A new artificial intelligence system for both stomach and small bowel capsule endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in small bowel (SB) capsule endoscopy (CE) image reading, information on its application in the stomach and SB CE is lacking. METHODS: In this multicenter, retrospective diagnostic study, gastric imaging data were added to the deep learning (DL)-based SmartScan (SS), which has been described previously. A total of 1,069 magnetically controlled gastrointestinal (GI) CE examinations (comprising 2,672,542 gastric images) were used in the training phase for recognizing gastric pathologies, producing a new AI algorithm named SS Plus. 342 fully automated, magnetically controlled CE (FAMCE) examinations were included in the validation phase. The performance of both senior and junior endoscopists with both the SS Plus-Assisted Reading (SSP-AR) and conventional reading (CR) modes was assessed. RESULTS: SS Plus was designed to recognize 5 types of gastric lesions and 17 types of SB lesions. SS Plus reduced the number of CE images required for review to 873.90 (1000) (median, IQR 814.50-1,000) versus 44,322.73 (42,393) (median, IQR 31,722.75-54,971.25) for CR. Furthermore, with SSP-AR, endoscopists took 9.54 min (8.51) (median, IQR 6.05-13.13) to complete the CE video reading. In the 342 CE videos, SS Plus identified 411 gastric and 422 SB lesions, whereas 400 gastric and 368 intestinal lesions were detected with CR. Moreover, junior endoscopists remarkably improved their CE image reading ability with SSP-AR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the newly upgraded DL-based algorithm SS Plus can detect GI lesions and help improve the diagnostic performance of junior endoscopists in interpreting CE videos.

External redox couple enhanced anammox sludge activity at low temperature: Insight into intracellular resource synthesis.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), an energy-efficient deamination biotechnology, faces operational challenges in low-temperature environments. Enhancing the metabolic activity of anammox bacteria (AnAOB) is pivotal for advancing its application in mainstream municipal wastewater treatment. Inspired by the metabolic adaptability of AnAOB and based on our previous findings, this work investigated the enhancement of intracellular ATP and NADH synthesis through the exogenous supply of reduced humic acid (HAred) and H2O2 redox couple, aiming to augment AnAOB activity under low-temperature conditions. Our experimental setup involved continuous dosing of 0.0067 µmol g-1 volatile suspended solid of H2O2 and 10 mg g-1 volatile suspended solid of HAred into a mainstream anammox reactor operated at 15 °C with an influent TN content of 60 mg/L. The results showed that HAred / H2O2 couple succeeded in maintaining the effluent TN at 10.72 ± 0.91 mg l-1. The specific anammox activity, ATP and NADH synthesis levels of sludge increased by 1.34, 2.33 and 6.50 folds, respectively, over the control setup devoid of the redox couple. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Candidatus Kuenenia after adding HAred / H2O2 couple reached 3.65 % at the end of operation, which was 5.14 folds higher than that of the control group. Further metabolomics analysis underscored an activation in the metabolism of amino acids, nucleotides, and phospholipids, which collectively enhanced the availability of ATP and NADH for the respiratory processes. These findings may provide guidance on strategy development for improving the electron transfer efficiency of AnAOB and underscore the potential of using redox couples to promote the mainstream application of anammox technology.

Incorporating the inflammation-related parameters enhances the performance of the nomogram for predicting local control in lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The study aims to investigate whether including the inflammation-related parameters would enhance the accuracy of a nomogram for local control (LC) prediction in lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). METHODS: 158 primary or metastatic lung cancer patients treated with SBRT were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical, dosimetric and inflammation-related parameters were collected for the Cox regression analysis. The ACPB model was constructed by employing the clinical and dosimetric factors. And the ACPBLN model was established by adding the inflammation-related factors to the ACPB model. The two models were compared in terms of ROC, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), C-index, time-dependent AUC, continuous net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that six prognostic factors were independently associated with LC, including age, clinical stage, planning target volume (PTV) volume, BED of the prescribed dose (BEDPD), the lymphocyte count and neutrocyte count. The ACPBLN model performed better in AIC, bootstrap-corrected C-index, time-dependent AUC, NRI and IDI than the ACPB model. The calibration plots showed good consistency between the probabilities and observed values in the two models. The DCA curves showed that the ACPBLN nomogram had higher overall net benefit than the ACPB model across a majority of threshold probabilities. CONCLUSION: The inflammation-related parameters were associated with LC for lung cancer patients treated with SBRT. The inclusion of the inflammation-related parameters improved the predictive performance of the nomogram for LC prediction.

[Isolation and functional characterization of (iso)eugenol O-methyltransferase (IEMT) gene in Asarum sieboldii].

Methyleugenol is one of the main active constituents in the volatile oil of the traditional Chinese medicine Asari Radix et Rhizoma. It possesses various pharmacological effects such as analgesic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In biosynthesis, the initial precursor phenylalanine is finally converted into methyleugenol through a series of intermediate compounds including coniferyl acid, courmaryl acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid/ferulic-CoA, coniferyl aldehyde, conferyl alcohol, cnfiferyl acetate, and eugenol/isoeugenol, which are produced through catalysis of a large number of enzymes. Eugenol O-methyltransferase(EOMT) is one of the key enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway, capable of methylating eugenol on the para-site hydroxyl group of the benzene ring, thereby generating methyleugenol. Here, an(iso)eugenol O-methyltransferase(IEMT) gene was cloned for the first time from Asarum siebo-ldii, holding an open reading frame that consisted of 1 113 bp and encoded a protein containing 370 amino acid residues. Bioinformatics analysis results showed that this protein was equipped with the characteristic structural domains of methyltransferases such as S-adenosylmethionine(SAM) binding sites and dimerization domains. The prokaryotic expression recombinant plasmid pET28a(+)-AsIEMT was constructed, and the candidate protein was induced and purified. In vitro enzyme assays confirmed that AsIEMT had dual functions. The enzyme could catalyze the production either of methyleugenol from eugenol or of methylisoeugenol from isoeugenol, although the latter was more prevalent. When isoeugenol was used as the substrate, the kinetics parameters K_m and V_(max) of catalytic reaction were(0.90±0.06) mmol·L~(-1) and(1.32±0.04)nmol·s~(-1)·mg~(-1), respectively. This study expanded our understandings of critical enzyme genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolic pathways, and would facilitate the elucidation of quality formation mechanisms of the TCM Asari Radix et Rhizoma.

Effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab and infliximab in biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted this multicenter, retrospective cohort study aiming to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vedolizumab (VDZ) and infliximab (IFX) in biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: Biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe UC who were treated with IFX or VDZ for at least 14 weeks at three tertiary hospitals in southwest China between January 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively included. Efficacy of the biologics was evaluated based on the steroid-free clinical remission rate, clinical remission rate, and mucosal healing rate at Weeks 14 and 52. Adverse events related to biologic use were recorded. RESULTS: Altogether 122 biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe UC were included. No marked differences in the steroid-free clinical remission rate and clinical remission rate were observed between the two groups at Week 14 or Week 52 (P > 0.05). The VDZ group exhibited a higher mucosal healing rate at Week 14 compared to the IFX group (33.3% vs 16.9%, P = 0.036), while that at Week 52 did not differ between the two groups (65.6% vs 47.1%, P = 0.098). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of adverse events between the two groups (P = 0.071). CONCLUSION: VDZ and IFX showed comparable clinical efficacy and safety profiles and can be used as viable first-line therapeutic options for biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe UC.

Mrgprb2-mediated mast cell activation exacerbates Modic changes by regulating immune niches.

