Image processing in digital radiography

Image processing is a critical part of obtaining high-quality digital radiographs. Fortunately, the user of these systems does not need to understand image processing in detail, because the manufacturers provide good starting values. Because radiologists may have different preferences in image appearance, it is helpful to know that many aspects of image appearance can be changed by image processing, and a new preferred setting can be loaded into the computer and saved so that it can become the new standard processing method.Image processing allows one to change the overall optical density of an image and to change its contrast. Spatial frequency processing allows an image to be sharpened, improving its appearance. It also allows noise to be blurred so that it is less visible. Care is necessary to avoid the introduction of artifacts or the hiding of mediastinal tubes.     

溶酶体保护蛋白/组织蛋白酶A基因敲除小鼠听力和耳形态学初步研究

目的研究溶酶体保护蛋白/组织蛋白酶A(protective protein/cathepsin A,PPCA)基因敲除小鼠听功能和耳形态学改变,探讨半乳糖唾液酸沉积症听力损害的病理生理机制。方法应用听性脑干反应(ABR)测试和颞骨连续切片,观察1月和2月龄的PPCA基因敲除纯合子(PPCA-/-)小鼠ABR反应阈和光镜下外耳、中耳及内耳形态改变,并以野生型(PPCA / )小鼠作对照。结果1月龄PPCA-/-小鼠ABR反应阈和耳形态无明显改变;2月龄时,短声和短音8、163、2 kHz反应阈较PPCA / 提高40~45 dB SPL,中耳黏膜增厚、听骨细胞囊泡化、变形和关节腔融合,血管纹增厚、螺旋神经节细胞、螺旋缘纤维细胞、前庭膜、基底膜及沿前庭阶外淋巴隙的间皮细胞囊泡化,但Corti器毛细胞及支持细胞正常。结论溶酶体保护蛋白/组织蛋白酶A缺乏可导致听力损害、中耳及耳蜗形态改变、中耳炎、听骨改变以及耳蜗螺旋神经节、血管纹、螺旋缘、前庭膜和基底膜等细胞的溶酶体储积,可能分别是传导性聋和感觉神经性聋的形成机制。     

Bridge Sequence对M1GS核酶体外切割活性的影响

目的探讨B ridge Sequence(桥序列)对M1GS核酶体外切割活性的影响,从而为人工M1GS核酶的优化设计提供一定的理论依据。方法以含大肠杆菌核酶P催化单位(M1 RNA)基因的pFL117质粒作为模板,通过巧妙设计不同的下游引物,经PCR扩增、扩增产物克隆及克隆基因的体外转录,构建一组具有不同桥序列的人工M1GS核酶。进一步将所构建的上述人工M1GS核酶分别与同位素标记的底物RNA片段进行体外切割试验,并通过同位素扫描成像系统对各M1GS核酶的切割产物加以分析。结果成功构建了针对HCMV UL54mRNA T7靶位的、四种不同桥序列长度的M1GS核酶,其桥序列长度分别为0n、t6nt、20nt和88nt,并依次命名为M1GS-T7(0)、M1GS-T7(6)、M1GS-T7(20)和M1GS-T7(88)。经体外切割试验证实,M1GS-T7(88)的靶向切割活性最强,M1GS-T7(20)的切割活性相对较弱,而M1GS-T7(0)及M1GS-T7(6)则无明显的切割活性。结论人工M1GS核酶中桥序列的长度对于其体外切割活性具有重要影响,提示在人工M1GS核酶的优化设计时,桥序列的长度是不可忽视的因素之一。     

First-generation neuronal precursors in the crayfish brain are not self-renewing

Adult-born neurons in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) are the progeny of 1st-generation precursor cells (functionally analogous to neuronal stem cells in vertebrates) that are located in a neurogenic niche on the ventral surface of the brain. The daughters of these precursor cells migrate along the processes of bipolar niche cells to proliferation zones in the cell clusters where the somata of the olfactory interneurons reside. Here they divide again, producing offspring that differentiate into olfactory local and projection neurons. The features of this neuronal assembly line, and the fact that it continues to function when the brain is isolated and perfused or maintained in organotypic culture, provide opportunities unavailable in other organisms to explore the sequence of cellular and molecular events leading to the production of new neurons in adult brains. Further, we have determined that the 1st-generation precursor cells are not a self-renewing population, and that the niche is, nevertheless, not depleted as the animals grow and age. We conclude, therefore, that the niche is not a closed system and that there must be an extrinsic source of neuronal stem cells. Based on in vitro studies demonstrating that cells extracted from the hemolymph are attracted to the niche, as well as the intimate relationship between the niche and vasculature, we hypothesize that the hematopoietic system is a likely source of these cells.     

L-Ornithine phenylacetate (OP): a novel treatment for hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common neuropsychiatric complication of liver disease affecting about 20-30% patients with cirrhosis. HE may only affect quality of life (e.g. impairments in attention; coordination; driving ability), but in some patients this progresses to coma and death; defining mortality in those with acute liver failure. HE is thought to occur through accumulation of ammonia as a by-product of protein metabolism. In liver failure ammonia accumulates to toxic levels, resulting in ammonia-associated brain swelling. Presently, there is no proven therapy for HE though recent studies suggest that during liver failure, ammonia removal by skeletal muscle (by conversion to glutamine) can be manipulated; also that ammonia and amino acid metabolism should be viewed in terms of their interorgan relationship. This led us to develop a novel concept for ammonia removal. Preliminary studies provide the proof of concept that the combination of L-ornithine (amino acid) with phenylactetate, as L-ornithine phenylacetate (OP), reduces toxic levels of ammonia by (1) L-ornithine acting as a substrate for glutamine synthesis from ammonia in skeletal muscle and (2) phenylacetate excreting the ornithine-related glutamine as phenylacetylglutamine in the kidneys. As both L-ornithine and phenylacetate are already available for human use, data showing its usefulness in ammonia lowering could translate quickly into providing the much needed therapy for HE patients.     

Sofosbuvir as treatment against dengue?

Dengvaxia^® (CTD‐TDV), the only licensed tetravalent dengue vaccine by Sanofi Pasteur, was made available since 2015. However, administration of CTD‐TDV, in general, has not received the prequalification recommendation from the World Health Organization. Having a universal antidengue agent for treatment will therefore beneficial. Accordingly, the development of nucleoside inhibitors specific to dengue viral polymerase that perturb dengue infection has been studied by many. Alternatively, we have used a marketed anti‐HCV prodrug sofosbuvir to study its in silico and in vitro effects against dengue. As a result, the active metabolite of sofosbuvir (GS‐461203) was predicted to bind to the catalytic motif (Gly‐Asp‐Asp) of dengue viral polymerase with binding affinity of −6.9 kcal/mol. Furthermore, sofosbuvir demonstrated excellent in vitro viral inhibition with an EC₉₀ of 0.4 μm . In addition, this study demonstrated the requirement of specific liver enzymes to activate the prodrug into GS‐461203 to exert its antidengue potential. All in all, sofosbuvir should be subjected to in‐depth studies to provide information of its efficacy toward dengue and its lead potential as DENV polymerase inhibitor in human subjects. In conclusion, we have expended the potential of the clinically available drug sofosbuvir as treatment for dengue.     

Elevated lipoprotein (a) levels are associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and aims

The role of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] in coronary artery diseases (CAD) with special clinical background such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been fully determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation of Lp(a) to type 2 diabetic patients with or without CAD.

人参皂甙对老龄大鼠Meynert核及大脑皮质脑源性神经营养因子含量的影响

目的观察Meyaert核（NBM）与大脑皮质神经元内脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）的老龄性改变,探讨人参皂甙对BDNF蛋白含量表达的影响.方法雌性Wistar大鼠随机分为青年组、老龄组及老龄给药组.老龄给药组大鼠自18个月开始饲以人参皂甙至27月龄.对各组NBM及大脑皮层神经元进行免疫组织化学法染色、图像分析及统计学处理.结果老龄组大鼠NBM及大脑皮质内BDNF含量均显著低于青年组（P＜0.01）.给药组大脑皮质内BDNF含量较老龄组显著增加（P＜0.01）,但NBM内BDNF含量变化无统计学意义.结论老龄大鼠NBM及大脑皮质内BDNF含量显著降低,给予人参皂甙可显著提高大脑皮质神经元BDNF的表达.