Medical ultrasound imaging suffers from poor resolution due to its inherit imaging mechanism.In order to obtain the important diagnostic image in detail,restoration procedure needs to be performed.However,in practical ultrasound imaging,it's difficult to demonstrate the degradation process in detail.Therefore,blind image deconvolution is applied to estimate the original image from the degraded image with unknown point spread function or little available prior knowledge.In this paper,the main algorithms of medical ultrasound image restoration based on blind deconvolution are reviewed and classified into two categories,priori or joint with the image,according to the identification methods,and the basic theories and improved methods are analyzed and discussed.Finally,the future directions in blind restoration for medical ultrasound images are proposed.

Objective Study the behaviors of image registration algorithms, and analyze the elements which influence the performance of image registrations. Methods Pre-known corresponding coordinates were appointed for reference image and moving image, and then the influence of region of interest (ROI) selection, transformation function initial parameters and coupled parameter spaces on registration results were studied with a software platform developed in home. Results Region of interest selection had a manifest influence on registration performance. An improperly chosen ROI resulted in a bad registration. Transformation function initial parameters selection based on pre-known information could improve the accuracy of image registration. Coupled parameter spaces would enhance the dependence of image registration algorithm on ROI selection. Conclusions It is necessary for clinic IGRT to obtain a ROI selection strategy (depending on specific commercial software) correlated to tumor sites. Three suggestions for image registration technique developers are automatic selection of the initial parameters of transformation function based on pre-known information, developing specific image registration algorithm for specific image feature, and assembling real-time image registration algorithms according to tumor sites selected by software user.

In this paper, we present a 3D virtual phantom design software, which was developed based on object-oriented programming methodology and dedicated to medical physics research. This software was named Magical Phan tom (MPhantom), which is composed of 3D visual builder module and virtual CT scanner. The users can conveniently construct any complex 3D phantom, and then export the phantom as DICOM 3.0 CT images. MPhantom is a user-friendly and powerful software for 3D phantom configuration, and has passed the real scene's application test. MPhantom will accelerate the Monte Carlo simulation for dose calculation in radiation therapy and X ray imaging reconstruction algorithm research.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Monte Carlo Method ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Software ; Software Design

Objective To assess the safety and effectiveness of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystcctomy and urinary diversion in the treatment of bladder cancer.Methods We collected the clinical data of one patient with bladder cancer who underwent RCRA with ileal neobladder from the Second Artillery General Hospital in Beijing on March,2010.Literature on this topic was analyzed.Results ( 1 ) Tbc operation duration of this procedure was 540 mins.The intra-operative blood loss was 200 ml,and no blood transfusion was needed.Postoperative pathologic examination indicated low-grade infiltrative urothelial carcinoma.The patient exhausted on the 3th post-operative day,had off-bed activities on the 4th post-operative day,and was discharged on the 28th post-operative day.(2) There were more than 400 patients underwent RARC worldwide.The RARC group had marginally lower complications rate (31％ vs.28％ ) and numbers of lymph node dissection ( 18.2 vs.13.0) than the LCR group.There were significant differences in the duration of operation (285.7 mins vs.372.0 mins),intraoperatie blood loss ( 286 ml vs.556.0 ml) and mean days of hospitalization ( 8.6 d vs.13.0 d) between the RARCA and the LCR groups.Conclusion RARC is a novel and effective procedure for the treatment of bladder cancer.As there is only a relatively small sample around the world and little experience on this procedure can be referred,more clinical practice with RARC and high quality research with long-term follow-up are needed to update the database and evaluate its effectiveness and safety.

OBJECTIVEThis research aimed to study the inhibitory effect of xylitol on the growth and acid production of Actinomyces viscosus (A. viscosus).

METHODSWe cultivated A. viscosus in anaerobic conditions with different concentrations (128, 64, 32, 16, 8, and 4 g x L(-1)) of xylitol brain heart infusion liquid medium and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Subsequently, we measured the pH value of the control group, as well as those of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 MIC, and MIC concentration groups at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. The Delta pH and OD550 at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h were calculated. We discovered that the minimum xylitol concentrations suppressed 50% and 90% A. viscosus biofilm formation (i.e., MBIC50 and MBIC90). SPSS 19.0 was used to analyze the collected data, and conclusions were drawn afterward.

RESULTSXylitol inhibited the growth ofA. viscosus at MIC of 64 g x L(-1). After 12 h, the differences of pH value among groups were all statistically significant (P < 0.05), and Delta pH increased when the MIC concentration decreased. Except for the 1/2 MIC and MIC groups, the differences of OD550 among groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05), and OD550 also increased when the MIC concentration decreased. These results imply that the ability ofA. viscosus to grow and produce acid in 1/2 MIC and MIC conditions will be reduced with the increase in xylitol concentration. The value of MIBC50 was 64 g x L(-1), whereas the value of MIBC90 was 128 g x L(-1). This finding indicates that the xylitol medium can restrict A. viscosus biofilm formation.

CONCLUSIONXylitolcan effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, and acid production ofA. viscosus, protecting teeth from cariogenic bacteria and preventing caries to a certain extent.

