Wavelet transform is internationally recognized a good tool for time-frequency analysis. This paper presents a novel speckle suppression method for medical B-Scan images. The speckle is produced by scattering echoed signals in different phases because of wave interference. The software MATLAB is used as operating platform meanwhile the wavelet is used to eliminate the noise. The ultrasound image is processed by adaptive method and then the selected sym8 wavelet is used in the multiresolution analysis of the ultrasound image. The result shows that this method can effectively reduce the speckle noise.

Objective Assessment of short?term and mid?term changes of knee cartilage in non?professional long?distance runners before and after marathon using T2 mapping imaging. Methods Twenty?four knee joints of 12 healthy volunteers (5 males and 7 females) who participated in the marathon were examined by 3.0 T MRI one week before the race, within 12 hours after the race and two months after the race, respectively. The age ranged from 21.0 to 37.0 years. Athletes run more than three times a week, and each time was about 30 minutes. From T2 mapping we can obtain T2 value of 6 cartilage subregions of knee joint. Paired t?test was used to compare the T2 values of cartilage before and after the marathon. The comparison between the superficial and deep T2 values of cartilage was performed by independent sample t test. Results T2 mapping imaging showed that the T2 value of the superficial articular cartilage was higher than that of deep articular cartilage in pre?competition, within 12 hours after competition and 2 months follow?up, respectively (t=11.095, 10.385 and 10.102, P<0.01). The T2 value of superficial articular cartilage decreased after the competition compared with that of pre?competition (t=2.18,P<0.05), while the T2 value of deep articular cartilage showed no significant difference compared with that of pre?competition (t=1.832, P> 0.05). Except for the MTP?DZ, the T2 value of the remaining cartilage subregions showed a trend of decrease within 12 hours after the competition. There were significant differences in the subregion of MFC?DZ (t=2.110,P<0.05). At the follow?up of 2 months, cartilage T2 values of the MTP?SZ,LTP?SZ,LTP?DZ,MFC?DZ, Patella?SZ, Patella?DZ, Trochlea?SZ, Trochlea?DZ subregions showed a trend of recovery, and there was no significant difference compared with pre?competition(t=0.857,0.573, 0.146, 0.510,-0.594,-1.135,-0.812,-0.679; P>0.05). The T2 values of the LFC?SZ and LFC?DZ were lower than those before the race, with statistical significance (t=2.378, 3.147,P<0.05). Conclusion T2 value could reflect the change process of articular cartilage tissue composition in marathon runners from T2 mapping imaging. Under stress, the changes of superficial T2 value are more significant. The T2 value of knee cartilage can gradually recover to the pre?run level 2 months after running.

Objective: Assessment of short-term and mid-term changes of knee cartilage in non-professional long-distance runners before and after marathon using T₂ mapping imaging. Methods: Twenty-four knee joints of 12 healthy volunteers (5 males and 7 females) who participated in the marathon were examined by 3.0 T MRI one week before the race, within 12 hours after the race and two months after the race, respectively. The age ranged from 21.0 to 37.0 years. Athletes run more than three times a week, and each time was about 30 minutes. From T₂ mapping we can obtain T₂ value of 6 cartilage subregions of knee joint. Paired t-test was used to compare the T₂ values of cartilage before and after the marathon. The comparison between the superficial and deep T₂ values of cartilage was performed by independent sample t test. Results: T₂ mapping imaging showed that the T₂ value of the superficial articular cartilage was higher than that of deep articular cartilage in pre-competition, within 12 hours after competition and 2 months follow-up, respectively (t=11.095, 10.385 and 10.102, P<0.01). The T₂ value of superficial articular cartilage decreased after the competition compared with that of pre-competition (t=2.18,P<0.05), while the T₂ value of deep articular cartilage showed no significant difference compared with that of pre-competition (t=1.832, P> 0.05). Except for the MTP-DZ, the T₂ value of the remaining cartilage subregions showed a trend of decrease within 12 hours after the competition. There were significant differences in the subregion of MFC-DZ (t=2.110,P<0.05). At the follow-up of 2 months, cartilage T₂ values of the MTP-SZ,LTP-SZ,LTP-DZ,MFC-DZ, Patella-SZ, Patella-DZ, Trochlea-SZ, Trochlea-DZ subregions showed a trend of recovery, and there was no significant difference compared with pre-competition (t=0.857,0.573, 0.146, 0.510, -0.594, -1.135, -0.812, -0.679; P>0.05). The T₂ values of the LFC-SZ and LFC-DZ were lower than those before the race, with statistical significance (t=2.378, 3.147,P<0.05). Conclusion T₂ value could reflect the change process of articular cartilage tissue composition in marathon runners from T₂ mapping imaging. Under stress, the changes of superficial T₂ value are more significant. The T₂ value of knee cartilage can gradually recover to the pre-run level 2 months after running.

