Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; drug therapy

Objective To analyze the effectiveness of antithymocyte globulin(ATG) combined with cyclosporin(CSA)in treatment of pediatric severe aplastic anemia(SAA).Methods Seven children with SAA were treated with ATG and CSA,ATG 4-5 mg/(kg?d),5 days,methyprednisone 2-3 mg/(kg?d) to reduce anaphylaxis,CSA 3-5 mg/(kg?d),assisting with transfusion and G-CSF.Results The complete remission rate was 28.57%(2/7),the partial remission rate was 14.29%(1/7),and the obvious improvement rate was 28.57%(2/7),1 child died.The overall response rate was 71.43%.Transfusion volumes in 4 to 6 months post treatment decreased obviously comparing to the first 3 months(P

Cancer, also known as malignant tumor, is the second largest disease after heart disease, which is characterized by genomic instability and mutagenicity. Ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related kinase (ATR) are members of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PIKK) family, belonging to serine/threonine kinase, one of the key kinases in DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair pathway. This paper reviews the latest progress in the ATR inhibitor field including mechanism of action (MOA), therapeutic applications, and the combination therapy from the perspective of medicinal chemistry. It also discusses the possible challenges and future directions of developing ATR inhibitor antitumor drugs, which could provide the scientists in this field the convenience for access the information and application guidance for clinical studies.

There is not yet a universally acknowledged standard for all kinds of general medical waveform format encoding. Medical Waveform Format Encoding Rules (MFER) presented by Japanese IS&C Committee can parse and describe all kinds of routine medical waveform data. In this paper, MFER's working out, its present situation and characters are expatiated and MFER rules are interpreted in detail. MFER, medical waveform, standard
Algorithms ; Automatic Data Processing ; standards ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To investigate the distribution of femoro-popliteal artery chronic totally occlusions (CTO) and to analyze the influence of different risk factors on the distribution of lesions. Methods A total of 47 patients with CTA and DSA proved femoro-popliteal artery CTO, who were admitted to the Affiliated Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University during the period from January 2013 and May 2015, were enrolled in this study. In order to make a clear description about the distribution characteristics of the lesions, the superficial femoral artery was averagely divided into three segments (F1-F3), and the popliteal artery was also divided into three segments (P1-P3) according to the bony landmarks. Based on the CTA images (including 3D reconstruction images) and DSA images, the distribution of CTO lesions was determined. The factors that might influence the distribution of CTO lesions were collected, and the results were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 59 femoro-popliteal artery CTO lesions detected in 47 patients were included in this study. The average length of lesion segment was (12.91 ± 10.13) cm. According to the 6-section division method of femoro-popliteal artery, the lesions involved F1 (n=23), F2(n=34), F3(n=48), P1(n=18), P2(n=6) as well as P3(n=5) segments. Multivariable logistic regression analysis reveals that F1 segment was most prone to be affected by CTO lesions in patients with hypertension (RR=3.21) and in patients who had cigarette smoking habit (RR=1.76). In male patients, P1segment was more easil y involved by CTO lesions (RR=1.98). In patients with diabetes mellitus, the RR value was gradually increased from the proximal to the distal end of the blood vessel, indicating that the lesion was more likely to involve distal vessels. Conclusion The distributions of femoro-popliteal artery CTO lesions have certain characteristics, which are closely associated with femoro-popliteal artery hemodynamics and atherosclerosis risk factors.

This paper presents a survey of recent publications (published in 1990 or later) concerning segmentation and classification of medical images. These methods will be classified into six types: cluster (threshold), statistics methods, deformable contour, region growing, mathematics morphology, nonlinear methods (fuzzy segmentation, neural networks, genetic algorithm) and 3D model. Each of the major classes of image segmentation and classification techniques and several specific examples of each class of algorithm are described respectively in detail. At last, the developing trend of 3D medical image is also discussed.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Cluster Analysis ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Models, Statistical ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Retrospective Studies

