Age Estimation by Machine Learning and CT-Multiplanar Reformation of Cranial Sutures in Northern Chinese Han Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To establish age estimation models of northern Chinese Han adults using cranial suture images obtained by CT and multiplanar reformation (MPR), and to explore the applicability of cranial suture closure rule in age estimation of northern Chinese Han population. METHODS: The head CT samples of 132 northern Chinese Han adults aged 29-80 years were retrospectively collected. Volume reconstruction (VR) and MPR were performed on the skull, and 160 cranial suture tomography images were generated for each sample. Then the MPR images of cranial sutures were scored according to the closure grading criteria, and the mean closure grades of sagittal suture, coronal sutures (both left and right) and lambdoid sutures (both left and right) were calculated respectively. Finally taking the above grades as independent variables, the linear regression model and four machine learning models for age estimation (gradient boosting regression, support vector regression, decision tree regression and Bayesian ridge regression) were established for northern Chinese Han adults age estimation. The accuracy of each model was evaluated. RESULTS: Each cranial suture closure grade was positively correlated with age and the correlation of sagittal suture was the highest. All four machine learning models had higher age estimation accuracy than linear regression model. The support vector regression model had the highest accuracy among the machine learning models with a mean absolute error of 9.542 years. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of skull CT-MPR and machine learning model can be used for age estimation in northern Chinese Han adults, but it is still necessary to combine with other adult age estimation indicators in forensic practice.

Forensic age estimation in adults by pubic bone mineral density using multidetector computed tomography.

Radiology plays a crucial role in forensic anthropology for age estimation. However, most studies rely on morphological methods. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using pubic bone mineral density (BMD) as a new age estimation method in the Chinese population. 468 pubic bone CT scans from living individuals in a Chinese hospital aged 18 to 87 years old were used to measure pubic BMD. The BMD of the bilateral pubic bone was measured using the Mimics software on cross-sectional CT images and the mean BMD of the bilateral pubic bone was also calculated. Regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between pubic BMD and chronological age and to develop mathematical models for age estimation. We evaluated the accuracy of the best regression model using an independent validation sample by calculating the mean absolute error (MAE). Among all established models, the cubic regression model had the highest R2 value in both genders, with R2 = 0.550 for males and R2 = 0.634 for females. The results of the best model test showed that the MAE for predicting age using pubic BMD was 8.66 years in males and 7.69 years in females. This study highlights the potential of pubic BMD as a useful objective indicator for adult age estimation and could be used as an alternative in forensic practice when other better indicators are lacking.

Sustainable Growth Drivers: Unveiling the Role Played by Carbon Productivity.

In global climate change, improving carbon productivity holds great importance for China's sustainable growth. Based on panel data of 30 Chinese provinces and cities from 1997-2017, the drivers, spatial effects, and convergence characteristics of carbon productivity in China are explored by combining a factor decomposition framework and a spatial panel model. The findings show that (1) China's carbon productivity shows continuous positive growth, and the substitution effect of capital for energy dominates this changing pattern; (2) There is a ß-convergence trend and club convergence in China's carbon productivity, and the spatial technology spillover accelerates the convergence rate; (3) With its accelerated industrial transformation and technological upgrading, China's current carbon productivity converges faster than its earlier stage, and the role of physical capital investment has gradually shifted to suppression. In contrast, the positive push of human capital investment has been strengthened; (4) From the perspective of the realization mechanism, the convergence of carbon productivity in China mainly comes from the convergence of energy restructuring and capital-energy substitution. These findings can help China narrow the inter-provincial carbon productivity gap in terms of improving factor structure, upgrading technology, etc., and provide references for sustainable growth decision making in China and around the world.

