An adaptive CT metal artifact reduction algorithm that combines projection interpolation and physical correction / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To propose an adaptive weighted CT metal artifact reduce algorithm that combines projection interpolation and physical correction.@*METHODS@#A normalized metal projection interpolation algorithm was used to obtain the initial corrected projection data. A metal physical correction model was then introduced to obtain the physically corrected projection data. To verify the effectiveness of the method, we conducted experiments using simulation data and clinical data. For the simulation data, the quantitative indicators PSNR and SSIM were used for evaluation, while for the clinical data, the resultant images were evaluated by imaging experts to compare the artifact-reducing performance of different methods.@*RESULTS@#For the simulation data, the proposed method improved the PSNR value by at least 0.2 dB and resulted in the highest SSIM value among the methods for comparison. The experiment with the clinical data showed that the imaging experts gave the highest scores of 3.616±0.338 (in a 5-point scale) to the images processed using the proposed method, which had significant better artifact-reducing performance than the other methods (P < 0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#The metal artifact reduction algorithm proposed herein can effectively reduce metal artifacts while preserving the tissue structure information and reducing the generation of new artifacts.

B lymphoma Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region 1: An oncogenic mediator in prostate cancer / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

B lymphoma Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region 1 (BMI1), a core member of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), has been intensely investigated in the field of cancer epigenetics for decades. Widely known as a critical regulator in cellular physiology, BMI1 is essential in self-renewal and differentiation in different lineages of stem cells. BMI1 also plays a significant role in cancer etiology for its involvement in pathological progress such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell maintenance, propagation, and differentiation. Importantly, overexpression of BMI1 is predictive for drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and eventual therapy failure of various cancer subtypes, which renders the pharmacological targeting at BMI1 as a novel and promising therapeutic approach. The study on prostate cancer, a prevalent hormone-related cancer among men, has promoted enormous research advancements in cancer genetics and epigenetics. This review summarizes the role of BMI1 as an oncogenic and epigenetic regulator in tumor initiation, progression, and relapse of prostate cancer.

The association of Hsp90 expression induced by aspirin with anti-stress damage in chicken myocardial cells

The protective effect of aspirin during exposure to heat stress in broiler chickens was investigated. We assayed pathological damage, expression and distribution of Hsp90 protein and hsp90 mRNA expression in chicken heart tissues after oral administration of aspirin following exposure to high temperature for varying times. Heat stress induced increases in plasma aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities while causing severe heart damage, which was characterized by granular and vacuolar degeneration, nuclear shrinkage and even myocardium fragmentation in cardiac muscle fibers. After aspirin administration, myocardial cells showed fewer pathological lesions than broilers treated with heat alone. A high positive Hsp90 signal was always detected in the nuclei of myocardial cells from broilers treated with aspirin, while in myocardial cells treated with heat alone, Hsp90 in the nuclei decreased, as did that in the cytoplasm. Aspirin induced rapid and significant synthesis of Hsp90 before and at the initial phase of heat stress, and significant expression of hsp90 mRNA was stimulated throughout the experiment when compared with cells exposed to heat stress alone. Thus, specific pre-induction of Hsp90 in cardiovascular tissue was useful for resisting heat stress damage because it produced stable damage-related enzymes and fewer pathologic changes.

Protein Phosphatase 2C of Toxoplasma Gondii Interacts with Human SSRP1 and Negatively Regulates Cell Apoptosis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii expresses large amounts of a 37 kDa Type 2C serine-threonine phosphatase, the so-called TgPP2C which has been suggested to contribute to parasite growth regulation. Ectopic expression in mammalian cells also indicated that the enzyme could regulate growth and survival. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction of TgPP2C with human SSRP1 (structure-specific recognition protein 1) and the effects of TgPP2C on cell viability.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The yeast two hybrid system, His-tag pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to confirm the interaction of TgPP2C with SSRP1 and determine the binding domain on SSRP1. The evaluation of cell apoptosis was performed using cleaved caspase-3 antibody and Annexin-V/PI kit combined with flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We identified human SSRP1 as an interacting partner of TgPP2C. The C-terminal region of SSRP1 including the amino acids 471 to 538 was specifically mapped as the region responsible for interaction with TgPP2C. The overexpression of TgPP2C down-regulated cell apoptosis and negatively regulated apoptosis induced by DRB, casein kinase II (CKII) inhibitor, through enhanced interaction with SSRP1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TgPP2C may be a parasitic factor capable of promoting cell survival through interaction with the host protein SSRP1, thereby creating a favorable environment for parasite growth.</p>