After a study on the characteristic of ECG data, we propose here in this paper a lossless compression method of ECG data, which is based on JPEG2000. It integrates both 1D and 2D compression. The method has been verified through all forty-eight records in MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database. And the result shows that the method has a better compression rate and a good computational efficiency.
Algorithms ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on Gli1,Bcl-2, Bax and cycin D1 gene expressions in U251 cell line and the proliferation of U251 cells.Methods Small interfering RNA (siRNA, at locus of 58, 59, 60 and 61) targeted for Gli1 gene was designed and transfected into U251 cells. RT-PCR was emplyed to detect the mRNA expression of Gli1 gene to select the siRNA interference fragment (siRNA-Gli1) that could most efficiently inhibit the mRNA expression of Gli1 gene. The mRNA and protein expressions of Gli1 gene at different times after siRNA-Gli1 transfection were detected to determine the time law of this interference. U251 cells at logarithmic phase were divided into 3 groups: siRNA-Gli1 group (transfection of selected siRNA-Gli1 fragments), siRNA-NC (transfection of siRNA fragments) and siRNA-N group (blank controls). The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and cycin D1 gene were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Proliferation of cells was measured by MTT assay, and cell apoptosis and cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Results Transfection efficiency of interference fragments (at locus of 58, 59, 60 and 61, and NC) reached 69.2％; RT-PCR indicated that no obvious Gli1 mRNA expression was noted at U251-60 cells 48 h after the transfection therefore, locus 60 was the best interference fragment and 48 h was the best time. The mRNA and protein expressions of Bcl-2 and cycin D1 genes were obviously suppressed by siRNA, and the mRNA and protein expressions of Bax gene were significantly up-regulated in the siRNA-Gli1 group as compared with those in the siRNA-N and siRNA-NC groups 48 h after transfection (P＜0.05). Silencing Gli1 by RNAi significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of U251 cells as compared with siRNA-N and siRNA-NC groups 24, 48 and 72 h after transfection (P＜0.05). Cells at G0 and G1 phases were obviously increased and those at S phase were significantly decreased in the siRNA-Glil group as compared with those in the siRNA-N and siRNA-NC groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Expression of Gli1 gene can be effectively inhibited by specific siRNA targeting Gli1 gene in U251 cells and the proliferation of U251 cells can be significantly inhibited, which may possibly be related to that siRNA-Gli1 decreases the expressions of Bcl-2 and cycin D1 and alters the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

The application of mathematical morphology to ECG signal processing is described in this paper and the prospects for the application of mathematical morphology are given too.
Algorithms ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Humans ; Mathematical Computing ; Models, Theoretical ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of iptakalim (Ipt), an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, on cardiac remodeling induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in Wistar rats.

METHODSISO was given subcutaneously (85 mg/(kg x d), sc, 7 days) to induce cardiac remodeling in rats. The rats in Ipt treated group were administrated with Ipt 3 mg/kg (po) after ISO injection. After treated with Ipt for 6 weeks, the hemodynamic parameters were tested by an eight channel physiological recorder (RM-6000). Then the heart weight was weighed and the cardiac remodeling index was calculated. HE stain and Masson's stain were employed to perform histological analysis, the hydroxyproline(Hyp) content in cardiac tissue was detected by colorimetric method, radioimmunoassay was used to measure the plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and prostacyclin (PGI2).

RESULTSSix weeks after ISO injection, the cardiac functions of model group were damaged markedly compared with those of normal group. The characteristics of ventricular remodeling in model group included that the heart weight index, myocyte cross-sectional area, myocardial fibrosis, and the hydroxyproline content in cardiac tissue were all increased significantly. The plasma level of ET-1 was increased, while the plasma level of PGI2 was decreased significantly. These changes could be reversed by Ipt treatment (3 mg/(kg x d) for 6 weeks).

CONCLUSIONIpt can reverse cardiac remodeling induced by isoproterenol in rats. The endothelial protective effect regulating effects of Ipt on the balance between the ET-1 and PGI2 system may be involved in its mechanisms.

Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Hemodynamics ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; KATP Channels ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Propylamines ; pharmacology ; Prostaglandins I ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects