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Objective:To explore the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) system based on deep learning in evaluating bone age of children with abnormal growth and development.Methods:The positive X-ray films of the left wrist of children with abnormal growth and development who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were collected retrospectively. A total of 717 children were collected, including 266 males and 451 females, aged 2-18 (11±3) years. Based on Tanner Whitehouse 3 (TW 3)-RUS (radius, ulna, short bone) and TW3-Carpal (carpal bone) method, bone age was measured by 3 senior radiologists, and the mean value was taken as reference standard. The bone ages were independently evaluated by the AI system (Dr.Wise bone age prediction software) and two junior radiologists (physicians 1 and 2). The accuracy within 0.5 year, the accuracy within 1 year, the mean absolute error (MAE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) between the evaluation results and the reference standard were analyzed. Paired sample t-test was used to compare MAE between AI system and junior physicians. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the consistency between AI system, junior physician and reference standard. The Bland-Altman diagram was drawn and the 95% consistency limit was calculated between AI system and reference standard. Results:For TW3-RUS bone age, compared with the reference standard, the accuracy within 0.5 year of AI system, physician 1 and physician 2 was 75.3% (540/717), 62.1% (445/717) and 66.2% (475/717), respectively. The accuracy within 1 year was 96.9% (695/717), 86.3% (619/717) and 89.1% (639/717), respectively. MAE was 0.360, 0.565 and 0.496 years, and RMSE was 0.469, 0.634 and 0.572 years, respectively. For TW3-Carpal bone age, compared with the reference standard, the accuracy within 0.5 year of AI system, physician 1 and physician 2 was 80.9% (580/717), 65.1% (467/717) and 71.7% (514/717), respectively. The accuracy within 1 year was 96.0% (688/717), 87.3% (626/717) and 90.4% (648/717), respectively. MAE was 0.330, 0.527 and 0.455 years, and RMSE was 0.458, 0.612, 0.538 years, respectively. Based on TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal bone age, the MAE of AI system were lower than those of physician 1 and physician 2, and the differences were statistically significant ( P all<0.001). The evaluation results of AI, physician 1 and physician 2 were in good agreement with the reference standard (ICC all>0.950). The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the 95% agreement limits of AI system for assessing TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal bone age were -0.75-1.02 years and-0.86-0.91 years, respectively. Conclusion:The accuracy of AI system in evaluating the bone age of children with abnormal growth and development is close to that of senior doctors, better than that of junior doctors, and in good agreement with senior doctors.
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Monogenic inherited skin diseases are a group of clinically rare diseases that include nearly 1000 phenotypically distinct disorders. Through the concerted efforts of researchers in dermatological sciences and related disciplines worldwide, many advances have been made in the etiology and pathogenesis of these diseases in the last 30 years. However, it is important to note that the treatment of the majority of monogenic inherited skin diseases remains a challenge for clinicians. Dupilumab is a fully human monoclonal IgG4 antibody that specifically binds to the α subunit of the IL-4 receptor, thereby inhibiting the IL-4 and IL-13 signaling pathway. It was first approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and has been used worldwide. In recent years, the drug has been successfully used to treat some monogenic inherited skin diseases with AD-like clinical manifestations, such as hyper-IgE syndrome and Netherton syndrome, with good efficacy. The drug was later tried for the treatment of other monogenic inherited skin diseases, such as Hailey-Hailey syndrome and epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa, where it was also proven to be effective. In this paper, we review literature reports related to dupilumab for the treatment of monogenic inherited skin diseases in recent years, focusing on its efficacy, safety and possible therapeutic mechanisms. We aim to provide a possible scientific basis for the future application of this drug in the field of rare monogenic inherited skin diseases.
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Objective:To investigate the distribution of allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis （AR） in Ningxia, and provide theoretical data for the prevention and treatment of AR in this region. Methods:A total of 1664 patients diagnosed with AR in the Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Yinchuan First People's Hospital Outpatient Clinic from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. Use the allergen sIgE antibody detection kit （immunoblotting method） to detect inhalation and ingestion allergens in patients.Results: ①Among all AR patients, 1 158 cases were detected positive, resulting in the detection rate was 69.59%; ②The detection rate of inhalation allergen was 65.87%, and the detection rate of ingestion allergen was 19.83%; ③Mugwort was the most sensitive allergen, and 76.32% of the patients having a positive grade ≥3; ④Out of the patients, 294 cases （25.39%） were allergic to only one allergen, 244 cases （21.07%） were allergic to two allergens, and 620 cases （53.54%） were allergic to three or more allergens; ⑤During different seasons, the highest number of positive allergens detected was in the summer, with 968 cases （83.59%）. Mugwort was the main allergen during this season （69.01%）. After the COVID-19 epidemic, the total positive rate of sIgE tests in AR patients decreased compared to before, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.001）; ⑥Mugwort, dog epithelium, mold combination, egg, peanut, soybean, Marine fish combination and fruit combination all showed statistically significant differences between different gender groups （P<0.05）; ⑦Common ragweed, mugwort, dust mite combination, cockroach, egg, milk, Marine fish combination, shrimp, fruit combination and nut combination all showed statistically significant differences among different age groups （P<0.05）; ⑧There were statistically significant differences in hay dust among different ethnic groups （P<0.05）. Conclusion:Artemisia argyi is the main allergen in Ningxia, and the distribution characteristics of different allergens are influenced by treatment season, the COVID-19 epidemic, gender, age, ethnicity, and other factors, showing certain distribution patterns and rules.
