Objective To compare the characteristics and differences of the activation of the brain regions between the digital memory span task and digital working memory task.Methods 12 right-handed volunteers participated in a test of 7-digit memory span and a test of 2-digit working memory respectively, while the functional MR imaging (fMRI) data were recorded by a Seimens 1.5 T MR machine. Two control tasks were performed respectively and stimulation paradigms was block-design. SPM 99 was used to analyze the data and to localize the activated brain regions.Results The Brodmann area (BA) 6, 9 and 47 regions in the frontal lobe, the BA 7 and 40 regions in the parietal lobe, the cingulate gyrus, the hippocampus structures, the striatum and the cerebellum were activated by both tasks in comparison to their control tasks. Bilateral BA 18 and 19 regions of the occipital lobe without hemisphere predominance were the most activated regions by the digital memory span task, and the BA 37 region of the temporal lobe was also activated. However, the frontal lobe with left predominance was the most activated region by the digital working memory.Conclusion Different brain regions play distinct roles in different short-term digital memory tasks, and might be involved in different stages. The fMRI is a good tool for exploring the process of digits in the brain.

Objective To summarize the sonographic features of fetal limb deformity. Methods Systematic continuous sequence approach (SCSA) was performed with two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography(USG) in 28 383 fetuses to observe the fetal limb development, posture abnormality and other accompanied malformations. Compared with the pathological and radiological findings, the characteristics of fetal limb deformity on USG were summarized. Results Among 28 383 fetuses prenatal ultrasound detected 207 cases of fetal malformations (0.7%, 207/28 383) including 29 cases of limb deformities (14%, 29/207). In the 29 cases, there were osteogenesis imperfecta in 2 cases, syndactyly in 1 case, cleft hand deformities in 1 case, uncifom hand in 1 case, clubfoot deformity in 12 cases, cleft foot in 1 case, micromelia in 4 cases, limb body wall complex in 1 case, forearm defect in 2 cases, and radius absence in 4 cases. Chromosome karyotype analysis was conducted in 7/29 cases, of which 6 cases were normal and 1 case was trisomy-13 with syndactyly. In addition, the fetal limb deformities were found at 17-19 weeks of gestation in 4 cases, at 20-24 weeks in 23 cases, and at 25-33 weeks in 2 cases. In summary, 27/29 cases were identiifed at 17-24 weeks of gestation. Conclusions Prenatal ultrasound is the ifrst-choice method for screening of fetal limb deformity. The detection rate of limb deformity could be greatly improved by using SCSA method with the supplement of 3D ultrasound.

The results of analyzing the managerial characteristics and complexity of product cooperative development suggest that task planning is an important aspect for process management of product cooperative development and the method for planning tasks should be able to model the dependency between tasks and iterations during the development process. In this paper, a DSM-based method and its corresponding optimization algorithms are developed. At first the coupled task sets and uncoupled task setsare identified, and the tasks are then optimized by the corresponding algorithms. The optimal tasks plan will reduce the development time and cost. Considering the practical requirements in real world, a Multilayer DSM is proposed, and its information communication techniques between DSM and traversing principle are described in details.

Objective: To compare the blood lfow of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft vessel between minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) and traditional median sternotomyin off-pump coronary artery bypass (Traditional OPCAB) by transit-time lfow meter (TTFM). Methods: We retrospectively studied 300 patients who received OPCAB in our hospital from 2013-01 to 2015-07, all patients had LIMA to left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) anastomosis. The patients were divided into 2 groups: MIDCAB group, n=70 and Traditional OPCAB group,n=230. Intra-operative blood lfow in graft vessel was measured by transit-time lfow meter. Pre- and post-operative indexes and the mean lfow (MF), pulsatile index (PI), diastolic fraction (DF) of LIMA graft were compared between 2 groups. Results: The following indexes in Traditional OPCAB group and MIDCAB group were as below: intra-operative transfusion was (3.00±5.42) U vs (1.06±2.17) U, post-operative peak value of cTnI was (2.84±9.93) ng/ml vs (0.69±1.74) ng/ml, mechanical ventilation time was (27.9±66.9) h vs (14.2±20.8) h and ICU stay time was (64.1±89.6) h vs (35.2±39.2) h, allP<0.05; while for the graft from LIMA to LAD, MF was (29.45±18.19) ml/min vs (29.04±15.85) ml/min, PI was (2.68±1.19) vs (2.44±0.84) and DF was (71.47±11.12) % vs (70.25±11.30) %, allP>0.05. Conclusion: With LIMA to LAD graft, MIDCAB may achieve the same effect as traditional OPCAB, the early post-operative anastomosis has been reliable.

Objective To investigate the neural representations of long-term digital memory in human brain by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. Methods 22 right-handed normal volunteers were recruited to participate in a test of long-term digital memory while the fMRI data were recorded. Control tasks were performed for the block-design. SPM 99 was used to analyze the data and to obtain the activated brain regions.Numbers of activated voxels were used to calculate lateralization index (LI). Results When the threshold was set as P＜0. 0001 ,using a one-sample t -test,the middle gyrus of the left frontal lobe(t=9.68) and the right cerebellum ( t = 9.85 ) were activated remarkably during the memory task. The subcortical structures including the thalamus (t=6.72) and the caudate (t=6.58) were also obviously activated during the memory task. LI of the numbers of activated voxels was 0.51. Conclusions The subcortical structures and the cerebellum as well as the cerebral cortex are collaborative to contribute to long-term digital memory function in human brain. The results also reveal that the functional areas of long-term digital memory in human brain are localized with the functional lateralization in the left hemisphere.

