This study aims to explore the clinical value of the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for early detection of the pulmonary nodules on digital chest X-ray. A total of 100 cases of digital chest radiographs with pulmonary nodules of 5-20 mm diameter were selected from Pictures Archiving and Communication System (PACS) database in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were enrolled into trial group, and other 200 chest radiographs without pulmonary nodules as control group. All cases were confirmed by CT examination. Firstly, these cases were diagnosed by 5 different-seniority doctors without CAD, and after three months, these cases were re-diagnosed by the 5 doctors with CAD. Subsequently, the diagnostic results were analyzed by using SPSS statistical methods. The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity for detecting pulmonary nodules tended to be improved by using the CAD system, especially for specificity, but there was no significant difference before and after using CAD system.
China ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of Xiaobanxia Fuling Decoction (XBFD) on cisplatin-induced pica rats and to study its mechanism.

METHODSForty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following 7 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the model group, the high-, middle-, and low-dose XBFD groups (at the daily dose of 30, 15, and 7. 5 g/kg, respectively), the aprepitant (at the daily dose of 13 mg/kg), and pure Chinese medicine group (at the daily dose of XBFD 15 g/kg), 6 in each group. On the 3rd day of this study, 3 mg/kg cisplatin was intraperitoneally injected to rats except the blank control group and the model group to establish the pica rat model. The consumptions of kaolin, food, and the general situation of rats were observed. The protein and mRNA expressions of neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in both the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum were measured by immunohistochemical assay and Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR respectively on the sixth day of this study.

RESULTSOn the third, fourth, and fifth day of this study, the consumption of kaolin of rats significantly increased when compared with the blank control group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the consumption of kaolin significantly decreased in the high-, middle-, and low-dose XBFD groups on the third, fourth, and fifth day of this study (P<0.05). The food intake of rats in the high-dose XBFD groups significantly increased when compared with the model group on the third day of this study (P<0.05). The protein and mRNA expressions of NK, R in the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum significantly decreased in the high- and middle-dose XBFD groups when compared with the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXBFD could prevent and treat cisplatin-induced pica in rats. Its effect might be correlated with decreasing expressions of NK, R in the medulla oblongata and the gastric antrum.

Animals ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Pica ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 ; metabolism

White spot lesions (WSLs), due to enamel demineralization, occur frequently in orthodontic treatment. We recently developed a novel rechargeable dental composite containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) with long-term calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) ion release and caries-inhibiting capability. The objectives of this study were to develop the first NACP-rechargeable orthodontic cement and investigate the effects of recharge duration and frequency on the efficacy oftion re-release. The rechargeable cement consisted of pyromellitic glycerol dimethacrylate (PMGDM) and ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (EBPADMA). NACP was mixed into the resin at 40% by mass. Specimens were tested for orthodontic bracket shear bond strength (SBS) to enamel, Ca and P ion initial release, recharge and re-release. The new orthodontic cement exhibited an SBS similar to commercial orthodontic cement without CaP release (P>0.1). Specimens after one recharge treatment (e.g., 1 min immersion in recharge solution repeating three times in one day, referred to as"1 min 3 times") exhibited a substantial and continuous re-release of Ca and P ions for 14 days without further recharge. The ion re-release did not decrease with increasing the number of recharge/re-release cycles (P>0.1). The ion re-release concentrations at 14 days versus various recharge treatments were as follows:1 min 3 times>3 min 2 times>1 min 2 times>6 min 1 time>3 min 1 time>1 min 1 time. In conclusion, although previous studies have shown that NACP nanocomposite remineralized tooth lesions and inhibited caries, the present study developed the first orthodontic cement with Ca and P ion recharge and long-term release capability. This NACP-rechargeable orthodontic cement is a promising therapy to inhibit enamel demineralization and WSLs around orthodontic brackets.

OBJECTIVETo objectively assess the clinical efficacy and safety of a new Pulian Ointment (, NPLO) in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome of Chinese medicine.

METHODSA total of 108 patients with psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome were equally assigned, using a randomizing digital table, to the test group treated externally with NPLO and the control group treated with placebo; the medication was done using a singleblinded method twice a day. Meanwhile, all patients received by oral intake a conventional Chinese decoction for clearing heat and cooling blood; the therapeutic course was 4 weeks for both groups. The therapeutic efficacy, changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score and various aspects of the lesion, including scaly eruption, erythema, infiltration, size, score of itching as well as adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe trial was completed in 100 patients, 51 in the test group and 49 in the control group. The remarkably effective rate was 45.10% and the total effective rate was 84.31% in the test group, which were significantly higher than those in the control group, 12.24% and 51.02%, respectively, showing a significant difference between groups (P<0.01). The test group also showed better effects in the improvement of the PASI score of the lesions and scores on erythema, infiltration, size of lesion as well as itching. No adverse event was found in either group.

CONCLUSIONNPLO is a Chinese remedy for the external treatment of psoriasis of the blood-heat syndrome with a reliable therapeutic efficacy and good safety.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ointments ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of low pre-pregnant lead exposure level on the mobilization of lead and calcium in maternal skeleton during gestation and lactation in mice.

