Combination of Microwave Ablation and Percutaneous Osteoplasty for Treatment of Painful Extraspinal Bone Metastasis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave (MW) ablation combined with percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) on painful extraspinal bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 50 adult patients with 56 extraspinal bone metastasis lesions, who suffered from refractory moderate to severe pain, were treated with MW ablation and POP. Changes in quality of life were evaluated based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), daily morphine consumption, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before and immediately after the procedure and during follow-up times. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all patients. Mean preoperative VAS score and morphine dose were 7.0 ± 2.6 (range, 3-10) and 66.7 ± 33.2 mg (range, 10-120 mg), respectively. Mean postoperative VAS scores and daily morphine doses were as follows: 1 day, 3.5 ± 2.1 and 36.1 ± 25.8 mg (P < .05); 1 week, 1.5 ± 1.7 and 12.2 ± 14.8 mg (P < .001); 1 month, 0.9 ± 1.4 and 5.7 ± 10.0 mg (P < .001); and 3 months, 0.6 ± 1.2 and 4.7 ± 8.4 mg (P < .001). A significant decrease in the ODI score was also observed (P < .05). Periprocedural death was not observed. A pathologic fracture occurred in 1 (2%) patient with femoral metastasis, and local infection was observed in 2 (4%) patients. Minor cement leakage occurred in 4 (8%) patients with no symptomatic or intra-articular extravasation. No local tumor progression occurred in patients with imaging follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: MW ablation combined with POP is an effective and safe treatment for painful extraspinal bone metastases, which can significantly relieve pain and improve quality of life.

Up-Regulation Thioredoxin Inhibits Advanced Glycation End Products-Induced Neurodegeneration.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes and is the leading cause of adult blindness in developed countries. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation in diabetes is associated with its complications. Thioredoxin (Trx) is a small molecule (12kDa) antioxidant protein widely distributed in mammalian tissues, which has important biological functions including anti-apoptosis and transcriptional regulation. In a previous study, we found that Trx plays a key role in retinal neurodegeneration prior to the occurrence of endothelial damage in diabetic mice. In this study, our aim is to determine the effect of Trx on neurodegeneration induced by AGEs in order to identify new therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment and prevention of DR. METHODS: In vivo, a high-fat diet and Streptozotocin (STZ) injection were used to generate a mouse model of diabetes. Histology was utilized to examine tissue morphology and measure the outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness. Electroretinography (ERG) was used to assess retinal function and Western blot was used to examine protein expression. In vitro, three methods of Trx up-regulation were used, including a stable cell line that overexpresses Trx, treatment with Sulforaphane, and shRNA down-regulation Txnip. Cells were treated with AGEs, and level of apoptosis was performed to quantify this by flow cytometry and TUNEL. Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to measure gene and protein expression. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe autophagosomes. RESULTS: We found that diabetic mice display decreased retinal function and reduced ONL thickness with AGEs accumulation and a reduction of Trx expression. Up-regulation Trx can prevent the ONL thickness decrease in diabetic mice, as observed by H&E staining. In vitro, up-regulation Trx resulted in decreased intracellular ROS generation, reduced apoptosis by inhibited autophagy. CONCLUSION: Up-regulating Trx inhibited neurodegeneration induced by AGEs. The underlying mechanism may be related to inhibit Txnip/mTOR pathway-mediated autophagy.

Hyperspectral Imaging Detection of Total Viable Count from Vacuum Packing Cooling Mutton Based on GA and CARS Algorithms.

In the process of spectral modeling, spectral extraction of characteristic bands with different variable screening algorithms is an important step for improving the model effects. Total viable count of cooling mutton under vacuum packing condition was chosen as the research index in this paper, while the influence of 2 variable screening algorithms on its hyperspectral PLS model effects was compared. Mutton muscle spectra of Regions of interest (ROIs) were extracted and preprocessed. Subsequently, Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS) were applied to extract characteristic bands from preprocessed spectra at full band range of 473～1 000 nm. Model effects of GA-PLS, CARS-PLS and W-PLS with corresponding bands selection were contrasted and analyzed. The results indicated that both model effects of GA-PLS, CARS-PLS were better than that of W-PLS, and CARS-PLS model effect was optimal. As for the CARS-PLS model, the determination coefficient (R2c) and root mean square error (RMSEC) of calibration set was 0.96 and 0.29, and the determination coefficient (R2cv) and root mean square error (RMSECV) of leave-one-out cross validation was 0.92 and 0.46, respectively. Meanwhile, the determination coefficient (R2p), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) and the ratio of standard deviation to standard error of prediction (RPD) of prediction set was 0.92 and 0.47 and 3.58, respectively. Therefore, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology combined with CARS-PLS can achieve quick, non-destructive and accurate detection of mutton total viable count.

[Study on Characteristic Bands Selection of Lamb pH Value Based on Hyperspectral Imaging and Partial Least Squares(PLS)].

Characteristic bands method selection and subsequent spectral extraction has a great influence on the hyperspectral model performance. For rapid and accurate detection of mutton pH value, the effects of 2 band-selection methods on PLS models of mutton pH based on HSI technique were carried out and discussed. Initially, the preprocessing method of second derivative (2D), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and mean-centering together was implemented on the representative spectra of mutton muscle portion. Then, 2 methods of synergy interval partial least square (siPLS) and the combination of synergy interval partial least squares with genetic algorithm (siPLS-GA) were used to extract the characteristic bands in the spectral range of 473～1 000 nm. Finally, 2 PLS models of lamb pH value were established with the corresponding characteristic bands, and were also compared with the effect of full-band PLS model. The results indicated that the effect of siPLS-GA-PLS model was the best. As for the siPLS-GA-PLS model, 56 characteristic wavelength points were chosen, the correlation coefficient(Rcal) and root mean square error(RMSEC) of calibration set was 0.96 and 0.043 respectively, and the correlation coefficient(Rp) and root mean square error(RMSEP) of prediction set was 0.96 and 0.048 respectively. Spectral variables were reduced and model accuracy was improved. It can be concluded that characteristic bands selection and rapid and accurate detection of lamb pH can be achieved using hyperspectral imaging technique combined with siPLS-GA method.

[Analysis on morphological characteristics, photosynthetic characteristics and chemical constituents of Inula lineariifolia from different populations].

Twelve populations of Inula lineariifolia were used as materials to measure morphological characteristics, photosynthetic parameters and chemical constituents. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for germplasm resources evaluation. The results showed that I. lineariifolia had relatively rich morphological diversity, there were significant differences of morphological characteristics, photosynthetic parameters and chemical constituents among populations. There was positive correlation on morphological characteristics and P(n). Twelve populations were divided into three-type. The three populations of Xuyi, Mingguang and Fengyang were of narrower-longer leaf, bigger biomass,better photosynthetic and higher chemical constituents. Then they were classified for a similar group. It proved that the three populations were more suitable for cultivation and promotion.