1.Protective strategies and management recommendations for medical staff based on NIOSH's Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings (2023 Edition)
Hengjuan LIANG ; Bo YANG ; Jing WEN ; Xiaohong HUANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):232-237
The Hazardous Drug Exposure Management: Information for Healthcare Settings (2023 Edition) released by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of US provided detailed protection recommendations for medical personnel to mitigate the risks of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs. This study reviewed the literature in terms of hazard identification, occupational exposure assessment, risk assessment, risk management planning, and waste and spill control. It also explored the precautions for each step of hazardous drug handling, aiming to raise medical personnel's awareness of hazardous drug protection and improve their self-protection skills. The findings provided valuable references for medical institutions to develop hazardous drug disposal plans and reduce employees' exposure to hazardous drugs and occupational injuries.
2.Analysis of The Characteristics of Brain Functional Activity in Gross Motor Tasks in Children With Autism Based on Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Technology
Wen-Hao ZONG ; Qi LIANG ; Shi-Yu YANG ; Feng-Jiao WANG ; Meng-Zhao WEI ; Hong LEI ; Gui-Jun DONG ; Ke-Feng LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2146-2162
ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.
3.Research progress of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors
Chen-Guang LI ; Feng-Yi MAI ; Jing-Rong LIANG ; Wen-Tao YANG ; Jie GUO ; Jun-Xiang SHU ; Li-Zu XIAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(10):1801-1808
NLRP3 can recruit proteins such as ASC and pro-caspase1 to form NLRP3 inflammasomes after being stimulated by pathogen and danger signals in vivo,and then induce pyropto-sis and promote the inflammatory reactions to maintain the home-ostasis.However,the overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasomes is closely related to many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans.Targeted inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasomes can sig-nificantly inhibit inflammation and alleviate the relative symp-toms.Therefore,it is an important research direction for treating diseases of NLRP3 inflammasome that searching for effective in-hibitors targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and achieving clinical transformation.This review summarizes the latest re-search progress based on the sources of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors.
4.Application of high hip center technique in total hip arthroplasty in patients with Crowe type Ⅱ and Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of hip and severe hip osteoarthritis
Hao HU ; Jun-Zhong YANG ; Liang LI ; Chuan-Wen HUANG ; Ling-Lin WANG ; Li-Yan YI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(2):166-172
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of high hip center technique total hip arthroplasty(THA)for CroweⅡ and Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of hip(DDH)and severe hip osteoarthritis(HOA).Methods From January 2018 to Jan-uary 2020,74 patients with Crowe type Ⅱ and Ⅲ DDH and severe HOA were admitted,and 37 cases of anatomical hip center reconstruction were taken as control group,including 7 males and 30 females,aged from 42 to 65 years old with an average of(58.40±4.98)years old,body mass index(BMI)ranged from 18 to 29 kg·m-2 with an average of(23.02±2.21)kg·m-2.Thirty-seven routine high hip center technical reconstruction were performed as study group,including 5 males and 32 females,aged from 41 to 65 years old with an average of(57.31±5.42)years old,BMI ranged from 18 to 29 kg·m-2 with an average of(23.14±2.07)kg·m-2.The patients presented with hip pain,limited function and range of motion,and gait instability before surgery.All patients underwent THA,the control group underwent intraoperative anatomical hip center reconstruction,and the study group underwent intraoperative high hip joint reconstruction.The perioperative indicators of the two groups were com-pared.The hip joint function,balance function and gait of the patients were evaluated before surgery,3 months,6 months,and 12 months after surgery.The length difference of both lower limbs,horizontal distance of rotation center,vertical distance of ro-tation center and femoral eccentricity were measured before operation and 1 year after operation.The incidence of complica-tions in the two groups during the operation and postoperative follow-up was counted.Results The operation time of the study group was shorter than that of the control group,and the intraoperative blood loss was less than that of the control group(P<0.05).After 12-months follow-up,1 was lost to followvup in study group and 2 were lost to follow-up in control group.The Har-ris scores and Berg balance scale(BBS),pace,stride frequency and single step length in the study group were higher than those in the control group at 3 months and 6 months after operation(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the indexes 12 months after operation(P>0.05).The vertical distance of the center of rotation of the study group was greater than that of the control group 12 months after operation(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the length difference of the lower limbs,the horizontal distance of the center of rotation,and the femoral eccentricity between two groups(P>0.05).There were no complications in either group.Conclusion The long-term effects of TH A in patients with DDH and severe HO A were similar between the two central hip reconstruction methods,and the safety was good,and the high hip central reconstruction technique could shorten the operation time and reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss.At the same time,it has certain advantages in early recovery of hip joint function,balance function and walking function of patients.
5.Analysis of 45 cases of early interruption of dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention
Wei-Zhe XIAO ; Chuan-Qiang WANG ; Yang YANG ; Ke CHEN ; Jing LIU ; Wen-Liang XIAO
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2024;32(8):443-446
Objective To analyze the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in 45 patients who unexpectedly interrupted dual antiplatelet therapy(DAPT)within one month after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 4 876 patients who successfully underwent PCI and implanted one or more stents(excluding acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction,drug coated balloon or non-drug coated ballooon only,and oral anticoagulants)between January 1,2017 and December 31,2022 were selected as the study subjects.A total of 45 patients with unexpected interruption of DAPT within one month after PCI were analyzed,and their clinical outcomes were followed up.Results Among the 45 patients,there were 29 males and 16 females,aged 48-80(61.7+15.3)years.The reasons for interrupting DAPT include:35 cases of bleeding;3 cases of malignant tumor surgery(including 2 bleeding patients);5 cases of trauma;2 cases of hematological diseases;2 cases of self-interruption of DAPT.6 patients who received low-molecular-weight heparin replacement therapy during the discontinuation period did not experience stent thrombosis or other MACE.Among the 39 patients without antithrombotic replacement therapy,5 developed stent thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction(5/45,11.1%).Except for 1 patient who voluntarily stopped DAPT 2 weeks after PCI,the remaining 4 cases were those who with concurrent bleeding within 2 weeks after PCI.DAPT was stopped for more than 10 days,and stent thrombosis occurred on the 10th,11th,11th,and 13th days after DAPT was stopped.Among the 4 patients,2 patients developed acute left heart failure and 1 patient died.Another case died due to brainstem hemorrhage.Conclusions Premature interruption of DAPT after PCI has a high potential risk.Patients who stop taking medication earlier,for a longer duration,and without replacement therapy have a higher risk.
6.The Quantitative Evaluation of Automatic Segmentation in Lumbar Magnetic Resonance Images
Yao-Wen LIANG ; Yu-Ting FANG ; Ting-Chun LIN ; Cheng-Ru YANG ; Chih-Chang CHANG ; Hsuan-Kan CHANG ; Chin-Chu KO ; Tsung-Hsi TU ; Li-Yu FAY ; Jau-Ching WU ; Wen-Cheng HUANG ; Hsiang-Wei HU ; You-Yin CHEN ; Chao-Hung KUO
Neurospine 2024;21(2):665-675
Objective:
This study aims to overcome challenges in lumbar spine imaging, particularly lumbar spinal stenosis, by developing an automated segmentation model using advanced techniques. Traditional manual measurement and lesion detection methods are limited by subjectivity and inefficiency. The objective is to create an accurate and automated segmentation model that identifies anatomical structures in lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging scans.
Methods:
Leveraging a dataset of 539 lumbar spinal stenosis patients, the study utilizes the residual U-Net for semantic segmentation in sagittal and axial lumbar spine magnetic resonance images. The model, trained to recognize specific tissue categories, employs a geometry algorithm for anatomical structure quantification. Validation metrics, like Intersection over Union (IOU) and Dice coefficients, validate the residual U-Net’s segmentation accuracy. A novel rotation matrix approach is introduced for detecting bulging discs, assessing dural sac compression, and measuring yellow ligament thickness.
