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

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.

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.
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

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

Aim To investigate the effects of Vam3 on ATP-induced inflammatory response in macrophages and the underlying mechanisms. Methods LPS primed mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with ATP,and IL-1βlevel in supernatants was meas-ured by ELISA.Activity of caspase 1 was measured u-sing caspase 1 activity assay kit.Reactive oxygen spe-cies (ROS )level was detected with fluorescent probe DCFH-DA.MTT assay was used to detect cell prolifer-ation,and intracellular Ca2+concentration was meas-ured using laser scanning confocal microscope.Results Extracellular ATP led to increase in IL-1βrelease, caspase 1 activity and ROS production.It also led to rapid increase in intracellular Ca2+concentration and induced cell death.These effects were inhibited by Vam3 .Conclusion Vam3 inhibits ATP-induced in-flammatory response in macrophages,which may sug-gest the blocking effect of Vam3 on caspase 1 ~IL-1βinflammatory signaling pathway in macrophages.

Currently, about 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma. Most of these sufferers inhale immunosuppressants (ie corticosteroids) and beta-adrenergic receptor agonists for their asthma treatment. However, about 5%-10% of patients of asthma have poor response to such treatment. Investigation of kinase signaling pathway and nuclear transcription factor as a target molecule in the treatment of allergic asthma has been the concern of scholars home and abroad. This paper reviewed inhibitors of kinase signaling pathway and nuclear transcription factors for the treatment of asthma.

Objective To observe the effect of treating acute left heart failure with Shenmai injection and auxiliary conventional western medicine. Methods 132 patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 66 cases in each group. The control group was treated with lanatoside C, captopril, diuretics, and aminophylline. While the treatment group was additionally treated with Shenmai injection on the basis of the control group. Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), left smothering end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD)value, the index of b-type natriuretic peptide(BNP), and 24 h dynamic electrocardiogram(ecg)were observed in both groups after 1 month’s treatment. Results LVEF and BNP were improved in both groups after the treatment[LVEF and BNP were(40.42 ± 4.32)%, (306.57 ± 201.21)pg/ml in the treatment group and(37.92±3.32)%, (451.51±294.23)pg/ml in the control group before the treatment;(35.28±4.15)%, (540.17±382.23)pg/ml in the treatment group and(35.13±2.35)%, (572.35± 422.21)pg/ml in the control group after the treatment], and the curative effect in the treatment group was better than the control group(P<0.05). LVEDD and 24 h average heart rate were also improved in both groups after the treatment [LVEDD and 24 h average heart rate were(59.81±59.81)mm, (79.62±6.38)times/min in the treatment group and(60.91±7.31)mm, (82.61±6.32)times/min in the control group before the treatment;(60.87 ± 7.75)mm, (85.03 ± 7.75)times/min in the treatment group and(61.81 ± 7.35)mm,(86.23 ± 8.35)times/min in the control group after the treatment], but there was no statistical differenc(P>0.05). Conclusion Shenmai injection has good effects in the treatment of acute left heart failure.

P2X7 is the most important subtype of the ATP receptors known so far. Recent investigations showed that the downstream signaling pathway of P2X7 is coupled with several key inflammatory molecules including IL-1beta and IL-18, this suggests P2X7 might have roles in the inflammatory diseases. Moreover, attenuation of P2X7 by selective antagonists in vitro and knockout mice in vivo reducing the inflammatory response indicated that P2X7 is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. However, most previous studies on P2X7 were focused on nerve system diseases most, while its effects in inflammatory respiratory diseases, especially in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer have been poorly investigated. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress on the structure, distribution, biological activities of P2X7 and its relationship with inflammatory respiratory diseases including asthma, COPD and lung cancer, along with the development of P2X7 antagonist as therapeutics.