Objective:To propose a model that could improve image quality of cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT),which based on region-discriminative generative adversarial networks(GAN),in radiotherapy for cervical cancer,so as to meet the requirements of self-adaptive radiotherapy for image quality.Methods:We employed a region-discriminative strategy and a generative adversarial networks idea to construct a model of improving CBCT image quality that could focus on local details of the images of radiotherapy for cervical cancer,which discriminator could improve the quality of generating local details of images.This model of image quality was applied to CBCT images of radiotherapy for cervical cancer.And then,the effects of processing image were evaluated through quantitative indicators and visualization.Results:Both texture clarity and contrast were significantly enhanced after CBCT image quality was improved.The signal to noise ratio of peak value of images was increased by 47.2%,and the indicator of similarity of structure was enhanced to>0.838.Compared with other model,both visualization and indicators can appear better efficiency of model.Compared with Unet network and CycleGAN network,the similarities of structure were respectively increased by 11.88% and 19.54%,and the signal to noise ratios were respectively increased by 19.75% and 25.99%.Conclusion:The GAN bases on region-discrimination can significantly improve the quality of generating integral and detailed CBCT image of radiotherapy for cervical cancer,which can provide new technical pathway for image quality of CBCT with low dose,and can play an important role for improving safety and effectiveness of radiotherapy.It has importantly clinical value for formulating and executing radiotherapy plan.

The skull, surrounding the brain parenchyma, plays a role of protection and support. With the in-depth study of the interface of the central nervous system, ossified vascular channels connecting the dura and the skull bone marrow for cells traffic have been found, and the neuroimmune function of the skull has been gradually paid attention to. Here, this review will introduce the anatomy and immune function of the skull bone marrow, and then explore its changes during health and disease. It will further highlight the role of the skull bone marrow in neurological diseases such as stroke, glioblastoma, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective:To develop a machine learning algorithm based on habitat imaging(HI),which can be used in the grading of gliomas by using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),so as to construct the model of support vector machine(SVM)and the visualized heterogeneous regions of gliomas.Methods:A total of 335 glioma patients were collected from the 2019 brain tumor segmentation(BraTS)challenge competition of World Health Organization(WHO),which included 259 cases with high-grade gliomas(HGG)and 76 cases with low-grade gliomas(LGG).Subregions were divided based on HI technology.The PyRadiomics open-source package was used to extract the image features of region of interest(ROI),and to screen the features that stronger correlated with the high and low-grade gliomas.An SVM model was used to classify and predict the screened feature data.The heterogeneity of gliomas in images was analyzed through visualized characterization.The efficacy of glioma grading was assessed by using the area under curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:The AUC of test set exceeded 90%.The average accuracy of the performance indicators of test set was(92.74±2.88)%,and the average sensitivity was(93.90±2.10)%,and the average specificity was(90.36±4.59)%,and the average F1 score was(95.24±0.66)%when the tumors were divided into six habitat regions.The SVM model could showed important sub-regions in glioma grading in three-dimensional space.Conclusion:The study method based on HI has significant advantages in glioma grading,which can effectively realize visualized heterogeneity of tumor and construct model of the heterogeneity of tumor.

Dura mater, rich in vasculature and immune cells, is the outermost layer of the central nervous system, and thus acts as the first barrier to protect brain. Meningeal lymphatic vessels and immune cells are main components of dural immunity, which respond to a variety of central nervous system diseases. Meanwhile, compared with brain parenchyma, dura mater communicates more with peripheral tissues and is more susceptible to medical interventions. Therefore, dura mater is a promising target to prevent, diagnose and treat intracranial diseases. Here dural immunity is clarified based on meningeal lymphatic vessels and dural immune cells, and current researches inquiring the role of dural immunity in infectious and immune diseases of central nervous system are summarized.

Objective:To explore whether working memory span training can expand working memory capacity.Methods:A randomized controlled trial design was adopted and a total of 60 healthy college students were recruited and randomly divided into training group ( n=30, receiving adaptive training of spatial breadth task) and control group ( n=30, receiving non-adaptive training of low difficulty spatial breadth task). The cognitive behavior and event-related potential (ERP) data of all subjects when completing the change awareness task were collected before and after training.The SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. The differences between the training group and the control group before and after training were compared by repeated measurement analysis of variance. Results:Repeated measurement ANOVA showed that there were significant time and group interactions at the levels of cognitive behavior(K score, F=5.352, P=0.025) and ERP (CDA, F=4.644, P=0.037) levels. Further post test found that compared with pre-training (pre-test), the K-score ((0.51±0.93), (1.61±1.07), F=26.81, P<0.001) and CDA ((-1.49±1.07)μV, (-2.03±0.94)μV, F=4.731, P=0.041) of the training group increased significantly after training (post-test), and there was no significant difference in K-score and CDA of the control group before and after training (boh P>0.05). Conclusion:Working memory span task can be used as an effective training paradigm to improve working memory capacity.

