[Application of the blastomere count variations "skip value" in the embryo AI assessment].

Objective: To explore the correlation between blastomere count variations "skip value" which extracted from by time-lapse technology (TLT) combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and morphological features of in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo, and to test its feasibility in clinical applications. Methods: This study was a diagnostic experiment (AI reassessment of embryo transferred patients), a total of 6 545 embryos from 1 226 patients who underwent IVF at the Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from December 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, of which 2 869 embryos were attempted to cultured to blastocyst stage by TLT. The embryo dynamic map (EDM) was drawn by Embryo Viewer, a TLT recording software, based on embryo developmental kinetics. The self-developed AI embryo evaluation software identified and recorded the number of cleavages in real time during embryonic development, and compared with the EDM, the correlation between the skip value formed by the change of cleavage sphere counts and the outcomes of the embryos was analyzed. The correlation among skip value, morphological score of embryo, implantation rate and live birth rate were performed by Spearman and step-up logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was selected for reporting there relationship of skip value and morphology. Finally, predicting power of skip value for implantation and live birth rate were performed by ROC analysis. Results: The total skip values extracted from the blastomere count of embryos (72 hours post-fertilization) were negatively correlated with abnormal cleavage, blastocyst formation rate, day 3 (D3)-cell score, uneven size and fragmentation (the ß values were -0.268, -0.116, -0.213, -0.159 and -0.222, respectively; all P<0.001); positively correlated with D3-cell number (ß=0.034; P<0.001); negatively correlated with blastocyst formation rate and implantation rate (OR=0.97, 95%CI: 0.93-0.99, P=0.034; OR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.93-0.98, P=0.044). The power of predicting implantation were similar between the order selection of skip values and traditional morphology criteria [area under curve (AUC): 0.679 vs 0.620]. Live birth rate were negatively correlated with female age (OR=0.91, 95%CI: 0.88-0.93; P<0.001), D3 general score (OR=0.77, 95%CI: 0.59-0.99; P=0.045) and order selection of skip values (OR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.96-0.99; P=0.038), while positively correlated with retrieved oocyte number and endometrial thickness in embryo transferred (OR=1.08, 95%CI:1.05-1.11, P<0.001; OR=1.09, 95%CI:1.06-0.12, P<0.001, respectively) from multivariate regression analysis, and the power of predicting live birth was 0.666 for AUC. Conclusions: The skip value and its order form is a systematic quantification of embryo development, correlated with embryo developmental quality and clinical outcome. It could be an addition parameter for embryo culture and selection.

[Epidemic characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and drug-resistant gene mutations in hospitalized children aged 0-17 in Ningbo City from 2019 to 2023].

To analyze the infection and drug-resistant gene 23S rRNA mutations of mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) in hospitalized children aged 0-17 in Ningbo City from 2019 to 2023. Throat swabs were collected from hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections in Ningbo University Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital from 2019 to 2023. They were subjected to real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction detection to analyze Mp infection and drug-resistant gene (23S rRNA) mutations. Intergroup comparisons were made by the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability method. A total of 18 968 hospitalized children were included, with a total positive rate of 30.37% (5 760/18 968). The total positive rate of drug-resistant gene mutations was 82.45% (4 749/5 760). The positive rate of Mp in male children was 29.26%, which was lower than that in female children (31.67%, χ2=12.948, P<0.001). The positive rate of Mp drug-resistant gene mutations in male children was 82.52%, which was higher than that in female children(82.37%, χ2=0.021, P=0.885). The positive rates of Mp increased with age (χ2=1 722.21, P<0.001). The positive rates of Mp drug-resistant gene mutations also increased with age (χ2=13.152, P<0.001). In the four seasons, the total positive rate of Mp in summer and autumn was significantly higher than that in winter and spring (χ2=1 085.149, P<0.001). Among them, the Mp positive rates in the summer and autumn of 2019 were as high as 38.26% and 34.49%, while in the summer and autumn of 2020, the Mp positive rates were 2.55% and 1.65%, respectively, which were the lowest in previous years. In the summer and autumn of 2023, the Mp positive rates increased to 47.22% and 51.06%. There was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate of Mp drug-resistant gene mutations among the four seasons. In Conclusion, Mp infection was more prevalent in the summer and autumn in Ningbo city and females and children aged 7-17 were more susceptible. The epidemic of Mp infection in Ningbo occurred in the summer of 2019. After the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the positive rate of Mp rapidly decreased and later remained in a low incidence state. After the lifting of restrictive prevention and control measures in 2023, the Mp positive rate returned to an epidemic state. The positive rate of Mp drug-resistant gene (23S rRNA) mutations was relatively high.

[Effect of peri-implant soft-tissue phenotype on peri-implant health].

Dental implant is a commonly used therapeutic option for reconstruction of edentulous space. Adequate peri-implant soft tissue is crucial for preventing biological and esthetic complications. Peri-implant soft-tissue phenotypes including supracrestal tissue height, mucosa thickness and keratinized mucosa width could reflect the quality and quantity of peri-implant soft tissue. Different soft-tissue phenotypes might impact the stability of implant restoration through altering the tissue remodeling or inflammatory response. This review will discuss the influence of peri-implant soft-tissue phenotypes on tissue remodeling and inflammatory response after implant placement.

The gene CmPYL6 strongly contributes to cold tolerance in oriental melon.

The current simple and crude facilities make melon production more susceptible to cold stress during off-season cultivation in China. The ABA signalling pathway is an important target for breeding cold-tolerant melon. Cold-tolerant No. 330 and cold-sensitive No. 410 oriental melon genotypes were used to analyse the relationship between ABA and cold tolerance. 12 CmPYLs, ABA receptors, were identified from the melon genome database according to sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Gene function of CmPYL6 in cold tolerance was analysed using VIGS in No. 330 and overexpression in Arabidopsis WT. A total of 12 CmPYL members contain the representative domain and conserved sites. Under cold treatment, No.330 seedlings had lower electrolyte leakage and MDA content, higher ABA content and CmPYL6 expression than seedlings of No. 410. Exogenous application of ABA upregulated expression of CmPYL6 and enhanced cold tolerance of both genotypes, while inhibiting ABA accumulation reduced expression of CmPYL6 and cold tolerance of both genotypes. CmPYL6-silenced No. 330 seedlings had reduced cold tolerance, increased electrolyte leakage and MDA content as well as limited proline and soluble sugar content, while CmPYL6 overexpressed transgenic Arabidopsis plants had enhanced cold tolerance, with limited electrolyte leakage and MDA content, as well as increased proline and soluble sugar content. The CmPYL6 gene is probably an important ABA receptor in regulating cold tolerance of oriental melon. Our study provides a direction for improving breeding of cold tolerance of oriental melon.

[Genotype and phenotype of WWOX gene related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy].

