The fundamental research field of medical ultrasound has been the characterization of tissue scatterers. The signal processing method is widely used in this research field. A new method of Chirp-Z Transform Cepstrum for mean spacing estimation of tissue scatterers using ultrasonic scattered signals has been developed. By using this method together with conventional AR cepstrum method, we processed the backscattered signals of mimic tissue and pig liver in vitro. The results illustrated that the Chirp-Z Transform Cepstrum method is effective for signal analysis of ultrasonic scattering and characterization of tissue scatterers, and it can improve the resolution for mean spacing estimation of tissue scatterers.
Algorithms ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Scattering, Radiation ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Swine ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of reports published in recent 10 years in China about quantitative analysis of syndrome differentiation for diabetes mellitus (DM) in order to explore the methodological problems in these reports and find possible solutions. METHODS: The main medical literature databases in China were searched. Thirty-one articles were included and evaluated by the principles of clinical epidemiology. RESULTS: There were many mistakes and deficiencies in these articles, such as clinical trial designs, diagnosis criteria for DM, standards of syndrome differentiation of DM, case inclusive and exclusive criteria, sample size and estimation, data comparability and statistical methods. CONCLUSION: It is necessary and important to improve the quality of reports concerning quantitative analysis of syndrome differentiation of DM in light of the principles of clinical epidemiology.

Objective To explore the significance of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in the diagnose of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of cervix, and seek an effective approach to monitor tumor recurrence after treatment as early as possible. Methods All the data were collected from 1 557 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2010, the data of un-controlled cases(patients whose serum level of SCC-Ag failed to decrease to normal level or patients with incomplete tumor extinction)were eliminated, there were 1 394 cases of complete remission were analyzed,the median age was 46 years( rang, 18-72 years). According to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages (FIGO, 1994), 71 cases were in stageⅠa, 360 cases stageⅠb, 254 cases stageⅡa, 207 cases stageⅡb, 95 cases stageⅢa, 289 cases stageⅢb, 106 cases stageⅣa and 12 cases stageⅣb. Radical hysterectomy was performed in 685 cases with stageⅠ-Ⅱa, concurrent radiation and chemotherapy was performed in 709 cases with stageⅡb-Ⅳ. Taking serum cut off value of SCC-Ag was 1.95 μg/L, the level ≤1.95 μg/L as SCC-Ag negative expression and>1.95μg/L as SCC-Ag positive expression. The positive expression status of SCC-Ag before treatment, the relationship between the post-treatment recurrence rate after SCC-Ag becoming negative and the clinicopathological features of the patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed, concurrently combined with gynecological check-up, pathological and imaging examination, followed by comparative analysis with the results of monitoring. Results Among 1 394 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma, there were 1 169 cases with positive SCC-Ag, the positive expression rate of SCC-Ag before treatment was closely related with the clinical stages and tumor size(all P<0.01),which was not related with pathological grade and lymphatic metastasis(all P>0.05). The positive expression of SCC-Ag in 1 169 patients before treatment turned negative after treatment, 279 patients with recurrence whose positive expression of SCC-Ag turned negative after treatment, the recurrence rate was closely related with clinical stages, pathological grade, lymphatic metastasis and tumor size(all P<0.01). Among 279 cases of recurret squamous cell carcinoma of cervix, the median time of the increase in serum level of SCC-Ag was 12.4 months, and the median time of clinical or imaging examination was 19.0 months. And the recurrence time in the increase of patients′ serum level of SCC-Ag occurred obviously earlierthan that in clinical or radiographic manifestation (P<0.01), the median time of recurrence of the increase in serum level of SCC-Ag was obviously earlier than that of abnormality found by clinical or imaging examination(P<0.01). Among 279 cases withrecurrent squamous cell carcinoma of cervix, the serum level of SCC-Ag>5μg/L for patients with central recurrence was 4.2%(4/96), whilein the group of pelvic wall recurrence group was 56.2%(45/80)and in distant metastasis group was 87.4%(90/103). The level of SCC-Ag>5μg/L from the patients with pelvic wall recurrence and distant metastasis were much higher than that of patients with central recurrence (P<0.01), and the same results were shown between distant metastasis group and pelvic wall recurret group (P<0.01). Conclusions SSC-Ag expression in serum of patients with cervical squamous carcinoma is closely related with clinical stages and the tumor size. Dynamic monitoring the level of SSC-Ag could contribute to the early diagnosis for tumor recurrence, but it has some limitations for patients with central recurrence, which should deserve our attention.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between social support and depression of only-child-lost (OCL) people,and the mediation role of self-efficacy in this relationship.Methods:By stratified cluster sampling,214 OCL people were enrolled,with 80 males and 134 females,ages from 49 to 83 years old.They were assessed by General Self-Efficacy Scale,Social Support Rating Scale,and Self-rating Depression Scale.Results:Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age groups (t=2.85,P＜0.05),with or without spouse (t=5.62,P＜0.05),family location (t=3.95,P＜0.05),per capita monthly income (F=3.48,P＜0.05) among the social support scores.There was significant difference between the per capita monthly income and self-efficacy scores in QCL people (F=5.46,P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed self-efficacy and social support were positively correlated (r=0.26,P＜0.01).Self-efficacy (r=-0.59,P＜0.01) and social support (r=-0.59,P＜0.01) negatively correlated with depression in OCL people.Self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between social support and depression.Conclusion:The person who is ＜60 years old,with spouse and the high per capita monthly income,and lives the rural area,would have high social support levels among QCL people.The person who has high per capita monthly income would have high self-efficacy.Self-efficacy is one of the direct prediction for depression,and plays an indirect role between social support and depression.Intervention of depression among OCL people could be applied to change their cognition,and to enhance their self-efficacy.