Modic changes are radiographic features associated with microfracture, low-virulence organism infection and chronic inflammation with inflammatory cell infiltration in the vertebral endplate region. Mast cells, as innate immune cells similar to macrophages, are present in painful degenerated intervertebral discs. However, the involvement and mechanisms of mast cells in the development of Modic changes remain unclear. Herein, we found increased mast cell infiltration in samples from patients with Modic changes and in mouse models of Modic changes. To clarify the role of mast cells in the progression of Modic changes, we used mast cell-deficient (KITW-SH/W-SH) mice to construct a model of Modic changes and found that the severity of Modic changes in KITW-SH/W-SH mice was significantly lower than that in WT mice. These findings were further supported by the use of a mast cell-specific activator (compound 48/80) and a stabilizer (cromolyn). Furthermore, we found that mast cells were not activated via the classic IgE pathway in the Modic change models and that Mrgprb2 is the specific receptor for mast cell activation reported in recent studies. Then, we utilized Mrgprb2 knockout mice to demonstrate that Mrgprb2 knockout inhibited mast cell activation and thus reduced the degree of Modic changes. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed aberrant PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathway activation in the Mrgprb2-deficient mast cells. Additionally, Mrgpbrb2-activated mast cells regulate immune niches by recruiting macrophages, promoting M1 polarization and reducing M2 polarization, thereby promoting the progression of Modic changes. These findings suggest that mast cells may serve as a novel therapeutic target for addressing Modic changes.

Analysis of clinical characteristics of infections caused by Shewanella species.

PURPOSE: The Shewanella genus is a rare pathogen of marine origin. In recent years, there has been a continuous increase in infection cases caused by this bacterium, and we have observed the uniqueness of infections caused by this microorganism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical history and laboratory examination data of patients infected with the Shewanella genus over the past decade. Additionally, it employed bioinformatics methods to analyze the relevant virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes associated with the Shewanella genus. RESULTS: Over the past 10 years, we have isolated 51 cases of Shewanella, with 68.82% being Shewanella putrefaciens (35/51 cases) and 31.37% being Shewanella algae (16/51 cases). Infected individuals often had underlying diseases, with 39.22% (20/51) having malignant tumors and 25.49% (13/51) having liver and biliary system diseases primarily characterized by stones. The majority of patients, 62.74% (32/51), exhibited mixed infections, including one case with a combination of infections from three other types of bacteria and five cases with a combination of infections from two other types of bacteria. The identified microorganisms were commonly resistant to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (23.5%), followed by cefoperazone-sulbactam (19.6%), ciprofloxacin (17.6%), and cefotaxime (17.6%). Bioinformatics analysis indicates that Shewanella can express bile hydrolysis regulators and fatty acid metabolism regulators that aid in adapting to the unique environment of the biliary tract. Additionally, it expresses abundant catalase, superoxide dismutase, and two-component signal transduction system proteins, which may be related to environmental adaptation. Shewanella also expresses various antibiotic resistance genes, including beta-lactamases and aminoglycoside modification enzymes. Iron carriers may be one of its important virulence factors. CONCLUSIONS: We speculate that the Shewanella genus may exist as a specific colonizer in the human body, and under certain conditions, it may act as a pathogen, leading to biliary infections in the host.

Genus Shewanella: A Potential Intestinal Colonizer Associated With Post-Operative Surgical Site Infections in Coastal Regions.

Background: This study aims to elucidate the clinical characteristics of Shewanella-related surgical site infections (SSIs) and assess the risk of mortality in patients by establishing a predictive model. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical history and laboratory data of Shewanella-related SSI patients over the past decade was conducted via the electronic medical record (EMR) system. A predictive model for mortality risk in Shewanella-related SSI patients was established using plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels combined with the Howell-PIRO scoring system. Results: Over the past 10 years, 45 strains of Shewanella were isolated from specimens such as bile, drainage fluid, and whole blood in patients with digestive tract SSIs. Among them, 21 of 45 (46.67%) patients underwent malignant tumor resection of the digestive system, 14 of 45 (31.11%) underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) common bile duct exploration or the stone removal, and seven of 45 (15.56%) were trauma repair patients with fractures and abdominal injuries. Among the 45 Shewanella-related SSI patients, 10 died within 30 days of infection, six cases involved infections with more than two other types of bacteria. The combined use of IL-6 and Howell-PIRO scores for mortality risk assessment yielded an receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9350, a positive predictive value of 92.71%, a negative predictive value of 94.58%, a diagnostic sensitivity of 95.35%, and a diagnostic specificity of 92.14%-all higher than the model using IL-6 or Howell-PIRO scores alone. Conclusions: We found that residents in coastal areas faced an increased risk of Shewanella-related SSI. Moreover, the higher the number of concurrent microbial infections occurring alongside Shewanella-related SSI, the greater the mortality rate among patients. The combined application of plasma IL-6 levels and the Howell-PIRO scoring system is beneficial for assessing patient mortality risk and guiding timely and proactive clinical interventions.