Significance of Serum MicroRNAs in the Auxiliary Diagnosis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The lack of effective means for the early diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of the high mortality associated with this form of lung cancer. This study aims to explore the potential significance of serum miRNA in the auxiliary diagnosis of NSCLC. METHODS: The relative serum levels of 10 miRNAs in 120 patients with NSCLC, 45 patients with benign lung diseases, and 45 healthy controls were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then used to analyze the significance of the expression of these 10 miRNAs in the diagnosis of NSCLC, as well as to compare them with the current commonly used tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). RESULTS: The serum levels of miR-125b and miR-22 in the NSCLC patients were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (p < 0.05), but the serum expression of miR-15b in the NSCLC patients was significantly lower than that in the other two groups (p < 0.01). The sensitivities of serum miR-22 and miR-15b in detecting early NSCLC (stage I + II) were significantly higher than that of CEA (p < 0.05). Area under the curves (AUCs) of serum miR-22, miR-125b, and miR-15b in the diagnosis of NSCLC were 0.725, 0.704, and 0.619, respectively, and the diagnostic significance of these three serum miRNAs for NSCLC was higher than that of serum CEA (AUC = 0.594). CONCLUSIONS: Serum miRNAs have potential as NSCLC-screening tumor markers, and serum miR-22 and miR15b might be used as reference indexes for the early diagnosis of NSCLC in the future.

Reduction of Serum Cytokeratin-3A9 is Associated with Chemotherapeutic Response in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many tumor markers have been analyzed for applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of cancer. Currently chemotherapy is routinely performed for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to examine the serum tumor biomarker of cytokeratin (CK)-3A9 level in patients with NSCLC and its potential correlation with chemotherapeutic response. METHODS: The serum samples of 196 NSCLC patients, 84 healthy controls, and 87 benign lung disease patients were provided for measurement of CK-3A9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Serum CK-3A9 concentration was examined using a chemoluminescent method. The potential correlation between serum CK18-3A9 concentration and chemotherapeutic response was analyzed in 124 patients with advanced NSCLC (stages III and IV). RESULTS: The serum CK-3A9 levels in NSCLC patients pre-chemotherapy were significantly higher than those of healthy controls and benign lung disease patients (p < 0.01). CK-3A9 was related to Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stages (p < 0.01) and histological classification (p < 0.05), but not related to age, gender, smoking status, and chemotherapy regimen (all p > 0.05). The testing results of serum CK-3A9 levels showed a higher sensitivity than that for CEA (48.2% and 39.5%, respectively). The chemotherapeutic response in the 124 patients with advanced NSCLC included 0 complete response (CR), 50 partial response (PR), 65 no change (NC), and 9 progression disease (PD). Post-chemotherapy CK-3A9 levels were significantly decreased compared to pre-chemotherapy (p < 0.05). The serum CK-3A9 levels in patients who achieved PR declined significantly compared to those who did not respond (SD + PD) after 2 cycles chemotherapy (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CK-3A9 appeared to be a new biomarker for reliable, cost-effective prediction of the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC, although the results should be confirmed in larger studies.

[Overexpression of IL-8 and MMP-9 confer high malignant phenotype in patients with non-small cell lung cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: IL-8 (interleukin-8) has been identified as a chemotactic factor, but recent found that IL-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are important cytokines which are closely related to the growth and metastasis of tumor. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between IL-8, MMP-9 expressions and clinical pathological features of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and evaluate the diagnostic potential of IL-8, MMP-9 as tumor markers. METHODS: The serum levels of IL-8 and MMP-9 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) in 141 NSCLC patients, 40 healthy adults and 40 patients with benign pulmonary disease. The expressions of IL-8 and MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemical method in 95 NSCLC tissues, and 21 benign disease lung tissues, 25 normal lung tissues as control. RESULTS: The level of expression of IL-8 and MMP-9 in serum and tissue of NSCLC was significantly higher than that of healthy and benign respiratory disease, and the expression was gradually increased with the upgrade of clinicopathological stage. The serum and tissue expression of IL-8 and MMP-9 in NSCLC patients with lymph node metastasis was remarkably higher than that without lymph node metastasis. There is an positive correlation (r=0.765) between IL-8 and MMP-9 in the tissue of NSCLC patients. CONCLUSION: This study has confirmed that IL-8, MMP-9 expressions are related to the development of NSCLC. There is an obvious correlation between IL-8 expression and lymph node metastasis, IL-8 may facilitate the lymph node metastasis by up-regulating MMP-9 expression. Serum level of IL-8 is a valuable auxiliary parameter in diagnosing lymph node metastases of NSCLC with good sensitivity and specificity.

