Objective To analyze the diagnostic efficacy and clinical significance of magnifying endoscopy combined with narrow-band imaging(ME-NBI),acetate-indigo rouge staining and multi-slice spiral CT for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions.Methods 202 patients with suspected early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions from February 2019 to March 2022 were regarded as the subjects of this study,all the patients underwent ME-NBI,acetate-indigo rouge staining,and multi-slice spiral CT examination;The diagnostic value of different examination methods for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions was analyzed using the receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve),using the pathological results of gastric cancer as the gold standard,the diagnostic value of ME-NBI,acetate-indigo rouge staining combined with multi-slice spiral CT and their combination in early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions was analyzed using a four grid table.Results The image quality of ME-NBI and acetate-indigo rouge staining combined examinations was significantly higher than that of their respective independent examinations(P<0.05).There was significant difference in the degree of differentiation in the clinical features of patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of ME-NBI for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.853,the accuracy was 85.64%,the sensitivity was 88.37%,and the specificity was 83.62%.The AUC of acetate-indigo rouge staining for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.814,the accuracy was 81.68%,the sensitivity was 83.72%,and the specificity was 80.17%.The AUC of multi-slice spiral CT for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.804,with an accuracy of 80.69%,a sensitivity of 82.56%,and a specificity of 79.31%.And the AUC of the three methods combined to diagnose early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.893,with an accuracy of 89.60%,a sensitivity of 93.02%,and a specificity of 87.07%.Conclusion ME-NBI,acetate-indigo rouge staining combined with multi-slice spiral CT has high diagnostic efficacy in early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions,and can be used in clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate imaging characteristics of papulopustular rosacea (PPR) by high-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler flow imaging.Methods:From August 2021 to August 2022, 30 patients with PPR were enrolled from the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and 30 healthy volunteers served as controls. The 22-MHz high-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler blood flow imaging was performed to measure the skin thickness, echo and blood flow parameters at the cheek, and the ultrasound results were compared between the two groups. Comparisons between groups were conducted by using t test or chi-square test. The diagnostic value was analyzed using the area under the curve (AUC) in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:In the case group, there were 12 males and 18 females, and their ages ranged from 22 to 65 years (42.3 ± 12.8 years) ; in the control group, there were 10 males and 20 females, and their ages ranged from 24 to 62 years (41.0 ± 8.4 years) . The epidermal and dermal thicknesses at the cheek were significantly higher in the case group (132.64 ± 12.29 μm, 1 812.29 ± 85.52 μm, respectively) than in the control group (104.34 ± 14.45 μm, 1 671.77 ± 146.55 μm, respectively, both P < 0.05) . High-frequency ultrasound images showed that the case group was mainly characterized by irregular hypoechoic areas in the cheek dermis (80%) , while banded moderately echoic areas were common in the cheek dermis in the control group (90%) ; subepidermal low-echogenic bands and dermal irregular hypoechoic areas were more likely to appear in the case group than in the control group (93.33% vs. 43.33%, 80% vs. 10%, respectively, both P < 0.001) . Compared with the control group, the case group showed a significantly increased proportion of patients with abundant blood flow signals (93.3% vs. 10%, P < 0.05) , and significantly increased blood vessel diameters (1.60 ± 0.42 mm vs. 0.95 ± 0.32 mm, P < 0.05) ; there was no significant difference in peak systolic blood flow velocity and vascular resistance index between the two groups (both P > 0.05) . The AUC of high-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler flow imaging quantitative parameters (including epidermal thicknesses, dermal thicknesses, and blood vessel diameters) was 0.989 (95% CI: 0.970 - 1.000) for the diagnosis of PPR, and the sensitivity and specificity were both 96.7%, which were higher than those of single parameter-based diagnostic model. Conclusion:High-frequency ultrasound combined with color Doppler flow imaging can help improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of PPR, by accurately and non-invasively measuring skin thickness and blood flow parameters.

Background: There is an urgent need to find reliable and rapid bovine tuberculosis (bTB) diagnostics in response to the rising prevalence of bTB worldwide. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) recognizes components of bTB and initiates antigen-presenting cells to mediate humoral immunity. Evaluating the affinity of antigens with TLR2 can form the basis of a new method for the diagnosis of bTB based on humoral immunity. Objectives: To develop a reliable and rapid strategy to improve diagnostic tools for bTB. Methods: In this study, we expressed and purified the sixteen bTB-specific recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. The two antigenic proteins, MPT70 and MPT83, which were most valuable for serological diagnosis of bTB were screened. Molecular docking technology was used to analyze the affinity of MPT70, MPT83, dominant epitope peptide of MPT70 (M1), and dominant epitope peptide MPT83 (M2) with TLR2, combined with the detection results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate the molecular docking effect. Results: The results showed that interaction surface Cα-atom root mean square deviation of proteins (M1, M2, MPT70, MPT83)-TLR2 protein are less than 2.5 A, showing a high affinity.It is verified by clinical serum samples that MPT70, MPT83, MPT70-MPT83 showed good diagnostic potential for the detection of anti-bTB IgG and M1, M2 can replace the whole protein as the detection antigen. Conclusions Molecular docking to evaluate the affinity of bTB protein and TLR2 combined with ELISA provides new insights for the diagnosis of bTB.

