Objective To study the image processing methods of electrical impedance tomography(EIT) in order to improve the display quality.Methods Evaluate the conductivity of the nodes using the conductivity of the adjacent triangle elements.The conductivity of any point in one triangle element was calculated according to the conductivity of 3 vertexes of the element by 2D linear interpolation method.Results The original blocky images of electrical impedance tomography by the triangle elements can be transformed into smoothing images.Conclusion The visual quality of the images is improved greatly.The image processing method is adaptive to all kinds of images of electrical impedance tomography based on triangle element.

Objective To compare the applicability of the 7th and 6th editions of the UICC-AJCC esophageal cancer TNM staging systems for adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (EGJ).Methods During June 2007 through December 2010,199 patients with EGJ adenocarcinoma(Siewert type Ⅱ) underwent R0-intent resection in our hospital.Their clinicopatholigical and survival data were retrospectively analyzed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models.They were restaged according to the 7th and 6th UICC/AJCC TNM staging systems for esophageal cancer,respectively.Then the Akaike information criterion(AIC) was used for measuring goodness of fit of both staging systems.Results Among 199 patients,there were 162 males and 37 females.Univariate analysis indicated that age(P =0.009),surgical approach(P =0.002),cell differentiation (P =0.030),preoperative co-morbidity (P =0.026),depth of tumor invasion (P ＜ 0.000) and number of metastatic lymph nodes(P ＜ 0.000) were significant influencing factors on overall survival.Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the independent prognostic factors for EGJ adenocarcinoma were age,T stage,N stage and preoperative co-morbidity according to the 6th edition of esophageal cancer TNM staging system,and only T stage,N stage and preoperative co-morbidity according to the 7th edition of esophageal cancer TNM staging system.The AIC value was 961.4 for the 7th edition of esophageal cancer staging system and 972.4 for the 6th edition.Conclusion The 7th edition of UICC/AJCC esophageal cancer TNM classification is su perior to its 6th edition of esophageal cancer staging system for EGJ adenocarcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the effect of anterior minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for treatment of middle humeral shaft fracture.Methods From November 2011 to March 2014,10 cases of middle humeral shaft fracture were treated using MIPO via the anterior approach (MIPO group).Another 26 cases treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the middle humeral shaft fracture between October 2010 and March 2014 were included as controls (ORIF group).Fracture fixation using the 4.5 mm locking compression plate (LCP) was performed in both groups.Parameter measurements included operative time,intraoperative fluoroscopy times,grafting rate,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative drainage,hospital stay,bone healing time and complications.Results MIPO and ORIF groups differed significantly with respect to intraoperative blood loss [(93.5 ± 25.6) ml vs (325.3 ± 158.3) ml],intraoperative fluoroscopy times [(13.2 ± 6.1) vs 4.0 (0-6.0)] and hospitalization [(11.9 ± 1.7)days vs (18.0 ±4.7)days] (P ＜0.05).Bone grafting and drainage were not performed in MIPO group,while bone grafting rate was 54％ and postoperative drainage volume was (120.4 ± 69.6) ml in ORIF group (P ＜0.05).MIPO and ORIF groups were comparable with respect to operative time [(79.0 ± 22.0) min vs (97.5 ± 30.8) min],bone healing time [(15.2 ± 2.5) weeks vs (18.2 ± 4.8)weeks] and postoperative complications (10％ vs23％) (P＞0.05).Conclusion Anterior MIPO is an effective procedure for treatment of middle humeral shaft fracture,with advantages of small trauma,less bleeding,low risk of nerve injury and high rate of fracture healing.

Humans ; Oral Medicine ; trends ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVETo discuss the changes in Wnt pathway inhibiting factors in esophageal precancerosis lesions induced by methyl benzyl nitrosamine (MBNA) and the effect of Gexia Zhuyu decoction.

METHODWistar rats were subcutaneously injected with MBNA (3.5 mg x kg(-1) for twice per week to establish the model. Since the 1st day after the model establishment, they were orally administered with Gexia Zhuyu decoction (16, 8 mg x kg(-1)). At the 10th week, esophageal tissues were collected to observe the pathological changes of esophageal mucosa, detect SFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1, Axin2 and GSK-3β mRNA levels.by fluorescent quantitation PCR analysis and β-catenin protein level by Western blotting.

