We propose an improved version of regional competition algorithm in this paper, and apply it to the automatic segmentation of medical image series, particularly in the segmentation and recognition of brain tumor. The traditional regional competition is enhanced by combining the attractive aspects of fuzzy segmentation, and thus it provides an efficient approach to segment the fuzzy and heterogeneous medical images. In order to perform regional competition on medical image series, we utilize the segmentation result of a slice to initiate the next segmented slice, while the first slice is initialized using regional growing algorithm. Moreover, we develop an algorithm to recognize the tumors automatically, taking into account its characters. Experimental results show that our algorithm performs well on the segmentation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image series with high speed and precision.
Algorithms ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Fuzzy Logic ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pattern Recognition, Automated

Objective:To assess the age-related differences in the management strategies and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) under the chest pain center model.Methods:Clinical data of 2 833 patients with ACS were enrolled in the retrospective observational registry between January 2017 and June 2019 at 11 hospitals with chest pain centers in Chengdu. The patients were divided into four groups according to their ages: < 55 years old group ( n = 569), 55-64 years old group ( n = 556), 65-74 years old group ( n = 804), ≥ 75 years old group ( n = 904). The collected data included the patients' demographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, medical history, symptoms and signs of onset, experimental examination, types of ACS and the time from the symptom to the hospital (S-to-D), etc., and the clinical characteristics, management strategies, all-cause mortality in the hospital, and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) within 1 year after discharge were compared. The primary end point was the clinical outcome of ACS patients in different age groups, including all-cause deaths in the hospital and the incidence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge. The secondary end point was the proportion of ACS patients underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in different age groups. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of all-cause deaths in ACS patients. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to express the incidence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge in different age groups. Multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the factors affecting the incidence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge of ACS patients. Results:As age increased, the proportion of male patients gradually decreased, and the percentages of male patients aged < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, 65-74 years old, and ≥ 75 years old were 87.2% (496/569), 77.0% (428/556), 66.4% (534/804), and 60.1% (543/904), respectively; and ACS patients combined with hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke history were more common [the percentages of patients with hypertension aged < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, 65-74 years old, ≥ 75 years old were 41.3% (235/569), 52.2% (290/556), 59.7% (480/804), and 66.9% (605/904); the percentages of diabetes were 18.6% (106/569), 25.5% (142/556), 27.0% (217/804), and 28.2% (255/904); the percentages of coronary heart disease were 10.1% (57/564), 13.9% (77/555), 17.6% (141/803), and 23.7% (213/899); the percentages of stroke were 0.7% (4/564), 4.0% (22/552), 4.5% (36/801), and 8.6% (77/894)]. But the percentages of patients with a history of active smoking, typical chest pain/chest tightness and dyslipidemia were significantly reduced [the percentages of smoking history were 60.2% (340/565), 48.0% (266/554), 33.7% (270/801), and 21.7% (195/899), typical chest pain/chest tightness were 96.9% (536/553), 96.4% (516/535), 91.8% (716/780), 90.2% (776/860); the percentages of dyslipidemia were 11.2% (63/565), 9.2% (51/553), 5.7% (46/802), and 4.9% (44/896)], the time of S-to-D was significantly prolonged [minutes: 176.0 (73.5, 557.0), 194.5 (89.3, 682.3), 221.0 (98.8, 940.5), and 270.0 (115.0, 867.0)], hemoglobin (Hb) level was significantly reduced(g/L: 145.44±17.43, 135.95±19.25, 129.75±19.03, 122.19±20.55), and the incidence of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) increased significantly [18.6% (106/569), 20.5% (114/556), 26.6% (214/804), 26.5% (240/904)], and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The