Modern medicine is reliant on various medical imaging technologies for non-invasively observing patients’anatomy.However,the interpretation of medical images can be highly subjective and dependent on the expertise of...Modern medicine is reliant on various medical imaging technologies for non-invasively observing patients’anatomy.However,the interpretation of medical images can be highly subjective and dependent on the expertise of clinicians.Moreover,some potentially useful quantitative information in medical images,especially that which is not visible to the naked eye,is often ignored during clinical practice.In contrast,radiomics performs high-throughput feature extraction from medical images,which enables quantitative analysis of medical images and prediction of various clinical endpoints.Studies have reported that radiomics exhibits promising performance in diagnosis and predicting treatment responses and prognosis,demonstrating its potential to be a non-invasive auxiliary tool for personalized medicine.However,radiomics remains in a developmental phase as numerous technical challenges have yet to be solved,especially in feature engineering and statistical modeling.In this review,we introduce the current utility of radiomics by summarizing research on its application in the diagnosis,prognosis,and prediction of treatment responses in patients with cancer.We focus on machine learning approaches,for feature extraction and selection during feature engineering and for imbalanced datasets and multi-modality fusion during statistical modeling.Furthermore,we introduce the stability,reproducibility,and interpretability of features,and the generalizability and interpretability of models.Finally,we offer possible solutions to current challenges in radiomics research.展开更多
With the acceleration of the social information process,information awareness and information skills have become the basic qualities of every citizen.The establishment of the training mechanism for scientific and tech...With the acceleration of the social information process,information awareness and information skills have become the basic qualities of every citizen.The establishment of the training mechanism for scientific and technological innovation talents from the beginning of higher education is insufficient to meet the needs of the development of the times.It is imperative to improve the training of information technology innovation talents and explore a new training model.This paper describes the general situation of the development of education in the field of information technology from a domestic and international perspective.It then analyzes the existing problems,explores new exploration models and implementation suggestions,and puts forward prospects at the end of the paper.展开更多
The virus SARS-CoV2,which causes the Coronavirus disease COVID-19 has become a pandemic and has spread to every inhabited continent.Given the increasing caseload,there is an urgent need to augment clinical skills in o...The virus SARS-CoV2,which causes the Coronavirus disease COVID-19 has become a pandemic and has spread to every inhabited continent.Given the increasing caseload,there is an urgent need to augment clinical skills in order to identify from among the many mild cases the few that will progress to critical illness.We present a first step towards building an artificial intelligence(AI)framework,with predictive analytics(PA)capabilities applied to real patient data,to provide rapid clinical decision-making support.COVID-19 has presented a pressing need as a)clinicians are still developing clinical acumen given the disease’s novelty,and b)resource limitations in a rapidly expanding pandemic require difficult decisions relating to resource allocation.The objectives of this research are:(1)to algorithmically identify the combinations of clinical characteristics of COVID-19 that predict outcomes,and(2)to develop a tool with AI capabilities that will predict patients at risk for more severe illness on initial presentation.The predictive models learn from historical data to help predict specifically who will develop acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS),a severe outcome in COVID-19.Our experimental results based on two hospitals in Wenzhou,Zhejang,China identify features most predictive of ARDS in COVID-19 initial presentation which would not have stood out to clinicians.A mild increase in elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(a liver enzyme)),a presence of myalgias(body aches),and an increase in hemoglobin,in this order,are the clinical features,on presentation,that are the most predictive.Those two centers’COVID-19 case series symptoms on initial presentation can help predict severe outcomes.Predictive models that learned from historical data of patients from two Chinese hospitals achieved 70%to 80%accuracy in predicting severe cases.展开更多
Wistar rats were intragastrical y perfused with Chinese medicines used for tonifying the kidney. These included 0.180 g/mL of Herba Epimedi （Epimedium）, Semen Cuscutae （Dodder Seed）, or Herba Cistanches （Desertli...Wistar rats were intragastrical y perfused with Chinese medicines used for tonifying the kidney. These included 0.180 g/mL of Herba Epimedi （Epimedium）, Semen Cuscutae （Dodder Seed）, or Herba Cistanches （Desertliving Cistanche）, 0.04 mg/mL monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor selegiline, or distil ed water for 14 consecutive days to prepare drug-containing serum or blank serum. MES23.5 cells in the logarithmic phase were cultured in media supplemented with 15%drug-containing serum for 24 hours, fol owed by incubation in culture solution containing 100μmol/L H2O2 for 3 hours. 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） and flow tometry results showed that al drug-containing serums improved the survival rate of H 2 O 2-injured MES23.5 cells, inhibited pro-apoptotic FasL and caspase-3 expression, promoted anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. However, drug-containing serums had little influence on Fas expression in H 2 O 2-injured MES23.5 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that serum containing Herba Cistanches or Herba Epimedi increased the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor in injured MES23.5 cells;serum containing Semen Cuscutae only increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor expres-sion; while expression of the above neurotrophic factors remained the same in cells treated with serum containing selegiline. These findings indicate that Chinese medicines used to tonify the kid-ney can protect nerve cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related factors and neuro-trophic factors in MES23.5 cells.展开更多