Results:
The residual U-Net achieves high precision in segmenting lumbar spine structures, with mean IOU values ranging from 0.82 to 0.93 across various tissue categories and views. The automated quantification system provides measurements for intervertebral disc dimensions, dural sac diameter, yellow ligament thickness, and disc hydration. Consistency between training and testing datasets assures the robustness of automated measurements.
Conclusion
Automated lumbar spine segmentation with residual U-Net and deep learning exhibits high precision in identifying anatomical structures, facilitating efficient quantification in lumbar spinal stenosis cases. The introduction of a rotation matrix enhances lesion detection, promising improved diagnostic accuracy, and supporting treatment decisions for lumbar spinal stenosis patients.
7.Effects of Shenxiao Jiedu Tongluo Recipe on AIM2-mediated pyroptosis of renal cells in a golden hamster model of diabetic nephropathy
Yu-Peng XIAO ; Ying-Jun DING ; Bao-Zhu DING ; Shu-Jie HOU ; Si-Yang LIU ; Zi-Wei ZHANG ; Xiao-Xia LI ; Wen-Jie LIANG ; Nan ZHANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(11):3603-3612
AIM To investigate the effects and mechanism of Shenxiao Jiedu Tongluo Recipe on renal AIM 2-mediated pyroptosis of a golden hamster model of diabetic nephropathy(DN).METHODS Fifty male golden hamsters of SPF grade were randomly divided into the control group and the model group.The golden hamsters of the model group successfully developed into DN models by feeding of high glucose and high fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of STZ were further randomly assigned into the model group,the enagliflozin group(10 mg/kg),and the low-dose and the high-dose Shenxiao Jiedu Tongluo Recipe groups(12.8,25.6 g/kg)for 8 weeks gavage of the corresponding administration.The golden hamsters had their levels of fasting blood glucose,24 h-UTP,serum TC,LDL-C,Scr,and Sur detected by automatic biochemical analyzer;their serum SOD activity and MDA level detected by biochemical method;their serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18,and TNF-α detected by ELISA method;their pathomorphological changes of kidney tissue observed by HE and PAS staining;their protein expressions of ROS and γH2AX detected by immunofluorescence or immunohistochemistry;and their renal protein expressions of AIM 2,caspase-1 and GSDMD detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the model group showed atrophic glomeruli;enlarged glomerular capsule cavity;mesangial expansion;edema and necrosis in the dilated renal tubules;increased levels of fasting blood glucose,24 h-UTP,serum TC,LDL-C,Scr,Sur,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,MDA and renal protein expressions of ROS,γH2AX,AIM2,caspase-1,GSDMD(P<0.01);and decreased serum SOD activity(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the high-dose Shenxiao Jiedu Tongluo Recipe group and the enagliflozin group displayed improved renal histopathology,decreased levels of 24 h-UTP,serum TC,LDL-C,Scr,Sur,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,MDA and renal protein expressions of ROS,γH2AX,AIM2,caspase-1,GSDMD(P<0.05,P<0.01);and increased serum SOD activity(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Shenxiao Jiedu Tongluo Recipe can inhibit AIM 2-mediated cell death and alleviate renal inflammatory damage in golden hamsters by inhibiting their expression of ROS-dsDNA-AIM 2 signal pathway to attain reduction of their renal ROS level,DNA damage of renal intrinsic cells,and synthesis of AIM 2 inflammatory corpuscles as well.
