Coronary Artery Lumen Segmentation Using Location–Adaptive Threshold in Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography: A Proof-of-Concept

ObjectiveTo compare the lumen parameters measured by the location-adaptive threshold method (LATM), in which the inter- and intra-scan attenuation variabilities of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) were corrected, and the scan-adaptive threshold method (SATM), in which only the inter-scan variability was corrected, with the reference standard measurement by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS).Materials and MethodsThe Hounsfield unit (HU) values of whole voxels and the centerline in each of the cross-sections of the 22 target coronary artery segments were obtained from 15 patients between March 2009 and June 2010, in addition to the corresponding voxel size. Lumen volume was calculated mathematically as the voxel volume multiplied by the number of voxels with HU within a given range, defined as the lumen for each method, and compared with the IVUS-derived reference standard. Subgroup analysis of the lumen area was performed to investigate the effect of lumen size on the studied methods. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the agreement between the measurements.ResultsLumen volumes measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by IVUS (mean difference, 14.6 mm³; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.9–24.3 mm³); the lumen volumes measured by LATM and IVUS were not significantly different (mean difference, −0.7 mm³; 95% CI, −9.1–7.7 mm³). The lumen area measured by SATM was significantly smaller than that measured by LATM in the smaller lumen area group (mean of difference, 1.07 mm²; 95% CI, 0.89–1.25 mm²) but not in the larger lumen area group (mean of difference, −0.07 mm²; 95% CI, −0.22–0.08 mm²). In the smaller lumen group, the mean difference was lower in the Bland-Altman plot of IVUS and LATM (0.46 mm²; 95% CI, 0.27–0.65 mm²) than in that of IVUS and SATM (1.53 mm²; 95% CI, 1.27–1.79 mm²).ConclusionSATM underestimated the lumen parameters for computed lumen segmentation in CCTA, and this may be overcome by using LATM.     

中低度近视SMILE术后超早期视觉质量变化的研究

目的观察飞秒激光小切口角膜基质透镜取出术(SMILE)术后超早期患者视觉质量变化,探讨其变化发生的可能原因。方法选取中低度近视患者23例46眼行SMILE术,术前及术后24 h超早期行主观视觉质量问卷,测量最佳矫正视力的全程视力(远视力5 m,中视力60 cm,近视力33 cm)、对比敏感度(CS)、眩光敏感度(GS)及集合近点(NPC)和调节幅度(AA)。结果视觉质量主观问卷显示术后超早期主观视觉质量较术前下降(P=0.001)。术后裸眼视力(UCVA)明显提高(P=0.0001)。术前与术后最佳矫正视力(BCVA)中远视力没有变化(P=0.096),而中视力和近视力均较术前下降(P=0.039,0.003)。术后CS、GS降低(PCS=0.0001,PGS=0.04),NPC、AA较术前无明显变化(P=0.68,0.13)。结论SMILE术后超早期患者可获得预期理想远视力,但中、近视力尚未恢复。超早期中出现的异常视觉质量改变可能与对比敏感度和眩光敏感度的改变有关。     

桃红四物汤化学成分、药理作用、临床应用的研究进展及质量标志物的预测分析

桃红四物汤,活血祛瘀之经典名方。该文对近年来桃红四物汤的化学成分、药理作用以及临床应用研究进展进行总结与分析。目前,桃红四物汤不同提取部位化学成分的研究较为系统,其药理作用研究主要集中在活血化瘀、调经镇痛、促进骨折愈合等方面,临床可应用于多系统、多脏腑疾病的治疗,例如妇科疾病、内科疾病、骨伤科疾病、皮肤科疾病等。在此基础上,依照质量标志物(Q-marker)有效、特有、传递与溯源、可测和处方配伍的"五原则"对桃红四物汤Q-marker进行预测分析,提示阿魏酸、芍药苷、苦杏仁苷、芍药内酯苷、梓醇、没食子酸、羟基红花黄色素A可作为该复方的Q-marker,后续可选择这些Q-marker为指标,根据药材、饮片、中间体、对应实物的量值传递进行桃红四物汤全程质量控制并创建其质量可溯源体系。     

