Objective: Endoscopic measurement mainly depends on visual estimation or open biopsy forceps,which have been proved lacking in accuracy due to the image barrel distortion caused by wide-angle lens in endoscope.This study aimed to validate a new concept of "virtual internal standard" proposed by ourselves and develop a new method for endoscopic measurement based on the concept.Methods: We photographed planar grid graphs printed with standard calibrations with an electronic endoscope at different object distances,obtained the information on the virtual internal standard from each photo at the corresponding object distance,and analyzed the digital characteristics of the barrel distortion photos,including the size of the visual field,the image compression ratio,and the credible area for measurement with the virtual internal standard.Based on the analyses,the method of endoscopic measurement by the virtual internal standard was established and experiments both in vivo and in vitro were conducted.Results: The ratio of the object distance to the visual field was 1 ∶ 2 when the former was between 10 mm and 40 mm.Calculation of the compression ratio showed that the credible area of measurement in the central area was 10 mm at the object distance of 10-15 mm,20 mm at 20-30 mm,and 30 mm at 30-50 mm.The credible area of measurement on various planes accounted for 2/5 to 3/5 of the total image width.There was a tendency of double-curve change in the arrangement of pixel values of the central grids on different planes.The differences between the pixel values per centimeter became slight at the object distance of 35-50 mm.Conclusion: Endoscopic measurement by the virtual internal standard is a objective,accurate,simple and practical method.

Objective To explore the motion features of cervical spine based on continuous X-ray images.Methods The cervical spontaneous continuous multi-frame sagittal images from flexion to extention positions were selected from cervical spondylosis patients (patients group) and healthy adult (normal group).After preprocessing and registration,the trajectory of single vertebral body were recorded,and the feature points of each vertebral body were extracted.Meanwhile,the rel ative geometry parameters and movement rate were calculated.Results The motion trajectory of patients' cervical spine C4-6 were different from healthy people.The angles between the left edge curve of the vertebral body (C4 and C5 vertebra) and the baseline of patients group were smaller than those of normal group in flexion position (all P＜0.05).There were instability in the movement of C4 vertebral body in patient group,and the volatility of the angle change,the rate of change and the frequency were larger.The relative position change of the adjacent single vertebral body in the patient group are smaller.Conclusion Through the preprocessing,registration,parameter extraction and result analysis,the changes of functional features in cervical spondylosis patients are truly reflected.And it also provides a new idea for dynamic analysis of cervical vertebrae based on X-ray images.

ObjectiveDiabetes is an independent risk factor for coronary artery bypasss grafting(CABG). Off pump coronary artery bypasss (OPCAB) experience in 251 cases was reviewed to determine whether diabetes wou ld be applicable in OPCAB procedures.MethodsConsecutive 251 patients underwent OPCAB over 12 month period. This study included 71 diebetic patients (DM group) and 180 nondiabetic patients (NDM group). Preoperative v ariables were compared between the two groups by univariate analysis.R esultsNo differences were found regarding the length of stay in cardio intensive care unit [DM group(2.4?0.3)d; NDM group (2.4?0.3) d;P=0. 386], and sternal complication (DM group: 5.7%;NDM group: 3.9%;P=0.511) . In hospital complications were as follows: death rate(DM group: 2.8%; NDM gr oup: 1.1%; P=0.680); stroke (DM group: 2 8%; NDM group: 1 7%; P=0 623 ); hemofiltratioin renal failure (DM group: 2.8%; NDM group: 0.5%; P=0.194); myocardial infarction(DM group: 0%; NDM group: 0.5%;P=1.000); blood using were more frequent in DM group comparied with NDM group (P=0.111). ConclusionOPCAB in diabetic patients is as safe as in non diabetic patients.

Objective: To develop a healthy personality scale for undergraduates.Methods: A healthy personality scale was developed based on interviews,open questionnaires and theory hypothesis.The test-retest reliability,split-half reliability,internal consistency reliability,construct validity were examined.Results: Exploratory principle factor analysis of the items indicated that the scale had three factors: self consistency and congruence,self-social harmony,practical ability,which explained 54.8% of the total variance.The Cronbach's ? coefficient ranged from 0.82 to 0.94,split-half reliability ranged from 0.70 to 0.85,and retest reliability ranged from 0.73 to 0.84.In the confirmatory factor analysis of the three factor model,fit statistics(RMSEA=0.07,NFI=0.95,NNFI=0.96,CFI=0.94,GFI=0.95) for the model best explained the observed relationship.The three dimensions and the total scale had significant positive correlations with self-esteem and subjective well-being and significant negative correlations with SCL-90.Conclusion: The results suggest the healthy personality scale with eligible psychometric quality,can be applicable to Chinese undergraduates.

Objective To establish a molecular technique of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing to identify pathogenic fungi species from the fungal sinusitis tissues. Methods Total 270 sinusitis tissues samples were collected by endoscopic surgery from 2006 to 2008. The histopathology, organize spring clip culturation and ITS region (ITS region region of fungal rRNA, including ITS1-5. 8S rRNA-ITS2) sequencing were employed simultaneously. And then to evaluate the ITS sequencing as the tool for identification of pathogenic fungi directly from clinical samples. Results Of the 270 samples, histopathology positive rate was 80.0% (216/270) , organize spring clip positive rate was 80.0% (216/ 270), fungal culturation positive rate was 53.0% (143/270) , ITS region sequencing positive rate was 63. 0% [ (134 +28 +8)/270], There were 22 species and 6 genera identified by fungal culturation, and 32 species identified by ITS region sequencing. Conclusion ITS region sequencing will become a applicable tool in clinical laboratory in future.

By studying the relationship between fingertip temperature changes and arterial function during vascular reactivity test, we established a new non-invasive method for detecting vascular function, in order to provide an assistance for early diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. We customized three modules respectively for blood occlusion, measurement of finger temperature and blood oxygen acquisition, and then we established the hardware of data acquisition system. And the software was programmed with Labview. Healthy subjects [group A, n = 24, (44.6 ± 9.0) years] and subjects with cardiovascular diseases [group B, n = 33, (57.2 ± 9.9) years)] were chosen for the study. Subject's finger temperature, blood oxygen and occlusion pressure of block side during and after unilateral arm brachial artery occlusion were recorded, as well as some other regular physiological indexes. By time-domain analysis, we extracted 12 parameters from fingertip temperature signal, including the initial temperature (Ti), temperature rebound (TR), the time of the temperature recovering to initial status (RIt) and other parameters from the finger temperature signal. We in the experiment also measured other regular physiological body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastiolic blood pressure (DBP) and so on. Results showed that 8 parameters difference between the two group of data were significant. based on the statistical results. A discriminant function of vascular function status was established afterwards. We found in the study that the changes of finger temperature during unilateral arms brachial artery occlusion and open were closely related to vascular function. We hope that the method presented in this article could lay a foundation of early detection of vascular function.
Adult ; Aged ; Arteries ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; diagnosis ; Fingers ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin Temperature

Objective:To assess the efficacy of different non-drug smoking cessation interventions on smoking cessation among the high-risk populations of lung cancer screening by network meta-analysis.Methods:PubMed, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsychINFO, CNKI, WanFang and VIP databases were searched for randomized controlled clinical trials published from January 2010 to September 2020.According to the eligibility criteria, the retrieval literature was screened, the quality evaluation and data extraction were conducted, then, the statistical analysis was performed by using the Stata 14.0 software.Results:A total of 28 trials were included, including 34 640 cases of high-risk population, involving intervention measures, including 5R short quit smoking intervention, cognitive behavior therapy, award model quit smoking intervention, motivational interview, network intervention, telephone intervention, incentive mechanism plus telephone intervention, network plus telephone intervention, conventional treatment and blank group.The results of network meta-analysis showed that on the 7-day follow-up of 6 months, according to the score of SUCRA, the ranking of smoking cessation rate was 5R short smoking cessation intervention (0.88), cognitive behavior therapy (0.85), AWARD model smoking cessation intervention (0.80), incentive mechanism plus telephone intervention (0.73), motivational interview (0.53), Internet plus telephone intervention (0.40), Internet intervention (0.37), telephone intervention (0.31), conventional treatment (0.13) and blank group (0.03). However, on the 7-day smoking cessation rate of 12-month follow-up, the ranking of smoking cessation rate was 5R short smoking cessation intervention (0.94), AWARD model smoking cessation intervention (0.81), motivational interview (0.51), network intervention (0.40), telephone intervention (0.19) and conventional treatment (0.14).Conclusions:The existing evidence shows that no matter the length of follow-up, 5R short smoking cessation intervention has the best effect on smoking cessation in high-risk population of lung cancer screening.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This animal study aimed to define the underlying cellular mechanisms of intestinal barrier dysfunction. METHODS: Rats were fed 4% with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to induce experimental colitis. We analyzed the sugars in 24-hour urine output by high pressure liquid chromatography. The expression of claudins, mannan-binding lectin (MBL), and MBL-associated serine proteases 2 (MASP-2) were detected in the colonic mucosa by immunohistochemistry; and apoptotic cells in the colonic epithelium were detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling method assay. RESULTS: The lactulose and sucralose excretion levels in the urine of rats with DSS-induced colitis were significantly higher than those in the control rats. Mannitol excretion was lower and lactulose/mannitol ratios and sucralose/mannitol ratios were significantly increased compared with those in the control group (p<0.05). Compared with the controls, the expression of sealing claudins (claudin 3, claudin 5, and claudin 8) was significantly decreased, but that of claudin 1 was increased. The expression of pore-forming claudin 2 was upregulated and claudin 7 was downregulated in DSS-induced colitis. The epithelial apoptotic ratio was 2.8%+/-1.2% in controls and was significantly increased to 7.2%+/-1.2% in DSS-induced colitis. The expression of MBL and MASP-2 in the intestinal mucosa showed intense staining in controls, whereas there was weak staining in the rats with colitis. CONCLUSIONS: There was increased intestinal permeability in DSS-induced colitis. Changes in the expression and distribution of claudins, increased epithelial apoptosis, and the MASP-2-induced immune response impaired the intestinal epithelium and contributed to high intestinal permeability.
Animals ; Apoptosis/*physiology ; Claudins/*metabolism ; Colitis/chemically induced/immunology/*physiopathology ; Colon/immunology/physiopathology ; Dextran Sulfate ; Intestinal Mucosa/*physiopathology ; Lactulose/metabolism ; Mannitol/metabolism ; Mannose-Binding Lectin/*immunology ; Permeability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sucrose/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective To report a case of frontotemporal dementia with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD-ALS),review the relevant literature and then summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of FTD-ALS patients.Methods A FTD-ALS patient admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital,Anhui Medical University in May 2017.After diagnosis,genetic analyses were performed on DNA extracted from peripheral blood of the patient and his first-degree relatives.Chinese FTD-ALS patients reported in detail were reviewed and the clinical and genetic characteristics of the disease were summarized.Results The patient,a 49-year-old man,responded slowly with impaired confrontation naming and impaired single-word comprehension.Magnetic resonance imaging showed temporal lobe atrophy.Besides,the patient gradually developed atrophy in limbs and bulbar muscles as well as spasticity of arms and legs,with positive pathological and primitive reflexes.Electromyography suggested a wide range of neurogenic changes,which were consistent with the FTD-ALS diagnostic criteria.A new heterozygous mutation (c.1335G＞A chr12:64879792 p.W445X) was found in the TBK1 gene.The reference to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines suggested that this mutation type is likely pathogenic,which has not been reported by the Human Gene Mutation Database.There were a total of 21 Chinese FTD-ALS patients (including this case) reported in detail,including 13 males and eight females.The age of onset was (59.01±8.58) (44-73) years.Most of them had typical manifestations of FTD as the first symptom,followed by ALS.Among these patients,seven had genetic data analyses,five of which had positive results.The mutations occurred in TBK1 (two cases),C9onf72 (one case),DCTN1 (one case) and TARDBP (one case)genes,respectively.Most FTD-ALS cases were sporadic (including this case),and only two cases were familial.Conclusions FTD-ALS is a relatively rare disease,mostly sporadic,with a younger onset age,in which behavioral variant FTD is the main manifestation of dementia in the context of ALS,and cognitive impairment is occurred earlier than ALS.In addition to C9orf72 gene,TBK1 gene is an important pathogenic gene of FTD-ALS.Genetic analysis is of great value in the early diagnosis of FTD-ALS.

