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BACKGROUND: Temporal bone computed tomography (CT) helps diagnose chronic otitis media (COM). However, its interpretation requires training and expertise. Artificial intelligence (AI) can help clinicians evaluate COM through CT scans, but existing models lack transparency and may not fully leverage multidimensional diagnostic information. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop an explainable AI system based on 3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for automatic CT-based evaluation of COM. METHODS: Temporal bone CT scans were retrospectively obtained from patients operated for COM between December 2015 and July 2021 at 2 independent institutes. A region of interest encompassing the middle ear was automatically segmented, and 3D CNNs were subsequently trained to identify pathological ears and cholesteatoma. An ablation study was performed to refine model architecture. Benchmark tests were conducted against a baseline 2D model and 7 clinical experts. Model performance was measured through cross-validation and external validation. Heat maps, generated using Gradient-Weighted Class Activation Mapping, were used to highlight critical decision-making regions. Finally, the AI system was assessed with a prospective cohort to aid clinicians in preoperative COM assessment. RESULTS: Internal and external data sets contained 1661 and 108 patients (3153 and 211 eligible ears), respectively. The 3D model exhibited decent performance with mean areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.96 (SD 0.01) and 0.93 (SD 0.01), and mean accuracies of 0.878 (SD 0.017) and 0.843 (SD 0.015), respectively, for detecting pathological ears on the 2 data sets. Similar outcomes were observed for cholesteatoma identification (mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.85, SD 0.03 and 0.83, SD 0.05; mean accuracies 0.783, SD 0.04 and 0.813, SD 0.033, respectively). The proposed 3D model achieved a commendable balance between performance and network size relative to alternative models. It significantly outperformed the 2D approach in detecting COM (P≤.05) and exhibited a substantial gain in identifying cholesteatoma (P<.001). The model also demonstrated superior diagnostic capabilities over resident fellows and the attending otologist (P<.05), rivaling all senior clinicians in both tasks. The generated heat maps properly highlighted the middle ear and mastoid regions, aligning with human knowledge in interpreting temporal bone CT. The resulting AI system achieved an accuracy of 81.8% in generating preoperative diagnoses for 121 patients and contributed to clinical decision-making in 90.1% cases. CONCLUSIONS: We present a 3D CNN model trained to detect pathological changes and identify cholesteatoma via temporal bone CT scans. In both tasks, this model significantly outperforms the baseline 2D approach, achieving levels comparable with or surpassing those of human experts. The model also exhibits decent generalizability and enhanced comprehensibility. This AI system facilitates automatic COM assessment and shows promising viability in real-world clinical settings. These findings underscore AI's potential as a valuable aid for clinicians in COM evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000036300; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojEN.html?proj=58685.
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Inteligência Artificial , Otite Média , Osso Temporal , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Humanos , Otite Média/diagnóstico por imagem , Osso Temporal/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X/métodos , Doença Crônica , Estudos Retrospectivos , Feminino , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Imageamento Tridimensional/métodos , Adulto , Redes Neurais de ComputaçãoRESUMO
The poor clinical performance of titanium and its alloy implants is mainly attributed to their lack of antibacterial ability and poor osseointegration. The key and challenge lie in how to enhance their osteoinductivity while imparting antibacterial capability. In this study, a titanium oxide metasurface with light-responsive behavior was constructed on the surface of titanium alloy using an alkaline-acid bidirectional hydrothermal method. The effects of the acid type, acid concentration, hydrothermal time, hydrothermal temperature, and subsequent heat treatments on the optical behavior of the metasurface were systematically investigated with a focus on exploring the influence of the metasurface and photodynamic reaction on the osteogenic activity of osteoblasts. Results show that the type of acid and heat treatment significantly affect the light absorption of the titanium alloy surface, with HCl and post-heat-treatment favoring redshift in the light absorption. Under 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) irradiation for 10 min, in vitro antibacterial experiments demonstrate that the antibacterial rate of the metasurface titanium alloy against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were 96.87% and 99.27%, respectively. In vitro cell experiments demonstrate that the nanostructure facilitates cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, and expression of osteogenic-related genes. Surprisingly, the nanostructure promoted the expression of relevant osteogenic genes of MC3T3-E1 under 808 nm NIR irradiation. This study provides a method for the surface modification of titanium alloy implants.
