Quantitative coherence analysis with an X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer.

Differential phase-contrast (DPC) X-ray imaging has been performed in the Talbot-Lau configuration, in which the X-ray source was a combination of an absorption grating and a laboratory X-ray generator. We report here quantitative analysis of partial coherence effects on the X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer. Based on the visibility of the self-image, the well-known geometry condition is reproduced.

Phase retrieval from a single near-field diffraction pattern with a large Fresnel number.

A new method of phase retrieval from a single near-field diffraction image with a large Fresnel number is presented and discussed. This method requires only the oversampled diffraction pattern without any other information such as the object envelope. Moreover, we show that the combination with a fast computational method is possible when the linear oversampling ratio is an integer.

Removal of high-molecular-weight DNA by carboxylated magnetic beads enhances the detection of mutated K-ras DNA in urine.

We have previously demonstrated that mutated DNA derived from the circulation can be detected in urine and predominantly exists as DNA fragments <1 kb. To preferentially isolate the trans-renal DNA from urine, we developed a method using carboxylated beads to separate high-MW (1 kb or larger) from low-MW DNA in urine. A primer set for 18s rRNA (generating a PCR product of 872 bp) was designed and optimized for real-time PCR quantification of high-MW DNA templates.

Investigation of misalignment in analyzer crystal based-CT and its effect.

Analyzer crystal-based computed tomography (ACB-CT) is a novel x-ray phase contrast computed tomography technique. In this paper, in order to extract the refraction angle, we analyzed the effect of misalignment on tomography-sliced images of ACB-CT. Two different methods were considered: the first, proposed by Chapman and Dilmanian, was based on two sets of projective image data taken at both sides of the rocking curve and with a half circle sample rotation and the second, recently proposed by our team, was based on only one set of projective image data taken at one side of the rocking curve but with a full circle sample rotation.

Undetermined focal liver lesions on gray-scale ultrasound in patients with fatty liver: characterization with contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Background And Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical value and potential impact of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of undetermined focal liver lesions (FLLs) in patients with fatty liver.

Methods: Fifty-two patients (34 men, 18 women) with fatty liver with 67 FLLs (size range, 1-8.6 cm; mean, 4.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression correlates with vascular endothelial growth factor-promoted tumor cell proliferation in prostate cancer.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the expressions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and to determine if hTERT was correlated with VEGF-promoted tumor cell proliferation in prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expressions of hTERT and VEGF in 60 cases of PCa and 60 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Then their correlation in PCa was analyzed by Spearman correlative analysis.

[Niche assessment of China provincial social-economic-natural complex ecosystems in 2003].

Using the approaches of evaluating sustainable development and livable cities for references, a set of indicator systems were established to assess the ecological niche of complex ecosystem. The integrated ecological niche of complex ecosystem included 4 sub-niches of natural resources, environment, economy and society, and these sub-niches comprised many single-item indicators. How to apply the polygon synthesis indicators approach to calculate the integrated ecological niche and 4 sub-niches was introduced, and a quantitative assessment on the ecological niches of complex ecosystems in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under Central Government of China in 2003 was made.

Does benign prostatic hyperplasia originate from the peripheral zone of the prostate? A preliminary study.

Objective: To compare the histological characteristics, cell proliferation, apoptosis and biological features in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the peripheral (PZ) and transition zone (TZ) of the prostate.

Patients And Methods: Tissue from BPH in TZ and PZ was obtained from 68 patients undergoing transrectal ultrasonography-guided biopsy and used for both morphometric analysis and immunohistochemical studies. The epithelial, stromal and luminal composition of the tissue was determined using a computer-assisted method for quantitative morphometric analysis.

[A preliminary study of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Objective: To analyze and evaluate the characteristics of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Methods: Forty-eight BPH patients confirmed by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Contrast pulse sequencing technique (CPS) and quantitative software-ACQ were used, and the parameters of beginning enhancement time, disappearing and transit time and peak intensity (PI) of the inner gland and outer gland were recorded and analyzed.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for assessment of tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Studies have shown that angiogenesis is a critical factor for tumor growth and metastasis in a variety of human tumors. Although various methods have been tried to assess vessels in tumors, including microvessel density (MVD), assessment of tumor vessels by radiologic techniques is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in determining the tumor vascularity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

[Long-term results of percutaneous sonographically-guided microwave ablation therapy of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term results of percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy in the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: From May 1994 to June 2004, a total of 216 patients with 275 nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma whose diameter View Article and Find Full Text PDF

SP3 acts as a positive regulator on the core promoter of human ZPK gene.

ZPK (zipper protein kinase)/MUK/DLK/MAP3K12, a member of mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs), is expressed in a tissue-specific manner, particularly in developing brain, and likely to contribute to cytodifferentiation, apoptotic elimination, and migration. To understand the preferential expression of ZPK in neuronal tissues, we have analyzed the putative core promoter region upstream of the first exon of the human ZPK gene. The core promoter region is TATA-less, but contains several potential transcription factor-binding motifs such as a GC-box, all of which are well conserved between human and mouse.

ELF a beta-spectrin is a neuronal precursor cell marker in developing mammalian brain; structure and organization of the elf/beta-G spectrin gene.

Spectrins play a pivotal role in axonal transport, neurite extension, the organization of synaptic vesicles, as well as for protein sorting in the Golgi apparatus and cell membrane. Among spectrins there is great variability in sequence composition, tissue distribution, and function, with two known genes encoding the alpha-chain, and at least five encoding the beta-chain. It remains unclear as to whether novel beta-spectrins such as elf1-4 are distinct genes or beta-G-spectrin isoforms.

Regulation of the murine Nfatc1 gene by NFATc2.

NFAT proteins play a key role in the inducible expression of cytokine genes in T lymphocytes. NFATc1 and NFATc2 are the predominant NFAT family members in the peripheral immune system. NFATc2 is found abundantly in the cytoplasm of resting T cells, whereas Nfatc1 expression is induced during T cell activation.