Measurement of the diameter of the corpus callosum in children on the midsagittal plane of MRI / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To measure the diameter of the corpus callosum in children aged 0-14 years using midsagittal high-resolution MRI,and to find the normal reference values of the diameter of the corpus callosum in children of different ages.Methods The imaging data of 967 children with normal brain MRI were retrospectively selected and grouped according to age.The anteroposterior diameter(APD),thickness of the genu(GT),thickness of the body(BT),thickness of the isthmus(IT),thickness of the splenium(ST)and fronto-occipital diameter(FOD)of the corpus callosum were measured on the midsagittal plane of the brain.The diameters of the corpus callosum on the midsagittal plane of the brain of children at different ages were measured.The correlation analysis between the diameter of the corpus callosum and age were performed.Results The APD,GT,BT,IT,ST and FOD were positively correlated with age(r=0.660,0.590,0.528,0.521,0.660,0.597,P<0.01).The IT variation was the greatest in the subregions of the corpus callosum.The growth peak of GT and ST of corpus callosum appeared before 2 years of age.Conclusion The establishment of the normal reference value of different subregions of the corpus callosum in children can help to accurately evaluate the development of the corpus callosum,which is conducive to the evaluation of the prognosis of diseases related to the corpus callosum.

The use of atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization for pesticide analysis using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

Based on the regulations of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) of Taiwan in 2017, an analysis of 373 pesticides in food was conducted using the MOHW official method. The analyses involved the use of either liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) or gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with electron ionization (EI). In this study, the applicability of detecting pesticides using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was investigated and evaluated. The pesticides were separated using an aqueous solution of ammonium formate with methanol as the mobile phase, and ionization efficiency was compared between APCI, ESI, and EI coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition. Among the 196 pesticides that were originally analyzed by ESI, 164 could be successfully detected by APCI with 6 showing a higher sensitivity when APCI was used. Among the 177 pesticides that were analyzed by EI, 43 could be successfully detected by APCI. The results also showed that APCI gave superior ionization efficiency for pesticides containing triazine, imidazole, triazole, and pyrazole groups.

Analysis of highly polar pesticides in foods by LC-MS/MS.

Highly polar pesticides (HPP) are a group of pesticides that are characterize as low Log Kow. Many high-throughput multi-residue analysis methods based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of such polar pesticides have been proposed. In this article, we summarize the various sample preparation methods including quick polar pesticides (QuPPe), dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE), solid phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe), especially for QuPPe, which are mainly used for the determination of HPP in foods. In addition, we summarize LC-based separation methodologies that are currently used for the analysis of HPP in foods, including reversed-phase chromatography (RPC), hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC), ion chromatography (IC) and mixed-mode chromatography (MMC). Finally, the current mass spectrometry-based methodologies for the analysis of HPP are summarized with a specific focus on MS configurations and acquisition modes.

Swirl sign and black hole sign on CT scanning in predicting early hematoma expansion in intracerebral hemorrhage: a comparative study / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To compare the predictive values of swirl sign and black hole sign on CT scanning in early hematoma expansion in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) patients.Methods Two hundred and ten firstly diagnosed SICH patients,admitted to our hospital from January 2012 to December 2018,were enrolled in the study.All patients were divided into hematoma expansion and non-hematoma expansion group according to whether early hematoma expansion appeared;and they were also divided into positive imaging sign group and negative imaging sign group according to whether imaging signs appeared;the clinical and imaging data were compared between these groups,respectively.The accuracies of swirl sign and black hole sign in predicting early hematoma expansion were analyzed using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors for early hematoma expansion.Results (1) In the 57 patients with early hematoma expansion,21 (36.8％) had swirl sign,and 17 (29.8％) had black hole sign;in the 153 patients without hematoma expansion,12 (7.8％) had swirl sign and 22 (14.4％) had black hole sign;the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.05).As compared with those in the non-hematoma expansion group,the admission systolic blood pressure increased significantly and number of patients with intraventricular hemorrhage was significantly larger in the hematoma expansion group (P＜0.05).(2) There were no statistical differences in clinical and imaging data between the patients with swirl sign (n=33) and patients without swirl sign (n=177,P＞0.05);the hematoma volume in patients with black hole sign (n=39) was significantly increased as compared with that in patients without black hole sign (n=171,P＜0.05),and there were no statistical differences in other clinical and imaging data between patients with and without black hole sign (P＞0.05).(3) The areas under ROC curve of swirl sign,black hole sign,and "swirl sign combined with black hole sign" were 0.645,0.577,and 0.570,respectively.(4) Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that admission systolic blood pressure,swirl sign and black hole sign were independent risk factors for early hematoma expansion (P＜0.05).Conclusion In comparison to black hole sign and "swirl sign combined with black hole sign",the swirl sign has higher predictive value in early hematoma expansion in ICH patients.

