BACKGROUND:As the complexity of human anatomic structure,the abnormity of tissue shape and the difference among individuals,the structure of multifractal is adapted.OBJECTIVE:To investigate medical image segmentation based on multifractal.METHODS:Image segmentation was performed by algorithm based on capacity measurement and probability measure.The experimental images were segmented using traditional region growing,max capacity measurement,sum capacity measurement,and probability measure.Following adding noise,the images were identically segmented and compared.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the two algorithms based on multifractal,the key of the algorithm based on capacity measurement is that appropriate measure μα is defined,and the key of the algorithm based on probability measure is that appropriate normalized probability Pi is defined.The different measures (probability) and thresholds bring greater effect.The method based on probability measure is sensitive to noises,but after filtration noise,segmentation effect is greater for the images whose pixels vary comparatively great and very complicated.The results show that it is feasible that appropriate measure (probability) and threshold is chosen based on medical image segmentation.Especially greater advantage exists for the distinction of texture and edge in the complicated image processing,which can reserve details while precisely dividing.It has very significant practical significance.At the same time,multifractal can also be characteristics of images,which provide powerful data for feature extraction.

To investigate the effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on the proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) from neonatal rats induced by angiotensin II, and to explore the mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction in improving myocardial fibrosis.

Objective To evaluate clinical application of VCS technology in diagnosis for acute leukemia and its subtypes by LH750 automated hematology analyzer. Methods A total of 178 leukemia patients (105 acute granilocytic leukemia, 42 acute lymphocytic leukemia, 31 acute monecytic leukemia)and 151 non-leukemia patients (86 granulocytic abnormal cases, 35 lymphocytic abnormal cases,30 monocytic abnormal cases) were enrolled into this study. Peripheral blood samples were analyzed by both Coulter LH750 automated hematology analyzer and manual microscopic examination. Microscopic examination was used as reference to evaluate the diagnosis value of VCS technology in blast detecting. VCS parameters were compared for AGL subsets. The clinical value of VCS technology in diagnosis for different acute leukemia was also evaluated by combining VCS scattergram and suspect flags provided by LH750. Results Compared with manual examination, a sensitivity of 95.5% (170/178) and specificity of 95.4% (144/151) were achieved by VCS technology in detecting blasts in acute leukemia and nonleukemia patients. In patients with AGL, the MNV, MNV-SD, MNC and MNC-SD (224.40 ± 23.37,37.40 ±12. 31,145. 80 ±7. 93,24. 79 ±5. 18) were higher than granulocytic abnormal patients( 169.96 ±11.50,29.21 ± 5.27,133.30 ± 5.50, 10.62 ± 4.09) and the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 16. 832, 5. 148, 5. 735, 19. 953 respectively, P < 0. 01 ). On the contrary, MNS ( 122. 90 ±6. 35) in AGL patients was significantly lower than granulocytic abnormal patients( 131.00 ± 5. 69, t =-7.64, P<0.01). In patients with ALL, the MLV, MLV-SD, MLC, MLS, MLS-SD (97.60 ± 13.40,22. 35 ± 7.94,110. 00 ± 4. 60,77. 60 ± 19.00,20. 61 ± 3.30 ) were higher than lymphocytic abnormal patients(82. 10 ± 3.00, 14.41 ±2.35, 100.60 ±2.70, 48. 10 ±3.50, 17.60 ± 1.60). The data also showed a statistical significance (t values were 7.576, 6. 118, 4. 041, 9. 353, 2. 988 respectively, P <0.05). In patients with AMOL, the MMV, MMV-SD, MMC, MMC-SD, MMS(197. 30 ±20.50,30.47 ±6.58,123.20 ± 10. 10,6.57 ± 1.57,98.00 ± 5.60) were significantly higher than monocytic abnormal patients( 167.80 ± 15.77,21.90 ± 9. 64,113.60 ± 6. 73,5.20 ± 3. 21,84. 20 ± 14. 35 ) and the differences were statistically significant (t values were 6. 332, 4. 033, 4. 650, 2. 993, 6. 273 respectively , P <0. 01 ).The differences of MNV, MNV-SD, MNC, MNC-SD, MNS-SD for different AGL subtypes were statistically significant ( F values were 21.2, 169. 5, 13.6, 3. 6 and 98.6 respectively, P <0. 01 ). For AGL, ALL and AMOL, the ratios of normal blast distribution in scattergram were 81% (85/105), 74% (31/42) ,and 74% (23/31). Conclusions The VCS parameters can reflect the changes of peripheral white blood cell morphology sensitively. VCS technology can diagnose acute leukemia and its subtypes efficieutly.

Biomacromolecules play an important role in the treatment of many diseases, but as a result of cell membrane serving as the natural barriers, only the small molecular compounds whose molecular weights are smaller than 600 Da can get through cell membrane and enter the cell. In recent years, some short peptides (the length less than 30 amino acids) are found to have the cell-penetrating function, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). They are able to effectively translocate segments of protein, polypeptides, nucleic acid into the cells of many mammal animals with many methods. They have high transduction efficiency and will not lead to cell damage. So, the discovery of CPPs has a very good applicable prospect in such research fields as cell-biology, gene-therapy, drug transduction in vivo, evaluation of clinical medicine and medical immunology. This paper reviews the types and characteristics of CPPs, internalization mechanisms, applications, and their existing problems.

