Magnetic resonance imaging-based lymph node radiomics for predicting the metastasis of evaluable lymph nodes in rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node (LN) staging in rectal cancer (RC) affects treatment decisions and patient prognosis. For radiologists, the traditional preoperative assessment of LN metastasis (LNM) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) poses a challenge. AIM: To explore the value of a nomogram model that combines Conventional MRI and radiomics features from the LNs of RC in assessing the preoperative metastasis of evaluable LNs. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 270 LNs (158 nonmetastatic, 112 metastatic) were randomly split into training (n = 189) and validation sets (n = 81). LNs were classified based on pathology-MRI matching. Conventional MRI features [size, shape, margin, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) appearance, and CE-T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) enhancement] were evaluated. Three radiomics models used 3D features from T1WI and T2WI images. Additionally, a nomogram model combining conventional MRI and radiomics features was developed. The model used univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Evaluation employed the receiver operating characteristic curve, with DeLong test for comparing diagnostic performance. Nomogram performance was assessed using calibration and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: The nomogram model outperformed conventional MRI and single radiomics models in evaluating LNM. In the training set, the nomogram model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92, which was significantly higher than the AUCs of 0.82 (P < 0.001) and 0.89 (P < 0.001) of the conventional MRI and radiomics models, respectively. In the validation set, the nomogram model achieved an AUC of 0.91, significantly surpassing 0.80 (P < 0.001) and 0.86 (P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: The nomogram model showed the best performance in predicting metastasis of evaluable LNs.

The association between dioxins and steroid hormones in general adult males: a cross-sectional study in an e-waste region of China.

As observed among residents in electronic waste (e-waste) recycling areas, dioxins can disrupt the homeostasis of endocrine hormones and the balance of thyroid hormones. Few studies, however, have examined whether e-waste recycling activities influence steroid hormone equilibrium in the general adult male population. This study evaluated the association between steroid hormones and the physical burdens of dioxins in the general adult male population residing in an e-waste region. In September 2017, 74 adult males residing in an e-waste dismantling region were enrolled in the current study. Approximately 10 mL of blood was collected from each adult male, and the serum samples were separated through centrifugation. Then, the levels of dioxin and steroid hormones in the serum of the participants were measured. We treated dioxin levels as categorical variables in the general linear model according to quartiles (25, 50, and 75 percentile). Comparing the findings with a reference group (< 25th percentile), we noted significantly higher dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) level in men with low serum polychlorinated dibenzofuran-toxic equivalent (PCDFs-TEQ) level between 3.80 and 6.31 pg/g lipid (1933 vs. 1447 pg/ml) and low polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans-TEQ (PCDD/PCDFs-TEQ) between 8.57 and 15.11 pg/g lipid (1996 vs. 1360 pg/ml). Moreover, a significantly higher androstenedione (A-dione) level was found in men whose serum PCDFs-TEQ ≥ 11.34 pg/g lipd (2404 vs. 1848). What's more, there were significantly higher 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) concentrations in low- and high-2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) groups (1.30-1.67 and ≥ 2.64 pg-TEQ/g lipid, respectively with 719 and 807 vs. 496, respectively). Our findings suggest that specific dioxin exposure may disturb normal DHEA, A-dione levels, and enzyme activity in the general adult male population in an e-waste region of China.

[Identification of endophytic actinomycete St24 tomato plants from and its application in biocontrol of gray mold disease].

An endophytic actinomycete strain St24 with acaricidal activity was isolated from the root-stem junction of tomato plants, with the taxonomic position of the strain and its control effect against gray mold disease investigated. The St24 was identified as Streptomyces vinaceus, and its broth's petroleum ether extracts could inhibit a variety of pathogens. The inhibitory effect of the extracts on Botrytis cinerea was the strongest, with the EC50 of inhibiting B. cinerea mycelia growth being 11.78 mg x L(-1). After treated with the extracts, the amount of the mycelia decreased, and the mycelia became crenate or broken, with the protoplast extravasated and the tuberculate malformation appeared. The B. cinerea culture treated with the extracts showed the maximum absorption at 260 nm, which was absent in the control, indicating that the St24 extracts increased the pathogens cell membrane permeability. Pot experiment showed that the extracts could protect tomato plants against B. cinerea. Foliar spraying the extracts at 100 mg x L(-1) had the best protective effect, with the controlling effect reached 94.3% after 24 h and 85.4% after 120 h.

[Pre-hospital systematic treatment for patients with severe acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of on-spot systematic treatment for the patients with severe acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (SAOPP). METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-three SAOPP patients were divided into two groups: pre-hospital treatment group (116 patients), in which rescue equipment and drugs were carried to the spot for the treatment of the patients; hospital treatment group (107 patients), in which the patients received emergency treatment after reaching the hospital. The pre-hospital group was sub-divided into group A and group B. In group A, gastric lavage was performed with aid of automatic lavage instrument, and in group B lavage was done by using suspending bucket. Antidotes including pralidoxime chloride and atropine were used simultaneously based on the patients' conditions. Cholinesterase (ChE) activity was dynamically monitored. When the symptoms disappeared, the length of atropinization, the total dosage of atropine and pralidoxime chloride, the recovery time of ChE, the mortality, hospital days, and the incidence of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The therapeutic effect in pre-hospital group was better than that in in-patient group in terms of disappearance of the symptoms, length of atropinization, recovery time of ChE, the total dosage of atropine and pralidoxime chloride, hospital days, and the mortality rate in group A was markedly lower than in-patient group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The incidence of respiratory failure, heart injury, brain injury, and atropine poisoning were also lower in pre-hospital group compared with in-patient group (all P<0.01). However, there were no significant differences in intermediate syndrome, relapse, liver injury (all P>0.05). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in mortality rate and hospital days between two subgroups of pre-hospital treatment group(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Pre-hospital systematic treatment for SAOPP patients, due to its good effects, should be recommended as a safe and effective treatment strategy.