Testing Result of Active Joint Tuberculosis's Whole Blood Interferon-γAssay / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To discuss the significance of the detection of interferon-γin the diagnosis of active joint tuberculosis. Methods 5 kinds of specific proteins of mycobacterium tuberculosis were used as stimulating protein, the chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay was used to test the content of interferon-γ. The interferon-γof 35 cases of patients with active joint tuberculosis and 35 cases of healthy people were detected. The difference of the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ra-tio and negative likelihood ratio of 5 kinds of proteins to the diagnostic of active joint tuberculosis were compared. Results CFP10/ESAT6 fusion protein, Rv2041c protein, Rv0057/1352 fusion proteins, Rv1419 protein and Rv1656 protein were used as stimulating protein, the sensitivities of active joint tuberculosis by the whole blood interferon-γassay were 77.1%, 68.6%, 71.4%, 74.3%and 65.7%. The specifici-ties were 65.7%, 54.3%, 57.1%, 60.0%and 62.9%. The positive predictive values were 62.9%, 60%, 62.5%, 65%and 63.9%. The negative predictive values were 74.2%, 63.3%, 66.7%, 70%and 64.7%. The positive likelihood ratios were 2.25, 1.5, 1.67, 1.86 and 1.77. The nega-tive likelihood ratios were 0.348, 0.579, 0.5, 0.429 and 0.545. Conclusion The detection of interferon-γhas certain significance to joint tu-berculosis. But it is not as an index of diagnosing joint tuberculosis.

Evaluation of 131I treatment efficacy and prognostication for bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer / 中华核医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of 131I treatment for bone metastases from DTC and analyze the survival rates after 131I treatment and prognostic factors. Methods One hundred and six DTC patients with bone metastases treated by 131I during January 1991 and January 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment efficacy was assessed based on serum Tg change, bone pain palliation and changes on medical imaging. Univariate analysis was performed for defining the factors affecting 131I treatment efficacy. Survival curves were estimated using the life table method. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. Results Serum Tg decreased dramatically in 37/106 (34.9%) patients treated with131I. Thirty-nine of 61 patients (63.9%) with bone pain had pain relief. Age, tumor subtype and presence of non-osseous distant metastases were significant factors affecting 131I treatment efficacy based on serum Tg change (χ2=6.443, 11.455, 6.756, all P0.05). There were no imaging changes of bone metastases in 77.4% of patients after 131I treatment. The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates from initial diagnosis of bone metastases was 86.47% and 57.90%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that number of metastases, presence of non-osseous distant metastases and pre-131I treatment surgery were significant factors for survival (Log-rank values were 4.05, 5.98, 4.22, all P<0.05). Conclusions 131I treatment for bone metastases from DTC is effective for lowering serum Tg and palliation of bone pain. Single metastasis, absence of non-osseous distant metastases and pre-131I therapy surgery are favorable predictors of prognosis.

Management of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate causes and clinical management of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2004 to June 2009, 41 patients (44 knees) with knee pain post TKA were treated. There were 9 male and 32 female patients aging from 51 to 84 years with a mean of 63.5 years. The diagnosis followed to Brown diagnostic system. One case of extraarticular pain was complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) and underwent conservative treatment, the remaining 5 cases were treated by surgery. Three cases of joint instability, 1 case of patellar baja, 2 cases of soft tissue impingement caused by overhang of the prosthesis, 1 case of popliteal tendon impact underwent conservative treatment, the other 27 cases underwent surgical intervention. The patients were followed up and the Knee Society Score (KSS) knee score, pain visual analog scale (VAS) score were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-one cases were followed up for 1 to 6 years. At the last time of follow-up, the 5 cases received surgical treatment to extra-articular pain showed VAS score as 2.5 ± 0.2, KSS clinical and functional score as 92.8 ± 2.6 and 89.0 ± 3.4. There was significantly difference compared with preoperative (P < 0.05). One case of CRPS-1 performed conservative treatment, the therapy was effective. In the infected 12 cases of intra-articular pain, 1 case received amputation, 3 cases received antibiotic bone cement insert, 8 cases received two stage revision. All infections were cured, and VAS score was 3.8 ± 0.2, KSS clinical score was 88.3 ± 4.6, function score was 85.0 ± 4.6 postoperatively, with significantly difference compared with preoperative (P < 0.05). In the 8 cases received conservative treatment in non-infected group, at the last time of follow-up, VAS score was 4.5 ± 0.4, KSS clinical and functional score was 85.4 ± 4.2 and 84.2 ± 2.3, with significantly difference compared with preoperative (P < 0.05). Fifteen cases underwent surgical treatment, at the last time of follow-up, VAS score was 3.4 ± 0.1, KSS clinical and functional score was 86.6 ± 5.4 and 87.1 ± 2.4, with significantly difference compared with preoperative (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patients with knee pain post TKA need systematic assessment to identify the causes. Appropriate treatment due to the positive diagnosis generally lead to satisfactory results, surgical intervention with indefinite causes is strictly prohibited.</p>

Clinical study of bone imaging in 117 cases with primary hyperparathyroidism / 中华核医学杂志

