Aiming at the problem of high-quality image reconstruction from projection data at sparse angular views, we proposed an improved fast iterative reconstruction algorithm based on the minimization of selective image total variation (TV). The new reconstruction scheme consists of two components. Firstly, the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) algorithm was adopted to reconstruct image that met the identity and non-negativity of projection data, and then, secondly, the selective TV minimization was used to modify the above image. Two phases were alternated until it met the convergence criteria. In order to further speed up the convergence of the algorithm, we applied a fast convergence technology in the iterative process. Experiments on simulated Shepp-Logan phantom were carried out. The results demonstrated that the new method not only improved image reconstruction quality and protected the edge of the image characteristics, but also improved the convergence speed of the iterative reconstruction significantly.
Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To compare the effects of tetracaine or lidocaine anesthesia effect on urethral agita-tion in thoracoscopic male patients during recovery period. Method One hundred and twenty male adults(18 ~60 yr),ASA physical status I and II undergoing elective thoracoscopic surgery ,were randomly divided into three groups of 30 cases in each one. The control group received paraffin oil lubrication catheterization after general anes-thesia induction,whereas the experimental groups received tetracaine gel or lidocaine gel 3~5 g in urethral surface anesthesia before catheterization. Intra-operatively ,urinary catherization was performed with a 16 Fr Foley′s cathe-ter,and a balloon was inflated with 10 mL distilled water. The CRBD was assessed at 0,1,and 12 h after patient′s arrival in the post-anaesthesia care unit. Severity of CRBD was graded as none,mild,moderate and severe. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher′s exact test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results Inci-dence and severity of CRBD was reduced in the experimental groups compared with the control group(P < 0.05). Postoperative pain as assessed by visual analogue scale and Richer-SAS was also reduced in the experimental group compared with the control group. Furthermore,in the tetracaine group,catheter-related complaint had less discom-fort than that in the lidocaine group. Conclusion Lidocaine and tetracaine surface anesthesia can significantly reduce catheter-related bladder discomfort after induction ,and tetracaine mucilage lasts for a longer time and less discomfort.

Objective To evaluate the life quality in patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy resection and open appendectomy resection for choledocholithiasis.Methods A survey was made on 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy resection and 30 patients who underwent open appendectomy resection.The quality of life was measured with the Gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) preoperation and 2,5,10,16 weeks after the operation.Results There were no significant difference in the GIQLI scores.The GIQLI scores were 121,115,126,131,and 133 respectively in preoperation and 2,5,10,and 16 weeks after laparoscopic appendectomy resection.The scores of GIQLI were 122,109,120,127,and 129 respectively in preoperation and 2,5,10,and 16 weeks after open appendectomy resection.Conclusion The GIQLI scores from laparoscopic appendectomy resection group is better than that from the open appendectomy resection group.

Objective To investigate the androgen-like effects of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) and its impact on the radiosensitivity of VCaP prostate cancer cells.Methods The hormone levels and weight index of reproductive organs in mice were determined after gavage with CS.Clonogenic assay was performed to determine the impact of CS on the radiosensitivity of VCaP cells.The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5 (3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium assay,flow cytometry,and tumor xenografts in nude mice were performed to determine the effects of CS on the proliferation of VCaP cells (androgen receptor-positive) and PC-3 cells (androgen receptor-negative) in vitro and in vivo.Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in nude mice were evaluated.Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance or ttest.Results The testosterone level and weight of prostate in mice were significantly higher in the CS group than in the control group ((8.28± 1.94) vs.(2.08± 1.24) ng/ml,P=0.023;(0.53±0.04) vs.(0.31 ± 0.04) mg/g,P =0.006).The radiosensitivity enhancement ratio (ratio of D0 values) was 0.80.The viability of VCaP cells was significantly higher in the CS group than in the control group (1.32 ± 0.07 vs.0.66 ±0.02,P=0.000),and colony forming efficiency was significantly enhanced in the CS group than in the control group (57.0％ ± 1.9％ vs.47.0％ ± 0.6％,P =0.005).VCaP tumor xenografts in nude mice were inclined to grow faster in the CS group than in the control group,and the serum PSA level in the CS group was significantly higher than that in the control group ((0.66 ± 0.04) vs.(0.26 ±0.06) ng/ml,P =0.000).However,CS had no effect on PC-3 cells at the working concentration.Conclusions CS has the androgen-like effects.It may also promote the proliferation and reduce the radiosensitivity of androgen receptor-positive VCaP cells.

