Objective To explore the value of Fast Dixon in improving the quality of thyroid turbo spin echo(TSE)T2WI images via comparing the quality of thyroid MR T2WI images based on Fast Dixon,Dixon,and BLADE sequences.Methods The prospective study included 11 healthy volunteers,who underwent neck MR scanning.The evaluation of image quality was performed via a combination of objective measures and subjective ratings.Objective measures included signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)of bilateral thyroid and muscles,and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR).Subjective measures included overall image quality,uniformity of fat suppression,sharpness of thyroid margins and muscles surrounding the thyroid,image noise in the neck region,image background noise,and image quality of the nasopharynx.Two diagnostic physicians with over 10 years of thyroid diagnostic experience independently evaluated the images via a 5-point scale.Inter-observer agreement was analyzed via Spearman correlation coefficient.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 software,including normality and homogeneity of variance tests for continuous data.Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis of subjective measures,followed by post hoc pairwise comparisons.A significance level of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results Eleven healthy volunteers,the SNR of bilateral thyroid and muscles was significantly higher in Fast Dixon sequence than that in Dixon and BLADE sequences.For bilateral CNR,Fast Dixon sequence was also significantly higher than that of Dixon and BLADE sequences.Fast Dixon sequence also had significant advantages in seven subjective ratings indicators(P<0.001).Conclusion The Fast Dixon sequence shows the highest image quality and important application value in the display and evaluation of thyroid lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a deep learning (DL) based mammogram calcification detection system. Methods: Screening digital mammographic examinations with standard cranio-caudal (CC) and medio-lateral oblique (MLO) views were performed in 1 431 women (5 488 mammogram images) who were enrolled between January and December in 2013. The DL system and a radiologist detect calcifications separately, and then both results are reviewed by a moreexperiencedradiologist. Sensitivities of the DL model and radiologist were compared. Different calcification morphology, distribution, BI-RADS categories, breast density and patient age were investigated by χ² tests. Results: For DL system, sensitivity of all kinds of calcifications were 96.76% (7 649/7 905). The average false positive was 1.04 per image (5 706/5 488), 3.99 per case (5 706/1 431). The false positive rate was 42.73% (5 706/13 355). There was no significant differences for DL system with different calcification distribution, BI-RADS categories, breast densities and patient ages (P>0.05). Conclusion Deep learning based mammogram calcification detection system shows high sensitivity and stability, which may help to reduce the missing rate of calcification (especially the suspicious ones).

Objective: To perform lymphocyte micronucleus analysis on radiation workers with long-term exposure to low doses ionizing radiation, Evaluate the health condition of radiation workers, and provide the evidence for strengthening surveillance of radiation workers. Methods: From January 1, 2013 to December 21, 2016, a statistical analysis and evaluation was conducted of the peripheral lymphocytes micronucleus rate in 5 901 radiation workers who had undergone medical examinations of employees at Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Radiation Medicine. Results: The micronucleus rates in radiation workers of the on-job group were higher than the pre-job group (P<0.01) . Significant difference was found among the different sex (t=5.97) , different types (χ²=378.69) , different levels of work units (χ²=115.48) . Significant difference was found among the micronucleus rates of 672 radiation workers of the on-job group from 2013 to 2016 (χ²=92.57, P<0.01) . Conclusion The peripheral lymphocytes micronucleus rate of radiation workers were significantly higher than non-contact workers. Significant increasing trend of micronucleus rates was noted among the radiation worker with increasing exposure time. The peripheral lymphocytes micronucleus rates of interventional therapy workers were highest. The peripheral lymphocytes micronucleus rates of Private hospitals workers were highest. This phenomenon deserves attention. Protection needs to be strengthened to ensure the health of radiation workers.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reactivity of intrapulmonary arterial rings to vasoactive substances as thromboxane A2 and endothelin-1 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODSIntrapulmonary arterial rings isolated from patients with normal lung function and COPD were mounted in a Multi Myograph system to determine the reactivity of the intrapulmonary arterial rings to 60 mmol/L KCl, thromboxane A2 analogue U46619 and endothelin-1 before and after preconditioning with the COX synthase inhibitor indomethacin.

RESULTSThe reactivity of intrapulmonary arterial rings to U46619 and endothelin-1 was significantly decreased in patients with COPD. The reactivity to U46619 was dramatically decreased in patients with normal lung function after application of indomethacin.

CONCLUSIONThe reactivity of intrapulmonary arterial rings is significantly decreased in patients with COPD.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid ; pharmacology ; Aged ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; Thromboxane A2 ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the effect of acute hypoxia on the contractile function of isolated small pulmonary arteries in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Seven patients with lung cancer,of both sexes,scheduled for elective pulmonary lobectomy,with no pulmonary hypertension and with normal pulmonary function after examination,were included in the study.Six cases were diagnosed as having moderate COPD.Lung tissues 5 cm away from the tumor tissues were taken during operation and the small pulmonary arteries were isolated and divided into 2 groups:control group (n =7) and COPD group (n =6).The contractile amplitude of small pulmonary arteries was detected using vasomotor tone meter under the state of acute hypoxia.Results Contractile amplitude of small pulmonary arteries in response to hypoxic stimulus was significantly decreased in COPD group compared with control group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Acute hypoxia can further reduce the contractile function of isolated small pulmonary arteries in patients with moderate COPD.