8.Effects of early debridement and conservative eschar removal followed by wound coverage with acellular dermal matrix in the treatment of children with deep burns
Yan LIANG ; Wen SHI ; Yang SHAO ; Xinzhuang LIU ; Hongmin GONG ; Guohui CAO ; Cong GAO ; Naijun XIN ; Guodong SONG
Chinese Journal of Burns 2024;40(4):348-357
Objective:To explore the effects of early debridement and conservative eschar removal followed by wound coverage with acellular dermal matrix (ADM), i.e., early surgery, in the treatment of children with deep burns.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. From January 2017 to December 2022, 278 deep burned hospitalized children aged 1-7 years who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University. According to the differences in treatment processes, 134 children who underwent early surgery+routine dressing change were enrolled in eschar removal+dressing change group (77 males and 57 females, aged 1 (1, 2) years), and 144 children who underwent only routine dressing change were enrolled in dressing change alone group (90 males and 54 females, aged 1 (1, 2) years). Fifty-one children without full-thickness burns in eschar removal+dressing change group were enrolled in eschar removal+dressing change group 1 (26 males and 25 females, aged 1 (1, 2) years), and 57 cases of the 83 children with full-thickness burns who did not undergo autologous skin grafting at the same time of early surgery (namely early skin grafting) in eschar removal+dressing change group were included in eschar removal+dressing change group 2 (37 males and 20 females, aged 1 (1, 2) years). Seventy-six children without full-thickness burns in dressing change alone group were included in dressing change alone group 1 (51 males and 25 females, aged 1 (1, 3) years), and 68 children with full-thickness burns in dressing change alone group were included in dressing change alone group 2 (39 males and 29 females, aged 1 (1, 2) years). For deep partial-thickness burn wounds and small full-thickness burn wounds in eschar removal+dressing change group, the eschar removal was performed on the basis of retaining a thin layer of denatured dermis so as to preserve the healthy tissue of the wound base, and ADM was applied to all wounds externally after eschar removal. For larger full-thickness burn wounds in this group, especially those located in the functional part of joints, eschar removal to the plane layer of viable tissue and early autologous skin grafting was needed. When the superficial wounds of children healed or tended to heal, the residual wounds were evaluated, and elective autologous skin grafting was performed if it was difficult to heal within 14 days. The healing time, intervention healing time, times of operation/dressing change, and times of intervention operation/dressing change in children with deep partial-thickness burn wounds of children in eschar removal+dressing change group, dressing change alone group, eschar removal+dressing change group 1, and dressing change alone group 1 were recorded. At the last follow-up (follow-up period was set to 7-12 months), the modified Vancouver scar scale (mVSS) scores of the most severe area of scar hyperplasia of healed deep partial-thickness burn wounds of 54 children in eschar removal+dressing change group and 48 children in dressing change alone group were recorded. The healing time and times of operation/dressing change of all burn wounds of children in eschar removal+dressing change group and dressing change alone group, and the healing time and times of operation/dressing change of full-thickness burn wounds of children in eschar removal+dressing change group 2 and dressing change alone group 2 were recorded. The incidences of wound infection, sepsis, fever, and fever after 5 days of burns in children of eschar removal+dressing change group and dressing change alone group during wound healing.Results:Compared with those in dressing change alone group, the healing time and intervention healing time were significantly shortened, and the times of operation/dressing change and times of intervention operation/dressing change were significantly reduced in children with deep partial-thickness burn wounds in eschar removal+dressing change group (with Z values of -11.00, -11.33, -12.64, and -11.65, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in dressing change alone group 1, the healing time and intervention healing time were significantly shortened, and the times of operation/dressing change and times of intervention operation/dressing change were significantly reduced in children with deep partial-thickness burn wounds in eschar removal+dressing change group 1 (with Z values of 6.57, 6.46, 8.04, and 6.57, respectively, P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the mVSS score of the most severe scar hyperplasia area of healed deep partial-thickness burn wounds of 54 children in eschar removal+dressing change group was 4.00 (3.00,5.00), which was significantly lower than 6.50 (5.00,7.00) of 48 children in dressing change alone group ( Z =-4.67, P<0.05).Compared with those in dressing change alone group, the healing time was significantly shortened, and times of operation/dressing change was significantly reduced in all burn wounds in eschar removal+dressing change group (with Z values of -5.20 and -6.34, respectively, P<0.05). Compared with those in dressing change alone group 2, the healing time was significantly shortened, and times of operation/dressing change was significantly reduced in full-thickness burn wounds in eschar removal+dressing change group 2 (with Z values of -5.22 and -5.73, respectively, P<0.05). During wound healing, the probabilities of fever and fever after 5 days of burns in children of eschar removal+dressing change group were significantly lower than those in dressing change alone group (with χ2 values of 4.13 and 3.91, respectively, P<0.05); only 1 child in dressing change alone group developed sepsis, and there was no statistically significant difference in the wound infection rate of children in the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:For children with deep burns, early surgery, and early skin grafting or elective autologous skin grafting as needed, have better short-term and long-term effects than those without early surgery.
