Multidimensional feature interactions in visual crowding: When configural cues eliminate the polarity advantage

Crowding occurs when surrounding objects (flankers) impair target perception. A key property of crowding is the weaker interference when target and flankers strongly differ on a given dimension. For instance, identification of a target letter is usually superior with flankers of opposite versus the same contrast polarity as the target (the “polarity advantage”). High performance when target-flanker similarity is low has been attributed to the ungrouping of target and flankers. Here, we show that configural cues can override the usual advantage of low target-flanker similarity, and strong target-flanker grouping can reduce – instead of exacerbate – crowding. In Experiment 1, observers were presented with line triplets in the periphery and reported the tilt (left or right) of the central line. Target and flankers had the same (uniform condition) or opposite contrast polarity (alternating condition). Flanker configurations were either upright (||), unidirectionally tilted (\\ or //), or bidirectionally tilted (\/ or /\). Upright flankers yielded stronger crowding than unidirectional flankers, and weaker crowding than bidirectional flankers. Importantly, our results revealed a clear interaction between contrast polarity and flanker configuration. Triplets with upright and bidirectional flankers, but not unidirectional flankers, showed the polarity advantage. In Experiments 2 and 3, we showed that emergent features and redundancy masking (i.e. the reduction of the number of perceived items in repeating configurations) made it easier to discriminate between uniform triplets when flanker tilts were unidirectional (but not when bidirectional). We propose that the spatial configurations of uniform triplets with unidirectional flankers provided sufficient task-relevant information to enable a similar performance as with alternating triplets: strong-target flanker grouping alleviated crowding. We suggest that features which modulate crowding strength can interact non-additively, limiting the validity of typical crowding rules to contexts where only single, independent dimensions determine the effects of target-flanker similarity.     

A risk prediction model for contrast-induced nephropathy associated with gadolinium-based contrast agents

ObjectiveThis is the first study to explore the risk factors for nephropathy caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents and establish a prediction model to identify high-risk patients.MethodsA total of 1404 patients who received gadolinium-based contrast agents in our hospital were included. The participants were randomly assigned in a 7:3 ratio to the modeling and validation groups. The modeling group was divided into a contrast-induced nephropathy group and a non-contrast-induced nephropathy group. The clinical characteristics before the use of contrast agents were compared between the two groups. The risk factors for contrast-induced nephropathy were analyzed by logistic regression. A nomogram that could predict the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy was plotted. The validation group was used to verify the predictive model.ResultsThe incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents was 3.92% (55/1404). The logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that sex, systolic pressure (SBP), absolute neutrophil count, albumin, fasting blood glucose level, and furosemide use were significant predictors of contrast-induced nephropathy caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents. The above predictors were then included in the nomogram construction. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.82 (p < 0.001). The specificity and sensitivity corresponding to the optimal cutoff point (0.039) based on the area under the ROC curve were 71.9% and 80.5%, respectively.ConclusionSex, SBP, absolute neutrophil count, albumin, fasting blood glucose levels, and furosemide use are significant predictors of contrast-induced nephropathy caused by gadolinium-based contrast agents. Therefore, the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy may be estimated by the prediction model established in this study before the use of contrast agents.     

自体胸腔积液上清作为培养液对肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞生长的影响

目的：观察自体胸腔积液上清作为培养液对肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞(TIL)生长的影响．方法：恶性胸腔积液中的TIL经贴壁法分离后，分别采用含有细胞因子白细胞介素-2(IL-2)、CD3单克隆抗体(OKT3)及植物血球凝集素(PHA)的自体胸腔积液上清及含10％人AB型血清的RPMIl640进行培养，比较两种培养液对TIL的增殖速度、培养前后免疫表型变化和对自体肿瘤细胞的杀伤活性。结果：培养2周，经统计学比较发现，自体胸腔积液上清作为培养液对TIL的生长速度、免疫表型和对自体肿瘤细胞杀伤活性的影响与应用含10％人AB型血清的RPMIl640培养液培养无差异。结论：自体胸腔积液上清作为培养液培养TIL是可行的。为自体TIL疗法治疗恶性胸腔积液提供理论基础。     

数字化断层融合技术在颌骨病变中的应用研究

目的：探讨数字化断层融合(TOMOS)技术在口腔有固定金属假牙的颌骨病变中的应用价值,并与多层螺旋CT (MSCT)进行对照。方法回顾分析口腔有固定金属假牙患者的TOMOS及MSCT的影像资料,每组各25例,观察曝光时间、患者受辐射剂量及对病灶的显示情况,并进行统计学分析。结果 TOMOS组的曝光时间为(0.700±0.050) s,明显少于CT组的(6.267±0.709) s,两组比较差异具有显著统计学意义(t=7.912,P<0.01);TOMOS组患者受辐射有效剂量为(0.033±0.004) mSv,明显低于CT组的(1.667±0.537) mSv,两组比较差异具有显著统计学意义(t=11.812,P<0.01);对下颌角及升支病变显示,TOMOS明显优于MSCT。结论 TOMOS检查方法实用、便捷,其辐射剂量不到CT的2%,在有金属假牙者的下颌角及升支病变的检查优势明显,可部分代替CT检查。     

