The proposed registration algorithm based on wavelet transform is a multi-resolution block matching one, which exploits the hierarchical self-similarity of Digital Subtraction Angiography images. This method befittingly trades off between the estimation precision and computational complexity, because the registration precision is from coarse to fine, which reduces the searching complexity of motion vector. This technique has been proved that the convergence speed is exponential. The proposed method takes full advantage of the precise location both temporally and frequently which characterizes the wavelet transform. Both the matching speed and consistency are boosted without the loss of matching performance.
Algorithms ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Artifacts ; Artificial Intelligence ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Motion ; Sensitivity and Specificity

To compare the short-and long-term effect of two minimal invasive surgical therapies including keyhole approach endoscopic surgery(KAES)and stereotactic aspiration plus urokinase(SAU)in treating basal ganglia hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(hICH). The clinical data of 117 hICH patients(63 received KAES and 54 received SAU)were retrospectively analyzed.The operation time,blood loss during surgery,and drainage time were compared between two groups.The residual hematoma volume,hematoma clearance rate(HCR),Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score were recorded at baseline and in the ultra-early stage,early stage,and sub-early stage after surgery.The 30-day mortality and serious adverse events were assessed and the 6-month modified Rankin scale(mRS)score was rated. Baseline data showed no significant difference between these two groups.Compared with the SAU group,the KAES group had significantly longer operation time,more intraoperative blood loss,and shorter drainage time(all <0.001).In the ultra-early stage after surgery,HCR was significantly higher in the KAES group(<0.001),whereas in the early and sub-early stage,HCR showed no significant differences(all >0.05).In the ultra-early and early stage,the GCS and NIHSS scores showed no significant differences between two groups(all >0.05),whereas in the sub-early stage,the NIHSS score was better in the SAU group(=0.034).The 30-day mortality and incidences of serious adverse events showed no significant difference(all >0.05).The good recovery(mRS≤3)at 6-months follow-up showed no significant difference between the two groups(=0.413). Both KAES and SAU are safe and effective in treating basal ganglia hICH.In the ultra-early stage after surgery,KAES achieves better residual hematoma volume and HCR,and patients undergoing SAU quickly catch up.The short-and long-term effectiveness of SAU is comparable or even superior to KAES.
Basal Ganglia ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletic Performance ; psychology ; Back ; physiology ; Electromyography ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of methylene blue on the growth and acid production of Streptococcus mutans, and the effect of methylene blue on acid production metabolism in plaque glycolysis model (i-PGM) in vitro, and investigate the practicability of methylene blue as a new kind of dental caries prevention agent.

METHODSNephelometer method was used to measure OD value of Streptococcus mutans culture fluid in the different incubation conditions. The kinds and quantities of acid produced by Streptococcus mutans in the different incubation conditions were measured with gas chromatography. pH values of glycolysis buffer media of i-PGM in the different treatment conditions were measured by ORION electrode.

RESULTS(1) The OD value of Streptococcus mutans treated by methylene blue was lower than that by normal saline, and there was significant statistical difference between them. (2) The kinds of acid in three different culture fluid were same, but the total quantities of acid were significantly different among three different culture fluid, in which the total quantities of acid of culture fluids treated by glucose was the greatest, and treated by methylene blue was the lest. (3) The pH value of i-PGM treated by methylene blue was significantly different compared with negative control group, but was not significantly different compared with positive control group.

CONCLUSIONMethylene blue can inhibit the growth and acid production metabolism of Streptococcus matans and acid production metabolism of i-PGM.

Dental Caries ; Dental Plaque ; Glycolysis ; Methylene Blue ; Streptococcus mutans

This study is to explore the activation of the Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the inhibitory effect of m-nisoldipine (m-Nis) on this pathway. PASMCs were cultured with the explant technique. The proliferation of PASMCs was evaluated by MTT assay. Confocal microscopy was used to measure the change of [Ca2+]i. The mRNA expression of CaM and CaN was evaluated by RT-PCR and the activity of CaN was measured according to the instruction of kits. The results of MTT assay suggested that 5-HT (1 micromol x L(-1)) significantly induced the proliferation of rat PASMCs (P < 0.01), which was inhibited obviously by m-Nis (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Similarly, m-Nis inhibited 5-HT-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression of CaM, CaN and the activation of CaN were also inhibited by m-Nis at different degrees (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Thus, the results of this study suggested that Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway played an important role in 5-HT-induced proliferation of rat PASMCs, the inhibition of m-Nis on proliferation of rat PASMCs may be related to the blockage of Ca2+/CaM/CaN signal pathway by inhibiting the elevation of [Ca2+]i.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Calcineurin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Calmodulin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Nisoldipine ; pharmacology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serotonin ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

AIMTo develop simple but reliable intracellular labelling method for high-resolution visualization of the fine structure of single neurons in brain slice with thickness of 500 microm.

