TMT-based proteomics reveals methylprotodioscin alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation via COX6C in myocardial infraction.

The effect of methylprotodioscin (MPD), a steroidal saponin obtained from medicinal plants, on myocardial infarction (MI) remains elusive. In this study, HL-1 and AC16 cells were subjected to injury induced by hypoxic environment, and a mouse model of MI was established by ligating the left anterior descending. MPD significantly increased viabilities and proliferations, improved the stability of MMP, reduced ROS and inflammatory factor levels in hypoxia cardiomyocytes. Moreover, MPD significantly improved cardiac functions, increased the ventricular ejection fraction and short axis shortening rate of mice with MI, reduced the infarction area, alleviated oxidative stress and increased ATPase activities. Then, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were discovered and evaluated using tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. Compared with sham group, there were 420 DEPs in the cardiac tissue of MI group, likewise, 163 DEPs in MPD group were identified compared to MI group. By validating, the expression of COX6C was elevated in MI group and declined in MPD groups, consistent with the TMT-based proteomics results. Correspondingly, p-NF-κB expression was downregulated, while Nrf2 and SOD expressions were upregulated by MPD. Moreover, si-COX6C transfection blocked the regulatory effects of MPD on COX6C-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress in MI. Our findings indicate that MPD, a naturally occurring active ingredient, could effectively improve cardiac function. Its ability may result from regulating COX6C to reduce oxidative stress and suppress inflammation, suggesting that MPD is very attractive for the treatment of MI.

High infiltration of immune cells with lower immune activity mediated the heterogeneity of gastric adenocarcinoma and promoted metastasis.

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is a heterogeneous malignancy with high invasion and metastasis. We aimed to explore the metastatic characteristics of GA using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Methods: The scRNA-seq dataset was downloaded from the GEO database and the "Seurat" package was used to perform the scRNA-seq analysis. The CellMarker2.0 database provided gene markers. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the FindMarkers function and subjected to enrichment analysis with the "ClusterProlifer". "GseaVis" package was used for visualizing the gene levels. Finally, the SCENIC analysis was performed for identifying key regulons. The expression level and functionality of the key genes were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), wound healing and transwell assays. Results: A total of 7697 cells were divided into 8 cell subsets, in which the Cytotoxic NK/T cells, Myeloid cells and Myofibroblasts had higher proportion in the metastatic tissues. Further screening of DEGs and enrichment analysis revealed that in the metastatic tissues, NK cells, monocytes and inflammatory fibroblasts with low immune levels contributed to GA metastasis. In addition, this study identified a series of key immune-related regulons that mediated the lower immune activity of immune cells. Further in vitro experiment verified that CXCL8 was a key factor mediating the proliferation and migration of GA cells. Conclusion: The scRNA-seq analysis showed that high infiltration of immune cells with lower immune activity mediated heterogeneity to contribute to GA metastasis.

An in situ ratiometric fluorescence immunosensor via Mn2+-triggered aggregation-induced emission transformation of levodopa fluorescent copolymer nanoparticles.

Herein, a direct in situ alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-labeled luminescent nanoimmunoassay platform was constructed using Mn2+-triggered aggregation-induced emission transformation of levodopa fluorescent copolymer (LFC) nanoparticles. Using cardiac troponin I (cTn I) as the model antigen, the proposed nanoimmunosensor has been applied to detect cTn I in clinical samples with satisfactory results.

Utility of covered stents as a bypass for the treatment of central venous occlusion: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Central venous occlusion (CVO) is difficult to treat with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty because the guidewire cannot pass through the occluded segments. In this study, we devised a new method for establishing an extra-anatomic bypass between the right subclavian vein and the superior vena cava via a covered stent to treat whole-segment occlusion of the right brachiocephalic vein (BCV) with calcification. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 58-year-old female patient who complained of right arm swelling present for 1.5 years. Twelve years prior, the patient began hemodialysis because chronic glomerulonephritis had progressed to end-stage renal disease. During the first 3 years, a right internal jugular vein (IJV)-tunneled cuffed catheter was used as the dialysis access, and the catheter was replaced once. A left arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was subsequently established. Owing to occlusion of the left AVF, a new fistula was established on the right upper extremity 1.5 years prior to this visit. Angiography of the right upper extremity revealed complete occlusion of the right BCV and IJV with calcification. Because of the failure to pass the guidewire across the lesion, we established an extra-anatomic bypass between the right subclavian vein and the superior vena cava with a covered stent. Angiography confirmed the patency of whole vascular access system. After 3 months of follow-up, the patient's AVF function and the bypass patency were satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: As a new alternative for the treatment of long, angled CVO with or without calcification, a covered stent can be used to establish an extravascular bypass between central veins.

The effects of ACSM-based exercise on breast cancer-related lymphoedema: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) frequently occurs after axillary lymph node dissection and remains incurable even with lymphaticovenular anastomosis. Exercise interventions have emerged as a potential non-pharmacological management approach. However, standardized exercise recommendations tailored to BCRL patients are lacking. Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of high and low compliance exercise interventions, aligned with ACSM recommendations, on quality of life (QOL), shoulder range of motion (ROM), and arm volume in BCRL patients. It further aimed to determine the optimal exercise dosage, assessed via the FITT (frequency, intensity, time, type) principle, that maximizes health benefits for BCRL patients. Methods: Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, we conducted a comprehensive literature search in various databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, encompassing the period from the inception of these databases to December 2023. We extracted data on exercise form, frequency, intensity, duration, repetitions, and sets from the identified studies. Subsequently, a meta-analysis and review were conducted. The exercise interventions were evaluated based on ACSM recommendations and categorized as either high or low compliance with ACSM standards. Fixed or random effects models were employed to compare outcomes across study subgroups with comparable results. Additionally, funnel plot analyses, sensitivity analyses, and Egger's and Begg's tests were conducted to evaluate the potential for bias. Results: 15 studies encompassing 863 patients with BCRL were analyzed. Eleven studies exhibited high ACSM compliance, while four demonstrated low ACSM compliance. Regarding QOL, the overall standard mean difference (SMD) was 0.13 (95% CI: -1.07, 1.33). Specifically, the SMD for the high-adherence subgroup was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.33, 1.49; p = 0.002). For ROM, the overall SMD was 1.21 (95% CI: -0.19, 2.61). For arm volume, the overall SMD was -0.06 (95% CI: -0.22, 0.10). QOL results differed significantly in the high-adherence subgroup, whereas no significant effect on ROM or arm volume was observed. Conclusion: The study revealed significant QOL improvements in patients with high ACSM compliance, contrasted with those with low compliance. Conversely, no notable changes in ROM or arm volume were observed. Notably, the high adherence group tended to show better ROM during exercise and stable arm volume. Future research is needed to validate these findings.

Rapid isolation method for extracellular vesicles based on Fe3O4@ZrO2.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are pivotal in intercellular communication, disease mechanisms. Despite numerous methods for EVs isolation, challenges persist in yield, purity, reproducibility, cost, time, and automation. We introduce a EVs isolation technique using Fe3O4@ZrO2 beads, leveraging ZrO2-phosphate interaction. The results indicated that EVs were efficiently separated from large volumes of samples in 30 minutes without preconcentration. Our method demonstrated capture efficiency (74%-78%) compared to ultracentrifugation, purity (97%), and reproducibility (0.3%-0.5%), with excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99). EVs from urine samples showed altered expression of miRNAs. The logistic regression model achieved an AUC of 0.961, sensitivity of 0.92, and specificity of 0.94. With potential for automation, this magnetic bead-based method holds promise for clinical applications, offering an efficient and reliable tool for EVs research and clinical studies.

Effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients. Randomised controlled trial (RCT) on music therapy for anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients was searched from 7 major databases, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, WOS, CNIC, Wanfang, and Wipro, spanning the period of library construction to 23 October 2023, and the literature screening of music therapy for anxiety or depression in breast cancer patients was carried out by 2 experimentalists, each of whom conducted a literature screening RCT independently of the other anxiety or depression in a RCT. Methodological quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale; GRADE profiler software for quality of evidence; and RevMan 5.4 was used for effect size merging and forest plots; publication bias tests and sensitivity analyses were performed using Stata 17.0; and standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CI were used as the effect statistics. A total of 13 RCTs with 1326 subjects (aged 18-70 years) were included in the literature, with a mean PEDro score of 6.8, and the literature was overall of good methodological quality. Meta-analysis showed that music therapy improved anxiety in breast cancer patients (841 cases), with a combined effect size (SMD = - 0.82, 95% CI [- 1.03, - 0.61] and P < 0.001); and improved depression in breast cancer patients (387 cases) with a combined effect size (SMD = - 0.76, 95% CI [- 1.15, - 0.38], P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that music intervention with off-site music (757 cases) and music choice of non-self-selected music (537 cases) had the best effect on anxiety improvement, with corresponding combined effect sizes (SMD = - 0.88, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.83, P < 0.001), respectively; followed by an intervention length of < 30 min (589 cases), a frequency of 2 times/day (382 cases), and intervention period of 2-3 weeks (101 cases) had the best effect on anxiety improvement, and the corresponding combined effect sizes were (SMD = - 0.80, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.91, P < 0.001; SMD = - 1.02, P < 0.001), respectively; and the music selection was the choice of one's own favourite music among the expert recommendations (219 cases) (270 cases) had the best effect on the improvement of depressed mood, with combined effect sizes of (SMD = - 1.15, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.71, P < 0.001) and music with an intervention duration of 30 min (287 cases), an intervention frequency of 1 time/day (348 cases), and an intervention period of 2-4 weeks (120 cases), respectively, with corresponding combined effect sizes of (SMD = - 0.75, P < 0.001; SMD = - 0.86, P < 0.001; SMD = - 1.06, P < 0.001), respectively. Music therapy can improve anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients, and the level of evidence is moderate. Although the heterogeneity between studies is high, which may lead to bias in the results, we explored the source of heterogeneity through subgroup and sensitivity analyses, providing a good evidence-based basis for clinical practice. The heterogeneity of anxiety and depression was explored by subgroup analysis, with anxiety due to music duration and music cycle; and depression due to intervention cycles and music duration. Sensitivity analyses also identified music duration and music cycle as contributing to the heterogeneity. Also, this study has some limitations since the included literature did not take into account the duration of the disease, education, and family economic status and did not categorize the age stages. This study found that music therapy improves anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients and the results can be used as a basis for clinical practice and researcher enquiry. This research has been registered on the INPLASY platform ( https://inplasy.com/contact/ ) under the number: INPLASY2023100057.

Meteorological parameters and hospital-acquired falls-A multicenter retrospective study based on 10 years of adverse events reporting system data.

Objective and rationale: Hospital-acquired falls are common and serious adverse events in medical institutions, with high incidence and injury rates. Studying the occurrence patterns of hospital-acquired falls is important for preventing falls in hospitalized patients. However, the effect of meteorological factors on hospital-acquired falls has not been elucidated. Therefore, this study explored the impact of meteorological parameters on hospital-acquired falls in Chongqing, China, and provided new ideas for the clinical prevention of falls in patients. Methods: Correlation analysis and distributed lag nonlinear models were employed to analyze the relationship between 3890 cases of hospital-acquired falls and meteorological data in 13 hospitals in 11 districts and counties in Chongqing from January 2013 to April 2023. Results: The number of hospital-acquired falls demonstrated a nonlinear correlation with the daily average relative humidity and negatively correlated with sunshine duration; however, temperature, air pressure, and wind speed were not correlated. Compared to the reference humidity (87 %), the immediate effects of daily average relative humidity (65-68 % and 90-97 %) increased the risk of hospital-acquired falls on the same day (relative risk [RR]:1.027-1.243). When the daily average relative humidity was 95-97 %, lags of 0-1 d and 8-12 d had greater effects on falls (RR:1.073-1.243). The daily average relative humidities of 62-74 % and 91-97 % were statistically significant at cumulative relative risk (CRR)of 4, 7, 10, and 14 d with a cumulative lag (CRR: 1.111-4.277). On sex and age stratification, the lag and cumulative effects of relative humidity more significantly impacted falls in women and patients aged ≥65 years. Conclusion: Daily average relative humidity had a nonlinear correlation and lag effect on hospital-acquired falls; therefore, medical institutions should pay attention to the effect of relative humidity on hospital-acquired falls in patients, especially old and female patients.

An Approach to Constructing Multispecies Biofilm Communities from Rhizosphere Soil.

The multispecies biofilm is a naturally occurring and dominant lifestyle of bacteria in nature, including in rhizosphere soil, although the current understanding of it is limited. Here, we provide an approach to rapidly establish synergistic multispecies biofilm communities. The first step is to extract cells from rhizosphere soil using the differential centrifugation method. Afterward, these soil cells are inoculated into the culture medium to form pellicle biofilm. After 36 h of incubation, the bacterial composition of the biofilm and the solution underneath are determined using the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing method. Meanwhile, high-throughput bacterial isolation from pellicle biofilm is conducted using the limiting dilution method. Then, the top 5 bacterial taxa are selected with the highest abundance in the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing data (pellicle biofilm samples) for further use in constructing multispecies biofilm communities. All combinations of the 5 bacterial taxa were quickly established using a 24-well plate, selected for the strongest biofilm formation ability by the crystal violet staining assay, and quantified by qPCR. Finally, the most robust synthetic bacterial multispecies biofilm communities were obtained through the methods above. This methodology provides informative guidance for conducting research on rhizosphere multispecies biofilm and identifying representative communities for studying the principles governing interactions among these species.

Exploring Novel Fentanyl Analogues Using a Graph-Based Transformer Model.

The structures of fentanyl and its analogues are easy to be modified and few types have been included in database so far, which allow criminals to avoid the supervision of relevant departments. This paper introduces a molecular graph-based transformer model, which is combined with a data augmentation method based on substructure replacement to generate novel fentanyl analogues. 140,000 molecules were generated, and after a set of screening, 36,799 potential fentanyl analogues were finally obtained. We calculated the molecular properties of 36,799 potential fentanyl analogues. The results showed that the model could learn some properties of original fentanyl molecules. We compared the generated molecules from transformer model and data augmentation method based on substructure replacement with those generated by the other two molecular generation models based on deep learning, and found that the model in this paper can generate more novel potential fentanyl analogues. Finally, the findings of the paper indicate that transformer model based on molecular graph helps us explore the structure of potential fentanyl molecules as well as understand distribution of original molecules of fentanyl.

Efficacy and safety of tibial nerve stimulation using a wearable device for overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a wearable, smartphone-controlled, rechargeable transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) device in patients with overactive bladder (OAB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicentre, prospective, single-blind, randomised clinical trial included eligible patients with OAB symptoms who were randomly assigned to the stimulation group or sham group. The primary efficacy outcome was change from baseline in voiding frequency/24 h after 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary efficacy outcomes included changes in bladder diary outcomes (urgency score/void, nocturia episodes/day, micturition volume/void, and incontinence episodes/day), questionnaires on Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), and American Urological Association Symptom Index Quality of Life Score (AUA-SI-QoL) at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. Device-related adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the full analysis set (FAS), the mean (sd) change of voiding frequency/24 h in the stimulation group and sham group at 4 weeks were -3.5 (2.9) and -0.6 (2.4), respectively (P < 0.01). Similar results were obtained in the per-protocol set (PPS): -3.5 (2.9) vs -0.4 (2.3) (P < 0.01). In the FAS and PPS, micturition volume/void significantly improved at 4 weeks (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02). PPBC improvement almost reached significance in the FAS (P = 0.05), while it was significant in the PPS (P = 0.02). In the FAS and PPS, AUA-SI-QoL significantly improved at 4 weeks in the two groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01), whereas there were no significant differences in urgency score/void, nocturia episodes/day or OABSS between the groups. Also, no device-related serious AEs were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The non-invasive neuromodulation technique using the novel ambulatory TTNS device is effective and safe for treating OAB. Its convenience and easy maintenance make it a new potential home-based treatment modality. Future studies are warranted to confirm its longer-term efficacy.

The beneficial rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9 regulates plant nitrogen uptake via an endogenous signaling pathway.

Nitrogen fertilizer is widely used in agriculture to boost crop yields. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) can increase plant nitrogen use efficiency through nitrogen fixation and organic nitrogen mineralization. However, it is not known whether they can activate plant nitrogen uptake. In this study, we investigated the effects of volatile compounds (VCs) emitted by the PGPR strain Bacillus velezensis SQR9 on plant nitrogen uptake. Strain SQR9 VCs promoted nitrogen accumulation in both rice and Arabidopsis. In addition, isotope labeling experiments showed that strain SQR9 VCs promoted the absorption of nitrate and ammonium. Several key nitrogen-uptake genes were up-regulated by strain SQR9 VCs, such as AtNRT2.1 in Arabidopsis and OsNAR2.1, OsNRT2.3a, and OsAMT1 family members in rice, and the deletion of these genes compromised the promoting effect of strain SQR9 VCs on plant nitrogen absorption. Furthermore, calcium and the transcription factor NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 7 play an important role in nitrate uptake promoted by strain SQR9 VCs. Taken together, our results indicate that PGPRs can promote nitrogen uptake through regulating plant endogenous signaling and nitrogen transport pathways.

Dissection of rhizosphere microbiome and exploiting strategies for sustainable agriculture.

The rhizosphere microbiome plays critical roles in plant growth and provides promising solutions for sustainable agriculture. While the rhizosphere microbiome frequently fluctuates with the soil environment, recent studies have demonstrated that a small proportion of the microbiome is consistently assembled in the rhizosphere of a specific plant genotype regardless of the soil condition, which is determined by host genetics. Based on these breakthroughs, which involved exploiting the plant-beneficial function of the rhizosphere microbiome, we propose to divide the rhizosphere microbiome into environment-dominated and plant genetic-dominated components based on their different assembly mechanisms. Subsequently, two strategies to explore the different rhizosphere microbiome components for agricultural production are suggested, that is, the precise management of the environment-dominated rhizosphere microbiome by agronomic practices, and the elucidation of the plant genetic basis of the plant genetic-dominated rhizosphere microbiome for breeding microbiome-assisted crop varieties. We finally present the major challenges that need to be overcome to implement strategies for modulating these two components of the rhizosphere microbiome.

GSDMD mediated pyroptosis induced inflammation of Graves' orbitopathy via the NF-κB/ AIM2/ Caspase-1 pathway.

Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is a key executor which triggers pyroptosis as well as an attractive checkpoint in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases but it has yet to prove its function in Graves'orbitopathy (GO). Our aim was to investigate GSDMD levels in orbital connective tissue and serum of GO patients and then assess the association between serum levels and patients' clinical activity score (CAS). Further, GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis and the underlying mechanism in inflammatory pathogenesis in the cultured orbital fibroblasts (OFs) of GO patients were examined. OFs were collected after tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or interferon (IFN)-γ treatment or combination treatment at different times, and the expression of GSDMD and related molecular mechanisms were analyzed. Then, we constructed the GSDMD knockout system with siRNA and the system was further exposed to the medium with or without IFN-γ and TNF-α for a specified time. Finally, we evaluated the production of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18. We found that serum GSDMD levels were elevated and positively correlated with the CAS in GO patients. Meanwhile, the expression of GSDMD and N-terminal domain (NT-GSDMD) in orbital connective tissue of GO patients was augmented. Also, increased expression of GSDMD and related pyroptosis factors was observed in vitro model of GO. We further demonstrated that GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis induced inflammation via the nuclear factor kB (NF-κB)/absent in melanoma-2 (AIM-2)/caspase-1 pathway. In addition, blocking GSDMD suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production in GO. We concluded that GSDMD may be a biomarker as well as a potential target for the evaluation and treatment of inflammation related with GO.

Numerical investigation on the influence of nonuniform tip clearance on rotor tip-clearance flow field structure.

A numerical study was conducted on an axial compressor, the NASA Stage 35, with three nonuniform tip clearances to understand the effect of a different shape tip clearances rotor on the compressor's performance. The results demonstrated that by modifying the traditional parallel tip clearance to sine-type tip clearance (STC), hump-type tip clearance (HTC), and concave-type tip clearance (CTC), the compressor's peak efficiency showed remarkable improvement and the SMI was significantly improved. In comparison to the design rotor, the SMI of STC, HTC, and CTC increased by 3.102 %, 2.672 %, and 0.645 %, respectively. The leakage distribution at the tip-clearance region from LE to TE exhibited an inverse pattern to that of the tip curve. The leakage's magnitude could not reflect the TLF's intensity, and the leakage in the middle of the blade tip had a role in the size of the TLV. Leakage at the tip's TE influenced the corner separation's scale in the casing. The STC and HTC schemes' total pressure ratio improved, the low-velocity zone's area, high-entropy area, and high absolute vorticity area at the LE of rotor's PS decreased, the detached shock moved backward, the leading-edge spillage flow decreased, the shock action position of the rotor suction surface moved forward, the BLS increased, the TPL in the stator channel decreased, and the CTC exhibited the opposite trend. A nonuniform tip clearance was achieved by reducing the leakage and TLV intensity, thereby reducing the size of the TLV, induced vortex, or CSV in rotor passage and increasing the compressor's SMI.

Tuning the number of redox groups in the cathode toward high rate and long lifespan zinc-ion batteries.

We synthesized a small molecule, DBPTO, and used it as a cathode material in aqueous zinc-ion batteries. DBPTO presented a high reversible capacity of 382 mA h g-1 at 0.05 A g-1 and a long lifespan of over 60 000 cycles. In the same π-conjugated skeleton, DBPTO (containing four CO and two CN groups) shows a narrower energy gap than TAPQ (containing CO and four CN groups), which leads to the superior rate and cycling performance of DBPTO. The mechanism of charge storage of DBPTO also revealed that H+ and Zn2+ coordinated with the CO and CN sites by ex situ structural characterization and DFT calculations. Our results provide new insights into the design of organic cathodes with a high rate capability and long lifespan. Further efforts will focus on a deeper understanding of the charge storage mechanism.

Root colonization by beneficial rhizobacteria.

Rhizosphere microbes play critical roles for plant's growth and health. Among them, the beneficial rhizobacteria have the potential to be developed as the biofertilizer or bioinoculants for sustaining the agricultural development. The efficient rhizosphere colonization of these rhizobacteria is a prerequisite for exerting their plant beneficial functions, but the colonizing process and underlying mechanisms have not been thoroughly reviewed, especially for the nonsymbiotic beneficial rhizobacteria. This review systematically analyzed the root colonizing process of the nonsymbiotic rhizobacteria and compared it with that of the symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria. This review also highlighted the approaches to improve the root colonization efficiency and proposed to study the rhizobacterial colonization from a holistic perspective of the rhizosphere microbiome under more natural conditions.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis of Laryngeal Cancer Based on Deep Learning with Laryngoscopic Images.

Laryngeal cancer poses a significant global health burden, with late-stage diagnoses contributing to reduced survival rates. This study explores the application of deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), specifically the Densenet201 architecture, in the computer-aided diagnosis of laryngeal cancer using laryngoscopic images. Our dataset comprised images from two medical centers, including benign and malignant cases, and was divided into training, internal validation, and external validation groups. We compared the performance of Densenet201 with other commonly used DCNN models and clinical assessments by experienced clinicians. Densenet201 exhibited outstanding performance, with an accuracy of 98.5% in the training cohort, 92.0% in the internal validation cohort, and 86.3% in the external validation cohort. The area under the curve (AUC) values consistently exceeded 92%, signifying robust discriminatory ability. Remarkably, Densenet201 achieved high sensitivity (98.9%) and specificity (98.2%) in the training cohort, ensuring accurate detection of both positive and negative cases. In contrast, other DCNN models displayed varying degrees of performance degradation in the external validation cohort, indicating the superiority of Densenet201. Moreover, Densenet201's performance was comparable to that of an experienced clinician (Clinician A) and outperformed another clinician (Clinician B), particularly in the external validation cohort. Statistical analysis, including the DeLong test, confirmed the significance of these performance differences. Our study demonstrates that Densenet201 is a highly accurate and reliable tool for the computer-aided diagnosis of laryngeal cancer based on laryngoscopic images. The findings underscore the potential of deep learning as a complementary tool for clinicians and the importance of incorporating advanced technology in improving diagnostic accuracy and patient care in laryngeal cancer diagnosis. Future work will involve expanding the dataset and further optimizing the deep learning model.

Metabolic interactions affect the biomass of synthetic bacterial biofilm communities.

IMPORTANCE: Co-occurrence network analysis is an effective tool for predicting complex networks of microbial interactions in the natural environment. Using isolates from a rhizosphere, we constructed multi-species biofilm communities and investigated co-occurrence patterns between microbial species in genome-scale metabolic models and in vitro experiments. According to our results, metabolic exchanges and resource competition may partially explain the co-occurrence network analysis results found in synthetic bacterial biofilm communities.