Automated volumetric segmentation method for computerized-diagnosis of pure nodular ground-glass opacity in high-resolution CT

While accurate diagnosis of pure nodular ground glass opacity (PNGGO) is important in order to reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, computer-aided diagnosis of PNGGO is less studied than other types of pulmonary nodules (e.g., solid-type nodule). Difficulty in segmentation of GGO nodules is one of technical bottleneck in the development of CAD of GGO nodules. In this study, we propose an automated volumetric segmentation method for PNGGO using a modeling of ROI histogram with a Gaussian mixture. Our proposed method segments lungs and applies noise-filtering in the pre-processing step. And then, histogram of selected ROI is modeled as a mixture of two Gaussians representing lung parenchyma and GGO tissues. The GGO nodule is then segmented by region-growing technique that employs the histogram model as a probability density function of each pixel belonging to GGO nodule, followed by the elimination of vessel-like structure around the nodules using morphological image operations. Our results using a database of 26 cases indicate that the automated segmentation method have a promising potential

Classification of Benign/Malignant PNGGOs using K-means algorithm in MDCT Images: A Preliminary Study

Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. Recently, PNGGOs (Pure nodular ground-glass opacity) have been reported to increasing aspect for all CT-detected pulmonary nodules. Moreover, the malignancy rate of PNGGOs is a considerable proportion of benign diseases. In this study, we have developed a computerized classification scheme of PNGGOs malignancy. Segmentation of PNGGOs was performed semi-automatically. After that, the histogram based statistical features and region based features of benign and malignant GGO was extracted. Finally, K-means classifier was applied. Experiment was performed employing 12 CT image sets and 91.67% of accuracy was achieved

Atomic Scale Study on Growth and Heteroepitaxy of ZnO Monolayer on Graphene

Atomically thin semiconducting oxide on graphene carries a unique combination of wide band gap, high charge carrier mobility, and optical transparency, which can be widely applied for optoelectronics. However, study on the epitaxial formation and properties of oxide monolayer on graphene remains unexplored due to hydrophobic graphene surface and limits of conventional bulk deposition technique. Here, we report atomic scale study of heteroepitaxial growth and relationship of a single-atom-thick ZnO layer on graphene using atomic layer deposition. We demonstrate atom-by-atom growth of zinc and oxygen at the preferential zigzag edge of a ZnO monolayer on graphene through in situ observation. We experimentally determine that the thinnest ZnO monolayer has a wide band gap (up to 4.0 eV), due to quantum confinement and graphene-like structure, and high optical transparency. This study can lead to a new class of atomically thin two-dimensional heterostructures of semiconducting oxides formed by highly controlled epitaxial growth.ope

Protective Effects of Platycodon grandiflorum Aqueous Extract on Thioacetamide-induced Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Mice

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective activity of aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum (BC703) on thioacetamide (TA)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. We found that BC703 significantly decreased mortality and the change in serum transaminase following TA administration. The group treated with BC703 at doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg produced significant hepatoprotective effects against TA-induced liver damage by decreasing the activities of serum enzymes, nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in dose-dependent manners. Histopathological studies further substantiated the protective effect of BC703. These results show the hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract from Platycodon grandiflorum on thioacetamide-induced fulminant hepatic failure

Anticancer Efficacy of Cordyceps militaris

Cordyceps militaris is used widely as a traditional medicine in East Asia. Although a few studies have attempted to elucidate the anticancer activities of C. militaris, the precise mechanism of C. militaris therapeutic effects is not fully understood. We examined the anticancer activities of C. militaris ethanolic extract (Cm-EE) and its cellular and molecular mechanisms. For this purpose, a xenograft mouse model bearing murine T cell lymphoma (RMA) cell-derived cancers was established to investigate in vivo anticancer mechanisms. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, immunoblotting analysis, and flow cytometric assay were employed to check in vitro cytotoxicity, molecular targets, and proapoptotic action of Cm-EE. Interestingly, cancer sizes and mass were reduced in a C. militaris-administered group. Levels of the phosphorylated forms of p85 and AKT were clearly decreased in the group administered with Cm-EE. This result indicated that levels of phosphoglycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) and cleaved caspase-3 were increased with orally administered Cm-EE. In addition, Cm-EE directly inhibited the viability of cultured RMA cells and C6 glioma cells. The number of proapoptotic cells was significantly increased in a Cm-EE treated group compared with a control group. Our results suggested that C. militaris might be able to inhibit cancer growth through regulation of p85/AKT-dependent or GSK3β-related caspase-3-dependent apoptosis