Objective: To summarize the genotype and clinical phenotype of children with WWOX gene related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Methods: Case series studies. The clinical data of 12 children with WWOX gene related DEE who were admitted to the Neurological Department of Children's Medical Center, Peking University First Hospital from June 2019 to December 2023 were analyzed. The children's characteristics of gene variation, clinical phenotype, auxiliary examination results, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results: Among 12 children with WWOX gene related DEE, there were 7 boys and 5 girls, the age of seizure onset ranged from 10 days to 6 months (median 1.8 months). Multiple seizure types were observed, including focal seizures in 10 cases, epileptic spasms in 9 cases, tonic seizures in 4 cases, myoclonic seizures in 1 case. Among 12 cases, 9 cases had multiple seizure types. All 12 cases showed microcephaly and global developmental delay. Video electroencephalography showed slowed background activity in 6 cases, hyperarrhythmia in 6 cases, multifocal discharges in 6 cases, and focal discharges in 1 case. Epileptic spasms were detected in 8 cases, tonic seizures in 4 cases and myoclonic seizures in 1 case. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral frontotemporal subarachnoid space widening in 5 cases, deep sulci in 3 cases, bilateral ventricular enlargement in 2 cases, callosal hypoplasia in 5 cases, and delayed white matter myelination in 3 cases. The phenotypes of 12 cases were consistent with the diagnosis of DEE, and 8 of them were diagnosed with infantile epileptic spasm syndrome. All the WWOX gene variants in 12 cases were complex heterozygous variants, including 20 variants, 11 variants and 1 large intragenic WWOX gene deletion (p.Ala149Thr, p.Arg156Ser, p.R167Tfs*8, p.Leu186Val, c.605+5G>A, p.Trp218*, p.His263Arg, p.Leu275fs*19*1, p.N285Kfs*10, p.Ser304Tyr, p.Met326Arg, loss1 exon2-8) had not been reported previously. The age of last follow-up ranged from 11 months to 5 years and 3 months. During the follow-up, 1 case died at the age of 1 year and 10 months, 2 cases were seizure-free, and 9 cases still had seizures after multiple anti-seizure medications. Conclusions: The seizure onset age of children with WWOX gene related DEE is usually less than 6 months, and some of them in neonate. The common seizure types include focal seizures and epileptic spasms. Children usually have microcephaly and global developmental delay. WWOX gene related DEE usually has drug refractory epilepsy.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of bone age maturation during peri-pubertal growth in children with type I, III and IV osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI)is a rare genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by changes in the expression or processing of type I collagen. Clinical manifestations include bone fragility, decreased linear growth, and skeletal deformities that vary in severity. In typically growing children, skeletal maturation proceeds in a predictable pattern of changes in the size, shape, and mineralization on the hand and wrist bones that can be followed radiographically known at the bone age. Assessment of bone age can be clinically used to assess time remaining for linear growth, and the onset and duration of puberty, both of which can be useful in determining the timing of some surgeries or the interpretation of other imaging modalities such as bone densitometry. Additionally, deviations in the expected maturation process of the bone age may prompt or assist in the work up of a significant delay or advancement in a child's growth pattern. The primary aim of our study was to determine whether the bone age in children with a skeletal disorder such as OI follow the same pattern and rate of bone maturation compared to a control population. Using participants from the Natural History Study of the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium, we analyzed 159 left hand and wrist radiographs (bone age) for a cross-sectional analysis and 55 bone ages repeated at approximately 24 months for a longitudinal analysis of skeletal maturation. Bone ages were read by a pediatric endocrinologist and by an automated analysis using a program called BoneXpert. Our results demonstrated that in children with mild-to-moderate OI (types I and IV), the skeletal maturation is comparable to chronological age-mated controls. For those with more severe forms of OI (type III), there is a delayed pattern of skeletal maturation of less than a year (10.5 months CI 5.1-16) P = 0.0012) at baseline and a delayed rate of maturation over the two-year follow up compared to type I (P = 0.06) and type III (P = 0.02). However, despite these parameters being statistically different, they may not be clinically significant. We conclude the bone age, with careful interpretation, can be used in the OI population in a way that is similar to the general pediatric population.

[Mechanisms by which Mettl3 regulates pericyte-myofibroblast transdifferentiation through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway].