Objective To analyze the characteristics of bone scintigraphy in 117 cases with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).Methods Of these 117 cases (50 males and 67 females),there were 116 parathyroid adenomas and 1 parathyroid cancer.Mean age was 61.1(12-86) years old.All had ~(99)Tc~m-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy.The bone images could be classified into 4 categories.Category Ⅰ:normal;category Ⅱ:localized abnormal,which could be subcategorized as Ⅱ A with skull and mandible involvement,and Ⅱ B with Ⅱ A characteristics plus metabolic derangement;category Ⅲ:systemic,whole-body incmased tracer uptake;category Ⅳ:systemic plus localized metabolic derangement.Data were analyzed statistically with X~2 and t-test (isolated samples).Results According to the scintigraphic findings,there were 47 cases(40.17%)of category Ⅰ,35 cases(29.91%) category Ⅱ (21/35cases Ⅱ A and 14/35 cases Ⅱ B),30 cases (25.64%) category Ⅲ,and 5 cases (4.27%) category Ⅳ.Combining categories Ⅱ、Ⅲ and Ⅳ together,there were 70 abnormal cases.These patients had history of abnormal bone images such as bone fracture (39 cases,55.71%),calculus (8 cases,11.43%),bone fracture plus calculus(7 cases,10.00%),osteoporosis (51 cases,72.86%) or ostalgia(26 cases,37.14%);however,in the 47 cases of category Ⅰ,only 1 (2.13%),0,0,10(21.28%)and 10 cases (21.28%),respectively,were found.Therefore.these case history characteristics were statistically significant (X~2=11.152,P=0.01).The tumor size,parathyroid hormone (PTH),blood calcium,blood phosphorus in the patients of abnormal PHPT categories Ⅱ to Ⅲ were(14.52±13.72)cm~3,(731.67±618.40)ng/L,(3.05±0.29) mmol/L and (0.71±0.14) mmol/L,respectively.with statistically significant difference compared to category Ⅰ:(0.78±1.33) cm~3,(112.04±62.98)ng/L,(2.56±0.42) mmol/L and (1.03±0.36)mmol/L(t=-5.724,-5.741,-7.274 and -6.451;all P＜0.01).Conclusions (1)Bone scintigraphy was normal in 40% of PHPT patients.(2)The bone images of PHPT could be classified into 4 categories and each could reflect the duration and severity of the disease status on bone.(3)The bone imaging characteristic could be useful for differential diagnostic purposes.

Toll-like receptor 4 and human fibrotic diseases / 上海第二医科大学学报

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), the natural receptor of lipopolysaccharide(LPS), plays an important role in the regulation of acute inflammation, intracellular signal transduction and cell apoptosis. TLR4 over expresses in both acute inflammation and fibrotic tissues, which suggests that TLR4 may be essential in acute inflammation and subsequent fibrosis. Nowadays, some progress has been made in the exploration of TLR4 in pathogenesis and treatment of liver cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis. TLR4 may become a new target in the treatment of human fibrotic diseases including liver cirrhosis and pulmonary fibrosis. The research status of TLR4 in human fibrotic diseases and its future development are reviewed in this paper.

Research advance in emergence delirium in children with sevoflurane general anesthesia / 上海第二医科大学学报

As a non-pungency inhaled agent with less respiratory irritation,sevoflurane has been widely used in various surgeries for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia.However,the incidence of pediatric emergence delirium has been significantly increased with sevoflurane general anesthesia which severely disturbs the surgical effect and increases the requirement of medical staff in post anesthesia care unit.This article systematically reviews the research advance in emergence delirium in children with sevoflurane general anesthesia and introduces the reasonable intervention for the improvement of anesthesia quality.

Change of GABA_B Receptor in Medulla of Trigeminal Neuralgia on Rats / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To assess the relationship between GABA_(B) receptor in medulla and trigeminal neuralgia on rats. Methods Twelve SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,3 for each group.Group A and B were surgical groups,while Group C and D were sham surgical ones.In the surgical group,right unilateral chronical constriction injury(CCI) of rats was produced by placing loose chromic gut ligature around the infraorbital nerve(ION).In the sham surgical group,the ION was only exposed using the same procedure but not ligated.Mechanical response threshold was observed before operation and 3,6,9,12 and 15 days after operation.Medullas of rats in group A and B were taken to measure the quantity of GABA_(B) receptor by real-time PCR 9 days after operation,and medullas of rats in group C and D were done 15 days after operation. Results Compared with the sham surgical group,an allodynia to mechanical stimulation on the territory of ligated ION was found from the ninth to fifteenth day after operation in surgical group(P

Value of Ectopic Gastric Mucosa Imaging in Diagnosis of Meckel′s Diverticulum / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the value of ectopic gastic mucosa imaging in diagnosis of Meckel′s diverticulum.Methods Twenty-five cases suspected of gastrointestinal bleeding underwent conventional ectopic gastic mucosa imaging with 99mT_cO_4-.The diagnostic criteria Meckel′s diverticulum was that abnormal radio active accumulation in the abdomen observed.Results Three cases of ectopic gastic mucosa imaging was positive,and the diagnosis was all confirmed by surgery and pathology examination.The rest 22 cases were caused by other reasons confirmed by affirmative examinations.Conclusions Ectopic gastic mucosa imaging is easy to conduct,safe with no injury to the patients.It can be the first choice of examination in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in children.