proportion of Killip grade Ⅲ -Ⅳ were the highest in patients aged ≥ 75 years old, 9.0% and 12.6%, respectively. Compared with the groups aged < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, and 65-74 years old, the proportion of patients aged ≥ 75 years old who underwent PCI was the lowest, and the all-cause mortality in the hospital and the incidence of 1-year MACCE of patients underwent PCI were significantly lower than those of patients underwent conservative treatment [6.0% (28/463) vs. 10.4% (45/434), 14.6% (43/294) vs. 24.3 % (55/226), both P < 0.05]. As age increased, the hospital all-cause mortality and the 1-year MACCE incidence increased (all-cause mortality rates in < 55 years old, 55-64 years old, 65-74 years old, ≥ 75 years old groups were 0.9%, 2.2%, 5.5%, 8.3%, and the 1-year MACCE incidences were 5.0%, 6.7%, 13.9%, 18.7%, both P < 0.01). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, cardiogenic shock, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the number of vascular disease and underwent PCI were the independent risk factors of all-cause mortality [the odds ratio ( OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 1.644 (1.356-1.993), 11.794 (7.469-18.621), 2.449 (1.419-4.227), 1.334 (1.096-1.624), 0.391 (0.247-0.619), all P < 0.001]. Cox regression analysis showed that age, STEMI, the number of vascular disease and underwent PCI were independent risk factors of the occurrence of MACCE within 1 year after discharge [hazard ratio ( HR) and 95% CI were 1.354 (1.205-1.521), 1.387 (1.003-1.916), 1.314 (1.155-1.495), 0.547 (0.402-0.745), all P < 0.05]. Conclusions:In the chest pain center model, compared with other age of ACS patients, the proportion of NSTEMI in elderly patients group aged ≥ 75 years old was higher, the proportion of PCI was lower, and the clinical outcome was worse. However, the prognosis of elderly patients receiving PCI treatment was better than the patients receiving conservative treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical application and health economic values of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and second trimester serum screening (STSS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 54 026 singleton pregnant women undergoing NIPT and STSS from March 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 in Changsha Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. For pregnant women with high-risk results of NIPT, prenatal diagnosis and follow-up of pregnancy outcomes were conducted. The data was grouped to 4 screening models, and their cost-benefit was analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of NIPT were all higher than STSS. Screening models 1 to 4 have prevented the birth of 71, 29, 52 and 54 patients with Down syndrome, respectively. The safety index of screening models 1 to 4 were 0.0036, 0.3944, 02215 and 0.1281, respectively. When the price of NIPT was decreased to 600 RMB, the cost-benefit of the screening models 1 to 4 was 0.46, 0.65, 0.44 and 0.40 million RMB, respectively. CONCLUSION NIPT has a better detection performance than STSS. When the price of NIPT is 600 RMB, screening model 1 has the best screening effect and the highest accuracy, safety index and health economical value.
Child ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Down Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the application value of"Internet+Case-based Discussion"in the standardized train-ing of traditional Chinese medicine resident physicians.Methods"Internet+Case-based Discussion"was conducted for 150 resident physicians from three grades who received training in a case hospital.K-means cluster analysis was used to group the e-valuation of resident physicians,and the teaching evaluation of different types of resident physicians was compared.Semantic net-work analysis was used to identify training suggestions and demands of resident physicians.Results There was no statistically significant difference in teaching evaluations among the three grades of resident physicians(P>0.05),and the overall accept-ance was high among resident physicians of different grades.Cluster analysis distinguished the high-scoring group from the medi-um-scoring group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).Resident physicians in the medium-scoring group believed that teaching teachers lacked close integration of teaching with case discussion and clinical auxiliary result interpretation(P<0.001).Conclusion In the standardized training of traditional Chinese medicine resident physicians,"Internet+Case-based Discussion"can effectively ensure teaching quality and promote the sharing and utilization of teaching resources.

