Object High overlap of data window is essential to improve axial resolution in elastogaphy.However, correlated errors in displacement estimates increase dramatically with the increase of the overlap, and generate the so-called "worm" artifacts. This paper presents a wavelet shrinkage de-noising in strain estimates to reduce the worm artifacts at high overlap. Methods Each of axial strain A-lines was decomposed using discrete wavelet transformation up to 3 levels. The high frequency components of every levels of wavelet coefficients were quantified by using soft threshold function according to different adaptive thresholds. Then the discrete wavelet reconstruction were performed to produce a wavelet shrinkage denoised strain line. Results The simulation results illustrated that the presented technique could efficiently denoise worm artifacts and enhance the elastogram performance indices such as elastographic SNRe and CNRe. Elastogram obtained by wavelet denoising had the closest correspondence with ideal strain image. In addition, the results also demonstrated that wavelet shrinkage de-noising applied in strain estimates could obtain better image quality parameters than that apphed in displacement estimates. The elastic phantom experiments also showed the similar elastogram performance improvement. Conclusion Wavelet shrinkage de-noising can efficiently denoise the worm artifacts noise of elastogram and improve the performance indices of elastogram while maintaining the high axial resolution.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; surgery ; Adult ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Nose Neoplasms ; surgery

Objective To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for intermediate-to high-risk localized prostate cancer.Methods A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP database, and Wanfang Data to collect the controlled clinical trials of hypofractionated radiotherapy versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in patients with intermediate-to high-risk localized PCa published up to August 31, 2016.Stata 12.0 was used for meta-analysis.The difference between two groups was estimated by calculating the hazard ratio (HR) or risk ratio (RR) with 95%confidence interval (CI).ResultsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 5 controlled clinical trials involving 1621 patients with PCa were included in this meta-analysis.The meta-analysis showed that overall survival (HR=1.00, 95%CI:0.85-1.17, P=0.980) and biochemical failure (RR=0.87, 95%CI:0.68-1.12, P=0.274) were comparable between the two groups.Compared with the conventionally fractionated radiotherapy, the incidence of acute gastrointestinal adverse events (grade≥2) was significantly higher in the hypofractionated radiotherapy (RR=1.94, 95%CI:1.23-3.06, P=0.004).However, there were no significant differences in the incidence of acute genitourinary adverse events (grade≥2)(RR=1.03, 95%CI:0.92-1.14,P=0.626), late gastrointestinal adverse events (grade≥2)(RR=1.17,95%CI:0.90-1.51, P=0.238), and late genitourinary adverse events (grade≥2)(RR=1.11, 95%CI:0.94-1.30, P=0.228) between the two groups.Conclusions Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy and hypofractionated radiotherapy have comparable therapeutic effects in patients with intermediate-to high-risk localized PCa.Although the patients treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy have a higher incidence of acute gastrointestinal adverse events than those treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy, the incidence of late gastrointestinal and genitourinary adverse events is comparable between the two groups of patients and the adverse effects are tolerable.

AIM:To investigate the effect of phosphatidylinostiol 3-kinase ( PI3K) inhibitor GDC-0032 on cell viability, cell cycle and DNA damage in human glioma U 251 cells.METHODS:The cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay.The cell cycle distribution of U251 cells was examined by flow cytometry .The protein expression was examined by Western blot.The expression and localization of γ-H2AX were determined by laser-scanning confocal microscopy .RE-SULTS:GDC-0032 inhibited the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner .U251 cells showed G 1 phase arrest accompa-nied with upregulation of p 27 protein after exposure to GDC-0032, while the expression of cell division cycle protein 2 (Cdc2) was inhibited.GDC-0032 treatment increased the formation of γ-H2AX foci and histone H2AX phosphorylation in the U251 cells.In addition, GDC-0032 upregulated the phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases , inclu-ding extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase ( JNK) , in the glioma cells , while the ex-pression of survivin was inhibited .CONCLUSION:GDC-0032 inhibits U251 cell growth by inhibition of cell viability and cell cycle progression.GDC-0032 also induces DNA damage of U251 cells.The anticancer activity of GDC-0032 is associ-ated with increasing the activity of ERK and JNK and downregulating the expression of survivin .

Objective To study the significance of the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)lactate level in diagnosing neonatal bacterial meningitis(BM). Methods The CSF samples were collected from neonates admitted to Neonatal Ward of Children's Hospital of Fudan University between January 2014 and March 2015. CSF lactate and glucose con-centrations were measured with blood - gas analyzer. CSF and serum glucose levels were measured with glucometer. The enrolled neonates were divided into 2 groups based on CSF culture,CSF white blood cells(WBCs)and clinical presenta-tion:observation group(neonates with BM)and control group(neonates without BM). Statistical analysis of data was performed with Stata 12. 0. Results A total of 93 infants(16 assigned to observation group and 77 assigned to control group)met the inclusion criteria. Neonates in observation group had higher median CSF lactate level(4. 2 mmol/ L)and CSF lactate/ glucose ratio(L/ Gcsf)(2. 32 mmol/ L),than those in control group(1. 3 mmol/ L,0. 52),and there were significant differences(Z = - 6. 19,- 5. 92,all P ﹤ 0. 05). CSF glucose levels were lower in observation group(me-dian,1. 25 mmol/ L)than those in control group(median,2. 5 mmol/ L),and the difference was significant(Z = 4. 97, P ﹤ 0. 05);CSF/ serum glucose ratio(CSF/ Sglu)were lower in observation group(median,0. 44 vs 0. 81 in control group),and the difference was significant(Z = 4. 43,P ﹤ 0. 05). The optimal CSF lactate cutoff point of 2. 2 mmol/ L had a positive predictive value(PPV)of 72. 7% and negative predictive value(NPV)of 100. 0% for bacterial meningi-tis. The optimal L/ Gcsf cutoff point of 1. 24 had a PPV of 94. 1% and NPV of 100. 0% . The optimal CSF glucose cutoff point of 2. 0 mmol/ L had a PPV of 65. 0% and NPV of 95. 9% . The optimal CSF/ Sglu cutoff point of 0. 6 had a PPV of 60. 0% and a NPV of 96. 9% . Conclusion CSF lactate may be an excellent biomarker for early diagnosis of neo-natal BM.

OBJECTIVETo explore Effects of marine collagen peptides (MCPs) on markers of metablic nuclear receptors, i.e peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs), liver X receptor (LXRs) and farnesoid X receptor (FXRs) in type 2 diabetic patients with/without hypertension. METHOD Study population consisted of 200 type 2 diabetic patients with/without hypertension and 50 healthy subjects, all of whom were randomly assigned to MCPs-treated diabetics (n = 50), placebo-treated diabetics (n = 50), MCPs-treated diabetics with hypertension (n=50), placebo-treated diabetics with hypertension (n = 50), and healthy controls (n = 50). MCPs or placebo (water-soluble starch) were given daily before breakfast and bedtime over three months. Levels of free fatty acid, cytochrome P450, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, bradykinin, NO, and Prostacyclin were determined before intervention, and 1.5 months, and 3 months after intervention. Hypoglycemia and the endpoint events during the study were recorded and compared among the study groups.

RESULTAt the end of the study period, MCPs-treated patients showed marked improvement compared with patients receiving placebo. The protection exerted by MCPs seemed more profound in diabetics than in diabetics with hypertension. In particular, after MCPs intervention, levels of free fatty acid, hs-CRP, resistin, Prostacyclin decreased significantly in diabetics and tended to decrease in diabetic and hypertensive patients whereas levels of cytochrome P450, leptin, NO tended to decrease in diabetics with/without hypertension. Meanwhile, levels of adiponectin and bradykinin rose markedly in diabetics following MCPs administration.

CONCLUSIONMCPs could offer protection against diabetes and hypertension by affecting levels of molecules involved in diabetic and hypertensive pathogenesis. Regulation on metabolic nuclear receptors by MCPs may be the possible underlying mechanism for its observed effects in the study. Further study into its action may shed light on development of new drugs based on bioactive peptides from marine sources.

Adipokines ; blood ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Bradykinin ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Collagen ; therapeutic use ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Epoprostenol ; blood ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Marine Biology ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Peptides ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism

Objective:To study the expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in simple and radiation-combined wound healing and their effects on the healing process and tissue remodeling. Methods: A rat model of radiation-combined wound healing was used. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed which enabled the detection of MMP1 and TIMP1 expression in the healing process. Ultrastructural changes were observed with transmission EM. Results: The wound healing process was impaired and delayed. In rats receiving 25 Gy of gamma ray locally the irradiated wounds healed 6 days later than non-irradiated controls. The following changes in MMP1 and TIMP1 expression were found: (1) In the early inflammatory phase and in the period of granulation tissue formation, MMP1 expression in the newly-formed epidermis of irradiated wounds approximated that in the controls. Later, the epidermal expression of MMP1 in radiation wounds was comparatively increased with the delay of the healing process.On days 3 to 14 after wounding, TIMP1 was weakly positive in the proliferating keratinocytes of control wounds and became negative after epidermal covering, whereas no or only slight epidermal expression was detected in radiation wounds before epidermal covering.(2)MMP1 and TIMP　1 expression in radiation wounds was markedlydecreased in fibroblasts　, endotheliocytes and macrophages as compared with the controls. The expression phase was prolonged due to the delay of the healing process.Conclusions:The reduced expression of MMP1 and TIMP1 in granulation tissue retards such important processes as cell migration, angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, thus retarding the healing process. The expression of MMP1 in the newly-formed epidermis may help the process of reepithelialization,but in the late healing period, overexpression of MMP1 and decreased expression of TIMP1 in the epidermis may hinder the establishment of basal membrane and the formation of granulation tissue, and thus affect the matrix remodeling process.

The interspecific association of companion species in Artemisia annua community in 48 region of southwest China was analyzed by variance analysis, chi2-test and association indices. The total related variance ratio among species in A. annua community was 2.05. Among 45 species pairs of 10 main species in the community, only 4 pairs showed significant negative correlations. Chi2 test, PC, OI, DI and AC values indicated pairs 1-8 (A. annua- A. lactiflora), 1-9 (A. annua- Setaria viridis) and 1-10 (A. annua- Bidens pilosa) showed a high correlations, and common utilization to non-restrictive resources. The results indicated that there was a significant positive correlation among species,and the community was at a stable stage, showed strong ability to human interference.
Analysis of Variance ; Artemisia annua ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Symbiosis

OBJECTIVETo analyze functional dyspepsia prevalence and associated factors of naval forces.

METHODBy stratified random cluster sampling method, conducted a questionnaire survey and diagnosis of functional dyspepsia to 11 520 military sea forces, and analyzed risk in clinical factors. Large sample size of 3084 cases in the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia, analyzed correlation of the selected 100 patients by single sample random sampling method.

RESULTNaval forces, functional dyspepsia prevalence was 29.27% (3084/10537), and logistic regression analysis showed that job factors of military service, military rank, the nature of the work, the training intensity, training environmental P = 0.028, 0.023, 0.000, 0.000, 0.014, OR = 10.308, 6.288, 22.504, 26.720, 9.825; life factors of daily water intake, eating fruits and frequency of sleep time, spicy eating habits, drinking history factors P = 0.000, 0.012, 0.025, 0.017, 0.027, OR = 28.467, 20.335, 11.358, 10.249, 9.578; psychological factors, depression, anxiety factor P = 0.024, 0.019, OR = 16.878, 18.025;generally age, gender, ethnicity, BMI index, gastrointestinal history, history of drug, educational background, geographic factors P = 0.042, 0.033, 0.417, 0.000, 0.000, 0.012, 0.392, 0.440, OR = 3.406, 7.511, 2.643, 42.073, 88.457, 21.680, 1.752, 5.561.When value of P < 0.05, clinical risk factors were screened. Clinical symptom scores and work, life factor score and SAS, SDS score of randomly selected patient samples was positively correlated, r = 0.816, 0.763, 0.795, 0.923, P = 0.000, indicating statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONNaval forces functional dyspepsia prevalence was higher than the general population, which risk factors included work, life, psychological, physical fitness factors, closely related with military service and military personnel, military rank, the nature of the work, the training intensity and environment, eating habits, daily sleep time, drinking history, depression, anxiety level, age, gender, BMI index, history of gastrointestinal disease, use of drugs, high priority should be given to the risk factors listed above, the development of rational targeted programs to strengthen the cause of prevention measures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Dyspepsia ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the appearance of CT in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the recovery phase, and to study the correlation of CT findings with pulmonary function.Methods From June to August in 2003, 100 patient with confirmed SARS accepted examination in our hospital. Among them, 91 patients (39 men, 52 women, mean age 36.4 years, age range 19- 66 years) received CT examination and pulmonary function test on the same day. The interval between SARS onset and the examination ranged from 52 to 125 days (mean 87.4 days). CT appearances of pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities including distribution and extent of involvement were quantitatively analyzed, and four levels on CT scan including the aortic arch, the tracheal carina, the pulmonary venous confluence, and the dome of right diaphragm were selected to score the lesions. The correlation of CT scores with the results of pulmonary function tests was studied.Results Of the 91 cases, 47 patients had normal CT appearance in the recovery phase, whereas the other 44 patients still had parenchymal abnormalities, including residual ground-glass opacification and reticular shadow. CT visual score had correlation with DLco% ( r =-0.618, P