The Chinese herbs Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Rhizoma Polygonati were injected into Parkinson＇s disease mice established via intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridin...The Chinese herbs Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Rhizoma Polygonati were injected into Parkinson＇s disease mice established via intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride. The selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor selegiline was used as a positive control drug. After successive administration for 4 weeks, Herba Epimedii could downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and increase the brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, as well as increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the substantia nigra of Parkinson＇s disease mouse models. Rhizoma Polygonaticould downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and FasL, and increase neural growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Fructus Ligustn Lucidi could downregulate caspase-3 expression. Rhizoma Polygonati and Fructus Ligustn Lucidi did not produce obvious effects on tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi yielded similar effects on apoptosis-promoting factors to those elicited by selegiline. Herba Epimedii and Rhizoma Polygonati significantly increased the levels of neurotrophic factors compared with selegiline. Herba Epimedii significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity compared with selegiline. It is indicated that the kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal preparation can downregulate the expression of apoptosis-promoting factors, increase neurotrophic factors levels in the substantia nigra and striatum, as well as increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the substantia nigra of Parkinson＇s disease mouse models, thereby exerting a stronger or similar neuroprotective effects compared with selegiline.展开更多
Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense ge...Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense genes. Previ- ous studies have focused on the non-coding antisense genes, but the possible regulatory role of the antisense protein is poorly understood. In this study, we found that a protein encoded by the antisense gene ADF1 acts as a transcription suppressor, regulating the expression of sense gene MDF1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the evolutionary, ge- netic, cytological and biochemical evidence, we show that the protein-coding sense gene MDF1 most likely originated de novo from a previously non-coding sequence and can significantly suppress the mating efficiency of baker＇s yeast in rich medium by binding MATa2 and thus promote vegetative growth. These results shed new light on several im- portant issues, including a new sense-antisense interaction mechanism, the de novo origination of a functional gene, and the regulation of yeast mating pathway.展开更多
The equilibrium hydrate formation conditions for CO2/H2 gas mixtures with different CO2 concentrations in 0.29 mol% TBAB aqueous solution are firstly measured.The results illustrate that the equilibrium hydrate format...The equilibrium hydrate formation conditions for CO2/H2 gas mixtures with different CO2 concentrations in 0.29 mol% TBAB aqueous solution are firstly measured.The results illustrate that the equilibrium hydrate formation pressure increases remarkably with the decrease of CO2 concentration in the gas mixture.Based on the phase equilibrium data,a three stages hydrate CO2 separation from integrated gasification combined cycle （IGCC） synthesis gas is investigated.Because the separation efficiency is quite low for the third hydrate separation,a hybrid CO2 separation process of two hydrate stages in conjunction with one chemical absorption process （absorption with MEA） is proposed and studied.The experimental results show H2 concentration in the final residual gas released from the three stages hydrate CO2 separation process was approximately 95.0 mol% while that released from the hybrid CO2 separation process was approximately 99.4 mol%.Thus,the hybrid process is possible to be a promising technology for the industrial application in the future.展开更多
With the wide application of condition based maintenance(CBM) in aircraft maintenance practice, the joint optimization of maintenance and inventory management, which can take full advantage of CBM and reduce the aircr...With the wide application of condition based maintenance(CBM) in aircraft maintenance practice, the joint optimization of maintenance and inventory management, which can take full advantage of CBM and reduce the aircraft operational cost, is receiving increasing attention. In order to optimize the inspection interval, maintenance decision and spare provisioning together for aircraft deteriorating parts, firstly, a joint inventory management strategy is presented, then, a joint optimization of maintenance inspection and spare provisioning for aircraft parts subject to the Wiener degradation process is proposed based on the strategy.Secondly, a combination of the genetic algorithm(GA) and the Monte Carol method is developed to minimize the total cost rate.Finally, a case study is conducted and the proposed joint optimization model is compared with the existing optimization model and the airline real case. The results demonstrate that the proposed model is more beneficial and effective. In addition, the sensitivity analysis of the proposed model shows that the lead time has higher influence on the optimal results than the urgent order cost and the corrective maintenance cost, which is consistent with the actual situation of aircraft maintenance practices and inventory management.