To realize the accurate positioning and quantitative volume measurement of tumor in head and neck tumor CT images, we proposed a level set method based on augmented gradient. With the introduction of gradient information in the edge indicator function, our proposed level set model is adaptive to different intensity variation, and achieves accurate tumor segmentation. The segmentation result has been used to calculate tumor volume. In large volume tumor segmentation, the proposed level set method can reduce manual intervention and enhance the segmentation accuracy. Tumor volume calculation results are close to the gold standard. From the experiment results, the augmented gradient based level set method has achieved accurate head and neck tumor segmentation. It can provide useful information to computer aided diagnosis.
Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

AIMTo establish a model of ischemia/reperfusion injury on L-6TG cell.

METHODSCultured L-6TG cells were divided into 2 groups: control group (C), ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R), LDH in culture fluid, SOD, XOD, free calcium in L-6TG cell and mitochondria respiration were evaluated in each group, the micromorphologic changes were observed with microscope.

RESULTSCompared with control group, after L-6TG cell suffered ischemia 4 hours and reperfusion 4 hours, LDH in culture fluid, XOD, free calcium in L-6TG cell all increased significantly, while SOD in L-6TG cell and mitochondrial respiration decreased, structural damage to L-6TG cell was severe.

CONCLUSIONUsing mimicking ischemic solution and mimicking reperfusion solution can successfully establish a model of ischemia/reperfusion injury on L-6TG cell.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Colorimetry ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; analysis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; blood supply ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury

Objective To study the damage propagation and evolution mechanism of cartilage under compressive loads.Methods The fiber-reinforced porous elastic model of cartilage with micro-defect was established by using finite element method,and the process of damage evolution under compressive loads was simulated and analyzed with parameters.The patterns of stress and strain distributions on cartilage matrix and collagen fiber at different damage extension stages were obtained.Results The strain in the surface and forefront of cartilage damage increased significantly with the increase of compression displacement,and they were obviously in positive correlation;in the process of damage evolution,there was a trend that cartilage extended to the deep and both sides simultaneously;cracks and damage in cartilage extended preferentially along the fiber tangent direction.With the aggravation of cartilage damage,the lateral extension speed was significantly faster than the longitudinal extension speed.Conclusions The process of cartilage damage extension has a close relationship with the distribution of fibers.The damages in matrix and fiber promote each other.The evolution speed and degree of cartilage vary constantly in different layers and at different stages.These results can provide the qualitative reference for prediction and repair of cartilage damage,as well as the theoretical basis for explaining pathological phenomena of damage degeneration and its clinic treatment.

On a model of reperfusion after ischemia in the hind limbs (LIR) of rats, we used aminoguanidine (AG) which inhibits nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and L-arginine (L-Arg), one of the substrates in the process of nitric oxide synthesis, to observe the changes in NO, NOS, malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and wet/dry ratio (W/D) in both skeletal muscles and the lung as well as the changes in phosphatidyl choline (PC) of lung surfactant. The morphologic changes were observed with microscopy. It was observed that the values of NOS, MPO, MDA of the muscle and lung in LIR group increased significantly and the content of PC decreased obviously compared with those of the normal control. Pulmonary observation revealed that after LIR leucocyte assembling and infiltration took place, which was dominated by polymorphocytes with broadened pulmonary interstitial tissue. In LIR+L-Arg group the above changes were reversed, and in LIR+AG group the injuries became more serious. The results obtained suggest that the activity of NOS and the production of NO following ischemia/reperfusion of hind limbs increased significantly, and that the endogenous NO may play a protective role during the early stage of acute lung injury after LIR.
Animals ; Hindlimb ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTanis was reported as a putative receptor for serum amyloid A (SAA) involving glucose regulated protein in insulin regulated resistance. It was found to be dysregulated in diabetic rats (Psammomys obesus, Israeli sand rat) and its homologue for humans is SelS/AD-015. The present study analyzed mRNA expression of SelS in omental adipose tissue biopsies from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and age- and weight-matched nondiabetic patients, the relationship of SelS mRNA with Homa-IR and serum SAA level.

METHODSHuman omental adipose tissues from ten cases of type 2 diabetic patients and twelve cases of nondiabetic individuals were analyzed for the expression level of SelS mRNA by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Homa-IR estimated by standard formula and SAA level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSSelS mRNA expression, Homa-IR and serum SAA were higher in T2DM sufferers than in nondiabetic control group. SelS mRNA level was positively correlated with Homa-IR and SAA level in each group.

CONCLUSIONSSelS protein may be involved in insulin resistance in Chinese with T2DM by acting as the SAA receptor, thus playing an important role in the development of T2DM and atherosclerosis.

Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Omentum ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Selenoproteins ; genetics ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; analysis

AIMTo investigate the protective effect of monosialoganglioside (GM1) on injury induced by oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/Rep) in rat hippocampal slices.

METHODSThe protective effects of GM1 on hippocampal slices after OGD/Rep were observed by detecting the light transmittance (LT) changes of rat hippocampal slices and 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining of rat hippocampal slices.

RESULTS(1) In four groups treated with 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, 10 micromol/L GM1, the peak of light transmittance (LT) in the slices treated with 1.0 micromol/L GM1 was significantly lower than that of the control and the group treated with 0.10 micromol/L GM1 (P < 0.01, ANOVA), while the peak of LT in the slices treated with 10.0 micromol/L GM1 was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P < 0.01, ANOVA). The time to reach the peak of LT in four groups was significantly different from each other (P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The time to reach the peak of LT in the group treated with 1 micromol/L GM1 was the significantly longer than that in the control (P < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test). (2) There was characteristic dose-response relationship between GM1 and TTC staining of rat hippocampal slices. In the five groups, treated with 0 (control), 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10 micromol/L GM1 respectively, TTC staining in the group treated with 1 micromol/L GM1 was the deepest (P < 0.05 vs. control, 0.01 and 0.1 micromol/L GM1 group, ANOVA), and the next was in the group treated with 10 micromol/L GM1 (P < 0.05 vs. control and 0.01 micromol/L GM1 group, ANOVA).

CONCLUSIONGM1 could protect injury induced by OGD/Rep in rat hippocampal slices effectively in vitro.

Animals ; G(M1) Ganglioside ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Oxygen ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVETo analyze the change in nitration tyrosine, NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)level in induced sputum of silicosis patients and dust exposure workers and to evaluate the approach and feasibility of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites as early detection indicators of silicosis.

METHODSNitration tyrosine, NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)concentration in induced sputum of 80 dust exposure workers, 84 silicosis patients, 30 logistic personnel with no history of exposure to silica dust were determined and the relationship among Nitration tyrosine, NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)level and dust exposure years as well as pulmonary function tests were analyzed.

RESULTSNO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)level among exposed group [60.30 (46.58) micromol/l] was significantly higher than the control group [36.90 (22.28) micromol/l], (P < 0.05), and the level of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)among the cases [79.65 (89.10) micromol/l] was significantly higher than exposed group as well as the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with control, the level of nitration tyrosine in exposed group [3.51 (0.46) nmol/l] and the cases [3.48 (0.49) nmol/l] was significantly higher (P < 0.05). NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)level and dust exposure years were positively correlated (r = 0.3733 and 0.3830 respectively P < 0.05); NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)level and pulmonary function tests (FVC%, FEV1.0%, PEF%, MEF25%, MEF50%) were negatively correlated (r = 0.1540, 0.1723, 0.1535, 0.1485, 0.1643 respectively, P < 0.05). There was no correlation between nitration tyrosine and dust exposure years (P > 0.05), no correlation between nitration tyrosine and pulmonary function test (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe level of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)level in induced sputum has a positive correlation with exposure to dust, suggesting that there will be a certain feasibility of the NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)as indicators of early detection of silicosis.

