In this paper, we propose a new active contour algorithm, i. e. hierarchical contextual active contour (HCAC), and apply it to automatic liver segmentation from three-dimensional CT (3D-CT) images. HCAC is a learning-based method and can be divided into two stages. At the first stage, i.e. the training stage, given a set of abdominal 3D-CT training images and the corresponding manual liver labels, we tried to establish a mapping between automatic segmentations (in each round) and manual reference segmentations via context features, and obtained a series of self-correcting classifiers. At the second stage, i.e. the segmentation stage, we firstly used the basic active contour to segment the image and subsequently used the contextual active contour (CAC) iteratively, which combines the image information and the current shape model, to improve the segmentation result. The current shape model is produced by the corresponding self-correcting classifier (the input is the previous automatic segmentation result). The proposed method was evaluated on the datasets of MICCAI 2007 liver segmentation challenge. The experimental results showed that we would get more and more accurate segmentation results by the iterative steps and the satisfied results would be obtained after about six rounds of iterations.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Models, Theoretical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the damages on pancreas after different fractionated irradiation in rats.Methods Eighy healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups with 20 rats in each group as conventional fractionated irradiation group with 2 Gy per fraction to a dose of 12 Gy,hypofractionated radiation group with one fraction of 12 Gy,middle-dose fractionated radiation group with 6 Gy per fraction to a dose of 12 Gy in the interval of 4 days and control group without radiation.Changes in weight,fasting blood glucose and amylase were measured and morphological changes were observed in different periods.Results In the experimental groups,the reduction was observed in fasting glucose at 4 d,reached a minimum of (3.1 ±0.1 ) mmol/L,(LSD-t =20.06 -28.74,P ＜0.001 ) and the increase of amylase was found after 4th and 7th day,reached a maximum of (84.5 ±6.4) U/L(Dunnett's-t=23.10 -46.10,P ＜ 0.001 ),both more obvious in hypofractionated radiation group than those of conventional fractionated radiation group and middle-dose fractionated radiation group ( LSD-t =8.72-9.71,Dunnett's-t =7.11,P ＜ 0.05 ),however the levels in conventional fractionated radiation group was nearly to middle-dose fractionated radiation group (P ＞ 0.05 ) and became normal at 14 d.Under light microscope,the necrosis of acinarcells was observed in hypofractionated radiation group at 4th d,interstitial fibrogenesis were found at 14 d,the fibrogenesis were found in pancreatic island at 21 d,and the hyperplasia of acinarcells was observed at 42 d.The same changes were found in conventional fractionated radiation group and middle-dose fractionated radiation group,which were gently and lately than those of hypofractionated radiation group.Conclusions Radiation injury is not more serious after middle-dose fractionated radiotherapy than that after conventional fractionated irradiation,when the proper fractional dose and intervals are chosen.

Objective:To develop a UV optical fiber in situ process monitoring method for the dissolution behavior of five cepha-lexin solid dosage forms and compare the drug dissolution behavior of different cephalexin preparations. Methods: The dissolution of five different cephalexin preparations was on-line monitored according to the dissolution method for cephalexin tablets in Chinese Phar-macopeia (2010 edition) combined with a six channel optical fiber chemical sensor in situ dissolution monitor. Results:The dissolu-tion curves could show the drug release characteristics of different cephalexin preparations, and the five different preparations exhibited various drug release features. Conclusion:An in-situ, real time, on-line and process analysis of dissolution can be obtained by optical fiber dissolution test system automatically. The release characteristics of different preparations can be presented through dissolution curves directly, which can provide reference for the overall assessment of drug internal quality and clinical medication.

To study ecology suitability rank dividing of the total alkaloid content of Coptis Rhizoma for selecting artificial planting base and high-quality industrial raw material in Chongqing province. Based on the investigation of PCB and DEM data of Chongqing province, the relationship between the total alkaloid content in Coptis Rhizoma and topographical conditions was analyzed by statistical analysis. The geographic information systems (GIS)-based assessment and landscape ecological principles were applied to assess eco logy suitability areas of Coptis Rhizoma in Chongqing. slope, aspect and altitude are main topographical factors that affect the content of the total alkaloid content in Coptis Rhizoma The total alkaloid content in Coptis Rhizoma is higher in the lower altitude, shady slope and bigger slope areas. The total alkaloid content is higher in the south areas of Chongqing province and lower in the northeast. Terrain conditions of the southern region of Chongqing are most suitable for The accumulated of total alkaloid Coptis Rhizoma content.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; metabolism ; China ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Ecology ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Geography ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rhizome ; chemistry

