Objective:To investigate the brain iron status in the sensorimotor cortex of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and its relationship with changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-two patients with CLBP (CLBP group) who were treated at Wuxi People′s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from July 2023 to March 2024 and 30 age-and gender-matched healthy volunteers (control group) were prospectively included. All subjects underwent pain and neuropsychological assessments and head MRI examinations, including conventional sequences, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI. QSM values of the sensorimotor cortex and the left middle frontal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus, right olfactory cortex, and right posterior cingulate gyrus were extracted using the ANTs toolkit. The bilateral postcentral gyrus and posterior portion of the bilateral precentral gyrus in the sensorimotor cortex were selected as seed points using SPM software to extract the average time series of BOLD signals and evaluate the changes in RS-FC values with other brain regions. Two-sample t-tests were used to compare the differences in QSM values and RS-FC values between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between iron deposition in key brain regions and RS-FC values and clinical scale scores. Results:The QSM values in the posterior portion of the bilateral precentral gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus in the CLBP group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=2.17, P=0.009; t=4.44, P<0.001), and the QSM value in the left postcentral gyrus was positively correlated with pain-related scale scores ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the QSM values in the left orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus ( t=2.22, P=0.031) and the right inferior temporal gyrus ( t=2.98, P=0.004) were increased, while the QSM values in the right olfactory cortex ( t=2.54, P=0.014) and the right posterior cingulate gyrus ( t=2.70, P=0.009) were decreased in the CLBP group. Compared with the control group, the RS-FC values between the left postcentral gyrus, the posterior part of the bilateral precentral gyrus, and the left superior frontal gyrus were increased in the CLBP group ( P<0.001), the RS-FC value between the right postcentral gyrus and the right precuneus was increased ( P<0.001). The RS-FC of the bilateral motor cortex and the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the QSM values of the bilateral motor cortex ( r=0.444, P=0.015). Conclusion:Iron deposition in the sensorimotor cortex (posterior portion of the bilateral precentral gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus) is increased in CLBP patients and is correlated with abnormal functional connectivity within and between brain regions.

OBJECTIVE Liver transplantation is an important mean for treatment of the children with end-stage liv-er disease,but the postoperative infections remain a major and potentially fatal complication.Due to the unique physiological and immunological characteristics of the children,the types and risk factors for the postoperative in-fections differ from those in adults.This review summarizes the current status of research on the postoperative in-fections among the liver transplantation children in recent years and focuses on the major risk factors such as pre-operative state,intraoperative procedures,immunosuppression and postoperative management.The prevention and control strategies were put forward to reduce the risk of infection and raise the rate of successful transplanta-tion by optimizing the assessment and strengthening perioperative management,individualized immunization strat-egies and multidisciplinary collaboration.

