ObjectiveTo evaluate the image quality of displaying the pulmonary artery and pulmonary emboli at different tube voltages and find the optimal tube voltage.MethodsSixty-six patients underwent contrast-enhanced dual energy CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) from August 2007 to February 2010.Data obtained with 80 kVp,weighted average 120 kVp,and 140 kVp were divided into group Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ respectively.CT value of pulmonary artery ( grade 1—4),emboli,and muscles were measured.Corresponding signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were calculated.One-way ANOVA analysis and Friedman test were used to analyze statistical significance among these values.Image quality of CTPA from these three groups was assessed.The inter-reader agreement of image quality was performed by kappa test.ResultsCT value of branch 1 to 4 of ptlmonary artery was (446 ± 140) HU,(433±130) HU,(411 ±138) HU,and (392±127) HU in group Ⅰ,(303±91) HU,(290±85) HU,(276±86) HU,and (263 ±85) HU in group Ⅱ,and (244 ±70) HU,(230 ±63) HU,(216 ±72) HU,and (205 ±68) HU in group Ⅲ.There was significant difference for CT values (P ＜0.01) among three groups.CT value of pulmonary artery in 80 kVp images was higher than 140 kyp and 120 Kvp.On quantitative analysis of 37 patients,CNR value of pulmonary clots was 8.3 ± 3.3,8.0 ± 2.9,and 5.6 ± 2.2 in group Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and ⅢⅢ,respectively.CNR values of pulmonary clots in 80 kVp images and 120 kVp images were higher than that in 140 kVp (P ＜0.01 ).There was no statistical difference for image quality of CTPA among the three groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Agreement of image quality of CTPA derived from 80 kVp (kappa value =0.789,P ＜0.01 ) was superior to that of 120 kVp (kappa value =0.652,P ＜0.01 ) and 140 kVp ( kappa value = 0.509,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions CT value of pulmonary artery in 80 kVp images was higher than that of weighted average 120 kVp and 140 kVp,and the image quality and CNR was comparable with that of weighted average 120 kVp images.This tube voltage ( 80 kVp) is optimal for CT pulmonary angiography in the evaluation of patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Objective To evaluate monoenergetic imaging of dual energy CT in the visualization of metal fixation of factures. Methods In total, 29 patients with factures underwent 36 metal fixations,including 11 external fixations implanting in tibiofibula (n = 11 ) and 25 internal fixations (cervical spine,n=10; lumbar spine, n=4; tibiofibula, n=8; radial bone, n=3). They were recruited into this study.After dual energy CT scan, monoenergetic software was used to post-process with the following 6 photon energies: 40, 70, 100, 130, 160, 190 keV. Two radiologists evaluated and rated the reformatted images with 6 different photon energies and average weighted 120 kV images according to the following 4-score scale. Score 1: nonassessable, with marked artifact; score 2: assessable, moderate artifact; score 3: good,mild artifact, good visualization of bony structures; score 4: excellent, no artifact. Kruskal-Wallis was used to perform statistical analysis of image quality for total fixations, external and internal fixations with various selective kev settings and average weighted 120 kV. Results For total fixations, monoenergetic imaging of dual energy CT has 25 fixations with score 3 and 4, but 120 kV has only 4 fixations with score 3 and 4.Monoenergetic imaging of dual energy CT improved image quality of fractures with metal fixation compared to average weighted 120 kV images ( F = 116. 487, P ＜0. 01 ). Images of 130 kev had the best image quality for external metal fixation (9 fixations with score 3 and 4, F = 60. 902, P ＜ 0. 01), while 70 kev was best for internal metal fixation ( F = 122. 149, P ＜ 0. 01). Conclusions Monoenergetic imaging of dual energy CT improves image quality of fractures with metal fixation. Reformatted images at 70 keV and 130 keV havethe optimal image quality for internal and external metal fixation, respectively.

Strains from the cellulose-containing environment were collected. Primary screening(by filter-paper Hutchison solid culture medium and sodium carboxymethylcellulose solid culture medium) and reelection(by filter-paper inorganic salt culture medium and sodium carboxymethylcellulosc Congo red coltnre medium) indicated that five strains obtained were best suited for high performance cellulose degradation. Determination of sodium carboxymethylcellulose activity(CMCA) and filter paper activity(FPA) was accomplished for each of the five. The strongest of the five in CMCA and FPA was applied to the production of cellulose bioethanol by separate hydrolysis and fermentation(SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation(SSF) respectively.

To study and optimize the fermentation parameters for expressing human-like collagenⅡduring E. coli high-density fermentation. The effects of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and induction instant on the cell growth and human-like collagenⅡproduction were investigated to optimize the fermentation conditions. The results demonstrated that the following conditions were beneficial for cell growth and foreign gene expression, controlling pH in phase induction at 6.8 and initial pH at 6.5, maintaining fermentation temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration was controlled at 34?C and 20% respectively, and implementing induction at the later logarithmic growth phase. Under the optimized condition, the cell density and human-like collagenⅡyield could reach 88.4 g/L and 14.2 g/L, respectively.