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Humans , Male , Female , Allergens , Artemisia , COVID-19 , Retrospective Studies , Rhinitis, Allergic , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the correlation between the door-to-needle time (DNT) delay and the short-term functional outcome after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with minor ischemic stroke and the influencing factors of DNT delay.Methods:From October 2016 to May 2018, patients with minor ischemic stroke received intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase from the Stroke Database of Nanjing First Hospital were enrolled retrospectively. DNT delay was defined as DNT > median. The modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the short-term functional outcome at 3 months after stroke. 0-1 was defined as good outcome, and ≥2 was defined as poor outcome. Univariate analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between DNT delay and short-term functional outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the possible influencing factors of DNT delay. Results:A total of 102 patients with minor ischemic stroke were enrolled. The median DNT was 40 min, 36 patients (35.3%) had DNT delay, and 27 patients (26.5%) had poor short-term outcome. Univariate analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with DNT delay between the poor outcome group and the good outcome group (44.4% vs. 32.0%; χ2=1.346, P=0.252). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant independent negative correlation between hypertension and DNT delay (odds ratio 0.359, 95% confidence interval 0.137-0.939; P=0.037). Conclusion:For patients with minor ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis, DNT delay is not associated with the outcome. The absence of hypertension may be one of the factors affecting the DNT delay.
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Objective@#To compare the effects of modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score (mTICI) 2b and mTICI 3 reperfusion on lesions′ changes and prognosis in patients who underwent endovascular therapy within six hours after onset.@*Methods@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on 94 patients with acute large intracranial artery occlusion of the anterior circulation who achieved reperfusion sucesssfully by endovascular therapy within 6 hours after onset in the Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital from October 2016 to March 2019. The effects of mTICI 2b and mTICI 3 reperfusion on lesions′ changes and prognosis of patients were compared. The primary endpoint was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days; the secondary endpoints were the early neurological deficit score, the mortality at 90 days, the volume of infarction at 24 hours, the changes in infarct volume for 24 hours and the rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) , reocclusion and hemorrhagic transformation.@*Results@#In all patients, 35 cases received mTICI 2b reperfusion and 59 cases received mTICI 3 reperfusion. Compared with mTICI 2b group (10.00 (3.00, 16.00)), the early neurological deficit score at seven days of mTICI 3 group (6.00 (1.00,11.50)) was lower (Z=-2.004, P=0.045) . However, there were no statistically significant differences in mRS score at 90 days, early neurological deficit score at 24 hours and 3 days, mortality at 90 days, volume of infarction at 24 hours, the changes in infarct volume for 24 hours, and the rate of sICH, reocclusion, and hemorrhagic transformation between the two groups.@*Conclusion@#For patients with large intracranial artery occlusion of the anterior circulation within six hours after onset, achieving mTICI 3 reperfusion after endovascular therapy can improve the early neurological function more effectively, but the effects on 90-day functional outcome are similar to that of mTICI 2b reperfusion.
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Objective To compare the effects of intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering and guideline-recommended standard BP lowering on the early reperfusion and prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods This is a randomised controlled trial consisting of 118 consecutive patients who came from Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital from July 2012 to April 2016, accepting intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis with the systolic blood pressure (SBP) being 150-185 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The patients with ischemic stroke were diagnosed by multi-mode MRI and confirmed to have ischemic penumbra. The SBP of patients randomly assigned to intensive BP lowering group and guideline BP lowering group was maintained in 140-150 mmHg or below 180 mmHg respectively for 72 h and all patients needed to reexamine multi-mode MRI at 24 h. The primary endpoints were the neurologic function at early stage, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and the mortality at 90 d;the secondary endpoints were the volume of infarction and hypoperfusion area, the rate of reperfusion, hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and syptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Results Forty-nine cases in intensive BP lowering group and 56 cases in guideline BP lowering group acquired the available images. The volume of infarction was increased both in these two groups, and there was no statistically significant difference in the increased values ((13.21±9.51) cm3 vs (12.95±9.68) cm3). There were no statistically significant differences in the volume of hypoperfusion, reperfusion rate, neurologic function at early stage, the mRS scores and mortality at 90 d, the incidence of sICH except the rate of HT (9.4%, 5/53 vs 23.1%, 15/65, χ2=3.860, P=0.049) between the two groups.Conclusion Early intensive BP-lowering treatment has no adverse effects on the transformation of ischemic penumbra and prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke and may decrease the the rate of HT in some degree.