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Ligas , Antibacterianos , Materiais Biocompatíveis , Escherichia coli , Raios Infravermelhos , Teste de Materiais , Nanoestruturas , Staphylococcus aureus , Propriedades de Superfície , Titânio , Titânio/química , Titânio/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/síntese química , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Ligas/química , Ligas/farmacologia , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Nanoestruturas/química , Materiais Biocompatíveis/química , Materiais Biocompatíveis/farmacologia , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Tamanho da Partícula , Animais , Camundongos , Osteogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Osteoblastos/efeitos dos fármacos , Osteoblastos/citologia , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Osseointegração/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Terahertz (THz) microcavities have garnered considerable attention for their ability to localize and confine THz waves, allowing for strong coupling to remarkably enhance the light-matter interaction. These properties hold great promise for advancing THz science and technology, particularly for high-speed integrated THz chips where transient interaction between THz waves and matter is critical. However, experimental study of these transient time-domain processes requires high temporal and spatial resolution since these processes, such as THz strong coupling, occur in several picoseconds and microns. Thus, most literature studies rarely cover temporal and spatial processes at the same time. In this work, we thoroughly investigate the transient cavity-cavity strong-coupling phenomena at THz frequency and find a Rabi-like oscillation in the microcavities, manifested by direct observation of a periodic energy exchange process via a phase-contrast time-resolved imaging system. Our explanation, based on the Jaynes-Cummings model, provides theoretical insight into this transient strong-coupling process. This work provides an opportunity to deeply understand the transient strong-coupling process between THz microcavities, which sheds light on the potential of THz microcavities for high-speed THz sensor and THz chip design.
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A large-scale outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in Shanghai, China, in early December 2022. To study the incidence and characteristics of otitis media with effusion (OME) complicating SARS-CoV-2, we collected 267 middle ear effusion (MEE) samples and 172 nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs from patients. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected by RT-PCR targeting. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) expression in human samples was examined via immunofluorescence. During the COVID-19 epidemic in 2022, the incidence of OME (3%) significantly increased compared to the same period from 2020 to 2022. Ear symptoms in patients with SARS-CoV-2 complicated by OME generally appeared late, even after a negative NP swab, an average of 9.33 ± 6.272 days after COVID-19 infection. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in MEE, which had a higher viral load than NP swabs. The insertion rate of tympanostomy tubes was not significantly higher than in OME patients in 2019-2022. Virus migration led to high viral loads in MEE despite negative NP swabs, indicating that OME lagged behind respiratory infections but had a favorable prognosis. Furthermore, middle ear tissue from adult humans coexpressed the ACE2 receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the TMPRSS2 cofactors required for virus entry.
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COVID-19 , Otite Média com Derrame , Adulto , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19/complicações , Enzima de Conversão de Angiotensina 2 , China/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Thioredoxin (Trx) is a compact redox-regulatory protein that modulates cellular redox state by reducing oxidized proteins. Trx exhibits dual functionality as an antioxidant and a cofactor for diverse enzymes and transcription factors, thereby exerting influence over their activity and function. Trx has emerged as a pivotal biomarker for various diseases, particularly those associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and aging. Recent clinical investigations have underscored the significance of Trx in disease diagnosis, treatment, and mechanistic elucidation. Despite its paramount importance, the intricate interplay between Trx and cellular senescence-a condition characterized by irreversible growth arrest induced by multiple aging stimuli-remains inadequately understood. In this review, our objective is to present a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the structure and function of Trx, its involvement in redox signaling pathways and cellular senescence, its association with aging and age-related diseases, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target. Our review aims to elucidate the novel and extensive role of Trx in senescence while highlighting its implications for aging and age-related diseases.
