CT对甲状腺良恶性钙化结节的鉴别诊断价值

目的探讨CT对甲状腺良恶性钙化结节鉴别的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析2013年1月—2016年12月安徽医科大学第二附属医院经手术切除病理证实的204例甲状腺钙化结节的CT及临床资料,根据钙化形态将其分为细颗粒和粗颗粒钙化;根据钙化在结节中的位置,分为中央和边缘;统计细颗粒钙化、中央及两者联合在良恶性结节中的分布,并进行统计学分析。结果良恶性结节的钙化类型、钙化位置比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05);良恶性结节是否细钙化+中央位置、粗钙化+边缘位置比较,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。以细颗粒钙化和中央位置为标准诊断甲状腺恶性结节的敏感性为81.3%(95%CI:67.0,95.5),特异性为89.3%(95%CI:80.9,97.6);以粗颗粒钙化和边缘位置为标准诊断甲状腺良性结节的敏感性为80.4%(95%CI:69.6,91.1),特异性为90.6%(95%CI:79.9,101.3)。结论甲状腺结节中出现细颗粒状钙化及位于中央为CT诊断甲状腺恶性结节的重要征象,甲状腺结节中出现粗颗粒状钙化及位于边缘为CT诊断甲状腺良性结节的重要征象。

Multi-objective reservoir operation using particle swarm optimization with adaptive random inertia weights

Based on conventional particle swarm optimization(PSO),this paper presents an efficient and reliable heuristic approach using PSO with an adaptive random inertia weight(ARIW)strategy,referred to as the ARIW-PSO algorithm,to build a multi-objective optimization model for reservoir operation.Using the triangular probability density function,the inertia weight is randomly generated,and the probability density function is automatically adjusted to make the inertia weight generally greater in the initial stage of evolution,which is suitable for global searches.In the evolution process,the inertia weight gradually decreases,which is beneficial to local searches.The performance of the ARIWPSO algorithm was investigated with some classical test functions,and the results were compared with those of the genetic algorithm(GA),the conventional PSO,and other improved PSO methods.Then,the ARIW-PSO algorithm was applied to multi-objective optimal dispatch of the Panjiakou Reservoir and multi-objective flood control operation of a reservoir group on the Luanhe River in China,including the Panjiakou Reservoir,Daheiting Reservoir,and Taolinkou Reservoir.The validity of the multi-objective optimization model for multi-reservoir systems based on the ARIW-PSO algorithm was verified.

Simulation of maize drought degree in Xi'an City based on cusp catastrophe model

Drought generally has significant impacts on crops.It is essential to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between crop production and drought degree to provide technical support for drought disaster prevention.In this study,a drought degree index that can reflect the changes in precipitation,evapotranspiration,and soil moisture was developed on the basis of crop yield reduction rate.Four drought scenarios were set up to simulate the effects of meteorological drought on drought degree of crops at different growth stages.A cusp catastrophe model was constructed to analyze the mutation characteristics of the drought degree of maize at different growth stages under different meteorological drought conditions.Xi'an City in China was selected as the study area,and summer maize was selected as the research crop.Precipitation and crop yield data from 1951 to 2010 were used as the fundamental data to investigate drought degree mutation of summer maize.The results show that,under the meteorological drought conditions at the emergence-jointing stage,drought degree may change abruptly,and soil moisture content at the sowingemergence,jointing-tasseling,and tasseling-mature stages should be kept higher than 39%.