Objective:To construct a Nomogram model in predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) at six months, one year and two years after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection by using inflammatory markers combined with other routine clinical indicators.Methods:The data of 314 patients with HCC who underwent first time hepatectomy at Beijing Chaoyang Emergency Rescue Center and Air Force Characteristic Medical Center from January 2013 to January 2018 were analyzed. HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy at the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2011 to January 2016 ( n=106) were used as the external validation group. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze independent risk factors of recurrence and death in HCC patients. A Nomogram model was constructed based on independent risk factors. Validation of the efficacy of the Nomogram model was done based on external data. Results:In the experimental group, 174 patients relapsed. The median RFS was 26 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years RFS were 26.8%, 43.9%, and 68.8%, respectively. A total of 142 patients had died. The median survival time was 30 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years OS were 5.9%, 23.6% and 63.1%, respectively. In the external validation group, 63 patients had developed recurrence, with a median RFS time of 28 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years RFS were 26.4%, 45.3%, 54.7%, respectively. The median survival time was 31 months. The 6 months, 1 year and 2 years OS were 7.5%, 25.5%, 46.6%, respectively. Tumor size (>6.0 cm, HR: 1.447), vascular invasion ( HR: 1.408), TBil (>0.94 mg/dl, HR: 1.949), NLR (>2.54, HR: 2.843), AGR (≤0.88, HR: 2.447) were independent risk factors of HCC recurrence ( P<0.05). Tumor size (>6.0 cm, HR: 2.207), vascular invasion ( HR: 1.529), and NLR (>2.54, HR: 2.708) were independent risk factors of death for HCC patients ( P<0.05). The C-indexes of half-year, one-year and two-year RFS were 0.764 (95% CI: 0.677-0.854), 0.710 (95% CI: 0.615-0.824) and 0.673 (95% CI: 0.601-0.786), respectively. The C-indexes of half-year OS, one-year OS and two-year OS were 0.729 (95% CI: 0.648-0.841), 0.708 (95% CI: 0.608-0.813) and 0.664 (95% CI: 0.618-0.771), respectively. Conclusion:In this study, the construction of a Nomogram model in predicting prognosis of HCC patients was helpful to guide clinicians in improving preoperative treatment plans and in providing ideas for individualized treatment of patients.

Objective To evaluate the application of a self-designed handy body position scaffold in the fluoroscopy for lower limb surgery.Methods We reviewed the intraoperative X-ray films of 161 patients with lower limb fracture who had undergone intraoperative fluoroscopy using our self-made handy body position scaffold during surgery from October 2013 to May 2017.They were 105 males and 56 females,aged from 10 to 91 years (mean,39.7 years).There were 42 femoral fractures of middle or lower shaft,12 fractures of medial or lateral condyle or tibial plateau,96 tibiofibular fractures,7 ankle fractures and 4 foot fractures.The operation time,intraoperative fluoroscopy time,intraoperative bleeding,rate and time of fracture union,and complications were recorded.Results All the 161 patients completed intraoperative fluoroscopy and radiography uneventfully,indicating that the handy body position scaffold effectively maintained the body position of the affected ipsilateral lower limb.The body position scaffold was slightly deviated due to one overweight (121 kg) patient when the knee joint was flexed 90°,but the fluoroscopy and radiography was completed after adjustment of the C-arm roentgenographic machine.The operation time averaged 71.5 minutes (from 28 to 119 minutes),the X-ray exposure time 9.8 seconds (from 6 to 31 seconds),and the intraoperative bleeding 157.2 mL (from 80 to 500 mL).The 161 patients obtained follow-up for 5 to 22 months (average,14.1 months).The rate of primary union was 97.5％ (157/161).The time for fracture union averaged 8.8 weeks (from 4 to 17 weeks).Fracture nonunion occurred in one case,and delayed union in 3 cases.The final follow-ups revealed normal functional recovery of the affected knees and ankles,but no limb shortening,or no rotational,lateral or anteroposterior angulation deformity.Conclusion In the lower limb surgery,the intraoperative fluoroscopy can be completed better with the aid of our self-designed handy body position scaffold that prevents movement of the affected lower limb and lowers the risk of radiation exposure.