[Clinical value of serum TPS, CEA, Pro-GRP and CYFRA21-1 in patients with lung cancer].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Serum tumor markers play important roles in diagnosis, response and prognosis monitoring for lung cancer. The clinical significance of serum level of tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) was investigated in diagnosis, response monitoring and prognosis in patients with lung cancer, compared with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), precursor of gastrin-releasing peptide (Pro-GRP) and cytokeratin-19-fragments (CYFRA21-1). METHODS: Blood samples of eighty-two patients with lung cancer before treatment and some after chemotherapy were measured by ELISA for four tumor markers. RESULTS: Compared with lung benign diseases group and health control group, the positive rates and levels of TPS, CEA and Pro-GRP in patients with lung cancer were higher, with statistically significant difference. TPS in extensive-small cell lung cancer was significant higher than that in limited-small cell lung cancer. The positive rates and levels of TPS, CEA and Pro-GRP in patients after treatment had significant decreases compared with before treatment. TPS was an independent prognostic factor of non-small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSION: TPS is valuable to diagnosis, response monitoring for patients with lung cancer, moreover, it maybe a useful factor of prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.

[Research progress of overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To review the methods of overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation. METHODS: The strategies of overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation were analyzed and summarized on the basis of an extensive review of the latest literature concerned. RESULTS: The research development of immunological rejection mechanism and molecular biological technique provided new approaches for overcoming immunological rejection in xenotransplantation. CONCLUSION: It is only a matter of time for xenotransplantation to be applied clinically.

[Clinical research of perioperative serum VEGF and MMP-9 levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.].

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is necessary in tumor progression and metastasis. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are important factors in angiogenesis. Elevated levels of VEGF and MMP-9 were reported in lung cancer. The aim of this research is to study the dynamic changes of serum VEGF and MMP-9 levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent surgery. METHODS: Serum VEGF and MMP-9 levels were determined in 57 patients with NSCLC who were undergoing surgery by ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) method before operation and on postoperative day 1, 7, 14. At the same time 18 patients with pulmonary benign diseases treated by surgery were studied as the control. Thirty healthy volunteers served to define normal VEGF and MMP-9. RESULTS: Preoperative serum VEGF levels (685.50 pg/mL) was significantly higher in the group of patients with NSCLC compared with the benign and healthy group (respectively: 160.90 pg/mL, 94.40 pg/mL) (P <0.01); Serum VEGF levels were elevated after surgery and the levels were 1055.60 pg/mL, 1533.90 pg/mL, 1882.10 pg/mL, respectively, on postoperative day 1, 7, 14 (P <0.01). 2 Preoperative serum MMP-9 level (84.48 ng/mL) was significantly higher in the group of patients with NSCLC compared with the benign and healthy group (respectively: 58.98 ng/mL and 42.94 ng/mL, P <0.01); Serum MMP-9 levels were elevated soon after surgery and the peak (282.99 ng/mL) was observed on postoperative day 1 in NSCLC. Then serum MMP-9 levels dropped (respectively: 221.14 ng/mL and 194.78 ng/mL on postoperative 7 and 14) (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum VEGF and MMP-9 levels were both significantly higher in the group of patients with NSCLC compared with the benign and healthy group. Perioperative serum VEGF and MMP-9 levels were both significantly elevated in patients with NSCLC.