Objective To explore the correlation between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism and urine Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein (AD7c-NTP) level in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods The cognitive function of 30 AD patients (AD group),30 MCI patients (MCI group) and 30 normal controls (NC group) was evaluated by neuropsychological batteries like MMSE,the Cambridge Cognitive Examination-Chinese Version (CAMCOG-C),etc.ELISA was used to test the urine level of AD7c-NTP.The genotypes of ApoE were analyzed by the high-resolution melting assay in blood samples.Results Compared with the NC group (0.59 (0.40,0.66) ng/ml),the urine level of AD7c-NTP in the AD group (1.03(0.80,1.41) ng/ml) and the MCI group (0.69(0.53,0.91) ng/ml) was increased (Z =33.727,P ＜0.01).The urine level of AD7c-NTP in the AD group was higher than that in the MCI group (Z =8.232,P ＜ 0.05).The level of AD7c-NTP in urine was negatively correlated with MMSE and CAMCOG-C scores (rMMSE =-0.604,P ＜ 0.01;rCAMCOG-C =-0.486,P ＜ 0.01).According to receiver operating characteristic curve,the optimal cutoff point of AD7c-NTP in urine for diagnosis of patients including AD and MCI was 0.70 ng/ml,with sensitivity of 71.7％ and specificity of 83.3％,and area under the curve of 0.82 (95％ CI 0.73-0.90,P ＜0.05).There were four genotypes comprising ε2/3,ε3/3,ε3/4 and ε4/4 for ApoE gene.The frequencies of ε4 carriers were 46.7％ (14/30),23.3％ (7/30) and 23.3％ (7/30) in the AD,MCI and NC groups,respectively.There was a notable increase in urine AD7c-NTP and a significant decrease in CAMCOG-C scores in MCI patients who harbored the ApoE ε4 allele (ZAD7c-NTP =4.857,P ＜ 0.05;ZCAMCOG-C =4.284,P ＜0.05).Conclusions The urine level of AD7c-NTP was significantly increased in AD and MCI patients,the higher the level of AD7c-NTP,the more serious the cognitive impairment.The ε4 carriers exhibited higher urine level of AD7c-NTP,but worse cognitive function compared to ε4 non-carriers in the MCI group.