A new neuroanatomical two-dimensional fitting three-dimensional imaging techniques in neuroanatomy education.

BACKGROUND: Neuroanatomy is the most abstract and complex anatomy. Neurosurgeons have to spend plenty of time mastering the nuances of the autopsy. However, the laboratory that can meet the requirements of neurosurgery microanatomy is only owned by several large medical colleges because it is an expensive affair. Thus, laboratories worldwide are searching for substitutes,but the reality and local details might not meet the exact requirements of the anatomical structure. Herein, we compared the traditional teaching mode, the 3D image generated by the current advanced hand-held scanner and our self-developed 2D image fitting 3D imaging method in the comparative study of neuroanatomy education. METHODS: To examine the efficacy of two-dimensional fitting three-dimensional imaging techniques in neuroanatomy education. 60 clinical students of grade 2020 in Wannan Medical College were randomly divided into traditional teaching group, hand held scanner 3D imaging group and 2D fitting 3D method group, with 20 students in each group.First, the modeling images of the hand held scanner 3D imaging group and the 2D fitting 3D method group are analyzed and compared, and then the teaching results of the three groups are evaluated by objective and subjective evaluation methods. The objective evaluation is in the form of examination papers, unified proposition and unified score; The subjective evaluation is conducted in the form of questionnaires to evaluate. RESULTS: The modeling and image analysis of the current advanced hand-held 3D imaging scanner and our self-developed 2D fitting 3D imaging method were compared.The images (equivalent to 1, 10, and 40 × magnification) of the model points and polygons using the Cinema 4D R19 virtual camera of 50, 500, and 2000 mm showed 1,249,955 points and 2,500,122 polygons in the skull data obtained using the hand-held scanner. The 3D model data of the skull consisted of 499,914 points, while the number of polygons reached up to 60,000,000, which was about fourfold that of the hand-held 3D scanning. This model used 8 K mapping technology, and hand-held scanner 3D imaging 3D scanning modeling used a 0.13 K map based on the map data, thereby indicating that the 2D fitting 3D imaging method is delicate and real. Comparative analysis of general data of three groups of students.The comparison of test results, clinical practice assessment and teaching satisfaction of the three groups shows that the performance of hand held scanner 3D imaging group is better than that of traditional teaching group (P < 0.01), and that of 2D fitting 3D method group is significantly better than that of traditional teaching group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The method used in this study can achieve real reduction. Compared to hand-held scanning, this method is more cost-effective than the cost of the equipment and the results. Moreover, the post-processing is easy to master, and the autopsy can be performed easily after learning, negating the need to seek professional help. It has a wide application prospect in teaching.

Application of 3D modeling and fusion technology of medical image data in image teaching.

BACKGROUND: We combined anatomy with imaging, transformed the 2D information of various imaging techniques into 3D information, and form the assessment system of real medical imaging cases in order to make up for the deficiencies in the current teaching of the medical imaging technology students. METHODS: A total of 460 medical imaging students were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The research group received the teaching of the fusion of the original CT and MR data 3D model and the original image combined with 3D anatomical image. CT and MRI data are imported through load DICOM of 3D slicer. Different tissues and organs are segmented by threshold and watershed algorithm of segment editor module. Models are exported through export / import models and label maps in segmentation. Save the NHDR file of the original data and Obj file of the corresponding model through save the NHDR and corresponding Obj files are loaded into probe 1.0 software. The software can give different colors to the three-dimensional models of different organs or tissues to display the stereo models and related data, and display the hook edges of organ models on coronal, sagittal and axial images. At the same time, annotation can be established in the corresponding anatomical position. Finally, it can be saved as a single file of Hwl, and the teaching can be opened at any time through the program of probe 1.0. Statistical analysis Academic self-efficacy scale and Self-directed learning ability scale was adopted by self-directed learning evaluation scale between two groups. RESULTS: Compare the theoretical scores and case analysis scores of the two groups. The scores of the study and control groups were significantly higher than those of the control group. Before the experiment, no significant difference was detected in the self-efficacy of learning ability and learning behavior between the two groups, while after the experiment, these differences between the two groups were statistically significan. Moreover, the learning ability self-efficacy and learning behavior of the two groups of students after the experiment was significantly higher than that before the experiment. The self-efficacy of the learning behavior of the control group was higher after the experiment than that before the experiment, albeit the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The modern, information-based and humanized experimental teaching mode will be constantly improved under the support of PACS system in order to optimize the medical imaging teaching activities for the development of modern medical education.