Improved carrier injection and confinement in InGaN light-emitting diodes containing GaN/AlGaN/GaN triangular barriers

In this study, an InGaN lighting-emitting diode （LED） containing GaN/A1GaN/GaN triangular barriers is proposed and investigated numerically. The simulation results of output performance, carrier concentration, and radiative recombination rate indicate that the proposed LED has a higher output power and an internal quantum efficiency, and a lower efficiency droop than the LED containing conventional GaN or A1GaN barriers. These improvements mainly arise from the modified energy bands, which is evidenced by analyzing the LED energy band diagram and electrostatic field near the active region. The modified energy bands effectively improve carrier injection and confinement, which significantly reduces electron leakage and increases the rate of radiative recombination in the quantum wells.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms based genetic risk score in the prediction of pancreatic cancer risk

BACKGROUND Disease-related single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)based genetic risk score(GRS)has been proven to provide independent inherited risk other than family history in multiple cancer types.AIM To evaluate the potential of GRS in the prediction of pancreatic cancer risk.METHODS In this case-control study(254 cases and 1200 controls),we aimed to evaluate the association between GRS and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)risk in the Chinese population.The GRS was calculated based on the genotype information of 18 PDAC-related SNPs for each study subject(personal genotyping information of the SNPs)and was weighted by external odd ratios(ORs).RESULTS GRS was significantly different in cases and controls(1.96±3.84 in PDACs vs 1.09±0.94 in controls,P<0.0001).Logistic regression revealed GRS to be associated with PDAC risk[OR=1.23,95%confidence interval(CI):1.13-1.34,P<0.0001].GRS remained significantly associated with PDAC(OR=1.36,95%CI:1.06-1.74,P=0.015)after adjusting for age and sex.Further analysis revealed an association of increased risk for PDAC with higher GRS.Compared with low GRS(<1.0),subjects with high GRS(2.0)were 99%more likely to have PDAC(OR:1.99,95%CI:1.30-3.04,P=0.002).Participants with intermediate GRS(1.0-1.9)were 39%more likely to have PDAC(OR:1.39,95%CI:1.03-1.84,P=0.031).A positive trend was observed(P trend=0.0006).CONCLUSION GRS based on PDAC-associated SNPs could provide independent information on PDAC risk and may be used to predict a high risk PDAC population.

Green tea and its active compounds in cancer prevention and treatment

Green tea is now widely considered as anticancer substance or food in global.Catechin,the main anticancer component in green tea,exhites the strong biological activity which not only eliminate free radicals showing antioxygenic function,but also suppress cell proliferation as well as induce cancer cell apoptosis via blocking corresponding signaling pathway.Furthermore,several studies have demonstrated it could regulate the gut microbiota.It also could regulate gut microbiota.Through these functions,it plays important roles in the occurrence and development of cancer.Here,the anticancer compounds in green tea,the theoretical basis of TCM,the clinic applications,as well as the anticancer mechanism are reviewed.

Nutritional support strategies for cancer cachexia

Tumor cachexia is widely seen in patients with various stages of cancer,manifested by inadequate intake or abnormal hypermetabolism resultingin negative nitrogen and energy balance. Early intervention of nutritionaltherapy and penetrate it into other anti-cancer treatment processes cansignificantly benefit cancer patients who receiving palliative treatment.Nutritional therapy for cancer is a process of planning, implementing, evaluatingand nutritional intervention to treat cancer and its complications orphysical condition, to improve the prognosis of cancer patients, includingnutritional diagnosis (screening/evaluation), nutritional intervention, efficacyevaluation (including follow-up) three stages. In practice, we shouldchoose appropriate nutritional risk assessment tools and interventionmethods according to the actual situation of patients, avoid over-treatment,reduce complications, and maximize patients'interests as far as possible.Nutritional support therapy for cancer involves ethics, morality and thewishes of patients and their families, and needs further exploration andimprovement. The best nutritional support strategy often requires the jointparticipation of many disciplines, including clinicians, nurses, nutritionistsand psychosocial workers. Nutritional support group and multidisciplinarycollaboration group on cancer are gradually becoming a trend. With theaccumulation of experience in cancer nutrition therapy, the developmentand application of drugs and nutritional preparations, and the deepening ofmulti-disciplinary collaboration, more cancer patients will benefit in clinicalwork.