9.Effects and mechanism of baicalin on wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic mice
Yan SHI ; Liang YI ; Weiqiang ZHANG ; Nike LIU ; Huicai WEN ; Ronghua YANG
Chinese Journal of Burns 2024;40(11):1085-1094
Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of baicalin on the wound healing of full-thickness skin defects in diabetic mice.Methods:This study was an experimental research. Mononuclear cells were isolated from five male C57BL/6J mice aged 8-12 weeks and induced to differentiate into macrophages for conducting the subsequent experiments. According to the random number table (the same grouping method below), macrophages in a high-glucose environment were divided into 0 μmol/L baicalin group (no baicalin was added), 5 μmol/L baicalin group, 15 μmol/L baicalin group, 25 μmol/L baicalin group, 50 μmol/L baicalin group, and 75 μmol/L baicalin group treated with the corresponding final molarity of baicalin and 1 μg/mL endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After treatment for 48 hours, the cell proliferation activity was detected using a microplate reader. Macrophages in a high-glucose environment were divided into LPS group treated with 1 μg/mL LPS and LPS+baicalin group treated with 50 μmol/L baicalin+1 μg/mL LPS. After treatment for 48 hours, the percentage of double-positive cells for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and CD80, as well as that for arginase 1 (Arg1) and CD206 among the cells, were detected using immunofluorescence method, the secretion levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-23, IL-10, insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1) by the cells were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the expression of reactive oxygen species in the cells was detected using a fluorescent probe method, the protein expression of nuclear factor κB in the cells were detected using Western blotting, and the expression of nuclear factor 2 in the cells was observed using immunofluorescence method. The number of cell experimental samples was 3. Twenty-four 8-week-old male db/db mice were selected. After preparing full-thickness skin defect wounds on their backs, they were divided into baicalin group and normal saline group (with 12 mice in each group). On the third day after injury, 50 μmol/L baicalin and normal saline were injected into the wounds of mice, respectively. The wound healing situation was observed and the percentage of the residual wound area was calculated on the 4 th, 8 th, and 12 th day after injury. The wound tissue was sampled on the 8 th day after injury, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the epithelial regeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration, the protein expression of CD31 was detected by Western blotting, and the expression of reactive oxygen species was detected by a microplate reader. The number of animal experimental samples was 6. Results:After treatment for 48 hours, only the proliferation activity of macrophages in 50 μmol/L baicalin group was significantly higher than that in 0 μmol/L baicalin group ( P<0.05). After treatment for 48 hours, the percentage of double-positive cells for iNOS and CD80 among the macrophages in LPS+baicalin group was (21.0±2.4)%, which was significantly lower than (66.6±4.5)% in LPS group ( t=15.63, P<0.05); the percentage of double-positive cells for Arg1 and CD206 among the macrophages in LPS+baicalin group was (59.1±2.1)%, which was significantly higher than (18.6±1.7)% in LPS group ( t=25.38, P<0.05); compared with those in LPS group, the secretion levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-23 by the macrophages in LPS+baicalin group were significantly decreased (with t values of 14.26, 15.95, and 12.23, respectively, P<0.05), while the secretion levels of IL-10, IGF, and TGF-β 1 were significantly increased (with t values of 8.49, 11.98, and 