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Shenfu Injection (SFI) is a well-defined Chinese herbal formulation that is obtained from red ginseng and processed aconite root. The main active constituents in SFI are ginsenosides and aconitum alkaloids. In this work, ginsenosides (ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rc) and aconitum alkaloids (benzoylmesaconine and fuziline) were used as the index components to explore the pharmacokinetic behavior of SFI. A selective and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the quantification of ginsenosides and aconitum alkaloids in dog plasma and was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics of the five index components after intravenous drip of three different dosages of SFI in beagle dogs. The pharmacokinetic properties of the index components were linear over the dose range of 2-8 mL/kg.
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Objectives To investigate the effects of different degrees of carotid artery stenosis on cognitive function and neuronal apoptosis of hippocampal CA1 region in rats and to analyze the possible mechanisms of cognitive impairment. Methods According to the random number table,50 male Wistar rats were allocated into a sham operation group,a unilateral mild stenosis group,a unilateral moderate stenosis group,a unilateral severe stenosis group,a bilateral mild stenosis group,a bilateral moderate stenosis group, a bilateral severe stenosis group,and a sham operation group. Aneedle-controlled suture method was used to induce a carotid stenosis model with different degrees of stenosis in rats. Water maze was to localize navigation and spatial search test was used to evaluate the cognitive function with different degrees of carotid artery stenosis in rats. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the numbers of positive cells of P75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR),Bax,Bcl-2,neurotrophic factor-3 (NT-3 ),nerve growth factor (NGF)in hippocampal CA1 region under the light microscope. The conditions of neuronal apoptosis were observed. Results In 50 rats,6 died,1 rat in poor health failed to complete the Morris water maze test. The degree of bilateral carotid artery stenosis in 1 rat failed to meet 30%-60% at the same time,they were all removed. The remaining 42 rats were 6 in each group. (1)Compared with the sham operation group,the mean escape latency was prolonged (39 ± 6 s,32 ± 5 s,69 ± 7 s,respectively vs. 23 ± 4 s;all P < 0. 01),and the percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant was decreased (35 ± 4%,44 ± 4%,22 ± 5%,respectively vs. 53 ± 7%;all P < 0. 01),and the cognitive function was decreased with the degree of stenosis in the unilateral severe stenosis group,bilateral moderate stenosis group,and bilateral severe stenosis group. Compared with the unilateral severe stenosis group,the mean escape latency was prolonged and the percentage of swimming distance in the platform quadrant was decreased in the bilateral severe stenosis group (P < 0. 01). (2)Compared with the numbers of positive cells of Bax,p75NTR and Bcl-2 (8. 8 ± 3. 1,4. 2 ± 2. 3,and 5. 8 ± 1. 8,respectively)in the sham operation group,the numbers of positive cells of Bax,p75NTR,and Bcl-2 were increased (25. 5 ± 3. 5,11. 0 ± 2. 2,12. 3 ± 2. 7;15. 8 ± 3. 7,8. 9 ± 2. 2, 10. 5 ± 2. 9;and 47. 9 ± 6. 3,24. 7 ± 3. 0,12. 8 ± 2. 5,respectively)in the unilateral severe stenosis group, bilateral moderate stenosis group,and bilateral severe stenosis group (all P < 0. 01). The numbers of Bax and p75NTR positive cells were increased with the degree of stenosis. When the stenosis was severe,the numbers of Bax and p75NTR positive cells were increased in the bilateral severe stenosis group compared with those of the unilateral severe stenosis group (P < 0. 01). The numbers of NGF and NT-3 positive cells in each stenosis group had an increased trend compared with sham operation group,but there were no significant differences (F =1. 034,and 1. 358;P = 0. 420 and 0. 259 respectively). Conclusions Carotid stenosis can cause cognitive disorder in rats,and it is correlated with the degree of carotid stenosis. Ischemia caused neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA1 region may be one of the mechanisms of cognitive impairment after carotid artery stenosis in rats.