In the present study, the accuracy of the 4-dimensional model single photon emission computed tomography (4D-MSPECT) and quantitative gated single photon emission computed tomography (QGS) was investigated for assessing left ventricular end-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and ejection fraction (EF) from gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI) using left ventriculography (LVG) as reference. From December 2008 to June 2011, 85 patients, who underwent rest G-MPI and LVG (within 30 days) in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, were retrospectively recruited. EDV, ESV, and EF were calculated from G-MPI using 4D-MSPECT and QGS. Eighty-five patients (47 men, 38 women; age 57 +/- 13 years) were finally analyzed. Correlation between results of G-MPI and LVG was high for EDV, r = 0.89 (4D-MSPECT), r = 0.81 (QGS); ESV, r = 0.97 (4D-MSPECT), R = 0.95(QGS); EF, r = 0.95 (4D-MSPECT), r = 0.93 (QGS). 4D-MSPECT and QGS underestimated EDV significantly compared with LVG [(125 +/- 20) mL (4D-MSPECT), (118 +/- 39) mL (QGS), (131 +/- 33)mL (LVG)]. The ESV, 4D-MSPECT and QGS values did not differ significantly from LVG [(47 +/- 32) mL (4D-MSPECT), (53 +/- 29) mL (QGS), (49 +/- 37) mI (LVG)]. For LVEF, only QGS yielded values were significantly lower than LVG [61% +/- 21% (4D-MSPECT), 55% +/- 17% (QGS), and 63% +/- 19% (LVG)]. EDV, ESV, and EF as determined by 4D-MSPECT and QGS from G-MPI agree well with relevant values with LVG. However, Algorithm-inherent also showed slightly over- or under-estimation of volumes. Therefore, separated normal databases should be set up for each algorithm.
Aged ; Algorithms ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Regression Analysis ; Software ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVEFrictions of Lock-loose brackets with ligated main wings or all six wings were measured as they slid along archwires in dry and artificial saliva environments. The Lock-loose brackets were then compared with traditional brackets and self-ligating brackets.

METHODSThe surface states of the stainless steel archwires were observed with atomic force microscopy before and after mechanical traction. The Lock-loose brackets, traditional brackets, and self-ligating brackets used in this study were composed of 0.406 4 and 0.457 2 mm stainless steel round archwires and 0.457 2 mm x 0.634 9 mm and 0.482 6 mm x 0.634 9 mm stainless steel rectangular archwires. Two different ligating methods were applied to the Lock-loose brackets, i.e., main wings ligated and all six wings ligated. Frictions were measured by using an electronic universal testing machine.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found between the roughness of different archwires before and after mechanical traction in different brackets (P > 0.05). When the main wings of the Lock-loose brackets were ligated, the frictions of the four different stainless steel archwires were close to zero, and the difference with frictions of traditional brackets was significant (P < 0.05). When using 0.457 2 mm x 0.634 9 mm rectangular archwires, maximum friction (P < 0.05; significantly different from those of other brackets) was reached when all six wings of the Lock-loose brackets were ligated. Frictions in the dry state were higher than those in the wet state (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Lock-loose brackets can adjust the friction efficiently with different ligating methods, thus solving the problem of low friction and strengthening anchorage.

Friction ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Orthodontic Appliance Design ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel ; Surface Properties

This paper is aimed to investigate the influence of gated myocardial perfusion imaging (G-MPI) with 8- and 16-frame acquisition models on the assessment of left ventricular function. Patients prepared for stress and rest G-MPI were prospectively recruited from January 2010 to January 2011 in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Two separate G-MPI studies, one with 8 and the other with 16 frames, were simultaneously acquired during a single gantry orbit using Concurrent Imaging technique. We calculated the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and volumes using the Auto Quant software. Forty-eight patients (29 men, 19 women; average age 51 +/- 16 years old) were finally analyzed. The differences in left ventricular EF between 8- and 16-frame were small: 3.27% (95% CI: 6.41%-0.12%) for post-stress and 3.13% (95% CI: 5.93%-0.32%) for rest. Both using 8 and 16 frames, there were significantly larger volumes and lower EF in patients with stress-induced ischemia than without. As for detecting left ventricular EF, 8-frame and 16-frame acquisition models should not be mutually alternated.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gated Blood-Pool Imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Stroke Volume ; physiology ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology

Objective ??Frictions?of?Lock-loose?brackets?with?ligated?main?wings?or?all?six?wings?were?measured?as?they?slid?along?archwires?in?dry?and?artificial?saliva?environments.?The?Lock-loose?brackets?were?then?compared?with?traditional?brackets?and?self-ligating?brackets. Methods ??The?surface?states?of?the?stainless?steel?archwires?were?observed?with?atomic?force?microscopy?before?and?after?mechanical?traction.?The?Lock-loose?brackets,?traditional?brackets,?and?self-ligating?brackets?used?in?this?study?were?composed?of?0.406?4?and?0.457?2?mm?stainless?steel?round?archwires?and?0.457?2?mm×0.634?9?mm?and?0.482?6?mm×0.634?9?mm?stainless?steel?rectangular?archwires.?Two?different?ligating?methods?were?applied?to?the?Lock-loose?brackets,?i.e.,?main?wings?ligated?and?all?six?wings?ligated.?Frictions?were?measured?by?using?an?electronic?universal?testing?machine.?Results ??No?significant?differences?were?found?between?the?roughness?of?different?archwires?before?and?after?mechanical?traction?in?different?brackets?(P>0.05).?When?the?main?wings?of?the?Lock-loose?brackets?were?ligated,?the?frictions?of?the?four?different?stainless?steel?archwires?were?close?to?zero,?and?the?difference?with?frictions?of?traditional?brackets?was?significant?(P<0.05).?When?using?0.457?2?mm×0.634?9?mm?rectangular?archwires,?maximum?friction?(P<0.05;?significantly?different?from?those?of?other?brackets)?was?reached?when?all?six?wings?of?the?Lock-loose?brackets?were?ligated.?Frictions?in?the?dry?state?were?higher?than?those?in?the?wet?state?(P<0.05).?Conclusion ??The?Lock-loose?brackets?can?adjust?the?friction?efficiently?with?different?ligating?methods,?thus?solving?the?problem?of?low?friction?and?strengthening?anchorage.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for antibiotics management in China. METHODS:The current situation of antibiotics use in Norway was reviewed and the experiences of antibiotics management in Norway and relevant industrial organization were analyzed;thinking and suggestions for improving antibiotics management in China were put forward. RESULTS& CONCLUSIONS:To deal with potential drug resistance and strengthen antibiotics management,the government of Norway formulated national action plan for antibiotics resistance, established comprehensive management and monitoring system for antibiotis (including veterinary antibiots),research and cooperative platform,formulated guidance scientifically,and standardized prescribing behavior to obtain good management and control effect. China needs to learn from Norway and other countries to continuously strengthen the top-level design of antibiotics management, speed up the comprehensive coverage of antibiotics monitoring,improve the construction of monitoring and evaluation indicator system,evaluate the structure of antibiotics use again, promote the consciousness of all social parties to rational drug use,and use antibiotics rationally and cautiously on the basis of scientific evidence,so as to deal with the threat of drug resistance.

ObjectiveTo observe the rule of functional reorganization in stroke patients during early recovery. MethodsFrom April, 2023 to April, 2024, 20 patients with serious left hemiplegia for right cerebral infarction of two to four weeks were included as experimental group, from Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University; meanwhile, 20 healthy subjects were included as control group. All the subjects finished a block designed left elbow flexing task, and were measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The control group finished the test once; and the experimental group finished the test once per two weeks, for five times, and laterality indexes were calculated; they were also assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) before each test. ResultsThe score of FMA-UE increased time by time (P < 0.05). For the experimental group, laterality index showed that the activation shifted from right dominance to balance in the whole brain, primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area; and it shifted from balance to right dominance in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and form right dominance to left dominance in premotor cortex. ConclusionAt the early recovery stage of stroke patients, the upper limb motor function is gradually improving, with the activation in most motor cortex shifting from affected hemisphere dominance to bilateral hemisphere balance; however, the activation may become affected or unaffected dominance in some brain areas.