Objective To study the effect of using high quality nursing mode in patients with type 2 diabetic osteo-porosis. Methods From January 1, 2012 to January 1, 2014 in our hospital 120 cases of type 2 diabetic osteoporosis were randomly divided into the study group and the control group, the control group were given routine care, patients in study group were given high quality nursing mode. Results The study group patients in nursing after the body mass in-dex, self rating anxiety scale, self rating depression scale were significantly better than the control group (P<0.05); the difference of the study group patients after care at the time of hospitalization and the control group had statistical sig-nificance (P<0.05). Conclusion Type 2 diabetic osteoporosis patients with high quality nursing, application effect is remarkable, can effectively improve the patients with anxiety, depression and other negative emotions, shorten the hos-pitalization time, improve the quality of life of patients, it is worth widely used in clinical nursing.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between occupational stress, social support, and occupational unintentional injuries.

METHODSA 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted in 151 cases of occupational unintentional injuries who were admitted to 6 occupational injury-admitted hospitals in Zhongshan City from October 2013 to December 2013 and 151 matched controls without unintentional injuries in the last year who had matched age, sex, and occupation. Their demographic characteristics, occupational stress (by the effort-reward imbalance questionnaire), and social support were investigated with a structured questionnaire.

RESULTSAnalysis of the data showed that there were significant differences in the score of each dimension of occupational stress, the ratio of effort to reward, and the score of superior support between the case group and the control group (P < 0.05). The Cox regression analysis results showed that more extrinsic efforts (OR = 1.47, 95%CI = 1.20∼1.80) and over commitment (OR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.08∼1.55) were the risk factors for occupational unintentional injuries, while more superior supports (OR = 0.64, 95%CI = 0.48∼0.84) and higher earnings (>3 000 yuan each month) (OR = 0.67, 95%CI = 0.54∼0.84) were protective factors.

CONCLUSIONOccupational stress and social support have an influence on the occurrence of occupational injuries.

Accidents, Occupational ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Injuries ; epidemiology ; Reward ; Risk Factors ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the occupational safety climate in different types of enterprises and its relationship with occupational accidental injury.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey based on self-report questionnaires was performed among 3311 front-line workers from 54 medium and small-sized manufacturing enterprises of different types in Zhongshan, China to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics, safety climate experience in workplace, and incidence of occupational accidental injury in the past year.

RESULTSAnalysis of the data revealed that employees in different types of companies perceived different levels of safety climate, according to the scores on four subscales; the European and American enterprises had significantly better safety climate than the Hong Kong and Chinese private enterprises (P < 0.01). The self-reported rates of occupational injury were 3.38%, 4.76%, and 6.72%, respectively, for European and American, Hong Kong, and Chinese private enterprises (χ(2) = 6.78, P < 0.05). After control of such factors as age, sex, income, education level, and marriage, the logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of occupational accidental injury in the European and American enterprises was significantly lower than that in the Chinese private enterprises (OR = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.35-0.91).