Effects of cholecalciferol and omega-3 fatty acids on hepcidin levels in 5/6 nephrectomy rats

Background Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In patients with CKD-related anemia, an inverse relationship between vitamin D and hepcidin levels has been observed. Hepcidin is a key regulator of iron homeostasis, mediated via binding to ferroportin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cholecalciferol and omega-3 fatty acids (FA) on hepcidin levels using 5/6 nephrectomized (Nx) rats. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham control, 5/6 Nx, 5/6 Nx treated with cholecalciferol, 5/6 Nx treated with omega-3 FA, and 5/6 Nx treated with both cholecalciferol and omega-3 FA. We measured the hepcidin and ferroportin levels in the kidney and liver by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western blots. We evaluated hepcidin expression in the kidney by immunohistochemical staining. Results Among the five groups, 5/6 Nx rats exhibited the worst kidney function. Compared with the sham controls, 5/6 Nx rats showed significantly increased serum hepcidin levels and decreased vitamin D levels. Supplementation with either omega-3 FA or cholecalciferol decreased hepcidin and increased vitamin D levels, with a concurrent improvement of anemia. Furthermore, 5/6 Nx rats treated with omega-3 FA/cholecalciferol showed decreased ferroportin and ferritin levels, while iron and total iron-binding capacity levels increased. Conclusions Treatment with a combination of cholecalciferol and omega-3 FA may improve anemia in a CKD rat model by decreasing hepcidin levels

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Piper attenuatum

Piper attenuatum is used as a traditional medicinal plant in India. One of the substances in P. attenuatum has been suggested to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, there is insufficient research about the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action of P. attenuatum. The effects of P. attenuatum methanol extract (Pa-ME) on the production of inflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the expression of proinflammatory genes, the translocation level of transcription factors, and intracellular signaling activities were investigated using macrophages. Pa-ME suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-), pam3CSK4-, and poly(I:C)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells without displaying cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) were decreased by Pa-ME. P-ME reduced the translocation of p50/NF-κB and AP-1 (c-Jun and c-Fos), as well as the activity of their upstream enzymes Src, Syk, and TAK1. Immunoprecipitation analysis showed failure of binding between their substrates, phospho- (p-) p85 and p-MKK3/6. p-p85 and p-MKK3/6, which were induced by overexpression of Src, Syk, and TAK1, were also reduced by Pa-ME. Therefore, these results suggest that Pa-ME exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by targeting Src and Syk in the NF-κB signaling pathway and TAK1 in the AP-1 signaling pathway

Combined 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging for the Initial Evaluation of Glottic Cancer

ObjectivesThe primary aim of this study was to determine whether 18F-FDG-PET/CT (PET/CT) scans provide additional diagnostic information in addition to the direct laryngoscopic examination (L/E) and contrast-enhanced CT (CT) in patients with glottic cancer during the initial evaluation.MethodsFifty-five consecutive patients with glottic cancer of the larynx that had L/E, CT and PET/CT were enrolled. The diagnostic value of each modality was compared for their accuracy in predicting the extent of the primary tumors on sub-site based analysis and the final tumor staging. The reference standards were either the surgical pathology findings or clinical/radiological follow-up outcome. Changes in patient care based on PET/CT results were compared with the treatment decisions based on L/E with CT.ResultsFor primary tumor sub-site based analysis, the sensitivity was significantly higher for L/E (92.8%) than for PET/CT (79.4%, P=0.028). The comparisons between L/E vs. CT and CT vs. PET/CT did not reach statistical significance. As an initial tumor-staging method the L/E had a diagnostic accuracy of 76.4%, compared to 61.8% for CT and 41.8% for PET/CT. The L/E and CT were better than the PET/CT (P=0.0009 and 0.049) for the initial TNM staging. PET/CT scanning changed the clinical decision-making based on the L/E with CT results in 12.7% of cases, of whom 5.5% had no additional PET/CT related benefit.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that PET/CT imaging added no clinical information benefit compared to the L/E and CT for the initial evaluation of patients with glottic cancer

The prophylactic use of recombinant factor VIIa in a patient with DeBakey type III aortic dissection -A case report-

Little is known about the prophylactic use of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in patients undergoing surgery for a bleeding aorta employing cardiopulmonary bypass. We report the successful use of rFVIIa in a patient undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of a DeBakey type III aortic dissection