Aiming at motion artifacts and off-resonance artifacts in multi-shot diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we proposed a joint correction method in this paper to correct the two kinds of artifacts simultaneously without additional acquisition of navigation data and field map. We utilized the proposed method using multi-shot variable density spiral sequence to acquire MRI data and used auto-focusing technique for image deblurring. We also used direct method or iterative method to correct motion induced phase errors in the process of deblurring. In vivo MRI experiments demonstrated that the proposed method could effectively suppress motion artifacts and off-resonance artifacts and achieve images with fine structures. In addition, the scan time was not increased in applying the proposed method.
Artifacts ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Motion ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Vibration

Objectives:To investigate the morphologic changes of the colon in the rats after a total small bowel resection. Methods:Ten male Sprague Dawley(350～370 g) rats in the experimental group were undergone resection of total small bowel,and ten normal rats were randomly chosen as the control group.After supported by enteral nutrition for 3 months,rats were sacrificed and the colon harvested for morphologic parameters study. Results:The length,diameter,wet weight,crypt depth,mucosal thickness and kerckring height of the colon in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group( P

CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T- cell (Treg) play essential roles in maintaining self- tolerance, immune homeostasis and cancer immune system. Treg can suppress immune responses against self antigens or non-selfantigens such as tumor antigens. The immunosuppressive functions of Treg are widely acknowledged and have been extensively studied. Recent studies demonstrate the existence of Treg at tumor sites, implying that these Treg may induce antigen-specific and local immune tolerance. This review will discuss the ligands, mechanisms of immune suppression of Treg and its potential roles in cancer therapy.

Objective To investigate the adaptive expression of brush-border disaccharidases in the residual digestive tract of rats following a total small bowel resection. Methods Mucosa was scraped off with a piece of glass from the colon,the cecum and the duodenum of the rats with a total small bowel resection (experimental group,n =10) and normal rats (control group,n =10). Diaccharidase activities were determined in accordance with the method of Dahlqvist. Results Specific activities and total activities of sucrase,maltase in the colon,the cecum and the duodenum in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group( P 0.05). Conclusions Total small bowel resection caused significant adaptive expression of brush-border sucrase and maltase in the residual digestive tract in the rats after a total small bowel resection.

Objective To investigate the expression of phosphorylated RB (pRB) in the invasion front of papillary thyroid carcinoma and the clinical pathological implications. Methods Immunohistochemistry was ap-plied in analyzing pRB expression feature and the clinical pathological implications in a total of 82 patients who underwent total or subtotal thyroidectomy and neck lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Results The displacement of pRB proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm was observed in the invasive front of papil-lary thyroid carcinoma , which was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carci-noma. Conclusion Nuclear-cytoplasmic transport of pRB in the invasive front was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective To construct MUC1-VNTR DNA vaccine pancreatic cancer. Methods The recombinant gene of VNTR was synthesized and cloned into MCS in the pcDNA3. 1/Myc-his ( + ) A vector. pcDNA3. 1-VNTR/Myc-his( + ) A was injected twice into C57BL/6( H-2b)female mice (V group, n = 15). Mice inoculated with either the empty plasmid vector ( D group, n = 15 ) or 0. 9% NaCl ( NS group, n, = 15) were used as control. Two weeks later, both humoral and cellular immunity of the mice were studied. Results The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3. 1 -VNTR/Myc-his ( + ) A encoded the whole exact translation frame region of the pcDNA3. 1/Myc-his ( + ) A vector and the recombinant gene of human VNTR. The transfected COS7 cells expressed transgene products at 48 hours after transfection. Intramuscular delivery of the recombinant plasmid into C57BL/6 mice resulted in more efficient induction of CTL lysis specific against VNTR polypeptide than the D group and the NS group (P

Objective To determine the clinical value of hypergammaglobulinemia as a sentinel for autoimmune pancreatitis and avoid unnecessary pancreas resection.Methods All 14 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis or related pancreatic diseases underwent routine examinations,including liver function,CA199 and imaging.Measurement of serum IgG or IgG4 was performed for patients with clinically suspected or pathologically proved autoimmune pancreatitis.Clinical features were retrospectively compared between the AIP and non-AIP patients using x2 statistics with Yates correction or Fisher exact test.Results Ten cases were finally confirmed as autoimmune pancreatitis.All patients with autoimmune pancreatitis had elevated levels of serum γ-globulins,while only one case without autoimmune pancreatitis had elevated levels of serum γ-globulins.It was proved by subsequent antibody tests that serum IgG/IgG4 and γ-globulins were simultaneously increased.Conclusions Hypergammaglobulinemia can be used as a preoperative sentinel indicator for differentiating autoimmune pancreatitis from pancreatic malignancies and avoiding unnecessary pancreas operation.

