Deep learning predicts the differentiation of kidney organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Kidney organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) contain multilineage nephrogenic progenitor cells and can recapitulate the development of the kidney. Kidney organoids derived from hPSCs have the potential to be applied in regenerative medicine as well as renal disease modeling, drug screening, and nephrotoxicity testing. Despite biotechnological advances, individual differences in morphological and growth characteristics among kidney organoids need to be addressed before clinical and commercial application. In this study, we hypothesized that an automated noninvasive method based on deep learning of bright-field images of kidney organoids can predict their differentiation status. Methods: Bright-field images of kidney organoids were collected on day 18 after differentiation. To train convolutional neural networks (CNNs), we utilized a transfer learning approach. CNNs were trained to predict the differentiation of kidney organoids on bright-field images based on the messenger RNA expression of renal tubular epithelial cells as well as podocytes. Results: The best prediction model was DenseNet121 with a total Pearson correlation coefficient score of 0.783 on a test dataset. W classified the kidney organoids into two categories: organoids with above-average gene expression (Positive) and those with below-average gene expression (Negative). Comparing the best-performing CNN with human-based classifiers, the CNN algorithm had a receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve (AUC) score of 0.85, while the experts had an AUC score of 0.48. Conclusion: These results confirmed our original hypothesis and demonstrated that our artificial intelligence algorithm can successfully recognize the differentiation status of kidney organoids.

Clinical Results of Cataract Surgery Using the ARTIS ® PL E Intraocular Lens

Purpose@#To compare the clinical outcomes of cataract surgery using the ARTIS ® PL E (Cristalens Industrie, Lannion, France) intraocular lens (IOL) and conventional Tecnis ® ZCB00 (Johnson & Johnson Vision, Santa Ana, CA, USA) IOL. @*Methods@#This retrospective study examined patients who underwent in-the-bag implantation of either an ARTIS ® PL E (33 eyes, group A) or Tecnis ® ZCB00 (45 eyes, group B) IOL after phacoemulsification performed by a single surgeon. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent, and higher-order aberrations (HOA) were measured 1 and 3 months after cataract surgery. @*Results@#Preoperative BCVA did not differ significantly in groups A and B. Postoperative BCVA at 1 and 3 months improved significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups compared to preoperative baseline BCVA. At 1 and 3 months postoperatively, total HOA, spherical aberration, and coma were significantly lower compared to the preoperative baseline HOA (p < 0.05) in both groups. However, there were no significant differences in the trefoil values 1 and 3 months postoperatively compared to the preoperative baseline in both groups. The absolute refractive error 3 months postoperatively was 0.27 ± 0.20 (group A) and 0.28 ± 0.20 (group B), both within ± 0.50 diopters of the targeted goal diopter; there were no significant differences in the accuracy or predictability of the IOL power calculation in both groups (p = 0.390, p = 0.959). The absolute refractive error 1 and 3 months postoperatively did not differ significantly; there were no significant differences in the stability of both IOLs (p = 0.482, p = 0.372). @*Conclusions@#Conventional cataract surgery using the ARTIS ® PL E IOL significantly increased the BCVA, while obtaining comparable clinical results to the verified Tecnis ® ZCB00 IOL in postoperative visual acuity and HOA.

Oleanolic Acid Protects the Skin from Particulate Matter-Induced Aging

The role of particulate matter (PM) in health problems including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and pneumonia is becoming increasingly clear. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, major components of PM, bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhRs) and promote the expression of CYP1A1 through the AhR pathway in keratinocytes. Activation of AhRs in skin cells is associated with cell differentiation in keratinocytes and inflammation, resulting in dermatological lesions. Oleanolic acid, a natural component of L. lucidum, also has anti-inflammation, anticancer, and antioxidant characteristics. Previously, we found that PM 10, induced the AhR signaling pathway and autophagy process in keratinocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of oleanolic acid on PM 10,-induced skin aging. We observed that oleanolic acid inhibits PM 10,-induced CYP1A1 and decreases the increase of tumor necrosis factor– alpha and interleukin 6 induced by PM 10,. A supernatant derived from keratinocytes cotreated with oleanolic acid and PM 10, inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in dermal fibroblasts. Also, the AhR-mediated autophagy disruption was recovered by oleanolic acid. Thus, oleanolic acid may be a potential treatment for addressing PM 10,-induced skin aging.