Objective:To observe the effects and safety of dienogest on the volume and symptoms of ovarian endometrioma (OMA).Methods:The clinical data of 75 patients with OMA who underwent treatment with dienogest (2 mg/day) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 1st 2020 to March 31st 2024 were retrospectively analysed, mainly comparing the changes in the volume of OMA and the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of endometriosis-related pain before and after the treatment, as well as observing the changes in the blood biological indicators, liver and kidney function, coagulation function and changes in breast.Results:The median cyst volumes of the OMA patients at 3, 6 and 12 months of dienogest treatment were 13.21 cm 3 (volume reduction rate: 36.00%), 8.33 cm 3 (volume reduction rate: 56.00%) and 4.10 cm 3 (volume reduction rate: 77.62%), respectively, which were all significantly decreased from the pre-treatment period (all P<0.05). The VAS scores of pain of the OMA patients at 3, 6 and 12 months of dienogest treatment all were 0 mm. Blood cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) levels decreased progressively during treatment (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in the coagulation indexes, liver and kidney function indexes of the patients during dienogest treatment compared with those before treatment (all P>0.05). During the follow-up period, there were a few patients with changes in the growth sites or lesion category of the breast nodules, but there were no occurrence of breast cancer or precancerous lesions. Conclusion:Dienogest is effective in reducing OMA volume and alleviating endometriosis-related pain with few adverse effects.

Background::Liver cancer remains the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, causing a heavy burden globally. An updated assessment of the global epidemiology of the liver cancer burden that addresses geographical disparities is necessary to better understand and promote healthcare delivery.Methods::Data were extracted from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, including the number, crude, and age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality at the global, country, continent, and human development index (HDI) regional levels. Age-standardized rates (incidence and mortality) per 100,000 person-years were adjusted based on the Segi-Doll World standard population. The mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIR) for each region and country were calculated. The HDI and gross national income (GNI) for 2022 were obtained, and a Pearson correlation analysis was conducted with the incidence, mortality, and MIR.Results::In 2022, approximately 866,136 new liver cancer cases and 758,725 related deaths were recorded worldwide, with a global MIR of 0.86. Males had a disproportionately higher burden than females across all levels, and the highest burden was observed in the elderly population. Geographically, the regions with the highest incidence rates included Micronesia, Eastern Asia, and Northern Africa, and the regions with the highest mortality rates included Northern Africa, Southeastern Asia, Eastern Asia, and Micronesia. Notably, Mongolia had a strikingly high burden compared to other countries. The highest MIR was observed in North America and the lowest in Africa. Negative associations of HDI and GNI with liver cancer mortality and MIR were identified, irrespective of sex.Conclusions::The current liver cancer burden underscores the presence of remarkable geographic heterogeneity, which is particularly evident across countries with varying HDI levels, highlighting the urgent need to prioritize health accessibility and availability to achieve health inequities.

Objective To investigate the effects of galectin-3(Gal3)on skin abscess development and activation of mast cells(MC)in mice infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).Methods Wild type mice and Gal3-knockout(Gal3-/-)mice,at 6～8 weeks of age,were divided into four groups:Wild type mice+PBS group,Wild type mice+MRSA group,Gal3-/-mice+PBS group,Gal3-/-mice+MRSA group,were subcutaneously injected with MRSA or the same volume of phosphate buffer saline,with five mice per group.The development and pathological changes of skin abscess were monitored and recorded.The bacterial load in skin tissues was compared,and the expression of associated cytokines,degranulation of MC,and the distribution of MC activation marker 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)were detected.Results The skin of Wild type mice showed progressive abscesses after subcutaneous infection with MRSA,but the Gal3-/-mice showed smaller abscess areas.Compared to the Wild type mice+MRSA group,the Gal3-/-mice+MRSA group showed lower bacterial loading in the skin tissues(P＜0.01)and fewer infiltrating inflammatory cells with histopathological observation.The expression of cytokines,including IL-1β,TNF-α,IL-33,TGF-β,and IL-10,were significantly lower in Gal3-/-mice than Wild type mice(P＜0.05).The toluidine blue staining showed a large number of degranulated MCs in the skin tissues of the wild type mice+MRSA group,whereas only a few degranulated MCs were observed in the Gal3-/-mice+MRSA group.It was further found that the expression of 5-HT in Gal3-/-mice+MRSA group was significantly lower than that in wild-type mice+MRSA group with immunohistochemical staining.Conclusion Gal3 deficiency reduced the activation and degranulation of mouse skin MC after MRSA infection,resulting in changes to inflammatory responses and alleviating the severity of skin tissue abscesses.