Very Late Stent Thrombosis after Discontinuation of Antiplatelet Agents during Anticoagulation Therapy in a Patient with Peri-stent Contrast Staining after Implantation of a Second-generation Drug-eluting Stent

A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to intermittent chest pain. He had a history of acute myocardial infarction, and peri-stent contrast staining had been observed at the stent implantation site. The patient previously underwent anticoagulation therapy for left ventricular thrombus and antiplatelet therapy to prevent stent thrombosis. More than one year after implantation of a drug-eluting stent, antiplatelet drugs were discontinued, and anticoagulant alone was prescribed according to the guidelines, which resulted in very late stent thrombosis. The risks of both bleeding and thrombosis must be fully considered when deciding whether or not to discontinue antiplatelet therapy during anticoagulation therapy.     

MRI contrast agents: Basic chemistry and safety

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are pharmaceuticals used widely in MRI examinations. Gadolinium‐based MRI contrast agents (GBCAs) are by far the most commonly used. To date, nine GBCAs have been commercialized for clinical use, primarily indicated in the central nervous system, vasculature, and whole body. GBCAs primarily lower the T₁ in vivo to create higher signal in T₁‐weighted MRI scans where GBCAs are concentrated. GBCAs are unique among pharmaceuticals, being water proton relaxation catalysts whose effectiveness is characterized by a rate constant known as relaxivity. The relaxivity of each GBCAs depends on a variety of factors that are discussed in terms of both the existing agents and future molecular imaging agents under study by current researchers. Current GBCAs can be divided into four different structural types (macrocyclic, linear, ionic, and nonionic) based on the chemistry of the chelating ligands whose primary purpose is to protect the body from dissociation of the relatively toxic Gd³⁺ ion from the ligand. This article discusses how the chemical structure influences inherent and in vivo stability toward dissociation, and how it affects important formulation properties. Although GBCAs have a lower rate of serious adverse events than iodinated contrast agents, they still present some risk. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:1060–1071. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Concentrations of Gd–BOPTA in cholestatic fatty rat livers: role of transport functions through membrane proteins

Gd–BOPTA (gadobenate dimeglumine) is a magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent that, after i.v. administration, distributes within the extracellular space, enters rat hepatocytes through the sinusoidal transporters organic anion transporting peptides (Oatps) and is excreted unchanged into bile through the multidrug resistance‐associated protein 2 (Mrp2). It is unclear how the hepatobiliary contrast agent would accumulate in cholestatic fatty livers from obese rats with bile flow impairment. Indeed, the expression of both Oatps and Mrp2 transporters is decreased in cholestatic hepatocytes. To assess this question, we measured on‐line the hepatic concentrations of ¹⁵³Gd–BOPTA with a gamma probe placed over perfused rat livers. During the perfusion of ¹⁵³Gd–BOPTA, we obtained a similar maximal hepatic concentration in normal and fatty livers despite the decreased expression and function of membrane transporters in fatty livers. By pharmacokinetic modeling and mathematical simulations, we show how changes of transport into and out of hepatocytes modify the concentrations of ¹⁵³Gd–BOPTA within hepatocytes. Mathematical simulations help to understand how each parameter (entry into hepatocytes, bile excretion, or efflux back to sinusoids) interferes with the hepatic concentrations. The hepatic concentrations of ¹⁵³Gd–BOPTA within hepatocytes rely on the entry into hepatocytes through the sinusoidal membrane and on two paths of exit, the efflux back to sinusoids and the elimination into bile. Understanding how ¹⁵³Gd–BOPTA accumulates in hepatocytes is then complex. However, such understanding is important to analyze liver imaging with hepatobiliary contrast agents in cholestatic fatty livers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of interferon beta-1b on size of short-lived enhancing lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background: Contrast enhancing lesions (CELs) in MRI represent inflammatory events in multiple sclerosis (MS). IFN-β-1b decreases the formation of CELs. However, the ability of IFN-β-1b to reduce the size of CELs arising during therapy has not been extensively investigated. Methods: Thirty patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS were followed for a 3-month pre-therapy phase then for a 6-month therapy phase during which treatment with IFN-β-1b at a dosage of 250 μg subcutaneously injected every other day was employed. Each patient underwent monthly clinical and MRI examinations. For all patients, CELs were identified on postcontrast T1-weighted MRIs. CEL number, size, and volume were computed using Medx software. Results: The average number and total lesion volume of CELs visible during the therapy phase were significantly lower than the number and total lesion volume of CELs observed in the pre-therapy phase. However, there was no significant reduction between pre-therapy and therapy phases in the mean size of individual lesions arising during the respective phases. Conclusions: Since size of CELs has been related to severity of tissue damage, the lack of size decrease during therapy suggested a limited therapeutic effect of IFN-β-1b if a blood–brain barrier breakdown has occurred.