Inhibitory effect of kaempferol on mouse melanoma cell line B16 in vivo and in vitro.

INTRODUCTION: Melanoma is a malignant tumour and is the leading cause of death in patients with skin tumours. AIM: Kaempferol belongs to a class of flavonoids, and is associated with many biological functions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and anti-cancer. However, the inhibitory effect of kaempferol on melanoma still remains unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The effect of kaempferol on melanoma was determined by conducting both in vitro and in vivo experiments using MTT assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The in vitro results revealed that kaempferol obviously inhibited cell viability of melanoma B16 cells, induced cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. The in vivo results showed that kaempferol effectively inhibited the growth of mice xenografts. More importantly, kaempferol down-regulated the number of MDSC cells and up-regulated the number of NKT cells and CD8 T cells in the spleen. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings indicate that kaempferol might play an inhibitory role in the growth of melanoma by enhancing anti-tumour immunity of organisms.

Evaluation of serum cytokines to predict serofast in syphilis patients.

BACKGROUND: Syphilis serofast has been increasing in recent years and has resulted in a dramatic increase in medical expenses. However, there are not effective methods for serofast prediction in syphilis patients prior to treatment. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated novel serum biomarkers for the prediction of serofast in syphilis patients prior to treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-treatment serum from patients with syphilis serofast and patients with syphilis serological cure were measured using antibody microarrays. The results generated from the antibody arrays were validated using ELISA. Healthy subjects were used as the controls. RESULTS: Compared to serologically cured patients, six cytokines (IL-17F, TNF RI, TNF RII, IL-16, OPN, and MCSFR) were significantly lower, while five factors (MCP-3, LIF, G-CSF, MIP-3a, and GH) were higher in serofast patients. ELISA validation was in-line with the results generated from antibody arrays. Of significance, these cytokines were firstly observed to the differentially expressed in pre-treatment serofast patient serum samples. CONCLUSIONS: The differentially expressed cytokines may be novel serum biomarkers for serofast prediction. These identified proteins play significant roles in the immune response, suggesting immune dysfunction may be the cause for syphilis serofast.

Virtual reality technology for teaching neurosurgery of skull base tumor.

BACKGROUND: Neurosurgery represents one of the most challenging and delicate of any surgical procedure. Skull base tumors in particular oftentimes present as a very technically difficult procedures in the setting of neurosurgical teaching. Virtual reality technology is one of the most promising surgical planning tools. It can perform fast three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging data sets under conditions of virtual reality (VR). Surgical simulation can more intuitively understand the anatomical relationship of the surgical area in significantly greater detail. METHODS: Thirty clinical undergraduates from the class of 2016 were randomly divided into two groups: the traditional teaching group and the virtual reality teaching group. After the study concluded, the teaching effectiveness was evaluated by combining basic theoretical knowledge, case analysis and questionnaire survey methods. RESULTS: Comparative analysis between both groups showed the response effect of the virtual reality teaching group was better than that of the traditional teaching group (P < 0.05). There was also no difference between both groups in terms of the design of the surgical approach and the listing of surgical matters that required attention (P > 0.05).The results of theoretical knowledge assessment between both groups showed that the scores of basic theory, location, adjacent structure, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and analysis, surgical methods and total scores in the VR group exceeded those in the traditional teaching group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that VR technology might improve neurosurgical skull base teaching quality, which should be promoted in the teaching of clinical subjects.

