Trying to provide ultrasonic image-aid measures for quantitative diagnosis and dynamic monitoring of liver fibrosis, we propose two scoring methods for liver fibrosis tissue in vivo , based on ultrasound radio frequency (RF) time series in this paper. Firstly, RF echo signals of human liver were recorded in this study. Then one of the recorded frame RF data was demodulated to be B model image. After that, a region of interest (ROI) in the B model image was selected. For each point in the ROI, its all frame data were acquired so that RF time series were formed. An SMR (size measure relationship) fractal dimension and six spectral features were extracted from RF time series in the ROI. With relative deviation and Fisher's discriminant ratio, seven features were weighted and summed so that the liver tissues' scores were obtained, Score-rd and Score-fisher, respectively. Area under ROC curve (AUC) and a support vector machine (SVM) were used to evaluate whether these scoring methods would be useful in distinguishing normal and cirrhosis tissues. Experimental results are shown as follows: Score-rd's AUC was 0.843, while Score-fisher was 0.816, SVM classification accuracies were both up to 87.5%. This proved that our proposed scoring methods were effective in distinguishing normal and cirrhosis tissues. Score-rd and Score-fisher have potential for clinical applications. They can also provide quantitative references for liver fibrosis diagnosis.
Area Under Curve ; Fractals ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; classification ; diagnostic imaging ; Radio Waves ; Support Vector Machine ; Ultrasonography

Objective To explore the correlation between homocysteine(Hcy),lipids amd type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The laboratory test results of 533 cases of patients with T2DM(T2DM group)and 362 cases of healthy individuals (healthy control group)were retrospectively analyzed.Results The serum levels of Hcy and rates of abnormal serum cholesterol (TC),triacylglycerol(TG),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels in the T2DM group were higher than those in the healthy control group,had statistically significant differences(P <0.05).Conclusion The high serum level of Hcy and abnormal lipid metabolism are correlated with T2DM,which might be risk factors of diabetes mel-litus and cardiovascular disease.

Decision on mode of delivery (MOD) is a process involved by both clients and health care providers, based on specific clinical situations and women′s values. To help each woman obtain the best MOD is crucial for obstetric health professionals to provide women-centered high quality of care. There is a steep upward trend in cesarean sections in China due to the introduced advanced technologies, overused antenatal monitoring methods, flexible indications for cesarean sections, delayed childbearing ages and people′s misconceptions, etc.. Recently the conditional and comprehensive two-child policy have been implemented in China, which might initiate changes in fertility and birth intentions of many families, and in subsequent decisions on MOD. This review illustrates the pros and cons of MOD, decision process on MOD, influencing factors and strategies to promote decision on MOD, in order for the obstetric professionals to provide evidence-based best care for women and their families in the process of decision-making.

A semantic modeling approach for medical image semantic retrieval based on hierarchical Bayesian networks was proposed, in allusion to characters of medical images. It used GMM (Gaussian mixture models) to map low-level image features into object semantics with probabilities, then it captured high-level semantics through fusing these object semantics using a Bayesian network, so that it built a multi-layer medical image semantic model, aiming to enable automatic image annotation and semantic retrieval by using various keywords at different semantic levels. As for the validity of this method, we have built a multi-level semantic model from a small set of astrocytoma MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) samples, in order to extract semantics of astrocytoma in malignant degree. Experiment results show that this is a superior approach.
Artificial Intelligence ; Astrocytoma ; diagnosis ; Bayes Theorem ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Models, Theoretical ; Semantics