Objective:To evaluate the role of bilateral superior cervical sympathetic ganglia (SCG) in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in mice and the relationship with NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes.Methods:Thirty-two healthy SPF male C57BL mice, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 25-30 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=8 each) by the random number table method: sham operation group (NS group), myocardial I/R group (NIR group), bilateral SCG excision group (SCGx group) and bilateral SCG excision + myocardial I/R group (SCGx+ IR group). The myocardial I/R injury model was prepared by ligating the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery for 30 min followed by 24 h reperfusion in isoflurane-anesthetized mice. Bilateral superior cervical sympathectomy was performed at 3 days before reperfusion. Blood samples were collected from the inferior vena cava at 24 h of reperfusion for examination of pathological changes (by HE and WGA staining) and for measurement of serum creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB) activity, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration, norepinephrine (NE) concentration and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (by colorimetric method), myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) level (by DHE method), myocardial infarct size(by TTC method), and expression of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), NLRP3 mRNA (by quantitativepolymerase chain reaction ), and expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), IL-1β, TNF-α, NLRP3, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (by Western blot). Results:Compared with NS group, the NE concentration was significantly decreased, and TH expression was down-regulated in SCGx group, and the serum CK-MB activity, concentrations of cTnI and NE, LDH activity and myocardial ROS level were significantly increased, SOD activity was decreased, the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, NLRP3, ANP and BNP was up-regulated, and the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NLPR3 mRNA was up-regulated in NIR group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCGx group, the serum CK-MB activity, concentrations of cTnI and NE, LDH activity and myocardial ROS levels were significamtly increased, SOD activity was decreased, the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, NLRP3, ANP and BNP was up-regulated, and the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NLPR3 mRNA was up-regulated in SCGx+ NIR group ( P<0.05). Compared with NIR group, the serum CK-MB activity, cTnI concentration, LDH activity and myocardial ROS level were significantly decreased, SOD activity was increased, the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, NLRP3, ANP and BNP was down-regulated, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NLPR3 mRNA was down-regulated, and myocardial infarct size was decreased in SCGx+ NIR group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which bilateral SCG excision attenuates myocardial I/R injury is associated with decreased NLRP3 inflammatory inflammasome activation and inhibition of inflammatory responses in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the role of ferroptosis in hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury in cardiomyocytes cultured in high-fat high-glucose (HFHG) medium.Methods:Cardiomyocytes H9c2 cells were commonly cultured and divided into 3 groups ( n=20 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), HFHG-H/R group and Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) plus HFHG-H/R group (Fer-1+ HFHG+ H/R group). H9c2 cells were cultured in a HFHG medium for 12 h and then exposed to 1%O 2-5%CO 2-94%N 2 for 4 h, followed by 2 h reoxygenation in a cell incubator.Fer-1 at a final concentration of 10 μmol/L was added while the cells were cultured in the HFHG medium in group Fer-1+ HFHG+ H/R.At 2 h of reoxygenation, the cell viability was measured using CCK-8 assay, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was measured using 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine color method, the activity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by fluorescent probe DCFH-DA flow cytometry, and the expression of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) was detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with group C, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the activities of LDH release and ROS were increased, and the expression of ACSL4 and NCOA4 was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the expression of GPX4 in group HFHG+ H/R ( P>0.05). Compared with group HFHG+ H/R, the cell activity was significantly increased, the activities of LDH and ROS were decreased, and the expression of ACSL4 and NCOA4 was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the expression of GPX4 in Fer-1+ HFHG+ H/R group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Ferroptosis is involved in the process of H/R injury in cardiomyocytes cultured in HFHG medium.