Nomogram based on the O-RADS for predicting the malignancy risk of adnexal masses with complex ultrasound morphology.

OBJECTIVE: The accurate preoperative differentiation of benign and malignant adnexal masses, especially those with complex ultrasound morphology, remains a great challenge for junior sonographers. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a nomogram based on the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) for predicting the malignancy risk of adnexal masses with complex ultrasound morphology. METHODS: A total of 243 patients with data on adnexal masses with complex ultrasound morphology from January 2019 to December 2020 were selected to establish the training cohort, while 106 patients with data from January 2021 to December 2021 served as the validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine independent risk factors for malignant tumors in the training cohort. Subsequently, a predictive nomogram model was developed and validated in the validation cohort. The calibration, discrimination, and clinical net benefit of the nomogram model were assessed separately by calibration curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Finally, we compared this model to the O-RADS. RESULTS: The O-RADS category, an elevated CA125 level, acoustic shadowing and a papillary projection with color Doppler flow were the independent predictors and were incorporated into the nomogram model. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the nomogram model was 0.958 (95% CI, 0.932-0.984) in the training cohort. The specificity and sensitivity were 0.939 and 0.893, respectively. This nomogram also showed good discrimination in the validation cohort (AUC = 0.940, 95% CI, 0.899-0.981), with a sensitivity of 0.915 and specificity of 0.797. In addition, the nomogram model showed good calibration efficiency in both the training and validation cohorts. DCA indicated that the nomogram was clinically useful. Furthermore, the nomogram model had higher AUC and net benefit than the O-RADS. CONCLUSION: The nomogram based on the O-RADS showed a good predictive ability for the malignancy risk of adnexal masses with complex ultrasound morphology and could provide help for junior sonographers.

Resource Allocation and Computation Offloading for Wireless Powered Mobile Edge Computing.

In this paper, we investigate a resource allocation and computation offloading problem in a heterogeneous mobile edge computing (MEC) system. In the considered system, a wireless power transfer (WPT) base station (BS) with an MEC sever is able to deliver wireless energy to the mobile devices (MDs), and the MDs can utilize the harvested energy for local computing or task offloading to the WPT BS or a Macro BS (MBS) with a stronger computing server. In particular, we consider that the WPT BS can utilize full- or half-duplex wireless energy transmission mode to empower the MDs. The aim of this work focuses on optimizing the offloading decision, full/half-duplex energy harvesting mode and energy harvesting (EH) time allocation with the objective of minimizing the energy consumption of the MDs. As the formulate problem has a non-convex mixed integer programming structure, we use the quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP) and semi-definite relaxation (SDR) methods to solve it. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Exploring japonica rice epigenetic diversity in the main production regions of Heilongjiang Province.

As a major epigenetic modification, DNA methylation plays an important role in coordinating plant responses to environmental changes. Methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technology was used in this study to investigate the epigenetic diversity of fifty japonica rice samples from five regions in Heilongjiang Province, China. In addition, the phenotypic indicators of japonica rice samples and the environmental conditions of the sampling sites were investigated and analysed. Based on the MSAP analysis technique, using eight pairs of selective primers, we identified a total of 551 amplified loci, of which 267 (48.5%) were classified as methylation loci. The methylation status and levels of the japonica rice genome in different regions differed significantly (p < 0.05). The results of the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that most of the molecular variation (91%) came from within the groups (regions) and was caused by individual variation within the region. Furthermore, the results of principal coordinates analysis (PCoA), cluster analysis, and population structure analysis indicated that there was no obvious correlation between the epigenetic differences and geographical locations, which may have been due to the limited range of sampling sites. When environmental factors, phenotypic indicators, and epigenetic data analysis are combined, it is easy to conclude that japonica rice grown in the same latitudinal region has increased epigenetic and phenotypic similarities due to similar climatic conditions and production practices.

Patient reported outcomes and quality of life in Chinese patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators✰.