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the feasibility of low contrast medium and radiation dose for hepatic computed tomography(CT) perfusion of rabbit VX2 tumor.METHODS:Eleven rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor underwent perfusion CT scanning...AIM:To evaluate the feasibility of low contrast medium and radiation dose for hepatic computed tomography(CT) perfusion of rabbit VX2 tumor.METHODS:Eleven rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor underwent perfusion CT scanning with a 24-h interval between a conventional tube potential(120 k Vp) protocol with 350 mg I/m L contrast medium and filtered back projection,and a low tube potential(80 k Vp) protocol with 270 mg I/m L contrast medium with iterative reconstruction.Correlation and agreement among perfusion parameters acquired by the conventional and low dose protocols were assessed for the viable tumor component as well as whole tumor.Image noise and tumor-to-liver contrast to noise ratio during arterial and portal venous phases were evaluated.RESULTS:A 38% reduction in contrast medium dose(360.1 ± 13.3 mg I/kg vs 583.5 ± 21.5 mg I/kg,P < 0.001) and a 73% decrease in radiation dose(1898.5 m Gy·cm vs 6951.8 m Gy·cm) were observed.Interestingly,there was a strong positive correlation in hepatic arterial perfusion(r = 0.907,P < 0.001;r = 0.879,P < 0.001),hepatic portal perfusion(r = 0.819,P = 0.002;r = 0.831,P = 0.002),and hepatic blood flow(r = 0.945,P < 0.001;r = 0.930,P < 0.001) as well as a moderate correlation in hepatic perfusion index(r = 0.736,P = 0.01;r = 0.636,P = 0.035) between the low dose protocol with iterative reconstruction and the conventional protocol for the viable tumor component and the whole tumor.These two imaging protocols provided a moderate but acceptable agreement for perfusion parameters and similar tumorto-liver CNR during arterial and portal venous phases(5.63 ± 2.38 vs 6.16 ± 2.60,P = 0.814;4.60 ± 1.27 vs 5.11 ± 1.74,P = 0.587).CONCLUSION:Compared with the conventional protocol,low contrast medium and radiation dose with iterative reconstruction has no significant influence on hepatic perfusion parameters for rabbits VX2 tumor.展开更多
Objective:Histone modification has a significant effect on gene expression.Enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)contributes to the epigenetic silencing of target chromatin through its roles as a histone-lysine N-methyltra...Objective:Histone modification has a significant effect on gene expression.Enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)contributes to the epigenetic silencing of target chromatin through its roles as a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase enzyme.The development of anoikis resistance in tumor cells is considered to be a critical step in the metastatic process of primary malignant tumors.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of anoikis resistance in ovarian adenocarcinoma peritoneal metastasis.Methods:In addition to examining EZH2 protein expression in ovarian cancer omental metastatic tissues,we established a model of ovarian cancer cell anoikis and a xenograft tumor model in nude mice.Anoikis resistance and ovarian cancer progression were tested after EZH2 and N6-methyladenosine(m6A)levels were modified.Results:EZH2 expression was significantly higher in ovarian cancer omental metastatic tissues than in normal ovarian tissues.Reducing the level of EZH2 decreased the level of m6A and ovarian cancer cell anoikis resistance in vitro and inhibited ovarian cancer progression in vivo.M6a regulation altered the effect of EZH2 on anoikis resistance.Conclusion:Our results indicate that EZH2 contributes to anoikis resistance and promotes ovarian adenocarcinoma abdominal metastasis by m6A modification.Our findings imply the potential of the clinical application of m6A and EZH2 for patients with ovarian cancer.展开更多
A new method of temperature fluctuation is proposed to promote the process of hydrate-based CO2 separation from fuel gas in this work according to the dual nature of CO2 solubility in hydrate forming and non-hydrate f...A new method of temperature fluctuation is proposed to promote the process of hydrate-based CO2 separation from fuel gas in this work according to the dual nature of CO2 solubility in hydrate forming and non-hydrate forming regions [1].The temperature fluctuation operated in the process of hydrate formation improves the formation of gas hydrate observably.The amount of the gas consumed with temperature fluctuation is approximately 35% more than that without temperature fluctuation.It is found that only the temperature fluctuation operated in the period of forming hydrate leads to a good effect on CO2 separation.Meanwhile,with the proceeding of hydrate formation,the effect of temperature fluctuation on the gas hydrate gradually reduces,and little effect is left in the completion term.The CO2 separation efficiencies in the separation processes with the effective temperature fluctuations are improved remarkably.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Glossy privet fruit inhibits neural cell apoptosis following the onset of vascular dementia. OBJECTIVE： To confirm glossy privet fruit effects on neural cell apoptosis in the cortical parietal lobe and h...BACKGROUND： Glossy privet fruit inhibits neural cell apoptosis following the onset of vascular dementia. OBJECTIVE： To confirm glossy privet fruit effects on neural cell apoptosis in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CAI region of rat models of vascular dementia using molecular biology techniques. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The neural cell morphology experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Flow Cells and Biochemistry, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Basic Room of Pathology, Academy of Chinese Medicine from December 2006 to May 2008. MATERIALS： A total of 60 Wistar rats were used to establish vascular dementia models using a photochemical reaction method. Glossy privet fruit was purchased from Fujian, China. Hydergine was co-produced by Sandoz, Switzerland and Huajin, China. METHODS： The 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal sized groups （n = 10）, i.e. model, blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups. Rats in the model group were treated with distilled water （1 mL/100 g） by gavage following model establishment. Rats in the blank group underwent experimental procedures as for the model group, except that rat models were created without illumination. Rats in the high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine groups, and the hydergine control group respectively received high, moderate and low doses of glossy privet fruit, and hydergine suspension （1 mL/100 g） by gavage, once a day, for 30 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Morphology of neural cells from the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region of all groups was observed with an electron microscope. Positive neural cells in the injury site of the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region