In this paper, we propose a new active contour algorithm, i. e. hierarchical contextual active contour (HCAC), and apply it to automatic liver segmentation from three-dimensional CT (3D-CT) images. HCAC is a learning-based method and can be divided into two stages. At the first stage, i.e. the training stage, given a set of abdominal 3D-CT training images and the corresponding manual liver labels, we tried to establish a mapping between automatic segmentations (in each round) and manual reference segmentations via context features, and obtained a series of self-correcting classifiers. At the second stage, i.e. the segmentation stage, we firstly used the basic active contour to segment the image and subsequently used the contextual active contour (CAC) iteratively, which combines the image information and the current shape model, to improve the segmentation result. The current shape model is produced by the corresponding self-correcting classifier (the input is the previous automatic segmentation result). The proposed method was evaluated on the datasets of MICCAI 2007 liver segmentation challenge. The experimental results showed that we would get more and more accurate segmentation results by the iterative steps and the satisfied results would be obtained after about six rounds of iterations.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Models, Theoretical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Aim Pharmacological intervention is one of important strategies to deal with spinal cord injury.The effect of Pharmacological intervention has highly differentiated features because of complex physiopathology mechanisms in SCI.Moreover contraindications,complications having different features,it is constantly the focal point in the selection of pharmacological intervention to protect spinal cord,attenuate secondary injury and promote injuried neuron regeneration.At present only several of those have been applied in clinic and the majority are still being carried out in clinic trial stage,even preclinical animal experiment stage.This paper made a particular review of the current situation in pharmacological intervention for spinal cord injury.

Objective To evaluate the use of the kite flap (als o known as subcutaneous pedicled V-Y advancement flap)for the repair of moderate -sized anterior lamellar skin defects of eyelid. Methods Since 1994, kite flaps have been used to repair anterior lamellar skin defects of eyelids in 14 patients. Six patients were male and eight female, with a mean age of 43 years (range 15-64 years). The diameter of the largest defect reache d 1/3 length of the eyelid. The flaps were designed adjacent to the defects and the incision line corresponding to natural winkle lines on the eyelid. We underm ined the flap under the orbicular muscle, and advanced the flap to cover the def ect. The incisions were closed with 7-0 suture. Results After operation, all flaps survived with primary healing. Follow-up for 3 to 12 months showed that all cases had achieved satisfactory cosmetic effects without secondary deformity. Conclusions It is a simple, safe, an d reliable method to use kite flap for the repair of moderate-sized anterior la mellar eyelid skin defects that are too large to achieve primary approximation. Because kite-flap covers the defect through a direct advancement way without ro tation and twist, there are no dog-ear deformitys present at the pedical area a nd the repaired area looks smoothly. Because of its widely based muscle pedicle which incorporates venous and lymphatic drainage over most of its length, the un desirable pigment deposition is avoided.

Objective To establish the reference intervals of serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) among 60+ years people in Beijing.Methods Collected Beijing TongRen Hospital,Capital Medical University from 60 to 79 year-old male 167 cases,173 cases of female serum samples of healthy subjects using Beckman's DXC-800 serum iron,total iron binding capacity,and comparative analysis of two kinds of indicators.Results The normal reference range of serum iron in Beijing (60 to 79 years) was 7.9～23.1 μmol/L.The values were 17.45±5.67 μmol/L in male,and 17.52±6.2 μmol/L in female (t=1.32,P ＞0.05).The normal reference range of total iron binding capacity was 37.8～ 62.2 μmol/L.The values were 50.78±9.17 μmol/L in male,and 52.17±9.75 μmol/L in female (t=1.75,P＞0.05).Conclusion There was no significant difference between serum iron and total iron binding capacity in elderly men and women.The investigation gave the reference intervals of serum iron and total iron binding capacity in Beijing Han elderly (60 to 79 years),which can provide useful reference to clinical.

Objective To investigate the relationship between polymorphism in methylenetetra-hydrofolate reductase (MTHFR ) and acute cerebral infarction (CI), observe the variation regular of fasting plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level.Methods Using Homocysteine Microplate STE Assay to examine the fasting plasma homocysteine level of 28 CI patients during their initial stage (flaring up between 1 to 3 days) and later stage (flaring up 10 to 15 days) of acute period and 27 healthy controls. The presence of the MTHFR genetic type was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and subsequent restriction enzyme digestion.Results There was no significant difference among the three MTHFR genotypes in distributed frequency of the CI group, normal controls and the 677 allelic gene (P>0.05). The discrepancy of Hcy level in various kinds of genotypes: heterozygote mutation and homozygoto mutation were much higher than wild type (P<0.01). Homozygoto mutation was higher than heterozygote mutation, but there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05). The high homocysteine of group CI during the acute early stage were found out more frequent than normal control (P<0.05). There was no significant difference of fasting plasma Hcy level between the initial stage and later stage of CI group which were in acute period (P>0.05), both of the Results were higher than normal control (P<0.01). There was no significant difference among the Hcy level of various genetypes in CI group during the initial stage and later stage of acute period (P<0.05).Conclusion MTHFR gene C677T mutation is one of the cause of high homocystinemia, while it dose not lead to CI directly. High Hcy level is the independent risk factor of CI, but has no concern to the course of acute CI.