Analyses of Vessel Densities and Foveal Avascular Zones Using Four Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Devices

Purpose@#To compare the vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area using four different optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images. @*Methods@#This prospective study analyzed the OCTA images of consecutive healthy subjects using Plex-Elite (Carl Zeiss), DRI OCT-1 Atlantis (Topcon), AngioPlex (Carl Zeiss), and Spectralis OCTA (Heidelberg Engineering). The VD and FAZ areas were calculated using the OCTA images with a 3 x 3 mm2 volume scan pattern centered on the fovea. @*Results@#The VD (%) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) were different using the four devices: Plex-Elite (42.17 ± 2.79, 43.71 ± 2.36), DRI OCT-1 Atlantis (28.70 ± 2.87, 30.27 ± 3.02), AngioPlex (28.32 ± 6.68, 33.33 ± 5.44), and Spectralis OCTA (27.86 ± 4.13, 28.54 ± 3.14), respectively; p 0.05), but the FAZ area had positive correlations using the four devices (all, p < 0.001). @*Conclusions@#The four OCTA devices provided different VD and FAZ areas, so these differences should be considered in analyzing OCTA images.

Comparative Study of Nursing Students Consciousness of Biomedical Ethics and Attitudes toward Human Tissue Donation and Transplantation According to Participation in Anatomy Camp Program / 체질인류학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify the consciousness of biomedical ethics and attitudes toward human tissue donation and transplantation among participants and non-participants in the anatomy camp program. Data collection is made from one hundred and eighty-two students who were enrolled in one university nursing department, in B metropolitan city. Ninety-six students participated in the anatomy camp program, while eighty-six students did not participate in the anatomy camp program. The total mean scores of consciousness of biomedical ethics between participants (2.03/4) and non-participants (1.96/4) were significantly different (t=2.217, p≤.028). And the total mean scores of attitudes toward human tissue donation and transplantation between participants (3.49/5) and non-participants (3.31/5) were significantly different (t=4.579, p≤.000). There were statistically significant differences between two groups in sub-categories of consciousness of biomedical ethics: organ transplantation, artificial insemination.

Performance Evaluation of Anyplex plus MTB/NTM and AdvanSure TB/NTM for the Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods from direct specimen are widely used for the rapid and accurate detection of mycobacteria infection. In this study, we evaluated two domestically developed detection kits for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) using real-time PCR. METHODS: A total of 348 samples from patients with suspected tuberculosis were tested with real-time PCR over seven months. We performed real-time PCR using the recently developed Anyplex plus MTB/NTM Detection kit (Seegene) with the CFX 96TM Realtime PCR System (Bio-Rad Laboratories) and the conventional AdvanSure TB/NTM real-time PCR kit (LG Life Sciences) with the SLAN Real-time PCR detection system (LG Life Sciences) to evaluate their performance for detecting MTB and NTM. RESULTS: The two real-time PCR systems showed 96.8% concordance rate for MTB-positive, NTM-positive, and negative results. Based on culture results, the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of MTB using PCR were 71.0% and 94.9% for Anyplex plus, and 78.1% and 93.9% for AdvanSure, respectively. For the detection of NTM, the sensitivity and specificity were 33.3% and 98.4% for Anyplex plus, and 51.7% and 97.9% for AdvanSure. Both PCR systems showed high MTB positive results in bronchial washing and sputum samples. CONCLUSION: In detecting MTB and NTM, Anyplex plus MTB/NTM (Seegene) and AdvanSure TB/NTM real-time PCR (LG Life Sciences) showed high concordance rate with each other in all samples. Therefore both detection kits can be used as rapid and reliable detection tool for MTB.

Changes of lipid peroxide levels and prooxidative activity stimulating the protein carbonyl formation in the amniotic fluid of women with preterm premature rupture of membranes / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyls levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODS: The lipid peroxide levels in the amniotic fluid of normal pregnancy (n=20) and pregnant women with PPROM (n=20) were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The protein carbonyl contents in the amniotic fluid of normal pregnancy (n=20) and pregnant women with PPROM (n=20) were determined by the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. After amniotic fluid of them were mixed and incubated up to 5 hours with 0.2 mL of 1mM moxalactam, cefodizime, amoxacillin, erythromycin, the lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyl contents in them were measured. RESULTS: 1. The lipid peroxide levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly higher than that of normal pregnancy (9.74+/-0.48 vs. 7.20+/-0.38 nmol/mg protein, P<0.01). 2. The protein carbonyl levels in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly higher than that of normal pregnancy (13.0+/-0.33 vs. 11.27+/-0.17 nmol/mg protein P<0.01). 3. The lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyls formation by moxalactam in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly higher than basal level (12.08+/-0.81 vs. 9.74+/-0.48 nmol/mg protein, 20.08+/-0.66 vs. 13.0+/-0.33 nmol/mg protein, P<0.01). 4. The lipid peroxide levels and protein carbonyls formation by cefodizime in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM was significantly lower than basal level (5.04+/-0.33 vs. 9.74+/-0.48 nmol/mg protein, 9.76+/-0.35 vs. 13.0+/-0.33 nmol/mg protein, P<0.01). 5. There were no significant differences in the levels of lipid peroxide and protein carbonyls by amoxacillin and erythromycin in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM between antibiotics-induced and basal levels. CONCLUSION: The lipid peroxidation and the protein carbonyls formation were increased in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM. Antibiotics-induced lipid peroxide and protein carbonyl levels were changed in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women with PPROM. Further studies on our results may be beneficial in the selection of antibiotics for pregnant women with PPROM.

Diagnostic role of HPV DNA chip test in patient with atypical glandular cell cytology / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to identify the diagnostic role of HPV DNA chip test that may predict high grade lesions in gladular cell abnormalities on cervical cytology. METHODS: This study was performed in 88 patients, who were reported for atypical glandular cells on liquid-based cytologic test and was done subsequent cervical biopsies in Chonnam National University Hospital, between January 2003 and June 2007. HPV DNA chip test was performed on residual material of previous liquid-based cytologic test. And it was compared with pathologic results. RESULTS: Of the 88 patients with atypical glandular cells, the distribution was as follows: 60 patients were reported as atypical glandular cells, not otherwise specified (AGC, NOS), 28 patients were reported as atypical glandular cells, favor neoplastics (AGC, favor neoplastics). Of the 88 patients with an AGC result, pathologic results were as follows: 47 patients (53.4%) had a clinically significant high grade lesions. Of this high grade lesions, 5 cases of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, CIN 2 & CIN 3 (83.4%, 5/6), 2 cases of SCC (66.7%, 2/3), 4 cases of AIS (80.0%, 4/5), and 11 cases of endocervical adenocarcinoma (69%, 11/16) were positive on HPV DNA chip test. The sensitivity of human papilloma virus positivity to predict the presence of high grade lesion in cervix was 73.3%, specificity 85.3%, positive predictive value 78.5%, and negative predictive value 81.3%. There were 16 patients with endometrial cancer. Only 3 patients were HPV DNA chip positive. CONCLUSION: HPV DNA detection was strongly associated with high grade lesions in women with atypical glandular cells on cervical pap smear. These results suggest that although there is no high grade lesion in patients with HPV positive AGC-NOS at initial work-up, meticulous search like cone biopsy should be done to find high grade lesion. If the women with a diagnosis of AGC on pap smear are over 35 years of age and has abnormal utero-vaginal bleeding, this patients needed to be evaluated with endometrial biopsy.

A clinical study of vaginal myomectomy / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of vaginal myomectomy via colpotomy with analyzing clinical course and postoperative complication. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 59 patients, who underwent vaginal myomectomy between November 1997 and July 2006 in department of gynecology, Chonnam National University Hospital. Operating time, hemoglobin change, postoperative pain, perioperative complication, and days of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were evaluated, mean age of patients was 41.54+/-5.8 years. Mean diameter of the uterine myoma was 6.79+/-1.75 cm. Mean operating time was 66.69+/-34.49 minute. Mean hemoglobin loss was 2.67+/-1.26 g/dL, and mean days of hospital stay was 4.91+/-1.25 days. One patient had febrile morbidity. Only one patient had suffered from retroperitoneal bleeding enough to get on operation. CONCLUSION: Vaginal myomectomy seems to be a feasible and safe surgical procedure. Further randomised studies are needed to compare this procedure with laparotomy and laparoscopy, and vaginal myomectomy is expected to be more effective and generalized surgical procedure.

One case of prenatally diagnosed vasa previa accompanied by succenturiate placenta / 대한산부인과학회지

Vasa previa is said to occur when fetal vessels, unsupported by placenta or umbilical cord, transverse the menbranes over the cervix, below the presenting part. It is typically caused by velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord with fetal vessels between the cervix and presenting part. Bilobed or succenturiate placentas also can be associated with aberrant vasculature over the internal cervical os. Vasa previa has an incidence of approximately one per 2,000-5,000 deliveries. It has a high fetal mortality due to fetal exsanguination resulting from fetal vessels tearing when the menbranes rupture. So Prenatal detection of vasa previa is very important. We believe transvaginal ultrasound in combination with color Doppler is the most effective tool in the antenatal diagnosis of vasa previa. Recently, we experienced one case of vasa previa accompanied by succenturiate placenta diagnosed prenatally by color Doppler and transvaginal sonography. Here we report our experience with a literature review.