A mild deprotection of isopropylidene ketals from 2-deoxyglycosides using AcOH/H2O/DME: An efficient regioselective deprotection of terminal isopropylidene ketals.

This paper describes a mild and efficient catalytic deprotection method for isopropylidene ketals and benzylidene acetals using AcOH/H2O/DME(1,2-Dimethoxyethane). The method effectively removes ketal and acetal protecting groups from 2-deoxyglycosides which are prone to hydrolysis under acidic conditions. Moreover, it enables the selective removal of the terminal ketal over an internal one.

FNDC5 prevents oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis after traumatic brain injury through SIRT3-dependent regulation of mitochondrial quality control.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are important mechanisms for secondary injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which result in progressive pathophysiological exacerbation. Although the Fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) was reported to repress oxidative stress by retaining mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics, its possible role in the secondary injury after TBI remain obscure. In present study, we observed that the level of serum irisin (the cleavage product of FNDC5) significantly correlated with the neurological outcomes of TBI patients. Knockout of FNDC5 increased the lesion volume and exacerbated apoptosis and neurological deficits after TBI in mice, while FNDC5 overexpression yielded a neuroprotective effect. Moreover, FNDC5 deficiency disrupted mitochondrial dynamics and function. Activation of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) alleviated FNDC5 deficiency-induced disruption of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetics. In neuron-specific SIRT3 knockout mice, FNDC5 failed to attenuate TBI-induced mitochondrial damage and brain injuries. Mechanically, FNDC5 deficiency led to reduced SIRT3 expression via enhanced ubiquitin degradation of transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which contributed to the hyperacetylation and inactivation of key regulatory proteins of mitochondrial dynamics and function, including OPA1 and SOD2. Finally, engineered RVG29-conjugated nanoparticles were generated to selectively and efficiently deliver irisin to the brain of mice, which yielded a satisfactory curative effect against TBI. In conclusion, FNDC5/irisin exerts a protective role against acute brain injury by promoting SIRT3-dependent mitochondrial quality control and thus represents a potential target for neuroprotection after TBI.

Brucellosis infection complicated with myelitis: a case report and literature review.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a Gram-negative coccus a facultative intracellular pathogen. Neurobrucellosis has an incidence rate of 3-7% among all patients with brucellosis, while spinal cord involvement is rare and carries a significant mortality risk. This report describes a case of brucellosis myelitis in a 55-year-old male patient who presented with recurrent paralysis, incontinence, and damage to the visual and auditory nerves. The diagnosis of neurobrucellosis involves a serum tube agglutination test, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, a physical examination of the nervous system, and a comprehensive review of the patient's medical history. The presence of brucellosis was confirmed in cerebrospinal fluid using MetaCAP™ sequencing. Treatment with a combination of rifampicin, doxycycline, ceftriaxone sodium, amikacin, compound brain peptide ganglioside, and dexamethasone resulted in significant improvement of the patient's clinical symptoms and a decrease in the brucellosis sequence count in cerebrospinal fluid. For the first time, MetaCAP™ sequencing has been used to treat pathogenic microbial nucleic acids, which could be a valuable tool for early diagnosis and treatment of neurobrucellosis.

Pathogenesis of chronic enteropathy associated with the SLCO2A1 gene: Hypotheses and conundrums.

Chronic enteropathy associated with the SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) is a complex gastroenterological condition characterized by multiple ulcers in the small intestine with chronic bleeding and protein loss. This review explores the potential mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CEAS, focusing on the role of SLCO2A1-encoded prostaglandin transporter OATP2A1 and its impact on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. Studies have suggested that elevated PGE2 levels contribute to mucosal damage, inflammation, and disruption of the intestinal barrier. The effects of PGE2 on macrophage activation and Maxi-Cl channel functionality, as well as its interaction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs play crucial roles in the progression of CEAS. Understanding the balance between its protective and pro-inflammatory effects and the complex interactions within the gastrointestinal tract can shed light on potential therapeutic targets for CEAS and guide the development of novel, targeted therapies.

