Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound Computer-Aided Diagnosis Software Compared with That of Radiologists with Different Levels of Expertise for Thyroid Malignancy: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

The aim of the work described here was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasound thyroid computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) software. This multicenter prospective study included 494 patients (565 thyroid nodules) who underwent surgery or biopsy after ultrasonography at four hospitals from January 2019 to September 2019. The diagnostic performance metrics of different readers were calculated and compared with the pathologic results.

Effects of tillage and nitrogen fertilizers on CH4 and CO2 emissions and soil organic carbon in paddy fields of central China.

Quantifying carbon (C) sequestration in paddy soils is necessary to help better understand the effect of agricultural practices on the C cycle. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of tillage practices [conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT)] and the application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer (0 and 210 kg N ha(-1)) on fluxes of CH(4) and CO(2), and soil organic C (SOC) sequestration during the 2009 and 2010 rice growing seasons in central China. Application of N fertilizer significantly increased CH(4) emissions by 13%-66% and SOC by 21%-94% irrespective of soil sampling depths, but had no effect on CO(2) emissions in either year.

[Dynamics of active organic carbon in a paddy soil under different rice farming modes].

A field experiment was conducted to study the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in a paddy soil under integrated rice-duck farming (RD), intermittent irrigation (RW), and conventional flooded irrigation (CK), the three rice farming modes typical in southern China. Under these three farming modes, the soil DOC and MBC contents reached the highest during the period from rice booting to heading, while the soil ROC content had less change during the whole rice growth period. Two-factor variance analysis showed that soil MBC was greatly affected by rice growth stage, soil DOC was greatly affected by rice growth stage and farming mode, and soil ROC was mainly affected by farming mode.

[Individual and interactive effects of aluminum, selenium, silicon and phosphorus on rice seedlings growth].

By using quadratic orthogonal rotation combinatorial design, and taking aluminum (Al), selenium (Se), silicon (Si), and phosphorus (P) as test factors, the regression models of test factors and the survival rate (SR), shoot mass per hundred plants (SMHP), root mass per one hundred plant seedlings (RMHP), and proline contents (PC) of rice seedlings were established, with the individual and interactive effects of the factors analyzed. The individual effects of test factors on the SR, SMHP, RMHP, and PC of rice seedlings decreased in the order of Al > P > Se > Si. Al showed negative effect, while Se, Si, and P showed positive effect.

[Mesenchymal stem cells transplanted in mdx mice differentiate into myocytes and express dystrophin/utrophin].

Objective: To investigate the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into myocytes and their expression of dystrophin/utrophin after transplantation in mdx mice.

Methods: BrdU-labeled fifth-passage rat MSCs were transplanted in mdx mice with previous total body gamma irradiation (7 Gy). At 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the transplantation, the mice were sacrificed to detect dystrophin/BrdU and utrophin expressions in the gastrocnemius muscle using immunofluorescence assay, RT-PCR and Western blotting.

[Dynamic distribution of implanted human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in mdx mice].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic distribution of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) in mdx mice.

Methods: Twenty-four 8-10-week-old immunocompromised mdx mice were transplanted with 1 x 10(7) passage 5 hBM-MSCs labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) by means of injection into the tail vein. The mice were euthanized 48 hours and 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks after transplantation.

[Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme and polymorphisms of N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid reductase gene in patients with ischemic stroke].

Objective: To explore the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the polymorphisms of N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid reductase (MTHFR) gene in patients with ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods: Totally 454 patients with IS (IS group) and 334 controls (control group) were recruited in our study. Their I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene and C677T polymorphisms of MTHFR gene were detected by PCR and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography.

[Relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme gene and ischemic stroke].

Objective: To study relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and ischemic stroke (IS).

Methods: (1)Four hundred and fifty-four patients and 334 controls were recruited in our study, their I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing high performance liquid chromatogram, and their risk factors of IS were recorded at the same time. (2)In addition, 29 stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) and 40 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were enrolled, and hypoxia- apnoea animal models and simple apnoea animal models were used at the same time.

[Relationship between methylenetrahydrofolate reductase gene and ischemic stroke].

Objective: To study the relationship between methylenetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and ischemic stroke.

Methods: Four hundred and fifty four ischemic stroke patients were enrolled in the study. They were divided into large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardioembolism (CE), small artery occlusion (SAA), stroke of other determined etiology (SOE) and stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE) according to TOAST (Trail of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) criteria; and they were divided into mild, moderate and severe types ischemic stroke according to their scores of neurologic impairment.

[Detecting the polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography].

Objective: To establish a method for detecting the polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR).

Methods: The MTHFR was amplified, and the amplified products were detected by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), and the amplified MTHFR was confirmed by sequencing and restriction enzyme digesting.

Results: A total of 334 individuals of Han people in southern China were recruited in our study, and their polymorphisms of MTHFR were detected.

[Transplantation of 3H-thymidine-labeled human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in mdx mice].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of using human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM- MSCs) for repairing the skeletal muscle sarcolemma lesions in mdx mice and characterize the distribution of the transplanted hBM-MSCs.

Methods: Eighteen 8- to 10-week-old immunosuppressed mdx mice received transplantation with 1x10(7) of hBM-MSCs (the fifth passage) with 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) labeling by injection of the cells into the tail vein. The mice were killed at 24 h, 48 h, 2 weeks, and 1, 2 and 4 months after the transplantation, respectively, to measure the radioactivity in the tissues and organs.

[Relationships between polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genes and genetic susceptibility to pregnancy induced hypertension].

Objective: To study the relationships between polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).

Methods: Ninety-nine PIH patients (PIH group), including 21 mild cases, 24 moderate cases and 54 severe cases and 54 normal pregnant women (control group) were recruited. The polymorphism of ACE gene was detected by PCR, and that of MTHFR gene was detected by PCR-RFLP.

[Dynamic changes in the expressions of myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin during repair of muscle injury].

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes in the expressions of myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin during the repair of injured muscle.

Methods: Muscular injury model was established by local injection of bupivacain, and at different time points following the injection, the gastrocnemius muscles were collected for preparation of cryosections. HE staining was performed for examination of the pathological changes in the injured muscles, and the expressions of MyoD and myogenin were detected by SABC.