Image segmentation is a key step for image processing. This study developed an improved region growing algorithm to extract the outline of the heart for 3D-modeling which based on the acquisition of canine cardiac CT images from animal experiment. In this paper the method was also compared with the classic algorithm of threshold segmentation. The result showed that the method can be used for the 3D display technology of cardiac electrical activity in clinical electrophysiology mapping.
Algorithms ; Animals ; Dogs ; Electrophysiology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Models, Anatomic ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

ObjectTo study the adsorptive properties of spherical activated carbon on some effective ingredients from Chinese materia medica (CMM) and to approach the application feasibility to CMM purification. Methods The spherical activated carbon with high strength has been successfully prepared by the carbonation and activation of polymeric resin. The apparent and theoretical adsorption capacities under the condition of static operation were investigated by Langmuir monolayer adsorption model. Elution by 75% alcohol was studied. Results The static adsorption capacities of the berberine hydrochloride and dioscin were 35.46 mg/g and 47.12 mg/g, and theoretical adsorption capacities were 96.16 mg/g and 102.04 mg/g, respectively. The apparent adsorption amount of rutin was 40.88% mg/g. The elution ratio were 83.71%, 91.45%, and 87.69%, respectively. Conclusion The spherical activated carbon adsorbent shows better comprehensive adsorption properties and can be used to purification.

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the incidence of multiple primary malignancies combined with lung and other organs and their relationship.

METHODSAll patients who consecutively treated for lung cancer from December 1964 to December 1992, were retrospectively analyzed regarding the recurrence of a synchronous primary tumor elsewhere in the body.

RESULTSOf total 1019 patients reviewed, 21 (2.1%) had associated carcinoma of other organs. In these 21 patients, the incidence of associated aerodigestive tract cancer was 71.4% (15/21) and that of other organs was 28.6% (6/21). Five patients had simultaneous cancer with the lung cancer and 16 had metachronous cancer.

CONCLUSIONSMultiple primary tumors in patients with carcinoma of the lungs is not a rare phenomenon. Surveillance programs for detection of second primary tumors should focus on these patients.

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanisms of Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) and Bickerstaff' s brainstem encephalitis (BBE) by studying their clinical and electrophysiological characteristics.Methods The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of 13 MFS and 7 BBE cases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2000 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.The electrophysiological parameters included sensory and motor nerve conduction,electromyography,F wave,sympathetic skin response and brainstem auditory evoked potential and blink reflex.Results MFS and BBE had similar clinical characteristics:respiratory symptoms were the most common infectious symptoms before disease onset; Ophthalmoplegia,facial palsy and bulbar symptoms were common; They both had cerebrospinal fluid albuminocytological dissociation and positive serum anti-GQ1b antibody.However,BBE had more central nervous system lesion signs clinically such as conscious disturbance,positive Babinski' s sign and central facial palsy.Electrophysiologically,MFS and BBE also had similar electrophysiological features:sensory nerve abnormality ratios were 6/13,2/7 respectively,with prominently reduced sensory nerve active potential amplitude,normal or slightly slowed sensory conduction velocity; Motor nerves abnormality ratios were 2/13,1/7 respectively,with slightly prolonged distal motor latency and normal compound muscle action potential; Electromyography abnormality ratios were 1/7,0/4 respectively; F wave frequency abnormality ratios were 3/13,5/7 respectively,and in some cases,F wave frequency would restore; Sympathetic skin response abnormality ratios were 1/2,1/3 respectively; Blink reflex abnormalityratios were 1/2,1/1 respectively,with central involvement in BBE; Brainstem auditory evoked potential abnormality ratios were 3/5,1/4 respectively,with wave Ⅰ latency or amplitude abnormality.Conclusion The similarities of clinical and electrophysiological features suggest that MFS and BBE have the same mechanism and they form a continuous spectrum with variable central nervous system and peripheral nervous system involvement.