13.84, respectively, P<0.05); the expression of reactive oxygen species in the macrophages in LPS+baicalin group was significantly lower than that in LPS group ( t=5.54, P<0.05); compared with those in LPS group, the protein expression of nuclear factor κB in the nucleus of the macrophages in LPS+baicalin group was significantly decreased ( t=36.22, P<0.05), while that in the cytoplasm was significantly increased ( t=14.47, P<0.05), and the expression of nuclear factor 2 in the nucleus was increased. On the 4 th and 8 th day after injury, the wound area of mice in baicalin group was significantly smaller than that in normal saline group, and the wounds of mice in baicalin group completely healed on the 12 th day after injury. On the 4 th, 8 th, and 12 th day after injury, the residual wound area percentage of mice in baicalin group was significantly lower than that in normal saline group (with t values of 13.29, 10.08, and 11.72, respectively, P<0.05). On the 8 th day after injury, compared with those in normal saline group, the wound tissue of mice in baicalin group showed significant re-epithelization, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was reduced, the expression of CD31 protein was significantly increased ( t=17.23, P<0.05), and the expression of reactive oxygen species was significantly reduced ( t=5.78, P<0.05). Conclusions:Baicalin alleviates the inflammatory response of macrophages by lowering the level of reactive oxygen species in cells and promoting the polarization of macrophages to the M2 type, thereby facilitating the healing of full-thickness skin defect wounds in diabetic mice.
10.The Quantitative Evaluation of Automatic Segmentation in Lumbar Magnetic Resonance Images
Yao-Wen LIANG ; Yu-Ting FANG ; Ting-Chun LIN ; Cheng-Ru YANG ; Chih-Chang CHANG ; Hsuan-Kan CHANG ; Chin-Chu KO ; Tsung-Hsi TU ; Li-Yu FAY ; Jau-Ching WU ; Wen-Cheng HUANG ; Hsiang-Wei HU ; You-Yin CHEN ; Chao-Hung KUO
Neurospine 2024;21(2):665-675
Objective:
This study aims to overcome challenges in lumbar spine imaging, particularly lumbar spinal stenosis, by developing an automated segmentation model using advanced techniques. Traditional manual measurement and lesion detection methods are limited by subjectivity and inefficiency. The objective is to create an accurate and automated segmentation model that identifies anatomical structures in lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging scans.
Methods:
Leveraging a dataset of 539 lumbar spinal stenosis patients, the study utilizes the residual U-Net for semantic segmentation in sagittal and axial lumbar spine magnetic resonance images. The model, trained to recognize specific tissue categories, employs a geometry algorithm for anatomical structure quantification. Validation metrics, like Intersection over Union (IOU) and Dice coefficients, validate the residual U-Net’s segmentation accuracy. A novel rotation matrix approach is introduced for detecting bulging discs, assessing dural sac compression, and measuring yellow ligament thickness.
Results:
The residual U-Net achieves high precision in segmenting lumbar spine structures, with mean IOU values ranging from 0.82 to 0.93 across various tissue categories and views. The automated quantification system provides measurements for intervertebral disc dimensions, dural sac diameter, yellow ligament thickness, and disc hydration. Consistency between training and testing datasets assures the robustness of automated measurements.
Conclusion
Automated lumbar spine segmentation with residual U-Net and deep learning exhibits high precision in identifying anatomical structures, facilitating efficient quantification in lumbar spinal stenosis cases. The introduction of a rotation matrix enhances lesion detection, promising improved diagnostic accuracy, and supporting treatment decisions for lumbar spinal stenosis patients.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail