Combining the speed of two-dimensional detection with the precision of three-dimensional detection, an automatic algorithm based on high resolution CT images is proposed to identify nodules in this paper. Nodule candidates are extracted by a two-dimensional convergence index (CI) filter, then a three-dimensional Hessian matrix detection filter is introduced to reduce false positive lung nodules, Experiments show that the algorithm is effective with a sensitivity of 90% and the false positive lung nodules per slice is 0.33.
Algorithms ; False Positive Reactions ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the antiviral efficacy of Ganneng Dripping Pill (GDP) in treating patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSEighty-four patients of chronic hepatitis B with positive HBV-DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the treated group (56 patients) treated with GDP and the control group (28 patients) treated with lamivudine. The therapeutic course for both groups was 6 months. The negative conversion rate of HBeAg and HBV-DNA, changes of liver function, symptoms and physical signs in patients were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSIn the treated group, the negative conversion rate of HBV-DNA and HBeAg was 54.0% (27/50) and 30.0% (15/50) respectively, and the ALT normalizing rate was 80.0% (40/50), while those were 67.86% (19/28), 21.8% (6/28) and 75.0% (21/28) respectively in the control group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). However, the AST normalizing rate was 97.96% (48/49) in the treated group, higher than that in the control group (48.0%, 12/25, P < 0.01); and the clinical symptoms, especially the poor appetite, lassitude, gastric distention and yellow urine, were improved more significantly in the treated group than those in the control group (P <0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGDP has a favorable short-term effect on chronic hepatitis B, it could effectively inhibit HBV replication and improve the liver function, symptoms and signs in patients.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Objective To explore the change of plasma orexin A concentration and the correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and energy intake in obese children.Methods Fasting plasma orexin A concentrations,boaly mass index(BMI) and energy intake were measured in 48 obese children(obese group) and 48 healthy children(healthy control group),and these indexes were compared,the correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and BMI,energy intake were analyzed.Results 1.The plasma orexin A concentration in obese group was significantly lower than that in healthy control group(F=5.632 P=0.008).2.In obsess group,there were negative correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and BMI(r=-0.478 P=0.012),positive correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and total energy intake(r=0.503 P=0.007),fat intake(r=0.659 P=0.006) and protein intake(r=0.381 P=0.026),and there was negative correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and carbohydrate(r=-0.316 P=0.022).3.In healthy control group,there were negative correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and BMI(r=-0.491 P=0.018),positive correlation between plasma orexin A concentration and total energy intake(r=0.512 P=0.009),fat intake(r=0.406 P=0.005),protein intake(r=0.313 P=0.020),and carbohydrate(r=0.432 P=0.025).Conclusions Orexin A may be involved in regulation of energy metabolism in obese children,and the interaction between plasma orexin A and energy intake might be different in different nutritional status in children.

Objective　To study the clinica features, diagnosis and surgical treatment of simple and complex macromastia. Methods　The clinical and pathological data of 21 patients with macromastia in our hospital from 1990 to 2000 were analysed retrospectively. Simple macromastia in 16 patients with 29 breasts, complex macromastia in 5 patients with 8 breasts. Results　The average age of patients was 23 years old. All the 21 patients were treated surgically. Among the 5 patients with complex macromastia, subcutaneous mastectomy and reconstruction were performed on 2 patients with breast fibroadenomatosis; of the 2 patients with giant fibroadenoma, one underwent tumor excision, the others were subjected to tumor excision with reduction mammaplasty; the last one with breast fibrous disease, selective partial breast excision and reduction mammaplasty was performed. All the patients had satisfactory mammary appearance and hadn't recurrrence of the breast disease in follow up period. Conclusions　(1) Macromastia often happens in the adolescent and young women. (2) It is necessary to do biopsy during operation for distinguishing the simple from the complex macromastia. (3) The treatment for simple macromatia is reduction mammaplasty; for complex macromatia is dissection of the disease area completely and redution mammaplasty simultaneously. For macromastia with fibroadenomatosis, subcutaneous mastectomy with reconstruction can prevent tumor recurrence and get better mammary appearance.

