Objective To evaluate the influence of the resolution of medical grayscale LCD over the detective efficiency of pulmonary nodule.Methods By reviewing PACS, 93 on-line chest DR images were collected.These radiographs included 23 normal images that had no nodule confirmed by CT, 32 doubtful images that also had no nodule confirmed by CT,and 38 positive images that had nodules confirmed by CT.These nodules didn't show obvious calcification and their diameters were from 0.30 to 1.90 cm. Nine patients had multi-nodules.Three residents or postgraduates, three attending physicians, and three associate professors or professors interpreted the 93 chest images by using three types of displays: Barco Z-2261, Barco Z-3620 and Barco Z-5620.All observers evaluated their confidence of the presence of pulmonary nodule with five-point level rating scale : ( 1 ) definitely positive, ( 2 ) probably positive, ( 3 ) uncertain, (4) probably negative, (5)definitely negative.SPSS 11.5 software was used to analyze the results ,including to draw the ROC curves and to perform Z test.Results The areas under the ROC curves of 2 M display, 3 M display and 5 M display were 0.774,0.784,0.816 for experienced radiologists; for instructors were 0.754,0.764,0.768 ;for teaching assistants were 0.695,0.754,0.774.However, for the detection of pulmonary nodules,there was no significant difference between observers with different ranks using the same modality of display,and no significant difference was found between the different modalities of displays used by observers with the same rank.Conclusion It's equivalent for detection performance with 2,3 and 5 M medical grayscale LCD display in detecting pulmonary nodule; Experienced radiologists can get more information using 5 M display;By reasonably matching displays, we could improve the cost-efficacy.

Objective To study the clinical and image features of the aortic dissecting aneurysm(AD) combined with aberrant right subclavian arteries(ARSA),and to discuss the feasibility of endovascular repair for such disorder.Methods The clinical and image data of 4 patients,who suffered from AD combined with ARSA and admitted in the authors' service during 2004 to 2007,were retrospectively reviewed.All the 4 cases complained severe aches in their back,and one of them was companied with aches in upper abdomen.CT-exam showed that the first tear(gap) of AD located near or inside ARSA,the truncus aortae narrowed obviously.Four operational prescriptions were performed respectively for the 4 patients depending on the location of gaps and on the distance between the gap and ARSA.Results All the 4 cases received satisfy operation.A slight early leakage occurred in the first case without steal syndrome,and the lower blood pressure was 80 mmHg on right arm;for the second case,no leakage occurred with normal blood presser on both arms;for the third one a slight early leakage was companied with normal blood presser on both arms and for the fourth one a slight early leakage occurred without steal syndrome,and the lower blood presser was 60mmHg on right arm.Conclusion AD combined with ARSA is a rare case in clinic.The modus operandi of endovascular repair should be designed based on the situation of individual case considering the location of the first tear.Once the target area exposed is not wide enough for operation,subclavian artery bypass would be a right way in reduction of leakage complications and in increasing the opportunity for a successful operation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of caspase-3 in the brain of acutely pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-kindled rats.MethodsThe caspase-3 positive cells were revealed using immunohistochemical SP method. CMIAS image analysis system was used to analyse the expression of caspase-3 hemi-quantitatively. ResultsFollowing PTZ induced epilepsy, the expression of caspase-3 increased both in the hippocampus and in the cortex, and that was more remarkable in the hippocampus than in the cortex.ConclusionCaspase-3 may be activated during neuronal apoptosis after epilepsy. Hippocampus is more sensitive to the neuronal damage due to epilepsy than the cortex is.

Objective Evaluate the influence of medical monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD) with different resolutions on the detection of pulmonary nodules.Methods Ninety-three direct digital radiography (DR) chest images were selected on-line from picture archiving and communication system (PACS),including 38 positive,32 suspected and 23 normal cases.All of the images were confirmed by CT.These positive images were divided into group A and B according to the diameter of nodules.Three experienced radiologists blindly read the 93 images using three types of displays with different resolutions.Regarding the presence of nodule,five-point confidence system was used:definitely absent,probably absent,indefinite,probably present and definitely present.All observers marked their confidence levels of each image according to the presence of pulmonary nodule on different displays.Software SPSS 13.0 was employed for statistical analysis.Results In the group-A cases,the areas under ROC curves were 0.643,0.686 and 0.739,and in the group-B cases,those were 0.813,0.832 and 0.846 respectively.There was no difference in the detection efficacy among different radiodiagnostic systems.Conclusion Regardless of post-processing tools,it was equivalent to detect pulmonary nodules with different diameters of Group A or B among medical monochrome LCDs with different resolutions.

