In this paper, we present a 3D virtual phantom design software, which was developed based on object-oriented programming methodology and dedicated to medical physics research. This software was named Magical Phan tom (MPhantom), which is composed of 3D visual builder module and virtual CT scanner. The users can conveniently construct any complex 3D phantom, and then export the phantom as DICOM 3.0 CT images. MPhantom is a user-friendly and powerful software for 3D phantom configuration, and has passed the real scene's application test. MPhantom will accelerate the Monte Carlo simulation for dose calculation in radiation therapy and X ray imaging reconstruction algorithm research.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Monte Carlo Method ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Software ; Software Design

Methods of ELISA, nonradioactive molecular hybridiz ation and RT-PCR were applied in the detection of rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV ). The detection sensitivity of indirect ELISA using antiserum against fusion p rotein GST-NC was 1 mg of infected leaves or 84 ng of purified virus. The metho d of dot hybridization using NC, a DIG-labelled DNA probe was 50 μg diseased l e aves, or 6 ng purified preparations. The detection endpoint of RT-PCR was 10 μg diseased leaves, or 2 ng purified virus preparation. Comparisons of sensitivit y and maneuverability were made among these methods.

Objective To discuss the methods of selecting different shapes occluder and to evaluate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of them in transcatheter closures of congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children.Methods Transcatheter closures were performed in 226 children with congenital VSD,age ranging from 2 to 14 years(mean 5.62 years) under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and fluoroscopy.There were 14 patients with intracristal VSD,209 patients with perimembranous VSD and 3 patients with muscular VSD.Left ventriculography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed repeatedly after the procedure to assess the effect of occlusion.The echocardiography and electrocardiography were scheduled before discharge,1,6 and 12 months for the follow-up.Results The occluders were deployed successfully in 211 patients.The successful rate was 93.4%.Thin waist shape occluders,were deployed in 7 patients;equal side shape occluders,were deployed in 191 patients;eccentric shape occluders were deployed in 12 patients,and muscular defect occluders were deployed in 1 patient.There were no complications encountered during or after closure.Conclusions It is very important in transcatheter closure of congenital in children to select different shape occluder according to pathologic characteristics.In general,equal side shape occluder is suita-ble for a large number of defect and it is easy for deployment.In some conditions,the other shape occluder may be necessary.

A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) assay were applied to rapidly detect the molecular variability in CP and SP genes among seven isolates of Rice stripe virus in China. The PCR results showed that the CP gene of JD isolate and SP gene of PJ isolate could not be amplified. SSCP analysis showed that there were completely different electrophoretic pattern of CP gene among six isolates. To SP gene, SSCP results also discovered polymorphisms. There were five patterns among these isolates, and the pattern of YL and BS isolates were same.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history, unique system and perfect technology, which has been used to prevent or treat a variety of diseases in the form of compound medicine. Recently, some of the active ingredients from Chinese medicine were found to have self-assembly properties, mainly through non-covalent interactions, including π-π stacking, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond and coordination interactions, etc. Carrier-free nanoparticles based on self-assembly of active ingredients from Chinese medicine could not only improve the solubility of insoluble active ingredients, but also the bioavailability. As nanocarriers, the natural active ingredients could exert synergistic therapeutic effects. The strategy of self-assembly without carrier is safer and almost non-toxic compared to the commonly used nanocarriers. In addition, some ingredients from Chinese medicine could coordinate with metal ions to form stable nanoparticles, which could be applied to photothermal therapy. In this paper, we summarized and analyzed the recent achievements of carrier-free nanoparticles based on self-assembly of active ingredients from Chinese medicine, and briefly outlined the future development of this kind of nanomedicine.

Objective To compare the sensitivity and diagnostic features of mammogram (MG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on diagnosis of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with or without microinvasion (DCIS-MI).Methods From Jan 2012 to Nov 2013,results of MG and MRI from 72 cases of DCIS or DCIS-MI were retrospectively analyzed.Results The sensitivity of MG was 52.8％ (38/72).The sensitivity of MRI was 87.5％ (63/72),among those 76.2％ (48/63)lesions presented as non-mass-like enhancement.Sensitivity of MRI was significantly higher in DCIS-MI than DCIS (84.6％ vs 100％,P =0.027).Logistic regression analysis showed calcifications was an independent factor influencing the sensitivity of MG (OR =23.785,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions The sensitivity of MRI is higher than MG for the diagnosis of DCIS and DCIS-MI.

The genomes of umbraviruses do not encode a coat protein, and thus no conventional virus particles are formed in infected plants. Umbraviruses are always coinfected with an assistor virus, which is always a member of the family Luteoviridae, to cause most devastating diseases in some areas. The epidemiology of the umbra-virus-caused disease is largely depended on aphid transmission. The symptomology, occurrence, characteristics of the causal agents, disease control of carrot motley dwarf, groundnut rosette and tobacco bushy top were reviewed detailedly in this article.

Objective To investigate whether the monthly distribution of birth was associated with congenital heart disease(CHD).Methods The monthly distribution of birth of 5 070 patients with CHD who accepted examination or treatment from Jan.2003 to Dec.2006 was investigated and compared with that of 6 627 healthy newborn children born in 2001-2006.The statistic analysis was accomplished with SPSS 12.0 software for ?2 test.Results Four hundred and forty-four of the 5 070 patients with CHD were born in January(8.8%),432 cases in February(8.5%),384 cases in March(7.6%),339 cases in April(6.7%),390 cases in May(7.7%),393 cases in June(7.8%),414 cases in July(8.2%),489 cases in August(9.6%),498 cases in September(9.8%),492 cases in October(9.7%),396 cases in November(7.8%),and 399 cases in December(7.8%).The structural ratio of the number of CHD patients were the highest for those who were born in August,September,October,and the lowest among those who were born of February and March,April.The number of CHD patients who were born in the autumnal months of August,September and October was 1 479(29.1%),much higher than those who were born in February,March and April(1 155 cases,22.8%)(P