METHODSBiocytin was introduced into neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slices while blind whole cell recording. Following processed for histochemistry using the avidin-biotin-complex method, stained slices were mounted in glycerol on special glass slides. Labelled cells were digital photomicrographed every 30 microm and reconstructed with Adobe Photoshop software.

RESULTSAfter histochemistry, limited background staining was produced. The resolution was so high that fine structure, including branching, termination of individual axons and even spines of neurons could be identified in exquisite detail with optic microscope. With the help of software, the neurons of interest could be reconstructed from a stack of photomicrographs.

CONCLUSIONThe modified method provides an easy and reliable approach to revealing the detailed morphological properties of single neurons in 500 microm-thickness brain slice. Without requisition of special equipment, it is suited to be broadly applied.

Animals ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Neurons ; cytology ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Software ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

BACKGROUNDProgrammed cell death 5 (PDCD5) is a novel apoptotic regulatory gene that promotes apoptosis in various tumor cells. Studies have shown that PDCD5 accelerates the apoptosis of synoviocytes in vitro, implying a potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This study examined the expression of PDCD5 in serum and synovial fluid of RA patients, its effect on the expression of inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and the assessment of disease activity in RA.

METHODSPDCD5 and IL-17 levels in serum and synovial fluid from 18 patients with RA and 22 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Concentrations of serum PDCD5 in 40 healthy people were also detected as controls. As disease activity indices, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and X-ray grading scale were also evaluated.

RESULTSSerum and synovial fluid PDCD5 levels in RA patients were significantly higher than those in OA and healthy controls. Serum PDCD5 level was inversely correlated to CRP and ESR, and was significantly higher in the RF negative group than in the positive group. PDCD5 level was also negatively correlated with IL-17 levels both in serum and synovial fluid of RA patients. However, differences in synovial fluid PDCD5 level from RA patients at different Larsen stages were not detectable.

CONCLUSIONSPDCD5 affects RA pathogenesis. Insufficient apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and inflammatory cells in RA could increase the expression of PDCD5 protein. As PDCD5 levels correlated negatively with disease activity indices and IL-17 level, PDCD5 could become a target in the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

Aged ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; etiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; blood ; physiology ; Synovial Fluid ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for HPLC fingerprint determination of the triterpene acids in Poria cocos.

METHODRP-HPLC, linear gradient elution and LC/MS, etc. were used to optimize the fingerprint determination method, and identify the main peaks in the HPLC fingerprint.

RESULTA preferable method for HPLC fingerprint determination of the triterpene acids in P. cocos was established, and 9 peaks in the HPLC fingerprint were identified.

CONCLUSIONA general acquaintance of the triterpene acids in P. cocos can be obtained by using the preferable HPLC fingerprint determination method, which is useful for quality evaluation of the crud drug of P. cocos.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Polyporales ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; classification

OBJECTIVETo examine the feasibility and practicability of quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with SYBR GREEN I fluorescence for detecting the MYCN mRNA expression in neuroblastoma cell line LA-N-5.

METHODSMYCN mRNA expression in LA-N-5 cells was measured using real time RT-PCR with SYBR GREEN I. Glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as internal control. The level of the MYCN mRNA was calculated as MYCN copies/GAPDH copies.

RESULTSStandard curves were linear and showed high correlations (R2>0.99). The ratio of MYCN mRNA copies to GAPDH mRNA copies was calculated based on specific PCR products. The MYCN mRNA level in LA-N-5 cells was obtained (17.4 +/- 1.2).

CONCLUSIONSQuantitative RT-PCR with SYBR GREEN I fluorescence may be a sensitive and reliable method for detecting the MYCN mRNA expression. It may also be potential applicable for detecting the MYCN mRNA expression in the small amount neuroblastoma tissues.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the glucose tolerance and ability of insulin secretion in SD rats in second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Methods SD rats with pregnancy of 15 d were selected as experimental group(n=6),and another 6 rats of the same batch without pregnancy were served as controls(n=6).Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance trials(IPGTT) were conducted in these two groups.Rat islets were isolated after in situ collagenase digestion through pancreatic duct perfusion,islet morphology was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope,and insulin secretion was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results It was revealed by IPGTT that the levels of glucose at 30,60,90 and 120 min were significantly lower in experimental group than those in control group(P