Objective: To investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of methyltransferase (Mettl) 3 in the process of angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ)-induced pericyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and renal fibrosis. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were used, in cell experiments, mouse renal pericytes were isolated and cultured using magnetic bead sorting. These pericytes were then induced to transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts with 1×106 mmol/L Ang Ⅱ, which was the Ang Ⅱ group, while pericytes cultured in normal conditions served as the control group. Successful transdifferentiation was verified by immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) for α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). The levels of m6A modifications and related enzymes (Mettl3, Mettl14), Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP), fat mass and obesity protein (FTO), ALKBH5, YTHDF1, YTHDF2, YTHDC1, YTHDC2, YTHDC3 were assessed by Dot blot, RT-qPCR and Western blot. Mettl3 expression was inhibited in cells using lentivirus-mediated Mettl3-shRNA transfection, creating sh-Mettl3 and Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 groups, while lentivirus empty vector transfection served as the negative control (Ang Ⅱ+sh-NC group). The impact of Ang Ⅱ on pericyte transdifferentiation was observed, and the expression of downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway proteins, including PI3K, AKT, phosphorylated AKT at serine 473 (p-AKT (S473)), and phosphorylated AKT at threonine 308 (p-AKT (T308)), were examined. PI3K gene transcription was inhibited by co-culturing cells with actinomycin D, and the half-life of PI3K mRNA was calculated by measuring residual PI3K mRNA expression over different co-culture time. The reversibility of Mettl3 inhibition on Ang Ⅱ-induced pericyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation was assessed by adding the AKT activator SC79 to the Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 group. In animal experiments, mice were divided into these groups: sham group (administered 0.9% sterile saline), Ang Ⅱ group (infused with Ang Ⅱ solution), sh-Mettl3 group (injected with Mettl3 shRNA lentivirus solution), Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 group (infused with Ang Ⅱ solution and injected with Mettl3 shRNA lentivirus solution), and Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3+SC79 group (administered Ang Ⅱ solution and Mettl3 shRNA lentivirus, with an additional injection of SC79). Each group consisted of six subject mice. Blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method before and after surgery, and serum creatinine, urea, and urinary albumin levels were determined 4 weeks post-surgery. Kidney tissues were collected at 28 days and stained using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson's trichrome to assess the extent of renal fibrosis. Results: Primary renal pericytes were successfully obtained by magnetic bead sorting, and intervened with 1×106 mmol/L Ang Ⅱ for 48 hours to induce pericyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Dot blot results indicated higher m6A modification levels in the Ang Ⅱ group compared to the control group (P<0.05). RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed upregulation of Mettl3 mRNA and protein levels in the Ang Ⅱ group compared to the control group (both P<0.05). In the Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 group, Mettl3 protein expression was lower than that in the Ang Ⅱ group, with reduced expression levels of α-SMA, vimentin, desmin, fibroblast agonist protein (FAPa) and type Ⅰ collagen (all P<0.05). Compared to the control group, PI3K mRNA expression level was elevated in the Ang Ⅱ group, along with increased p-AKT (S473) and p-AKT (T308) expressions. In the Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 group, PI3K mRNA expression and p-AKT (S473) and p-AKT (T308) levels were decreased (all P<0.05). The half-life of PI3K mRNA was shorter in the Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 group than that in the Ang Ⅱ+sh-NC group (2.34 h vs. 3.42 h). The ameliorative effect of Mettl3 inhibition on Ang Ⅱ-induced pericyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation was reversible by SC79. Animal experiments showed higher blood pressure, serum creatinine, urea, and 24-hour urinary protein levels, and a larger fibrosis area in the Ang Ⅱ group compared to the sham group (all P<0.05). The fibrosis area was smaller in the Ang Ⅱ+sh-Mettl3 group than that in the Ang Ⅱ group (P<0.05), but increased again upon addition of SC79. Conclusion: Mettl3-mediated RNA m6A epigenetic regulation is involved in Ang Ⅱ-induced pericyte-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and renal fibrosis, potentially by affecting PI3K stability and regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

[Interpretation of T-cell and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas in the 5th edition of the WHO classification of haematolymphoid tumours].

The 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of haematolymphoid tumours used the hierarchical system to classify T-cell and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas (T/NK-LPD/LYM) based on research advances and clinicopathological characteristics of the diseases. In this edition of classification, tumour-like lesions were included, some tumors were added/deleted, the names or terms of certain diseases were refined, and the diagnostic criteria or subtypes of some diseases were revised. This group of diseases was reintegrated from non-clonal hyperplasia to highly aggressive lymphoma, which would further reflect the nature of T/NK-LPD/LYM and benefit to clinical application.

Retraction Note: MiRNA-215-5p alleviates the metastasis of prostate cancer by targeting PGK1.