Objective:To compare the in vitro susceptibility of fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains from superficial and deep infections to 8 antifungal drugs, and to compare drug resistance mutations in these strains. Methods:According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol M27-A4, 26 deep infection-derived and 33 superficial infection-derived drug-resistant Candida albicans strains were tested for in vitro susceptibility to 8 antifungal drugs (fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, amphotericin B, fluorocytosine, terbinafine, and micafungin) alone or in combination. DNA was extracted from all drug-resistant strains, and mutations in 3 drug resistance genes, including ERG3, ERG11 and FUR1, were detected by PCR. Normally distributed measurement data with homogeneous variance were compared between two groups by using two-independent-sample t test, non-normally distributed measurement data with non-homogeneous variance were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, and enumeration data were compared using chi-square test. Results:The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and fluorocytosine all significantly differed between the superficial infection group and deep infection group (all P < 0.05) , while there was no significant difference in the MIC of amphotericin B or micafungin between the two groups (both P > 0.05) . The MIC of terbinafine was >64 μg/ml in 96.6% of the above strains, so could not be compared between groups. As combination drug susceptibility testing revealed, the combination of terbinafine with azoles (fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole or posaconazole) showed synergistic inhibitory effects against 15 Candida albicans strains (7 strains from deep infections, 8 strains from superficial infections) , with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices being 0.033 to 0.187; no marked synergistic effect was observed in the combinations between fluorocytosine and azoles, between fluorocytosine and amphotericin B, or between amphotericin B and fluconazole, with the FIC indices being 0.56 to 1.125. The missense mutation V351A in the ERG3 gene was identified in all the 33 (100%) superficial infection-derived strains, as well as in 13 (50%) deep infection-derived strains, and the mutation A353T in the ERG3 gene was identified in 4 (15%) deep infection-derived strains; as for the ERG11 gene, missense mutations identified in the superficial infection-derived strains included I437V (32 strains, 97%) , Y132H (23 strains, 70%) , T123I (16 strains, 48%) , K128T (6 strains, 18%) , D116E (5 strains, 15%) , A114S (4 strains, 12%) , E266D (2 strains, 6%) , G448E (2 strains, 6%) , and G465S (2 strains, 6%) , while missense mutations identified in the deep infection-derived strains included I437V (23 strains, 88%) , E266D (13 strains, 50%) , E260G (5 strains, 19%) , and V488I (4 strains, 15%) ; the missense mutation R101C in the FUR1 gene was identified in 11 (33%) superficial infection-derived strains, but not identified in deep infection-derived strains. Conclusion:The drug susceptibility and drug resistance mutations differed to some extent between superficial infection- and deep infection-derived fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains.

Surface electromyogram (sEMG) may have low signal to noise ratios. An adaptive wavelet thresholding technique was developed in this study to remove noise contamination from sEMG signals. Compared with convention- al wavelet thresholding methods, the adaptive approach can adjust thresholds based on different signal to noise ratios of the processed signal, thus effectively removing noise contamination and reducing distortion of the EMG signal. The advantage of the developed adaptive thresholding method was demonstrated using simulated and experimental sEMG recordings.
Algorithms ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Wavelet Analysis

Aiming at the difficulty of surface electromyography (SEMG) signal decomposition, we in this paper proposed a method of gradual processing based on contraction force level of muscle. At first, SEMG signals were recorded at different levels of muscle contraction force. Then, the SEMG data recorded at minimum level of contraction force were decomposed adopting the conventional methods. Further, the data at higher level of contraction force was decomposed using the templates and inter-pulse interval (IPI) information resulted from the previous composition performed at lower level of contraction force. Such procedure was iteratively performed level by level until the SEMG data at the maximal level of contraction force were successfully decomposed. The experimental results showed that the proposed method was effective in decomposing SEMG data, offering a valuable solution to the difficulty in obtaining templates at relatively high level of muscle contraction force. The complexity of SEMG decomposition in the case of high level of contraction force could also be reduced to a certain extent by using the proposed method.
Action Potentials ; Algorithms ; Electromyography ; methods ; Humans ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

