TAGNet: Learning Configurable Context Pathways for Semantic Segmentation.

State-of-the-art semantic segmentation methods capture the relationship between pixels to facilitate contextual information exchange. Advanced methods utilize fixed pathways for context exchange, lacking the flexibility to harness the most relevant context for each pixel. In this paper, we present Configurable Context Pathways (CCPs), a novel model for establishing pathways for augmenting contextual information. In contrast to previous pathway models, CCPs are learned, leveraging configurable regions to form information flows between pairs of pixels. We propose TAGNet to adaptively configure the regions, which span over the entire image space, driven by the relationships between the remote pixels. Subsequently, the information flows along the pathways are updated gradually by the information provided by sequences of configurable regions, forming more powerful contextual information. We extensively evaluate the traveling, adaption, and gathering (TAG) stages of our network on the public benchmarks, demonstrating that all of the stages successfully improve the segmentation accuracy and help to surpass the state-of-the-art results. The code package is available at: https://github.com/dilincv/TAGNet.

Controllable growth of Cu-Bi co-doped ZnO nanospheres on cotton fabrics and a study on their photocatalytic performance in visible light.

Cu-Bi co-doped ZnO nanospheres were obtained by adopting Bi and Cu to dope ZnO to improve their photocatalytic performance in the visible region. Cu-Bi co-doped ZnO nanospheres were successfully grown on the surface of cotton fabric by a sol-gel assisted hydrothermal method with citric acid as a morphology control agent. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The results showed that the size of ZnO nanospheres was about 200 nm and doping with Cu and Bi did not change their morphology. Cu-Bi co-doped ZnO nanospheres presented a hexagonal wurtzite structure with high crystallinity; meanwhile, their band gap was also obviously reduced due to doping, from 3.24 eV to 2.82 eV. Cu-Bi co-doped ZnO nanospheres endowed the cotton fabric with excellent UV (ultraviolet) resistance with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) value of 283.54 after 40 washes. Cotton fabric with 3% Bi-5% Cu co-doped ZnO on the surface showed 98.66% degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution under visible light irradiation for 150 min, indicating remarkable photocatalytic performance.

Efficacy of weekly amrubicin for refractory or relapsed non-small cell lung cancer: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy of weekly amrubicin (WA) for treating refractory or relapsed non-small cell lung cancer (RRNSCLC). METHODS: The literature search will be performed using the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, WANGFANG, VIP database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception onwards up to the March 1, 2020. No language limitation will be implemented. Randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy and safety of WA for the treatment of RRNSCLC will be included. Literature selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment will be handled by 2 independent authors. We will invite a third author to disentangle any divergences between 2 authors. We will carry out statistical analysis using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study will summarize current evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of WA for the treatment of RRNSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will provide helpful evidence for the clinician, and will promote further studies, as well as clarify the direction of research on WA for the management of RRNSCLC.Study registration number: INPLASY202040168.

Role of Polymorphisms of FAM13A, PHLDB1, and CYP24A1 in Breast Cancer Risk.

BACKGROUND: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are important indicators of susceptibility to breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between SNPs in the FAM13A, PHLDB1, and CYP24A1 gene and breast cancer risk in the Chinese Han population. METHODS: We performed a case-control study including 379 female breast cancer patients and 407 female healthy controls. The three SNPs were genotyped using Agena MassARRAY platform. The χ2 test was used to compare alleles and genotypes frequencies of polymorphisms between case and control groups. Genetic models analyses to assess the associations between SNPs and breast cancer risk by computing odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using logistic regression. RegulomeDB and HaploReg databases were used to calculate possible functional effects of polymorphisms. RESULTS: Overall analysis results showed that rs4809957 was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (allele A: OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.03-1.55, p = 0.024; AA vs. GG: OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.15-2.82, p = 0.010; recessive model: OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.12-2.58, p = 0.012); and rs1059122 was found to be associated with a reduced breast cancer risk in the recessive model (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.98, p = 0.039). Stratification analysis found significant associations between the three SNPs (rs1059122, rs17748, and rs4809957) and breast cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that rs1059122 (FAM13A), rs17748 (PHLDB1), and rs4809957 (CYP24A1) might contribute to breast cancer susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. Future studies with large samples are required to confirm our findings, as well as functional studies are needed to explore their function in the breast cancer development.

Influence of pharmorubicin on the left ventricular ejection fraction of patients with breast cancer: A mechanism study.

AIMS: Breast cancer is a great public health problem. It remains unclear how pharmorubicin induces cardiac dysfunction in patients with breast cancer. Our study was aimed to explore the influence of pharmorubicin on the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) of patients with breast cancer and its potential mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with breast cancer were enrolled at the same hospital. Group I consisted of 135 samples, who were under treatment of pharmorubicin (200 mg/m2). Group II consisted of 144 samples, who were under treatment the of pharmorubicin (360 mg/m2). Group III was used as control group, which consists of 120 samples without treatment of pharmorubicin. Color Doppler ultrasonic inspection and measurement were performed to examine EF. Flow cytometry was performed to assess oxygen free radical level in hemocytes. Further combination therapy (N-acetylcysteine [NAC] + pharmorubicin) was provided for patients, and the same examinations were performed for the assessment of cardiac function and oxygen free radical level. RESULTS: The ultrasound results showed that pharmorubicin treatment significantly jeopardized cardiac function, verified by decrease of both EF and fractional shortening (FS) (P < 0. 05). Moreover, such effect was dose-dependent. Oxygen free radical level was remarkably increased after pharmorubicin treatment (P < 0. 05), verified by flow cytometry. Adjunctive therapy of NAC decreased oxygen free radical level and improved cardiac function of patients with breast cancer, suggesting NAC ameliorated side effect of pharmorubicin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmorubicin treatment decreased EF and FS of patients with breast cancer through increasing oxygen free radical level in hemocytes. Adjunctive therapy of NAC could be a potential treatment to ameliorated side effect pharmorubicin treatment.