Imaging study of paravertebral muscle degeneration in degenerative lumbar instability / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To compare the paravertebral muscle (such as multifidus, erector spinae, psoas muscle) changes between the patients with degenerative lumbar instability and normal person by MRI and to observe the degeneration of paravertebral muscles. To analyze the relationship between paravertebral muscle degeneration and lumbar curvature of degenerative lumbar instability.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with degenerative lumbar instability were retrospectively enrolled from December 2011 to July 2013 as degeneration group, meanwhile 60 health persons with no degenerative lumbar instability were selected as control group. No significant differences were found in the gender, age and body mass index between the two groups. The cross-sectional area(CSA) and percentage of fat infiltration area (FIA) of the paravertebral muscles at the L4-S1 levels were measured using T2-weighted axial MRI and Image J soft ware. And the lumbar curvature(expressed as lumbar lordosis angle) of all the patients in lumbar X-ray were measured in the two groups. The measured data were analyzed with independent samples t-test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The difference of multifidus cross-sectional area and the percentage of fat infiltration in the patients of degenerative lumbar instability at the L4-L5, L5-S1 level, compared with the control group, was statistically significant (t = 2.768, t = 6.216, P < 0.05). Between the two groups, the percentage of fatty infiltration in erector spinae showed significant differences (t = 5.862, P < 0.05). The cross-sectional area of erector spinae and the degeneration of the psoas muscle between the two groups was not statistically significant. The lumbar lordsis angle in the patients with degenerative lumbar instability was (43.9 ± 15.6)°, which was higher than the (39.3 ± 14.2)° in control group (t = 2.915, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with the control group, patients with degenerative lumbar instability exists erector spinae and multifidus muscle degeneration, and erector spinae is more obvious. The degeneration among psoas muscle, erector spinae and multifidus muscle are inconsistent, which may be related to the increasing of the lumbar lordosis angle in the patients with degenerative lumbar instability.</p>

Association of CYBA rs7195830 polymorphism with estimated glomerular filtration rate in an adult Han sample from Jiangsu province, China.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species are thought to contribute to the development of renal damage. The P22phox subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAPDH) oxidase, encoded by the cytochrome b245a polypeptide gene, CYBA, plays a key role in superoxide anion production. We investigated the association of CYBA rs7195830 polymorphism with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the role it plays in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a Han Chinese sample. METHODS: The Gaoyou study enrolled 4473 participants. Serum levels of creatinine were measured and eGFR was estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations. The CYBA polymorphisms were genotyped. Then we investigated the association between eGFR and the rs7195830 polymorphism in the recessive model. RESULTS: The AA genotype of rs7195830 was associated with significantly lower values of eGFR compared with the GG and AG genotypes ((102.76 ± 17.07) ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) vs. (105.08 ± 16.30) ml×min(-1)± 1.73 m(-2)). The association remained significant in the recessive model after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, uric acid, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (ß=1.666, P=0.031). The rs7195832 AA genotype was an independent risk factor for CKD: eGFR <60 ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) (odds ratio=3.32; 95% CI=1.21-9.13). CONCLUSION: The AA genotype of rs7195830 is independently associated with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and is significantly associated with CKD.

