Objective To develop a digital video system for esophageal variceal manometry and to evaluate its reliability. Methods The system consists of esophageal variceal manometer, pressure transducer, video capture card and special computer programs. An artificial esophagus containing water-filled latex tube was designed, in which the pressure had been measured by this system in vitro. The pressures of esophageal varices had been measured by using the method in five patients. Results In vitro study, a good correlation was showed between the actual pressure and measured pressure in the artificial varices with different diameter (3,6,9 mm)(r=0.975, P

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of estrogen on osteoblast apoptosis induced by serum hungry in vitro.MethodsOsteoblasts of second or third generation from newly born SD rats calvaria were divided randomly into the control group, serum hungry group and serum hungry with estrogen group. Cells of each group were incubated for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 5 d, 7 d and 14 d, then labeled using TUNEL staining and examined for morphological characteristics of apoptotic cell under light microscopy after incubated for 72 h. The rates of apoptotic cells of each group were examined with flow cytometry.ResultsThe cells of the control group showed normal appears, the serum hungry group had many cells with purple and blue particles in nuclei, but serum hungry with estrogen group had less such cells. The rate of apoptotic cell significantly increased in serum hungry group and decreased in serum hungry with estrogen group compared with the control group examined with flow cytometry (P<0.05).ConclusionEstrogen can repress osteoblasts apoptosis of rats induced by serum hungry.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of estrogen inhibiting osteoblast apoptosis induced with serum hungry.MethodsOsteoblasts of the second or third generation from newly born SD rats calvaria were divided randomly into three groups: control group,serum hungry group,serum hungry with estrogen group.Cells of each group were incubated for 1,2,3,5,7 or 14 d,and then were stained immunohistochemically.The rates of positive cells of each group were analyzed.ResultsThere was a little positive expression of Bax,Bcl2 and Fas in control group.The expression of Bax and Fas were significantly increased(P<0.05)in serum hungry group,peak time was 14 d,but the expression of Bcl-2 were not affected.Compared with that of serum hungry group,the expression of Bax and Fas significantly decreased(P<0.05) in serum hungry and estrogen group,peak time was still 14 d,while that of Bcl-2 increased(P<0.05).ConclusionSerum hungry can increase the expression of Bax and Fas in osteoblast,that can be inhibited by estrogen.Estrogen can also increase the expression of Bcl-2 in osteoblast.All of these may play a role in inhibiting osteoblast apoptosis induced with serum hungry.

Objective To evaluate the clinical reliability and feasibility of computerized endoscopic balloon manometry in vitro and in vivo, in measurement of pressure of esophageal varices. Methods Computerized endoscopic balloon manometry was used to measure the pressure of variceal model with different diameter (3 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm) and intraluminal pressures (ranging from 8 to 36 mm Hg), and the findings were compared with actual pressures. The technique was also applied in 23 patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices, and its correlation with hepatic venous pressure gradient and other factors related with varices bleeding. Results The study in vitro showed that the measured intraluminal pressure was correlated significantly with the actual value ( r ≥ 0. 993, P ＜ 0. 001 ) without obvious measurement bias(95% CI = -0.13 cm H2O to 0. 33 cm H2O). The measurement in 23 patients were success with little variation coefficient (r≥0. 998) between repeated procedures. Regression analysis showed a good correlation between variceal pressure and hepatic venous pressure gradient (r=0. 858, P ＜ 0. 001 ). A higher variceal pressure was strongly associated with presence of previous bleeding episodes, vascular diameter and presence of red color signs, but did not correlate with the parameter of Child-Pugh classification ( t = 0. 31, P =0. 76). Conclusion Computerized endoscopic balloon manometry is reliable and feasible to examine esophageal variceal pressure, and is very likely to be a valuable clinical index for variceal bleeding.

Non-invasive manometry of esophageal varices is a cynosure of researchers. This paper develops a method based on computer vision. Experiments results reveal that correct pressure value can be got quickly.
Aged ; Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Automatic Data Processing ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Venous Pressure

It is of great importance to measure the lesion area in scientific research and clinical practice. The present study aims to solve barrel distortion and measure lesion area with the technology of computer visualization. With the ultimate purpose to obtain the precise lesion area, the study, based on the original endoscopy system and digital image processing technology, dealt with the correction of barrel distortion by lens adjustment, calculated the gastric ulcer area with the aid of Qt database and finally developed an image processing software--Endoscope Assistant (EAS). The results showed that the EAS was accurate in vitro. It was employed to measure the gastric ulcer area of 45 patients and the results were compared with the traditional formula method. It could be well concluded that this technology is safe, accurate and economical for measuring gastric ulcer area.
Algorithms ; Gastroscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Software ; Stomach Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology

Standardization is the universal language of the world, and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is essential for its communication in China and globally. However, the principles and methods of TCM acupuncture standardization have been unclear and inadequate in the early stages. Based on an investigative approach to understanding the current status, identifying problems, and finding solutions, our team has established basic principles of TCM acupuncture that embody Chinese wisdom, evaluated the international strategic environment systematically, proposed the principle of “importance of harmony and exercise of impartiality”, and established basic working principles. A series of methods for TCM acupuncture standard development and evaluation have been constructed, including general standards for the revision of TCM acupuncture standards, the first TCM acupuncture clinical research management specification, a shared full chain technology platform, a data center, and an evaluation research base for TCM acupuncture clinical research. Evaluation criteria for ancient literature and expert experience, a recommendation method for the “three main and three auxiliaries” TCM guideline for prevention were established, and quantifiable assessment methods of TCM standard applicability were proposed. These findings provide methodological guidance for TCM acupuncture standardization.