Ghrelin alleviates traumatic brain injury-induced acute lung injury through pyroptosis/NF-κB pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is one of the severe complications in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), contributing to the high mortality. Ghrelin has protective effects against various inflammatory diseases, but the effects of Ghrelin on TBI-induced ALI and its mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, Ghrelin administration was performed on the mice with TBI, then histological change in cortex and lung tissues, lung vascular permeability and macrophage number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were examined, respectively. Simultaneously, the alterations of proinflammatory factors and pyroptosis-related proteins in lung tissues were detected. As a result, TBI-induced ALI was ameliorated after Ghrelin treatment, which was demonstrated by improved histology, reduced lung vascular permeability, and peripheral macrophage number. Furthermore, Ghrelin decreased the mRNA levels of proinflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-18), the protein levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, Caspase1-P20, HMGB1 and Gasdermin D), and the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB in lung tissues. These results showed that Ghrelin attenuating TBI-induced ALI might be via ameliorating inflammasome-induced pyroptosis by blocking NF-κB signal, which are important for the prevention and treatment of TBI-induced ALI.

Overexpression of CDCA8 promotes the malignant progression of cutaneous melanoma and leads to poor prognosis.

Cutaneous melanoma is very aggressive and results in high mortality rates for cancer patients. Determining molecular targets is important for developing novel therapies for cutaneous melanoma. Cell division cycle associated 8 (CDCA8) is a putative oncogene that is upregulated in multiple types of cancer. The present study aimed to examine the role of CDCA8 in cutaneous melanoma, with a focus on the association of its expression to prognosis and metastasis. First, the mRNA expression of CDCA8 in cutaneous melanoma tissues was investigated using the ONCOMINE and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Furthermore, the relationship between the expression of CDCA8 and cutaneous melanoma patient survival was analyzed using a Kaplan­Meier plot and Log Rank test. In addition, the effects of CDCA8 on proliferation, migration and invasion of cutaneous melanoma cell lines were investigated using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR), Cell Counting kit­8, colony formation assay, wound healing and Matrigel assay. Finally, the expression levels of key proteins related to the Rho­associated coiled­coil­containing protein kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway were measured by western blot assay. The results demonstrated that CDCA8 was overexpressed in cutaneous melanoma tissues and cells lines compared with normal tissues, and high expression of CDCA8 was significantly associated with poorer prognosis in patients with cutaneous melanoma. In in vitro experiments, CDCA8 knockdown inhibited A375 and MV3 cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, CDCA8 knockdown reduced the phosphorylation levels of ROCK1 and myosin light chain, two downstream effector proteins of the ROCK pathway. In summary, the present findings suggested that CDCA8 may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Syphilitic Gumma: A Report of Three Cases.

Cerebral syphilitic gumma is very rare and is often pathologically confirmed following surgery. This study reports three patients with cerebral syphilitic gumma. The first case was a 62-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital due to speech arrest for 10 hours. Head MRI showed a nodular signal shadow with a significant enhancement and a significant centerline shift. He subsequently received surgery, and cerebral syphilitic gumma was confirmed by postoperative pathology. The second patient was a 66-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital due to complaints of gradually decreasing right eye vision and headache for nearly 50 days. Enhanced MRI at admission indicated irregular clumping of high-signal mixed with low-signal foci on the frontal lobe. Subsequently, he was operatively treated and was confirmed to have cerebral syphilitic gumma by postoperative pathology. The third patient was a 37-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital due to dizziness for approximately 15 days. Head MRI indicated a slightly abnormal lamellar and longer T1, T2 signal shadow on the left side. He did not receive surgery, and his symptoms disappeared after anti-syphilitic treatment. Hence, we recommend a critical interpretation of preoperative imaging data, understanding the unique changes that arise in the brain that can be detected through imaging, and an analysis of the patient history and laboratory tests to re-evaluate the value of surgery, with the ultimate goal of performing a stabilizing treatment for cerebral syphilitic gumma.