[The value of serum tumor marker in the diagnosis of lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate five serum tumor markers used alone or in combination for the diagnosis of lung cancer. METHODS: The level of five serum tumor markers: NSE, pro-GRP, CYFRA21-1, p53 antibody and CEA was detected by ELISA in 50 healthy adults, 170 lung cancer patients and 60 patients with respiratory infection. RESULTS: The level of the five serum tumor markers in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than that of healthy adults and patients with respiratory infection (P < 0.01). The level of NSE and pro-GRP in patients with small-cell lung cancer was significantly higher than those of the other subtypes of lung cancer (P < 0.01); The level of CYFRA21-1 in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that of other subtypes (P < 0.01). The specificity of p53 antibody was 100% in diagnosing lung cancer and the sensitivity of NSE, pro-GRP was much higher for small-cell lung cancer than for other subtypes (P < 0.01); The same was observed in CYFRA21-1 for the diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of the tumor markers in diagnosing lung cancer was significantly enhanced if used in combination (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These five tumor markers are valuable auxiliary parameters in diagnosing lung cancer. The combination of NSE and pro-GRP is more appropriate than other combinations in diagnosing small-cell lung cancer; the combination of CYFRA21-1, CEA and p53 antibody is the most valuable combination for diagnosing non-small-cell lung cancer. p53 antibody has the highest specificity for diagnosing lung cancer; CYFRA21-1 is the most valuable parameter for diagnosing squamous carcinoma.

[Study of the expression profile of immunogenesis associated genes in tuberculosis by microarray].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the difference of gene expression profile in tuberculosis patients. METHODS: mRNA levels of pleural fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in tuberculous pleurisy and lung cancer patients were compared by cDNA microarray. Paired mRNAs from fluid specimens of tuberculosis and lung cancer cases were labeled with different fluorochromes during cDNA probe synthesis in a reverse-transcription reaction. The signal intensity of each spot was measured by laser scanner and gene expression was quantified as the tubercle-to-normal fluorescence ratio (T:N ratio). The gene was defined as over expression when the T:N ratio was greater than 2.0 and under expression when the ratio was less than 0.5. RESULTS: Among 626 immunogenesis associated genes there were 53 differences, of which 31 (tnf-alpha, ig-lambda, il-17, il-17r, hla-dp, lcp1, tcralpha, tcrbeta, hsp75, cxcr4, fyb, hla-g, hla-a, il18bp, il-2r, lt-beta, il-8, ip-10, mcp-1, il-12, il-12r, il-10, canx, irf2, ifn-gamma, tlr, il-1, il-7, tlr, lsp-1, il-14)were higher and 22 (il-4, il-18, il-15, ifg-1, scya14, ablim, peci, ppid, hsf 2, actg2, maoa, ttid, gatm, tgfb3, insr, thbd, trap1, tcrgamma, tcrdelta, il-13r, il-11, igf1, a2m)were lower in tuberculous pleurisy than those in the control. CONCLUSIONS: The immunogenesis of tuberculosis involves multi-genetic expression changes, such as tnf-alpha, il-17, il-12, tcralpha, tcrbeta, hsp75, cxcr4, il-4, il-18, il-15 etc., the expression profile of which changed dramatically. The results provide new insight for understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of tuberculosis and exploring new therapeutic strategies.

[A study on the correlation between HLA-DR genes and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in a population of Han nationality from southern China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between HLA-DR genes and pulmonary tuberculosis and to explore susceptible genes associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in a population of Han nationality from southern China. METHODS: Using case-control study, we detected by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) technique the 23 alleles of HLA-DR gene sites in 110 tuberculosis cases and 101 controls from Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Fujian provinces. Gene frequency (GF) and odds ratio (OR) were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The frequency of DR16 allele in pulmonary tuberculosis cases was strikingly higher than that in the healthy controls (chi2=5.915, Pc< 0.05). Their GFs were 12.62% and 5.60% respectively, and the OR was 2.53. Significantly decreased frequency of DR1 and DR13.3 alleles in cases were found (chi2 values were 17.847 and 14.258 respectively, Pc < 0.01). Their ratios of GFs were 8.08% vs. 23.57% and 29.29% vs. 50.24%, and their ORs were 0.26 and 0.33 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that DR16 allele is closely correlated to incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in this population of Han nationality from southern China, or linked to susceptible genes which are functional. It is also suggested that expression of DR1 and DR13.3 alleles may be associated with an antagonist effect in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis in this population.