After extracting definition measurements by different focus functions from the images, a novel autofocus algorithm which combines them with principal component analysis (PCA) and considers the first principal component as the final measurement, is presented in this paper. The experiment results with 70 groups of images show that this algorithm increases the difference between the definition measurements of the images and provides higher focusing accuracy in comparison with other single ones.
Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Microscopy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Principal Component Analysis

A fast microscopic image mosaicing method is proposed in this paper by making a study of the mosaic methods and the characteristics of microscopic images. In the paper, invariant local features based on normalized moment of inertia (NMI) are used to select the matching points and calculate the spatial translation. The experimental results demonstrate that this algorithm can achieve fast, effective microscopic image mosaicing.
Algorithms ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Photomicrography ; methods

A new algorithm using the geometric active contour model with the fusion of color and intensity priors to segment medical images is presented in this paper. The prior knowledge used here are firstly defined in different color spaces and represented as thresholds searched by the genetic algorithm. Then the prior knowledge is merged into active contour model with its contour evolution by the level set technique. The experiments on clinical marrow images and mammograms have successfully demonstrated its superiority of the proposed algorithm over the existing active contour models which deal with image gradient information.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Color ; Image Enhancement ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted

This article used support vector machine (SVM) algorithm to recognize the particles in urine sediment in this paper. After feature extraction, cross-validation method and the contour chart of the accuracy were implemented to select the kernel function and the parameters of SVM, and according to the characteristics of SVM classifier and sample data, Multi-SVMs with two-level-classifier was successfully designed and A classification matrix was eventually obtained. The evaluation by using clinical data and comparative results with the artificial neural network have demonstrated that the proposed algorithm gets better results.
Algorithms ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Particle Size ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Urine ; chemistry

According to the patient examination criterion and the demands of all related departments, the DSA digital subtraction workstation has been successfully designed and is introduced in this paper by analyzing the characteristic of video source of DSA which was manufactured by GE Company and has no DICOM standard interface. The workstation includes images-capturing gateway and post-processing software. With the developed workstation, all images from this early DSA equipment are transformed into DICOM format and then are shared in different machines.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; instrumentation ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software Design ; User-Computer Interface

This paper introduces the design and implementation of a system which can get the NEMA2.0 image data from the hard disks of the imaging equipments directly,then analyzes and transforms these image data into the DICOM3.0 image data and sends them to the image server. The design has the advantages of reliable image quality, low cost and information.
Computer Storage Devices ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; epidemiology ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Prevalence ; Rural Health ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Health

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of FLAMIGEL (hydrogel dressing) on the repair of residual burn wound.

METHODSSixty burn patients with residual wounds hospitalized in 6 burn units from November 2011 to May 2012 were enrolled in the multi-center, randomized, and self-control clinical trial. Two residual wounds of each patient were divided into groups T (treated with FLAMIGEL) and C (treated with iodophor gauze) according to the random number table. On post treatment day (PTD) 7 and 14, wound healing rate was calculated, with the number of completely healed wound counted. The degree of pain patient felt during dressing change was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). The mean numbers of wounds with score equal to zero, more than zero and less than or equal to 3, more than 3 and less than or equal to 6, more than 6 and less than or equal to 10 were recorded respectively. Wound secretion or exudate samples were collected for bacterial culture, and the side effect was observed. Data were processed with repeated measure analysis of variance, t test, chi-square test, and nonparametric rank sum test.

RESULTSWound healing rate of groups T, C on PTD 7 was respectively (67 ± 24)%, (45 ± 25)%, and it was respectively (92 ± 16)%, (72 ± 23)% on PTD 14. There was statistically significant difference in wound healing rate on PTD 7, 14 between group T and group C (F = 32.388, P < 0.01). Ten wounds in group T and four wounds in group C were healed completely on PTD 7, with no significant difference between them (χ(2) = 0, P > 0.05). Forty-two wounds in group T and seven wounds in group C healed completely on PTD 14, with statistically significant difference between them (χ(2) = 42.254, P < 0.01). Patients in group T felt mild pain during dressing change for 37 wounds, with VAS score higher than zero and lower than or equal to 3. Evident pain was observed in patients of group C during dressing change for 43 wounds, and it scored higher than 3 and less than or equal to 6 by VAS evaluation. There was statistically significant difference in mean number of wounds with different grade of VAS score between group T and group C (Z = -4.638, P < 0.01). Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Baumanii, and Staphylococcus epidermidis were all detected in both groups, but there was no statistical difference between group T and group C (χ(2) = 0.051, P > 0.05). No side effect was observed in either of the two groups during the whole trial.

CONCLUSIONSFLAMIGEL can accelerate the healing of residual burn wounds and obviously relieve painful sensation during dressing change.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bandages ; Burns ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy, safety and the life quality improvement of uroacitides injection in the treatment for patients with advanced malignant tumors.

METHODSA total of 160 patients with advanced stage cancers were enrolled into this multicenter, open and non-randomized phase II clinical trial, including cancers of the lung (33 cases), liver (45 cases), breast (17 cases), esophagus (11 cases), stomach (18 cases), colon (19 cases), pancreas (3 cases) and kidney (4 cases), and glioma (10 cases). Uroacitides was administrated in a dose of 300 ml daily via the superior vena cava catheter for consecutive 4-8 weeks.

RESULTSOf the 160 patients, 21 dropped out and one patient died during the trial. Efficacy could be evaluated in 138 patients and safety in 160. The total objective response rate (ORR, CR + PR)) and tumor control rate (CR + PR + MR + SD) of the 138 evaluable patients were 5.8% and 65.2%, respectively. Clinical benefit response (CBR) rate was 57.2%. Major adverse effects were grade I - II and reversible nausea/vomiting (21.9%) and pain (6.3%).

CONCLUSIONUroacitides injection is effective in the control for various kinds of advanced cancers with mild, reversible and tolerable adverse effects, and can also improve the patient's quality of life. It is worth being studied further.

Breast Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Methyltransferases ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Neoplasm Staging ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Phenylacetates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Quality of Life ; Remission Induction ; Salvage Therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

NDFIP1 has been previously reported as a tumor suppressor in multiple solid tumors, but the function of NDFIP1 in NSCLC and the underlying mechanism are still unknown. Besides, the WW domain containing proteins can be recognized by NDFIP1, resulted in the loading of the target proteins into exosomes. However, whether WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (WWTR1, also known as TAZ) can be packaged into exosomes by NDFIP1 and if so, whether the release of this oncogenic protein via exosomes has an effect on tumor development has not been investigated to any extent. Here, we first found that NDFIP1 was low expressed in NSCLC samples and cell lines, which is associated with shorter OS. Then, we confirmed the interaction between TAZ and NDFIP1, and the existence of TAZ in exosomes, which requires NDFIP1. Critically, knockout of NDFIP1 led to TAZ accumulation with no change in its mRNA level and degradation rate. And the cellular TAZ level could be altered by exosome secretion. Furthermore, NDFIP1 inhibited proliferation in vitro and in vivo, and silencing TAZ eliminated the increase of proliferation caused by NDFIP1 knockout. Moreover, TAZ was negatively correlated with NDFIP1 in subcutaneous xenograft model and clinical samples, and the serum exosomal TAZ level was lower in NSCLC patients. In summary, our data uncover a new tumor suppressor, NDFIP1 in NSCLC, and a new exosome-related regulatory mechanism of TAZ.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism* ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Membrane Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins/metabolism*