竹叶石膏汤合清气化痰丸加减治疗急性加重期慢性阻塞性肺疾病分析

目的:分析竹叶石膏汤合清气化痰丸加减治疗急性加重期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,AECOPD)疗效。方法:以2017年1月-2019年1月收治的AECOPD患者80例,随机分为两组,各40例。对照组采用常规西药治疗,观察组在对照组基础上采用竹叶石膏汤合清气化痰丸加减治疗。比较两组治疗前后肺功能指标[第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值百分比(Forced Expiratory Volume,FEV1%)、第一秒用力呼气肺容积(Forced Expiratory Volume,FEV1)]、改良版英国医学研究委员会呼吸问卷(mMRC)、慢阻肺患者自我评估测试问卷(CAT)等评分变化以及疗效。结果:在FEV1%、FEV1等肺功能指标上,两组治疗前对比无统计学差异(P>0.05);而观察组治疗后均高于对照组,二者差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。在mMRC、CAT等评分上,两组治疗前差异对比无统计学意义(P>0.05);而观察组治疗后均低于对照组,二者差异存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。在治疗有效率上,对照组总体为82.5%(33/40),观察组总体为95.0%(38/40),二者差异对比存在统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:竹叶石膏汤合清气化痰丸加减治疗AECOPD的疗效确切,即可有效改善患者肺功能和临床症状,且利于其预后康复,因此值得应用推广。     

普通变异型免疫缺陷病合并肝硬化1例并文献复习

目的:讨论普通变异型免疫缺陷病(common variable immunodeficiency disease,CVID)的发病机制、临床表现及治疗方法。方法:报道1例普通变异型免疫缺陷病合并肝硬化患者并复习相关文献。结果:普通变异型免疫缺陷病是临床少见病,易误诊,病因不清,临床表现复杂,部分患者病程中可出现肝功能异常,甚至并发肝硬化。结论:临床反复感染的患者应考虑CVID的可能,须进一步作血浆免疫球蛋白的检测确诊。对已经确诊患者定期补充静脉丙种球蛋白,同时还应定期检查肝功能。     

Measuring the appropriateness of carbamazepine and valproic acid prescribing and utilization using a newly implemented online system in the Tabuk Region of Saudi Arabia

Epilepsy is a common neurologic disorder, which is efficiently treated with carbamazepine and valproic acid. Moreover, Saudi Ministry of Health implemented a new E-system for Poison Control Centers called Awtar to enhance technology utilization in ensuring patients’ satisfaction and to improve treatment outcomes. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess appropriateness of indication of requests and therapeutic levels of carbamazepine and valproic acid in Tabuk area, North West Saudi Arabia. This is a retrospective observational study conducted in Poison Control & Forensic Chemistry Center, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Patients’ data were obtained for years 2018 and 2019. The blood levels of carbamazepine and valproic acid were measured by Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Unit. We selected patients treated with either valproic acid or carbamazepine alone without any history of drug allergy. Data of 264 patients were extracted from Awtar E-system. Serum carbamazepine levels were within therapeutic range in 114 patients (75.50%), above-therapeutic range in 13 patients (8.61%) and sub-therapeutic levels in 24 patients (15.89%). Regarding serum valproic acid, it is within therapeutic range in 62 patients (54.87%), above-therapeutic range in 11 patients (9.73%) and sub-therapeutic levels in 40 patients (35.40%). In conclusion, this study gives information about partial appropriateness of usage of carbamazepine and low level of appropriateness of valproic acid. However, more efforts are needed to improve results of appropriateness of indication of antiepileptic drugs.     

Macroporous thin membranes for cell transplant in regenerative medicine

The aim of this paper is to present a method to produce macroporous thin membranes made of poly (ethyl acrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) copolymer network with varying cross-linking density for cell transplantation and prosthesis fabrication. The manufacture process is based on template techniques and anisotropic pore collapse. Pore collapse was produced by swelling the membrane in acetone and subsequently drying and changing the solvent by water to produce 100 microns thick porous membranes. These very thin membranes are porous enough to hold cells to be transplanted to the organism or to be colonized by ingrowth from neighboring tissues in the organism, and they present sufficient tearing stress to be sutured with surgical thread. The obtained pore morphology was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope, and confocal laser microscopy. Mechanical properties were characterized by stress–strain experiments in tension and tearing strength measurements. Morphology and mechanical properties were related to the different initial thickness of the scaffold and the cross-linking density of the polymer network. Seeding efficiency and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells inside the pore structure were determined at 2 h, 1, 7, 14 and 21 days from seeding.