The successful suppression of clutter arising from stationary or slowly moving tissue is one of the key issues in medical ultrasound color blood imaging. Remaining clutter may cause bias in the mean blood frequency estimation and results in a potentially misleading description of blood-flow. In this paper, based on the principle of general wall-filter, the design process of three classes of filters, infinitely impulse response with projection initialization (Prj-IIR), polynomials regression (Pol-Reg), and eigen-based filters are previewed and analyzed. The performance of the filters was assessed by calculating the bias and variance of a mean blood velocity using a standard autocorrelation estimator. Simulation results show that the performance of Pol-Reg filter is similar to Prj-IIR filters. Both of them can offer accurate estimation of mean blood flow speed under steady clutter conditions, and the clutter rejection ability can be enhanced by increasing the ensemble size of Doppler vector. Eigen-based filters can effectively remove the non-stationary clutter component, and further improve the estimation accuracy for low speed blood flow signals. There is also no significant increase in computation complexity for eigen-based filters when the ensemble size is less than 10.
Blood Flow Velocity ; Color ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Ultrasonography

The paper makes a brief introduction to the application of natural language processing in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).Through research and analysis of relevant literatures , it describes the features and application directions of such methods as the association rule mining , clustering analysis , information extraction , machine learning , etc.It also summarizes methods related to the es-tablishment of knowledge networks on TCM and proposes new ideas for future researches of natural language processing in TCM based on the establishment of knowledge networks .

Objective To learn and evaluate the present prescriptions from outpatient departments of 21 public hospitals in Songjiang district,and to promote rational drug use.Methods A total of 75,600 outpatient prescriptions from 21 public hospitals in Songjing district were collected monthly from January 2008 to October 2010 and analyzed statistically using indexes for prescription evaluation.Results of the 75,600 prescriptions,the types of drugs in each prescription averaged 2.35,the ratio of antibiotics use and injection agents use were 35.77％ and 17.40％,respectively.The percentage of essential drugs without added profit accounted for 41.91％ of the total drug use,and the average drug cost per prescription was RMB 85.99.Comparison of indexes for prescription evaluation showed that the ratio of antibiotics use and injection agents use as well as the average cost per prescription in secondary hospitals were significantly higher that those in community health centers (P＜0.01),while the percentage of essential drugs without added profit and the average number of drugs in each prescription were statistically smaller than those in community health centers (P＜0.01).Conclusion Drug use in outpatient departments of 21 public hospitals was rational in general,especially noteworthy is the significant improvement made at community health centers in recent three years.

Background Misfolding of Myocilin protein plays an important role in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).GRP78 can transfer the misfolded proteins out endocytoplasmic reticulum and keep the protein synthesis function of endoplasmic reticulum.However the relationship between GRP78 and Myocilin in the pathogenesis of POAG has not been elucidated.Objective This study was to investigate and analyze the coexpressions of GRP78 and Myolicin in trabecular meshwork cells (TMCs) of POAG.Methods The trabecular meshwork tissues were obtained during the surgery of POAG and healthy donor for the isolated and in vitro culture of TMCs,and the morphology of the cells was compared between POAG-derived TMCs and donor-derived TMCs.The expression of specific factors for TMCs were detected by immunochemistry.The cells were divided into normal control group,tunicamycin (Tm)-treated group and staurosporine (STS)-treated group,and the cells were cultured by regular medium,the 1 μ mol/L Tm medium or 0.1 μmol/L STS medium for 24 hours respectively.The co-expression of GRP78 and Myocilin in the cells were detected using immunofluorescence assay.This study was approved by Ethics Committee of Xi'an No.4 Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient before surgery.Results Primarily cultured cells showed the fiat star-like and irregular appearance with 3-5 processes,round nuclei,abundant cytoplasm and black engulf particles.The 3-7 generations of POAG-derived cells grew well,showing positive expressions of laminin (LN),fibronectin (FN),neuronal specific enolase (NSE) and Vimentin.Immunofluorescence assay showed positive expressions of GRP78 and Myocilin in the cells of the Tm group,STS group and normal control group,with the reddish and green fluorescence separately.Incomplete co-expression of GRP78 and Myocilin was seen in donor-derived TMCs,and complete co-expression of GRP78 and Myocilin was found in the POAG-derived TMCs in the normal control group.Complete co-expression of GRP78 and Myocilin was exhibited in both donor-and POAG-derived TMCs in the Tm group and STS group.In addition,accumulation of GRP78 protein around nucleus was seen in both donor-and POAG-derived TMCs in the Tm group.Conclusions GRP78 and Myocilin proteins are completely co-expressed in POAG-derived TMCs,inferring that GRP78 and Myocilin play an interaction role in the pathogenesis and development of POAG.GRP78 may play a cytoprotective role against the apoptosis of TMCs caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective To investigate the effects of Yishen dianpi Yangxue Tongli Fang (YSJP) on IGF-1 mRNA expression in the ovary of PCOS rat, and study its mechanism on the molecular level. Methods Seventy two female SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, clomifene group and low-, mid-, high-dose Chinese medicine group. The animal model established by capsulae levonorgestreli silasticus was used to observe the IGF-1 mRNA expression in ovary by hybridization in situ. Results IGF-1 mRNA expression of PCOS model group was higher than the normal control group obviously. The semi-quantitative image analysis showed that TCM treatment could decrease IGF-1 mRNA expression. Conclusion Yishen Jianpi Yangnue Tongli Fang could decrease the IGF-1 mRNA expression in ovary and improve the insulin resistance of PCOS rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mite allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT) in treating children with allergic asthma. METHOD: A total of 136 patients with mite allergy were recruited into the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: SIT group (n = 66) and ST (symptomatic therapy) group (n = 70). They were investigated of SIT with standardized allergen vaccine or no SIT only symptomatic therapy respectively. Therapeutic evaluation index includes: asthma symptoms score, drug score, skin prick test, pulmonary function, serum specificity IgE (sIgE) and the new sensitization was also assessed. Local and systemic adverse reactions were used to evaluate the clinical safety. RESULT: Clinical symptom scores, drug scores, Lung function, and skin test result all improved significantly after the treatment with SIT compared to ST group (P < 0.01). SIT groups do not have new sensitization and no fatal systemic reactions occurred. CONCLUSION The standardized dust mite allergen specific immunotherapy is efficacious and safe to Children with allergic asthma . SIT can reduce house dust mites skin sensitivity and prevent new allergen appeared.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; immunology ; therapy ; Child ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; therapy ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Male ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Safety ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Tests ; Vaccines ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT) in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma. METHOD A total of 68 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma sensitized to dust mite were recruited into the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: SIT group n = 34 and symptomatic therapy (ST) group: n = 34. Patients in ST group received medication to treat, the symptoms, patients in SIT group received medication and 3 years of standardized allergen vaccine therapy. Evaluation index of therapy includes: rhinitis symptoms score, asthma symptoms score, drug score, skin prick test, serum specificity IgE (sIgE) , peripheral eosinophil (Eos) counting, lung function. The new sensitinogen rate was also assessed. RESULT: Clinical symptom scores, drug scores, lung function, blood eosinophil numbers and skin test result were all improved significantly after 3-year treatment in SIT group compared to those in ST group (P < 0.01). Although the level of serum slgE was decreased,there exited no statistic diferences between two groups. Only 8.8% patients have the new sensitization in SIT group, and 52.9% in ST group. There were no serious adverse reactions in treatment process. CONCLUSION SIT for patients with AR and asthma can obtain excellent clinical efficacy.
Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Leukocyte Count ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; drug therapy ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Tests