The article "MiRNA-215-5p alleviates the metastasis of prostate cancer by targeting PGK1", by J.-Y. Chen, L.-F. Xu, H.-L. Hu, Y.-Q. Wen, D. Chen, W.-H. Liu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (2): 639-646-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202001_20040-PMID: 32017004 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief. Following some concerns raised on PubPeer regarding a possible overlap in Figure 2C, the journal has started an investigation to assess the validity of the results as well as possible figure manipulation. The journal investigation revealed data and figure manipulation. For this reason, the Editor in Chief has decided to retract the manuscript. The authors have been informed about the retraction but remained unresponsive. This article has been retracted. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/20040.

Tumor habitat and peritumoral region evolution-based imaging features to assess risk categorization of thymomas.

AIM: To develop an aggregate model that integrated clinical data, habitat characteristics, and intratumoral and peritumoral features to assess the risk categorization of thymomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 140 thymoma patients (70 low-risk and 70 high-risk), including pathological data. The patients were randomly divided into training cohort (n = 114) and test cohort (n = 26). The k-means clustering was utilized to partition the primary tumor into habitats based on intratumoral radiomic features, 6 distinct habitats were identified. By expanding the region of interest (ROI) mask, 2 peritumoral regions were obtained. Finally, 7 clinical characteristics, 3 habitat values, 20 radiomic features were utilized to develop an aggregated model, to predict the risk of thymoma. Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) interpretation was used for features importance ranking. The accuracy and area under curve (AUC) were used to analyze the performance of the models. RESULTS: The aggregated model, which utilized the XGBoost classifier, demonstrated the best performance with an AUC of 0.811 and an accuracy of 0.769. In comparison, the radiomic model produced an AUC of 0.654 and an accuracy of 0.692. Additionally, the Intratumoral + peritumoral model exhibited an AUC of 0.728 and an accuracy of 0.769. CONCLUSION: Our study establishes a novel tool to predict the risk of thymoma with a good performance. If prospectively validated, the model may refine thymoma patient selection for risk-adaptative therapy and improve prognosis.

[Clinical characteristics and literature review of ectopic gastric mucosa in the small intestine].

The study aims to summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with ectopic gastric mucosa in the small intestine, comparing clinical presentation differences between domestic and foreign patients through literature review. The clinical characteristics of cases diagnosed with ectopic gastric mucosa in the small intestine at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2000 to January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. By searching databanks, such as PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Wanfang, VIP, CNKI, and etc (the inclusion period was from the establishment of the database to January 1, 2024). The literature review was conducted on ectopic gastric mucosa in the small intestine. A total of 10 cases were included, all male, age [M (Q1, Q3)] was 27 (13-69) years old. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the first manifestation in most cases, with severe cases leading to hemorrhagic shock. Abdominal CT indicated local intestinal wall thickening and luminal narrowing in 3 cases. Four cases lesions were located at the beginning of the jejunum and 6 lesions were located in the end segment of ileum. All cases underwent local lesion resection, with postoperative pathology confirming ectopic gastric mucosa. Symptoms disappeared postoperatively, with a follow-up period of 0.5-3.0 years. Literature review indicates that the main clinical manifestation of gastric mucosa ectopia in the small intestine in China is gastrointestinal bleeding, while foreign patients are often complicated with intestinal duplication and intussusception, with abdominal pain and vomiting as the primary and main symptoms. The occurrence rate of intestinal obstruction in female patients, both domestically and abroad, is higher than that in male patients. The occurrence rate of ileal lesions with intestinal obstruction and small intestinal duplication is higher than that of duodenal lesions in both domestic and foreign patients. Local small intestine resection is an effective treatment method with generally good prognosis. Ectopic small intestinal mucosa is relatively rare, with symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding and intestinal obstruction being common presentations, which can serve as one of the differential diagnoses for unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding.

[Adolescent female reproductive system dysplasia: a clinical study of 356 cases].