[Short term follow-up of femoral neck dynamic cross screw system and threaded cannulated screw in the treatment of vertically unstable femoral neck fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the clinical effects of femoral neck dynamic cross screw system (FNS) and cannulated screws(CS) in the treatment of vertically unstable femoral neck fractures. METHODS: The clinical data and short-term follow-up results of 40 patients with vertically unstable femoral neck fractures admitted from July 2020 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different internal fixation methods, 40 patients were divided into two groups, 20 cases in FNS group included 11 males and 9 females with a median of 58.5(50.3, 62.5) years old, and 20 in CS group included 9 males and 11 females with a median of 52.0(40.5, 58.0) years old. The operation time, knife edge length, blood loss and treatment cost of two gruops were observed and compared. The postoperative fracture healing and internal fixation were evaluated with X-ray imaging data, and the femoral neck shortening of the affected side was measured. The incidence of thigh irritation, the time of partial weight bearing and full weight bearing, early necrosis of femoral head, reoperation revision and Harris scores were compared between two groups. RESULTS: FNS group was followed up for 18.0(15.0, 19.0) months, CS group for 17.0(15.0, 18.8) months. There was no significant difference in operation time, incision length and blood loss between two groups(P>0.05). The cost of diagnosis and treatment in FNS group was higher than that in CS group(P<0.001). In FNS group, there was no irritation sign of the affected side thigh, while in CS group, there were 6 cases with discomfort or irritation sign of the lateral thigh(P<0.05). The average time of partial weight bearing activity in CS group was later than that in FNS group(P<0.05); However, there was no significant difference in the activity time of complete weight bearing between two groups(P=0.011>0.05). At the last follow-up, the shortened length of the affected femoral neck in CS group was greater than that in FNS group(P<0.05). There was no early necrosis of femoral head and reoperation in both groups. There was no significant difference in Harris score between two groups 12 months after operation(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: FNS treatment of vertically unstable femoral neck fractures can significantly reduce the incidence of lateral thigh irritation sign, and effectively reduce the postoperative shortening rate of vertically unstable femoral neck fractures, which can provide a relatively stable anti rotation force and anti cutting force, so that patients can go to the ground relatively early, which is conducive to the recovery of the affected hip joint function after surgery. It is a new option for the surgical treatment of vertically unstable femoral neck fractures. However, due to the high cost of treatment, In clinical practice, appropriate surgical treatment is selected according to the actual situation.

CT data analysis of catheter morphology and displacement in peritoneal dialysis: an exploratory study.

PURPOSE: Catheter displacement is a common complication of peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between catheter morphology and displacement by analyzing CT data, providing a scientific basis for optimizing catheter morphology within abdominal wall layers. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 94 patients. The parameters for analyzing catheter morphology were defined based on six key points identified from CT images. The covariates considered in the analysis included demographics, primary disease, body size, peritoneal dialysis method, and total weekly urea clearance index. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 1056 ± 480 days, only the angle of the intramuscular part (IM angle) of the catheter significantly correlated with the time to first catheter displacement according to the multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.039, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.058, p < 0.01). When the cut-off value of IM angle was 39.4 ∘ , the area under receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting catheter displacement was 0.791 (95% CI 0.701-0.881, p < 0.01), with a sensitivity and specificity of 82.9% and 66.0%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the catheter survival rate was significantly higher in the group with an IM angle < 39.4 ∘ than in the group with an IM angle > 39.4 ∘ (log-rank χ 2 =19.479, p < 0.01). None of the catheter morphology parameters were significantly correlated with technique survival in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between catheter morphology and catheter displacement. An IM angle > 39.4 ∘ is an independent risk factor for catheter displacement, while the position and angle of the subcutaneous part are not correlated with catheter displacement.

Numerical Investigation on the Structural Behavior of a Short-Span Cable-Stayed Bridge with Steel and CFRP Hybrid Cables.

In this paper, a thorough investigation is presented on the static and dynamic behaviors of a short-span cable-stayed bridge (CSB) incorporating steel and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) hybrid cables. The study focuses on the world's largest span and China's first highway, CFRP CSB. The performance of the CSB was compared using numerical simulations under four different cable patterns: steel cables, CFRP cables, and steel, and two types of hybrid cables with different structural arrangements. The results indicate that the use of the use of CFRP cables in the long cable region in the short-span CSB project investigated in this study offers improved performance in terms of stability, seismic response, and reduced displacements. In comparison to CFRP cables, hybrid cables have demonstrated a reduction of 12% in the maximum vertical displacement of the main girder. On the other hand, the hybrid cables result in reduced maximum internal forces and longitudinal and lateral displacements of the main girders and towers compared to steel cables. The difference in the arrangement of CFRP cables in the long cable region or short cable region is not obvious under dead loads, but significant differences still exist between the CFRP cable bridges in the short cable region and the long cable region in terms of live load effects, temperature effects, and dynamic characteristics.