METHODSSeventy Kunming female mice were randomly divided into the lead exposure or control groups, 36 mice were exposed to lead by drinking water (50 mg/L) and 36 mice were exposed to deionized water for 4 weeks. The levels of calcium and lead in blood and femurs were measured on the 1st, 7th and 14th days during gestation and on the 1st,10th and 21st days during lactation with atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a heated graphite atomizer or flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

RESULTSAs compared with the pre-pregnant, at the end of lactation in exposure group the levels of calcium in blood and bones significantly decreased 18.5% and 17.75%, respectively, the levels of lead in blood significantly increased 65.22% and the levels of lead in bones significantly decreased 28.45% (P < 0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between the blood lead level and the bone lead level during gestation and lactation in exposure group (r = -0.904, P < 0.01). There were significant differences of lead and calcium levels during the gestation and lactation between exposure group and control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lead mobilization in maternal bone occurred during gestation and lactation in mice, which could be accelerated by the low pre-pregnant lead exposure.

Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Calcium ; blood ; metabolism ; Calcium, Dietary ; Female ; Lactation ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, it has a wide range of explorations in orthodontics. AI has greater application prospects in precise measurement, multidimensional diagnosis, treatment planning and efficacy prediction. At the same time, there are certain limitations in the application of AI, such as risks caused by individual variability, black box properties and unclear delineation of medical responsibilities. This paper summarized the history and current status of AI applications in orthodontics and discussed future development trends, to provide reference for clinical orthodontics.
Humans ; Artificial Intelligence ; Orthodontics ; Dental Care ; Forecasting ; Delivery of Health Care

It was widely believed that disorders of circadian system were caused by neurodegenera-tive diseases. With the deepening of research,many scholars believed that disorders of circadian system may affect the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. 'Parkinson 's disease' and 'Circadian rhythm' were used as the key words of retrieval performance in the databases such as Pubmed,CNKI,Wanfang and so on,and the papers which were closely related with the theme were select-ed. The epidemiology,etiology and pathogenesis,clinical manifestations and the role of circadian system reg-ulation in PD were reviewed. The results show that the disorders of circadian system could be regulated by bright light therapy,melatonin and stem cell therapy,music therapy,and deep brain stimulation. Based on the theory of time medicine,combining the regulation of circadian system with the classical treatment of PD may provide a new breakthrough point for PD treatment. The disorders of circadian system is expected to be-come a new target for PD therapy.

Objective To establish a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of intracranial aneurysms based on CT images for three-dimensional simulation of the hemodynamics in the aneurysms. Methods CT angiographic (CTA) images of the intracranial aneurysms were obtained using a GE Lightspeed 16-slice spiral CT with the slice thickness of 0.625 mm at the interval of 0.5 mm. The original Dicom format images were directly imported using the Mimics software. Threshold-based combined with manual segmentation of the images was carried out to acquire the region of interest including the aneurysm and parent artery, followed by 3D calculations of the images. The 3D model was remeshed and exported as an area mesh file to Ansys. The area-based file was then converted into an IGES file in Ansys, and exported to the Ansys workbench software to generate the volumetric mesh for further homodynamic study. Results A 3D finite element model of intracranial aneurysm was established, and the area mesh file could be directly introduced into Ansys software to allow homodynamic study of the aneurysm. Conclusion The application of thin-layer CT scanning and the Dicom standard allows more accurate reconstruction of the 3D finite element model of intracranial aneurysms. The Mimics software can greatly improve the efficiency ofintracranial aneurysm model reconstruction.

Objective To investigate the molecular genetic causes and their characteristics of deafness in Ningxia province,we established screening of three common hereditary deafness genes in 336 deaf and hard-of-hearing patients in this district.Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from a total of 336 patients with non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss in parts of special education schools in Ningxia province to extract genomic DNA.The mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA m.1555A ＞ G mutation was screened by PCR Alw26I digestion and sequence analysis PCR and direct sequencing were used to analyze the coding region of GJB2 and exons 8 and 19 of SLC26A4.Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 11.0 software.Frequencies of different GJB2 or SLC26A4 mutations were compared between Han and Hui people.Results Among these 336 patients,seven cases (2.08％,7/336) were found to carry mtDNA 12S rRNA m.1555A ＞ G homozygous mutation,45 cases ( 13.39％ ) were caused by GJB2 mutations and 28 cases (8.33％ ) had two mutated alleles (homozygote and compound heterozygote) of SLC26A4.In detail,16.67％ (56/336) patients carried GJB2 mutations including 11 single mutant carriers.The allele frequency of c.235delC and c.299_300delAT were 9.52％ (64/672) and 2.68％ ( 18/672),respectively,making up 81.19％ (82/101) of all pathogenic mutated alleles for GJB2.The single mutant allele carriers of SLC26A4 is 32,and two types (c.919-2A ＞ G and c.2168A ＞ G) accounted for 95.29％ (24/27)mutations,totally.We also found that statistically significant differences in c.919-2A ＞ G and c.2168A ＞ G frequencies between Han and Hui people ( c.919-2A ＞ G,x2 =8.229,P =0.004 ; c.2168 A ＞ G,x2 =5.277,P =0.022).However,there was no statistically significant difference in GJB2 mutation between Han and Hui people.Conclusions GJB2 mutation was a primary causc for non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Ningxia province,and c.235delC was the most common mutant forms of GJB2.c.919-2A ＞ G and c.2168A ＞ G were common mutant forms of SLC26A4,their frequencies were also statistically significant differences between Han and Hui people.

Conclusions The maximum resistance strength of the bone-bonding screw could suffice for orthodontics.