The decomposition method of surface electromyography (sEMG) signals was explored by using the multi-channel information extraction and fusion analysis to acquire the motor unit action potential (MUAP) patterns. The action potential waveforms were detected with the combined method of continuous wavelet transform and hypothesis testing, and the effective detection analysis was judged with the multi-channel firing processes of motor units. The cluster number of MUAPs was confirmed by the hierarchical clustering technique, and then the decomposition was implemented by the fuzzy k-means clustering algorithms. The unclassified waveforms were processed by the template matching and peel-off methods. The experimental results showed that several kinds of MUAPs were precisely extracted from the multi-channel sEMG signals. The space potential distribution information of motor units could be satisfyingly represented by the proposed decomposition method.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Algorithms ; Electromyography ; methods ; Humans ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

ObjectiveInvestigate the value of partial hepatectomy combined radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of medium-term liver cancer.MethodsThe 19 cases were retrospectively analyzed which admitted by Anhui Provinical Hospital due to hepatocellular carcinoma from October 2008 to November 2011.Liver function in patients before surgery was assessed by Child-Pugh score and indocyanine green.The complications 7 days after surgery were evaluated by liver function.The short-term effect 4 weeks after surgery was evaluated by radiofrequency ablation,contrast enhanced CT and contrast enhanced ultrasound.The inspection per month was lined by radiofrequency ablation,contrast enhanced CT and contrast enhanced ultrasound 6 months after surgery.After then referral was done once every 2-3 months.ResultsAll patients had liver function damage 7 days after surgery,but there were no hepatic encephalopathy and death cases.Residual tumor and incomplete ablation accounted for 10.1％ (2/19)of all cases.For 1 year and 2 year survival rates were 83.2％ and 46.4％.The average survival time was 22.23 months and the median survival time was 24.87 months.ConclusionsPartial hepatectomy combined radiofrequency ablation has important application value in the treatment of medium-term liver cancer,expanding the indications of surgical exploration in hver cancer,especially medium-term liver cancer,and it can matimaly kill visible lesions.

Objective To assess the value of indocyanine green excretion test in predicting hepatic failure after hepatectomy. Methods The retention rate of indocyanine green at 15 minutes (ICG R15), effective hepatic blood flow (EHBF) and clinical and biochemical parameters of 128 patients who received hepatectomy at the Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2007 to June 2008 were detected by pulse dye densitometry. All patients were divided into non-hepatic failure group (n = 110) and hepatic failure group (n =18). ICG R15, EHBF, Child's score, histology activity index (HAI) score, clinical and biochemical parameters and other indexes were analyzed to predict hepatic failure by the t test, chi-square test, linear regression analysis or regression model. The relationship between positive predictive indexes and HAI score was studied. Results Eighteen patients suffered from hepatic failure after operation. ICG R15, Child's score, HAI score of patients without hepatic failure were 9% ±4%, 5.6 ±0.7, 3.8 ±0.5, which were significantly lower than 15% ±6%,6.1 ± 0. 8, 5.0 ± 0. 8 of patients with hepatic failure (t = 11. 121,2. 356, 3. 915, P ＜ 0.05). EHBF of patients without hepatic failure was (1.2 ±0.2) L/min, which was significantly higher than (1.0 ±0.2) L/min of patients with hepatic failure (t = 2. 802, P ＜ 0. 05). In a logistic regression model, age ≥ 65 years, ICG R15 ≥ 14% and EHBF ＜ 1.0 L/min were risk factors of postoperative hepatic failure (x2 = 4. 758, 9.709, 5. 362, P ＜ 0.05).ICG R15 was negatively correlated with EHBF (r =-0. 527, P ＜0.05). HAI score was positively correlated with ICG R15 (r =0. 638, P ＜0.05), while it was negatively correlated with EHBF (r =-0. 445, P ＜0. 05).Conclusions ICG R15 and EHBF are good predictive indicators for hepatic failure after hepatectomy. Patients with ICG R15≥14% and EHBF ＜ 1.0 L/min are prone to have postoperative hepatic failure.

A method of motor unit action potentials (MUAP) detection and classification was introduced to explore the firing information of recruited motor units in the neural muscular system. Based on the continuous wavelet transform, the first order Hermite-Rodriguez (HR) function was used as the mother wavelet, and the binary hypothesis testing algorithm was combined to detect and localize the MUAP waveforms in the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal. Then, the fuzzy k-means clustering and minimum distance classifying algorithms were applied to the primary clustering of the detected MUAPs. Finally, the template matching method was used to solve the problem of the unclassified waveforms. The experimental results showed that the kinds of MUAP information from the recorded sEMG signal could be acquired by waveform detection and pattern recognition. The proposed method does not require multi-channel sEMG signals; it just utilizes the single channel signal to analyze the MUAPs, and it can improve the decomposition efficiency.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Algorithms ; Electromyography ; methods ; Humans ; Motor Neurons ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; physiology ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Wavelet Analysis