Search

The wavelet transform cannot maintain a balance in image edge preservation and detail processing and the multi-scale Retinex algorithm is prone to halo artifacts and serious noise pollution in images. In order to solve the above problems, a mine low illumination image enhancement algorithm is proposed by combining the wavelet transform with the multi-scale Retinex algorithm based on multi-scale guided filtering. Firstly, the algorithm decomposes the low illumination image into wavelets to obtain the high-frequency and low-frequency components. Secondly, the wavelet denoising is applied to the high-frequency components of the image using a three-stage threshold function, and nonlinear global luminance correction is applied to the low-frequency components of the image to enhance the image luminance. Moreover, the multi-scale guided filter function is used to estimate the illumination components instead of the Gaussian filter function of the traditional multi-scale Retinex algorithm, and then the reflection components are obtained. The principal component analysis method is used to fuse the reflection component and the non-linear global luminance correction image so as to improve image edge detail preservation effect effectively. Finally, the wavelet reconstruction is performed on the high-frequency components and low-frequency components of the image, and the wavelet reconstructed image is nonlinearly transformed to solve the image graying problem. The experimental results show that the algorithm has strong noise suppression capability, can improve the image luminance and contrast effectively, make the image edge preservation performance and detail information richness effectively balanced, and avoid the image halo artifacts and color distortion.