OBJECTIVE Liver transplantation is an important mean for treatment of the children with end-stage liv-er disease,but the postoperative infections remain a major and potentially fatal complication.Due to the unique physiological and immunological characteristics of the children,the types and risk factors for the postoperative in-fections differ from those in adults.This review summarizes the current status of research on the postoperative in-fections among the liver transplantation children in recent years and focuses on the major risk factors such as pre-operative state,intraoperative procedures,immunosuppression and postoperative management.The prevention and control strategies were put forward to reduce the risk of infection and raise the rate of successful transplanta-tion by optimizing the assessment and strengthening perioperative management,individualized immunization strat-egies and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Objective:To investigate the brain iron status in the sensorimotor cortex of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and its relationship with changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-two patients with CLBP (CLBP group) who were treated at Wuxi People′s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from July 2023 to March 2024 and 30 age-and gender-matched healthy volunteers (control group) were prospectively included. All subjects underwent pain and neuropsychological assessments and head MRI examinations, including conventional sequences, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI. QSM values of the sensorimotor cortex and the left middle frontal gyrus, right inferior temporal gyrus, right olfactory cortex, and right posterior cingulate gyrus were extracted using the ANTs toolkit. The bilateral postcentral gyrus and posterior portion of the bilateral precentral gyrus in the sensorimotor cortex were selected as seed points using SPM software to extract the average time series of BOLD signals and evaluate the changes in RS-FC values with other brain regions. Two-sample t-tests were used to compare the differences in QSM values and RS-FC values between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between iron deposition in key brain regions and RS-FC values and clinical scale scores. Results:The QSM values in the posterior portion of the bilateral precentral gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus in the CLBP group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( t=2.17, P=0.009; t=4.44, P<0.001), and the QSM value in the left postcentral gyrus was positively correlated with pain-related scale scores ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the QSM values in the left orbital part of the middle frontal gyrus ( t=2.22, P=0.031) and the right inferior temporal gyrus ( t=2.98, P=0.004) were increased, while the QSM values in the right olfactory cortex ( t=2.54, P=0.014) and the right posterior cingulate gyrus ( t=2.70, P=0.009) were decreased in the CLBP group. Compared with the control group, the RS-FC values between the left postcentral gyrus, the posterior part of the bilateral precentral gyrus, and the left superior frontal gyrus were increased in the CLBP group ( P<0.001), the RS-FC value between the right postcentral gyrus and the right precuneus was increased ( P<0.001). The RS-FC of the bilateral motor cortex and the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the QSM values of the bilateral motor cortex ( r=0.444, P=0.015). Conclusion:Iron deposition in the sensorimotor cortex (posterior portion of the bilateral precentral gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus) is increased in CLBP patients and is correlated with abnormal functional connectivity within and between brain regions.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for variety breeding,high yield and high quality cultivation of Momordica cochi-nchinensis. METHODS:Based on Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition,Vol Ⅰ),HPLC for determining the content of gyp-sogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchinensis was optimized,the contents of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchinensis from 14 production places of 8 provinces were compared,and cluster analysis was conduct-ed. Correlation of longitude,latitude and altitude with content of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchi-nensis was analyzed by SPSS17.0 software. RESULTS:Gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchinensis showed good linear relationship in 0.05-0.5 mg/mL,regression equation was Y=4361.95X+67.3808(R2=0.9997);the limits of quantification and detection were 15.62 ng and 4.67 ng,respectively. Average recovery was 99.76%(RSD=1.36%,n=9). The content of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchinensis from 14 production places of 8 provinces had ex-tremely significant differences(P<0.01). Clustering analysis results indicated that M. cochinchinensis from 14 production places of 8 provinces were divided into Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ groups. Contents of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochi-nchinensis of Ⅲ,Ⅳ groups were relatively high,including Guangxi Pingnan,Guizhou Jiangkou,Guizhou Dejiang,Fujian Jian-yang and Hunan Huitong,in which,Guangxi Pingnan,Guizhou Jiangkou,Guizhou Dejiang and Hunan Huitong had high altitude and low latitude,Fujian Jianyang had high altitude. The content of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochi-nchinensis was positively correlated with altitude,while negatively correlated with longitude and latitude. CONCLUSIONS:HPLC is simple,accurate and reproducible for determining the content of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochi-nchinensis,and the determined contents of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchinensis from 14 produc-tion places of 8 provinces have reached the standard of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition,Vol Ⅰ). Cultivation in Guangxi Pingnan,Guizhou Jiangkou,Guizhou Dejiang,Hunan Huitong and other areas with high altitude and low latitude helps to improve the content accumulation of gypsogenin 3-O-β-D-glucuronic acid methyl ester in M. cochinchinensis.

Objective To make a conclusion about the methods and main points of surgical position for cervical artificial disc replacement (CADR). Methods We collected the data from January to December 2015 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. It included 102 patients in the surgical group of cervical spine, which were cervical vertebra degeneration and doing CADR according to the segment, quantity of the replacement and whether belonged to hybrid surgical method, then we analyzed and determined how to achieve the desired surgical position. Results The surgical positions of the patients in this group all conformed to the requirements of the replacement and gave intraoperative excellent exposure and less blood loss, made the vision of decompression clear and thorough, made the position of replacement prosthesis great. There were no postoperative complications. The patients all healed and were discharged in 5 to 7 days after operation. There was no position offset of prosthesis and no extrusion in the following 6 to 18 months. It restored the ideal physiological lordosis of the cervical spine. Conclusions According to the different segment of the replacement, we analyze and remain the location of the preoperative cervical spinal neutrality and a bit of extension which make the artificial cervical disc in favor of being well placed during an operation and promote cervical spine to maintain normal physiological lordosis during early post-operation, and greatly reduce the incidence of postoperative pain of neck and shoulder.