Assessment value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters for the nature of breast tumor and their relationship with the malignant biological behavior of tumor

Objective: To discuss the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters for assessing the nature of breast tumor and their relationship with the malignant biological behavior of tumor. Methods: A total of 176 patients with breast tumor who received surgical treatment in the hospital between January 2015 and January 2017 were divided into breast adenoma group (n=110) and breast cancer group (n=66) according to pathological results. The differences in breast contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameter levels as well as the expression of proliferation, invasion and autophagy genes in tumor tissues were compared between the two groups of patients. Pearson test was used to evaluate the correlation between contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters and malignant molecule expression in lesion tissue of patients with breast cancer. Results: PI and AUC levels in breast cancer group were greatly higher than those in breast adenoma group;proliferation genes CXCL1 and Notch1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue were higher than those of breast adenoma group whereas HPK1 mRNA expression was lower than that of breast adenoma group;invasion genes Gab2, NUAK1 and FOXF1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue were higher than those of breast adenoma group whereas NDRG1 mRNA expression was lower than that of breast adenoma group;autophagy genes ATG2B, ATG4D and ATG9B mRNA expression in tumor tissue were lower than those of breast adenoma group. Pearson test showed that the contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters PI and AUC levels in patients with breast cancer were directly correlated with the expression of proliferation, invasion and autophagy molecules in the lesion tissue. Conclusion: The contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameter levels in patients with breast cancer are different from those in patients with benign tumors, and the specific parameter levels are directly correlated with the tumor malignancy and can be used as the reliable means for early disease screening and malignancy assessment.

Value of transient ultrasonic elastography for evaluating the liver fibrosis and liver function in patients with drug-induced liver injury

Objective: To study the value of transient ultrasonic elastography for evaluating the liver fibrosis and liver function in patients with drug-induced liver injury. Methods: A total of 68 patients with drug-induced liver injury who were treated in our hospital between January 2016 and May 2017 were selected as drug-induced liver injury group, and 50 healthy volunteers who received physical examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as normal control group. The liver transient ultrasonic elastography parameter Stiffness levels as well as serum liver fibrosis index and liver function index contents of two groups of subjects were detected. Pearson test was used to evaluate the correlation of Stiffness levels with liver fibrosis and liver function damage degree in patients with drug-induced liver injury. Results:Stiffness level in drug-induced liver injury group was higher than that in normal control group;serum liver fibrosis indexes HA, LN, CⅣ, PⅢNP and CG contents were higher than those of normal control group;serum liver function indexes ALT, AST, ALP, STB and γ-GT contents were higher than those of normal control group. Conclusion: Transient ultrasonic elastography parameter Stiffness levels increase in patients with drug-induced liver injury, and the specific levels are consistent with the liver fibrosis and liver function damage degree, and can be used as the objective means to evaluate the disease severity.

Effects of Aphidius gifuensis on the feeding behavior and potato virus Y transmission ability of Myzus persicae

The stylet penetration behavior of aphids when feeding on plants is associated with virus acquisition and inoculation.Aphidius gifuensis (Ashmead)is a primary endoparasitoid of Myzuspersicae (Sulzer)which is the most efficient vector of plant viruses. Information about the effects ofparasitoid on aphid and virus transmission can provide an essential foundation for designing effective biological control strategies.This study aimed to investigate the effects ofA.gifuensis on the feeding behavior and potato virus Y (PVY) transmission ability of M.persicae.The results showed that after M.persicae was para-sitized by A.gifuensis,the duration of the first probe significantly decreased.Additionally, A.gifuensis exerted remarkable effects on aphid feeding in phloem ingestion.The contribution of the E1 waveform to the phloem phase was significantly higher in all parasitized aphids than in the control group.Although the time of infestation increased for parasitized aphids,the total duration of phloem sap ingestion decreased.Interestingly,the percentage of time M.persicae spent in the xylem and phloem phases only changed significantly on day 5.The percent transmission of PVY by the aphids parasitized on day 5 was lower than that in the control,but no significant differences were detected.The significance of this work is the demonstration that A.gifuensis can impede the feeding behavior of M.persicae,which sheds light on the biological basis ofA.gifuensis as a natural enemy, but unfortunately does not provide an immediate solution for disrupting the transmission of PVY.

Research Progress and Development Tendency of Nitrogen-alloyed Austenitic Stainless Steels

Research progress on nitrogen alloyed austenitic stainless steels was expounded through the development of steel grades. In addition, hot topics in the research of nitrogen-alloyed austenitic stainless steels were discussed, in cluding the solubility of nitrogen, brittle ductile transition, and welding. On this basis, it was proposed that the fu- ture development tendency of nitrogen alloyed austenitic stainless steels lied in the three fields of high-performance steels, resource saving steels, and biologically friendly steels. The problems encountered during the research of ni- trogen-alloyed austenitic stainless steels were discussed.

Performance of the Prostate Health Index in predicting prostate biopsy outcomes among men with a negative digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography

The [-2]proPSA （p2PSA） and its derivatives, the p2PSA-to-free PSA ratio （%p2PSA）, and the Prostate Health Index （PHI） have greatly improved discrimination between men with and without prostate cancer （PCa） in prostate biopsies. However, little is known about their performance in cases where a digital rectal examination （DRE） and transrectal ultrasonography （TRUS） are negative. A prospective cohort of 261 consecutive patients in China with negative DRE and TRUS were recruited and underwent prostate biopsies. A serum sample had collected before the biopsy was used to measure various PSA derivatives, including total prostate-specific antigen （tPSA）, free PSA, and p2PSA. For each patient, the free-to-total PSA ratio （%fPSA）, PSA density （PSAD）, p2PSA-to-free PSA ratio （%p2PSA）, and PHI were calculated. Discriminative performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUC） and the biopsy rate at 91% sensitivity. The AUC scores within the entire cohort with respect to age, tPSA, %fPSA, PSAD, p2PSA, %p2PSA, and PHI were 0.598, 0.751, 0.646, 0.789, 0.814, 0.808, and 0.853, respectively. PHI was the best predictor of prostate biopsy results, especially in patients with a tPSA of 10.1-20 ng ml-1. Compared with other markers, at a sensitivity of 91%, PHI was the most useful for determining which men did not need to undergo biopsy, thereby avoiding unnecessary procedures. The use of PHI could improve the accuracy of PCa detection by predicting prostate biopsy outcomes among men with a negative DRE and TRUS in China.

Association between diacylglycerol kinase kappa variants and hypospadias susceptibility in a Han Chinese population

Previous genome-wide association studies have identified variants in the diacylglycerol kinase kappa （DGKtO gene associated with hypospadias in populations of European descent. However, no variants of DGKKwere confirmed to be associated with hypospadias in a recent Han Chinese study population, likely due to the limited number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） included in the analysis. In this study, we aimed to address the inconsistent results and evaluate the association between DGKK and hypospadias in the Han Chinese population through a more comprehensive analysis of DGKK variants. We conducted association analyses for 17 SNPs in or downstream of DGKKwith hypospadias among 322 cases （58 mild, 113 moderate, 128 severe, and 23 unknown） and 1008 controls. Five SNPs （rs2211122, rs4554617, rs7058226, rs7063116, and rs5915254） in DGKK were significantly associated with hypospadias （P 〈 0.05）, with odds ratios （ORs） of 1.64-1.76. When only mild and moderate cases were compared to controls, 10 SNPs in DGKKwere significant （P〈 0.05）, with ORs of 1.56-2.13. No significant SNP was observed when only severe cases were compared to controls. This study successfully implicated DGKK variants in hypospadias risk among a Han Chinese population, especially for mild/moderate cases. Severe forms of hyposDadias are likely due to other genetic factors.

Prostate cancer antigen 3 and genetic risk score as markers for the detection of prostate cancer in the Chinese population

Dear Editor We report here the performance of prostate cancer antigen 3 （PCA3） and genetic risk score （GRS） in predicting prostate cancer （PCa） from the prostate biopsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of simultaneously evaluating these two biomarkers in the same study.