Five algorithms with its advantages and disadvantage for medical image fusion are analyzed. Four kinds of quantitative evaluation criteria for the quality of image fusion algorithms are proposed and these will give us some guidance for future research.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the effect of catalpol from Radix Rehmanniae on A?25-35-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells.Methods PC12 cells were routinely cultivated and treated by A?25-35(final concentration,20 ?mol/L) 24 hours after the addition of catalpol or saline.Forty-eight hours later,cells were examined for viability and apoptosis by MTT method and TUNEL method,respectively,while Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were analyzed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. Results Catalpol could significantly elevate the viability at 1?10-5 mol/L and 1?10-4 mol/L(P

Objective To investigate the effects of ZMS,the active component of Zhimu,on amyloid precursor protein(APP) and ?-site APP cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1) in HEK293sw cells. Methods HEK293sw cells were pretreated with different concentrations of ZMS in routine culture medium for 24 h,and then serum-free medium with ZMS was used for further culture for 48 h.Cells were examined for expression of APP and ?-secretase BACE1 with Western blotting and RT-PCR,and were then examined for BACE1 activity with fluorescence method. Results 1 ?mol/L and 10 ?mol/L ZMS significantly decreased the expression of BACE1 mRNA and protein,while had no effect on the expression of APP mRNA and protein.It was indicated by fluorescence analysis that 10 ?mol/L ZMS significantly decreased the ?-secretase activity.Conclusion ZMS significantly decreases the activity and expression of ?-secretase BACE1,while has no effect on the expression of APP in HEK293sw cells.

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of cysteinyl receptor agonist leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) and its antagonists on rat primary neurons.

METHODSIn the primarily cultured rat cortical neurons, the neuron injury was evaluated by measuring intracellular calcium, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction, and propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst 33258 staining. The in vitro ischemic injury was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 1.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h.

RESULTLTD(4) (0.01-1 micromol/L) did not induce the elevation of intracellular calcium, neuron viability changes and neuron death. OGD-induced injury was not significantly ameliorated by the CysLT(1) receptor antagonists, pranlukast (0.2-10 micromol/L) and montelukast (0.2-10 micromol/L), as well as by the CysLT(1)/CysLT(2) receptor non-selective antagonist, BAY u9773 (0.02-1 micromol/L).

CONCLUSIONNeither agonist nor antagonists of cysteinyl receptors have the effects on the viability and ischemic-like injury in rat primary neurons.

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Leukotriene D4 ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Quinolines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Receptors, Leukotriene ; agonists

OBJECTIVETo determine whether homeostatic conditions (pH, glycine or ion concentration) affect the protective effects of edaravone on ischemic injury in rat cortical neurons.

METHODSIn cultured rat cortical neurons, the compositions in the experimental solutions were changed to mimic the disturbance of homeostasis after cerebral ischemia. In vitro ischemic injury was induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 3 h and reperfusion for 12 h, and the neuron injury was evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Effect of edaravone on OGD injury was observed in different experimental solutions.

RESULTIn weak alkalified solution (pH 7.8) or the solution containing glycine (10 micromol/L), OGD injury became more serious; but in weak acidic (pH 6.5) or higher Mg(2+) (1.8 mmol/L) solutions, OGD injury was attenuated. Edaravone (1 micromol/L) reversed the injury in the solutions with pH 6.1,7.4 and 7.8 or the solution containing glycine, but did not show protective effect in the solution with pH 6.5 and the higher Mg(2+) or lower Ca(2+) solution.

CONCLUSIONThe changes of homeostatic conditions affect the severity of ischemic injury of neurons and the protective effect of edaravone.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Glycine ; pharmacology ; Homeostasis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Magnesium ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple, sensitive in vitro method to evaluate oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced injury of brain hippocampal slices in rats. METHODS: Rat hippocampal slices were incubated in 2% 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) solution after oxygen/glucose deprivation. They were then soaked in a measured volume of ethanol and dimethylsulfoxide (50:50) to extract the TTC formazan Product which was then measured by spectrophotometry. OGD induced LDH release was simultaneously measured. RESULTS: Progressive prolongation of OGD induced hippocampal injury resulted in decreased formazan coloration as determined by spectrophotometry. There was a parallel increase in LDH release, thus a negative correlation in these two products was noted. (r=-0.933,P <0.01). The injury was attenuated in the brain slices pre-treated with nimodipine, dexamethasone, and ketamine, but not ONO-1078. CONCLUSION: Solvent extraction and spectrophotometric quantification of formazan represents an objective measurement of OGD-induced injury of rat hippocampal slices.