Objective:To analyze the influence of application of bilateral internal mammary artery(BIMA) with different configurations in coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods:From January 2018 to December 2020, 82 patients underwent CABG using BIMA were included, with 75 males and 7 females, aged(56.9±9.8) years old. According to the target of coronary artery of BIMA, patients were divided into two groups, 23 patients(group B) who underwent the traditional operation(RIMA to the right coronary artery), and 59 patients(group L) whose RIMA were grafted to the left ventricular arteries. Also the patients were divided into two groups according to the RIMA used either in situ(group I, 57 cases) or free(group F, 25 cases). Compare the grafts flow between groups. The CTA angiography of coronary artery was completed to evaluate the grafts patency before discharge.Results:There was 1 early operative death(1.22%). The mean flow(MF) of RIMA was significantly higher in group B( P=0.013). The pulsatility index(PI) of LIMA was significantly lower and the MF of RIMA and BIMA was higher(all P<0.05), fewer patients with LIMA-MF less than 15 ml/min( P=0.023)in the group I. CTA angiography before discharge showed that only 1 RIMA to right coronary artery was occlusion. Conclusion:It is better to use BIMA in situ in CABG, RIMA used in right coronary artery can receive more satisfactory graft flow. BIMA has good patency in early stage, therefore is the ideal and stable coronary bypass graft.

Objectives:The aim of this study was to assess the influence of graft anastomosis strategies of radial artery on the flow characteristics and early patency in coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG). Methods:Present study enrolled 99 patients(92 males,7 females,aged[57.2±8.7]years),who underwent isolated CABG using a radial artery(RA)graft from January 2019 to December 2021 in our department.The RA was proximally anastomosed to the aorta in 79 patients(group 1)and to another graft as a composite graft in 20 patients(group 2).The intraoperative flow characteristics were evaluated with the transit time flow measurement(TTFM),and the graft patency was assessed by computed tomography coronary angiograms perioperatively and at 1year after operation respectively. Results:Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups(all P＞0.05).There was no perioperative death.Incidence of minimally invasive cardiac surgery for CABG(MICS CABG)and mean flow(MF)of RA grafts were both higher in group 2 than in group 1(all P＜0.05).Perioperative RA graft failure rate was 24.2%(n=24),which tended to be lower in group 2 than in group 1(10.0%vs.27.8%,P=0.096).CT angiography showed that RA graft failure reduced to 16.1%at one year after operation.Compared to patency group,patients with failure RA grafts perioperatively had higher pulse index(PI)and lower intraoperative MF(all P＜0.05).Patients with failure RA grafts at one year after operation had higher PI and more bypassed to the right coronary artery(RCA)target territories of RA grafts(all P＜0.05). Conclusions:RA proximal anastomosis to the aorta or to another graft dose not affect the perioperative patency in CABG.Some RA graft that failed perioperatively might recanalize at one year after operation.High intraoperative PI and bypassed to RCA of RA grafts may be predictors of graft failure at one year after operation.

Objective:To report the use of right internal mammary artery (RIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in our center, summarize the purpose and configuration of RIMA graft in CABG.Methods:All clinical data of coronary artery bypass grafting patients in our center performed in the past 6 years were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Those patients were divided into RIMA group and non-RIMA group according to the use of RIMA. Propensity score matching had been performed before these data was compared. Surgical technique of use of RIMA was summarized.Results:1 537 CABG had been performed from January 1st, 2016 to October 31st, 2021 in our center. Of which, 128 cases were allocated to RIMA group. After propensity score matching having been performed, there was no difference in baseline data between the RIMA group and the non-RIMA group (128 cases), and the RIMA group had more grafts and arterial grafts than the non-RIMA group. The postoperative drainage volume in the RIMA group was more than that of the non-RIMA group. However, there was no statistical significance in difference of transfusion between two groups. Also, there was no difference in postoperative mechanical ventilation time, ICU time and length of stay postoperatively. The postoperative complications were similar between two groups. Postoperative patency rate of the RIMA graft was as high as 95.2%. The target vessels of RIMA included left anterior descending branch (45 cases), diagonal branch (19 cases), intermediate branch (12 cases). obtuse marginal or circumflex branch (16 cases), posterior descending branch (5 cases) and right coronary trunk (18 cases). 41 RIMA used as free grafts, 87 used as in situ grafts, of which 19 RIMA need lengthened by other graft vessels.Conclusion:The patency rate of RIMA graft is high and the application of RIMA do not increase the surgical risk significantly. However, there are versatile contour of RIMA grafts. It can be used as artery graft in selected patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the impairment of white matter (WM) tracts. The current study aimed to verify the utility of WM as the neuroimaging marker of AD with multisite diffusion tensor imaging datasets [321 patients with AD, 265 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 279 normal controls (NC)], a unified pipeline, and independent site cross-validation. Automated fiber quantification was used to extract diffusion profiles along tracts. Random-effects meta-analyses showed a reproducible degeneration pattern in which fractional anisotropy significantly decreased in the AD and MCI groups compared with NC. Machine learning models using tract-based features showed good generalizability among independent site cross-validation. The diffusion metrics of the altered regions and the AD probability predicted by the models were highly correlated with cognitive ability in the AD and MCI groups. We highlighted the reproducibility and generalizability of the degeneration pattern of WM tracts in AD.
Humans ; White Matter/diagnostic imaging* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods* ; Alzheimer Disease/complications* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Cognition ; Cognitive Dysfunction/complications* ; Brain/diagnostic imaging*