In order to get the adaptive bandwidth of mean shift to make the tumor segmentation of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be more accurate, we in this paper present an advanced mean shift method. Firstly, we made use of the space characteristics of brain image to eliminate the impact on segmentation of skull; and then, based on the characteristics of spatial agglomeration of different tissues of brain (includes tumor), we applied edge points to get the optimal initial mean value and the respectively adaptive bandwidth, in order to improve the accuracy of tumor segmentation. The results of experiment showed that, contrast to the fixed bandwidth mean shift method, the method in this paper could segment the tumor more accurately.
Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Skull

Objective:To discuss the effect of different reconstruction algorithms for the image quality of the computed tomographic angiography (CTA) with low dose on head and neck through comparing the images obtained from different reconstruction algorithms, which included filtering and reflection projection technique (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative (ASIR) model and based on iterative reconstruction (MBIR) after CTA with low dose was applied on head and neck.Methods:30 patients who were implemented the CTA on head and neck were enrolled in this study. The gem energy spectrum CT was applied to scan their head and neck, and the tube voltage was set in low dose (80 kVp), and 60-80 mL contrast agent (350 mg I/mL) was injected in elbow vein as 4mL/s. The other parameters were chosen as routine requirement. The obtained original images were reconstructed by using FBP, 60% ASIR and MBIR, and then the three kinds images were compared and scored by using relative statistical analysis.Results: For the using of different reconstruction algorithms (FBP, 60% ASIR and MBIR), the results of image noise showed MBIR<60% ASIR60% ASIR>FBP, and the differences among them were significant. Finally, about the subjective score of image, the results showed MBIR>60% ASIR>FBP, and their differences also were significant.Conclusion: Under gem energy spectrum CT, the image noise of MBIR is lowest and its image quality is best, and it has diagnosis value and meaning in clinical practice.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. Recent studies demonstrated that AMPK is a novel signaling molecule modulating inflammatory responses and oxidative stress which are involved in inflammatory pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary infectious diseases and pulmonary fibrosis. AMPK attenuates inflammatory lung injury by phosphorylating its downstream targets, such as sirtuin1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha), p53 and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a). This review summarized the relationship between AMPK and the development of inflammatory pulmonary diseases.

The most important characteristic of optical coherence tomography (OCT)is high resolution (about 10~15μm),so it can perform high resolution cross section tomography on internal microstructure of biological tissue. From 2000 OCT first used to detect coronary artery lesions,it already gradually popularized in diagnosis and treat-ment field of coronary artery intervention,It has become a main method for intravascular detection,diagnosis and guiding treatment of coronary diseases.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. Recent studies demonstrated that AMPK is a novel signaling molecule modulating inflammatory responses and oxidative stress which are involved in inflammatory pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary infectious diseases and pulmonary fibrosis. AMPK attenuates inflammatory lung injury by phosphorylating its downstream targets, such as sirtuin1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha), p53 and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a). This review summarized the relationship between AMPK and the development of inflammatory pulmonary diseases.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Forkhead Box Protein O3 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; enzymology ; Lung Diseases ; enzymology ; Oxidative Stress ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Phosphorylation ; Sirtuin 1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; drug effects ; Materia Medica ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; drug therapy

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an ubiquitous and important transcription factor. It regulates antioxidant response elements (AREs)-mediated expression of antioxidant enzyme and cytoprotective proteins. A large body of research showed that Nrf2-Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, Keap 1)-ARE signaling pathway is involved in the endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 increases the expression of a number of cytoprotective genes, protects cells and tissues from the injury of a variety of toxicants and carcinogens. As a result, Nrf2 enhances the expression of glutathione and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase, and subsequently scavenging free radicals. Air pollution especially from PM2.5 particles, is associated with an increasing morbidity of inflammatory pulmonary diseases and their deterioration. More and more studies demonstrated that Nrf2 was a novel signaling molecule in the modulation of inflammatory responses in these inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. Therefore, Nrf2 targeting might be a therapeutic target, which will provide clinical benefit by reducing both oxidative stress and inflammation in asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. This review focused on the relationship between Nrf2 and inflammatory respiratory diseases and oxidative stress.

Objective:To provide reference for the pharmaceutical care for aged acute cerebral infarction with various complica-tions. Methods:Clinical pharmacists participated in the treatment for an elder patient with acute cerebral infarction complicated with gastrointestinal bleeding, liver dysfunction and pulmonary infection through providing drug therapy information, analyzing the effect and safety of drug therapy and adjusting the pharmaceutical care plan according to the drug efficacy in time. Results:Taking use of phar-maceutical knowledge, clinical pharmacists provided whole-course pharmaceutical care for the treatment of the patient and coordinated with doctors to make the drug therapy, which guaranteed the effectiveness and safety of therapy. Conclusion:The old are with high in-cidence of cerebral infarction, and complications are common. Due to their physiological dysfunction and the other reasons, high safety risk exists in their drug therapy. Clinical pharmacists can use their professional knowledge to provide whole-course pharmaceutical care for the patients in order to improve the therapeutic effect and promote the rational drug use.

BACKGROUND:It is wel known that long-term aerobic exercise aleviates renal dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of long-term aerobic exercise on endogenous formation of hydrogensulfide in the kidney of spontaneously hypertensive rats.
METHODS:Rat models of long-term aerobic exercise were established and randomly assigned to four groups: Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat static group, WKY rat exercise group, spontaneously hypertensive rat static group and spontaneously hypertensive rat exercise group. Moderate-intensity exercise on treadmil was given for 12 weeks. At 24 hours after model establishment, weight was weighted. Blood pressure was detected in the caudal artery. Blood and urine were colected for measuring biochemical indicators related to kidney functions. The degree of glomerular sclerosis was observed. Hydrogen sulfide production activity was detected in the kidney. RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression levels of hydrogen sulfide production-related enzymes. Simultaneously, oxidative stress of the kidney was observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Long-term aerobic exercise obviously reduced body mass, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, increased glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow, decreased serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels, urinary albumin levels, significantly reduced glomerular sclerosis score, increased hydrogen sulfide content in plasma and the rate of hydrogen sulfide formation in renal tissue, up-regulated cystathionine γ-lyase expression, obviously diminished malondialdehyde content in serum and kidney, and remarkably increasedthereduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione ratio in spontaneously hypertensive rats. (2) Results indicated that long-term aerobic exercise could increase the generation of endogenous hydrogen sulfide in kidney, lessen oxidative stress in the kidney, and amelioraterenal dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.