Objective To investigate the association between a polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase with Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate(NSCL/P)in Chinese population. Methods The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP)technique was used to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP), rs1801131, at the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR)gene in both 158 patients with NSCL/P and 192 healthy individuals. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for genotypic distributions was estimated by the goodness-of-fit test. The UNPHASED program was applied to perform the association analysis. Results The genotypic distribution of A1298C was not deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both controls and patients. No association was found between cleft lip with or without palate(CL/P)and controls. There was significant difference of cleft palate only(CPO)and the healthy individuals(χ2＝4.256, P=0.039). The frequency of AC+CC genotype was higher in control group than that in CPO group(OR=0.8, 95%CI=0.381-1.683),26 among 100 healthy individuals carried AC+CC genetypes,which were carried by 22% of CPO patients. Conclusions The polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C may be involved in the occurrence of non-syndromic cleft palate only in Chinese population.

Objective To investigate the histopathological changes in cricoarytenoid joints in 32 animal models.The characteristic histopathological changes of arytenoid cartilages after recurrent nerve paralysis were evaluated. Methods Sixteen dogs (32 vocal folds, 8 as normal control) were divided into different animal models of recurrent nerve paralysis as transection, haft-section, ligation, or crush. The histopathological finds of arytenoid cartilages were analysed.Results Arytenoid cartilages showed fibrin (12/24), disruption of the fibrous membrane(9/24), fibrillation (7/24) and degenerative changes in their joint surface structure (3/24) at various levels of intensity.The fibrin and disruption of the fibrous membrane were found 1 month after injury, and all changes appeared in 6 months. The fibrillation and arytenoid cartilages degenerative changes revealed in transaction group and ligation group, and became stronger in time of 6 months. The correlation among the fibrillation ratio and the normal control was positive ( t were 6.23 and 3.65, P<0.01 ). The correlation among the number of cellular of arytenoid cartilages and the normal control was positive (t= 2.78, P < 0. 05 ). The fibrillation (7) and arytenoid cartilages degenerative changes (3) revealed in vocal fold fixation to influence the recovery of laryngeal function.Conclusions The histopathological change of cricoarytenoid joint after recurrent nerve paralysis was related to the severity of neural injury. Influence the recovery of laryngeal function more often from 6 months.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), one of the aquaporins (AQPs), in human brain specimens from patients with traumatic brain injury or brain tumors.

METHODSNineteen human brain specimens were obtained from the patients with traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, benign meningioma or early stage hemorrhagic stroke. MRI or CT imaging was used to assess brain edema. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate cell damage. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the AQP4 expression.

RESULTSAQP4 expression was increased from 15 h to at least 8 d after injury. AQP4 immunoreactivity was strong around astrocytomas, ganglioglioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. However, AQP4 immunoreactivity was only found in the centers of astrocytomas and ganglioglioma, but not in metastatic adenocarcinoma derived from lung.

CONCLUSIONAQP4 expression increases in human brains after traumatic brain injury, within brain-derived tumors, and around brain tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aquaporin 4 ; Aquaporins ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Brain Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo discuss the origin of occupational stress among petrochemical industry workers and to access the main occupational stressors that impact job satisfaction and mental health of petrochemical industry workers.

METHODSA survey on occupational stressor was carried out by Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) in 532 petrochemical industry workers (345 chemical and 187 logistic workers).

RESULTSThe environment in workplace of chemical group was worse than that of contrast. The chemical workers had less control over job and they experienced more hazards, monotonous as well as role stressors than the logistic group. The scores of job satisfaction and mental health of chemical group (36.867 +/- 0.656, 43.734 +/- 0.542, respectively) were higher than that of contrast (40.321 +/- 0.901, 46.714 +/- 0.745, respectively) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe occupational stressors exist in chemical workers which affect chemical workers' job satisfaction and mental health with different levels.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Burnout, Professional ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Petroleum ; Regression Analysis ; Young Adult