In order to extract the outlines of macular edema from OCT images of macular, and estimate the volume of edema, we have to accurately segment the macular edema region. In this paper, an improved PCNN algorithm was proposed to conduct the above process. Combined with the adaptive base threshold, and the simplified neural network parameters, a binary image of macular edema was produced. According to the principle of maximum image entropy, the optimal number of iterations was determined as 8, which was evaluated by its misclassification rate. Simulation showed that the proposed algorithm could extract the macular edema region rapidly and accurately, providing the basis for further OCT image analysis.
Algorithms ; Fluorescein Angiography ; methods ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; methods

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and possible pathogenesis of sudden deafenss and vertigo induced by inner ear hemorrhage. Methods: Clinical data of 30 patients with inner ear hemorrhage, from the first affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university during Jan 2016 to May 2017, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Vergito and profound deafness were seen in all patients. The duration of vertigo ranged from 24 hours to three days in 11 cases, three to 14 days in the remaining 19 cases. Simultaneous occurrence of vergito and deafenss were seen in 24 patients. Semicircular canal hypofunction and abnormal cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(C-VEMP)/ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials(O-VEMP) were detected in all cases. Ten patients had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo(BPPV) simultaneously. Hearing recovered in 20% of the cohort posttreatment. Dizziness and balance disturbance disappeared 1 to 2 months after therapy in 16 cases. Long term (6 months) follow up revealed poor hearing outcome and vestibular rehabilitation. Conclusion Vestibular vertigo and profound sensorineural hearing loss, with unsatisfactory clinical prognosis, constituted the characters of inner ear hemorrhage-associated sudden deafness.

【Abstract】 【Objective】To assess effect of calcofluor white and fluorescent dye labeled concanavalin A in Candida albicans growth and adhesion of cells.【Methods】Yeast cells of 20 strains of Candida albicans were labeled by calcofluor white and Alexa fluor 488 conjugated concanavalin A respectively. The growth of labeled Candida albicans were tested by counts of colony forming unit. Then yeast cells of Candida albicans were co-cultured with macrophages and enterocytes for half an hour. The adhesion of labeled Candida albicans to macrophages and enterocytes were observed by fluorescence microscopy.【Results】No difference was observed on the number of colony forming units between calcofluor white-labeled groupand control group(P=0.942). Also,no difference was observed on the number of colony forming units between Alexa fluor 488 conjugated concanavalin A-labeled group and control group. However,either the number of calcofluor white-labeled Candida albicans or Alexa fluor 488 conjugated concanavalin A-labeled Candida albicans that bound to macrophages was less than that in control group(P=0.000,respectively). Either the number of calcofluor white-labeled Candida albicans or Alexa fluor 488 conjugated concanavalin A-labeled Candida albicans that bound to enterocytes was less than that in control group(P = 0.000,respectively). Hyphae were observed in control group but not in calcofluor white group after yeast cells of Candida albicans were co-cultured with cells for half an hour.【Conclusions】Growth of Candida albicans was not changed,while its adhesion to cells was reduced after its labeling by calcofluor white and Alexa fluor 488 conjugated concanavalin A.The germination of Candida albicans was affected when it had been labeled by calcofluor white.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Guanine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; complications