Objective: To explore the age of onset and consultation, the main clinical manifestations, common types of combined malformations, the relationship of endometriosis, surgical prognosis and different types of proportion of adolescent female reproductive system dysplasia. Methods: The medical records of 356 patients (aged 10-19) with female reproductive system dysplasia in Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University from January 2003 to August 2018 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) Among the 356 adolescent dysplasia patients, uterine dysplasia (23.6%, 84/356), oblique vaginal septum syndrome (OVSS; 22.5%, 80/356) and vaginal dysplasia (21.6%, 77/356) were the most frequent ones, followed by multi-sectional dysplasia (16.0%, 57/356), other types of developmental abnormalities like external genitaliaand urogenital fistula (13.5%, 48/356) and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH syndrome; 2.8%, 10/356). (2) There were significant differences between the median age of onset and the age of consultation of patients with OVSS and other types of abnormalities except hymen atresia (both P<0.05). In contrast, there were no significant differences between the age of onset and the age of consultation of the patients of uterine dysplasia, vaginal dysplasia, hymen atresia, MRKH syndrome and multi-sectional dysplasia (all P>0.05). (3) The clinical manifestations were lack of specificity, and mainly abnormal finding was lower abdominal pain. (4) After admission, the majority of patients underwent comprehensive cardiopulmonary examination (71.3%, 254/356) and urinary system examination (63.5%, 226/356). Only 18.3% (65/356) of patients had completed abdominal organ examination, and 5.9% (21/356) skeletal system examination. About other systemic malformations, urological malformations were the most common (27.5%, 98/356), followed by anorectal malformation (0.6%, 2/356), heart malformations (0.3%, 1/356), and spinal malformations (0.3%, 1/356). 46.4% (84/181) of the surgical patients were diagnosed with combined endometriosis. Patients with obstructive genital tract malformations were more likely to combine with endometriosis than non-obstructive ones [50.3% (74/147) vs 29.4% (10/34); P<0.05]. However, there was no significant difference between the severity of endometriosis of those two kinds (P>0.05). (5) Totally 308 patients were followed up successfully with a median of 25.0 years old, and 20 cases were treated again; 12.0% (37/308) of them were suffering from menstrual disorder and 33.1% (102/308) of them with dysmenorrhea. Totally 130 patients had sexually active reported no sexual problems. Conclusions: Uterine dysplasia, OVSS and vaginal dysplasia are the most common syndromes in adolescent female reproductive system dysplasia along with frequent cases of coexisting urinary malformations and increasing risks of endometriosis. Meanwhile, the lack of specificity of clinical manifestations might delay the timely diagnosis and treatment after the onset of symptoms. Nonetheless, most patients could achieve good surgical outcomes.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting acute myocardial injury of fulminant myocarditis survivors after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment in adults.

AIMS: To detect the acute myocardial injury in fulminant myocarditis (FM) survivors after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and to demonstrate its significant differences from non-FM patients by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 59 patients with acute myocarditis (AM), including 35 non-FM patients, 24 FM patients, and 54 controls. The peak value of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was recorded. Tissue parameters, including native T1, extracellular volume (ECV), late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE)%, and T2 by CMR were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age was 35 ± 14 years, and 45.8% of the population were males in the AM group. Patients had higher levels of peak cTnT, peak NT-proBNP and peak C-reactive protein in the FM group (all p<0.05). Comparing with non-FM, the values of T1-based imaging parameters were significantly higher in the FM group (all p<0.05). In contrast, no difference was observed among the two groups in terms of T2 value (p=0.707). The septal area was more frequently involved in FM survivors after ECMO treatment, both in T1 and T2-based images. In addition, the cubic relationship was the relative best fit of LGE% against logcTnT and indicated that cTnT value exceeding 300ng/L exhibited a rapid upward trend of LGE%. CONCLUSION: Comparing to non-FM, higher myocardial necrosis and fibrosis but similar edema determined by T1 and T2 based imaging was found in FM survivors after ECMO treatment. Furthermore, the inter-ventricular septal area was more frequently involved by acute myocardial injury in FM survivors after ECMO treatment. In addition, LGE% showed an overall increasing trend with cTnT values elevating with rapidly increasing with cTnT exceeding 300 ng/L.

Predictive value of spectral computed tomography parameters for EGFR gene mutation in non-small-cell lung cancer.

