A comparative study of the normal oesophageal wall thickness based on 3-dimensional, 4-dimensional, and cone beam computed tomography.

Background: The study aimed to compare normal oesophageal wall thickness based on 3-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT), 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods: Contrast-enhanced 3DCT, 4DCT, and CBCT scans were acquired from 50 patients with lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. The outer oesophageal wall was manually contoured on each 3DCT, the maximum intensity projection of 4DCT (4DCTMIP) the end expiration phase of 4DCT (4DCT50) (the end expiration phase of 4DCT) and the CBCT data sets.

Comparison of gross tumor volume of primary oesophageal cancer based on contrast-enhanced three-dimensional, four-dimensional, and cone beam computed tomography.

Background: To explore motion information included in 3DCT, 4DCT and CBCT by comparing volumetric and positional differences of GTV.

Results: Independent of tumor location, significant differences were observed among volumes [IGTV > (IGTV or IGTV) > (GTV or GTV)]. The underestimations or overestimations between IGTV and IGTV were larger than those between IGTV and IGTV ( < 0.

Interactions of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphisms, Folate, and Homocysteine on Blood Pressure in a Chinese Hypertensive Population.

Background: High blood pressure is related to cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to explore the interactions of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHTR) gene C677T and A1298C mutations and folate/homocysteine (Hcy) status on blood pressure in a Chinese hypertensive population.

Methods: The clinical data in the present study derived from a previous trial (NCT00520247).

Analysis on genetic diversification and heterosis in autotetraploid rice.

Polyploidization has played an important role in plant evolution and is a pathway for plants to increase genetic diversification and to get higher heterosis comparing with that of diploid does. This study was undertaken to assess the genetic variation and relationships among 40 autotetraploid rice genotypes and their counterpart diploid cultivars with 99 SSR markers screened from published rice genome. The 99 SSR markers detected polymorphism among autotetraploid genotypes and revealed a total of 291 alleles with an average of 2.

Abnormalities occurring during female gametophyte development result in the diversity of abnormal embryo sacs and leads to abnormal fertilization in indica/japonica hybrids in rice.

Embryo sac abortion is one of the major reasons for sterility in indica/japonica hybrids in rice. To clarify the causal mechanism of embryo sac abortion, we studied the female gametophyte development in two indica/japonica hybrids via an eosin B staining procedure for embryo sac scanning using confocal laser scanning microscope. Different types of abnormalities occurred during megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis were demonstrated.