Forensic Identification and Evaluation of 25 Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy Medical Damage Cases.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the high risk factors of obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP), and to explore how to evaluate the relationship between fault medical behavior and OBPP in the process of medical damage forensic identification. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 25 cases of medical damage liability disputes related to OBPP from 2017 to 2021 in Beijing Fayuan Judicial Science Evidence Appraisal Center. The shortcomings of hospitals in birth weight assessment, delivery mode selection, labor process observation and shoulder dystocia management, and the causal relationship between them and the damage consequences of the children were summarized. RESULTS: Fault medical behavior was assessed as the primary cause in 2 cases, equal cause in 10 cases, secondary cause in 8 cases, minor cause in 1 case, no causal relationship in 1 case, and unclear causal force in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: In the process of forensic identification of OBPP, whether medical behaviors fulfill diagnosis and treatment obligations should be objectively analyzed from the aspects of prenatal evaluation, delivery mode notification, standardized use of oxytocin, standard operation of shoulder dystocia, etc. Meanwhile, it is necessary to fully consider the objective risk of different risk factors and the difficulty of injury prevention, and comprehensively evaluate the causal force of fault medical behavior in the damage consequences.

Photocatalyzed Aerobic Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling of Diarylphosphine Oxides with Alcohols and Phenols.

A photocatalytic cross-dehydrogenative coupling of diarylphosphine oxides with alcohols and phenols has been developed. Using organic dye Rose Bengal as the photocatalyst and air as the oxidant, the reaction proceeded smoothly at room temperature. Both alcohols and phenols were feasible, affording various organophosphinates in high yields. The absence of a halogenating reagent, the absence of a transition-metal catalyst, a green oxidant, and mild conditions make this strategy environmentally benign and sustainable. Mechanistic studies indicated that the reaction is enabled by the cooperation of photoredox catalysis and photosensitization.

Photoredox Catalytic Phosphine-Mediated Deoxygenative Hydroacylation of Azobenzenes with Carboxylic Acids.

The convenient and precise preparation of N,N'-diarylhydrazides, especially from readily available raw materials, remains highly challenging. Here, a photoredox catalytic phosphine-mediated deoxygenative hydroacylation of azobenzenes with abundant and readily available carboxylic acids has been developed. With Ir[dF(CF3)ppy]2(dtbbpy)PF6 as the photocatalyst, the reactions proceeded smoothly in the presence of PPh3 under visible light irradiation, delivering various N,N'-diarylhydrazides in up to 92% yields. Mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction proceeds via photoredox catalysis and phosphoranyl-radical-mediated C-O bond cleavage of carboxylic acids.

Induction of cervical disc degeneration and discogenic pain by low concentration Propionibacterium acnes infection: an in vivo animal study.