AIM: To explore the predictive value of morphological signs and quantitative parameters from spectral CT for EGFR gene mutations in intermediate and advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients with intermediate or advanced NSCLC at Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated Tumor Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. The patients were divided into the EGFR gene mutation-positive and -negative groups. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients aged 60.75 ± 9.66 years old were included: 32 were EGFR mutation-positive, and 47 were negative. There were significant differences in pathological stage (P<0.001), tumor diameter (P=0.019), lobulation sign, intrapulmonary metastasis, mediastinal lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis (P<0.001), bone metastasis (P<0.001), arterial phase normalized iodine concentration (NIC) (P=0.001), venous phase NIC (P=0.001), slope of the energy spectrum curve (λ) (P<0.001), and CT value at 70 keV in arterial phase (P=0.004) and venous phase (P=0.003) between the EGFR mutation-positive and -negative patients. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that intrapulmonary metastasis, distant metastasis, venous phase NIC, venous phase λ, and pathological stage were independent factors predicting EGFR gene mutations, with high diagnostic power (AUC = 0.975, 91.5% sensitivity, and 90.6% specificity). CONCLUSION: The pathological stage and the spectral CT parameters of intrapulmonary metastasis, distant metastasis, venous phase NIC, and venous phase λ might pre-operatively predict EGFR gene mutations in intermediate and advanced NSCLC.

Programmable quantum emitter formation in silicon.

Silicon-based quantum emitters are candidates for large-scale qubit integration due to their single-photon emission properties and potential for spin-photon interfaces with long spin coherence times. Here, we demonstrate local writing and erasing of selected light-emitting defects using femtosecond laser pulses in combination with hydrogen-based defect activation and passivation at a single center level. By choosing forming gas (N2/H2) during thermal annealing of carbon-implanted silicon, we can select the formation of a series of hydrogen and carbon-related quantum emitters, including T and Ci centers while passivating the more common G-centers. The Ci center is a telecom S-band emitter with promising optical and spin properties that consists of a single interstitial carbon atom in the silicon lattice. Density functional theory calculations show that the Ci center brightness is enhanced by several orders of magnitude in the presence of hydrogen. Fs-laser pulses locally affect the passivation or activation of quantum emitters with hydrogen for programmable formation of selected quantum emitters.

[Predictive value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for adverse left ventricular remodeling after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for predicting adverse left ventricular remodeling in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and serial CMR (cine and LGE sequences) images of 86 STEMI patients within 1 week and 5 months after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including 25 patients with adverse LV remodeling and 61 without adverse LV remodeling, defined as an increase of left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) over 15% at the second CMR compared to the initial CMR. The CMR images were analyzed for LV volume, infarct characteristics, and global and infarct zone myocardial function. The independent predictors of adverse LV remodeling following STEMI were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Logistic regression methods. RESULTS: The initial CMR showed no significant differences in LV volume or LV ejection fraction (LVEF) between the two groups, but the infarct mass and microvascular obstructive (MVO) mass were significantly greater in adverse LV remodeling group (P < 0.05). Myocardial injury and cardiac function of the patients recovered over time in both groups. At the second CMR, the patients with adverse LV remodeling showed a significantly lower LVEF, a larger left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI) and a greater extent of infarct mass (P < 0.001) with lower global peak strains and strain rates in the radial, circumferential, and longitudinal directions (P < 0.05), infarct zone peak strains in the 3 directions, and infarct zone peak radial and circumferential strain rates (P < 0.05). The independent predictors for adverse LV remodeling following STEMI included the extent of infarct mass (AUC=0.793, 95% CI: 0.693-0.873; cut-off value: 30.67%), radial diastolic peak strain rate (AUC=0.645, 95% CI: 0.534-0.745; cut-off value: 0.58%), and RAAS inhibitor (AUC= 0.699, 95% CI: 0.590-0.793). CONCLUSION: The extent of infarct mass, peak radial diastolic strain rate, and RAAS inhibitor are independent predictors of adverse LV remodeling following STEMI.