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Senescência Celular , Estresse Oxidativo , Oxirredução , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Tiorredoxinas/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Gut-vascular barrier (GVB) dysfunction has been shown to be a prerequisite for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. However, the causes of GVB disruption and the underlying mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we explored whether and how Escherichia coli (E. coli) NF73-1, a pathogenic E. coli strain isolated from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients, contributes to NAFLD by modulating the GVB. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) or normal diet in the presence or absence of E. coli NF73-1 for the indicated time periods. Intestinal barrier function and infiltration of immune cells were evaluated in these mice. Endothelial cells were exposed to E. coli NF73-1 for barrier integrity analysis. RESULTS: HFD-induced GVB disruption preceded the damage of intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) as well as intestinal and hepatic inflammatory changes and can be reversed by vascular endothelial growth factor A blockade. Antibiotic treatment prevented mice from HFD-induced liver steatosis by restoration of the GVB. Notably, E. coli NF73-1 caused a more conspicuous damage of GVB than that of the IEB and contributed to NAFLD development. Mechanistically, E. coli NF73-1 dismantled the GVB by inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway. Activation of Wnt/ß-catenin improved the GVB and impeded the translocation of E. coli NF73-1 into the liver in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: E. coli NF73-1 disrupts GVB and aggravates NAFLD via inhibiting the Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway. Targeting E. coli NF73-1 or selectively enhancing the GVB may act as potential avenues for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
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Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica , Humanos , Camundongos , Animais , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/patologia , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular , beta Catenina/metabolismo , Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Escherichia coli , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Fígado/patologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The criteria for surgical intervention after non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer are unclear. We aimed to clarify the risk factors for residual cancer and lymph node metastasis after non-curative ESD and to identify recommendations for additional surgery. METHODS: We collected data on 133 consecutive patients who underwent additional surgery after non-curative ESD of early gastric cancer at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2013 to July 2022. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to seek risk factors of residual cancer and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The incidence rates of residual cancer and lymph node metastasis were 13.5% (18/133) and 10.5% (14/133), respectively. There was neither residual tumor nor lymph node metastasis in 104 (78.2%) cases. Multivariate analyses elucidated that horizontal margin was an independent risk factor for local residual cancer, whereas lymphatic infiltration was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. Patients with mixed histological types were more likely to suffer lymph node metastasis and further undergo additional surgery after non-curative ESD than pure histological type. CONCLUSIONS: Additional gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was strongly recommended in patients with lymphatic infiltration after non-curative ESD of early gastric cancer. Patients with mixed histological type have a high propensity for lymph node metastasis and should be treated as a separate subtype.
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Ressecção Endoscópica de Mucosa , Neoplasias Gástricas , Humanos , Neoplasias Gástricas/patologia , Ressecção Endoscópica de Mucosa/efeitos adversos , Metástase Linfática/patologia , Neoplasia Residual/patologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Excisão de Linfonodo , Fatores de Risco , Gastrectomia/efeitos adversos , Mucosa Gástrica/cirurgia , Mucosa Gástrica/patologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Clinically, a large part of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients is complicated by oral lesions. Although previous studies proved oral microbial dysbiosis in IBD patients, the bacterial community in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of those IBD patients combined with oral ulcers has not been profiled yet. METHODS: In this study, we enrolled four groups of subjects, including healthy controls (CON), oral ulcer patients (OU), and ulcerative colitis patients with (UC_OU) and without (UC) oral ulcers. Bio-samples from three GI niches containing salivary, buccal, and fecal samples, were collected for 16S rRNA V3-V4 region sequencing. Bacterial abundance and related bio-functions were compared, and data showed that the fecal microbiota was more potent than salivary and buccal microbes in shaping the host immune system. ~ 22 UC and 10 UC_OU 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) routine treated patients were followed-up for six months; according to their treatment response (a decrease in the endoscopic Mayo score), they were further sub-grouped as responding and non-responding patients. RESULTS: We found those UC patients complicated with oral ulcers presented weaker treatment response, and three oral bacterial genera, i.e., Fusobacterium, Oribacterium, and Campylobacter, might be connected with treatment responding. Additionally, the salivary microbiome could be an indicator of treatment responding in 5-ASA routine treatment rather than buccal or fecal ones. CONCLUSIONS: The fecal microbiota had a strong effect on the host's immune indices, while the oral bacterial microbiota could help stratification for ulcerative colitis patients with oral ulcers. Additionally, the oral microbiota had the potential role in reflecting the treatment response of UC patients. Three oral bacteria genera (Fusobacterium, Oribacterium, and Campylobacter) might be involved in UC patients with oral ulcers lacking treatment responses, and monitoring oral microbiota may be meaningful in assessing the therapeutic response in UC patients.
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Colite Ulcerativa , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais , Microbiota , Úlceras Orais , Humanos , Colite Ulcerativa/tratamento farmacológico , Colite Ulcerativa/microbiologia , Úlceras Orais/tratamento farmacológico , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/genética , Doenças Inflamatórias Intestinais/microbiologia , Bactérias/genética , Fezes/microbiologia , MesalaminaRESUMO
Chronic wounds are wounds that cannot heal properly due to various factors, such as underlying diseases, infection or reinjury, and improper healing of skin wounds and ulcers can cause a serious economic burden. Numerous studies have shown that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from stem/progenitor cells promote wound healing, reduce scar formation and have significant advantages over traditional treatment methods. EVs are membranous particles that carry various bioactive molecules from their cellular origins, such as cytokines, nucleic acids, enzymes, lipids and proteins. EVs can mediate cell-to-cell communication and modulate various physiological processes, such as cell differentiation, angiogenesis, immune response and tissue remodelling. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in EV-based wound healing, focusing on the signalling pathways that are regulated by EVs and their cargos. We discuss how EVs derived from different types of stem/progenitor cells can promote wound healing and reduce scar formation by modulating the Wnt/ß-catenin, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor ß and JAK-STAT pathways. Moreover, we also highlight the challenges and opportunities for engineering or modifying EVs to enhance their efficacy and specificity for wound healing.
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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes proteins and RNAs that are essential for mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis, and participates in important processes of cellular bioenergetics and metabolism. Alterations in mtDNA are associated with various diseases, especially cancers, and are considered as biomarkers for some types of tumors. Moreover, mtDNA alterations have been found to affect the proliferation, progression and metastasis of cancer cells, as well as their interactions with the immune system and the tumor microenvironment (TME). The important role of mtDNA in cancer development makes it a significant target for cancer treatment. In recent years, many novel therapeutic methods targeting mtDNA have emerged. In this study, we first discussed how cancerogenesis is triggered by mtDNA mutations, including alterations in gene copy number, aberrant gene expression and epigenetic modifications. Then, we described in detail the mechanisms underlying the interactions between mtDNA and the extramitochondrial environment, which are crucial for understanding the efficacy and safety of mtDNA-targeted therapy. Next, we provided a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in cancer therapy strategies that target mtDNA. We classified them into two categories based on their mechanisms of action: indirect and direct targeting strategies. Indirect targeting strategies aimed to induce mtDNA damage and dysfunction by modulating pathways that are involved in mtDNA stability and integrity, while direct targeting strategies utilized molecules that can selectively bind to or cleave mtDNA to achieve the therapeutic efficacy. This study highlights the importance of mtDNA-targeted therapy in cancer treatment, and will provide insights for future research and development of targeted drugs and therapeutic strategies.