Objective:To observe the regulatory effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) on aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in rats after hydrocephalus, and to explore its significance in hydrocephalus prevention.Methods:Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group ( n=10), hydrocephalus group ( n=20), and hydrocephalus+inhibitor (SB203580) group (SB group, n=20). The rat models of hydrocephalus in the latter two groups were prepared by intracerebroventricular injection of kaolin suspension; rats in the sham-operated group were injected with same amount of normal saline into the lateral ventricle. The p38 MAPK specific inhibitor SB203580 (10 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of SB group on the 8 th d of modeling for 7 consecutive d; same volume of dimethylsulfoxide was given to the rats of hydrocephalus group on the 8 th d of modeling for 7 consecutive d; rats in the sham-operated group did not give any treatment. The severity of hydrocephalus in these rats was observed by MRI. The inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level in the cerebrospinal fluid was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The AQP4 and TNF-α mRNA expressions were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The phosphorylated p38 MAPK and AQP4 expressions in the periventricular brain tissues were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results:No hydrocephalus developed in sham-operated group and hydrocephalus developed in the latter two groups. As compared with sham-operated group, hydrocephalus group and SB group had significantly increased lateral ventricle volume, significantly aggravated periventricular edema, significantly higher EVAN's index, and statistically increased brain water content ( P<0.05). Two weeks after modeling, the TNF-α expression levels in cerebrospinal fluid of sham-operated group, hydrocephalus group and SB group were (20.49±0.96), (42.04±3.17), and (28.00±3.71) pg/mL, respectively, with significant differences ( F=186.000, P<0.001); the TNF-α expression level in SB group was significantly higher than that in sham-operated group and significantly lower than that in hydrocephalus group ( P<0.05). Two weeks after modeling, the TNF-α and AQP4 mRNA expression levels in brain tissues of the three groups were significantly different ( P<0.05); the TNF-α and AQP4 mRNA expression levels in hydrocephalus group were significantly higher than those in sham-operated group and SB group ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that there was a positive linear correlation between AQP4 mRNA expression and TNF-α mRNA expression in hydrocephalus group ( r=0.511, P=0.026), and there was a positive linear correlation between AQP4 protein expression and phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein expression in hydrocephalus group and SB group ( r=0.560, P=0.013; r=0.463, P=0.030). Immunohistochemical staining results showed that AQP4 expression was abundant in glial cells of the three groups; the p38 MAPK distribution was uniform and non-polar; the phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein expression in the hydrocephalus group was significantly higher than that in the sham-operated group, and that in the SB group returned to the level of the sham-operated group. Conclusion:The p38 MAPK pathway is involved in the positive regulation of AQP4 expression, which could be inhibited by SB203580.

The 30th International Symposium on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Motor Neuron Disease was held in Perth, Australia from December 4 to 6, 2019. This article mainly introduces the clinical research of this meeting, including epidemiology, non-motor symptoms, auxiliary examinations and biomarkers, etc., while the basic research includes genomics and genetics, protein metabolism abnormalities, neuroimmunity and inflammation, synapse pathology and preclinical treatment strategies,

Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinical data of Chinese patients with colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy, and clarify the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients.Methods:Medical history of patients with CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy diagnosed from April 1, 2018 to January 31, 2021 in the department of neurology of 22 hospitals in China was collected, and scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), magnetic resonance severity scale were evaluated. Group comparison was performed between male and female patients.Results:A total of 62 patients were included, and the male-female ratio was 1∶1.95. The age of onset was (40.35±8.42) years. Cognitive impairment (82.3%, 51/62) and motor symptoms (77.4%,48/62) were the most common symptoms. The MMSE and MoCA scores were 18.79±7.16 and 13.96±7.23, respectively, and the scores of two scales in male patients (22.06±5.31 and 18.08±5.60) were significantly higher than those in females (15.53±7.41 , t=2.954, P=0.006; 10.15±6.26, t=3.328 , P=0.003). The most common radiographic feature was bilateral asymmetric white matter changes (100.0%), and the magnetic resonance imaging severity scale score was 27.42±11.40, while the white matter lesion score of females (22.94±8.39) was significantly higher than that of males (17.62±8.74 , t=-2.221, P<0.05). A total of 36 CSF1R gene mutations were found in this study, among which c.2381T>C/p.I794T was the hotspot mutation that carried by 17.9% (10/56) of the probands. Conclusions:The core phenotypic characteristics of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy in China are progressive motor and cognitive impairment, with bilateral asymmetrical white matter changes. In addition, there exist gender differences clinically, with severer cognitive impairment and imaging changes in female patients. Thirty-six CSF1R gene mutations were found in this study, and c.2381T>C/p. I794T was the hotspot mutation.

Objective: To explore the effect of adenoassociated virus sense transfection up-regulating the expressionlevel of the growth and differential factor 11 ( GDF11) in vivo on aortic injury in type 2 diabetic mellitus rats(T2DM). Methods: Nine-week-old male SD rats were randomly selected to establish a T2DM model by usinghigh -sugar and high-fat chow plus small-dose streptozotocin (STZ) combined induction. Both normal rats and diabetic model rats were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group ( Control group) , negative virus control group ( NC group), GDF11 adeno-associated virus group ( GDFl1 group), diabetic group ( DM group), anddiabetic + GDF11 adeno-associated virus group ( DM + GDFl1 group). After 8 weeks of feeding, the serum con-centrations of insulin ( INS ), advanced glyeosylation end products ( AGES), recombinant growth transforming fac.tor 11 ( GDF11 ), total cholesterol (T-CH0 ), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), high-density lipoproteins ( HDL-C), asymmetric dimethylarginine ( ADMA), and malondialdehyde ( MDA) were assayed inthe rats ; periodic acid-schiff stain( PAS stain) was used to observe the sites of glycogen deposition, and hematoxylin-eosin staining ( HE) was used to observe vascular damage. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observethe damage of vascular endothelial cells and vascular elastic fibers, and protein blotting and immunohistochemistrwere used to detect the expression levels of vascular injury-related proteins. Protein blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression levels of vascular injury-related proteins. Results: The biochemical indexes showed that the serum concentrations of AGES, T-CHO, TG, LDL-C and MDA were higher in the DM groupthan those in the Control group (P <0. 05), the concentrations of INS, GDF11, HDL-C and ADMA were signifi.cantly lower than those in the Control group (P <0. 05 ), and the concentrations of AGE'S and HDL-C were not sig.nificantly lower in the DM + GDF1l group compared with the DM group ( P <0. 05). HDL-C was not significantlydilerent from the DM group, and several other data were improved ( P<0. 05 ). Pathological staining suggestedthat PAS staining in the DM group suggested that glycogen particles deposited in the endothelium and subendotheli.um of the aorta, HE staining observed thickening of the aortic mesentery, endothelial cells and elastic fibers brokeolf in an irregular alignment , and electron microscopy observed endothelial damage in the vasculature and elastic fibers broke off in the DM group, and these changes attenuated in the DM + GDFl1 group. Protein blotting and im.munohistochemistry indicated that the expression of endothelial cell-associated proteins decreased in the DM groug( P <0. 05), and mesenchymal markers elevated in the DM group ( P <0. 05 ), these proteins were regressed inthe DM + GDFl1 group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Inereasing theexpression level of GDFl1 in vivo can improve aortic vascular injury caused by diabetes mellitus, which is inferredthat it may be related to the inhibition of endothelial mesenchymal transition to protect the function of vascular endo.thelial cells and thus improve vascular injury.

ObjectiveTo observe the lower limb muscle activation strategy of healthy middle-aged and old women during stair ascent and descent with surface electromyography. MethodsFrom August, 2021 to February, 2022, 20 healthy middle-aged and old women were measured the surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus during stair ascent and descent, and co-contraction ratio was calculated. ResultsDuring stair ascent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris and vastus medialis was higher at starting stage than at following stage (|t| > 6.650, P < 0.001), while the RMS of biceps femoris and semitendinosus was lower (t > 3.559, P < 0.01); and the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps was lower at starting stage than at following stage (t > 8.185, P < 0.001). During stair descent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus was higher at following stage than at starting stage (t > 2.345, P < 0.05), as well as the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps (t > 2.405, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe activities of the muscles around the knees are almost symmetrical during stair ascent and descent for healthy middle-aged and old women. The activation and co-contraction ratio of quadriceps and hamstring are various at starting/following stages.