RESULTBeing induced by MBNA, rats in the model group showed slight atypical hyperplasia in the histopathological examination. Compared with the normal group, Gexia Zhuyu decoction dose high and low groups showed no significant pathomorphological and histological changes. The model group showed lower gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and higher β-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group. The Gexia Zhuyu decoction low dose group showed higher gene transcription levels of esophageal tissues sFRP1, sFRP4, Axin1 and Axin2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and lower β-catenin protein expression level (P < 0.01) than the normal control group.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulated β-catenin protein level and down-regulated Wnt pathway could enhance Wnt pathway activity of MBNA-induced esophageal precancerous lesions. Gexia Zhuyu decoction could down-regulate the β-catenin protein level and up-regulate the transcription level of Wnt pathway inhibiting factors, but could not block MBNA-induced esophageal precancerosis lesions.

Animals ; Axin Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Esophageal Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis ; Nitrosamines ; adverse effects ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Wnt Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of low-dose once-daily tadalafil combined with Shuganyiyang Capsules in the treatment of mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSNinety patients with mild-to-moderate ED were equally randomized to groups A, B and C to receive Shuganyiyang Capsules, tadalafil, and tadalafil + Shuganyiyang Capsules, respectively. The scores of the patients on IIEF-5 and SF-PAIRS (15-Item Short Form of Psychological Interpersonal Relationship Scales) were recorded before and at 1 and 3 months after treatment.

RESULTSThe IIEF-5 scores of groups A, B and C were 10.13 +/- 1.55, 11.00 + 1.60 and 10.73 +/- 1.91 before treatment, and 13.77 +/- 2.11, 17.77 +/- 2.13 and 17.17 +/- 3.84 at 1 month after treatment, significantly higher in B and C than in A (P <0. 001) , but with no remarkable difference between B and C (P =0. 411). At 3 months after treatment, the IIEF-5 scores were 15.77 +/- 2.05, 18.07 +/- 2.24 and 19.37 +/- 3.76 in the three groups, dramatically higher in B and C than in A (P <0.001) as well as in C than in B (P<0.05). The scores on sexual self-confidence, sexual spontaneity and time concerns in SF-PAIRS were 3.90 +/-0.80, 8.67 +/- 1.94 and 14.43 +/- 1.92 before medication, 5.83 +/- 1.02, 9.90 +/- 1.75 and 11.17 +/- 1.68 at 1 month and 6.73 +/- 0.98, 11.07 +/- 2.08 and 10.67 +/-1.60 at 3 months after medication in group A; 4.17 +/- 0.87, 9.37 +/-1.43 and 14.47 +/-1.57 before medication, 6.47 +/-0.78, 10.83 +/- 2.18 and 10.20 +/-1.56 at 1 month and 6.83 +/-0.91, 11.30 +/- 1.88 and 9.47 +/- 1.57 at 3 months in group B; and 4.23 +/-0. 94, 9.50 +/- 1.89 and 14.67 +/- 2.91 before medication, 8.03 +/- 1.67, 13.43 +/-1.10 and 9.70 +/-1.21 at 1 month and 8.93 +/- 1.78, 14.70 +/- 1.26 and 8. 87 +/- 0. 97 at 3 months in group C. Compared with the baseline, the SF-PAIRS scores of the three groups were all significantly improved after treatment (P <0. 05) , and markedly higher in C than in the other two groups (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow-dose once-daily tadalafil combined with Shuganyiyang Capsules is obviously effective in the treatment of mild-to-moderate ED, which not only improves the patients'erectile function, sexual self-confidence and sexual spontaneity, but also reduces their time concerns.

Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injection into detrusor to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods A total of 78 patients with SCI were treated with transurethral injection of BTX-A (300 IU dissolved in 15 ml of saline) into 30 different points of detrusor with 15 ml in every patients. Urodynamic parameters and voiding diary were assessed at baseline and 3 weeks and 3 months after the injections. Adverse events were recorded after the injection if present.Results After the first injection, 78 patients showed that the mean frequencies of incontinence decreased from 13.5 to 2.7 times per day, the mean volume of intermittent catheterization (IC) increased from 131 ml to 389 ml per time, the mean volume of incontinence decreased from 1 690 ml to 281 ml per day, the mean getting effect time was 7.6 days. 10 patients received second injection at 8.9 months after first injection, the results showed that the mean frequencies of incontinence decreased from 9.7 to 3.7 times per day, the mean IC volume increased from 108 ml to 387 ml. 6 patients received third injection at 5.8 months after second injection, the results showed that the mean frequencies of incontinence decreased from 9.2 to 3.9 times per day, the mean IC volume increased from 116 ml to 364 ml. No side effects were observed during the follow-up.Conclusion BTX-A injection into detrusor to treat neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with SCI seems to be an effective, safe and miniinvasive solution.