Objective The development of cancer vaccines deserves experimentation,specifically the immunogenicity of the new MUC1 DNA vaccine for pancreatic cancer.Methods Three strategies were combined to optimize the new MUC1 DNA vaccine.The female C57BL/6 mice were immunized,through tibial muscle injection,with 100 μg of plasmid DNA of the recombinant plasmids (pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR group,pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR-C1-144 group,pIRES2-EGFP 3VNTR-mIL-18 group,pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR-C1-144-mIL-18 group,n=5) for a total volume of 100 μl.Mice inoculated with the empty vector pIRES2-EGFP (EV group,n=5) and normal saline (NS group,n=5) were used as vector and blank controls,respectively.All the mice were immunized again every two weeks.Two weeks after the third immunization,all the mice were euthanized and spleen cells were separated for CTL cytotoxic assay.Results The specific cytolysis percentages of the four groups (pIRES2-EG-FP-3VNTR,pIRES2-EGFP-3 VNTR-C1-144,pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR-mIL-18,pIRES2-EGFP 3VNTR-C1-144-mIL-18) expressing VNTR were higher than the EV and NS group with the effector/target cells ratio (E/T) from 80:1 to 20:1 (P＜0.05).Therefore,it showed a difference among the four groups.After the primary immunization,the OD450 of the serum antibody level specific to MUC1 began to increase in the four groups which contained the gene of VNTR3 (P＜0.05).This suggests that the recombinant plasmids could induce a specific antibody response to MUC1,and showed no remarkable difference among the four groups.IFN-γ serum cytokine among the four groups were higher than that of the EV and NS groups (P＜0.05).There was a significant difference of OD450 between the groups containing mIL-18 pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR-mIL-18,pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR-C1-144-mIL-18) and those not (pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR,pIRES2-EGFP-3VNTR-C1-144,)(P＜0.05).Conclusions In conclusion,all of the four recombinant plasmids could induce MUC1 specific CTL and antibodies responses,and C1-144 and IL-18 could enhance the immunogenicity of plasmids.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas.Methods The clinical data of 10 patients with anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas who were admitted to the Zhongshan Hospital from January 1999 to June 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.Computed tomography was carried out preoperatively and surgical plan was designed according to the site of tumors.Chemoradiotherapy was applied postoperatively.Patients were followed up till March 2012 by phone call and out-patient examination.The clinical and imaging features,pathological characteristics,treatment and follow-up data were analyzed.The clinical and pathological features were analyzed by descriptive statistics.The continuous data were described as (x) ± s,and categorical data were presented by frequency and precentage.Results The tumors located at the head of the pancreas were observed in 5 patients,tumor located at the neck of the pancreas in 1 patient,and tumors located at the body and tail of the pancreas in 4 patients.Two patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD),2 underwent PD + extended lymph node dissection,1 underwent PD + portal vein reconstruction,1 underwent pancreatectomy,4 underwent resection of body and tail of pancreas and splenectomy.The size of the tumors ranged from 2.0 cm × 2.0 cm × 2.0 cm to 14.0 cm × 12.0 cm × 9.0 cm.Duodenal and biliary invasion was observed in 4 patients,superior mesenteric vein-portal vein invasion in 1 patient,splenic artery invasion in 1 patient.Neural invasion was observed in 8 patients,including 4 patients with lymph node metastasis.The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that 10 patients were with positive expression of cytokeratin 7,and 1 patient was with positive expression of vimentin.Nine patients were followed up,2 patients did not receive postoperative chemoradiotherapy,6 received chemotherapy with Gemicitabine and 1 received interventional treatment.The survival time of the 9 patients ranged from 8 to 20 months,and the median survival time was 12 months.Eight patients died of tumor recurrence and metastasis.Conclusions Pancreatic anaplastic carcinoma is a distinct rare variant of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Pancreatic anaplastic carcinoma has high malignancy,definite diagnosis depends on pathological examination,and the surgical plan should be made according to the result of imaging examination.Conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy are ineffective for the treatment of this disease.

Objective To analyse the factors that have effects on patients' procalcitonin (PCT)level after gastic surgery and to evaluate PCT as a parameter for detection of infectious complications.Methods A total of 153 patients undergoing gastric surgery were included in the study between Jul 2011 and Jan 2013.Temperature and routine blood samples for determining PCT level,neutrophil ratio,white blood cell count were obtained on postoperative days (POD) 1,3,7.Predictive values for each of the markers were examined.Results Postoperative complication,preoperative infection and surgery type affected the PCT level of patients on POD 1.Meanwhile,the independent factor that had influence on PCT level on POD 3 and 7 was postoperative complication.After excluding those patients with preoperative infection,patients with infectious complication exhibited significantly higher PCT levels (t =2.92,P ＜0.01,t =5.34,P ＜0.01,t =4.03,P ＜0.05) on POD 1,3,7 respectively),neutrophil ratio (on POD 3 and 7) and WBC count (on POD 3) than did those without complication.According to receiver operating characteristic analysis,PCT showed the highest AUC on POD 1,7 (AUC =0.89 and 0.87 respectively).In the patients without complication,the mean PCT value was (0.47 ± 0.97),(0.36 ± 0.50),(0.23 ± 0.24) ng/ml on POD 1,3,7 respectively.The PCT level declined 55％ from POD 1 to POD 3 and from POD 3 to POD 7.Conclusions The serum PCT level of patients without any complication showed a decreasing trend while PCT level of those with infectious complications increased significantly.Continuous monitoring PCT level could serve as a diagnostic tool for the early identification of infectious complication after gastric surgery.