Objective To investigate the expression of human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its clinical value.Methods From April 2014 to December 2015,Serum samples of 92 non-cancer patients diagnosed as CKD and 84 healthy controls were collected in Nantong University Hospital.HE4,BUN,Scr,Cys C and β2MG were detected.The difference of HE4 expression in different stages of CKD and the correlation of HE4 with Urea,Scr,Cys C and β2MG were analysized,respectively.ROC curve was used to evaluate the auxiliary diagnostic value of HE4,BUN,Scr,Cys C and β2MG.Results The serum HE4 expression in patients with impaired renal function was 388.2 (130.1～1 659.5)mIu/ L,(F=16.237,P=0.001).Which was significantly higher than that in the control group [38.1 (32.77 ～ 48.17)mIu/L].The serum HE4 expression was increased by the stage of renal damage and the difference was existed among different groups (P＜0.05).HE4 expression was positive related with Cys C and β2MG.The AUC of HE4,BUN,Scr,Cys C and β2MG were 0.878,0.785,0.816,0.874 and 0.819,respectively.Conlusion It needs to consider the exsits of impaired renal function when the HE4 was detected.The HE4 might be a novel early diagnostic indication for CKD.

Biomacromolecules play an important role in the treatment of many diseases, but as a result of cell membrane serving as the natural barriers, only the small molecular compounds whose molecular weights are smaller than 600 Da can get through cell membrane and enter the cell. In recent years, some short peptides (the length less than 30 amino acids) are found to have the cell-penetrating function, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). They are able to effectively translocate segments of protein, polypeptides, nucleic acid into the cells of many mammal animals with many methods. They have high transduction efficiency and will not lead to cell damage. So, the discovery of CPPs has a very good applicable prospect in such research fields as cell-biology, gene-therapy, drug transduction in vivo, evaluation of clinical medicine and medical immunology. This paper reviews the types and characteristics of CPPs, internalization mechanisms, applications, and their existing problems.

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze rules for acupoint selection and prescription composition in clinical literature regarding acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSCHKD, VIP and Wan-fang databases were retrieved. The clinical literature data included in the study was collected. The descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the main acupoints, main meridians of main acupoints, distribution of main acupoints, application of special points and rules for acupoint composition.

RESULTSFifty-two articles were included, involving 55 main acupoints with a total frequency of 375. The most frequent acupoints of acupuncture for PCOS were Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zhongji (CV 3) and Qihai (CV 6). The meridians of main acupoitns were conception vessel, spleen meridian of foot-taiyin and stomach meridian of foot-yangming. The main acupoints were distributed in the lower abdomen, lower limbs and back. In the special points, the use of front-mu points, five-shu points and back-shu points was more frequent. The prescription was usually consisted of 5 to 7 acupoints, (6. 9 ± 3. 6) acupoints in average.

CONCLUSIONIn the modern treatment of acupuncture for PCOS, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zhongii (CV 3) and Qihai (CV 6) are most used. With the theories of meridian and zang-fu as essential references, the acupoint selection is based on disease differentiation and meridian circulation. Additionally, the methods for selecting the adjacent points and the distant points are adopted.

@@

Objective This study aims to investigate the moral disgust cognitive processing of patients with obses?sive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its relationship with OCD symptoms. Methods Twenty-eight OCD and 30 healthy controls matched for gender, age and education completed lexical decision task, recording reaction time and accuracy of words and assessing the degree of disgust. Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) and Padua Invento?ry-Washington State University Revision (PI-WUSR) were used to assess the symptoms. Results OCD group showed significantly longer reaction time to core disgust-related words [(762.69 ± 128.25) ms vs. (648.69 ± 162.66) ms] and moral disgust-related words [(798.73 ± 115.26) ms vs. (727.00 ± 106.06) ms] than the healthy controls (P<0.05). OCD group showed significantly higher aversion degree to core disgust-related words [(6.38 ± 1.78) vs. (5.03 ± 1.64)] and moral dis?gust-related words [(7.08 ± 1.23) vs. (5.77 ± 1.44)] than control group (P<0.05). Y-BOCS total score, Y-BOCS obsessive thoughts score, Y-BOCS compulsive behavior score, total score of PI-WUSR, cleaning/pollution force factor score, hurt?ing themselves and others force factor were positively correlated with two types of disgust-related words in patients group (P<0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis between disgust words and Y-BOCS/PI-WUSR scores pointed that only CWCF influenced disgust degree of core disgust-related words (β=0.61, P<0.01) and moral disgust-related words (β=0.54, P<0.01), respectively. Conclusion The core disgust and moral disgust of OCD are stronger compared to controls.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on physical and mental health of the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with electroacupuncture (EA) or Diane 35.

METHODSSeventy-two patients of PCOS were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 36 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to relieving liver stagnation and regulatingactivity at Ganshu (BL 18), Danzhong (CV 17), Qimen (LR 14), Zhongwan (CV 4), Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3). Afterarrival, the electric stimulation was added for 30 min. Acupuncture treatment was given 3 times a week. In the western medication group, Diane 35 was taken since the 5th day of menstruation and lasted for 21 days. The cycle of treatment was 3 months in the two groups. Before treatment and at the end of treatment, the symptom scores were evaluated and the self-report symptom inventory, symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) was used for the mental health evaluation and the comparison was made between the two groups.

RESULTSCompared with those before treatment in the same group, the symptom scores were reduced significantly after treatment in the two groups (both<0.01). After treatment, the symptom scores in the acupuncture group were reduced significantly as compared with those in the western medicationgroup (<0.01). After treatment, the scores of somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety and hostility were reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment in the acupuncture group (all<0.05). After treatment, the scores of somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility and phobic factor were lower significantly than those in the western medication group (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA with relieving liver stagnation and regulatingactivity reduces the symptom scores of PCOS and SCL-90 scores, acting on regulating both physical and mental conditions. The effects achieved with acupuncture are better than those with Diane 35.