A comparison of two data analyses from two observer performance studies using Jackknife ROC and JAFROC

The authors compared two methodological approaches, Jackknife ROC and JAFROC, in analyzing data ascertained during FROC (free-response receiver operating characteristics) type studies. Observer rating data obtained from two observer performance studies were analyzed. During the first study, seven radiologists interpreted 120 mammography examinations depicting 57 masses under five different conditions with and without the results of computer-aided detection (CAD). In the second study, eight radiologists interpreted 110 examinations depicting 51 masses under six different display conditions with and without CAD results. Readers rated the detection task in a FROC type response. Jackknife ROC (using the software of LABMRMC with the highest rating per case) and JAFROC were used to compute differences, if any, in summary performance levels among all reading modes in each study as well as for all paired data sets. The results of the different analytical approaches are compared. The overall results for all modes were significantly different for the first study (p < 0.05) and not significant (p > 0.05) for the second study using either analytical approach. In the first study, the performance levels represented by three paired data sets were significantly different (p < 0.05) when computed using LABMRMC and four pairs were significantly different (p < 0.05) using JAFROC. In eight of ten pairs, JAFROC produced lower p values than LABMRMC. In the second study, LABMRMC showed no significant differences for any paired data sets and JAFROC showed a significant difference for one pair. In 15 of 16 pairs, p values computed by JAFROC were lower than those computed by LABMRMC.     

1519例胎儿心电图的临床价值和相关因素分析

目的对1519例胎儿全部实行常规胎儿心电图(FECG)监测工作,探讨胎儿心电图应用情况,并对异常FECG结合临床,进行临床原因分析.方法采用随机湘样方法,应用杭州产FECG-D型胎儿心电图分析仪进行监测.结果发现采用横导联方式进行监测检出率为53.5%:在孕22w进行监测检出率为45.8%;异常FECG检出率为7.64%.结论对1519例FECG的监测发现采用横导联方式并在孕22w～26w期间进行监测检出率最高、波形效果好.并对监测发现的导致FECG异常改变的临床原因与胎儿宫内窘迫的关系进行浅要分析.     

Spike patterning by Ca2+-dependent regulation of a muscarinic cation current in entorhinal cortex layer II neurons

In entorhinal cortex layer II neurons, muscarinic receptor activation promotes depolarization via activation of a nonspecific cation current (I(NCM)). Under muscarinic influence, these neurons also develop changes in excitability that result in activity-dependent induction of delayed firing and bursting activity. To identify the membrane processes underlying these phenomena, we examined whether I(NCM) may undergo activity-dependent regulation. Our voltage-clamp experiments revealed that appropriate depolarizing protocols increased the basal level of inward current activated during muscarinic stimulation and suggested that this effect was due to I(NCM) upregulation. In the presence of low buffering for intracellular Ca(2+), this upregulation was transient, and its decay could be followed by a phase of I(NCM) downregulation. Both up- and downregulation were elicited by depolarizing stimuli able to activate voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCC); both were sensitive to increasing concentrations of intracellular Ca(2+)-chelating agents with downregulation being abolished at lower Ca(2+)-buffering capacities; both were reduced or suppressed by VGCC block or in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). These data indicate that relatively small increases in [Ca(2+)](i) driven by firing activity can induce upregulation of a basal muscarinic depolarizing-current level, whereas more pronounced [Ca(2+)](i) elevations can result in I(NCM) downregulation. We propose that the interaction of activity-dependent positive and negative feedback mechanisms on I(NCM) allows entorhinal cortex layer II neurons to exhibit emergent properties, such as delayed firing and enhanced or suppressed responses to repeated stimuli, that may be of importance in the memory functions of the temporal lobe and in the pathophysiology of epilepsy.     

Chromosome 2q terminal deletion: report of 6 new patients and review of phenotype-breakpoint correlations in 66 individuals

We report a new patient with terminal deletion of chromosome 2 with breakpoint at 2q36 and five additional new patients with 2q terminal deletion with breakpoint at 2q37. Hemidiaphragmatic hernia is a novel finding in one patient with a breakpoint at 2q37.1. In comparing these patients to 60 previously reported individuals with 2q terminal deletions, certain physical abnormalities are loosely associated with positions of breakpoint. For example, facial features (e.g., prominent forehead, depressed nasal bridge, and dysmorphic ears and nose), short stature, and short hands and feet were frequent in patients with breakpoints at or proximal to 2q37.3. Reports of horseshoe kidney and Wilms tumor were limited to patients with a breakpoint at 2q37.1, and structural brain anomalies and tracheal anomalies were reported only in patients with breakpoints at or proximal to 2q37.1. Cleft palate was reported only in patients with the most proximal breakpoints (2q36 or 2q35). Neurological effects including developmental delay, mental retardation, autistic-like behavior, and hypotonia were typical in this patient population but did not stratify in severity according to breakpoint. Terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2 should be considered in the infant with marked hypotonia, poor feeding, gastroesophageal reflux, and growth delay, and the older child with developmental delay, autistic behavior, and the characteristic facial and integumentary features described herein. Assignment of clinical features to specific breakpoints and refinement of predictive value may be useful in counseling.     