Objective: To investigate the association between the left atrial appendage (LAA) volume and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation. Methods: We prospectively enrolled sixty-two patients with AF (40 cases with paroxysmal AF, 22 cases with persistent AF) who successfully underwent a first AF catheter ablation and had performed contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT) prior to the procedure to measure LAA volumes in our hospital from January 2012 to August 2015. Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation was performed under the guidance of three-dimension mapping system (CARTO system). Linear ablation or ablation of complex fractioned atrial electrograms was also undertaken if necessary. All patients were followed up at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months after ablation by 24-hour ambulatory Holter monitoring, and were divided into the non-recurrence group (n=42) and the AF recurrence group (n=20). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were used to assess the factors related to AF recurrence. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to assess the best cut-off value of LAA volume to predict AF recurrence. Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the rate of freedom from AF recurrence. Results: Mean LAA volume in all patients was (9.5±3.6)ml. AF recurrence occurred in 20 patients (32%) during the follow-up period. The LAA volume was significantly larger in the AF recurrence group than in the non-recurrence group ((11.5±3.8)ml vs. (8.3±3.1)ml, P=0.002). In the univariate regression analysis, LAA volume (HR=1.36, 95%CI 1.14-1.82, P<0.001), persistent AF (HR=4.43, 95%CI 1.52-12.06, P<0.001) and hypertension (HR=1.61, 95%CI 1.13-2.04, P=0.041) were risk factors of AF recurrence. However, multivariate regression analysis revealed that LAA volume (HR=1.32, 95%CI 1.12-1.51, P<0.001) and persistent AF (HR=4.22, 95% CI 1.48-11.05, P<0.001) were independent predictors for AF recurrence after ablation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that a LAA volume >8.80 ml was associated with AF recurrence after ablation (sensitivity: 94% and specificity: 66%, area under the curve=0.76). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a lower rate free from AF recurrence in the group with LAA volume >8.80 ml (P<0.001). Conclusion Larger LAA volume is associated with AF recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with AF. A LAA volume greater than 8.80 ml could be used to predict AF recurrence after ablation.

Objective: To study the current status, hotspots and frontiers in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) research among medical staff. Methods: A comprehensive search on OHS of domestic and international literature on medical staff was conducted using the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science databases from 2002 to 2022. The collected literature was subjected to bibliometric analysis and visualized using CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software. Results: A total of 5 858 articles related to medical personnel OHS comprising 2 144 Chinese articles and 3 714 English articles, were included. The publication of Chinese articles showed an initial increase followed by a decline, while English articles exhibited a sustained increase followed by a sudden decline. Domestic research mainly focused on hospitals and academic institutions, with few collaboration between institutions and regions in China. Research abroad demonstrated strong collaboration and exchange between countries and institutions. The OHS related research hotspots were occupational exposure, occupational health, and occupational safety of medical personnel at home and abroad. The key department of interest was operating rooms, and the key group personnel was nurses. Advanced research in foreign countries has extended to fields such as personal protective equipment and medical personnel sleep issues. Conclusion: There is still a gap on OHS research among medical staff between China and foreign countries. Domestic scholars need to grasp the academic frontiers, strengthen collaboration and exchange among domestic institutions, regions, and international counterparts, enlarge the research scope and content to ensure the OHS of medical personnel.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in the treatment of suspected influenza in children. Method: A multicenter, randomized and open-label trial was conducted among 229 individuals with suspected influenza which were collected from the clinic of 5 hospitals in Guangdong province (Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center, Shenzhen Baoan District Maternity and Child Care Service Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Dongguan Maternity and Child Care Service Centre, Yuexiu District Children′s Hospital of Guangzhou) from April to July 2015. They were randomized either to oseltamivir group (oseltamivir 30-75 mg, twice daily for 5 days) or control group who were given symptom relief medicines for 5 days. Result: No significant difference was found between two groups in influenza symptoms of the patients before the treatment(P>0.05). Altogether 229 individuals (114 in oseltamivir group, 115 in control group) were analyzed for efficacy, in which 73 individuals (42 oseltamivir, 31 control), 31.9%, were identified as influenza-infected through laboratory test. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the duration of fever although shortened. In the 229 individuals , the cumulative alleviation proportion between oseltamivir and control group was not significantly different (P>0.05): the median duration of illness was 69.9 hours (95% CI 65.3-91.5) in oseltamivir group and 75.4 hours (95%CI 63.9-91. 7) in control group; the median duration of fever was 40.4 hours (95%CI 31.5-53.4) in oseltamivir group and 44.0 hours (95%CI 33.2-50.0) in control group. In the 73 individuals, the cumulative alleviation proportion between oseltamivir and control group was significantly different (P<0.05). The median duration of illness was 61.2 hours (95%CI 48.0-121. 0) in oseltamivir group, being significantly shorter than that of 116.0 hours (95%CI 91.5-175.0) in control group. But it was not significantly different that the median duration of fever was 32.8 hours (95%CI 24.0-47.0 ) in oseltamivir group and 55.8 hours (95%CI 43.6-78.3 ) in control group (P>0.05). And the median duration of fever in 60 individuals (38 oseltamivir, 22 control) was significantly different between two groups(P<0.05), who had finished a course of taking oseltamivir in the 73 individuals, 34.8 hours (95%CI 24.0-48.5 ) in oseltamivir group being significantly shorter than that of 53.3 hours (95%CI 43.6-104.0 ) in control group. There was certain difference in side effects rate between the two groups (oseltamivir 10%, control 2%, P<0.05). The main side-effects were gastrointestinal symptoms (stomachache, diarrhea, poor appetite, vomiting). Conclusion The duration of illness and fever in suspected influenza patients treated with oseltamivir was shorter than those in the patients treated with no oseltamivir, the difference was not statistically significant, when 31.9% was confirmed with positive result of virus test in suspected influenza in children. But in these patients with positive result of virus test, the duration of illness was significantly shortened with treatment with oseltamivir as compared with no treatment with oseltamivir, and it would be better if full oseltamivir course was completed for reducing the duration of fever. Oseltamivir treatment was safe with mild side effects.