Objective Metabolomics and radioimmunoassay technologies were used to analyze the effects of acceleration exposure on the levels of human serum metabolites , stress-related hormones and such gastrointestinal regulatory factors as resistin and leptin , so as to provide new scientific evidence for the mechanism of gastrointestinal symptoms in motion sickness .Methods Sixty volunteers were recruited and exposed to abnormal acceleration for 15 minutes by using a 6-degree-of-freedom ship motion simulator .The severity of motion sickness was measured by Graybiel Scale; gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry ( GC-TOF/MS ) was used to detect serum metabolites in the human subjects; serum glucocorticoid, adrenaline, arginine vasopressin ( AVP ), insulin, resistin and leptin were detected by radioimmunoassay and ELISA .Results ( 1 ) The incidence of motion sickness was 72%.( 2 ) Acceleration exposure could induce significant changes in the levels of serum metabolites in the subjects , of which glucose and N-dodecanoic acid levels were significantly higher than those before exposure , while L-serine and L-threonine levels were significantly decreased after exposure (P<0.05).(3) Acceleration exposure could cause decrease in the level of serum insulin [ (21.03 ±6.78) mIU/L before exposure,(14.97 ±2.94)mIU/L after exposure], and increase in the level of glucagon , glucocorticoid, epinephrine and arginine vasopressin (AVP) [ (18.06 ±5.72)ng/L,(212.88 ±61.37)μg/L,(88.41 ±35.72)ng/L and(10.80 ±7.30)ng/L before exposure;(20.40 ±5.48)ng/L,(293.34 ±50.91)μg/L,(132.83 ±67.25 )ng/L and(51.35 ±8.24)ng/L after exposure] respectively(P<0.05 or P<0.001).(4) Acceleration exposure could also decrease the levels of gastric inhibitory peptide ( GIP), leptin,resistin, but increase the level of ghrelin [ (170.34 ±82.64) nmol/L,(744.03 ±438.46)μg/L,(6687.96 ±3289.18)μg/L and (136.43 ±74.75) ng/L before exposure;(41.05 ±17.91) nmol/L,(409.95 ±347.95)μg/L,(2615.56 ±1345.61)μg/L and (210.85 ±109.01) ng/L after exposure] respectively(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions Our study indicated that stress could be induced by acceleration exposure , resulting in significant changes in the levels of stress-related hormones and gastrointestinal regulatory factors , as well as serum metabolites .

Objective Metabolomics and radioimmunoassay technologies were used to analyze the effects of acceleration exposure on the levels of human serum metabolites , stress-related hormones and such gastrointestinal regulatory factors as resistin and leptin , so as to provide new scientific evidence for the mechanism of gastrointestinal symptoms in motion sickness .Methods Sixty volunteers were recruited and exposed to abnormal acceleration for 15 minutes by using a 6-degree-of-freedom ship motion simulator .The severity of motion sickness was measured by Graybiel Scale; gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry ( GC-TOF/MS ) was used to detect serum metabolites in the human subjects; serum glucocorticoid, adrenaline, arginine vasopressin ( AVP ), insulin, resistin and leptin were detected by radioimmunoassay and ELISA .Results ( 1 ) The incidence of motion sickness was 72%.( 2 ) Acceleration exposure could induce significant changes in the levels of serum metabolites in the subjects , of which glucose and N-dodecanoic acid levels were significantly higher than those before exposure , while L-serine and L-threonine levels were significantly decreased after exposure (P<0.05).(3) Acceleration exposure could cause decrease in the level of serum insulin [ (21.03 ±6.78) mIU/L before exposure,(14.97 ±2.94)mIU/L after exposure], and increase in the level of glucagon , glucocorticoid, epinephrine and arginine vasopressin (AVP) [ (18.06 ±5.72)ng/L,(212.88 ±61.37)μg/L,(88.41 ±35.72)ng/L and(10.80 ±7.30)ng/L before exposure;(20.40 ±5.48)ng/L,(293.34 ±50.91)μg/L,(132.83 ±67.25 )ng/L and(51.35 ±8.24)ng/L after exposure] respectively(P<0.05 or P<0.001).(4) Acceleration exposure could also decrease the levels of gastric inhibitory peptide ( GIP), leptin,resistin, but increase the level of ghrelin [ (170.34 ±82.64) nmol/L,(744.03 ±438.46)μg/L,(6687.96 ±3289.18)μg/L and (136.43 ±74.75) ng/L before exposure;(41.05 ±17.91) nmol/L,(409.95 ±347.95)μg/L,(2615.56 ±1345.61)μg/L and (210.85 ±109.01) ng/L after exposure] respectively(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions Our study indicated that stress could be induced by acceleration exposure , resulting in significant changes in the levels of stress-related hormones and gastrointestinal regulatory factors , as well as serum metabolites .

Mitral valve disease is one of the most popular heart valve diseases. Precise positioning and displaying of the valve characteristics is necessary for the minimally invasive mitral valve repairing procedures. This paper presents a multi-resolution elastic registration method to compute the deformation functions constructed from cubic B-splines in three dimensional ultrasound images, in which the objective functional to be optimized was generated by maximum likelihood method based on the probabilistic distribution of the ultrasound speckle noise. The algorithm was then applied to register the mitral valve voxels. Numerical results proved the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Algorithms ; Heart Valve Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Likelihood Functions ; Mitral Valve ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Patient Positioning ; Probability ; Ultrasonography