Purpose To explore the value of 64-slice spiral CT digital subtraction angiography in diagnosis of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM).Materials and Methods 26 patients with AVM were performed with plain CT scan, enhanced arterial phase and venous phase CT scan on a 64-slice spiral CT scanner. The subtracted arterial phase data was obtained through subtracting the plain CT images from arterial phase images, then the subtracted venous phase data was obtained through subtracting arterial phase images from venous phase images, and subtracted mixed arterial-venous phase data through subtracting plain CT images from venous phase images. Then volume rendering (VR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP) were used to reconstruct the cerebral vessel images. Results The inference of cranial bones was completely removed in all subtracted cerebral vessel images, thus clearly demonstrating malformed vascular nest, feeding arteries and draining veins. And 7 malformed temporal vascular nests, 5 parietal vascular nests, 5 frontal vascular nests, 6 occipital vascular nests and 3 cerebellar vascular nests were revealed;39 feeding arteries were detected altogether. Single feeding artery was found in 15 cases, and multiple feeding arteries in 9 cases. Meanwhile 33 draining veins were observed, and single draining vein was found in 10 cases, multiple veins in 16 cases.Conclusion 64-slice subtraction angiography can remove the inference of cranial bones and clearly demonstrate the feeding arteries, malformed vascular nests, draining veins, potentially providing a reliable evidence for therapeutic planning and postoperative follow-up.

AIM: To explore the effect of L-carnitine on nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic 3 (NFATc3) in cardiomyocytes under H2O2 stimulation.METHODS: Primary cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells were stimulated by H2 O2 at concentration of 200μmol/L for 12 h to induce oxidative stress injury.In treatment group, L-carni-tine and cyclosporin A ( CsA) , a specific inhibitor of calcineurin ( CaN) , were administered 30 min prior to H2 O2 stimula-tion.After treatment, total, cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 protein levels were determined by Western blotting.The method of immunofluoresence was used to evaluate the distribution of NFATc3.RESULTS: H2 O2 treatment produced no effect on the expression of total NFATc3, but caused its translocation from the cytosolic to nuclear compartment, which was greatly blunted by L-carnitine pretreatment.CONCLUSION:L-carnitine antagonized oxidative stress injury via alleviating NFATc3 nuclear translocation.

Objectives To assess the effect of nicorandil and trimetazidine on myocardial microcirculation reperfusion in patients with NSTEMI after elective PCI. Methods 80 patients with NSTEMI were randomly assigned to four groups: normal medicine group (CON), nicorandil group (NIC), trimetazidine group (TMZ) and Combination group (NIC+TMZ). The coronary angiography and PCI were performed after 10 days. MCE was taken since 72 hours after operation. Results There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the four groups (P > 0.05). The A, β and A ·β of group NIC were significantly higher than group CON (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the group TMZ and the group CON (P>0.05). The A,βand A·βof group NIC+TMZ were significantly higher than group NIC or TMZ (P<0.05). Conclusions Nicorandil can improve the situation of myocardial reperfusion after elective PCI in patients with NSTEMI, and it has some synergetic effect when combined with trimetazidine.

The S1 protein of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a major structural protein that induces the production of the virus-neutralization antibodies. The monoclonal antibody against the IBV M41 S1 protein was used as a target for biopanning. After three rounds of biopanning, randomly selected phages bound to the monoclonal antibody. Sequence analysis showed that the dominant sequence was SFYDFEMQGFFI. Indirect competitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay showed that SFYDFEMQGFFI is a mimotope of the S1 protein that was predicted by PepSurf. The mimotope may provide information for further structural and functional analyses of the S1 protein.

The S1 protein of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a major structural protein that induces the production of the virus-neutralization antibodies. The monoclonal antibody against the IBV M41 S1 protein was used as a target for biopanning. After three rounds of biopanning, randomly selected phages bound to the monoclonal antibody. Sequence analysis showed that the dominant sequence was SFYDFEMQGFFI. Indirect competitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay showed that SFYDFEMQGFFI is a mimotope of the S1 protein that was predicted by PepSurf. The mimotope may provide information for further structural and functional analyses of the S1 protein.

OBJECTIVEWe propose a new iterative reconstruction method based on split-Bregman method with tight frame regularization for effective and accurate reconstruction of the sparse-view cone beam CT image.

METHODSA tight frame was chosen as the regularization term for the objective function, so that the image reconstruction involves only the minimization of an objective function according to the compressed sensing theory. We utilized the split-Bregman method to tackle the task of minimization in three steps: (1) a fast calculation of the forward projection matrix; (2) introducing an intermediate variable to transform the non-differentiated L1 regularization term into the differentiated L2 regularization problem, and solving the target function using conjugate-gradient method; (3) updating the intermediate variable using shrinkage formula from Bregman method.

RESULTSDigital and physical phantom experimental results suggested that our new approach had great advantages in terms of image quality, reconstruction time, and applicability.

CONCLUSIONThe proposed method can accurately reconstruct CBCT image with limited data to lower the X-ray dose and accelerate the calculation speed in comparison with the POCS method.