OBJECTIVES: Patient reported outcomes in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) patients can describe the experience of living with heart disease and with an ICD. However, very little is known about patient outcomes among Chinese patients which may limit effective patient discussions and interventions for these patients. The purposes of this study were to examine device related experiences (e.g., device acceptance, shock anxiety) in Chinese ICD patients and identify potential variables that influence health related quality of life (HRQOL) and to compare HRQOL outcomes to healthy and heart failure populations. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional research design with serially recruited ICD patients (N = 100) from clinics in China. Participants completed surveys including: the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-12), Florida Patient Acceptance Survey (FPAS), Florida Shock Anxiety Scale (FSAS), Type D Scale (DS-14), and general information questionnaire. RESULTS: Participants were 100 ICD patients in China with a mean age of 53.32(SD = 13.70). The mean scores of the SF-12 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS)of ICD patients (43.55 and 47.07, respectively) were lower than the Chinese general population (P<0.001) and general health, social functioning, and role emotional scores were lower than chronic heart failure patients (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that LVEF, positive shock history, age and shock anxiety were significant predictors of physical function and accounted for 24.5% of the adjusted variance. Type D personality, shock history, and shock anxiety were predictors of the mental health component and accounted for 25.9% of the variance. Shock history, age, type D personality, and shock anxiety significantly predicted device acceptance (FPAS-Total) and accounted for 32% of variance. CONCLUSIONS: ICD patients reported health outcomes were generally lower than the Chinese general population and patients with heart failure in relation to general health, social functioning, and role emotional. Both generic and disease specific HRQOL were influenced by both medical and psychosocial predictors. This suggests that current Western society based comprehensive models of patient HRQOL and patient care needs may extend to Chinese patients with ICDs.

Changes in secondary structure of myofibrillar protein and its relationship with water dynamic changes during storage of battered and deep-fried pork slices.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the changes of secondary structure of myofibrillar proteins in short-term storage of battered and deep-fried pork slices. These changes were combined with low-field NMR analysis results to analyze the correlation between secondary structure and dynamic changes of water content. The results showed that the number of α-helix and ß-sheet decreased by 22.90 and 16.54% respectively, and the orderly structure changed to the disorder structure. The correlation results show that NMR spin-spin relaxation time (T21) has a high negative correlation with α-helix, ß-sheet, and has a high positive correlation with irregular curl and ß-turn. The population of immobile water (P22) has a very high positive correlation with α-helix, ß-sheet, and has a relatively high negative correlation with irregular curl and ß-turn. The immobilized water plays an important role in maintaining the secondary structure.

Ultrasound diagnosis of intramural pregnancy.

Intramural pregnancy is a rare type of ectopic pregnancy, where the gestational sac is implanted inside the myometrium instead of the endometrial and fallopian tubes. Preoperative diagnosis remains very difficult. Ultrasonic findings vary according to the anatomical location or duration of pregnancy. In this study, we summarized the ultrasonic characteristics of intramural pregnancy by assessing three cases. We also propose a set of ultrasonic characteristics to facilitate differential diagnosis between intramural pregnancy and other types of ectopic pregnancy.

[Cognitive function and factors related to cognitive function in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cognitive function status and potential influence factors on cognitive function in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional research design, CHF patients (n = 267, mean age (63.8 ± 9.4) years) were recruited from two care units-Heart Failure Care Unit and Intensive Care Unit of our hospital. Cognitive function status was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) screen test. RESULTS: Based on the MoCA score, 37.8% (101/267) patients suffered from cognitive impairment (score<26), especially on the three specific cognitive functions-memory, langue and executive capability. Multifactorial analysis showed that after controlling for other factors, there was a downward trend on cognitive function with aging (OR = 1.09, 95%CI:1.05-1.14) while higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was related to better cognitive function (OR = 0.97, 95%CI:0.95-0.99); patients who took medicine regularly also had better cognitive function (OR = 3.71, 95%CI:1.40-10.91); cognitive function was better in patients with high level of social support compared those with low social support (OR = 0.92, 95%CI:0.88-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of cognitive impairment is high in hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure. Age, LVEF, whether taking medication regularly and social support are factors related to cognitive function in CHF patients.

Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene rs4073259 polymorphism not associated with ischemic stroke in the northeastern Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVE: Although recent evidence has implicated that 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (ALOX5AP) gene is associated with ischemic stroke (IS) risk, the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be defined. This study aimed to investigate the role of ALOX5AP rs4073259 in ischemic stroke in a Northeastern Chinese Han population. METHODS: A total of 501 IS patients and 497 healthy controls were enrolled for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligase detection reaction (LDR) analysis of ALOX5AP rs4073259 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in ALOX5AP rs4073259 allele and genotype frequencies between IS or subtypes of IS and controls. There was no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of atherosclerosis degree between ischemic subjects with carotid artery plaque or absence. However, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in women patients were significantly higher than those in men (p=0.015, 0.000, and 0.008, respectively). Total homocysteine (tHcy) was higher in men patients than that in women (p=0.021). CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant association of ALOX5AP rs4073259 SNP with ischemic stroke in this northeastern Chinese Han population living in Heilongjiang province, China.

Role of ultrasound in diagnosing isolated torsion of fallopian tube.

AIM: To summarize the ultrasonic features of isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) by retrospectively analyzing cases presenting at our hospital. METHODS: This analysis was approved by the ethical committee of our hospital. Medical records of surgically proven IFTT patients admitted to our hospital since 2002 were collected. Clinical features and preoperative diagnoses of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. Ultrasonic images were reviewed and characteristics, including location, size, shape, echo and vascularity of the fallopian tube, were summarized. RESULTS: Eleven patients with IFTT were studied. No obvious association was found between the torsion and menstruation cycle. Only four accurate diagnoses were made before the operation. Degrees of torsion ranged 360-2160°. Most of them (9/11, 81.8%) were greater than 720°. Sonograms of the 11 patients could be classified into four types: cystic masses, tube-like structures, heterogeneous masses and whirlpool signs. Cystic masses were the most commonly seen type (4/11, 36.4%), followed by tubular structures (3/11, 27.3%). Whirlpool sign was believed to be the most specific sign in diagnosing IFTT. CONCLUSION: Through review of the authors' experiences, it is possible to diagnose IFTT preoperatively by ultrasound. Sonograms of the IFTT could be divided into four types while clinical significance of this classification requires further confirmation.

Association of imaging classification of intracranial cerebral atherosclerotic vascular stenosis in ischemic stroke and renalase gene polymorphisms.

Cerebral atherosclerosis vascular stenosis is a common etiology for ischemic stroke and a major factor in recurrent stroke and vascular mortality. Recent studies suggest that renalase plays a role in hypertension and ischemic stroke, and may be involved in atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there were correlations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the renalase gene and severity of intracranial cerebral atherosclerotic vascular stenosis in ischemic stroke patients as determined by imaging. A total of 212 ischemic stroke patients and 244 healthy controls from the north Chinese Han population were enrolled in this study. Polymerase chain reaction and ligase detection reaction were used for SNP analysis. We classified the case samples by severity of the intracranial cerebral atherosclerotic vascular stenosis. Allele, genotype, and haplotype were analyzed in cases and controls, and logistic regression was used to adjust for bias due to conventional stroke risk factors. The allele and the genotype of rs10887800 in the renalase gene were both associated with severe intracranial cerebral atherosclerotic vascular stenosis (p = 0.013 and p = 0.049, respectively). No association was observed with severity for SNP rs2576178 or SNP rs2296545. Our findings show that the SNP rs10887800 in the renalase gene is closely associated with severe intracranial cerebral atherosclerotic vascular stenosis in ischemic stroke patients of north Chinese Han origin.

An association study on renalase polymorphisms and ischemic stroke in a Chinese population.

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and adult disability worldwide. Recent research suggests that renalase is strongly associated with heart disease and hypertension and may play a role in ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigate the genetic association between renalase and ischemic stroke in a northern Chinese Han population. We genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the renalase gene in 507 ischemic stroke patients and 503 gender-matched controls from a northern Chinese Han population, and we classified these case samples in depth by complications with diabetes or hypertension and by ischemic stroke subtypes. We undertook allele, genotype, and haplotype association studies in all the cases and in the subgroups, as well as multiple factor analysis by logistic regression. rs10887800 and rs2576178 were significantly associated with ischemic stroke with hypertension by logistic regression (p = 0.041 and p = 0.038, respectively). The recessive model showed a strong association of rs2296545 with ischemic stroke patients in hypertension subgroups (OR = 1.927, 95 % CI = 1.012-3.669, p = 0.046). The renalase gene is closely related to ischemic stroke in this northern Chinese Han population, suggesting that renalase may be mechanistically involved in stroke pathology.