ECG - triggered spiral scan for coronary computed tomographic angiography can remarkably reduce radiation dose without impairing image quality in patients with a low and stable heart rate (≤ 70 bpm) .</p>
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Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Coronary Angiography , Methods , Coronary Artery Disease , Diagnostic Imaging , Radiation Dosage , Tomography, Spiral Computed , Methods , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the protection mechanisms of K(ATP) channels on hippocampal CA1 neurons during chronic severe hypoxia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>p53 expression, DNA fraction, and cell apoptosis were examined in cultured hippocampal neurons in control group, hypoxia group, hypoxia group treated with K(ATP) channels antagonist and hypoxia group treated with K(ATP) channels agonist.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the group of a 12 h long exposure to oxygen concentration of 0%, diazoxide (100 micromol/L), the K(ATP) channels agonist, reduced p53 expression and the hypoxia-induced apoptosis. In contrast, tolbutamide (100 micromol/L), the K(ATP) channels antagonist, significantly rose p53 expression and the hypoxia-induced apoptosis, which could be reversed by p53 inhibitor TSA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>K(ATP) channels protect hippocampal neurons against chronic severe hypoxia by suppressing p53 expression.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Adenosine Triphosphate , Metabolism , Apoptosis , Cell Hypoxia , Cell Survival , Diazoxide , Pharmacology , Genes, p53 , Hippocampus , Cell Biology , Metabolism , KATP Channels , Metabolism , Neurons , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Tolbutamide , PharmacologyABSTRACT
To develop a Huntington’s disease(HD) cell model in vitro to screen drugs targeting the aggregation of polyQ,different length of CAG repeat fragments were amplified by random primer PCR, identified by DNA sequencing and were fused to the N-terminus of CAT in the pCAR system respectively which had been constructed and identified before. Recombinant plasmids were transformed into and induced to express in the host E.coli. SDS-PAGE and chloramphenicol resistance test were done to determine the solubility of the polyQ and chloramphenicol resistance levels of the fusions. With different length of CAG repeat fragments cloned and expressed in the CAT-fusion protein reporting system, it is found that when the length of the fragments increased over 40, their encoding polyQ expressed as insoluble protein and chloramphenicol resistance levels are lower, while under 40, the polyQ expressed as soluble ones and chloramphenicol resistance levels are higher. A in vitro HD model that could minimize the pathological process of the HD thus has been developed. With which by measure the recombinant bacteria’s resistance to chloramphenicol, the polyQ’ solubility and folding state in vitro by quality and quantity could be determined. Thus this model can be used to screen drugs or bioactivity materials that can inhibit aggregation of the polyQ, which thereby shedding new light on the prevent, diagnosis and therapy of HD.
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Chitosan microsphere has been wildly researched in controlled release of protein and peptide drug because of its excellent mucoadhesive and permeation enhancing effect across the biological surfaces. The control of the size and size distribution of microspheres is necessary in order to improve reproducibility, bioavailability, and repeatable release behavior. In this work, uniform-sized chitosan microspheres containing insulin were prepared by a novel membrane emulsification technique combined with glutaraldehyde crosslinking method. In order to prepare uniform-sized chitosn microspheres, it is necessary to modify hydrophilic membrane into hydrophobicity. It is found that there exists a linear relationship between the size of chitosan microspheres and pore size of the membrane used, so it is easy to control the size of microspheres by using membranes with different pore size. In this study, the effect of different amount of crosslinker and crosslinking time on microspheres' morphology, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and release profile of drug in vitro were investigated. It is shown that the morphology of microspheres is more smooth and spherical, and the release rate is slower with the increase of amount of glutaraldehyde and prolongation of crosslinking time. When the molar ratio of amino group of chitosan to aldehyde group of glutaraldehyde is 1:0.7, and crosslinking time is 1 h, the highest EE was obtained (about 65%). Date obtained suggest that chitosan microspheres prepared by this new method would be a promising system for controlled release of protein drugs.
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Humans , Biocompatible Materials , Chemistry , Chitosan , Chemistry , Cross-Linking Reagents , Delayed-Action Preparations , Drug Carriers , Emulsions , Glutaral , Chemistry , Insulin , Pharmacokinetics , Microspheres , Particle SizeABSTRACT
AIM: To study the relationship between prostaglandins and acute pulpitis. METHODS: Rat traumatic pulpitis model was established by pulp exposure. The kinetic pathological changes in dental pulpal tissues and changes of PGE 2?6-Keto-PGF 1? and TXB 2 concentration in dental pulp were observed. RESULTS: After pulpal trauma, the dental pulp showed inflammatory changes and the concentrations of PGE 2?6-Keto-PGF 1? and TXB 2 were increased, which peaked at 6 hour post-trauma. CONCLUSION: Prostaglandins play a significant role in the pathogenesis of pulpitis.