Circulating microRNAs levels in Chinese heart failure patients caused by dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the myocardium of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This study investigated levels of miRNAs in the circulation of DCM patients, and the value of miRNAs as biomarkers for DCM. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In 45 DCM patients and 39 age- and sex-matched controls, circulating miR-423-5p, miR-126, miR-361-5p, miR-155, and miR-146a concentrations were measured and correlated to cardiac functional parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). RESULTS: Plasma levels of miR-126 and miR-361-5P did not differ between the DCM and control groups (p = 0.331 and p = 0.784, respectively). Plasma levels of the immunity-associated miRNAs, miR-146a and miR-155, did not differ between the DCM and control groups (p = 0.437 and p = 0.702, respectively). Levels of circulating miR-423-5p were significantly greater in the DCM group (p = 0.003). Further, there was a positive correlation between plasma levels of miR-423-5p and NT-proBNP (r = 0.430, p = 0.003). MiR-423-5p distinguished DCM cases from controls with an area under the curve (AUC) receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.674 (95% CI, 0.555-0.793). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with DCM have elevated plasma miR-423-5p levels. The plasma concentration of miR-423-5p was positively correlated with the level of NT-proBNP. Circulating levels of miR-423-5p could be served as a diagnostic biomarker for heart failure caused by DCM. Plasma levels of immunity-associated miR-146a, -155, and -126 were not significantly different between DCM and control groups.

Association of CYBA rs7195830 polymorphism with estimated glomerular filtration rate in an adult Han sample from Jiangsu province, China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Reactive oxygen species are thought to contribute to the development of renal damage. The P22phox subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAPDH) oxidase, encoded by the cytochrome b245a polypeptide gene, CYBA, plays a key role in superoxide anion production. We investigated the association of CYBA rs7195830 polymorphism with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the role it plays in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a Han Chinese sample.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Gaoyou study enrolled 4473 participants. Serum levels of creatinine were measured and eGFR was estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations. The CYBA polymorphisms were genotyped. Then we investigated the association between eGFR and the rs7195830 polymorphism in the recessive model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The AA genotype of rs7195830 was associated with significantly lower values of eGFR compared with the GG and AG genotypes ((102.76 ± 17.07) ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) vs. (105.08 ± 16.30) ml×min(-1)± 1.73 m(-2)). The association remained significant in the recessive model after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, uric acid, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (β=1.666, P=0.031). The rs7195832 AA genotype was an independent risk factor for CKD: eGFR <60 ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) (odds ratio=3.32; 95% CI=1.21-9.13).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The AA genotype of rs7195830 is independently associated with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and is significantly associated with CKD.</p>

Comparative study of 18F-FDG PET/CT and 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy in detecting multiple myeloma bone destruction / 国际肿瘤学杂志

Objective To explore the application value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18 F-FDG PET/CT) and 99Tcm-methylene diphosphonate (99 Tcm-MDP) bone scintigraphy for detecting bone destruction in multiple myeloma (MM).Methods 18 F-FDG PET/CT and 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy results of 27 MM patients were analyzed retrospectively.Inspection areas checked by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray were the limited scopes.The location and number of bone destruction were recorded,and the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was measured simultaneously.The results were comparatively analyzed.Diagnostic certainty regarding the presence or absence of bone destruction was evaluated according to the reference standard consisting of MRI and X-ray.Results A total of 235 lesions were found according to the reference standard.Of these,227 lesions (97％) were identified by 18F-FDG PET/CT,whereas 187 lesions (80％) were identified by bone scintigraphy,with a significant statistical difference (x2 =32.43,P ＜ 0.05).SUVmax was 8.3 ± 1.7 (4.3 to 18.9).The discovery rates of bone fracture of 18F-FDG PET/CT and bone scintigraphy were 100％ (97/97) and 90％ (87/97),and there was a significant statistical difference between them (x2 =78.09,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion 18 F-FDG PET/CT is a possible method to detect bone lesions in patients with MM,and is better than 99Tcm-MDP bone scintigraphy.

Application of Fourier transform profilometry in 3D-surface reconstruction / 生物医学工程学杂志

With the improvement of system frame and reconstruction methods in fluorescent molecules tomography (FMT), the FMT technology has been widely used as an important experimental tool in biomedical research. It is necessary to get the 3D-surface profile of the experimental object as the boundary constraints of FMT reconstruction algorithms. We proposed a new 3D-surface reconstruction method based on Fourier transform profilometry (FTP) method under the blue-purple light condition. The slice images were reconstructed using proper image processing methods, frequency spectrum analysis and filtering. The results of experiment showed that the method properly reconstructed the 3D-surface of objects and has the mm-level accuracy. Compared to other methods, this one is simple and fast. Besides its well-reconstructed, the proposed method could help monitor the behavior of the object during the experiment to ensure the correspondence of the imaging process. Furthermore, the method chooses blue-purple light section as its light source to avoid the interference towards fluorescence imaging.