BACKGROUND:Endothelial progenitor cel s have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of traumatic diseases in recent years. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of magnetic labeled endothelial progenitor cel transplantation on renal function of diabetic rats through a MRI imaging study.METHODS:Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal (no treatment), control and experimental groups. Intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin was performed to make a rat model of type 1 diabetes in the control and experimental groups. Four weeks after modeling, rats in the experimental group were given intravenous injection of magnetic labeled endothelial progenitor cel s (0.15 mL, 1×109/L). Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and 24-hour urinary protein levels in rats were measured at 8 weeks after cel transplantation. MRI was used to trace transplanted cel s in vivo in comparison with renal biopsy findings, and rat body mass and kidney weight were measured to calculate kidney weight index. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After modeling, fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and 24-hour urinary protein levels as wel as kidney weight index were increased significantly (P<0.05), while the insulin level decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the endothelial progenitor cel transplantation reversed these indices (P<0.05). Additional y, in the experimental group, there was slightly longer T1 and shorter T2 signals as wel as marked lesion edge, and the FLASH sequence became more remarkable compared with the T2-weighted RARE sequence. The other groups showed no significant low signal changes. Magnetic-labeled positive cel s in the experimental group showed by the MRI were consistent with the tissue biopsy results, while no positive cel s were found in the model and normal groups. To conclude, the magnetic labeled endothelial progenitor cel transplantation can improve renal dysfunction in diabetic rats to a certain extent.

Objective To establish the adventitious root induction and culture system ofAconitum pendulum Busch.Methods The influence of different explants and plant growth substances on adventitious induction proliferation ofAconitum pendulumBusch were investigated through tissue culturing.Results Explants induction ability was: root>stem>leaf. 2.5 mg/L IBA was in favor of induction and multiplication adventitious root ofAconitum pendulumBusch.ConclusionThe culture system of induction and proliferation adventitious roots ofAconitum pendulum Busch was preliminary established, which provides a new way for resource exploitation and utilization of Aconitum pendulum Busch.

AIM: To assess the effect of raloxifene, a selective estrogen modulator, on the transcriptional activity of estrogen responsive element (ERE) in vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Vascular endothelial cells were transfected with ERE-TK-Luc reporter plasmid and PRL-SV40 control plasmid via FuGENE 6. The activities of firefly luciferase and renilla luciferase were measured with dual-luciferase reporter assay system. The transcriptional activity in transfected cells treated with raloxifene was compared with that in untreated cells. Furthermore, raloxifene was used to cotreat the cells with estradiol (E_2) and the influence of raloxifene to the effect of E_2 was assessed. RESULTS: Compared to untreated cells, the luciferase activity in cells treated with raloxifene decreased and showed significance at concentration of 10~(-7)mol/L (P

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents in Desmodium blandum and their antitumor bioactivity.Methods Various chromatographic techniques were employed for the isolation and purification of the constituents by butanol at 50 ℃ including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20.The compounds structures were elucidated by spectral analyses(IR,UV,NMR,and MS).Then their cytotoxic activity was studied.Results They were identified as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (Ⅰ),5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine(Ⅱ),citrusinol(Ⅲ),yukovanol(Ⅳ),(Z)-1-(4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propene(Ⅴ),(Z)-1-(3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxy phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl) propene(Ⅵ),methyl protocatechuate(Ⅶ),katuranin(Ⅷ).Conclusion Eight compounds are isolated from the stems of D.blandum for the first time.In the MTT antitumor experiments,compounds Ⅰ and Ⅲ—Ⅵ have the cytotoxic activity to KB cell.

Objective To investigate short-term clinical effect of anterolateral minimally invasive approach of total hip replacement.Methods A total of 35 patients treated by total hip replacement was divided into A and B groups.Group A used anterolateral minimally invasive approach,and group B used standard posterior Moore approach.The clinical data of operation time,amount of bleeding,blood transfusion volume,component position,Harris hip score,and complications of two groups were statistically compared.Results In terms of operation time,group A had certain disadvantages than group B.No significant difference was found between two groups in terms of operation time,annount of bleeding,blood transfusion volume,component position,Harris hip score,and complications.Conclusions In total hip replacement,anterolateral minimally invasive approach was safe and effective compared to standard posterior Moore approach.Doctors should choose their familiar surgical approach in operation.

Objective This research is to observe the treatment effects of hip bath and oxygen blowing on severe neonatal diaper rash.Methods 289 neonates with severe diaper rash were randomly divided into three groups.91 cases in the flat tube group,102 cases in the round tube group and 96 cases in the control group.Three groups of neonates were cleaned on the hips and perineuma after poops and then dried with wet tissues and Mupirocin Ointment.The control group was treated with the above-mentioned method.The oxygen blowing groups were treated with hip bath of 1:5000 chameleon solution twice a day.Blowing the hips with oxygen five minutes every time after hip bath.The method of blowing oxygen was that oxygen humidifying containers as normal oxygen aspiration facilities was not filled with water,whose oxygen flowing volume standed at 10 L/min and whose tube blew at the afflicted parts until being dry.The oxygen blower held the oxygen exit and blowed at the afflicted parts in the round tube group and the oxygen blower flattened the oxygen exit and blew at the afflicted parts in the fiat tube group.The treatment effects will be compared among the three groups four days later.Results The cure period of the round tube group was obviously shorter than that of the control group,and the cure period of the fiat tube group was remarkably shorter than that of the round tube group.The total effective rate in the round tube group was obviously higher than that of the control group and the total effective rate in the fiat tube group was obviously higher than that in the round tube group.The difference had a statistical significance.Conclusions The treatment effects for the severe neonatal diaper rash with hip bath and oxygen blowing are remarkable and the oxygen blowing effects with fiat tubes are better than those with round tubes.