Objective To explore CT,MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT features of splenic lymphangioma.Methods A retrospective analysis of 18 pathology proved splenic lymphangioma cases was made,including their clinical,imaging characteristics and pathological findings.15 cases with plain and enhanced CT scan,6 cases with plain and enhanced MRI scan and 1 case with 18F-FDG PET/CT examination.Results (1) 13 cases were single lesion,4 cases were multiple lesions and 1 case was lymphangiomatosis.The largest diameter was 15.8 cm,minimum diameter was less than 1.0 cm.(2) On CT imaging:cystic watery density and equal density interval was showed in 12 cases,in 3 cases as solid and slightly were showed lower density.Calcification was showed in 3 cases.On enhanced CT,internal septa was slightly enhanced and progressive inhomogeneous enhancement was shown in 3 cases.(3) On MRI imaging:cystic content was manifested as low signal on T1WI and high or highlight signal on T2WI,and there was a difference between the lesion and the splenic tissue on DWI.(4) One case underwent PET/CT imaging:18F-FDG uptake was not increased.Conclusions Preoperative CT,MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT help establish a tentative diagnosis of splenic lymphangioma while final diagnosis relies on pathological examination.

AIM:R-spondin 2 (Rspo2), one member of R-spondin family which contains four secreted proteins , plays an important role in skeletal muscle development .However, the impact of Rspo2 on vascular smooth muscle cell ( SMC) differentiation is little known . This study aims at revealing the role and mechanism of Rspo 2 on SMC differentiation from embryonic stem cells (ESCs).METHODS:A well-established model for studying SMC differentiation from ESCs were used , in which mouse embryonic stem cells ( ES-D3) were seeded on collagen IV-coated flasks and cultured in differentiation medium (DM) for 2, 4, 6 and 8 days.Smooth muscle specific markers, includingα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), SM22 and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC), were detected to in-sure the successful model by qRT-PCR and Western blot .After 3-day pre-differentiation, ESCs were treated with recombinant Rspo 2 protein, overexpression plasmid or shRNA plasmid for 96 h, and the mRNA and protein expression of smooth muscle markers was detected.To explore the role of Rspo2 on SMC differentiation in vivo, 3-day predifferentiated ESCs (106 in 50μLα-MEM) incubated with Rspo2-overexpression plasmid were mixed with 50 μL of Matrigel ( Becton Dickinson Labware ) and then subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6J mice.After 12 days, mice were sacrificed and the implants were harvested for immunofluorescence staining , qRT-PCR and Western blot.Furthermore, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) and lucif-erase reporter assay were performed to investigate the transcriptional activity of SMC differentiation related transcription factors , inclu-ding serum response factor (SRF), myocardin (MYO), myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C (MEF-2C).Involvement of Rspo2 re-ceptor, leucine-rich repeat-containing, G-protein-coupled receptors (Lgr)4,5,6, and β-catenin pathway during Rspo2-induced MSC differentiation were also uncovered by overexpression or inhibition of the respective protein .RESULTS:Our results showed that Rspo 2 mRNA and protein expression was significantly and consistently increased during ESC differentiation towards SMCs .Recombinant Rs-po2 protein and enforced Rspo 2 expression in ESCs resulted in up-regulation of smooth muscle markers and transcription factors , while knockdown decreased the expression of these genes .Expectedly , Rspo2 overexpression also promotes SMC differentiation in vivo.
Mechanistically , our data showed that Rspo 2 could promote SRF binding to SM22 promoter region .Evidence also revealed that one of three Rspo2 receptors, LGR5, was up-regulated while the other two , LGR4 and LGR6, was down-regulated.Silencing of LGR5 inhibi-ted Rspo2-induced SMC differentiation, whereas knockdown of LGR4 had no impact.Finally, activation or inhibition of β-catenin could promote or inhibit SMC differentiation , respectively .CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate for the first time that Rspo 2 plays a positive role during smooth muscle cell differentiation from embryonic stem cells .We confirmed that Rspo 2 can up-regulate smooth muscle markers at transcription level .We also revealed Rspo promote smooth muscle cell differentiation through activation of LGR 5 re-ceptor and Wnt/β-catenin pathway .

Objective To explore the reason for remedy radical operation after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer.Methods The clinical data of 26 early gastric cancer cases who received remedy radical gastrectomy after ESD between January 2012 to March 2015 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital were analyzed retrospectively.Results All cases were followed up and mid follow-up was 25 months.There was no death nor tumor reccurence cases during the follow-up.Three cases suffered from complications in radical surgery for gastric cancer including afferent jejunal loop obstruction,adhesive intestinal obstruction,stomach paralysis respectively,all were cured by conservative therapy.Postoperative pathology found lymph node metastasis in 3 cases.Conclusions En bloc resection and negative resection margin,as well as free lymphatic metastasis are two important factors determing the survival of early gastric cancer patients undergoing ESD treatment.