Nanoplatform based on carbon nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin enhances apoptosis by generating reactive oxygen species for effective cancer therapy.

At present, due to its wide application and relatively low cost, chemotherapy remains a clinically important cancer treatment option; however, a number of chemotherapeutic drugs have important limitations, such as lack of specificity, high toxicity and side effects, and multi-drug resistance. The emergence of nanocarriers has removed numerous clinical application limitations of certain antitumor chemotherapy drugs and has been widely used in the treatment of tumors with nanodrugs. The present study used carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) as a nanocarrier for doxorubicin (DOX) to form the novel nanomedicine delivery system (CNPs@DOX)was demonstrated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry, ζ potential and TEM characterization experiments. The results confirmed the successful preparation of CNPs@DOX nanoparticles with a particle size of 96±17 nm, a wide range of absorption and a negatively charged surface. Furthermore, CNPs@DOX produced more reactive oxygen species and induced apoptosis, and thus exhibited higher cytotoxicity than DOX, which is a small molecule anticancer drug without a nanocarrier delivery system.. The present study provides a strategy for the treatment of tumors with nanomedicine.

Signatures of adaptation and purifying selection in highland populations of Dasiphora fruticosa.

High mountains harbor a considerable proportion of biodiversity, but we know little about how diverse plants adapt to the harsh environment. Here we finished a high-quality genome assembly for Dasiphora fruticosa, an ecologically important plant distributed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and lowland of the Northern Hemisphere, and resequenced 592 natural individuals to address how this horticulture plant adapts to highland. Demographic analysis revealed D. fruticosa underwent a bottleneck after Naynayxungla Glaciation. Selective sweep analysis of two pairs of lowland and highland population identified 63 shared genes related to cell wall organization or biogenesis, cellular component organization, and dwarfism, suggesting parallel adaptation to highland habitats. Most importantly, we found that stronger purging of estimated genetic load due to inbreeding in highland populations apparently contributed to their adaptation to the highest mountain. Our results revealed how plants could tolerate the extreme plateau, which could provide potential insights for species conservation and crop breeding.

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation might overcome the poor prognosis of adolescents and adult patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and CDKN2 deletion.

This study delves into the clinical implications of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 (CDKN2) deletion in adult T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Among 241 patients included in this study, 57 had CDKN2 deletion and 184 had CDKN2 wild-type (WT), and 165 underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and 76 did not undergo allo-HSCT. CDKN2 deletion correlated with higher white blood cell count, more high-risk diseases, and complex karyotype. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was 36.8% and 58.2% (P < 0.001), 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 47.1% and 59.3% (P = 0.018), and 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was 33.7% and 22.3% (P = 0.019) in patients with CDKN2 deletion and WT, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified CDKN2 deletion as an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS (HR 2.11, P = 0.003). In the CDKN2 deletion subgroup, landmark analysis showed that the 5-year OS was 56.7% and 19% (P = 0.002) for patients who underwent allo-HSCT and those who did not, respectively. And multivariate analysis confirmed the beneficial role of allo-HSCT in OS (HR 0.23, P < 0.001). In conclusion, CDKN2 deletion was associated with a poor prognosis in adult T-ALL, and allo-HSCT might be beneficial for this population.

External fixator versus elastic stable intramedullary nail for treatment of metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction fractures of the pediatric distal femur: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Several methods have been used for the treatment of pediatric distal femoral fractures, such as elastic stable intramedullary nail (ESIN), external fixator (EF) and plate osteosynthesis, but there has been no consensus about the optimal method. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome between EF and ESIN techniques used in metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) fractures of the pediatric distal femur. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed operatively treated MDJ fractures of pediatric distal femur between January 2015 and January 2022. Patient charts were reviewed for demographics, injury and data of radiography. All of the patients were divided into EF and ESIN groups according to the operation techniques. Malalignment was defined as more than 5 degrees of angular deformity in either plane. Clinical outcomes were measured by Flynn scoring system. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included in this study, among which, 23 were treated with EF, and 15 with ESIN. The mean follow-up time was 18 months (12-24 months). At the final follow-up, all of the fractures were healed. Although there were no statistical differences between the two groups in demographic data, length of stay, estimated blood loss (EBL), rate of open reduction, time to fracture healing and Flynn score, the EF was superior to ESIN in operative time, fluoroscopic exposure and time to partial weight-bearing. The EF group had a significantly higher rate of skin irritation, while the ESIN had a significantly higher rate of malalignment. CONCLUSION: EF and ESIN are both effective methods in the treatment of MDJ fractures of the pediatric distal femur. ESIN is associated with lower rates of skin irritation. However, EF technique has the advantages of shorter operative time, reduced fluoroscopic exposure, and shorter time to partial weight-bearing, as well as lower incidence of malalignment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Construction of a nomogram model to predict technical difficulty in performing laparoscopic sphincter-preserving radical resection for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal surgeons are well aware that performing surgery for rectal cancer becomes more challenging in obese patients with narrow and deep pelvic cavities. Therefore, it is essential for colorectal surgeons to have a comprehensive understanding of pelvic structure prior to surgery and anticipate potential surgical difficulties. AIM: To evaluate predictive parameters for technical challenges encountered during laparoscopic radical sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively gathered data from 162 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic radical sphincter-preserving surgery for rectal cancer. Three-dimensional reconstruction of pelvic bone and soft tissue parameters was conducted using computed tomography (CT) scans. Operative difficulty was categorized as either high or low, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of operative difficulty, ultimately creating a nomogram. RESULTS: Out of 162 patients, 21 (13.0%) were classified in the high surgical difficulty group, while 141 (87.0%) were in the low surgical difficulty group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the surgical approach using laparoscopic intersphincteric dissection, intraoperative preventive ostomy, and the sacrococcygeal distance were independent risk factors for highly difficult laparoscopic radical sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer (P < 0.05). Conversely, the anterior-posterior diameter of pelvic inlet/sacrococcygeal distance was identified as a protective factor (P < 0.05). A nomogram was subsequently constructed, demonstrating good predictive accuracy (C-index = 0.834). CONCLUSION: The surgical approach, intraoperative preventive ostomy, the sacrococcygeal distance, and the anterior-posterior diameter of pelvic inlet/sacrococcygeal distance could help to predict the difficulty of laparoscopic radical sphincter-preserving surgery.

Total testosterone plays a crucial role in the pathway from hypothyroidism to broad depression in women.

BACKGROUND: Depression tends to develop in correlation with hypothyroidism, however it's unclear how testosterone traits contribute to this association. We examined the causal association between depression, testosterone traits, and hypothyroidism using Mendelian randomization (MR). METHOD: We conducted univariable and multivariable MR studies using summary-level statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Hypothyroidism (n = 213,990), broad depression (n = 322,580), probable major depressive disorder (probable MDD) (n = 174,519), and International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 or ICD-10-coded MDD (n = 217,584) from European ancestry. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main MR analysis. RESULTS: In univariate MR analysis, there is a positive causal relationship between hypothyroidism and broad depression (P = 0.0074; OR = 1.0066; 95%CI: 1.0018-1.0114) and probable MDD (P = 0.0242; OR = 1.0056; 95%CI: 1.0007-1.0105). In females, there is a causal relationship between hypothyroidism and decreased total testosterone (P < 0.001; OR = 0.9747; 95%CI: 0.9612-0.9885) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels (P = 0.0418; OR = 0.9858; 95%CI: 0.9723-0.9995). In females, there is an inverse causal relationship between total testosterone and broad depression (P = 0.0349; OR = 0.9898; 95%CI: 0.9804-0.9993). Furthermore, in multivariate MR analysis, after adjusting for total testosterone in females, hypothyroidism only has a positive causal relationship with probable MDD, and the relationship with broad depression is no longer significant. Most notably, after adjusting for hypothyroidism, the inverse causal effect of female total testosterone levels on broad depression becomes more significant (P = 0.0154; OR = 0.9878; 95%CI: 0.9780-0.9977). CONCLUSION: Hypothyroidism increases the risk of broad depression and probable MDD development. Total Testosterone appears to play an important role in the relationship between hypothyroidism and broad depression in female.

Identification of neurological complications in childhood influenza: a random forest model.

BACKGROUND: Among the neurological complications of influenza in children, the most severe is acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), with a high mortality rate and neurological sequelae. ANE is characterized by rapid progression to death within 1-2 days from onset. However, the knowledge about the early diagnosis of ANE is limited, which is often misdiagnosed as simple seizures/convulsions or mild acute influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE). OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an early prediction model to discriminate the ANE from two common neurological complications, seizures/convulsions and mild IAE in children with influenza. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included patients with ANE (median age 3.8 (2.3,5.4) years), seizures/convulsions alone (median age 2.6 (1.7,4.3) years), or mild IAE (median age 2.8 (1.5,6.1) years) at a tertiary pediatric medical center in China between November 2012 to January 2020. The random forest algorithm was used to screen the characteristics and construct a prediction model. RESULTS: Of the 433 patients, 278 (64.2%) had seizures/convulsions alone, 106 (24.5%) had mild IAE, and 49 (11.3%) had ANE. The discrimination performance of the model was satisfactory, with an accuracy above 0.80 from both model development (84.2%) and internal validation (88.2%). Seizures/convulsions were less likely to be wrongly classified (3.7%, 2/54), but mild IAE (22.7%, 5/22) was prone to be misdiagnosed as seizures/convulsions, and a small proportion (4.5%, 1/22) of them was prone to be misdiagnosed as ANE. Of the children with ANE, 22.2% (2/9) were misdiagnosed as mild IAE, and none were misdiagnosed as seizures/convulsions. CONCLUSION: This model can distinguish the ANE from seizures/convulsions with high accuracy and from mild IAE close to 80% accuracy, providing valuable information for the early management of children with influenza.

Downregulation of Ebp1Khib210 promotes keratinocyte proliferation through induction of TIF-IA-mediated rRNA synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory dermatosis characterized by excessive proliferation of keratinocytes. Protein lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) is a newly identified post-translational modification that regulates various biological processes. Abnormal Khib modification has been closely associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the abnormal Khib profile and its pathogenic role in psoriasis. METHODS: We utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze Khib-modified proteins in the epidermis of psoriasis and healthy controls. Mutated cells and mice with downregulated Ebp1Khib210 were generated to investigate its functional effects in psoriasis. RESULTS: The omic analysis revealed dysregulation of Khib modification in psoriatic lesions, exhibiting a distinct profile compared to controls. We observed the downregulation of Ebp1Khib210 in psoriatic lesions and IMQ-induced psoriatic mice. Notably, the expression of Ebp1Khib210 was upregulated in psoriatic patients following effective treatment. Decreased Ebp1Khib210 enhanced keratinocyte viability, proliferation, and survival while inhibiting apoptosis in vitro. Additionally, Pa2g4K210A mice with downregulated Ebp1Khib210 exhibited more severe psoriatic lesions and enhanced keratinocyte proliferation. Moreover, we found that Ebp1K210A mutation increased the interaction between Ebp1 and nuclear Akt, thereby inhibiting MDM2-mediated TIF-IA ubiquitination, and resulting to increased rRNA synthesis and keratinocyte proliferation. The downregulation of Ebp1Khib210 was attributed to inflammation-induced increases in HDAC2 expression. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that downregulation of Ebp1Khib210 promotes keratinocyte proliferation through modulation of Akt signaling and TIF-IA-mediated rRNA synthesis. These insights into Khib modification provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and suggest potential therapeutic targets.

Multimodal analysis of cfDNA methylomes for early detecting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions.

Detecting early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and precancerous lesions is critical for improving survival. Here, we conduct whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) on 460 cfDNA samples from patients with non-metastatic ESCC or precancerous lesions and matched healthy controls. We develop an expanded multimodal analysis (EMMA) framework to simultaneously identify cfDNA methylation, copy number variants (CNVs), and fragmentation markers in cfDNA WGBS data. cfDNA methylation markers are the earliest and most sensitive, detectable in 70% of ESCCs and 50% of precancerous lesions, and associated with molecular subtypes and tumor microenvironments. CNVs and fragmentation features show high specificity but are linked to late-stage disease. EMMA significantly improves detection rates, increasing AUCs from 0.90 to 0.99, and detects 87% of ESCCs and 62% of precancerous lesions with >95% specificity in validation cohorts. Our findings demonstrate the potential of multimodal analysis of cfDNA methylome for early detection and monitoring of molecular characteristics in ESCC.

Advanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy and its applications in zeolite chemistry.

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy (ssNMR) can provide details about the structure, host-guest/guest-guest interactions and dynamic behavior of materials at atomic length scales. A crucial use of ssNMR is for the characterization of zeolite catalysts that are extensively employed in industrial catalytic processes. This review aims to spotlight the recent advancements in ssNMR spectroscopy and its application to zeolite chemistry. We first review the current ssNMR methods and techniques that are relevant to characterize zeolite catalysts, including advanced multinuclear and multidimensional experiments, in situ NMR techniques and hyperpolarization methods. Of these, the methodology development on half-integer quadrupolar nuclei is emphasized, which represent about two-thirds of stable NMR-active nuclei and are widely present in catalytic materials. Subsequently, we introduce the recent progress in understanding zeolite chemistry with the aid of these ssNMR methods and techniques, with a specific focus on the investigation of zeolite framework structures, zeolite crystallization mechanisms, surface active/acidic sites, host-guest/guest-guest interactions, and catalytic reaction mechanisms.

A comprehensive AI model development framework for consistent Gleason grading.

BACKGROUND: Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based solutions for Gleason grading hold promise for pathologists, while image quality inconsistency, continuous data integration needs, and limited generalizability hinder their adoption and scalability. METHODS: We present a comprehensive digital pathology workflow for AI-assisted Gleason grading. It incorporates A!MagQC (image quality control), A!HistoClouds (cloud-based annotation), Pathologist-AI Interaction (PAI) for continuous model improvement, Trained on Akoya-scanned images only, the model utilizes color augmentation and image appearance migration to address scanner variations. We evaluate it on Whole Slide Images (WSI) from another five scanners and conduct validations with pathologists to assess AI efficacy and PAI. RESULTS: Our model achieves an average F1 score of 0.80 on annotations and 0.71 Quadratic Weighted Kappa on WSIs for Akoya-scanned images. Applying our generalization solution increases the average F1 score for Gleason pattern detection from 0.73 to 0.88 on images from other scanners. The model accelerates Gleason scoring time by 43% while maintaining accuracy. Additionally, PAI improve annotation efficiency by 2.5 times and led to further improvements in model performance. CONCLUSIONS: This pipeline represents a notable advancement in AI-assisted Gleason grading for improved consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. Unlike previous methods limited by scanner specificity, our model achieves outstanding performance across diverse scanners. This improvement paves the way for its seamless integration into clinical workflows.

Gleason grading is a well-accepted diagnostic standard to assess the severity of prostate cancer in patients' tissue samples, based on how abnormal the cells in their prostate tumor look under a microscope. This process can be complex and time-consuming. We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can help pathologists perform Gleason grading more efficiently and consistently. We build an AI-based system which automatically checks image quality, standardizes the appearance of images from different equipment, learns from pathologists' feedback, and constantly improves model performance. Testing shows that our approach achieves consistent results across different equipment and improves efficiency of the grading process. With further testing and implementation in the clinic, our approach could potentially improve prostate cancer diagnosis and management.

Imaging of annulus-formation interface using reverse time migration based on ultrasonic pitch-catch measurements: Case studies from an experimental well and a field well.

Cased-hole logging using ultrasonic pitch-catch modality is a proven technique for cement bond evaluation in cased holes. However, complex measuring environments such as tool and casing eccentering makes it difficult to precisely separate and pick the third interface echoes from full ultrasonic Lamb waves, leading to ambiguous identification of annulus-formation interface. To overcome this problem, we propose an improved cased-hole reverse time migration approach for ultrasonic pitch-catch measurements to image the annulus-formation interface. The missing ultrasonic Lamb waveforms between far and near receivers due to insufficient spatial sampling are reconstructed based on the optimized theoretical phase velocity of zero-order anti-symmetric Lamb mode waves. Additionally, we apply the hybrid illumination imaging condition to mitigate the imaging noises around the true reflectors and sources. Data examples from a physical experimental well and a field well demonstrate that the proposed approach is an effective method for characterizing the annulus-formation interface without requiring precise knowledge of the velocity distribution in the region behind the casing. Furthermore, test on an experimental well has indicated that the method has the potential to detect the absence of cement in the annulus medium.