This research adopted silt as the sample,and the five highest hydrogen production performing strains contained in the sample were isolated. The strain whose hydrogen production was the highest was identified as Enterobacter cloacae by the analysis of 16S rDNA sequencing and comparison. It is showed by Plackett-Burman Experimental Design that only glucose,citric buffer and reducing agent had significant effects on hydrogen production by Enterobacter cloacae FML-C1. The path of steepest ascent was undertaken to approach the optimal response region of those three factors. Central Composite Design(CCD) and Response Surface Methodology(RSM) were employed to investigate the interaction of the variables and to ascertain the optimal values of the factors,which finally led to the maximum hydrogen production(VH2) . The theoretical optimal medium conditions were:glucose 21.5 g/L,citric buffer 13.6 mL/L,reducing agent10.0 mL/L. The five tentative tests matched this model well. The final VH2 was up to 2347.4 mL/L,which was 127.42% enhanced in comparison to the original. The result shows that PB experiment design and RSM analytical method work well in selecting factors which have significant influences on the hydrogen production and,moreover,achieve the ideal optimal result.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of gadolinium-enhanced dual energy CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in detecting pulmonary embolism (PE).MethodsIn vitro dual energy CT of phantoms of gadolinium and iodinated contrast agents with different diluted ratio was performed,and CT values were measured at different tube voltages.Ten rabbits which were grouped into 3 ml/kg and 5 ml/kg groups underwent dual energy CT scan.CT values of pulmonary artery trunk and the first branch of pulmonary artery were measured.Sponge gelatin were injected into the femoral vein of 6 rabbits to make PE model next day,then lungs were re-imaged with dual energy CT 2 h after embolization.Creatinine was repeatedly measured before and one day after injection of gadolinium via ear marginal vein or femoral vein sampling.One-way ANOVA test and independent student t test were used to analyze the difference of pulmonary artery enhancement between different groups.Results ( 1 ) Compared with iodinated contrast agent,CT value of gadolinium-based contrast agent at 80 kV was higher than those at 140 kV and averageweighted 120 kV.(2) At 140,80,and average weighted 120 kV,CT values of pulmonary artery trunk [CT values were (463.1 ± 118.0),(664.2 ± 188.0),(522.9 ± 137.7) HU] and of the first branch of pulmonary artery [ CT values were (445.1 ± 82.3 ),(606.7 ± 207.2),(493.4 ± 117.3 ) HU ] were higher than those at 3 ml/kg [ CT value of pulmonary artery trunk was ( 258.1 ± 55.1 ),( 384.0 ± 92.3 ),(295.4 ± 73.6) HU,CT value of the first branch of pulmonary artery (245.0 ± 73.2 ),( 309.1 ± 94.2),(263.8 ±78.5) HU;all P ＜0.05].CT values of pulmonary artery trunk and the first branch of pulmonary artery at 80 kV were higher than those at 140 kV and average-weighted 120 kV ( pulmonary artery trunk:F =6.004,P =0.005 ; the first branch of pulmonary artery: F =4.374,P =0.018).In 6 rabbits,CTPA showed the enhancement cut-off of bilateral pulmonary arteries,gadolinium mapping showed decreased perfusion in the corresponding lung lobes,manifested as blue on color-coded map,while normal lung was color coded as red or yellow.Creatinine was higher by 6.7％ and 20.6％ for group 3 ml/kg and 5 ml/kg.ConclusionsWith similar X-ray attenuation characteristics as iodine,gadolinium-based contrast agent can be used to pulmonary contrast-enhanced dual energy CT imaging,simultaneously providing both CTPA and gadolinium maps to detect PE.

Human-like collagen (HLC) was cross-linked with hyaluronic acid by genipin in different ratio. The concentrations of hyaluronic acid in the mixture were 0, 0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1%. The blood vessel tubular grafts were then fabricated by freeze-drying. Microstructure, element composite, mechanical properties, cytotoxicity grade, and biocompatibility of different vascular scaffold groups were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), tensile test, burst pressure experiment, cytotoxicity experiment, endothelial cells planted in blood vessel scaffolds and hypodermic embedding of mice. The results showed that HLC-HA (0.05%) tubular scaffold exhibited interconnected well-distributed and porous structure and porosity of 94.38%; achieved the desirable mechanical property with stress of (1000.8 +/- 7.9) kPa and burst pressure of (1058.6 +/- 8.2) kPa, hypocytotoxicity, favourable cytocompatibility, hisocompatibility and disposition of degradation.
Adhesives ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Biomimetic Materials ; chemistry ; Blood Vessels ; drug effects ; physiology ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; chemistry ; Iridoid Glycosides ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Mice ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds