Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a more and more important role in medical image area for its advantages of nonradiative,multiple imaging and high spatial resolution.This review gives a systematic discussion over a couple of MRI segmentation algorithms that are used widely to help people have an entire knowledge of MRI segmentation methods.On the base of classification and summary of MRI segmentation,the MRI segmentation algorithms have been classified into 5 different categories after preliminary investigation and survey.Based on threshold,pattern recognition,active contours,Markov random field (MRF) and graph cut,separately.After further investigation and survey we summarize the characters and field of applications of the 5 different algorithms,then take a few segment experiments among these algorithms on abdomen MRI and present their distinct characteristics.At last,we take a prospect at the future of the MRI segmentation.

ObjectiveTo seek experimental evidence of epidermal barrier dysfunction in psoriasis,and to provide a basis for adjuvant therapy of psoriasis.MethodsPhysiometric methods were used to determine the value of sebum content,transepidermal water loss(TEWL) and water content of stratum corneum in 60 patients with psoriasis and 48 normal human controls.The ultrastructure of lamellar bodies was observed with transmission electron microscopy,and the expression of acid ceramidase in normal skin and psoriatic lesions was detected by using immunohistochemical techniques.ResultsCompared with the normal skin,TEWL value was increased(P ＜ 0.01),but water content of stratum corneum decreased(P ＜ 0.01 ) in psoriatic lesions,and sebum content was similar between normal skin and psoriatic lesions.As electron microscopy showed,lamellar bodies in keratinocytes were reduced in number with a disorganized arrangement and irregular size in psoriatic lesions.The expression of acid ceramidase also decreased in psoriatic epidermis.Conclusions The function of epidermal barrier in psoriasis is impaired,and to restore epidermal barrier function and enhance hydration may serve as an important adjuvant therapy of psoriasis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of Prinsepia utilis Royle oil (PURO) on the synthesis of ceramide and expression of acid ceramidase N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 (ASH1),and to explore the mechanisms underlying its moisturizing and skin barrier-repairing effects.Methods Keratinocytes from human foreskin tissue were classified into 2 groups to be cultured in keratinocyte-serum free medium (K-SFM) with or without the presence of PURO.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the level of ceramide in the culture supernatant of keratinocytes at 0,3,8,24 and 48 hours.The back of nude mice was divided into 4 areas,i.e.,test area,matrix area,blank control area and negative control area.Acetone and ether were used to destroy the epidermal barrier in the test,matrix,and blank control areas,then,the former 2 areas were topically treated with emulsions containing 1％ PURO and matrix,respectively,and the blank control area remained untreated.The epidermal barrier remained intact and untreated in the negative control area.Noninvasive methods were used to determine transepidermal water loss (TEWL),epidermal moisture content and skin lipid content in these areas on day 0,1,3,and 7.Skin tissue was obtained from these areas on day 0 and 7 followed by an immunohistochemical study for the quantification of ASH1 expression.Results The level of supernatant ceramide increased with time in the PURO-treated keratinocytes,which was significantly higher at 24 hours and 48 hours than at 0 hour (1.3817 ± 0.100 and 1.3737 ± 0.047 vs.0.7630 ± 0.143,both P ＜ 0.05).The supernatant ceramide was also elevated in the PURO-treated keratinocytes compared with untreated keratinocytes at 24 and 48 hours (both P ＜ 0.05).Noninvasive skin tests showed a gradual decrease in the TEWL,but an increase in the epidermal moisture content and skin lipid content with time in the 3 epidermal barrier-destroyed areas.As far as the test area was concerned,TEWL value was significantly lower on day 3 and 7 than on day 0 (10.85 ± 0.64 and 8.01 ± 0.58 vs.12.65 ± 0.71,both P ＜ 0.05),while a significant increment was observed in the skin lipid content on day 3 and 7 compared with day 0 (29.14 ± 0.40 and 31.30 ± 0.88 vs.27.02 ± 0.65,both P ＜ 0.05),as well as in the epidermal moisture content on day 1,3 and 7 compared with day 0 (13.98 ± 0.28,15.00 ± 0.38 and 15.86 ± 0.18 vs.11.74 ± 0.62,all P＜ 0.05).On day 7,there was a statistical decline in TEWL value,but an elevation in epidermal moisture content,skin lipid content and ASH1 expression in the test area compared with the matrix area and blank control area (all P ＜ 0.05).Also,the expression of ASH1 was upregulated on day 7 compared with day 0 in the 3 barrier-destroyed areas (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion PURO may exert skin-moisturizing and barrier-repairing effects by enhancing the synthesis of ceramide and expression of acid ceramidase ASH1.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcium antagonist verapamil on the function of rat?- cells and tolbutamide (D860)-induced insulin release.Methods Insulin released from isolated islets were measured in control,verapamil,D860,and verapamil+D860 groups.Furthermore,intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was conducted in acute experiments treated with verapamil and D860 respectively to assess?-cell function in rats with the same allocation as in vitro.Another IVGTT was performed in the end of 4 weeks' treatment.The insulin contents in pancreas were assayed and pancreas islets morphology were observed with immunohistochemistry.Results Verapamil could inhibit insulin release from isolated islets.Verapamil group was [(1.244?0.082)ng?ml~(-1)?islet~(-1)]and control group (2.623?0.226) ng?ml~(-1)?islet~(-1)(P0.05).Also,similar results were obtained in normal rats during acute experiments and verapamil reduce the hypoglycemic effect promoted by D860. However,above results were not observed in the end of 4 weeks experiments,and no difference for insulin content and morphological change in islets was found among four groups.Conclusion Treatment of verapamil chronically does not impair islet function and interfere with the hypoglycemic effect of D860 in rats .

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of baicalin on induction of apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell line DU145.

METHODHuman prostate cancer cell line DU145 was treated with different concentration of baicalin in vitro. The apoptosis rate was determined by FACS analysis, cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry, morphological changes and protein analysis were determined by means of electron microscope techniqueand immunohistochemical techniquerespectively.

RESULT50micromol x L(-1) and 125 micromol x L(-1) of baicalin dose-dependently induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of prostate cancer cell DU145 in a dose and time-dependent manner. DNA flow cytometric analysis indicated that baicalin induced a arrest in G1 phase, showing a typical apoptosis peak. Electron microscopy detected a characteristic appearance of the apoptotic cells morphology. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that induction of apoptosis by ways of inhibition of the bcl-2, loss of the Bax, and upregulation of Fas.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that baicalin may induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of prostate cancer cells, and has direct anti-tumor effects on human prostate cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; G1 Phase ; Humans ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the value of immunofecal occult blood test (IFOBT) as a prognostic indicator in CKD patients with colorectal impairment.Methods A total of 176CKD patients and 180 healthy adults as control were enrolled.Serum biochemistry was measured at baseline and gastrointestinal bleeding was determined by IFOBT.All the CKD patients were followed up for 4.5 years.Renal replacement therapy or death was defined as end-point event.The Logistic regression analysis was used for risk factors.Kaplan-Meier analysis and COX regression model were used for survival analysis.Results The positive rate of IFOBT in CKD patients was significantly higher than healthy control (17％ vs 5.3％,χ2=13.236,P＜0.01).When comparing with IFOBT negitive patients,IFOBT positive patients were older [(62.030±15.544) years old vs (48.660±19.018)years old,P＜0.01],had higher ESR [(71.800±31.657) mu/h vs (57.210±32.712) mm/h,P＜0.05],C-reactive protein [6.230 (3.000～14.148) mg/L vs 3.000 (3.000～6.833)mg/L,P＜0.05],serum creatinine [419.100 (103.200～546.625) μmol/L vs 175.100 (68.150～462.950) μmol/L,P＜0.05],and had lower hemoglobin level [(97.970±20.590) g/L vs (107.170±27.988) g/L,P＜0.05] and eGFR [11.400 (8.671～53.544) ml·min1·(1.73 m2)1 vs 35.274(10.961～82.145) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1,P＜0.01].There was a negative correlation between IFOBT value and eGFR in CKD patients (r=-0.20,P＜0.01).Positive correlations of IFOBT value with age (r=0.175,P＜0.05) and serum creatinine (r=0.171,P＜0.05) were found.Logistic regression and COX regression analysis showed that IFOBT value,eGFR and ESR were important factors that influenced the prognosis of CKD patients.Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that IFOBT value ＞100μg/L predicted progression of renal function.Conclusions The prevalence of gastrointestinal bleeding disorder is high in patients with CKD.Value of IFOBT independently predicts decline in renal function of CKD patients.