Objective: To summarize the characteristics of abdominal-pelvic unplanned reoperation (URO) in a cancer hospital. Methods: Retrospectively descriptive cohort research was adopted. The classification of diseases was based on ICD-10, and surgical classification was based on ICD-9-CM-3. Medical record summary database from 2008 to 2018 in Beijing Cancer Hospital was collected, and all URO information of abdominal-pelvic surgery was retrieve. The time of URO, disease type, surgery type and cause were statistically analyzed. Distribution of main disease incidence and constituent ratio, and the application of major surgery and surgery type composition ratio were analyzed as well. Results: From 2008 to 2018, a total of 46854 cases underwent abdominal-pelvic surgery (including gastrointestinal, hepatic-biliary-pancreatic, gynecological, urological, or esophageal cancer surgery) and 713 patients received URO (1.52%), including 486 males and 227 females (2.14:1.00) with a mean age of (58.1±12.2) years. A total of 246 patients (34.50%) had comorbidity, and with comorbidity: without comorbidity was 1.13:1.00. The hospital stay was (44.5±43.0) days, and the total cost was (178000±112000) yuan. There were 22 deaths (3.09%). The median interval between URO and the first operation was 8 (0 to 131) days. The highest rate of URO was 2.45% (89/3629) in 2012, while the lowest was 0.95% (53/5596) in 2015. The top 3 major cancer types of URO included colorectal cancer (222 cases, 31.14%), gastric cancer (166 cases, 23.28%) and esophageal cancer (45 cases, 6.31%). The cancer types with the highest URO rate included pancreatic cancer (3.97%, 30/756), gastric cancer (1.81%, 166/9171) and colorectal cancer (1.80%, 222/12333). The top 3 surgical procedures resulting in URO were rectal resection (109 cases, 15.29%), total gastrectomy (79 cases, 11.08%), and total pancreatectomy (64 cases, 8.98%). Focusing on 497 URO cases from 2012 to 2018, 465 cases (93.56%) followed relatively difficult grade III and IV surgery, while only 32 cases (6.44%) followed grade I and II surgery. The top 5 main causes of URO were bleeding (225 cases, 31.56%), anastomotic leak (225 cases, 31.56%), infection (89 cases, 12.48%), intestinal obstruction (53 cases, 7.43%), and wound dehiscence (35 cases, 4.91%), adding up to a total of 87.94% of all URO. Conclusion This study summarizes the epidemiology of abdominal - pelvic URO in our cancer institution, providing the solid baseline for future investigation of URO and the subsequent formulation of corresponding prevention and intervention measures.