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on the muscle strength in the patients of stroke-induced acroparalysis treated with Xunjingcuiqi needling technique.

METHODSOne hundred patients were randomized into a Xunjingcuiqi group and a routine acupuncture group, 50 cases in each group. In the routine acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture technique was adopted at the main acupoints, such as Shangxing (GV 23), Baihui (GV 20), Dicang (ST 4), Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. In Xunjingcuiqi group, on the basis of the routine acupuncture technique, Xunjingcuiqi needling technique (pricking technique was quickly applied with the filiform needle along the running course of meridian to promote the conduction of meridian qi) was added. For the patients being hard to feel the needling sensation and with the muscle strength of 0 to 1 degree, Dongzhencuiqi technique was supplemented at shu-stream points of yang meridians (after qi arrival, the needling manipulation with limb movement was given to promote the conduction of meridian qi). The treatment was given once every day in the two groups. Ten treatments made one session. Three sessions of treatment were required. At the end of each session treatment, the muscle strength and clinical efficacy were assessed.

RESULTSIn the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sessions of treatment, 20, 24 and 36 cases achieved the 3 to 5 degrees muscle strength in Xunjingcuiqi group, respectively; and 6, 10 and 15 cases achieved the 3 to 5 degrees muscle strength in the routine acupuncture group. The differences were significant statistically in comparison of the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The markably effective rates were 60.0% (30/50), 64.0% (32/50) and 70.0% (35/50) after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sessions of treatment in Xunjingcuiqi group, respectively; and those were 38.0% (19/50), 44.0% (22/50) and 46.0% (23/50) in the routine acupuncture group, respectively. The differences were significant in the 1st and 3rd sessions of treatment between the two groups (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONXunjingcuiqi needling technique combined with routine acupuncture achieves the apparent superior efficacy on acroparalysis induced by ischemic stroke as compared with the simple routine acupuncture. Xunjingcuiqi needling technique obviously improves muscle strength and shortens the duration of sickness.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis ; etiology ; therapy ; Qi ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; physiopathology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; physiopathology ; virology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; virology

Objective To investigate the relationship among Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, serum gastrin level and colorectal carcinoma. Methods Fasting serum samples from 47 consecutive patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 demoographically matched colonoscopy-negative controls were detected for serum gastrin levels and IgG antibodies against Hp (Hp IgG) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Some of them accepted 14C urease breath test and/or rapid urease test after undergoing endoscopy. Hp infection was affirmed when at least two of the three tests were positive. Results The Hp infection incidence was significantly higher in patients with eoloreetal carcinoma (61.7%, 29/47) as compared with controls (36.7%, 11/30) (P<0.05). The Hp infection incidence in distal distribution of carcinoma was higher than that in controls, and in female carcinoma was higher than that in female controls(P <0.05). Mean fasting serum gas-trin levels were significantly higher in patients with coloreetal carcinoma[(139.7±53.3 ) ng/L]than those in controls [(89.5±26.1 ) ng/L] (P < 0.01 ). There was a significant association between hypergastrinemia and distal distribution of carcinoma. Conclusion Increasing serum gastrin levels, higher Hp infection incidence has a positive relationship with colorectal carcinoma.