Research and application of tongue and face diagnosis based on deep learning.

Objective: To explore the technical research and application characteristics of deep learning in tongue-facial diagnosis. Methods: Through summarizing the merits and demerits of current image processing techniques used in the traditional medical tongue and face diagnosis, the research status of deep learning in tongue image preprocessing, segmentation, and classification was analyzed and reviewed, and the algorithm was compared and verified with the real tongue and face image. Images of the face and tongue used for diagnosis in conventional medicine were systematically reviewed, from acquisition and pre-processing to segmentation, classification, algorithm comparison, result from analysis, and application. Results: Deep learning improved the speed and accuracy of tongue and face diagnostic image data processing. Among them, the average intersection ratio of U-net and Seg-net models exceeded 0.98, and the segmentation speed ranged from 54 to 58 ms. Conclusion: There is no unified standard for lingual-facial diagnosis objectification in terms of image acquisition conditions and image processing methods, thus further research is indispensable. It is feasible to use the images acquired by mobile in the field of medical image analysis by reducing the influence of environmental and other factors on the quality of lingual-facial diagnosis images and improving the efficiency of image processing.

Upregulating KTN1 promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma progression.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a common malignant tumor worldwide. Although kinectin 1 (KTN1) is the most frequently identified antigen in HCC tissues, the detailed roles of KTN1 in HCC remain unknown. This study seeks to clarify the expression status and clinical value of KTN1 in HCC and to explore the complicated biological functions of KTN1 and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: In-house reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of KTN1 in HCC tissues. External gene microarrays and RNA-sequencing datasets were downloaded to confirm the expression patterns of KTN1. The prognostic ability of KTN1 in HCC was assessed by a Kaplan-Meier curve and a hazard ratio forest plot. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system was used to knock out KTN1 in Huh7 cells, which was verified by PCR-Sanger sequencing and western blotting. Assays of cell migration, invasion, viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were conducted to explore the biological functions. RNA sequencing was performed to quantitatively analyze the functional deregulation in KTN1-knockout cells compared to Huh7-wild-type cells. Upregulated genes that co-expressed with KTN1 were identified from HCC tissues and were functionally annotated. Results: KTN1 expression was increased in HCC tissues (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.20 [0.04, 0.37]). High KTN1 expression was significantly correlated with poorer prognosis of HCC patients, and KTN1 may be an independent risk factor for HCC (pooled HRs = 1.31 [1.05, 1.64]). After KTN1-knockout, the viability, migration, and invasion ability of HCC cells were inhibited. The proportion of HCC cells in the G0-G1 phases increased after KTN1 knockout, which also elevated the apoptosis rates in HCC cells. Several cascades, including innate immune response, chemical carcinogenesis, and positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II, were dramatically changed after KTN1 knockout. KTN1 primarily participated in the cell cycle, DNA replication, and microRNAs in cancer pathways in HCC tissues. Conclusion: Upregulation of KTN1 served as a promising prognosticator in HCC patients. KTN1 promotes the occurrence and deterioration of HCC by mediating cell survival, migration, invasion, cell cycle activation, and apoptotic inhibition. KTN1 may be a therapeutic target in HCC patients.

Enhanced Electrocaloric Effect in Sr2+-Modified Lead-Free BaZr xTi1- xO3 Ceramics.

Barium strontium zirconate titanate ceramics ((BaSr)(ZrTi)O3-BSZT) with Zr4+ ionic contents of 15 and 20 mol % and Sr2+ ionic contents of 15, 20, 25, and 30 mol % were prepared using a solid-state reaction approach. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the lattice structure and morphologies of the ceramics. Permittivity and polarization as a function of temperature were characterized using an impedance analyzer and a Tower-Sawyer circuit. The electrocaloric effect was measured directly and calculated using the Maxwell relation (indirectly). The results indicated that the BSZT ceramics change from a normal ferroelectric to a relaxor ferroelectric with increasing Zr4+ ionic content, which can be further modified by the addition of Sr2+ ionic content. The optimized adiabatic temperature change Δ T obtained is 2.43 K in (Ba0.85Sr0.15)(Zr0.15Ti0.75)O3 ceramics, and Δ T >1.6 K over a wide temperature span of 120 °C was obtained.

Direct Measurement of Large Electrocaloric Effect in Ba(ZrxTi1-x)O3 Ceramics.

Barium zirconate titanate (BZT) (Ba(ZrxTi1-x)O3) ceramics with Zr4+ contents of x = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mol % were prepared using a solid-state reaction approach. The microstructures, morphologies, and electric properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and impedance analysis methods, respectively. The dielectric analyses indicate that the BZT bulk ceramics show characteristics of phase transition from a normal ferroelectric to a relaxor ferroelectric with the increasing Zr4+ ionic content. The electrocaloric effect adiabatic temperature change decreases with the increasing Zr4+ content. The highest adiabatic temperature change obtained is 2.4 K for BZT ceramics with a 5 mol % of Zr4+ ionic content.

Prevalence and correlates of cigarette smoking among Chinese schizophrenia inpatients receiving antipsychotic mono-therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence rate of cigarette smoking and its socio-demographic and clinical correlates in Chinese schizophrenia inpatients receiving antipsychotic mono-therapy. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional, two-site, hospital-based survey. Four hundred and twenty-nine schizophrenia patients (male/female: 66.9% vs. 33.1%) were consecutively recruited from psychosis inpatient wards of two large specialty psychiatric hospitals in mainland China. Patients were assessed using a cigarette smoking questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, the Simpson Angus Scale, the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale, and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. Socio-demographic and other clinical data were also collected. We calculated the prevalence of current smoking in our sample as well as its indirectly standardized prevalence ratio (ISPR) using data from the 2010 Global Adult Tobacco Survey in China. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of current smoking was 40.6% in our sample, and 57.5% in males and 6.3% in females. The ISPRs of all patients, men and women were 1.11(95%CI: 0.95 ∼ 1.29), 1.07(95%CI = 0.91 ∼ 1.24) and 4.64(95% CI = 2.12 ∼ 8.82), respectively. The overall and male-specific prevalence of current smoking did not differ significantly between patients and the general population. In multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex, older age, poor marital status, alcohol use, use of first-generation antipsychotics, longer duration of illness, more frequent hospitalizations, and more severe negative symptoms were independently associated with current smoking. CONCLUSION: Male Chinese inpatients with schizophrenia who received a mono-therapy of antipsychotics were not more likely to smoke than the general population. Cigarette smoking is more common in schizophrenia patients with more severe illness.