Objective To study the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis under estrogen deprivation conditions.Methods The estrogen was quickly-stripped in medium and the female nude mice were castrated by bilateral oophorectomy to build estrogen deprivation in vitro and in vivo experimental models,respectively.(1) In vitro experiments:according to different treatments the estrogen deprived ectopic endometrial cells were classified into 4 groups:①EGF group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured for 72 hours with different concentrations of EGF (0.01,0.1,1,10,50,100 ng/ml),the results of EGF group were represented by the result of cells treated by 10 ng/ml EGF cultured for 72 hours ; ②EGF + PD98059 group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured for 72 hours with 5 × 10-2 mol/L PD98059 (inhibitor of ERK),followed by a cultivation for 72 hours treated by 10 ng/ml EGF + 5 × 10-2 mol/L PD98059 ; ③EGF + ICI182780 group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured for 72 hours with 10-6 mol/L ICI182780 [inhibitor of estrogen receptor(ER)],followed by a cultivation for 72 hours treated by 10 ng/ml EGF + 10-6 mol/L ICI182780; ④Blank control group:the ectopic endometrial cells were cultured with no treatment.The proliferation activity of ectopic endometrial cells in all groups after treatment were examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method represented by absorbance value (A).The expression of p-ERK1/2 protein were detected by western blot.(2) In vivo experiments:64 female nude mice were randomly divided into control and castration groups (both n =32) using random number chart.The mice in castration group were castrated by bilateral oophorectomy on 3 weeks after the endometriosis model was established.The levels of EGF,EGFR,p-ERK1/2 protein in ectopic lesions of both groups were measured on 4,6,8 and 10 weeks after the endometriosis model was established by western blot.Results (1) The proliferation activity of ectopic endometrial cells:the proliferation activity of ectopic endometrial cells treated by different concentrations of EGF (0.01,0.1,1,10,50,100 ng/ml) for 72 hours were 0.310 ± 0.010,0.340 ± 0.020,0.670 ± 0.010,0.980 ± 0.030,1.360 ± 0.020,1.670 ± 0.020,respectively,the proliferation activity was increased along with of EGF concentrations.The proliferation activity was 0.680 ± 0.030 at EGF + PD98059 group,the differences exhibited significant difference when compared with that at EGF group with 100 ng/ml for 72 hours(P ＜0.01).The proliferation activity of EGF + ICI182780 and blank control groups were 0.330 ±0.030 and 0.310 ±0.030,respectively,which did not reached statistical differences(P ＞ 0.05).(2) The expression of EGF,EGFR,pERK1/2 protein:① In vitro experiments:the levels of p-ERK1/2 protein in EGF and blank control groups were 0.670 ± 0.020 and 0.600 + 0.010,respectively,which reached statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).The level of p-ERK1/2 protein in EGF + PD98059 group was 0.610 ± 0.020,which exhibited significant differences with that at blank control group(P ＞ 0.05).② In vivo experiments:at 4,6 and 8 weeks after the endometriosis models were established,the expression of EGF protein in the ectopic lesions of castration group and control group were (0.530±0.015 versus 0.610 ±0.015),(0.400 ±0.029 versus 0.620 ±0.018),(0.560 ±0.026versus 0.630 ± 0.021),respectively,the levels of EGFR protein were (0.500 ± 0.030 versus 0.640 ±0.030),(0.470 ± 0.020 versus 0.630 ± 0.020),(0.510 ± 0.030 versus 0.610 ± 0.020) respectively,and the level of p-ERK1/2 protein were (0.500 ± 0.020 versus 0.580 ± 0.020),(0.490 ± 0.020 versus 0.580 ±0.020),(0.570 ±0.020 versus 0.590 0.020),respectively.The difference of EGF,EGFR,pERK1/2 protein expression levels between two groups did not exhibited significant difference(P ＜ 0.01,P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05).At 10 weeks after the endometriosis models were established,the levels of EGF protein in castration group and control group were both 0.620 ± 0.020,the levels of EGFR protein were both 0.610 ±0.020,and the level of p-ERK1/2 protein were 0.590 ±0.010 and 0.600 ± 0.020.No statistical difference (P ＞0.05) was found between those two groups (P ＞ O.05).Conclusions EGF could stimulate the proliferation of ectopic endometrial cells by activating the ERK pathway under estrogen deprivation conditions.The inhibition of EGF signaling system in ectopic lesions was alleviated along with the prolongation of the period of estrogen deprivation.