Objective To investigate the differences on lymphatic vessel density (LVD) among esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC),esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and normal esophageal tissues,and analyze the clinical significance.Methods Twenty samples of EAC,24 samples of ESCC and 20 cases of normal esophageal tissues were obtained at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from January 2004 to January 2011.D2-40 was used for immunostaining of lymphatic vessels in EAC,and antibodies of D2-40 and Ki-67 were used together to detect proliferation of lymphatic vessels.The differences in the LVD among EAC,ESCC and normal esophageal tissues were analyzed.All data were analyzed using the analysis of variance or t test.Results D2-40 staining could identify the lymphatic vessels,and antibodies of D2-40 and Ki-67 could detect the proliferation of lymphatic vessels.The LVD of EAC,ESCC and normal esophageal tissues were (3.3 ± 1.7)/0.17 mm2,(4.6 ± 1.2)/0.17 mm2 and (3.8 ± 1.2)/0.17 mm2,respectively,with significant differences (F =5.44,P ＜0.05).The LVD of EAC was significantly lower than that of ESCC (t =3.074,P ＜ 0.05),while there was no significant difference in the LVD between the EAC and normal esophageal tissues (t =-1.022,P ＞ 0.05).There were significant differences in the LVD between the ESCC and normal esophageal tissues (t =2.395,P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences in the LVD between EAC patients with deglutition discomfort and those with pain (t =3.092,P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences in the LVD between EAC patients with course ＜6 months and those with course≥6 months (t =3.092,P ＜ 0.05).No statistical difference in clinicopathological parameters including gender,age,site of lesion,tumor diameter,pathological morphology,T stage,N stage,G stage,TNM clinical stage and lymph node metastasis were detected (t ＝ 1.130,1.020,F =0.082,t =0.799,F =0.692,t =0.694,1.820,0.353,0.969,0.969,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The LVD of EAC is lower than that of ESCC,but is similar to that of normal esophageal tissues.The LVD of EAC is correlated with the symptoms and course of patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of CORM-2 via p38 mitogeu-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling pathway on the expression of the mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fisl) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse pulmonary macrophages.Methods The rat subculture alveolar macrophages were seeded on 96 well plates with 2 × 105/ml densities.After 24 hours of culture,it was divided into 4 groups by random number table method:normal control group (group C),group LPS (group L),CO releasing agent CORM-2 + LPS group (group LC),p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 + CORM-2 + LPS group (group LCS).When the cells were incubated for 24 hours,the mitochondrial MDA content and SOD activity were determined by ELISA kit,the levels of HO-1、mitochondrial fission protein Fis1 and p38 were determined by Western blot,the expressions of HO-1 and mitochondrial fission protein Fis1 were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the C group,the levels of MDA [(2.43 ±0.12) vs.(3.59 ±0.07)],HO-1 [(1.31±0.27) vs.(1.65±0.41)],Fis1 [(1.27±0.23) vs.(1.65±0.41)] andp38 [(1.01 ±0.24) vs.(1.36 ±0.17)] in group L were increased,and the activity of SOD [(81.7 ± 1.62) vs.(54.7 ± 1.62)] was decreased (P ＜ 0.05);Compared with the group L,the MDA content [(3.59 ± 0.07) vs.(3.08 ±0.52)] and the level of Fis1 [(2.01 ±0.35) vs.(1.48 ±0.39)] in group LC were down-regulated,and the levels of SOD [(54.7 ± 1.62) vs.(67.4 ± 1.32)]、and the expressions of HO-1 [(1.65±0.41)vs.(2.25±0.18)] andp38 [(1.36±0.17) vs.(1.78±0.23)] wereup-regulated (P ＜0.05).Compared with the group LC,the MDA content [(3.08 ±0.52) vs.(4.16 ±0.19)] and the expression of Fis1 [(1.48 ±0.39) vs.(1.96 ±0.31)] in group LCS were increased,and the level of SOD [(67.4±1.32)vs.(45.9±1.52)]、and the expressions of HO-1 [(2.25±0.18)vs.(1.78± 0.19)] and p38 [(1.78 ±0.23) vs.(1.12 ±0.29)] were decreased (P ＜0.05).Conclusions HO-1/CO system inhibits the expression of Fis1 in LPS-induced lung macrophages,which may be regulated by p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the effect of early occupational therapy intervention on unilateral spatial neglect caused by stroke.Methods A total of 92 patients with unilateral spatial neglect caused by stroke were ran- domly divided into a treatment group(46 cases)and a control group(46 cases).The cases of the control group were treated by routine clinical treatment plus positioning on the bed,passive joint motion,bridging movement,facilitation techniques,balance training in sitting and standing positions,gait training immediately after the patients' conditions got stable.The patients in the treatment group were treated with activities of daily living(ADL)training in addition to the interventions employed in the control group.Results Effect of the treatment group are superior to that of the control group as reflected by the scores with Fug1-Meyer scale and Barthel Index(P