The concept of theatricality is one of the core notions of theatre studies and the theory of arts. It has been discussed and debated for a long time in Chinese and Western contexts. Drawing on the works of Wang Yuli and others, this article examines the evolution of this concept in the Western context, especially in the second half of the twentieth century. This article provides a comparative review of the definitions of theatricality from different perspectives by Josette Feral, Ragnhild Tronstad, Samuel Weber, etc., which are important but less introduced in Chinese. The most pivotal issue in the concept is the dialectical unification of semiotic methods and autonomic aesthetics. Then this article analyzes the notion in detail on four levels: first, theatricality as the categorical feature of theatre as art; second, theatricality as appeared in other art disciplines; third, theatricality as a notion in relevant humanities; fourth, theatricality as a term to describe the nature of life and society in general. Using these theoretical discussions to analyze the practical problems reflected by the theatrical-literary conflict, I argue that it is inappropriate to prescribe theatricality in literary terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and development of severe novel Coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) follows the pathogenesis characteristics and transmission law of the pestilential diseases, "pathogenic warm attacks the lungs first, and goes to the pericardium reversely", which belongs to the category of "wrongly-treated pattern" or "unfavorable pattern". The disease progressed rapidly. At first, the epidemic virus invaded the lungs, then blocked the lungs, leading to the critical stage of inner blocking causing collapse. Modern medicine believes that severe disease involves a series of pathophysiological changes, such as viral damage, immune inflammatory response, endothelial cell damage, thrombosis, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) disorders. Regarding the treatment of severe COVID-19, the first proposal is to prevent the occurrence of severe disease, When necessary, it is not limited to wee (defense), qi, ying (nutrient) and blood levels. and prior treatment should be given before development of patterns ; This article summarizes the role and value of the methods of detoxification and cooling blood, purging the lungs and opening the bowels, and strengthening spleen and eliminating dampness in the treatment of severe COVID-19. In combination with modern medical research, the possible mechanism of action of the above three treatments was also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of cytokine levels on early death and coagulation function of patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)., Methods: Routine examination was performed on 69 newly diagnosed APL patients at admission. Meanwhile, 4 ml fasting venous blood was extracted from the patients. And then the supernatant was taken after centrifugation. The concentrations of cytokines, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin were detected by using the corresponding kits., Results: It was confirmed that cerebral hemorrhage was a major cause of early death in APL patients. Elevated LDH, decreased platelets (PLT) count and prolonged prothrombin time (PT) were high risk factors for early death ( P <0.05). The increases of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70 and IL-17A were closely related to the early death of newly diagnosed APL patients, and the increases of IL-5 and IL-17A also induced coagulation disorder in APL patients by prolonging PT ( P <0.05). In newly diagnosed APL patients, ferritin and LDH showed a positive effect on the expression of IL-5, IL-10 and IL-17A, especially ferritin had a highly positive correlation with IL-5 ( r =0.867) and IL-17A ( r =0.841). Moreover, there was a certain correlation between these five high-risk cytokines, among which IL-5 and IL-17A ( r =0.827), IL-6 and IL-10 ( r =0.823) were highly positively correlated., Conclusion: Elevated cytokine levels in newly diagnosed APL patients increase the risk of early bleeding and death. In addition to the interaction between cytokines themselves, ferritin and LDH positively affect the expression of cytokines, thus affecting the prognosis of APL patients.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion preconditioning on learning-memory ability, Toll like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signal pathway related proteins and microglia in rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD), so as to explore its possible mechanisms underlying improvement of AD., Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, sham operation, AD model and pre-moxibustion groups, with 9 rats in each group. Moxibustion was applied to "Baihui"(GV20), "Shenshu"(BL23) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 15 min, once daily, 6 days as a course of treatment for 3 courses. At the end of moxibustion, the AD model was established by injection of Aβ 25-35 aggregation solution into the bilateral hippocampus. The sham operation group was only injected with the same amount of 0.9% Nacl solution. The spatial learning-memory ability of rats was detected by Morris water maze test, the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The histopathological changes of hippocampus tissue were observed by HE staining, and the protein expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus detected by Western blot, and the positive expressions of Iba-1, CD80 and CD206 in the hippocampal CA1 region were detected by immunofluorescence labeling. The contents of inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 in the hippocampus were measured by ELISA., Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the escape latency was significantly increased ( P <0.01), and the number of platform quadrant crossing times was decreased ( P <0.01) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, the increased escape latency and the decreased platform quadrant crossing times were reversed in the pre-moxibustion group ( P <0.01). TEM and light microscope observation showed loose arrangement of cells, enlarged cell space, degeneration, swelling and deformation of hippocampal neurons, rupture of membranes of a large number of cells, reduction of mitochondria, dilation of endoplasmic reticulum, and matrix vacuoles, uneven distribution of organelles and cytoplasm, and being difficult in distinguishing the nuclear cytoplasm in the model group, which was relatively milder in the pre-moxibustion group. The expression levels of hippocampal NF-κB p65 and TLR4, the mean immunofluorescence density of Iba-1 and CD80, as well as the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampal CA1 region were significantly increased in the model group than those in the sham operation group ( P <0.01), and obviously decreased in the pre-moxibustion group than those in the model group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). Whereas the expression of CD206 and the content of IL-10 were evidently decreased in the model group than those in the sham operation group ( P <0.01), and strikingly increased in the pre-moxibustion group than those in the model group ( P <0.01). No significant differences were found between the sham operation group and the normal group in all the indexes mention above ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Pre-moxibustion at GV20, BL23 and ST36 can improve learning-memory ability in AD rats, which may be associated with its functions in promoting the polarization of microglia from M1 to M2 and reducing the neuroinflammatory response by way of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on miRNA-126-3p and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway in rats with cerebral ischemia (CI), so as to explore the underlying mechanism of EA on angiogenesis., Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, EA group and EA+inhibitor group (inhibitor group), which were further divided into 3, 7 and 14 d subgroups, with 12 rats in each sub-group. The CI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. EA (2 Hz/20 Hz, 0.5 mA) was applied to "Dazhui" (GV14), "Baihui" (GV20) for 20 min, once daily for 14 days at most. Rats of the inhibitor group were given an intraperitoneally injection of mTOR inhibitor (0.1 mg/mL, 0.3 mg/kg) before daily EA. The neurological function was evaluated by modified neurological severity score (mNSS). The ultrastructure of cortical neurons and microvascular endothelial cells in ischemic penumbra was observed by transmission electron microscope, and the microvessel density (MVD) of cortical endothelium in ischemic penumbra was detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of mTOR, HIF-1α and the expression of miR-126-3p in the cortex of ischemic penumbra, respectively., Results: After modeling, compared with the control group at the same time point, the mNSS of the model group was increased ( P <0.01), and decreased over time ( P <0.01). The cortical neurons and brain microvascular endothelial cells in the ischemic penumbra were edema, and the cell structure was damaged obviously in the model group.The MVD value and the expressions of mTOR、HIF-1α proteins and mRNAs were increased ( P <0.01), while the expression of miR-126-3p decreased ( P <0.01) in the model group relative to the control group. Compared with the model group at the same time point, the mNSS of both intervention groups was significantly reduced ( P <0.01, P <0.05), the neuron and cerebral microvascular structure improved to varying degrees, and the MVD value, the expressions of mTOR and HIF-1α protein and mRNA, and the expression of miR-126-3p of the two treatment groups were increased ( P <0.01, P <0.05) at all time points (excep MVD at day 7 in the inhibitor group). Compared with the EA group at the same time point, MVD, the expressions of mTOR, HIF-1α proteins and mRNAs and miR-126-3p in the inhibitor group were all decreased ( P <0.05, P <0.01). Compared with the group itself at 4 hours after modeling and day 3 and day 7, the mNSS was decreased at day 14 （ P <0.01） in the model, EA and inhibitor groups. Compared with the group itself at day 3, the MVD value and the expression of mTOR protein were increased at day 7 and day 14 in the model, EA and inhibitor groups ( P <0.01, P <0.05). Compared with the group itself at day 3 and day 7, the expression of mTOR mRNA and miR-126-3p were up-regulated at day 14 in the model and EA groups ( P <0.01, P <0.05).Compared with the group itself at day 3, the mRNA expressions of mTOR and HIF-1α were increased at day 7 and day 14 ( P <0.01, P <0.05) in the inhibitor group., Conclusion: EA at GV14 and GV20 can alleviate neurological deficit and improve angiogenesis in rats with CI, which may be related with its effect in up-regulating the expression of mTOR and HIF-1α, improving activation of miR-126-3p in the cortex of ischemic penumbra.

Objective: To observe the effect of pre-moxibustion at "Baihui"(GV20), "Shenshu"(BL23) and "Zusanli"(ST36) on expression of Tau protein and related protein kinases as glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), etc. in the hippocampal CA3 region of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying prevention and treatment of AD cognitive impairment., Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control, sham operation， model and pre-moxibustion，with 9 rats in each group. Rats of the pre-moxibustion group received moxibustion of GV20, BL23 and ST36 for 15 min, once a day, 6 days a week for 3 weeks. After completion of moxibustion, the AD model was reproduced by injection of amyloid beta-peptide 25-35(Aβ 25-35) aggregation solution 1 μL (5 μg/μL) into the bilateral hippocampus, rats of the sham operation group received injection of the same dose of normal saline into the hippocampus. The spatial learning-memory ability was detected using Morris water maze test, and changes of the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons were observed using electron microscope, and those of histopathological changes of hippocampus tissue observed using hematoxylin eosin (H.E.) staining. The expression levels of hippocampal GSK-3β, p-Tau, CDK5 and Synapsin I proteins were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively., Results: No significances were found between the normal control and sham groups in all the indexes ( P >0.05). Compared with the control group, the escape latency of place navigation test of Morris water maze test, expression of GSK-3β and CDK5 and the immunoactivity of GSK-3β, CDK5 and p-Tau were significantly increased ( P <0.01), and the residence time in the platform quadrant and the number of platform crossing of spatial prob test and the expression of Synapsin Ⅰ significantly reduced in the model group ( P <0.01). Following the intervention, the increase of escape latency, expression of GSK-3β and CDK5 and the immunoactivity of GSK-3β, CDK5 and p-Tau, and the decrease of residence time in the platform quadrant, number of platform crossing and the expression of Synapsin Ⅰ were reversed in the pre-moxibustion group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). Outcomes of ultrastructure and histopathological observations respectively showed edema of hippocampal nerve cells at varying degrees, moderate edema of the cytoplasma, chromatin condensation at the edge of the nucleus, partial mitochondrial vacuole-like degeneration, fracture of tubular crest, edema and expansion of Golgi body, disappearance of polarity, fracture of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, degeneration of ribosome and partial myelin axon and reduced synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic capsule; and reduced number of neurons with shrank body, disappearance of nucleolus and blurred nuclear boundary and vacuole-like degeneration in some of them in the model group, which were relatively milder in the pre-moxibustion group., Conclusion: Pre-moxibustion at GV20, BL23 and ST36 plays a role in slowing down the occurrence and development of cognitive impairment in AD rats, which may be related to its functions in inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation and reducing the expression of some related protein kinases in the hippocampus.

Microorganisms are the dominant players driving the degradation and transformation of chloramphenicol (CAP) in the environment. However, little bacterial strains are able to efficiently degrade and mineralize CAP, and the CAP degrading pathways mediated by oxidative reactions remain unclear. In this study, a highly efficient CAP-degrading microbial consortium, which mainly consists of Rhodococcus (relative abundance >70%), was obtained through an enrichment process using CAP-contaminated activated sludge as the inoculum. A bacterial strain CAP-2 capable of efficiently degrading CAP was isolated from the consortium and identified as Rhodococcus sp. by 16S rRNA gene analysis. Strain CAP-2 can efficiently degrade CAP under different nutrient conditions. Based on the biotransformation characteristics of the detected metabolite p-nitrobenzoic acid and the reported metabolites p-nitrobenzaldehyde and protocatechuate by strain CAP-2, a new oxidative pathway for the degradation of CAP was proposed. The side chain of CAP was oxidized and broken to generate p-nitrobenzaldehyde, which was further oxidized to p-nitrobenzoic acid. Strain CAP-2 can be used to further study the molecular mechanism of CAP catabolism, and has the potential to be used in in situ bioremediation of CAP-contaminated environment.

Objective: To explore the diagnostic performance of deep learning (DL) model in early detection of the interstitial myocardial fibrosis using native T1 maps of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)., Methods: Sixty HCM patients and 44 healthy volunteers who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance were enrolled in this study. Each native T1 map was labeled according to its LGE status. Then, native T1 maps of LGE (-) and those of the controls were preprocessed and entered in the SE-ResNext-50 model as the matrix for the DL model for training, validation and testing., Results: A total of 241 native T1 maps were entered in the SE-ResNext-50 model. The model achieved a specificity of 0.87, sensitivity of 0.79, and area under curve ( AUC ) of 0.83 ( P <0.05) in distinguishing native T1 maps of LGE (-) from those of the controls in the testing set., Conclusion: The DL model based on SE-ResNext-50 could be used for identifying native T1 maps of LGE (-) with relatively high accuracy. It is a promising approach for early detection of myocardial fibrosis in HCM without the use of contrast agent., (Copyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences).)