Objective To compare the effects of biphasic square waveform (BSW) with low or high energy on external defibrillation.Method Adult swine model of closed chest ventricular fibrillation induced by electricity was established.Eighteen swine,weighing (30?3.3) kg were randomly divided into three groups:50-50-50 J group (n=6),30-50-75 J group (n=6),120-150-200 J (n=6).After three minutes of ventricular fibrillation without treatment,the pigs in the three groups were defibrillated accordance to the above sequences. Results 30 J BSW didn't succed to external defibrillate.The first defibrillation successful rate of 50 J and 120 J BSW was 5/6.The total defibrillation successful rate of every group was 100%.All pigs quickly had spontaneous circulation after defibrillation and survived more than 24 hours.ST-T change of low-energy was less than that of high-energy.After resuscitation,myocardial function decreased,but there had not significant differences between groups.Conclusions In the study,30J BSW could not reach successful defibrillation,and 50 J and 120 J BSW had similar defibrillation efficacy.The ideal energy of BSW external defibrillation was 50 J.

Objective To study the clinica features, diagnosis and surgical treatment of simple and complex macromastia. Methods The clinical and pathological data of 21 patients with macromastia in our hospital from 1990 to 2000 were analysed retrospectively. Simple macromastia in 16 patients with 29 breasts, complex macromastia in 5 patients with 8 breasts. Results The average age of patients was 23 years old. All the 21 patients were treated surgically. Among the 5 patients with complex macromastia, subcutaneous mastectomy and reconstruction were performed on 2 patients with breast fibroadenomatosis; of the 2 patients with giant fibroadenoma, one underwent tumor excision, the others were subjected to tumor excision with reduction mammaplasty; the last one with breast fibrous disease, selective partial breast excision and reduction mammaplasty was performed. All the patients had satisfactory mammary appearance and hadn't recurrrence of the breast disease in follow up period. Conclusions (1) Macromastia often happens in the adolescent and young women. (2) It is necessary to do biopsy during operation for distinguishing the simple from the complex macromastia. (3) The treatment for simple macromatia is reduction mammaplasty; for complex macromatia is dissection of the disease area completely and redution mammaplasty simultaneously. For macromastia with fibroadenomatosis, subcutaneous mastectomy with reconstruction can prevent tumor recurrence and get better mammary appearance.

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic differences among scalp acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking, body acupuncture and western medication for treatment of vascular dementia (VD).

METHODSNinety cases were randomly divided into a combined therapy group (31 cases), a body acupuncture group (29 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases). The combined therapy group was treated with scalp acupuncture at forehead middle line, parieral middle line, temporal front line and temporal rear line as well as auricular point sticking at naogan (AT3,41), shen (CO10), shenmen (TF4), zhen (AT3), once a day; the body acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36) and so on, once a day; the western medication group was treated with oral administration of aniracetam tablets, 0.2 g per time, twice a day. Fourteen days were considered as a treatment course, and totally 3 courses were required. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and activities of daily living (ADL) were applied to assess the changes of cognitive behavior ability before and after treatment among three groups. Also the efficacy among three groups were compared.

RESULTSOne case dropped out in the body acupuncture group and western medication group, respectively. The total effective rate was 90.334 (28/31) in the combined therapy group, which was superior to 85.734 (24/28) in the body acupuncture group and 79.3% (23/29) in the western medication group (both P < 0.05). After the treatment, the scores of MMSE and ADL were all improved among three groups, which was the most significant in the combined therapy group (MMSE: 23.32 +/- 4.45 vs 21.23 +/- 4.13, P < 0.05; 23.32 +/- 4.45 vs 20.41 +/- 4. 01, P < 0.01; ADL: 53.18 +/- 21.55 vs 51.92 +/- 20.42, P < 0.05; 53.18 +/- 21.55 vs 49.42 +/- 19.43, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe scalp acupuncture combined with auricular point sticking could improve the clinical symptoms and cognitive behavior ability in patients with vascular dementia, which has superior total efficacy to body acupuncture and western medication aniracetam tablets.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Cognition ; Dementia, Vascular ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience and short-term clinical outcomes of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) in sphincter-preserving surgery for low and ultralow rectal cancer.