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of verbascoside on cold ischemia-reperfusion injury following heterotopic heart transplantation in mice and the relationship with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway.Methods:This experiment was performed in two parts. Part Ⅰ animal experiment Eighteen SPF healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 24-28 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=6 each) by the random number table method: control group (C group), cold ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) group (I/R group) and cold I/R + verbascoside group (I/R+ VB group). Cold I/R injury model of mouse heart transplantation was prepared by neck heterotopic heart transplantation using the modified non-suture cuff technique. The donor heart in group C was immediately transplanted to the recipient after removal, while the donor heart in group I/R was stored in the 4 ℃ University of Wisconsin solution for 8 h before transplantation to the recipient, and verbascoside 20 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 3 days before surgery in donor and recipient mice in I/R+ VB group. At the end of reperfusion, the myocardial tissue of the transplanted heart was obtained after assessing the beating score for determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Part of the donor myocardium was taken for examination of the pathological results. The expression of NF-κB, p-NF-κB, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), ACS and caspase-1 was detected by Western blot. The expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Part Ⅱ cell experiment Rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cold hypoxia-reoxygenation model was developed, and the cells were divided into 3 groups ( n=24 each) by the random number table method: control group (C group), cold hypoxia-reoxygenation group (H/R group), and cold hypoxia-reoxygenation+ verbascoside group (H/R+ VB group). The cells were exposed to hypoxia for 18 h at 10 ℃ followed by restoration of reoxygenation for 24 h at 37 ℃ to develop the cold hypoxia-reoxygenation model. The cell viability and LDH activity were determined. The expression of NF-κB and NLRP3 was detected by Western blot, and the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB) was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results:Part Ⅰanimal experiment Compared with C group, the MDA content was significantly increased, the beating score of grafts and SOD activity were decreased, and the expression of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, ACS and caspase-1 and IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was up-regulated ( P<0.05), and myocardial histopathological injury was aggravated in I/R group. Compared with I/R group, the content of MDA was significantly decreased, the beating score of grafts and SOD activity were increased, the expression of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, ACS and caspase-1 and IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA was down-regulated ( P<0.05), and the myocardial histopathological injury was alleviated in I/R+ VB group. Part Ⅱ cell experiment Compared with C group, the cell viability was significantly decreased, the activity of LDH was increased, and the expression of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, ACS, caspase-1 and p-NF-κB was up-regulated in H/R group ( P<0.05). Compared with H/R group, the cell viability was significantly increased, the activity of LDH was decreased, and the expression of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, ACS, caspase-1 and p-NF-κB was down-regulated in H/R+ VB group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Verbascoside can alleviate cold I/R injury following heterotopic heart transplantation in mice, and the mechanism may be related to inhibition of activation of NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the relationship between insulin resistance and plasma hypersensitive reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: A total of 247 inpatients with chronic schizophrenia (patient group) and 166 cases of normal individuals(control group) were enrolled.Their general demographic and clinical data were collected, fasting blood glucose, hs-CRP, c-peptide and insulin indexes were tested, and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated.The insulin resistance level of the patients group and the control group was compared by Mann-Whitney U test, and the relationship between insulin-resistance and hs-CRP in patients group was analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. Results: (1)The levels of C-peptide (2.53(2.06, 3.23)ng/ml vs 2.24(1.89, 2.87)ng/ml), insulin (7.68(4.66, 11.97)μIU/ml vs 7.02(4.31, 9.59)μIU/ml) and HOMA-IR (1.75(1.09, 3.07) vs 1.57(0.97, 2.22)) in the patient group were significantly higher than those in the control group(all P<0.05). (2) The levels of HOMA-IR( 1.91(1.21, 3.74) vs 1.70(1.02, 2.72)) in patients with high hs-CRP(≥3 mg/L) was higher than those in the patients with low hs-CRP(<3 mg/L)(P<0.05). (3)Spearman correlation analysis showed that HOMA-IR was positively correlated with plasma hs-CRP level in the patient group (r=0.139, P<0.05). (4)After logarithmic transformation of related variables, multivariate linear regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR was linearly correlated with hs-CRP level and boy weight index. Conclusion The hs-CRP level in chronic schizophrenia has a positive predictive effect on insulin resistance.Detection of hs-CRP level in schizophrenic patients is helpful to assess metabolic risk of insulin.