OBJECTIVE:To study the bacteria strains and susceptible drugs in open wound in patients with earthquake injury. METHODS:Bacteriological test and the drug susceptibility test were conducted for earthquake injury patients with open wound and the results of bacterial culture and the drug susceptibility test were analyzed using Excel 2003. RESULTS:Of the 1 172 earthquake injury cases,the patients with trauma / wounds represented 93.9%,the wound had obvious infection in 132 cases; of the infected cases,the proportions of patients with open fractures,soft tissue injuries and traumatic brain injury accounted for 63%,28% and 9%,respectively. The positive rate of the bacterial culture was 69%,and gram-negative of bacteria which accounted for 85.6% took the lead,chiefly Acinetobacter baumanii,Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli. The results showed bacterial drug resistance was on the high side. CONCLUSION:The open wounds in patients with earthquake injury are likely to be infected with gram negative organisms. Debridement and correct choice of anti-infective drugs are needed to reduce the risk of wound infection,

Objective To observe effect of abdomen compression on improvement of anal exsufflation for patients after abdomen operation. Methods Patients in the department of general surgery( 120 cases )after abdomen operations were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group with 60 cases in each group.The control group adopted routine postoperative nursing,The experimental group received abdomen compression baaed upon routine nursing. Anal exsufflation time was compared between the two groups. Sults Anal exsufflation time of the experimental group undergoing different operations was earlier than that of the control group(P < 0.01 ). Conclusions Abdomen compression can bring forward anal exsufflation time,fa-cilitate the recovery of gastrointestinal function and normal diet, thus improve the rehabilitation of patients

Objective:To establish the HPLC fingerprints of chemical constituents in Forsytiae suspensa Fructus from Shiyan dis-trict to provide scientific evidence for the quality control of Forsytiae suspensa Fructus. Methods: HPLC was performed on a Waters SunFire C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) column and a Diamonsil C18 guard column, and the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0. 4% acetic acid solution with gradient elution. The flow rate was 1 ml·min-1 , the detection wavelength was 277 nm, and the col-umn temperature was 30℃. Results:There were 14 common peaks in the HPLC fingerprints of chemical constituents in 12 batches of Forsytiae suspensa Fructus from Shiyan. The 14 characteristic peaks of Forsytiae suspensa Fructus from different habitats were under clustering analysis, and the similarity showed little difference. The contents of forsythoside A and forsythin exhibited significant differ-ence in the samples. Conclusion:The HPLC fingerprint method is simple, rapid and feasible in the quality control of Forsytiae suspen-sa Fructus.

AIM: To study the effects of the composite lactogenic decoction (CLD) on milk secretion of hypoprolactinemia induced by L dopa in rats. METHODS: The models of hypoprolactinemia were established with L dopa in rats. The weight of young rats was recorded during 15 days. Levels of serum prolactin were detected by ELISA and the mammary gland histology was observed by electron microscop. RESULTS: The administration of CLD (3, 6 and 20 g?kg -1 ) by the way of ig increased serum prolactin (PRL) level significantly (P

Objective To compare the oxygen saturation between the blood of superior vena cava and mixed venous in lung transplantation and provide reference for monitoring method in anesthesia. Methods 30 patients who received lung transplantation were placed central venous catheter into superior vena cava and flotation catheter into the pulmonary artery in turn. The blood samples were collected from the superior vena cava and pulmonary artery for blood gas analysis simultaneously at the time of just followed the catheter placement (T1), before the resection of the first bad lung (T2), after the reperfusion of the first donor lung (T3), before the resection of the second bad lung (T4), after the reperfusion of the second donor lung (T5), before the end of the operation (T6). The oxygen saturation were compared between the blood of the superior vena cava and mixed venous. Results From T1 to T6, Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean of deviation between the SpO2 measured in blood of superior vena cava and mixed venous were 0.5, 3.4, 2.3, 0.5, 0.27,-2.9, respectively, and the incidence beyond the upper and lowed limits of consistency zone was 3.3%, 0%, 0%, 3.3%, 3.3%, 0%respectively. The incidence of SpO2 within the consistent limits was 96.7%, 100%, 100%, 96.7%, 96.7%, 100% respectively. Conclusions The SpO2 of superior vena cava may be approximately reference as SpO2 of mixed venous during lung transplantation.