Domain adaptation based on rough adjoint inconsistency and optimal transport for identifying autistic patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Computer aided diagnosis technology has been widely used to diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from neural images. The performance of the model usually depends largely on a sufficient number of training samples that reflect the real sample distribution. Due to the lack of labelled neural images data, multisite data are often pooled together to expand the sample size. However, the heterogeneity among sites will inevitably lead to a decline in the generalization of models. To solve this problem, we propose a multisource unsupervised domain adaptation method using rough adjoint inconsistency and optimal transport. METHODS: First, we define the concept of rough adjoint inconsistency and propose a double quantization method based on rough adjoint inconsistency and Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidence theory to estimate the weight coefficient of each source domain to accurately describe the importance of each source domain to the target domain. Second, using optimal transport theory, we weaken the data distribution differences between domains and solve the problem of class imbalance by adjusting the sampling weights among classes. RESULTS: The ASD recognition accuracy of the proposed method is improved on all eight tasks, which are 70.67%, 64.86%, 62.50%, 70.80%, 73.08%, 71.19%, 75.41% and 75.76%, respectively. Our proposed model achieves superior performance compared to traditional machine learning methods and other recently proposed deep learning model. CONCLUSIONS: Our method demonstrates that the fusion of rough adjoint inconsistency and optimal transport can be a powerful tool for identifying ASD and quantifying the correlations between domains.

Prognostic Value of Pre-Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation PET/CT in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Deauville Score Is Prognostically Superior to ΔSUVmax.

OBJECTIVE: The predictive value of pre-autologous stem cell transplantation (pre-ASCT) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans according to different criteria remains elusive in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: A total of 46 DLBCL patients treated with pre-ASCT were enrolled in the present study, and two methods, Deauville score and maximal standardized uptake value reduction (ΔSUVmax), were used to evaluate the PET/CT scans before transplantation. RESULTS: In patients with Deauville 1-3 and ≥4, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 82.8 and 11.8% (p < 0.001), respectively, while the 2-year overall survival (OS) rates were 89.7 and 41.2%, respectively (p < 0.001). When using the ΔSUVmax cut-off of 66% criterion, in patients with a ΔSUVmax of >66 and ≤66%, the 2-year PFS rates were 78.1 and 7.1%, respectively (p < 0.001), while the 2-year OS rates were 87.5 and 35.7%, respectively (p < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, the ΔSUVmax, Deauville score, NCCN-IPI and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly correlated with the 2-year PFS/OS. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis revealed that the Deauville score was an independent prognostic factor for 2-year PFS. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that PET/CT scans at pre-ASCT can predict the survival of DLBCL patients, and the Deauville score is better than ΔSUVmax in prognostic prediction.

Discovery of Antibacterial Dietary Spices That Target Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

Although spice extracts are well known to exhibit antibacterial properties, there is lack of a comprehensive evaluation of the antibacterial effect of spices against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, ethanolic extracts from a total of 67 spices were comprehensively investigated for their in vitro antibacterial activities by agar well diffusion against two common food-borne bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis, with multi-drug resistance. Results showed that S. aureus was generally more sensitive to spice extracts than S. enteritidis. Of the 67 spice extracts, 38 exhibited antibacterial activity against drug-resistant S. aureus, while only four samples were effective on drug-resistant S. enteritidis. In addition, 11 spice extracts with inhibition zones greater than 15 mm were further verified for their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties using another 10 drug-resistant S. aureus strains. It was found that five spice extracts, including galangal, fructus galangae, cinnamon, yellow mustard seed, and rosemary, exhibited the highest antibacterial capacity. Further cytotoxicity of these 11 spices was determined and LC50 values were found to be more than 100 µg/mL except for galangal, rosemary, and sage, whose LC50 values were 9.32 ± 0.83, 19.77 ± 2.17, and 50.54 ± 2.57, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values) and total phenolic content (TPC) of spice extracts were determined to establish possible correlations with the antibacterial activity. Although the antibacterial effect was positively correlated with the antioxidant activities and TPC, the correlation was weak (r < 0.5), indicating that the antibacterial activity could also be attributed to other components besides antioxidant polyphenols in the tested spice extracts. In conclusion, dietary spices are good natural sources of antibacterial agents to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with potential applications as natural food preservatives and natural alternatives to antibiotics in animal feeding.

XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms and sensitivity to platinum-based drugs in non-small cell lung cancer: an update meta-analysis based on 4708 subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between genetic polymorphisms in x-ray repair cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1) and sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy drugs in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Reports published before June 2014 were retrieved from the following databases: China Biology Medicine (CBM), China Academic Journal Full-Text Database (CNKI), China Science and Technology Journal Full-Text Database (VIP), Wanfang Data, PubMed and Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE). After extracting the data and evaluating the quality, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.2 software. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies with 4807 patients were included. Two polymorphisms (Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp) were analyzed. Meta-analysis showed that the efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with the TT genotype [TT vs. CC, OR=1.66, 95% OR=1.66, 95 CI (1.30-2.14)] and the CT genotype [CT vs. CC, OR=1.62, 95% CI (1.35-1.93)] at codon 194 of the XRCC1 gene was significantly higher than that for patients with the CC genotype. The efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with mutant (CT+TT) genotypes was significantly higher than for patients with the wild-type (CC) genotype [TT+CT vs. CC, OR=1.63; 95% CI (1.38-1.92)]. The sensitivity to chemotherapy in patients with the AG genotype at codon 399 of the XRCC1 gene was lower than in patients with the GG genotype [AG vs. GG, OR=0.72, 95% CI (0.55-0.92)] in Chinese population. However, we did not found this association in Caucasus population. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms in the XRCC1 gene are correlated with sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Lack of association between XRCC3 rs861539 (C > T) polymorphism and lung cancer risks: an update meta-analysis.

X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 3 (XRCC3) belongs to DNA double-strand break repair pathway and XRCC3 rs861539 (C > T) polymorphism has been suspected with lung cancer risk. However, results from previous studies are inconclusive and affected by bias. Electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and SinoMed were searched. References of relative reviews were also screened. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the association strength. A number of 18 eligible studies with 6 studies of Asians, 11 of Caucasians, and 1 of African were extracted and analyzed, including 4,896 lung cancer cases and 6,360 controls. No significant correlation between XRCC3 polymorphism and lung cancer risk was observed in homozygote comparison (CC vs. TT; OR=0.877; 95 % CI, 0.659, 1.168), heterozygote comparison (CT vs. TT; OR=0.857; 95 % CI, 0.675, 1.089), dominant model (CC/CT vs. TT; OR=0.862; 95 % CI, 0.663, 1.123), or recessive model (CC vs. CT/TT; OR=1.047; 95 % CI, 0.956, 1.145). Subgroup analyses of ethnicity and controls did not reveal any significant association with lung cancer risk. No publication bias was detected. In this update meta-analysis of 18 studies and 11,256 participants, we find that XRCC3 rs861539 polymorphism does not contribute to lung cancer risk and there is no difference between Asians and Caucasians.

[A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety study to evaluate the clinical effects and quality of life of paclitaxel-carboplatin (PC) alone or combined with endostar for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and quality of life and safety for paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) and TC combined with endostar in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. A total of 126 cases of untreated advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study. There were 63 patients in the TC control arm and TC combined endostar arm, respectively. All enrolled patients were continuously followed-up for disease progression and death. RESULTS: The objective response rate (ORR) of TC combined with endostar arm was 39.3%, and that of TC control arm was 23.0%, P = 0.078. The progression-free survival rates for TC combined with endostar arm and TC control arm were 78.3% and 58.8%, respectively, in 24 weeks (P = 0.017). The hazard ratio for the risk of disease progression was 0.35 (95%CI 0.13 to 0.90, P = 0.030). The median time to progression (TTP) of the TC combined with endostar arm was 7.1 months and TC arm 6.3 months (P > 0.05). The follow-up results showed that the median survival time (mOS) of the TC + Endostar arm was 17.6 months; (95%CI 13.4 to 21.7 months), and the TC + placebo arm 15.8 months (95%CI 9.4 to 22.9 months) (P > 0.05). The quality of life scores (LCSS patient scale) after treatment of the TC combined with endostar arm was improved, and that of the TC group was improved after completion of two cycles and three cycles of treatment. The quality of life scores compared with baseline after the completion of one cycle treatment was significantly improved for both the TC combined with endostar arm (P = 0.028 and), and TC arm (P = 0.036). It Indicated that TC combined with endostar treatment improved the patient's quality of life in the early treatment. The difference of adverse and serious adverse event rates between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with TC alone treatmrnt, TC combined with endostar treatment can reduce the risk of disease progression at early time (24 weeks), increase the ORR, and can be used as first-line treatment for advanced NSCLC. The TC combined with endostar treatment has good safety and tolerability, improves the quality of life, and not increases serious adverse effects and toxicity for patients with advanced NSCLC.

A clinicopathological study of resected non-small cell lung cancers 2 cm or less in diameter: a prognostic assessment.

The detection and diagnosis of small-sized (2 cm or less) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has increased with the development of computed tomography (CT). Over 80% of 5-year survival rate has been reported in surgically treated peripheral lung cancer. There are systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement pleural invasion and intrapulmonary metastasis even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. The appropriate surgical procedure for such kinds of lung cancer is lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. To evaluate the prognostic factors and establish the optimal surgical strategy, we analyzed the clinicopathologic features and survival benefit in different tumor size of peripheral small-sized NSCLC. Among the resected lung cancer cases between January 1999 and July 2001, 185 patients were retrospectively analyzed in surgical methods, lymph node involvement, CT scan findings and survival rates. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Lymph node involvement was recognized in 26(14.05%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of lymph node involvement between tumors 1.6-2.0 cm (17.82%) in diameter than in those 1.0-1.5 cm (11.94%). There was no lymph node metastasis in tumors less than 1.0 cm in diameter. The 5-year survival rates with or without lymph node involvement were 89.98 and 46.15%, respectively, showing significant difference (P=0.000). The overall 5-year survival rate was 83.78%. The 5-year survival rate in tumors 1.6-2.0 cm, 1.0-1.5 cm and less than 1.0 cm in diameter was 80.20, 85.07 and 100%, respectively, and showing significant difference (P=0.035). The 5-year survival rate of 19 patients showing ground-glass opacity (GGO) on CT scan was 94.74% without any metastasis and recurrence after operation. There are systematic mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. The results of the present study suggested that systematic lymph node dissection is necessary even for cases with tumor diameter less than 2 cm. However, if the tumor is within 1.0 cm in diameter with obvious GGO showing on chest CT scan, these are good candidates for partial resection without mediastinal lymph node dissection.

The expression of stem cell-related indicators as a prognostic factor in human lung adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to detect the presence of BASC-like stem cell-related indicators, such as clara cell secretory protein (CCSP), Octamer-4 (OCT4) and Bmi-1, and evaluate their implications in the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Specimens of 134 cases of lung adenocarcinoma were collected after radical surgery from January 1999 to June 2004. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six cases showed cells that were positive for CCSP, 99 cases positive for OCT4, 91 cases simultaneous expression of CCSP and OCT4 and 74 cases positive for Bmi-1. Bmi-1 was significantly higher in patients at stage III compared to patients at stages I and II. The pattern of survival curves showed that Bmi-1 was a significant prognostic factor of poor overall survival in lung adenocarcinoma patients (P = 0.0000), and the patients with OCT4(+) expression showed a greater increase in mortality than OCT4(-) patients (P = 0.0103). The results of univariate and multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the pathological stages of tumor node metastases (P = 0.037), OCT4 (P = 0.046) and Bmi-1 expression (P = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: OCT4 and Bmi-1 may be good biomarkers to predict the prognosis of patients with completely resected lung adenocarcinoma.

[Clinical observation of gefitinib for the treatment of 125 cases with advanced non-small cell lung cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gefitinib for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: 125 patients with advanced NSCLC who had failed or not tolerated or refused chemotherapy received 250 mg oral doses of gefitinib once daily until the disease progression or intolerable toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 125 NSCLC patients were studied, the overall response rate (RR) and the disease control rate (DCR) after administration of gefitinib were 35.2% (44/125) and 77.6% (97/125), respectively. The median progression-free survival and the median survival time were 5.8 and 11.2 months, respectively. The one-year survival rate was 40.5%. The response rate was significantly higher in females, adenocarcinoma and nonsmokers than that in males, non-adenocarcinoma and smokers (P < 0.05). The response rate did not show significant differences regarding ECOG score or previous treatment. The median progression-free survival was significantly longer in ECOG PS 0-1 and gefitinib effective patients than that in ECOG PS >or= 2 and gefitinib ineffective patients (P < 0.01). The median survival time was significantly longer in adenocarcinoma, nonsmokers and gefitinib effective patients than that in non-adenocarcinoma, smokers and gefitinib ineffective patients (P < 0.05). The most common side effects were rash (51.2%) and diarrhea (34.4%), but usually were mild. CONCLUSION: Gefitinib is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients.