On Combining Morphological Component Analysis and Concentric Morphology Model for Mammographic Mass Detection

Mammographic mass detection is an important task for the early diagnosis of breast cancer. However, it is difficult to distinguish masses from normal regions because of their abundant morphological characteristics and ambiguous margins. To improve the mass detection performance, it is essential to effectively preprocess mammogram to preserve both the intensity distribution and morphological characteristics of regions. In this paper, morphological component analysis is first introduced to decompose a mammogram into a piecewise-smooth component and a texture component. The former is utilized in our detection scheme as it effectively suppresses both structural noises and effects of blood vessels. Then, we propose two novel concentric layer criteria to detect different types of suspicious regions in a mammogram. The combination is evaluated based on the Digital Database for Screening Mammography, where 100 malignant cases and 50 benign cases are utilized. The sensitivity of the proposed scheme is 99% in malignant, 88% in benign, and 95.3% in all types of cases. The results show that the proposed detection scheme achieves satisfactory detection performance and preferable compromises between sensitivity and false positive rates.

The experimental research of R-phycoerythrin subunits on cancer treatment: A new photosensitizer in PDT

The mouse tumor cell 5180 and human liver carcinoma cell SMC 7721 cells were first treated with R-PE and its subunits (alpha, beta, gamma subunits), then irradiated with Argon laser (496 nm, 28.8 J/cm(2)). Survival rate was measured by MTT method. In order to compare the phototoxicity in normal cells, the mouse marrow cells were treated with photofrin II and beta-subunit, irradiated with 45 J/cm(2) of light; survival rate was also measured by MTT method. The result showed that R-PE subunits had better PDT effect on s180 cells than R-PE and lower phototoxicity in marrow cells than photofrin II Flow cytometric analysis showed that PDT results in a growth inhibition and a G(0)-G(1) cell cycle arrest in SMC 7721 cells. The tumor cells inhibited by PDT in vivo were morphologically observed by TEM, the tumor cell death was daze to the occlusion of tumor blood vessels and inducement of cell programmed death in nuclei. Therefore, with the advantage in special fluorescence activity, loth molecular weight, good light absorbent character and weak phototoxicity, R-PE subunit is art attractive option for improving the selectivity of PDT.

N-acetylchitooligosaccharide is a potent angiogenic inhibitor both in vivo and in vitro

N-Acetylchitooligosaccharide (N-acetyl-COs) was prepared by N-acetylation of chitooligosaccharide (COs). In vitro study using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) revealed that both N-acetyl-COs and COs inhibited the proliferation of HUVECs by inducing apoptosis. Treatment of HUVECs by N-acetyl-COs resulted in a significant reduction of density of the migration cells and repressed tubulogenesis process. The antiangiogenic effects of the oligosaccharides were further evaluated using in vivo zebrafish angiogenesis model, and the results showed that both oligosaccharides inhibited the growth of subintestinal vessels (SIV) of zebrafish embryos in a dose-dependent manner, as observed by endogenous alkaline phosphatase (EAP) staining assay. In contrast, no cytotoxicity was found when treating the NIH3T3 and several other cancer cells with the oligosaccharides. Our results also confirmed the antiangiogenic activity of N-acetyl-COs was significantly stronger than the parent oligosaccharide, COs. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.

A novel polypeptide from shark cartilage with potent anti-angiogenic activity

Using guanidine-HCl extraction, acetone precipitation, ultra-filtration and chromatography, a novel polypeptide with potent anti-angiogenic activity was purified from cartilage of the shark, Prionace glauca. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and SDS-PAGE revealed that the substance is a novel polypeptide with MW 15500 (PG155). The anti-angiogenic effects of PG155 were evaluated using zebrafish embryos model in vivo. Treatment of the embryos with 20 mu g/ml PG155 resulted in a significant reduction in the growth of subintestinal vessels (SIVs). A higher dose resulted in almost complete inhibition of SIV growth, as observed by endogenous alkaline phosphatase (EAP) staining assay. An in vitro transwell experiment revealed that the polypeptide inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced migration and tubulogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Exposure of HUVECs in 20 mu g/ml PG155 significantly decreased the density of migrated cells. Almost complete inhibition of cell migration was found when HUVECs were treated with 40-80 mu g/ml PG155. PG155 (20 mu g/ml) markedly inhibited the tube formation of HUVECs and a dose-dependent effect was also found when treatment of HUVECs with PG155 at the concentration from 20 to 160 mu g/ml.

靶向斑马鱼VEGF的shRNA表达载体的构建及其对斑马鱼胚胎血管发育的影响

血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF)是一种多功能的细胞因子，其主要作用是促进血管内皮细胞增殖和增加血管通透性，是肿瘤及正常组织血管生成的中心调控因素，以VEGF为靶点的肿瘤血管靶向性治疗成为近几年肿瘤治疗的新途径。RNAi是近年来新发展的一项反向遗传学技术，是一种研究基因功能的有力工具。斑马鱼作为一种重要的模式生物，被广泛用于胚胎的分子发育机制、疾病模型的构建以及药物筛选等研究中。然而在斑马鱼中运用RNAi技术进行基因功能研究是一个相对较新的领域，研究资料较少，并且目前进行的斑马鱼RNAi实验中，siRNA大都是通过化学方法或体外转录合成的。体外合成的siRNA在进入体内后会被降解而无法达到持久阻抑基因表达的目的。因此本研究旨在探讨VEGF特异性siRNA表达载体对斑马鱼VEGF基因的沉默作用，通过分析表型及相关细胞因子的变化，阐明VEGF对斑马鱼胚胎血管生成的影响及作用机制。 研究通过计算机辅助设计软件，针对斑马鱼VEGF mRNA不同位点设计合成了4段含siRNA特异序列的DNA单链，经退火，克隆入pSilencer 4.1-CMV neo载体CMV启动子下游，构建了重组质粒pS1-VEGF、pS2-VEGF、pS3-VEGF及pS4-VEGF。 通过显微注射的方法将载体导入1-2细胞期斑马鱼体内，于胚胎发育的48 h采用RT-PCR的方法检测VEGF基因的表达量，研究不同干扰序列对VEGF基因表达的干涉作用。结果显示，针对不同位点的表达载体对VEGF基因表达的抑制效率有显著差异。它们对VEGF mRNA的抑制率分别为80.5%，42.8%，12.5%，40.7%。通过筛选我们得到了一条具有高效抑制作用的载体pS1-VEGF，该载体的相应序列靶向斑马鱼两个主要异构体VEGF165和VEGF121的共有外显子序列。 形态学检测结果显示，注射了pS1-VEGF的胚胎出现了心包膜水肿、血流速度减慢、循环红细胞堆积等症状。定量碱性磷酸酶染色显示，注射pS1-VEGF能够抑制斑马鱼胚胎新生血管的形成，当注射剂量为0.4 ng时，血管生成的抑制率为31.8%。NBT/BCIP血管染色显示，注射该载体后72 h，50%的斑马鱼肠下静脉、节间血管以及其它血管的发育受到不同程度的抑制。随着注射剂量的加大，血管发育受抑制的情况也随之加重，当注射剂量为1 ng时，只有心脏、头部及卵黄有血液循环。对干扰效果的特异性进行了研究，结果表明pS1-VEGF对斑马鱼内源基因胸苷酸合成酶（thymidylate synthase, TS）基因的表达没有明显的抑制作用。针对TS基因的shRNA表达载体及与斑马鱼没有同源性的对照载体对VEGF基因表达也没有明显的抑制作用。浓度梯度实验表明在0-1.2 ng的范围内干扰效果具有剂量依赖性。 以胚胎整体原位杂交的方法检测质粒对VEGF基因受体NRP1基因表达的影响，发现VEGF特异性shRNA表达载体能够引起NRP1基因表达的降低，说明斑马鱼中VEGF所介导的血管生成作用至少在部分上是依赖于NRP通路所调节的。 本研究工作为进一步研究斑马鱼基因功能、VEGF调控网络提供了一个快速、有效的手段，为阐明斑马鱼的血管生成机制提供了新的资料，为采用RNAi技术，以VEGF为靶点，以斑马鱼为模型对肿瘤进行基因治疗研究奠定了基础。

鲨鱼软骨抗血管生成多肽的分离纯化及其生物活性

以血管生成为靶点的抗肿瘤策略是抗肿瘤领域的研究热点，目前已经发现许多天然和化学合成的抗血管生成药物。鲨鱼软骨作为抗新生血管生成因子的重要来源的研究已有20多年的历史，很多研究显示鲨鱼软骨提取物有抗血管生成活性。但鲨鱼软骨活性多肽的完整分子结构一直未见报道；鲨鱼软骨活性多肽干扰血管生成通路的信号途径尚不明确。 本文应用盐酸胍抽提、丙酮分级沉淀、超滤、凝胶层析等分离技术，从青鲨（Prionace glauca）软骨中分离纯化并鉴定了一种新的具有抗新生血管生成活性的多肽。经SDS-PAGE和N-末端氨基酸序列分析显示，该多肽分子量为15500 Da，采用蛋白数据库分析表明该多肽是一种新发现的鲨鱼软骨多肽（Polypeptide from Prionace glauca，PG155）。 体外实验显示，PG155抑制内皮细胞生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor，VEGF）介导的人脐静脉内皮细胞（human umbilical vein endothelial cell ，HUVEC）迁移和管腔形成，并呈剂量依赖关系。200 μg/ml PG155对牛主动脉内皮细胞（Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells，BAECs）和HUVECs及以下癌细胞，包括人肝癌细胞（human hepatoma Bel-7402 cells，Bel-7402）、 口腔上皮癌细胞（human oral epidermoid carcinoma KB cells ，KB）、人结肠癌细胞（human colon cancer HCT-18 cells，HCT-18）和人乳腺癌细胞（human breast MCF7 cancer cells ，MCF7）的增殖均无抑制作用，说明PG155无细胞毒作用。20 μg/ml PG155显著抑制HUVEC的迁移和管腔形成；40-80 μg/ml PG155 对VEGF 介导的HUVEC的迁移和管腔形成几乎完全抑制。 体内实验显示，PG155显著抑制斑马鱼胚胎模型新生血管生成，并呈剂量依赖关系。形态学观察表明PG155显著抑制斑马鱼胚胎肠下静脉（subintestinal vessels， SIVs）的生长，随着浓度的升高SIVs的生长可受到完全抑制。碱性磷酸酶染色分析显示，在一定浓度范围内，PG155随着浓度的升高对斑马鱼胚胎整体血管生成抑制作用依次增强。160 μg/ml PG155会引起斑马鱼胚胎心脏功能障碍。 由海洋生物中发现新的肿瘤新生血管生成抑制剂国内外的报道较少，我们的工作表明鲨鱼软骨可作为血管生成抑制剂的重要来源，鲨鱼软骨活性多肽PG155由于具有极低的细胞毒作用，并能抑制VEGF介导的血管生成过程，有希望成为一类新型抗肿瘤药物。

玻璃海鞘多肽PCI的分离纯化及其抗血管生成活性研究

血管生成是肿瘤生长、发展的必经之路，并且与实体瘤的发生、转移有着密切的关系，抑制肿瘤新生血管生成具有特异性高、疗效好、不易产生耐药性以及毒副作用低等特点，因此抑制肿瘤血管形成可望成为治疗癌症的一个突破点，以抗血管生成为主的肿瘤生物治疗研究已成为近十年的研究热点。玻璃海鞘（Coina intestinalis）属于内性目、玻璃海鞘科，因其进化上的独特地位常作为研究神经发育、免疫系统进化的材料。在其它种属的海鞘中分离发现了多种具有抗肿瘤活性的多肽，但关于玻璃海鞘抗血管生成活性多肽的分离纯化和活性研究未见报道。本文利用多种分离纯化手段，采用活性追踪的方法首次从玻璃海鞘中分离得到具有抗新生血管生成作用的多肽，并对其抗血管生成活性做了初步研究。 本研究利用冷丙酮分级沉淀，超滤截留分子量小于5kDa的蛋白，再经SephadexG25、Superdex75柱层析，µRPC C2/C18反相柱层析等分离手段，采用活性追踪的方法，由玻璃海鞘（Coina intestinalis）中分离纯化出抗血管生成多肽PCI，据保留时间计算其分子量为1.8 kDa。MTT检测表明其对人脐静脉血管内皮细胞（HUVEC）具有强烈的抑制作用，IC50为7.5 μg/ml，并对多种肿瘤细胞有直接的抑制作用。斑马鱼胚胎体内实验进一步表明PCI在40 μg/ml的浓度下作用12h，斑马鱼胚胎新生血管生成受到显著抑制，肠下静脉血管长度为正常组的30%，斑马鱼胚胎血管生成率为正常组的45%。

自治式水下机器人回收系统的研究与设计

本文介绍了我们承担研制的国家“８６３”计划１０００ｍ及６０００ｍ无缆水下机器人的回收系统．回收系统在４级海况下不用专用母船能够成功地回收水下机器人，依据母船、海况、水下机器人及其他具体情况，介绍了两种不同的回收方案和回收器，经海上试验证明是有效和可行的。

冠状动脉旁路移植术后抑郁焦虑状态随访和分析

To explore the presence of depression, anxiety and cardiac events after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) prospectively and comparably. To analysis influential factors of depression and anxiety ( peri-operation and 1 year after operation ), and the effection on cardiac events in the year after operation. We followed the patients who underwent scheduled consecutive CABG. We interviewed patients to assess depression, anxiety symptoms using self-rating depression scale( SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale（SAS）before operation , before discharge and 1 year after operation. And cardiac events were also identified. All patients were divided into the group with depression and/or anxiety symptoms or the other group without depression and/or anxiety symptoms 3 times according to depression and anxiety symptoms before operation , before discharge and 1 year after operation. 69 patients completed the follow-up.24 patients (34.8%) had depression and/or anxiety symptoms before CABG, 31 patients (44.9%) had depression and/or anxiety symptoms before discharge, and 10 patients (14.5%) had depression and/or anxiety symptoms 1 year after operation. 6 patients(8.7%) had cardiac events, and 5 patients were re-admitted. Arhythmia before and after operation, the quantity of blood vessel grafted, length of stay , depression and anxiety symptoms before operation, cardiac events may lead to depression and anxiety symptoms 1 year after operation. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass grafting (CPB), Arhythmia after operation, the prolonged length of stay are influential factors of cardiac events. Though the incidence of depression and/or anxiety symptoms 1 year after operation is lower than before operation and before discharge, it is high still. Arhythmia before and after operation, the more blood vessels grafted, the prolonged length of stay , depression and anxiety symptoms before operation and cardiac events could be risk factors of depression and anxiety symptoms 1 year after operation. Much attention must be paid to this phenomenon. Heavy patient's condition, complicated surgery are risk factors of cardiac events, and bad emotion before operation and before discharge are independent to cardiac events. Key words： perspective research; depression；anxiety; coronary artery bypass grafting; follow up

LED (660 nm) and laser (670 nm) use on skin flap viability: angiogenesis and mast cells on transition line

Skin flap procedures are commonly used in plastic surgery. Failures can follow, leading to the necrosis of the flap. Therefore, many studies use LLLT to improve flap viability. Currently, the LED has been introduced as an alternative to LLLT. the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of LLLT and LED on the viability of random skin flaps in rats. Forty-eight rats were divided into four groups, and a random skin flap (10 x 4 cm) was performed in all animals. Group 1 was the sham group; group 2 was submitted to LLLT 660 nm, 0.14 J; group 3 with LED 630 nm, 2.49 J, and group 4 with LLLT 660 nm, with 2.49 J. Irradiation was applied after surgery and repeated on the four subsequent days. On the 7th postoperative day, the percentage of flap necrosis was calculated and skin samples were collected from the viable area and from the transition line of the flap to evaluate blood vessels and mast cells. the percentage of necrosis was significantly lower in groups 3 and 4 compared to groups 1 and 2. Concerning blood vessels and mast cell numbers, only the animals in group 3 showed significant increase compared to group 1 in the skin sample of the transition line. LED and LLLT with the same total energies were effective in increasing viability of random skin flaps. LED was more effective in increasing the number of mast cells and blood vessels in the transition line of random skin flaps.

C-Kit(+) Cells Isolated from Developing Kidneys Are a Novel Population of Stem Cells with Regenerative Potential

The presence of tissue specific precursor cells is an emerging concept in organ formation and tissue homeostasis. Several progenitors are described in the kidneys. However, their identity as a true stem cell remains elusive. Here, we identify a neonatal kidney-derived c-kit(+) cell population that fulfills all of the criteria as a stem cell. These cells were found in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and exhibited clonogenicity, self-renewal, and multipotentiality with differentiation capacity into mesoderm and ectoderm progeny. Additionally, c-kit(+) cells formed spheres in nonadherent conditions when plated at clonal density and expressed markers of stem cells, progenitors, and differentiated cells. Ex vivo expanded c-kit(+) cells integrated into several compartments of the kidney, including tubules, vessels, and glomeruli, and contributed to functional and morphological improvement of the kidney following acute ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Together, these findings document a novel neonatal rat kidney c-kit(+) stem cell population that can be isolated, expanded, cloned, differentiated, and used for kidney repair following acute kidney injury. These cells have important biological and therapeutic implications. STEM Cells 2013;31:1644-1656

Orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment for anterior open bite in children

BackgroundAnterior open bite occurs when there is a lack of vertical overlap of the upper and lower incisors. the aetiology is multifactorial including: oral habits, unfavourable growth patterns, enlarged lymphatic tissue with mouth breathing. Several treatments have been proposed to correct this malocclusion, but interventions are not supported by strong scientific evidence.ObjectivesThe aim of this systematic review was to evaluate orthodontic and orthopaedic treatments to correct anterior open bite in children.Search methodsThe following databases were searched: the Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register (to 14 February 2014); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)(The Cochrane Library 2014, Issue 1); MEDLINE via OVID (1946 to 14 February 2014); EMBASE via OVID (1980 to 14 February 2014); LILACS via BIREME Virtual Health Library (1982 to 14 February 2014); BBO via BIREME Virtual Health Library (1980 to 14 February 2014); and SciELO (1997 to 14 February 2014). We searched for ongoing trials via ClinicalTrials.gov (to 14 February 2014). Chinese journals were handsearched and the bibliographies of papers were retrieved.Selection criteriaAll randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of orthodontic or orthopaedic treatments or both to correct anterior open bite in children.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently assessed the eligibility of all reports identified.Risk ratios (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for dichotomous data. the continuous data were expressed as described by the author.Main resultsThree randomised controlled trials were included comparing: effects of Frankel's function regulator-4 (FR-4) with lip-seal training versus no treatment; repelling-magnet splints versus bite-blocks; and palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup versus no treatment.The study comparing repelling-magnet splints versus bite-blocks could not be analysed because the authors interrupted the treatment earlier than planned due to side effects in four of ten patients.FR-4 associated with lip-seal training (RR = 0.02 (95% CI 0.00 to 0.38)) and removable palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup (RR = 0.23 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.48)) were able to correct anterior open bite.No study described: randomisation process, sample size calculation, there was not blinding in the cephalometric analysis and the two studies evaluated two interventions at the same time. These results should be therefore viewed with caution.Authors' conclusionsThere is weak evidence that the interventions FR-4 with lip-seal training and palatal crib associated with high-pull chincup are able to correct anterior open bite. Given that the trials included have potential bias, these results must be viewed with caution. Recommendations for clinical practice cannot be made based only on the results of these trials. More randomised controlled trials are needed to elucidate the interventions for treating anterior open bite.

Linear structures in mammographic images: detection and classification

R. Zwiggelaar, S.M. Astley, C.J. Taylor and C.R.M. Boggis, 'Linear structures in mammographic images: detection and classification', IEEE Transaction on Medical Imaging 23 (9), 1077-1086 (2004)

Experimental and numerical simulation of dough kneading in filled geometries

Binding, David; Couch, M.A.; Sujatha, K.S.; Webster, M.F., (2003) 'Experimental and numerical simulation of dough kneading in filled geometries', Journal of Food Engineering 58 pp.111-123 RAE2008

Kontakty społeczności Europy środkowej i strefy egejskiej w drugim tysiącleciu przed Chr. Próba analizy archeologiczno-chronometrycznej

Wydział Historyczny: Instytut Prahistorii