Adult ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nitrates ; metabolism ; Nitrites ; metabolism ; Silicosis ; metabolism ; Sputum ; metabolism ; Tyrosine ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the effects of microRNA-451 on proliferation, invasion and migration of multiple myeloma RPMI-8226 cells and its mechanism.Methods:RPMI-8226 cells cultured in vitro were divided into blank control group (untransfected), negative control (NC) group and miR-451 mimic transfected (miR-451) group. The expression of miR-451 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR), cell proliferation was detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) array and clone formation experiment, cell invasion and migration were detected by Transwell, and the expressions of c-Myc, MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins were detected by western blot. The targeting relationship between miR-451 and c-Myc was detected by double luciferase reporter gene assay. Results:Compared to the blank control group, the expression level of miR-451 was increased (2.85±0.27 vs 1.02±0.06), while the cell survival rate [(47.28±3.15)% vs (93.65±6.52)%], cloning formation rate [(15.03±1.34)% vs (28.48±2.12)%], invasive cell number (86.65±5.58 vs 135.47±9.85), migrating cell number (106.36±6.48 vs 165.28±11.05) and the expression level of c-Myc(0.35±0.03 vs 0.66±0.05), MMP-2 (0.20±0.02 vs 0.48±0.03) and MMP-9 (0.28±0.03 vs 0.59±0.06) protein were significantly decreased in the miR-451 group ( P<0.05). In the negative control group, the expression level of miR-451, cell viability, clone formation rate, invasive cell number, migrating cell number, c-Myc protein, MMP-2 protein and MMP-9 protein were 0.94±0.05, (95.16±5.04)%, (27.55±2.26)%, (128.96±8.32) and (158.65±8.76), 0.68±0.06, 0.51±0.03, 0.54±0.03, respectively. There were no significant differences between the blank control group and the NC group ( P>0.05). Double luciferase reporter gene experiment confirmed that c-Myc was a potential target gene of miR-451. Conclusion:miR-451 can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of RPMI-8226 cells by targeting c-Myc.

Objective To explore the correlations of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1(TIMP-1)with grading of myelofibrosis(MF)in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPN).Methods Ninety patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative(Ph-)MPN were selected as MPN group.According to the grading criteria for myelofibrosis by the World Health Organization(WHO)in 2016,MPN pa-tients were divided into pre-fibrosis or early fibrosis group with 54 cases and significant fibrosis group with 36 cases;another 50 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group.Levels of serum VEGF,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the ratio of TIMP-1 to MMP-9(TIMP-1/MMP-9)was calculated.Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlations of VEGF,MMP-9,TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-9 with MF grading.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of each indicator a-lone or their combination for diagnosing MPN or distinguishing MF grading.Results Compared with the control group,the serum levels of VEGF,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the MPN group increased significantly(P＜0.05).Values of area under the curve(AUC)of VEGF,MMP-9,TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-9 for diagnosing MPN were 0,834,0.745,0.923 and 0.618 respectively;the AUC of the combined diagnosis of MPN by VEGF,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was 0.960;when the optimal cut-off value was 0.627,the sensitivity was 85.56％,and the specificity was 92.00％.Compared with the pre-fibrosis or early fibrosis group,the serum levels of VEGF,TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-9 in the significant fibrosis group increased significantly(P＜0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that VEGF(r=0.378,P=0.001),TIMP-1(r=0.512,P＜0.001)and TIMP-1/MMP-9(r=0.353,P=0.001)were positively correlated with the MF grading of MPN patients(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the values of AUC of VEGF,MMP-9,TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-9 for distinguishing patients with pre-fibrosis or early fibrosis from those with significant fibrosis were 0.723,0.523,0.802 and 0.708 respectively;the AUC of the combined detection of VEGF,TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-9 for distinguishing patients with pre-fibrosis or early fibrosis from those with significant fibrosis was 0.838;when the optimal cut-off value was 0.530,the sensitivity was 72.22％,and the specificity was 85.19％.Conclusion Serum VEGF,TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-9 can reflect the MF progression of MPN patients,and the combined detection of these indica-tors can predict the MF degree of MPN patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of tri-mebutine combined with Shugan granule in the treatment of functional dyspepsia.Methods A total of 84 patients with functional dyspepsia were randomly divided into control group ( n=42 ) and treatment group ( n=42 ).Control group was treated with trimebutine 0.2 g, tid for 4 weeks.Treatment group was treated with trimebutine 0.2 g, tid and Shu-gan granule 3 g, bid for 4 weeks.The clinical symptom scores, self -rating anxiety scale ( SAS ) and self -rating depression scale ( SDS ) scores, and incidence of adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment, the clinical symptom scores, SAS and SDS scores in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group( all P<0.05).The incidence of adverse drug reactions in two groups has no significant difference( P>0.05).Conclusion The combined therapy of trimebutine and Shugan granule can significantly improve the clinical symptoms and the states of anxiety and depression without increasing of the incidence of adverse drug reactions.