were investigated using the Fas immunohistochemieal method. Absorbance of Fas-positive neurons was detected by the MPIAS-500 multimedia color imaging analysis system. RESULTS： Neural cells were normal, and nuclei were regular in the right cortical parietal lobe and hippoeampal CA1 region in the blank group. Karyopyknosis, an integral nuclear membrane, vacuole and apoptotic bodies were presented in the model group. The quantity and morphology of neural cells were normal in all doses of Chinese medicine groups, and the hydergine control group. Compared with the model group, absorbance was reduced at the injury site of rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region in the blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups （P 〈 0.05）. The decrease was particularly significant in the blank group （P 〈 0.01 ）, followed by the high dose of Chinese medicine group （P 〈 0.01）. Compared with the model group, the percentage of apoptosis was decreased at the injury site of the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CAI region in the blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups （P 〈 0.01） and this decrease was significant in the high dose of Chinese medicine group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Glossy privet fruit, a kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal medicine, can inhibit cell apoptosis by reducing apoptotic signals induced by cerebral ischemia/hypoxia.展开更多
It is significant to combine multiple tasks into an optimal work package in decision-making of aircraft maintenance to reduce cost,so a cost rate model of combinatorial maintenance is an urgent need.However,the optima...It is significant to combine multiple tasks into an optimal work package in decision-making of aircraft maintenance to reduce cost,so a cost rate model of combinatorial maintenance is an urgent need.However,the optimal combination under various constraints not only involves numerical calculations but also is an NP-hard combinatorial problem.To solve the problem,an adaptive genetic algorithm based on cluster search,which is divided into two phases,is put forward.In the first phase,according to the density,all individuals can be homogeneously scattered over the whole solution space through crossover and mutation and better individuals are collected as candidate cluster centres.In the second phase,the search is confined to the neighbourhood of some selected possible solutions to accurately solve with cluster radius decreasing slowly,meanwhile all clusters continuously move to better regions until all the peaks in the question space is searched.This algorithm can efficiently solve the combination problem.Taking the optimization on decision-making of aircraft maintenance by the algorithm for an example,maintenance which combines multiple parts or tasks can significantly enhance economic benefit when the halt cost is rather high.展开更多
BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue tumor of primitive mesenchymal cells origin,occurring predominantly in children and adolescents,but extremely rare in adults and the data regarding its treatment are sparse...BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue tumor of primitive mesenchymal cells origin,occurring predominantly in children and adolescents,but extremely rare in adults and the data regarding its treatment are sparse.Here,we would like to share our experience in the treatment of a locally advanced primary embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of cervix in a 39-year-old female.CASE SUMMARY The patient was admitted with symptoms of intermenstrual bleeding and postcoital bleeding for six months.Physical examination revealed a friable,polyplike mass(5 cm×5 cm)in her cervix protruding into the vagina,while the uterus was mobile and normal-sized.Colposcopy-directed biopsy was performed,and a pathological diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was made.Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis showed that the cervical volume was significantly increased,with a hypointense and hyperintense soft tissue mass on the right side,invading the cervical stroma;the mass was 5 cm×5 cm with a clear boundary and confined to the cervix;there were no obvious findings indicating tumor invasion in the vaginal wall,parametrium,or pelvic wall;no enlarged lymph nodes were observed in the pelvic cavity.Based on our findings,the tumor was classified as stage IA according to the intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma studies criteria and IB3stage according to The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018.The patient underwent two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and a partial remission was achieved.Subsequently,she underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy,bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection and there were no risk factors revealed by postoperative pathological examination.Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed after surgery.The patient was disease-free until the last follow-up,49 mo after completing the entire treatment.CONCLUSION Our experience suggests that neoadjuvant vincristine,dactinomycin,and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy followed by radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy might be reasonable therapeutic option for bulky cervical rhabdomyosarcoma in adults without fertility desire.Since large-scale studies on such rare conditions are rather impossible,further case reports and systematic reviews could help optimize the treatment of primary,bulky cervical rhabdomyosarcoma in adults.展开更多
基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82072019)the Shenzhen Basic Research Program(JCYJ20210324130209023)+5 种基金the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao S&T Program(Category C)(SGDX20201103095002019)the Mainland-Hong Kong Joint Funding Scheme(MHKJFS)(MHP/005/20),the Project of Strategic Importance Fund(P0035421)the Projects of RISA(P0043001)from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University,the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20201441)the Provincial and Ministry Co-constructed Project of Henan Province Medical Science and Technology Research(SBGJ202103038,SBGJ202102056)the Henan Province Key R&D and Promotion Project(Science and Technology Research)(222102310015)the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(222300420575),and the Henan Province Science and Technology Research(222102310322).
文摘Modern medicine is reliant on various medical imaging technologies for non-invasively observing patients’anatomy.However,the interpretation of medical images can be highly subjective and dependent on the expertise of clinicians.Moreover,some potentially useful quantitative information in medical images,especially that which is not visible to the naked eye,is often ignored during clinical practice.In contrast,radiomics performs high-throughput feature extraction from medical images,which enables quantitative analysis of medical images and prediction of various clinical endpoints.Studies have reported that radiomics exhibits promising performance in diagnosis and predicting treatment responses and prognosis,demonstrating its potential to be a non-invasive auxiliary tool for personalized medicine.However,radiomics remains in a developmental phase as numerous technical challenges have yet to be solved,especially in feature engineering and statistical modeling.In this review,we introduce the current utility of radiomics by summarizing research on its application in the diagnosis,prognosis,and prediction of treatment responses in patients with cancer.We focus on machine learning approaches,for feature extraction and selection during feature engineering and for imbalanced datasets and multi-modality fusion during statistical modeling.Furthermore,we introduce the stability,reproducibility,and interpretability of features,and the generalizability and interpretability of models.Finally,we offer possible solutions to current challenges in radiomics research.
文摘With the acceleration of the social information process,information awareness and information skills have become the basic qualities of every citizen.The establishment of the training mechanism for scientific and technological innovation talents from the beginning of higher education is insufficient to meet the needs of the development of the times.It is imperative to improve the training of information technology innovation talents and explore a new training model.This paper describes the general situation of the development of education in the field of information technology from a domestic and international perspective.It then analyzes the existing problems,explores new exploration models and implementation suggestions,and puts forward prospects at the end of the paper.
文摘The virus SARS-CoV2,which causes the Coronavirus disease COVID-19 has become a pandemic and has spread to every inhabited continent.Given the increasing caseload,there is an urgent need to augment clinical skills in order to identify from among the many mild cases the few that will progress to critical illness.We present a first step towards building an artificial intelligence(AI)framework,with predictive analytics(PA)capabilities applied to real patient data,to provide rapid clinical decision-making support.COVID-19 has presented a pressing need as a)clinicians are still developing clinical acumen given the disease’s novelty,and b)resource limitations in a rapidly expanding pandemic require difficult decisions relating to resource allocation.The objectives of this research are:(1)to algorithmically identify the combinations of clinical characteristics of COVID-19 that predict outcomes,and(2)to develop a tool with AI capabilities that will predict patients at risk for more severe illness on initial presentation.The predictive models learn from historical data to help predict specifically who will develop acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS),a severe outcome in COVID-19.Our experimental results based on two hospitals in Wenzhou,Zhejang,China identify features most predictive of ARDS in COVID-19 initial presentation which would not have stood out to clinicians.A mild increase in elevated alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(a liver enzyme)),a presence of myalgias(body aches),and an increase in hemoglobin,in this order,are the clinical features,on presentation,that are the most predictive.Those two centers’COVID-19 case series symptoms on initial presentation can help predict severe outcomes.Predictive models that learned from historical data of patients from two Chinese hospitals achieved 70%to 80%accuracy in predicting severe cases.
基金supported by the Developmental Fund of Chen Keji Integrative Medicine,No.CKJ2010025the Key Foundation of Society Development in Fujian Province,No.2013Y0059
文摘Wistar rats were intragastrical y perfused with Chinese medicines used for tonifying the kidney. These included 0.180 g/mL of Herba Epimedi （Epimedium）, Semen Cuscutae （Dodder Seed）, or Herba Cistanches （Desertliving Cistanche）, 0.04 mg/mL monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor selegiline, or distil ed water for 14 consecutive days to prepare drug-containing serum or blank serum. MES23.5 cells in the logarithmic phase were cultured in media supplemented with 15%drug-containing serum for 24 hours, fol owed by incubation in culture solution containing 100μmol/L H2O2 for 3 hours. 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） and flow tometry results showed that al drug-containing serums improved the survival rate of H 2 O 2-injured MES23.5 cells, inhibited pro-apoptotic FasL and caspase-3 expression, promoted anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. However, drug-containing serums had little influence on Fas expression in H 2 O 2-injured MES23.5 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that serum containing Herba Cistanches or Herba Epimedi increased the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cellline-derived neurotrophic factor in injured MES23.5 cells;serum containing Semen Cuscutae only increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor expres-sion; while expression of the above neurotrophic factors remained the same in cells treated with serum containing selegiline. These findings indicate that Chinese medicines used to tonify the kid-ney can protect nerve cells by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related factors and neuro-trophic factors in MES23.5 cells.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, No. 2009J06018
文摘The Chinese herbs Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Rhizoma Polygonati were injected into Parkinson＇s disease mice established via intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride. The selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor selegiline was used as a positive control drug. After successive administration for 4 weeks, Herba Epimedii could downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and increase the brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, as well as increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the substantia nigra of Parkinson＇s disease mouse models. Rhizoma Polygonaticould downregulate the expression of caspase-3 and FasL, and increase neural growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Fructus Ligustn Lucidi could downregulate caspase-3 expression. Rhizoma Polygonati and Fructus Ligustn Lucidi did not produce obvious effects on tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Herba Epimedii and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi yielded similar effects on apoptosis-promoting factors to those elicited by selegiline. Herba Epimedii and Rhizoma Polygonati significantly increased the levels of neurotrophic factors compared with selegiline. Herba Epimedii significantly increased tyrosine hydroxylase activity compared with selegiline. It is indicated that the kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal preparation can downregulate the expression of apoptosis-promoting factors, increase neurotrophic factors levels in the substantia nigra and striatum, as well as increase tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the substantia nigra of Parkinson＇s disease mouse models, thereby exerting a stronger or similar neuroprotective effects compared with selegiline.
文摘Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense genes. Previ- ous studies have focused on the non-coding antisense genes, but the possible regulatory role of the antisense protein is poorly understood. In this study, we found that a protein encoded by the antisense gene ADF1 acts as a transcription suppressor, regulating the expression of sense gene MDF1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the evolutionary, ge- netic, cytological and biochemical evidence, we show that the protein-coding sense gene MDF1 most likely originated de novo from a previously non-coding sequence and can significantly suppress the mating efficiency of baker＇s yeast in rich medium by binding MATa2 and thus promote vegetative growth. These results shed new light on several im- portant issues, including a new sense-antisense interaction mechanism, the de novo origination of a functional gene, and the regulation of yeast mating pathway.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51076155)Science & Technology Program of Guangdong Province(2009B050600006)
文摘The equilibrium hydrate formation conditions for CO2/H2 gas mixtures with different CO2 concentrations in 0.29 mol% TBAB aqueous solution are firstly measured.The results illustrate that the equilibrium hydrate formation pressure increases remarkably with the decrease of CO2 concentration in the gas mixture.Based on the phase equilibrium data,a three stages hydrate CO2 separation from integrated gasification combined cycle （IGCC） synthesis gas is investigated.Because the separation efficiency is quite low for the third hydrate separation,a hybrid CO2 separation process of two hydrate stages in conjunction with one chemical absorption process （absorption with MEA） is proposed and studied.The experimental results show H2 concentration in the final residual gas released from the three stages hydrate CO2 separation process was approximately 95.0 mol% while that released from the hybrid CO2 separation process was approximately 99.4 mol%.Thus,the hybrid process is possible to be a promising technology for the industrial application in the future.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(NS2015072)
文摘With the wide application of condition based maintenance(CBM) in aircraft maintenance practice, the joint optimization of maintenance and inventory management, which can take full advantage of CBM and reduce the aircraft operational cost, is receiving increasing attention. In order to optimize the inspection interval, maintenance decision and spare provisioning together for aircraft deteriorating parts, firstly, a joint inventory management strategy is presented, then, a joint optimization of maintenance inspection and spare provisioning for aircraft parts subject to the Wiener degradation process is proposed based on the strategy.Secondly, a combination of the genetic algorithm(GA) and the Monte Carol method is developed to minimize the total cost rate.Finally, a case study is conducted and the proposed joint optimization model is compared with the existing optimization model and the airline real case. The results demonstrate that the proposed model is more beneficial and effective. In addition, the sensitivity analysis of the proposed model shows that the lead time has higher influence on the optimal results than the urgent order cost and the corrective maintenance cost, which is consistent with the actual situation of aircraft maintenance practices and inventory management.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.NSFC 81171389Key Program of Basic Research from Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission,No.12JC1406500the Program of Shanghai Municipal Health Outstanding Discipline Leader,No.XBR 2013110
文摘AIM:To evaluate the feasibility of low contrast medium and radiation dose for hepatic computed tomography(CT) perfusion of rabbit VX2 tumor.METHODS:Eleven rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor underwent perfusion CT scanning with a 24-h interval between a conventional tube potential(120 k Vp) protocol with 350 mg I/m L contrast medium and filtered back projection,and a low tube potential(80 k Vp) protocol with 270 mg I/m L contrast medium with iterative reconstruction.Correlation and agreement among perfusion parameters acquired by the conventional and low dose protocols were assessed for the viable tumor component as well as whole tumor.Image noise and tumor-to-liver contrast to noise ratio during arterial and portal venous phases were evaluated.RESULTS:A 38% reduction in contrast medium dose(360.1 ± 13.3 mg I/kg vs 583.5 ± 21.5 mg I/kg,P < 0.001) and a 73% decrease in radiation dose(1898.5 m Gy·cm vs 6951.8 m Gy·cm) were observed.Interestingly,there was a strong positive correlation in hepatic arterial perfusion(r = 0.907,P < 0.001;r = 0.879,P < 0.001),hepatic portal perfusion(r = 0.819,P = 0.002;r = 0.831,P = 0.002),and hepatic blood flow(r = 0.945,P < 0.001;r = 0.930,P < 0.001) as well as a moderate correlation in hepatic perfusion index(r = 0.736,P = 0.01;r = 0.636,P = 0.035) between the low dose protocol with iterative reconstruction and the conventional protocol for the viable tumor component and the whole tumor.These two imaging protocols provided a moderate but acceptable agreement for perfusion parameters and similar tumorto-liver CNR during arterial and portal venous phases(5.63 ± 2.38 vs 6.16 ± 2.60,P = 0.814;4.60 ± 1.27 vs 5.11 ± 1.74,P = 0.587).CONCLUSION:Compared with the conventional protocol,low contrast medium and radiation dose with iterative reconstruction has no significant influence on hepatic perfusion parameters for rabbits VX2 tumor.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81672573)Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(No.2021D01F21)Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(No.2021CFB474)。
文摘Objective:Histone modification has a significant effect on gene expression.Enhancer of zeste homolog 2(EZH2)contributes to the epigenetic silencing of target chromatin through its roles as a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase enzyme.The development of anoikis resistance in tumor cells is considered to be a critical step in the metastatic process of primary malignant tumors.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of anoikis resistance in ovarian adenocarcinoma peritoneal metastasis.Methods:In addition to examining EZH2 protein expression in ovarian cancer omental metastatic tissues,we established a model of ovarian cancer cell anoikis and a xenograft tumor model in nude mice.Anoikis resistance and ovarian cancer progression were tested after EZH2 and N6-methyladenosine(m6A)levels were modified.Results:EZH2 expression was significantly higher in ovarian cancer omental metastatic tissues than in normal ovarian tissues.Reducing the level of EZH2 decreased the level of m6A and ovarian cancer cell anoikis resistance in vitro and inhibited ovarian cancer progression in vivo.M6a regulation altered the effect of EZH2 on anoikis resistance.Conclusion:Our results indicate that EZH2 contributes to anoikis resistance and promotes ovarian adenocarcinoma abdominal metastasis by m6A modification.Our findings imply the potential of the clinical application of m6A and EZH2 for patients with ovarian cancer.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51076155)the Science & Technology Program of Guangdong Province(2009B050600006)the CAS Knowledge Innovation Program (KGCX2-YW-3X6)
文摘A new method of temperature fluctuation is proposed to promote the process of hydrate-based CO2 separation from fuel gas in this work according to the dual nature of CO2 solubility in hydrate forming and non-hydrate forming regions [1].The temperature fluctuation operated in the process of hydrate formation improves the formation of gas hydrate observably.The amount of the gas consumed with temperature fluctuation is approximately 35% more than that without temperature fluctuation.It is found that only the temperature fluctuation operated in the period of forming hydrate leads to a good effect on CO2 separation.Meanwhile,with the proceeding of hydrate formation,the effect of temperature fluctuation on the gas hydrate gradually reduces,and little effect is left in the completion term.The CO2 separation efficiencies in the separation processes with the effective temperature fluctuations are improved remarkably.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30672729the Project Sponsored by Open Fund of Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics (Fujian University of TCM),No.2008J1004-18
文摘BACKGROUND： Glossy privet fruit inhibits neural cell apoptosis following the onset of vascular dementia. OBJECTIVE： To confirm glossy privet fruit effects on neural cell apoptosis in the cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CAI region of rat models of vascular dementia using molecular biology techniques. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The neural cell morphology experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Flow Cells and Biochemistry, Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the Basic Room of Pathology, Academy of Chinese Medicine from December 2006 to May 2008. MATERIALS： A total of 60 Wistar rats were used to establish vascular dementia models using a photochemical reaction method. Glossy privet fruit was purchased from Fujian, China. Hydergine was co-produced by Sandoz, Switzerland and Huajin, China. METHODS： The 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal sized groups （n = 10）, i.e. model, blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups. Rats in the model group were treated with distilled water （1 mL/100 g） by gavage following model establishment. Rats in the blank group underwent experimental procedures as for the model group, except that rat models were created without illumination. Rats in the high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine groups, and the hydergine control group respectively received high, moderate and low doses of glossy privet fruit, and hydergine suspension （1 mL/100 g） by gavage, once a day, for 30 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Morphology of neural cells from the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region of all groups was observed with an electron microscope. Positive neural cells in the injury site of the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region were investigated using the Fas immunohistochemieal method. Absorbance of Fas-positive neurons was detected by the MPIAS-500 multimedia color imaging analysis system. RESULTS： Neural cells were normal, and nuclei were regular in the right cortical parietal lobe and hippoeampal CA1 region in the blank group. Karyopyknosis, an integral nuclear membrane, vacuole and apoptotic bodies were presented in the model group. The quantity and morphology of neural cells were normal in all doses of Chinese medicine groups, and the hydergine control group. Compared with the model group, absorbance was reduced at the injury site of rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CA1 region in the blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups （P 〈 0.05）. The decrease was particularly significant in the blank group （P 〈 0.01 ）, followed by the high dose of Chinese medicine group （P 〈 0.01）. Compared with the model group, the percentage of apoptosis was decreased at the injury site of the rat cortical parietal lobe and hippocampal CAI region in the blank, high, moderate and low doses of Chinese medicine, and hydergine control groups （P 〈 0.01） and this decrease was significant in the high dose of Chinese medicine group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Glossy privet fruit, a kidney-tonifying Chinese herbal medicine, can inhibit cell apoptosis by reducing apoptotic signals induced by cerebral ischemia/hypoxia.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(6107901361079014+4 种基金61403198)the National Natural Science Funds and Civil Aviaiton Mutual Funds(U1533128U1233114)the Programs of Natural Science Foundation of China and China Civil Aviation Joint Fund(60939003)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province in China(BK2011737)
文摘It is significant to combine multiple tasks into an optimal work package in decision-making of aircraft maintenance to reduce cost,so a cost rate model of combinatorial maintenance is an urgent need.However,the optimal combination under various constraints not only involves numerical calculations but also is an NP-hard combinatorial problem.To solve the problem,an adaptive genetic algorithm based on cluster search,which is divided into two phases,is put forward.In the first phase,according to the density,all individuals can be homogeneously scattered over the whole solution space through crossover and mutation and better individuals are collected as candidate cluster centres.In the second phase,the search is confined to the neighbourhood of some selected possible solutions to accurately solve with cluster radius decreasing slowly,meanwhile all clusters continuously move to better regions until all the peaks in the question space is searched.This algorithm can efficiently solve the combination problem.Taking the optimization on decision-making of aircraft maintenance by the algorithm for an example,maintenance which combines multiple parts or tasks can significantly enhance economic benefit when the halt cost is rather high.
文摘BACKGROUND Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue tumor of primitive mesenchymal cells origin,occurring predominantly in children and adolescents,but extremely rare in adults and the data regarding its treatment are sparse.Here,we would like to share our experience in the treatment of a locally advanced primary embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of cervix in a 39-year-old female.CASE SUMMARY The patient was admitted with symptoms of intermenstrual bleeding and postcoital bleeding for six months.Physical examination revealed a friable,polyplike mass(5 cm×5 cm)in her cervix protruding into the vagina,while the uterus was mobile and normal-sized.Colposcopy-directed biopsy was performed,and a pathological diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was made.Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis showed that the cervical volume was significantly increased,with a hypointense and hyperintense soft tissue mass on the right side,invading the cervical stroma;the mass was 5 cm×5 cm with a clear boundary and confined to the cervix;there were no obvious findings indicating tumor invasion in the vaginal wall,parametrium,or pelvic wall;no enlarged lymph nodes were observed in the pelvic cavity.Based on our findings,the tumor was classified as stage IA according to the intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma studies criteria and IB3stage according to The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018.The patient underwent two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and a partial remission was achieved.Subsequently,she underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy,bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection and there were no risk factors revealed by postoperative pathological examination.Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed after surgery.The patient was disease-free until the last follow-up,49 mo after completing the entire treatment.CONCLUSION Our experience suggests that neoadjuvant vincristine,dactinomycin,and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy followed by radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy might be reasonable therapeutic option for bulky cervical rhabdomyosarcoma in adults without fertility desire.Since large-scale studies on such rare conditions are rather impossible,further case reports and systematic reviews could help optimize the treatment of primary,bulky cervical rhabdomyosarcoma in adults.