Role of new population of peripheral CD11c(+)CD8(+) T cells and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells during acute and remission stages in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a CD4(+)-dependent chronic systemic inflammatory disease with autoimmune features. Autoreactive CD4(+) T-cell activation can result in autoimmune diseases. One of the key regulators is the CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T (Treg) cell. In an animal arthritis model, CD11c(+)CD8(+) T cells were found to be elevated, and could suppress pathogenic CD4(+) T cells after cross-linking with CD137. The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of CD137, CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells, and CD11c(+)CD8(+) in the peripheral blood T lymphocytes of RA patients during active and remissive states, and evaluate the correlation with disease activity. METHODS: Thirty nine RA patients treated at the rheumatology outpatient clinic at the Changhua Christian Hospital were assessed clinically for disease activity and classified as either highly active or remissive by the Disease Activity Score 28. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from these patients and compared against normal controls. RESULTS: The presence of CD11c(+)CD8(+) T cells or the expression of CD137 molecules in peripheral blood cells was not related to disease activity. In contrast, CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cell levels were increased significantly in patients with active RA compared with patients with remissive RA or controls (p<0.05). These lymphocytes were intact, without evidence of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that CD4(+)CD25(high) Treg cells play an important role in modulating RA disease activity and can serve as a parameter of disease activity.     

HESR1基因在血管新生中作用的初步研究

目的研究转录因子HESR1在血管新生中的作用。方法检测内皮细胞激活状态HESR1表达的影响,克隆HESR1基因,转染到HUVEC,绿色荧光和PCR观察HESR1在内皮细胞的表达,流式细胞仪检测它对血管内皮细胞增殖,boyden小室检测对细胞迁移的影响,建体外二维血管模型,观察HESR1对血管形成的影响。结果内皮细胞激活状态HESR1的表达下降,HESR1基因能抑制内皮细胞的增殖和迁移,减少血管新生。结论HESR1基因通过抑制内皮细胞的增殖和迁移,使内皮细胞从激活状态转入安静状态,减少血管的形成,维持血管的稳定状态。     

上颌窦的胚胎发育

对46例(92侧)12～40周胎儿标本的上颌窦,行冠状切,HE染色,光镜观察:(1)原始上颌窦在胚胎第20～22周由原始筛漏斗底部扩展而成,上颌窦位于钩突和中鼻道外侧壁的外侧,窦腔与眼眶之间的骨板最薄,且骨化较晚.(2)窦口位于上颌窦的顶部(壁),随胎龄增长,”钩突角”变小.向外下的筛漏斗渐近水平位.(3)出生时,上颌窦大小约3.0×5.0×6.5mm.窦内粘膜上皮细胞呈立方形或矮柱状,其纤毛稀疏,,固有膜增厚、疏松,内含极少量血管和腺体.结果表明:出生时,上颌窦虽已出现,但粘膜厚,窦腔小,且与眼眶的毗邻关系密切,上颌窦粘膜的组织结构与鼻腔粘膜的结构有所不同.     

脑胶质瘤中血脑屏障的超微结构特点

８例胶质瘤病例，标本分别取自同一病例的瘤体，瘤周水肿区和邻近脑组织。瘤体和瘤周水肿区血脑屏障超微结构变化无明显差异，内皮肿胀，毛细血管腔狭小，腔面有稀疏的绒毛样突起，内皮为无孔型，胞质内胞饮泡较多，内皮紧密连接增长，细胞连接间隙增宽，基膜完整，基膜完整，胶质膜缺损。     

脑血流断层显像Bullseye显示

为了探讨用Bullseye显示脑血流灌注显像数据的可能性,对8例典型脑梗塞病例及15例脑血流断层显像常规分析可疑病例的脑血流断层显像的横断面数据进行Bullscye显示,结果8例典型病人病灶用普通Bullseye即显示良好;常规分析可疑病例病变用普通Bullseye 8例显示良好,变黑Bullseye 13例显示出病灶;结果提示利用Bullseye显示脑血流灌注显像数据的可能。     

小鼠FoxP3基因腺相关病毒的制备与鉴定

目的:构建携带小鼠FoxP3基因的重组腺相关病毒,并检测其在NIH3T3细胞的表达情况。方法:将FoxP3通过内部核糖体进入位点(IRES)与报告基因增强型绿色荧光蛋白连接,构建同时含有目的基因和报告基因的重组腺相关病毒(rAAV)表达质粒,通过磷酸钙沉淀法共转染HEK293细胞,收获并通过肝素亲和层析法纯化病毒,并对病毒纯度和滴度进行鉴定。利用携带FoxP3基因的重组病毒体外感染小鼠NIH3T3细胞,体外观察感染效率和目的基因转录情况。结果:包装成功的rAAV/FoxP3经纯化后获得了高纯度的rAAV/FoxP3,实时定量PCR检测rAAV/FoxP3的病毒滴度达到5.0×1012vg/mL,体外感染NIH3T3细胞,流式细胞术测定感染效率可达92.88%,实时PCR测定细胞内存在高水平FoxP3mRNA。结论:获得携带FoxP3-IRES-EGFP的rAAV,并可有效感染NIH3T3细胞,为进一步研究FoxP3的生物学功能提供了有效工具。