METHODSData of 49 patients with rectal cancer who underwent HALS for low or ultralow anterior resection between January 2010 and January 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe proximal resection margin was (14.3±6.9) cm and the distal margin was(4.3±1.9) cm. The mean operative time was(128.3±70.9) min. On postoperative macroscopic evaluation, the mesorectum was intact in 42 cases, nearly intact in 7 cases. The circumferential resection margin was more than 2 mm in 42 cases, and less than 2 mm in 7 cases. Forty-six patients underwent R0 resection, and 3 cases underwent R1 resection. The median retrieved lymph node (LN) was 16.20±9.23, and the median positive LN was 1.12±2.19. Postoperative pathological examination showed TNM stage was I( in 12 patients, II(A in 18, II(B in 1, III(A in 2, III(B in 8, III(C in 5, IIII( in 3. The median postoperative hospital stay was (6.25±3.87) d. There were no anastomotic leakage, ileus, intra-abdominal or anastomotic bleeding. There were two wound infections.

CONCLUSIONLow and ultralow anterior resection for rectal cancer using HALS approach is safe and feasible with favorable short-term outcome.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Female ; Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the selective killing of colorectal tumor cells by lentivirus-mediated double suicide gene under the regulation of KDR promoter.

METHODS293T packaging cells were transfected with the plasmid FGW-KDRP-CD/TK to obtain the infectious viruses. KDR-expressing LoVo cells and LS174T cells that did not produce KDR were transfected with the recombinant virus, and the transfection efficiency was evaluated by the fluorecence microscope. RT-PCR was employed to examine the expression of CDglyTK. After treatment of the cells with 5-FC and GCV, the killing effects on the two cell lines were evaluated.

RESULTSThe recombinant construct showed similar infection rate of the two cell lines. RT-PCR demonstrated that CDglyTK gene was expressed only in LoVo cells infected with FGW-KDRP-CD/TK but not in LS147T cells, and the sensitivity of the two cell lines to the prodrugs was significantly different (P<0.001). The killing effect of the double suicide gene was much stronger than that of single suicide gene administered (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe double suicide gene driven by KDR promoter has specific killing effect on the KDR-expressing colorectal tumor cells.

Antimetabolites ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytosine Deaminase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Flucytosine ; pharmacology ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on behavior and hippocampal amino acids in depressive-like rats.

METHODSD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, model, fluxetine, low dose ginsenoside Rg1 and high dose of ginsenoside Rg1. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was performed to induce depressive-like animal model. Fluxetine group was orally given fluxetine in dose of 10 mg x kg(-1) for 21 days, low dose ginsenoside Rg1 group was orally given ginsenoside Rg1 in dose of 20 mg x kg(-1) for 21 days, high dose ginsenoside Rg1 group was orally given ginsenoside Rg1 in dose of 40 mg x kg(-1) for 21 days. The control and model group was orally given saline for 21 days. The sucrose consumption was detected before and after the CUMS procedure. The horizontal and vertical activities of rats were determined by open-field test. HPLC was adopted to detect the contents of amino acids in hippocampus.

RESULTThe sucrose consumption, horizontal and vertical activities in CUMS rats were decreased compared with those in control group. Compared with control group, the contents of glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) in hippocampus of CUMS group were increased, while the gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and taurine (Tau) were decreased. Ginsenoside Rg1 treatment significantly increased the CUMS-induced decrease in sucrose consumption, horizontal and vertical activities. Administrated with ginsenoside Rg1 also decreased Glu and Asp and increased the GABA and Tau in hippocampus in a dose dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rg1 could alleviate the behavior changes of depressive-like rats, which might be related to regulate the levels of amino acids in hippocampus during CUMS and prevent the neuro-toxicity of excitatory amino acids.

Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Depression ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; psychology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ginsenosides ; administration & dosage ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley