Cosine similarity knowledge distillation for surface anomaly detection.

The current state-of-the-art anomaly detection methods based on knowledge distillation (KD) typically depend on smaller student networks or reverse distillation to address vanishing representations discrepancy on anomalies. These methods often struggle to achieve precise detection when dealing with complex texture backgrounds containing anomalies due to the similarity between anomalous and non-anomalous regions. Therefore, we propose a new paradigm-Cosine Similarity Knowledge Distillation (CSKD), for surface anomaly detection and localization. We focus on the superior performance of the same deeper teacher and student encoders by the distillation loss in traditional knowledge distillation-based methods. Essentially, we introduce the Attention One-Class Embedding (AOCE) in the student network to enhance learning capabilities and reduce the effect of the teacher-student (T-S) model on response similarity in anomalous regions. Furthermore, we find the optimal models by different classes' hard-coded epochs, and an adaptive optimal model selection method is designed. Extensive experiments on the MVTec dataset with 99.2% image-level AUROC and 98.2%/94.7% pixel-level AUROC/PRO demonstrate that our method outperforms existing unsupervised anomaly detection algorithms. Additional experiments on DAGM dataset, and one-class anomaly detection benchmarks further show the superiority of the proposed method.

LncRNA LINC01197 inhibited the formation of calcium oxalate-induced kidney stones by regulating miR-516b-5p/SIRT3/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a key role in the regulation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals-induced kidney stone formation and deposition. The purpose of this study is to study the effect of lncRNA LINC01197 on CaOx-induced kidney stone formation and the underlying mechanism. Crystal cell adhesion in HK-2 cells was evaluated by analyzing Ca2+ concentration. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression. Patients with kidneys stones showed down-regulated LINC01197 and SIRT3 expression, and up-regulated miR-516b-5p expression. LINC01197 knockdown promoted CaOx-induced cell adherence and cell apoptosis, increased Bax, decreased Bcl-2 expression. Luciferase reporter assay showed that SIRT3 expression was promoted by LINC01197 competing binds to miR-516b-5p. In addition, LINC01197 expression was promoted by SIRT3/FOXO1 overexpression, and could be reversed by FOXO1 knockdown. In conclusion, the present study revealed that lncRNA LINC01197 inhibited CaOx-induced kidney stones formation by regulating the miR-516b-5p/SIRT3/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Image Feature Information Extraction for Interest Point Detection: A Comprehensive Review.

Interest point detection is one of the most fundamental and critical problems in computer vision and image processing. In this paper, we carry out a comprehensive review on image feature information (IFI) extraction techniques for interest point detection. To systematically introduce how the existing interest point detection methods extract IFI from an input image, we propose a taxonomy of the IFI extraction techniques for interest point detection. According to this taxonomy, we discuss different types of IFI extraction techniques for interest point detection. Furthermore, we identify the main unresolved issues related to the existing IFI extraction techniques for interest point detection and any interest point detection methods that have not been discussed before. The existing popular datasets and evaluation standards are provided and the performances for fifteen state-of-the-art approaches are evaluated and discussed. Moreover, future research directions on IFI extraction techniques for interest point detection are elaborated.

[Real-time transrectal ultrasound-guided seminal vesiculoscopy for the treatment of azoospermia secondary to ejaculatory duct obstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of real-time transrectal ultrasound-guided seminal vesiculoscopy (TRUS-SVS) in the treatment of azoospermia secondary to ejaculatory duct obstruction. METHODS: This retrospective study included 40 cases of azoospermia secondary to bilateral ejaculatory ducts obstruction treated by TRUS-SVS from June 2016 to June 2018 after failure to enter the vesiculoscope through the ejaculatory duct or prostatic utricle. We analyzed the success rate of surgery, operation time, postoperative complications, treatment results, and application value of TRUS-SVS. RESULTS: Real-time TRUS-SVS was successfully performed in 36 (90.0%) of the cases, 33 through bilateral and the other 3 through unilateral seminal vesicle, with a mean operation time of (32.8 ± 16.6) min. Thirty-seven of the cases were followed up for 6－15 (mean 9.3) months, of which sperm were found in 31 at 1－3 months and in 25 at 3－12 months, and pregnancies achieved in 9 cases within 12 months after surgery. No serious complications as retrograde ejaculation, urinary incontinence and rectal injury were observed postoperatively, except 2 cases of epididymitis and 2 cases of hematuria, which were all cured. CONCLUSIONS: For the patients who failed in seminal vesiculoscopy through the ejaculatory duct or prostatic utricle, real-time TRUS-SVS is a recommended procedure with the advantages of a high success rate, less damage to the prostate and rectum, and benefit to the improvement of semen quality.

Wogonoside Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis via Regulating Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

BACKGROUND: Wogonoside, an effective component of Scutellaria baicalensis extract, has recently become a hot topic for its newly discovered anticancer efficacy, but the underlying pharmacological mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effects of wogonoside in human prostate cancer PC3 cells in vitro and vivo. METHODS: The effects of wogonoside on cell viability, cycle progression, invasion, migration, and apoptosis were assessed in vitro. The levels of proteins in related signaling pathways were detected by western blotting assay. Finally, nude mouse tumorigenicity assay was conducted to detect the anticancer effect of wogonoside in vivo. RESULTS: Wogonoside inhibited cell viability, invasive and migratory ability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry indicated that wogonoside could induce cell apoptosis and S phase cell-cycle arrest. Mechanically, wogonoside suppressed the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and the level of p-glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß; Ser9) was inhibited by wogonoside. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process was also reversed in PC3 cell line after wogonoside treatment. In vivo experiments showed that wogonoside inhibited tumor growth in xenograft mouse models. CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that wogonoside could suppress Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and reversing the EMT process in PC3 cells. GSK-3ß acts as a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer. Wogonoside may serve as an effective agent for treating prostate cancer.

Sirtuin 3 suppresses the formation of renal calcium oxalate crystals through promoting M2 polarization of macrophages.

This study aims to verify whether the inhibitory effect of Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) on the formation of renal calcium oxalate crystals was mediated through promoting macrophages (Mϕs) polarization. Identification and quantification of M1 and M2 monocytes were performed using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. SIRT3 protein level and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) acetylation level were measured using western blot analysis. Cell apoptosis of HK-2 was detected by flow cytometry. Mouse kidney tissues were subjected to Von Kossa staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunohistochemical staining for detection of kidney crystals deposition, apoptosis, and expression of crystal-related molecules, respectively. The results showed that human peripheral blood monocytes from patients with kidney stone (KS) exhibited decreased M2 monocytes percentage and SIRT3 expression, whereas increased FOXO1 acetylation compared with the normal controls. In vitro assay revealed that SIRT3 overexpression in bone marrow-derived M0/M1/M2 Mϕs induced M2 polarization and decreased FOXO1 acetylation. Furthermore, FOXO1 knockdown reversed SIRT3-mediated induction of M2 polarization and inhibition of HK-2 (human proximal tubular cell line) apoptosis. Further in vivo experiments demonstrated that SIRT3-overexpressing Mϕs transfusion not only induced M2 polarization, but also alleviated inflammation, apoptosis, and crystals deposition in glyoxylate-induced KS mice. In conclusion, SIRT3 suppresses formation of renal calcium oxalate crystals through promoting M2 polarization via deacetylating FOXO1.

SIRT3 inhibited the formation of calcium oxalate-induced kidney stones through regulating NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Oxidative stress is important for the calcium oxalate (CaOx)-induced kidney stone formation. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) plays an essential role in the amelioration of oxidative damages. This study aims to explore the effect of SIRT3 on the formation of CaOx-induced kidney stones and the underlying mechanism. SIRT3 expression in renal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis in renal tissues was examined by TUNEL staining. Crystal-cell adherence and cell apoptosis in HK-2 cells were assessed by analyzing Ca2+ concentration and by the flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Protein expression of SIRT3, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and Bax in renal tissues or HK-2 cells was examined by Western blot analysis. Renal pathological changes and the adhesion of CaOx crystals in the kidneys were examined by hematoxylin-eosin and von Kossa staining, respectively. Human kidneys with stones showed enhanced renal apoptosis, downregulated SIRT3 expression, and upregulated NRF2/HO-1 expression, compared with the controls. Furthermore, SIRT3 overexpression inhibited the CaOx-induced promotion of crystal-cell adherence and cell apoptosis in human proximal tubular cell line HK-2 cells, which was reversed by the NRF2 knockdown. Moreover, our in vivo assay further confirmed that SIRT3 overexpression alleviated the glyoxylate administration-induced renal damage, renal apoptosis, and crystals deposition in the kidneys from the stone model mice, which was also associated with its activation of the NRF2/HO-1 pathway. Our findings support the notion that overexpression of SIRT3 may inhibit the formation of CaOx-induced kidney stones, at least in part, through regulating the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway.