OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate a new method for measurement of dental plaque by using cellular neural network-based image segmentation.

METHODSA total of 195 subjects were selected from community population. After dental plaque staining, oral digital picture of anterior teeth area was taken by an Olympus digital camera (C-7070 Wide Zoom). At the same time, the Turesky dental plaque indices of anterior teeth were evaluated. The image analysis was conducted by cellular neural network-based image segmentation.

RESULTSThe image cutting errors between two operators were very small. The Kappa value is 0.935. Pearson's correlation coefficient is 0.988 (P < 0.001). There was high correlative consistency between traditional dental plaque index and plaque percentage obtained by using image analysis. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.853 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSCellular neural network-based image segmentation is a new method feasible for evaluating dental plaque.

Dental Plaque ; diagnosis ; Dental Plaque Index ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Photography, Dental

Objective: To assess fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyper-intensity (FVH) and explore its relationship with CT perfusion (CTP) penumbral/infarct core mismatch ratio and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) final infarct volume in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Methods: The CTP and MRI images of 38 AIS patients with MCAO were reviewed. The FVH score (longitudinal direction) [FVH score (L)] and FVH score (transverse direction) [FVH score (T)] were quantified on the FLAIR images. The FVH score (L) (range, 0-16) was based on a rostrocaudal extension of FVH and the FVH score (T) (range, 0-3) was based on FVH supply of the occluded MCA territory. The mismatch ratio was calculated from the ratio of the [mean transit time - cerebral blood volume (CBV)] lesion/CBV lesion on the CTP images. The DWI infarct volume was measured on the DWI images. Results: The mismatch ratio was larger for the group of FVH score (L)=7~8 than those of FVH score (L)=5~6 and FVH score (L)=3~4 (p=0.03), whereas the DWI infarct volume was smaller (p=0.04). Similarly, the mismatch ratio of FVH score (T)=2~3 group was larger than FVH score (T)=1 group (p=0.01), whereas the DWI infarct volume was smaller (p=0.02). Both FVH score (L) and FVH score (T) correlated positively with mismatch ratio (P=0.02, P=0.001, respectively), but negatively with DWI infarct volume (P=0.03, P=0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Higher FVH score is associated with larger mismatch ratio and smaller DWI infarct volume in AIS patients with MCAO. FLAIR vascular hyperintensity may represent collateral arterial circulation, and may play a role in protecting the ischemic penumbra.
Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery

Objective To prepare a protein chip for the detection of serum antibodies against several peach allergen components, and to provide a rapid and reliable method for clinical diagnosis of peach allergic disease .Methods The coding sequences of six key peach components Pru p 1, Pru p 2, Pru p 3, Pru p 4, Pru p 7 and Pru p G were inserted into pGAPZαA yeast expression vector.Then the vectors were digested by endonuclease Avr Ⅱ and electroporated into yeast SMD1168 for protein expression.After peach proteins were purified, the protein chip was prepared and used to detect the antibodies against peach allergen components in serum samples from 41 suspected patients.The sensitivity and specificity of the protein chip were verified by comparison with ImmunoCAP method .Res ults The protein chip was prepared with these proteins for detecting IgE antibodies in serum samples against these four peach allergen components.The results showed that the sensitivity of the protein chip to Pru p 1, Pru p 3 and Pru p 4 was 40%, 100%and 100%, and the specificity was 100%, 50%and 100%respectively.The total sensitivity and specificity was 86%and 96%respectively.Six serum samples from peach allergy patients were identified Pru p7 antibody positive by the protein chip.Co nclusions The sensitivity and specificity of the protein chip is comparable to ImmunoCAP.It needs less serum and so to be a potential method for the clinical diagnosis of peach allergenic disease after optimization.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome(MALS)is compression of the celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament.Median arcuate ligament release is the corner stone for the surgical treatment of MALS.Open surgery,laparoscopic surgery,and robot-assisted surgery have been developed,among which laparoscopic surgery has been proposed as the preferred approach in view of its minimal trauma and short hospital stay.Auxiliary celiac plexus neurolysis could further alleviate the patient's discomfort.Moreover,vascular reconstitution is of vital importance in the case of persistent stenosis in the celiac artery despite of median arcuate ligament decompression.Vascular reconstruction has satisfactory long-term patency rate,while endovascular treatment is less invasive.This article aims to summarize the consensuses and advances and shed light on the surgical treatment of MALS.
Celiac Artery/surgery* ; Constriction, Pathologic/surgery* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Ligaments/surgery* ; Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome/surgery*

Aim To investigate the eorrelation between angiotensin II (Ang II ) level and clinical indicators in patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( HA) , and to determine the therapeutic effect of angiotensin receptor blockers ( ARBs).Methods Plasma samples and personal information were collected from HA patients admitted to our hospital from 2019 to 2021.The level of Ang II in plasma was determined by ELISA to elucidate the correlation between plasma Ang II level and the severity of HA.The pathological changes of synovi-al tissues and T eells subtype in different groups of HA patients were determined by pathological examination and flow cytometry.A rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established and the pathological examination was used to confirm that valsartan could alleviate the disease course in the CIA animal model.Results Compared with control group, the plasma level of Ang II in HA patients significantly increased.After therapy with oral ARBs plasma Ang H levels and anti - cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody ( CCP) titre were significantly lower than those untreated HA patients.The level of Ang II in plasma was positively correlated with CCP and the number of monocytes, but negatively with number of RBC and hemoglobin content.Staining of synovial tissue with HE and Masson found that patients with HA had significant synovial proliferation, pannus formation , and numerous inflammatory cell infiltrates compared with control patients.Immunohistochemical results showed significant infiltration of CD4 4 T cells in synovial tissues of HA patients.Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis showed that the expression of angiotensin type 1 receptor ( ATI R ) was significantly up-regulated in CD4 + T cells and synovial tissues of HA patients.The results of animal experiments showed that valsartan harl therapeutic effect on CIA rats and could delay the disease process of CIA.Conclusions Plasma Ang II level is positively correlated with CCP level and HA severity.ARBs can down-regualte CCP level and delay disease progression in HA patients.Animal experiments showed that valsartan blocks the combination of Ang H and ATI R and has therapeutic effect on a CIA rat model.This study provides the theoretical and experimental basis for ARBs to become the preferred antihypertensive drugs for HA patients with hypertension.