BACKGROUND:Our previous study has already manifested that Chinese medicine Xiaokening can effectively prevent and treat the early diabetic nephropathy. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effect of rhein and archen on the apoptosis of mesangial cells of rats cultured with high glucose. METHODS:Mesangial cells were stimulated by different concentrations of rhein and archen (20, 40 and 80 μmol/L). Morphology of apoptotic cells was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Karyon apoptosis was examined by fluorescence staining of DAPI. cellapoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The outcome of hematoxylin-eosin staining and DAPI staining indicated that the effect of rhein was much stronger than that of archen on the apoptosis of mesangial cells in the rats cultured with high glucose. Comparison of the apoptosis rate also indicated that the rhein had a stronger effect on the earlier and the later stage apoptotic rate of mesangial cells than archen. Both rhein and archen with different concentrations can induce apoptosis of mesangial cells, but the effect of rhein is much stronger.

Objective To evaluate the changes of the left atrial function in patients with old myocardial infarction(OMI) by strain rate imaging(SRI). Methods The velocity of the left atrial lateral wall and atrial septum was measured by SRI in 30 patients with OMI(OMI group) and 25 normal subjects (control group). Left atrium passive eject volume index(LAPEVl) and left atium active eject volume index (LAAEVI) were measured using Simpson method. Results ①Compared with the control group, the velocity of the left atrium was reduced obviously in ventricular systole and early ventricular diastole in OMI group(P<0.05) ,but was increased in late ventricular diastole(P<0.05). ②Compared with the controls, LAAEVI was increased significantly in OMI group, but LAPEVI was decreased signicantly(P <0.001). Conclusions SRI could be used to evaluate the left atrial function accurately in patiens with OMI.

Perfofinance of the radio-diagnostic system can be evaluated quantitatively by the analysis method of the ROC curve.Areas under the ROC curves represent the diagnostic perfogrmance efficiency.A comparison of the perforrmance variance of the diagnostic system incurred by different diagnosticians,will find the diagnostic competence of individual diagnosticians.This can help hospital management in deploying personnel in the department of radiology reasonably.

Objective To investigate the prevention and mechanism of Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESW) induced renal Injury by pre-treating kidneys with low-energy shock waves(LESW).Methods Forty healthy female domestic rabbits were surgically managed to the mono-nephron models and random divided into 4 groups consisting of ten each: Control,LESW,ESW and ESWL plus LESW pretreated groups.LESW group received 100 LESW,ESW group received 1500 standard ESW,and same dose on ESW group except 100 LESW pretreatment in ESW plus LESW pretreated group.The rabbit kidney tissues were obtained 24 hours after ESW.Activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) levels in the renal tissue,and the level of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) in urinary were measured.Renal cell apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labelling(TUNEL).Results The MDA,the urinary level of NAG and rate of apoptosis in the LESW groups were reduced(P<0.01),and the activity of SOD increased significantly(P<0.05) as compared with ESW group,and these changes in LESW group had no statistics difference compared with the control group(P>0.05).Conclusions LESW pretreatment protocol substantially limits the renal injury that often caused by ESW.LESW may suppress oxidative stress and antagonize the process of renal cellular apoptosis.

Endoscopy ; Humans ; Skull Base ; anatomy & histology ; surgery