Objective To study the possible mechanisms by which repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) pretreatment antagonizes seizures induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine and any correlation with antiapoptosis in hippocampal CA1 neurons.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into a control group, a sham stimulation group and an rTMS pretreatment group. The rTMS pretreatment group was pretreated on 7 consecutive days with low-frequency rTMS (0.5 Hz, 75％ of threshold intensity, 20 times/bundle, and 5 bundles/d), while the sham-stimulation group was sham-stimulated with a similar sound. Lithium chloride-pilocarpine ( LPC ) was used to induce a model epileptic state.Epileptic stroke latency and severity were recorded ; neuronal morphology was observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; mean positive-reactive cell number and mean optical density and absorbance of B cell lymphoma/leukemia gene-2 (Bcl-2) were recorded, and Fas and Caspase-3 protein in the hippocampal CA1 region were observed with immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the sham stimulation group, epileptic latency in the rTMS pretreatment group was significantly longer. Seizures in the rTMS pretreatment group were less severe, and a number of degenerated neurons were observed to be apoptotic. Bcl-2 protein expression increased at each time point, but Fas and Caspase-3 protein expression decreased.Conclusions rTMS pretreatment has an anti-epilepsy effect. The possible neuronal protection might be produced by regulating the expression of Bcl-2, Fas and Caspase-3 protein in the hippocampus.

Gossypol is a kind of yellow polyphenolic compounds extracted from root, stem and seed of the cotton plant. It had received significant attention for its potential application as a male antifertility agent. Then it was used to treat female hormone-dependent diseases, for instance, endometriosis, hysteromyoma, uterine bleeding and dys-menorrheal. Current recent researches showed that gossypol has multiple biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory , antimalarial, antiviral, antioxidant activities and so on, especially the activity to induce tumor cell apoptosis.

This review describes the observations that constitutive ATM activation (CAA) and H2AX phosphoryla-tion (CHP) caused by endogenous oxidants in normal cells as well in tumor cell lines.This review also reported the findings on differences in CAA and CHP on the effects of several agents and growth conditions.

Objective:To investigate the value of MRI and MSCT in TNM staging of laryngocarcinoma.Method:Thirty-seven patients with laryngocarcinoma were underwent by contrast enhanced scan and muhiplanar reconstruction.Thirty-five patients with laryngocarcinoma were underwent contrast enhanced muhislice spiral CT,which of them were done by MPR.There are 28 cases which were scan by MRI and MSCT in the two former nd we contrasted the accuracy rating in laryngeal manifestation of abnormality.In the former two groups,we observed them the variability in the aspect of lymphaden metabasis and TNM staging.Result:In all 28 cases,the MRI had better accuracy rating in displaying the parts of preepiglottic space,larynx side interspace,lingual root,eck tissue,vocal cord.In the TNM staging,there was no difference in stage one in accuracy rating,as the stag stepping up,the accuracy rating of MRI had became better.The last result was that the two methods had difference in staging.In the two methods,MSCT had better sensitivity,specificity and accuracy rating.Conclusion:RI and MSCT had good accuracy rating in TNM staging,MRI has better accuracy rating in some of laryngeal,but as the lymphaden metabasis,the MSCT was better.There were variability in staging,and the MRI was better.

Aim: To study the effects of Clostridium difficile toxin A on the cytotoxity and apoptosis of human hep-atoma cell line SMMC-7721. Methods: Clone inhibiting experiment and MTT calorimetric assay were used to assay SMMC-7721 proliferation. Morphological changes relevant to the apoptosis and the DNA damage were analyzed by transmission electron microscope and single cell gel assay. The number of apoptosis cells and the expression of Bcl-2 and p53 protein were detected by the flow cytometry. Results: 0. 018- 4. 690 mg/L toxin A significantly decreased the colony information of SMMC-7721 cells, and greatly inhibited SMMC-7721 proliferation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Morphological changes related to apoptosis were evident under transmission electron microscope and DNA damage was detected by single cell gel assay when SMMC-7721 cultured with 4. 690 mg/L toxin A for 48 h. Toxin A 0. 0734. 690 mg/L induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells from 6. 8% to 41. 8%. In addition, Toxin A 0. 293-4. 690 mg/L significant decreased Bcl-2 protein expression and increased p53 protein expression in SMMC-7721. Conclusion: These results showed that clostridium difficile toxin A had a significantly cytotoxicity in human SMMC-7721 which was attributed to toxin A induced apoptosis.