The aim of this study was to determine the dynamic expression profile of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) according to hepatic parenchyma cells' volume at different stages of liver fibrosis during the immune clearance phase. Eighty-nine patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the immune clearance stage were recruited for study. Each patient's serum HBsAg levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence. The serum HBsAg levels were apportioned according to hepatic parenchyma cells' volume at liver fibrosis stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 and compared by ANOVA. The unapportioned serum HBsAg levels (IU/mL) at liver fibrosis stages 1 (227.2+/-237.7), 2 (211.0+/-131.4), 3(300.1+/-144.6), and 4 (278.7+/-148.8) were not significantly different (all comparisons, P range: 0.061 to 0.759). However, when the serum HBsAg levels were apportioned by the same hepatic parenchyma cells' volume at liver fibrosis stages 1 (343.9+/-359.8), 2 (336.4+/-209.5), 3 (508.7+/-245.1), and 4 (525.2+/-274.8), the levels were significantly different (all comparisons, F = 3.045 and P = 0.033; stage 1 vs. 3, P = 0.041; stage 1 vs. 4, P = 0.046; stage 2 vs. 3, P = 0.028; stage 2 vs. 4, P = 0.034). During the immune clearance phase of chronic hepatitis B, increased HBsAg expression is associated with increased hepatic parenchyma cells' volume and progressive liver fibrosis stage.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Size ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its associated factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 385 RA patients [including 72 (18.7%) male and 313 (81.3%) female] who received abdominal sonographic examination from August 2015 to May 2021 at Department of Rheumatology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital. There were 28 RA patients at 16-29 years old and 32, 80, 121, 99, 25 at 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, ≥ 70 years old, respectively. Demographic and clinical data were collected including age, gender, history of alcohol consumption, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, RA disease activity indicators and previous medications. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the associated factors of NAFLD in RA patients. Results: The prevalence of NAFLD was 24.2% (93/385) in RA patients, 26.3% (21/80) in 40-49 age group and 33.1% (40/121) in 50-59 age group. There were 22.1% (85/385) and 3.6% (14/385) RA patients with overweight and obese, in which the prevalence of NAFLD was 45.9% (39/85) and 78.6% (11/14) respectively, which was 2.6 folds and 4.5 folds that of RA patients with normal BMI. Although there was no significant difference of age, gender and RA disease activity indicators between RA patients with or without NAFLD, those with NAFLD had higher proportions of metabolic diseases including obese (11.8% vs. 1.0%), central obesity (47.3% vs. 16.8%), hypertension (45.2% vs. 29.8%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (24.7% vs. 12.0%), consistent with higher levels of total cholesterol [(5.33±1.31) mmol/L vs. (4.73±1.12) mmol/L], triglyceride [(1.51±1.08) mmol/L vs. (0.98±0.54) mmol/L] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [(3.37±0.97) mmol/L vs. (2.97±0.78) mmol/L, all P<0.05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (OR=1.314) and triglyceride (OR=1.809) were the independent factors positively associated with NAFLD in RA patients. Conclusion: NAFLD is a common comorbidity in RA patients, especially in those with middle-aged, overweight or obese, which is associated with high BMI or high triglyceride. Screening and management of NAFLD in RA patients especially those with overweight, obese or dyslipidemia should be emphasized.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology* ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/epidemiology* ; Obesity/epidemiology* ; Overweight/epidemiology* ; Triglycerides ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between estimated glucose disposal rate （eGDR） and the severity of coronary heart disease. MethodsWe conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study that included 1258 patients （mean age： 62（53-68） years） who underwent coronary angiography for suspected coronary artery disease （53.9% were male）. Insulin resistance level （IR） was calculated according to eGDR formula： eGDR = 21.158 - （0.09 × WC） - （3.407 × hypertension） - （0.551 × HbA1c） ［hypertension （yes = 1 / no = 0）， HbA1c = HbA1c （%）］. Subjects were grouped according to the eGDR quantile. CAD severity was determined by the number of narrowed vessels： no-obstructive CAD group （all coronary stenosis were<50%， n=704）， Single-vessel CAD group （only one involved major coronary artery stenosis≥50%， n=205）， Multi-vessel CAD group （two or more involved major coronary arteries stenosis≥50%， n=349）； Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between eGDR and CAD severity. The linear relationship between eGDR and CAD in the whole range of eGDR was analyzed using restricted cubic spline. Subgroup analyses were used to assess the association between eGDR and CAD severity in different diabetic states. Receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve analysis were used to evaluate the value of eGDR in improving CAD recognition. ResultsA decrease in the eGDR index was significantly associated with an increased risk of CAD severity （OR： 2.79； 95%CI： 1.72~4.55； P<0.001）. In multivariate logistic regression models， individuals with the lowest quantile of eGDR （T1） were 2.79 times more likely to develop multi-vessel CAD than those with the highest quantile of eGDR （T3） （OR： 2.79； 95%CI： 1.72~4.55； P<0.001）. Multivariate restricted cubic spline analysis showed that eGDR was negatively associated with CAD and multi-vessel CAD （P-nonlinear>0.05）. In non-diabetic patients， compared with the reference group （T3）， the T1 group had a significantly increased risk of CAD （OR： 1.42； 95% CI： 1.00~2.01； P<0.05） and multi-vessel CAD （OR： 1.86； 95%CI： 1.21~2.86； P<0.05）. No statistical association was found between eGDR and CAD in diabetic patients. In ROC curve analysis， when eGDR was added to traditional model for CAD， significant improvements were observed in the model's recognition of CAD and multi-vessel CAD. ConclusionOur study shows eGDR levels are inversely associated with CAD and CAD severity. eGDR， as a non-insulin measure to assess IR， could be a valuable indicator of CAD severity for population.

This study was designed to reverse multidrug resistance of lung cancer cells by downregulating MDR1 genes through RNA interference (RNAi) technology. A novel biodegradable cationic polymer (PEG-bPLG-g-PEIs, GGI) was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR. The particle size and zeta potential were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cell viability profile of GGI was tested by MTT method with both A549 and A549/DDP cell lines. Flow cytometry (FCM) technology was used to investigate the efficiency and intensity of delivering siRNA to cells by GGI polymer. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and P-gp expression after GGI/MDR1 siRNA transfection assay. The sensitivity of cisplatin administration after transfecting GGI/MDR1 siRNA polyplexs was performed with MTT and Annexin V-FITC/PI methods. The results suggest that the particle size and zeta potential of GGI/siRNA were 150-200 nm and 16-28 mV. GGI exhibited a lower cell cytotoxity than PEI 25K and higher efficiency of delivering siRNA, which dramatically decreased the expression of MDR1 mRNA and P-gp of A549/DDP cells and increased much sensitivity to cisplatin in A549/DDP cells. GGI holds a great potential in gene delivery as a novel cationic polymer for further investigation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of transfection with human soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1(sFlt-1) gene on cell growth and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration of the culture supernatant in human colon cancer cell line Lovo.

METHODSThe recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-sFlt-1 containing sFlt-1 gene was transfected into Lovo cells by Lipofectamine 2000, which was identified by RT-PCR and ELISA. The effect of sFlt-1 protein on cell growth and VEGF expression in Lovo cells were investigated by MTT and ELISA.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-sFlt-1 was successfully transfected into Lovo cells. The sFlt-1 expression was identified by RT-PCR and ELISA, which inhibited the growth of Lovo cells and reduced the VEGF concentration in the culture supernatant compared with control. The inhibitory rates of proliferation of Lovo cells via MTT assay after 2,14,21 and 28 days were(23.92+/-9.16)%, (13.98+/-10.21)%,(22.54+/-11.92)% and (33.43+/-9.34)% respectively. Compared with the control groups, the differences were significant (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransfection with sFlt-1 gene into Lovo cells results in the expression of sFlt-1 protein, which possesses high biological activity and inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the result of laparoscopic colorectomy in treatment of colorectal cancer.

METHODSLaparoscopic colorectal surgery was performed in 78 patients with colorectal cancer. Operative procedures, complications and postoperative recovery were studied.

RESULTNone of the 78 patients died of laparoscopic colorectal surgery or complications. Eleven patients died from tumor metastasis and 2 from other causes. Twenty-one, 17, 8 patients for 1, 3, 5 years survived respectively. In nine patients who had received operation less than 1 year, no tumor recurrence or metastasis was found except in 1 patient 11 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic colorectal cancer resection is essential to colectomy for colon and rectum cancer when indicated.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Rectum ; surgery