BACKGROUND: Although cervical intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is closely associated with neck pain, its cause remains unclear. In this study, an animal model of cervical disc degeneration and discogenic neck pain induced by a low concentration of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes-L) is investigated to explore the possible mechanisms of cervical discogenic pain. METHODS: Cervical IVD degeneration and discitis was induced in 8-week-old male rats in C3-C6 IVDs through the anterior intervertebral puncture with intradiscal injections of low and high concentrations of P. acnes (P. acnes-L, n = 20 and P. acnes-H, n = 15) or Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, n = 15), compared to control (injection with PBS, n = 20). The structural changes in the cervical IVD using micro-CT, histological evaluation, and gene expression assays after MRI scans at 2 and 6 weeks post-modeling. The P. acnes-L induced IVD degeneration model was assessed for cervical spine MRI, histological degeneration, pain-like behaviors (guarding behavior and forepaw von Frey), nerve fiber growth in the IVD endplate region, and DRG TNF-α and CGRP. RESULTS: IVD injection with P. acnes-L induced IVD degeneration with decreased IVD height and MRI T2 values. IVD injection with P. acnes-H and S. aureus both lead to discitis-like changes on T2-weighted MRI, trabecular bone remodeling on micro-CT, and osseous fusion after damage in the cartilage endplate adjacent to the injected IVD. Eventually, rats in the P. acnes-L group exhibited significant nociceptive hypersensitivity, nerve fiber ingrowth was observed in the IVD endplate region, inflammatory activity in the DRG was significantly increased compared to the control group, and the expression of the pain neurotransmitter CGRP was significantly upregulated. CONCLUSION: P. acnes-L was validated to induce cervical IVD degeneration and discogenic pain phenotype, while P. acnes-H induced was identified to resemble septic discitis comparable to those caused by S. aureus infection.

Developing a clinical-radiomic prediction model for 3-year cancer-specific survival in lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The study aims to develop and validate a combined model for predicting 3-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) in lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) by integrating clinical and radiomic parameters. METHODS: Clinical data and pre-treatment CT images were collected from 102 patients treated with lung SBRT. Multivariate logistic regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used to determine the clinical and radiomic factors associated with 3-year CSS. Three prediction models were developed using clinical factors, radiomic factors, and a combination of both. The performance of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curve. A nomogram was also created to visualize the 3-year CSS prediction. RESULTS: With a 36-month follow-up, 40 patients (39.2%) died of lung cancer and 62 patients (60.8%) survived. Three clinical factors, including gender, clinical stage, and lymphocyte ratio, along with three radiomic features, were found to be independent factors correlated with 3-year CSS. The area under the curve values for the clinical, radiomic, and combined model were 0.839 (95% CI 0.735-0.914), 0.886 (95% CI 0.790-0.948), and 0.914 (95% CI 0.825-0.966) in the training cohort, and 0.757 (95% CI 0.580-0.887), 0.818 (95% CI 0.648-0.929), and 0.843 (95% CI 0.677-0.944) in the validation cohort, respectively. Additionally, the calibration curve demonstrated good calibration performance and the nomogram created from the combined model showed potential for clinical utility. CONCLUSION: A clinical-radiomic model was developed to predict the 3-year CSS for lung cancer patients treated with SBRT.

Effects of initial corncob particle size on the short-term composting for preparation of cultivation substrates for Pleurotus ostreatus.

The short-term composting based on corncob for preparing Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation medium originated from agricultural production practices and so lacked systematic investigation. In this study, the influences of a Dafen (15 mm, DFT) and Xiaofen (5 mm, XFT) initial particle size (IPS) of corncob on the microbial succession and compost quality were examined. Results demonstrated that XFT compost was better suited for mushroom cultivation due to its high biological efficiency of 70 % and the absence of contamination. The composting microbes differed significantly between the DFT and XFT composts. During composting, the genera of Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Streptomyces, and Paenibacillus were majorly found in the DFT compost, while Acinetobacter, Lactobacillus, Puccinia, Bacteroides, and Bacillus genera dominated the XFT compost. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that throughout the thermophilic phase, XFT compost had much greater relative abundances of sequences relevant to energy, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism than DFT compost. Analysis of network correlations and Mantel tests indicated that IPS reduction could increase microbial interactions. Overall, adjusting the IPS of corncob to 5 mm increased microbial interactions, improved compost quality, and thereby boosted the P. ostreatus yield. These findings will be pertinent in optimizing the composting process of cultivation medium for P. ostreatus.

Binding dynamics of cavity solitons in a Kerr resonator with high order dispersion.

Cavity solitons are persistent light pulses arising from the externally driven Kerr resonators. Thanks to the passive parametric gain, cavity soliton has been endowed with the natural advantage of the chip-scaled integration since it was first experimentally generated in the fiber-based platform. Deterministic single soliton with smooth spectrum is a preferred state for numerous applications. However, multiple solitons are more common in the resonators with anomalous dispersion. In this condition, adjacent solitons are easily perturbed to attract and collide with each other. Some experimental observations deviated from the aforementioned description have recorded the stable soliton intervals that can last for a long time scale. This phenomenon is known as soliton binding and is attributed to the presence of narrow resonant sidebands in the spectrum. While the stationary configuration of two binding solitons has been investigated, the dynamical evolution remains an area for further exploration. In this paper, we discuss the binding dynamics of the cavity solitons in the presence of high-order dispersion. The proposed theoretical predictions match well with the numerical results, encompassing both the stationary stable intervals and dynamic trajectories. Our research will provide a comprehensive insight into the soliton motion induced by the internal perturbations.

Influence of stone load on the outcome of same-session flexible ureteroscopy for bilateral upper urinary tract stones: a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of same-session flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) for the treatment of bilateral upper urinary tract stones and to examine the influence of stone load on the outcome of same-session fURS, stratifying by total diameter of stones (TDS) ≤30 mm vs. >30 mm. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of same-session fURS performed for bilateral upper urinary tract stones at four institutions between January 2017 and September 2020. All patients were divided into two groups based on TDS, ≤30 mm and >30 mm. Data on patient demographics, stone characteristics, surgical results, and complications were collected and analyzed for differences between the two groups. Stone-free rate (SFR) was defined as patients endoscopically stone-free or with radiological fragments <2 mm of each renal unit. Results: A total of 121 patients with bilateral upper urinary tract stones underwent same-session fURS, consisting of 73 patients in the TDS ≤ 30 mm group and 48 patients in the TDS > 30 mm group. The mean bilateral stone size was 28.2 ± 12.2 mm (range: 9.1-38.4 mm), with a mean operating time of 97.1 ± 39.6 min (range: 19-220 min). The SFR was 54.5% after the first fURS, and SFR increased to 97.5% after re-fURS for residual stones. The operation time for the TDS > 30 mm group was longer than that of the TDS ≤ 30 mm group (85.1 ± 36.5 vs. 115.4 ± 37.4 min, p < 0.001). The SFR after the first fURS was significantly lower in the TDS > 30 mm group than in the TDS ≤ 30 mm group (25.0% vs. 73.9%, p < 0.001). Although there was no statistically significant difference in overall SFR between the two groups (93.7% vs. 100%, p = 0.060), the rate of re-fURS for residual stones was higher in the TDS > 30 mm group than in the TDS ≤ 30 mm group (75% vs. 26%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in length of hospital stay (LOS) (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 1.0, p = 0.329) or complication rate (10.9% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.582) between the two groups. Conclusion: The results suggested that same-session fURS can be effectively performed with a low complication rate. A higher SFR after the first fURS can be achieved in the case of bilateral upper urinary tract stones with TDS ≤ 30 mm, and priority should be given to same-session fURS.

[Identification of Complex and Combined Antibody Consisted of Anti-c, Anti-E, Anti-Jka and Anti-Fya].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of multiple serological methods in the identification of complex antibodies. METHODS: The blood group antigens were detected by saline and microcolumn agglutination methods. The saline method was used to screen and identify IgM-type antibodies in the patient's serum, while the polybrene, anti-globulin, microcolumn agglutination, enzymic and absorption-elution methods were used to screen and identify IgG-type antibodies. RESULTS: The patient was B/CCDee/Jk(a-b+)/Fy(a-b+) blood type. The serum reacted with panel cells, and the reaction presented anti-E pattern in the saline medium. It was fully positive in the microcolumn agglutination card, except 2 negative ones after using papain to treat the panel cells. Referring to the pattern table, it was concluded that there existed anti-c, anti-E, and anti-Jka antibodies, and one antibody corresponding to an antigen that was easily destroyed by papain. The red blood cells with specific phenotype were selected for absorption-elution to identify IgG-type anti-c, anti-E, anti-Jka and anti-Fya antibodies. CONCLUSION: It is confirmed that IgM-type anti-E, and IgG-type anti-c, anti-E, anti-Jka and anti-Fya antibodies exist in the patient's serum by multiple serological methods.

Spatial Transcriptomics of Aging Rat Ovaries Reveals Unexplored Cell Subpopulations with Reduced Antioxidative Defense.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian aging is characterized by a gradual decline in quantity and quality of oocytes and lower chance of fertility. Better understanding the genetic modulation during ovarian aging can further address available treatment options for aging-related ovarian diseases and fertility preservation. METHODS: A novel technique spatial transcriptomics (ST) was used to investigate the spatial transcriptome features of rat ovaries. Transcriptomes from ST spots in the young and aged ovaries were clustered using differentially expressed genes. These data were analyzed to determine the spatial organization of age-induced heterogeneity and potential mechanisms underlying ovarian aging. RESULTS: In this study, ST technology was applied to profile the comprehensive spatial imaging in young and aged rat ovary. Fifteen ovarian cell clusters with distinct gene-expression signatures were identified. The gene expression dynamics of granulosa cell clusters revealed three sub-types with sequential developmental stages. Aged ovary showed a significant decrease in the number of granulosa cells from the antral follicle. Besides, a remarkable rearrangement of interstitial gland cells was detected in aging ovary. Further analysis of aging-associated transcriptional changes revealed that the disturbance of oxidative pathway was a crucial factor in ovarian aging. CONCLUSIONS: This study firstly described an aging-related spatial transcriptome changes in ovary and identified the potential targets for prevention of ovarian aging. These data may provide the basis for further investigations of the diagnosis and treatment of aging-related ovarian disorders.

The correlation of two bone turnover markers with bone mineral density: a population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Exploring the correlation between bone turnover marks (BTMs) with lumbar BMD in middle-aged populations. METHODS: The cross-sectional analysis fetched data came from NHANES. The level of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (sBAP) and urinary N-telopeptide (uNTx) were regarded as representative of bone turnover. Lumbar BMD was the outcome of the study. Multivariable linear regression models were utilized to detect the correlation of sBAP and uNTx with Lumbar BMD. RESULTS: The level of sBAP and uNTx was negatively correlated with lumbar BMD in every multivariable linear regression. For sBAP, this inverse correlation was stable in both men and women (P < 0.01). uNTx indicated a negative association after all relevant covariables were adjusted (P < 0.01). The men group remained the negative correlation in gender subgroup analysis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the increased level of sBAP and uNTx associated with lumbar BMD decreased among middle-aged adults. This correlation could prompt researchers to explore further the relationship between bone turnover rate and BMD, which may provide information for the early detection of BMD loss and provide a new strategy for clinical practice.

Developing a Prediction Model for Radiation Pneumonitis in Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Combined With Clinical, Dosimetric Factors, and Laboratory Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to identify the risk factors and develop a model for predicting grade ≥2 radiation pneumonitis (RP) for lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data, dosimetric data, and laboratory biomarkers from 186 patients treated with lung SBRT were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the predictive factors for grade ≥2 RP. Three models were developed by using the clinical, dosimetric, and combined factors, respectively. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 36 months, grade ≥2 RP was recorded in 13.4% of patients. On univariate logistic regression analysis, clinical factors of age and lung volume, dosimetric factors of treatment durations, fractional dose and V10, and laboratory biomarkers of neutrophil, PLT, PLR, and Hb levels were significantly associated with grade ≥2 RP. However, on multivariate analysis, only age, lung volume, fractional dose, V10, and Hb levels were independent factors. AUC values for the clinical, dosimetric, and combined models were 0.730 (95% CI, 0.660-0.793), 0.711 (95% CI, 0.641-0.775) and 0.830 (95% CI, 0.768-0.881), respectively. The combined model provided superior discriminative ability than the clinical and dosimetric models (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Age, lung volume, fractional dose, V10, and Hb levels were demonstrated to be significant factors associated with grade ≥2 RP for lung cancer patients after SBRT. A novel model combining clinical, dosimetric factors, and laboratory biomarkers improved predictive performance compared with the clinical and dosimetric model alone.