Objective To discuss the correlation between MSCT morphological index of emphysema and pulmonary function test (PFT) indexes. Methods We randomly selected 33 cases with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and conducted CT and PFT in a week. The whole lung was scanned by MSCT at the end of deep aspiration,and the post-processing workstation was used for quantitative determination of a total of 12 morphological indexes,including the density of lung, pulmonary diameter line,lung volume,and etc,then their correlation with lung function index was analyzed.Results FEV1.0%had correlation with upper right lung density ( =0.391, =0.391), lower right lung density ( =0.465, =0.038),the mean lung density ( =0.576,=0.576), and total lung capacity (=0.471, =0.471),upper right lung volume ( =0.413, =0.049) . FEV1.0/FVC had correlation with left lower lung density ( =0.392, =0.024), the mean lung density ( =0.703, = 0.000), total lung transverse diameter ( = 0.521, = 0.521), upper right lung maximum transverse diameter ( =0.627, =0.627), and total lung capacity ( =0.549, =0.549) correlation. FVC had correlation with upper right lung maximum transverse diameter ( = 0.378, = 0.378), characterized by maximum transverse diameter (=0.349, =0.037) . TLC had correlation with mean lung density (=0.523,=0.523), upper right lung maximum transverse diameter ( =0.454, =0.454), and total lung capacity (= 0.001), the right lung volume ( = 0.492, = 0.492) . Conclusion MSCT lung morphology quantitative indicators have good clinical application value in the diagnosis and assessment of emphysema patients.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of epidermal proteins and lamellar bodies on skin barrier in glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis.MethodsTotally,60 patients with glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis and 40 normal human controls were eligible for this study.A noninvasive method using TewameterTM was applied to determine transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value in these subjects.Tissue specimens were obtained from the lesions of 13 patients with glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis and normal skin of 10 human controls.Subsequently,haematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes,immunohistochemistry to detect the protein expressions of K6,K10,K14,K15,loricrin,filaggrin,involucrin in epidermis,and electron microscopy(EM) to estimate the density of lamellar bodies in tissue specimens.ResultsCompared with the normal controls,the patients displayed an elevated TEWL value (P ＜ 0.05),which suggested an impaired epidermal barrier.Histopathology of lesions revealed nonspecific inflammatorychanges withmarkeddifferencesbetweendifferentclinicaltypesofglucocorticoid-dependentdermatitis.Immunohistochemistry revealed an attenuated expression of K10,K14,loricrin,filaggrin,involucrin and abnormal expression of K15 in lesional epidermis compared with the normal epidermis (all P ＜ 0.05),hinting a suppression of epidermal differentiation and proliferation as well as an impairment of cornified envelope structure.The number and density of lamellar bodies were also reduced in lesional epidermis compared with the control epidermis.ConclusionsCompared with normal skin,the structure of skin barrier is impaired in lesions of glucocorticoid-dependent dermatitis,to restore skin barrier is essential for the treatment of this entity.

0.05). Two fasting blood samples of 3 mL were taken in both groups and were sealed in tubes.Serum was separated by centrifugation at 3 000 r/min for 10 min. The serum IGF-Ⅰ, IgG, IgA and IgM were detected with the method of ELISA. The body height, wieght were measured at the same time. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 11.0 software. Means and standard deviation were calculated.t-test was used to compare the differences between menas.Pearson correlation was used to analyze the significance of correlation.Results The serum IGF-Ⅰ,IgG,IgA,IgM and weight,height in RRI group were (21.8?4.5) ?g/L,(8.85?1.94) g/L,(0.78?0.22) g/L,(1.01?0.55) g/L,(17.7?4.92) kg and (95.2?3.22) cm.The serum IGF-Ⅰ,IgG,IgA,IgM and weight,height in control group were (32.7?4.7) ?g/L,(12.05?2.09) g/L,(1.95?0.90) g/L,(1.60?0.60) g/L,(25.3?9.6) kg,(104.7?8.32) cm,respectively.There were significant differences between 2 groups(Pa

Objective To analyze the main clinical features of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods A retrospective analysis of complete clinical data of 9 cases of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza complicated by ARDS admitted from March 2013 to December 2014 admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School was conducted.Results Nine patients' mean age was (46.3±12.3) years, male accounting for 66.7% (6/9). The main clinical features: ① In the duration of acute phase, high fever, cough, hemoptysis sputum, reduction of white blood cell count (WBC) and platelet count (PLT), and myocardial enzyme elevation were the features of the disease. Chest CT showed pulmonary consolidation and ground-glass like shadows. ② On admission, all their oxygenation indexes (PaO2/FiO2) were less than 200 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) of which 66.7% (6/9) was less than 100 mmHg, mean (98.9±62.8) mmHg; 55.6% (5/9) required invasive mechanical ventilatory support; 77.8% (7/9) combined with shock, and hemodynamic monitoring showed peripheral vascular resistance was decreased. ③ There were secondary bloodstream infection in 5 cases and lung infection in 4 cases, accounting for 77.8% (7/9). ④ In 22.2% (2/9) patients, the virus relapsed after the anti-virus therapy was stopped for 7 days, then immediately antiviral treatment was used again, it was still effective.Conclusion Human infection with H7N9 avian influenza complicated by ARDS has typical clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and imaging features, often associated with distributive shock, and at the late stage, secondary pulmonary or blood infection and the virus resurgence may occur.