Caveolae are specialized lipid rafts that form flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane. Many researches show that caveolae are involved in cell signaling and transport. Caveolin-1 is the major coat protein essential for the formation of caveolae. Recently, several reports indicated that the other caveolae-associated proteins, Cavins, are required for caveola formation and organization. It's worth noting that Cavin-1 could cooperate with Caveolin-1 to accommodate the structural integrity and function of caveolae. Here, we reviewed that the relationship between Cavins and Caveolins and explore the role of them in regulating caveolae.
Animals ; Caveolae ; physiology ; Caveolin 1 ; metabolism ; physiology ; Caveolins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology

Objective To investigate the correlation between the characteristics of intracranial lesions and the level of cognitive function in patients with an initial diagnosis of brain metastases.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 51 patients with an initial diagnosis of brain metastases who were admitted to The Second Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University from January 2015 to April 2016.CT and (or) MRI were used to determine the characteristics of intracranial lesions and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to evaluate the cognitive function of patients.Comparison between groups was made by Mann-Whitney U test.The correlation between ranked data was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation test.Results Of the 51 patients with an initial diagnosis of brain metastases,47(92%) had cognitive impairment,including mild cognitive impairment in 31(61%) and dementia in 16(31%).There was no significant difference in level of cognitive function between the patients with involvement of the left hemisphere alone and those with involvement of the right hemisphere alone (P=0.425).The patients with involvement of both hemispheres had a significantly lower level of cognitive function than those with involvement of the left hemisphere alone (P=0.042).The patients with involvement of three or more brain lobes had a significantly lower level of cognitive function than those with involvement of one or two brain lobes (P=0.015,0.024).The intracranial lesion volume and edema volume had no significant effect on the overall cognitive function of patients (P=0.077,0.178).The patients with>3 intracranial lesions had a significantly lower level of cognitive function than those with 1-3 intracranial lesions (P=0.010).Conclusions More than 90% of patients with an initial diagnosis of brain metastases have cognitive impairment.Cognitive impairment is mainly associated with lesion site,involvement of brain lobes,and number of lesions,but not with lesion volume and edema volume.

Objective To investigate and compare the clinical effects of 2-micron laser vaporization resection of prostate (2-micron laser) and versus transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) in this prospective random control study.Methods Sixty patients of BPH were randomly divided into two groups including the 2-micron laser group (n =30) and the TURP group (n =30).The perioperative markers and therapeutic results including duration of surgery,blood lose during surgery,improvement of symptoms after treatment,postoperative bladder washing time,the mean bladder irrigating time,hospital stay time,and recent complications were recorded and analyzed.Results The international prostate symptom score((6.6 ± 1.8) vs.(33.2 ±2.2),(5.7 ± 1.3) vs.(33.4 ±2.3) respectively),maximal urinary flow((20.6 ± 1.5) ml/s vs.(7.8 ± 4.3) m/s,(19.5 ± 1.7) ml/s vs.(8.3 ± 4.5) ml/s respectively),residual urine volume((22.3 ±4.7) ml vs.(57.2 ± 10.5) ml,(26.3 ±7.2) ml vs.(60.2 ± 14.5) ml respectively) were significantly improved in both groups after operation (P =0.005,0.008,0.036,0.001,0.005,0.013 respectively),but the differences between these two groups were not significant (P =0.16,0.49,0.97 respectively).The volume of hemorrhage ((20.9 ± 12.1) ml vs.(55.3 ± 27.8) ml),the mean bladder irrigating time ((1.0 ±0.5) d vs.(3.5 ±0.7) d),cathererization time ((3.2 ± 1.3) d vs.(6.0 ± 1.5) d),hospital stay time ((6.8 ±0.7) d vs.(10.6 ±0.6) d) were significantly less or shorter in the 2-micron laser group than in the TURP group (P =0.009,0.005,0.035,0.03 respectively).There was no significant difference in rates of complications between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The therapy of 2-micron laser is safer and more efficacious than TURP for BPH patients,with advantages of short surgery duration,little blood loss,and quick recovery.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, acting as important regulators in embryogenesis and bone and cartilage formation and repair.The complexity of BMPs action has early been unveiled by generous cell and molecular biology approaches and transgenic animal studies.Genetic engineering allows for the mass production of BMPs for clinical use of bone repair, but the desirable scaffold material is also needed to ensure controlled release and maximum biological activity of BMPs at the surgical site.Currently, BMP-2 and BMP-7 have been approved by United States Food and Drug Administration for clinical therapy in long bone fracture, spinal fusion and oral and maxillofacial surgery.The results are satisfactory, but the side effects have been also widely concerned.The functions and clinical applications of BMPs in bon repair are reviewed.

Objective To investigate the clinical outcome of patients who underwent whole embryo vitrification freezing and thawed frozen embryo transplantation, and to compare it with the patients at the same period in the fresh cycle to explore the value of vitrification technology in the whole embryo freezing combined with recovery transplantation. Methods The whole embryo freezing group included 40 untransplanted cases of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), while another 300 patients in the fresh cycle with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) at the same period served as the fresh cycle group. The average number of transferred embryos, high-quality embryos, endometrial thickness, estradiol (E2) level, and clinical pregnancy rate were compared.Results The average number of transferred embryos, high-quality embryos, difference in endometrial thickness were not significant between the 2 groups (P>0.05); the E2 level of the fresh cylcle group was significantly higher than that of the whole embryo freezing group (P<0.05), and the clinical pregnancy rate in the fresh cylcle group was significantly lower than that of the whole embryo freezing group (P<0.05). Conclusion Vitrification technology is a simple, reliable, and efficient embryo freezing technology. For patients who meet the requirements, whole embryo vitrfication freezing and thawed frozen embryo transplantation is feasible. It is worth for further clinical research.