CONCLUSIONThe type of enterprise influences the occupational safety climate and incidence of occupational injury among workers.

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Europe ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Injuries ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; United States ; Workplace ; Young Adult

Objective We aim to evaluate and discuss the feasibility of Hyaline imaging of three-dimension sonography in observation of paravaginal support structure in normal nonporous women.Methods Total of 45 normal infertile women were chosen.Three-dimensional volume datasets were collected at rest by transperineal ultrasound.The three-dimensional Hyaline images were acquired off-line.We observed the morphologic features of paravaginal support structure on the axial plane in middle vagina and measured the anteroposterior and lateral horizontal distances between bilateral paravaginal support structure and ureter.The consistency between two sonographers were analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results In three-dimensional Hyaline imaging sonogram,paravaginal support structure was appeared as typically tenting-like shaped.The anteroposterior distances between paravaginal support structure and center of ureter were listed as followed:left (-0.31 ± 1.29) mm,right (0.47 ± O.99) mm.While the lateral horizontal distances were left (12.67 ± 6.70) mm,right (13.01 ± 5.75) mm.There were no statistical differences between bilateral both anteroposterior and lateral horizontal distances.The consistency between two sonographers for distinguishing paravaginal support structure on the middle-vaginal plane and measuring distances between paravaginal support structure and center of ureter was remarkably high (ICC is 0.87 and 0.82).Conclusions Hyaline imaging technology of three-dimensional pelvic floor sonography could be used to observe paravaginal support structure in women.The normal paravaginal support structure is typically showed as bilateral symmetrical tenting-like structure,which is on the same level as the center of ureter.It provides normal anatomic radiological evidence and helps study defect of paravaginal support structure caused by pregnancy or delivery.

To find a new preventive strategy for the infection of Schistosoma japonica, plasmid pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 that contains fatty binding protein (Sj14), GST (Sj26) and paramyocin (Sj97) that are expressed on the membrane, was constructed. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Sj14 mRNA, Sj26 mRNA and Sj97 mRNA in the Hela cells, the indirect immunofluorescent test was employed for the detection of the expression of trans-membrane Sj26 after the plasmid was trans-fected into Hela cells. Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups and pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 plasmid DNA, pIRES-Sj14-Sj26 plasmid DNA, plRES-Sj26 plasmid DNA,plRES blank vector and normal saline were respectively injected into the quadriceps muscles of thigh.Eight weeks after the immunization the mice were killed and significantly higher level of IgG was detected in the pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 group as compared with the plRES blank vector, normal saline and pIRES-Sj26 groups (P<0.01) and the pIRES-Sj14-Sj26(P<0.05). Single splenocyte suspension was prepared to detected the level of IFN-γ by ELISA and the lymphocyte stimulating index (SI) by MTT SI was significantly higher of in the pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 group than in other groups (P<0.01), while the IFN-γ, level was significantly higher the pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 group than in pIRES blank vector and normal saline groups (P<0.01), but no significant differences were found when compared with pIRES-Sj14-Sj26 and pIRES-Sj26 groups. Flow cytometery showed that the percent-ages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were much higher in the pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 group (P<0.01,P<0.05). It was concluded that pIRES-Sj97-Sj14-Sj26 vaccine may induce stronger immune response in BALB/c mice.

Endothelial cell injury is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases.The 2,3,5,4’-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-Glucoside (TSG) contributes to alleviate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury through mechanisms still know a little. This study aims to clarify the TSG effects on gene expression (mRNA and microRNA) related to oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by H2O2 in HUVECs. We found that TSG significantly reduced the death rate of cells and increased intracellular superoxide dismutase activity. At qRT-PCR, experimental data showed that TSG significantly counteracted the expressions of miR-9-5p, miR-16, miR-21, miR-29b, miR-145-5p, and miR-204-5p. Besides, TSG prevented the expression of ATF6 and CHOP increasing. In contrast, TSG promoted the expression of E2F1. In conclusion, our results point to the obvious protective effect of TSG on HUVECs injury induced by H2O2, and the mechanism may through miR16/ATF6/ E2F1 signaling pathway.