[Injury characteristics and therapeutic strategy of patients injured in "8·8" Jiuzhaigou earthquake].

Objective: To summarize the injury characteristics and therapeutic strategy of patients injured in "8·8" Jiuzhaigou earthquake. Methods: The clinical data of 48 patients injured in "8·8" Jiuzhaigou earthquake who were admitted to Mianyang Central Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. There were 25 males and 23 females with an average age of 36 years (range, 5-87 years). The average interval from injury to admission was 30 hours (range, 3-53 hours). The patients from Sichuan province accounted for 45.8% (22 cases), from other province for 52.1% (25 cases), and from abroad for 2.1% (1 case). Patients were primarily hurted by collapsing houses and flying stones. Thirty-seven patients (77.1%) had single injury, mainly involving 36 patients (75.0%) in limbs, and the other 11 patients (22.9%) had multiple injuries. Ten patients (20.8%) had open fractures, including 1 case rated as typeⅠ, 2 as typeⅡ, 3 as type Ⅲa, 2 as type Ⅲb, and 2 as type Ⅲc according to Gustilo classification criteria. The abbreviated injury scale (AIS) score was 2-3 in 37 patients of single injury, and the injury severity score (ISS) was 8-22 (mean, 13.2) in 11 patients of multiple injuries. Sixteen patients (33.3%) were diagnosed as mental disorders by Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAMA), including 8 cases had their anxiety scores≥29, 4 cases of 21-28, 3 cases of 14-20, and 1 case of 7-13. Of the 16 patients, 2 showed suicidal tendency. Results: Except 2 referrals, 30 patients received operationï¼»28 patients (93.3%) for orthopaedic surgeriesï¼½and 16 patients received conservative treatment. The procedures included internal fixation, soft tissue debridement, external fixation, bipolar femoral head replacement, embolization of carotid cavernous sinus arteriovenous fistula, and amputation. Among the 46 patients treated in this hospital, 21 discharged from hospital at 2-12 days (mean, 6.7 days) after admission, the others received further rehabilitation in this hospital or local hospital. No undesirable consequence occurred in 16 patients with mental disorders. Five cases of infection occurred out of hospital were cured after debridement. No dead and nosocomial infection case reported. Conclusion: Intensive treatment, specialist management, multidisciplinary team, and early intervention of nosocomial infection and deep venous thrombosis are the key to improve the general level of successful earthquake medical rescue.

[Capsular-enhanced repair with suture anchors in bipolar hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of capsular-enhanced repair with suture anchors in bipolar hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in elderly patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed. From June 2009 to June 2016, 53 senile patients (54 hips)with femoral neck fracture were treated operatively in Mianyang central hospital (Sichuan, China). There were 21 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 80 to 97.5 years old (mean, 84.7 years old). There were 11 hips of Garden type II, 26 hips of Garden type III and 17 hips of Garden type IV. All the patients underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty with enhanced repair of hip capsular. The hip joint was opened by a T shaped incision over posterior capsule. The posterior hip capsular and short external rotators were repaired particularly after the bipolar prostheses were implanted. Surgical time, intra-operative blood loss, mean hospitalization time, deep venous thrombosis, mortality, hip dislocation, pain, periprosthetic fracture, and other complications were recorded. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Harris Hip Score at the last follow-up. RESULTS: The 53 patients (54 hips) were evaluated during the hospitalization period and a mean follow-up period of 11.5 months(ranged, 3 to 36 months). No dislocation, incision infection and periprosthetic fracture appeared in this group. The mean surgical time was 65 minutes(ranged, 50 to 95 min). The mean intra-operative blood loss was 213 ml(ranged, 100 to 420 ml) and the mean hospitalization time was 13.3 days(ranged, 5 to 27 days). Two patients with deep vein thrombosis, one patient with pulmonary embolism and 10 patients with venous plexus thrombosis of calf muscle were diagnosed postoperatively. The rate of venous thrombosis was 24.53% (13/53). The patient with pulmonary embolism died 8 days after operation and the other 3 patients died from heart failure 4, 6 and 7 months after operation respectively. The mortality during first year after hemiarthroplasty was 7.55% (4/53). At the latest follow-up, 42 patients (43 hips)had no pain, 9 patients had mild pain, and 2 patients had moderate pain. No patients were non-ambulatory. The mean Harris Hip Score was 91.25±8.39, functional outcome was excellent in 44 hips, good in 5, and fair in 5. CONCLUSIONS: The bipolar hemiarthroplasty with capsular-enhanced repair with suture anchors is effective in reducing postoperative complications of prosthesis dislocation.