Relative Gray Value Research Articles

Deep learning to assess bone quality from panoramic radiographs: the feasibility of clinical application through comparison with an implant surgeon and cone-beam computed tomography.

Bone quality is one of the most important clinical factors for the primary stability and successful osseointegration of dental implants. This preliminary pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical applicability of deep learning (DL) for assessing bone quality using panoramic (PA) radiographs compared with an implant surgeon's subjective tactile sense and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) values. In total, PA images of 2,270 edentulous sites for implant placement were selected, and the corresponding CBCT relative gray value measurements and bone quality classification were performed using 3-dimensional dental image analysis software. Based on the pre-trained and fine-tuned ResNet-50 architecture, the bone quality classification of PA images was classified into 4 levels, from D1 to D4, and Spearman correlation analyses were performed with the implant surgeon's tactile sense and CBCT values. The classification accuracy of DL was evaluated using a test dataset comprising 454 cropped PA images, and it achieved an area under the receiving characteristic curve of 0.762 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.714-0.810). Spearman correlation analysis of bone quality showed significant positive correlations with the CBCT classification (r=0.702; 95% CI, 0.651-0.747; P<0.001) and the surgeon's tactile sense (r=0.658; 95% CI, 0.600-0.708, P<0.001) versus the DL classification. DL classification using PA images showed a significant and consistent correlation with CBCT classification and the surgeon's tactile sense in classifying the bone quality at the implant placement site. Further research based on high-quality quantitative datasets is essential to increase the reliability and validity of this method for actual clinical applications.

Interleukin 33 inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced high permeability of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells

Objective: To investigate the effect of interleukin-33 (IL-33) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced permeability of rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (RCMECs). Methods: RCMECs were cultured in vitro to be divided into control group, LPS group, IL-33 group and LPS+IL-33 group. The effect of IL-33 on the proliferation of RCMECs was detected by cell counting reagent (CCK8). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran assay was used to evaluate the permeability of RCMECs. The expression of vascular endothelial calmodulin, ras homologous gene family (Rho) member A (RhoA) and phosphorylated Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (p-ROCK2) proteins were tested by western blot. High-throughput sequencing and gene ontology (GO) were performed for gene expression in LPS and LPS+IL-33 groups. Results: No significant effect of IL-33 at 10-50 ng/ml on the proliferation of RCMECs was observed (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the permeability of RCMECs (permeability coefficient ratio 1.404±0.029 vs. 1.000±0.200, P<0.05) was significantly increased in LPS group and the expression of vascular endothelial calmodulin (relative gray value 0.429 5±0.012 9 vs. 0.594 9±0.014 2, P<0.05) was down-regulated, while the permeability of monolayers (permeability coefficient ratio, 0.948±0.013, P<0.01) was decreased in LPS+IL-33 group and the expression of vascular endothelial calmodulin (relative grayscale value 0.549 1±0.012 0, P<0.005) was up-regulated compared with the LPS group. High-throughput sequencing data revealed that the differential genes downregulated in the LPS and LPS+IL-33 groups were associated with cytoskeleton and Rho signaling pathway. Compared with the control group, RhoA (relative gray value 0.211 4±0.009 9 vs. 0.135 0±0.007 6, P<0.000 1) and p-ROCK (relative gray value 0.656 3±0.013 2 vs. 0.503 6±0.036 2, P<0.000 1) protein expression was upregulated in the LPS group. When compared with LPS group, RhoA (relative gray value 0.157 7±0.010 7, P=0.000 2), p-ROCK (relative gray value 0.427 7±0.003 8, P<0.000 1) protein expression was decreased in LPS+IL-33 group. Conclusion: IL-33 may improve LPS-induced hyperpermeability of RCMECs by inhibiting RhoA and p-ROCK protein expression in Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase signaling pathway.

Osteogenic effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and whole-body vibration on peri-implant bone. An experimental in vivo study.

The aims of this study were (i) to compare the osteogenic impact of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and low-magnitude high-frequency (LMHF) loading achieved with whole-body vibration (WBV) on peri-implant bone healing and implant osseointegration in rat tibiae, and (ii) to examine their combined effect on these processes. Titanium implants were inserted in the bilateral tibiae of 28 Wistar rats. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: LIPUS+WBV, LIPUS, WBV, and control. LIPUS was applied to the implant placement site for 20min/day on 5days/week (1.5MHz and 30mW/cm2 ). WBV was applied for 15min/day on 5days/week (50Hz and 0.5g). In the LIPUS+WBV group, both stimuli were applied under the same stimulation conditions as in the LIPUS and WBV groups. After 4weeks of treatment, peri-implant bone healing and implant osseointegration were assessed using removal torque (RT) tests, micro-CT analyses of relative gray (RG) value, and histomorphometrical analyses of bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and peri-implant bone formation (BV/TV). The LIPUS+WBV group had significantly greater BIC than the WBV and control groups. Although there were no significant intergroup differences in RT, RG value, and BV/TV, these variables tended to be greater in the LIPUS+WBV group than the other groups. The combination of LIPUS and LMHF loading may promote osteogenic activity around the implant. However, further study of the stimulation conditions of LIPUS and LMHF loading is necessary to better understand the osteogenic effects and the relationship between the two stimuli.

Diagnostic Value of Quantitative Gray-Scale Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography for Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions.

The aim of the study was to quantitatively analyze the enhancement of breast lesions by contrast-enhanced spectral mammography to improve the differential diagnosis ability of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography. A total of 283 patients with breast lesions admitted from August 2017 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Quantitative analysis of all enhancing lesions was performed to measure the gray values of the lesion region of interest (ROI), the area close to the lesion (ROI1), the area close to the chest wall (ROI2), and the chest wall (ROI3). Differences in gray values between different ROIs of benign and malignant lesions were compared. Taking the pathological results as the criterion standard, we used the receiver operating characteristic curve to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the ROI gray value and relative gray value (rROI) for the lesions. A total of 299 lesions were found in 283 patients, including 101 benign lesions and 198 malignant lesions. The ROI gray value, rROI1, rROI2, and rROI3 of malignant lesions were all significantly greater than those of benign lesions. The areas under the ROC curve of ROI, rROI1, rROI2, and rROI3 gray values of benign and malignant lesions were 0.795, 0.833, 0.812, and 0.741, respectively. The statistically significant difference in the area under the ROC curve was only found between rROI1 and ROI gray value and rROI1 had the greatest diagnostic value. The gray value of malignant breast lesions was higher than that of benign lesions. The quantitative analysis of the gray value will help in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions.

The Effect of Electroacupuncture on Obesity through Browning of White Adipocytes and Mitochondrial Autophagy

To study the effect of electroacupuncture on obesity through browning of white adipocytes and mitochondrial autophagy. C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups, normal mice, obese mice and obese mice with electroacupuncture treatment (10 mice in each group). 2/15Hz Electroacupuncture was applied to single Tianshu acupoint of obesity mice under conscious state for 15 min each time and 5 times/w for 4 w. Lee’s Index and epididymal adipose cell size were measure to assess the therapeutic effect. Visceral white adipose tissue was Isolated and analyzed the expression level of uncoupling protein 1 and PR domain containing 16 by western blot. Messenger RNA of uncoupling protein 1, Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha, PR domain containing 16; Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, phosphatase and tensin homolog induced putative kinase 1, Parkin and protein 62 were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Average Lee’s index of fat model group was significantly higher than that of control group (p<0.05). Average Lee’s index of electroacupuncture group was significantly lower compared to fat model group (p<0.05). Epididymal adipose cell size of fat model group was significantly higher than that of control group (p<0.05). Epididymal adipose cell size of electroacupuncture group was significantly lower than that of fat model group (p<0.05). The relative gray value of uncoupling protein 1 and PR domain containing 16 of fat model group were both lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). Compared to the fat model group, the electroacupuncture group had higher level of uncoupling protein 1 and PR domain containing 16 (p<0.05). The mRNA of uncoupling protein 1, Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha, PR domain containing 16, Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, PTEN induced putative kinase 1, Parkin and protein 62 all decreased in the fat model group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The electroacupuncture group raised the mRNA level of uncoupling protein 1, Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha, PR domain containing 16, Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, PTEN induced putative kinase 1, Parkin and protein 62 compared to the fat model group (p<0.05). Electroacupuncture showed high efficacy on obesity for reducing Lee’s index and epididymal adipose cell size of the obese mice. Electroacupuncture can trigger browning of white adipocytes to accelerate lipometabolism by increasing uncoupling protein 1 and PR domain containing 16. The other mechanism of electroacupuncture on obesity is mitochondrial autophagy by up-regulation of Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha, beclin1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, phosphatase and tensin homolog induced putative kinase 1, Parkin and protein 62.

Biophysical and microstructural changes of swelling cornea caused by endothelial cells damage.

Biophysical properties and microstructural changes of swelling cornea which caused by endothelial cells damage will be evaluated. Swelling cornea models were established by endothelial cells damage in 114 Sprague Dawley rats. Relative gray value, swelling rate and light transmittance were measured to evaluated the biophysical properties and microstructure changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Relative gray value decreased while swelling rate rose along with time and both of them reached relative stability after 7 days. Light transmittance showed a decline trend with time even after corneal thickness had reached stable stage. Observed by transmission electron microscopy, interfibrillar distance increased, fewer proteoglycans coating appeared and remnants proteoglycan branches became thinner and longer in 7 days. Diameter of fibrils didn't change obviously with time. In cornea edema models caused by endothelial cells damage, the changes of biophysical property and microstructure can help us evaluate corneal edema accurately and objectively.

Therapeutic effect of the epidermal growth factor on diabetic foot ulcer and the underlying mechanisms.

The present study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the wound healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). A total of 48 rabbits with DFU were randomly divided into 2 groups, comprising the treatment and control groups. Full-thickness skin (10×10 mm) was excised from the thigh of each rabbit. The wounds in the treatment group were treated with 100 mg/l EGF once a day for 1 month. The control group received no treatment. At 20 days following treatment, new granulation tissues that formed beyond the edge of the wound were collected for subsequent analysis. Tissues from rabbits in the treatment group produced a greater number of fibroblasts, which exhibited a fibroblastic morphology when compared with those in the control group. In the treatment group, a larger number of these fibroblasts were observed as clusters, and there were numerous blood vessels when compared with the control group. The fibroblasts in the control group exhibited an irregular morphology, contained fewer organelles and the surrounding collagenous fibers were sparse. These fibroblasts also demonstrated a disordered arrangement and it was revealed that the wound healed at a slower rate compared with the treatment group. Endogenous EGF mRNA detection revealed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in the relative gray value of EGF mRNA between the treatment (103.27±4.27) and control (63.88±4.36) groups. In conclusion, EGF may accelerate the healing of DFU, and exogenous EGF treatment may upregulate the expression of EGF mRNA in newly generated tissues.

Effect of high-frequency loading and parathyroid hormone administration on peri-implant bone healing and osseointegration

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of low-magnitude, high-frequency (LMHF) loading, and anti-osteoporosis medications such as parathyroid hormone (PTH) and bisphosphonates on peri-implant bone healing in an osteoporosis model, and to assess their combined effects on these processes. Thirteen-week-old ovariectomized rats (n = 44) were divided into three groups: PTH, alendronate, and saline. After 3 weeks of drug administration, titanium implants were inserted into the tibiae. Each group was subdivided into two groups: with or without LMHF loading via whole-body vibration (50 Hz at 0.5 g, 15 min per day, 5 days per week). Rats were killed 4 weeks following implantation. Removal torque test, micro-CT analyses (relative gray (RG) value, water = 0, and implant = 100), and histomorphometric analyses (bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and peri-implant bone formation (bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV))) were performed. Removal torque values and BIC were significantly differed by loading and drug administration (ANOVA). Post hoc analysis showed that PTH-treated groups were significantly higher than the other drug-treated groups. BV/TV was significantly enhanced by PTH administration. In cortical bone, RG values were significantly increased by loading. In trabecular bone, however, RG values were significantly increased by PTH administration. These findings suggest that LMHF loading and PTH can act locally and additively on the bone healing process, improving the condition of implant osseointegration.

The Autophagy Level Is Increased in the Synovial Tissues of Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and Is Correlated with Disease Severity.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex and not fully understood autoimmune disease associated with multijoint damage. The main effector cells, the synovial fibroblasts, are apoptosis resistant and hyperplastic which indicate that autophagy level is high in synovial tissue. Real-time PCR, immunocytochemistry, and western blotting were used in this paper to study the autophagy status of the synovial tissues obtained from RA and OA patients at the time of joint replacement surgery. We further evaluated the correlation between autophagy levels with RA activity-associated serum markers with SPSS. The results showed that the expression levels (both in mRNA and in protein level) of autophagy-related proteins (belcin1, Atg5, and LC3) in the synovial tissue of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (n = 20) were significantly higher than those in OA patients (n = 16). We further showed that the LC3-II/β-actin relative gray value was strongly correlated with the serum levels of several RA activity-related markers: CRP, ESR, CCP, and RF. Our results indicate that evaluating the autophagy level of synovial biopsies might be a useful way to diagnose RA and to estimate the disease activity. Reducing the expression level of autophagy-related genes might become a new therapeutic target for active rheumatoid arthritis.

Association of gankyrin protein expression in human colorectal cancer with postoperative prognosis

To investigate the association of gankyrin protein expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) with its prognosis. Clinical data and resection samples of 100 colorectal cancer patients identified by pathology undergoing resection in our department from June 2008 to June 2009 were collected. The gankyrin expression in CRC tissues and matched adjacent noncancerous tissues collected during the operation of 100 CRC cases was detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. The associations of gankyrin expression level with overall survival, clinicopathologic features were analyzed by Chi square test, Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive brown granules were mainly distributed in the cytoplasm, and nuclear immunostaining was observed in tissue samples of 29 cases, of whom 16 cases had distal metastasis [55.2% (16/29)]. The positive rate of gankyrin and the relative gray value of Western blotting in CRC tissues were 67% (67/100) and 0.69±0.23, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of 2 cm adjacent noncancerous tissues [6% (6/100) and 0.31±0.16] and 10 cm adjacent noncancerous tissues [1%(1/100) and 0.16±0.11] (all P<0.001). Patients with positive expression of gankyrin had worse survival than those with negative ones (41.8% vs. 72.7%, P=0.008). The gankyrin expression was associated to lymph node metastasis (P=0.005), tumor stage (P=0.001) and distal metastasis (P=0.002). Cox regression analysis showed that distal metastasis (P=0.004) and high expression of gankyrin (P=0.038) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of patients with CRC. Up-regulated expression of gankyrin is related to invasion and metastasis of human CRC, and gankyrin may be valuable in predicting prognosis.

Activity of glial cells in trigeminal nervous system in rats with experimental pulpitis

To observe the activity change of astrocyte in related nucleus caused by acute pulpitis in rats. Rat acute pulpitis model was induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). And, according to processing time, a total of 30 rats were divided into 5 groups of control, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to detect the dynamic expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve (Vc). The relative gray value of ipsilateral Vc GFAP expression in experimental groups was 153 ± 11 at 12 h. And it significantly increased versus the control group (100 ± 4)(P < 0.05). The relative gray value of GFAP was 198 ± 12 at 24 h and was 231 ± 9 at 48 h. And they significantly increased versus the control group (both P < 0.01). Their expressions were time-dependent. In this acute pulpitis model, activated glial cells are probably involved in the processes of pulpitis and hyperalgesia.

High level of serum AMBP is associated with poor response to paclitaxel–capecitabine chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer patients

Gastric cancer is one of the most common human cancers and ranks the second in the global cancer-related mortality. The clinical outcome of patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is markedly dependent on their response to the chemotherapy. Paclitaxel plus capecitabine, as a first-line regimen, is widely administrated in AGC patients, but more than a half of the patients have a poor response, possibly due to their resistance to the treatment. Therefore, it is important to identify potential responders to improve the efficacy of the chemotherapy. In the present study, we used an isobaric tag approach for relative and absolute quantification combined with ESI-QUAD-TOF/MS to identify potential predictive biomarkers for the chemotherapy. We found 211 serum proteins, and confirmed 17 candidates that were differentially present in the progression of disease (PD) group and the partial response (PR) group to the treatment of paclitaxel plus capecitabine. In further validation of the 17 candidates in the set of 12 PD and 12 PR AGC patients, we identified a higher level of AMBP (Alpha-1-Microglobulin/Bikunin Precursor) in the sera of PD patients than of the PR patients assayed by ELISA (9.13 ± 0.45 vs. 8.11 ± 0.26 μg/mL, p = 0.06) and by the Western blotting (relative gray value 396.4 ± 39.1 vs. 275.0 ± 34.76, p = 0.03), respectively. The receiver operating characteristics curve showed 75% sensitivity and 75% specificity of AMBP in AGC patients treated with the chemotherapy. Our data indicated that the high level of serum AMBP could predict the poor response of the AGC patients treated with the paclitaxel-capecitabine chemotherapy, which could be used as a potential biomarker to identify patients who would benefit from this chemotherapeutic regimen.

In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy for the differential diagnosis between vitiligo and nevus depigmentosus

Nevus depigmentosus (ND) is frequently confused with vitiligo. Differential diagnosis can be difficult. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive technique for real-time en face imaging of the superficial layers of the skin down to the superficial dermis with cellular level resolution close to conventional histopathology. In this study, we tried to use this new technology to study the features of the distribution of pigment cells of these two hypopigmentation disorders and then concluded the differential features. Sixty vitiligo patients and 62 ND patients were enrolled in the study. Three points in each patient (lesional, margin of the lesions and adjacent non- lesional points) were examined with RCM. The gray value of image was quantified using software, and we calculated the relative gray value. The RCM image feature was different between vitiligo and ND patients. The differential diagnosis was made based on the following four RCM features: complete absence of pigment cells; the distribution of pigment cells; the margins; and the relative gray value. RCM can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis between vitiligo and ND.

Diffusion weighted imaging and B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 gene-related research in rabbit models of hepatic VX2 tumors after radiotherapy

Objective To study the DWI characteristics,Bcl-2 gene expression and the relevance of the DWI and Bcl-2 in rabbit models of hepatic VX2 tumors after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy(3D-CRT).Methods Forty hepatic VX2 tumor models were successfully created.After the tumor grew to more than 1 cm in diameter,28 tumor models were treated with 3D-CRT and then divided into four groups using random number table.The remaining 12 tumor models were used as controls and randomly assigned to each group.MR scanning were performed at different times(1st day,5th day,10 th day,15 th day) for each group respectively.ROIs of the VX2 tumor tissue and normal liver tissue were taken and ADC values measured with calculation of their ratio.Expression of apoptotic Bcl-2 gene was determined by using Rt-PCR method.ADC value with their ratio and the relative gray value of Bcl-2/β-actin were calculated using one dimensional analysis of variance and two samples t-test at different times,compared within the group and between groups.Results On the 1st,5 th,10 th and 15 th day,the ADC ratios of the radiotherapy groups were 0.55±0.13,1.32±0.27,0.96±0.34,0.72±0.17 respectively,the corresponding ADC ratios of control groups were 0.69±0.20,0.78±0.24,0.71±0.23,0.79±0.21.The ratio of ADC values for radiotherapy group and the control group were compared,t value was 1.283(P＞0.05),4.974(P＜0.01),3.191(P＜0.01),0.776(P＞0.05)respectively for each group.On the 1st,5 th,10 th and 15 th day,the Bcl-2 gene relative gray value of the radiotherapy groups were 0.92±0.31,0.56±0.28,0.42±0.24 and 0.31±0.15 respectively,the corresponding Bcl-2 gene relative gray value of control group were 1.18±0.50,1.15±0.43,1.16±0.41,1.46±0.19.The Bcl-2 gene relative gray value for radiotherapy groups and the control groups were compared,with t value 0.987(P＞0.05),3.863(P＜0.01),5.401(P＜0.01),5.894(P＜0.01)respectively.The ADC value ratio and Bcl-2 gene relative gray value correlation analysis showed that there was significant negative correlation(r=-0.493,P＜0.01).Conclusion DWI ADC values can reflect the dynamic changes at the molecular level for hepatic VX2 tumors after radiotherapy at different times. Key words: Carcinoma,hepatocellular; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; Model,animals; Genes,bcl-2

The development of methodology for HLA-A mRNA in lymphocytes and its application in patients with HBV infection

目的 建立外周血淋巴细胞HLA-A mRNA的检测方法,探讨其在慢性乙型肝炎、肝炎后肝硬化、肝癌患者中的应用价值.方法 改良法提取人外周血淋巴细胞RNA,应用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)一步法扩增HLA-A mRNA,琼脂糖凝胶电泳结果采用Bandscan软件分析相对灰度值,半定量HLA-A的基因表达.结果 半定量HLA-A所得平均相对灰度值在慢性乙型肝炎组、肝硬化组、肝癌组、正常对照组分别为0.54±0.21、0.34±0.27、0.22±0.16、0.95±0.19.慢性乙型肝炎组、肝硬化组、肝癌组均明显低于正常对照组(P＜0.05),慢性乙型肝炎组与肝癌组,肝硬化组与肝癌组相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),慢性乙型肝炎组与肝硬化组有下降趋势.结论 成功建立检测HLA-A基因的RT-PCR一步法,从基因转录水平上证实慢性乙型肝炎、肝炎后肝硬化、肝癌患者外周血淋巴细胞HLA-A下调,且与相应患者细胞免疫功能减弱密切相关.

The effect on apoptosis in anterior pituitary induced by cadmium chloride and its relations with caspase-9 pathway

To study the effects of cadmium chloride in anterior pituitary and the relation between apoptosis and expression of procaspase-9 mRNA. In vivo studies:40 SD male rats were randomly distributed into four groups which were administered with CdCl2 at different doses by gavage for 6 weeks; the rats' anterior pituitary cells were primarily cultured for 120 hours, then treated with CdCl2 at the dose of 0, 1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00 micromol/L for 6 hours; The indices included: expression of procaspase-9 mRNA, detection of apoptosis with TUNEL assay. The results showed the excretion of ACTH, LH seemed to be decreased dramatically and the apoptosis inclined to enhance remarkably, and further more, the expression of procaspase-9 mRNA appeared to be increased significantly as compared with those of the control. It was show that a dose-effect relationship between the CdCl2 dosing and indices above with the regression analysis and a linear correlation between the mean gray value of apoptosis cell and the relative gray value of procaspase-9 mRNA positive cell. The results indicated that damnification, for example, apoptosis could be caused by certain dose of CdCl2 in anterior pituitary cells with dose dependent manner. Caspase-9 might play a role in the occurrence of apoptosis. It was suggested that cadmium could induce apoptosis of anterior pituitary both in vivo and in vitro in the manner of dose-dependent, and caspase-9 might play a role during above processes.

Differentiation of small hyperechoic renal cell carcinoma from angiomyolipoma: computer-aided tissue echo quantification.

To assess the value of computer-aided tissue echo quantification in differentiating small hyperechoic renal cell carcinomas from angiomyolipomas, we studied ultrasonographic images of 15 renal cell carcinomas and 20 angiomyolipomas. After digitizing the images, we measured the absolute gray scale values of the renal cortex, central echo complex, and mass. The relative gray scale value (%) of the mass was calculated by setting the gray scale value of the cortex as 0% and the central echo complex as 100%. The relative gray scale value of renal cell carcinomas was in the range of 12 to 73% (mean, 28%), whereas that of angiomyolipomas was 30 to 204% (mean, 130%). The differentiation between small hyperechoic renal cell carcinomas and angiomyolipomas can be facilitated by computer-aided tissue echo quantification.