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BACKGROUND: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, regarded as the effective indicator of patient nutrition, has been demonstrated to be related to prognosis of numerous tumours. Nevertheless, the significance of CONUT for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) remains unclear. This study intended to clarify the association between CONUT and the prognosis of GISTs. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-five patients with GISTs undergoing surgical resection at our center were retrospectively assessed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to help determine the cut-off value of CONUT score. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier curve analysis. Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were examined by Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 355 patients were enrolled in this study. Areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.638 for CONUT score, and the cut-off value of CONUT was shown to be three. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that high CONUT score was linked to poorer RFS and OS. Univariate and multivariate analyses ultimately revealed that CONUT was a risk factor for RFS and OS, independent of demographics and clinicopathological tumour characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: CONUT score was an effective and novel predictor for prognosis of GIST patients treated with surgery, indicating its potential as a prognostic marker in the overall management.
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Tumores do Estroma Gastrointestinal , Estado Nutricional , Humanos , Prognóstico , Tumores do Estroma Gastrointestinal/cirurgia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
This work develops a novel photoelectrochemical sensor for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on the composite of UCNPs with semiconductors and conformational changes in the DNA structure. Firstly, SnS2, ZnIn2S4 and UCNPs were assembled on the surface of the ITO electrode. Then Au NPs were dropped, which could facilitate the coupling of CdSe NPs modified DNA1 via Au-S bond, giving an ITO/SnS2/ZnIn2S4/UCNPs/CdSe heterojunction structure. When irradiated with 980 nm near-infrared (NIR) light, the UV-visible light emitted by the UCNPs could excite the nanocomposite, producing an enhanced photoelectric reaction. Subsequently, CEA aptamer and DNA2-modified SiO2 were added to form a Y-shaped DNA structure. At this time, the photocurrent was significantly reduced by the combination of the light-blocking effect of SiO2 and the departure of CdSe NPs from the electrode surface. When the target CEA was added, the recognition between CEA and the aptamer led to the collapse of the Y-shaped DNA structure, the restoration of hairpin DNA and the proximity of CdSe to the electrode. Accordingly, the photocurrent signals enhanced again. Under optimal experimental conditions, the detection limit as low as 0.3 pg mL-1 was obtained with good selectivity, achieving a sensitive "on-off-on" photoelectrochemical sensor for CEA detection.
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Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Antígeno Carcinoembrionário/química , Dióxido de Silício , Técnicas Eletroquímicas , Limite de Detecção , DNA/química , Aptâmeros de Nucleotídeos/químicaRESUMO
The formation of atherosclerotic plaques is the root cause of various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Effective CVD interventions thus call for precise identification of the plaques to aid clinical assessment and treatment of such diseases. In this study, we introduced a dual-analyte sequentially activated logic fluorescence reporting system CNN2-B to precisely identify the atherosclerotic plaques in vivo. This probe was achieved by creating a dual-locked fluorescent sensor that permits highly specific and sensitive detection of peroxynitrite and lipid dropletsâthe two hallmarks of atherosclerosis (AS). The recognition group of the probe removed after reacting with ONOO- and intramolecular charge rearrangement occurred to generate a coumarin derivative structure. This structure had a strong solvent effect; it could recognize lipid droplets (LDs) in cells, thus exhibiting fluorescence without secondary molecular adjustment. The fluorescence was tremendously quenched by double locking; thus, an extreme fluorescence enhancement factor (F/F0) ratio of 365 for CNN2-B was obtained. Importantly, CNN2-B could move from the mitochondria to lipid droplets after being activated. CNN2-B exhibited higher selectivity and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio than commercial probe hydroxyphenyl fluorescein (HPF). Therefore, atherosclerotic plaques in mouse models were delineated clearly by fluorescence imaging after in situ administration of CNN2-B.
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Placa Aterosclerótica , Camundongos , Animais , Corantes Fluorescentes/química , Ácido Peroxinitroso , Gotículas Lipídicas , Imagem ÓpticaRESUMO
Developing activatable fluorescent probes with superlative fluorescence enhancement factor (F/F0 ) to improve the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio is still an urgent issue. "AND" molecular logic gates are emerging as a useful tool for enhanced probes selectivity and accuracy. Here, an "AND" logic gate is developed as super-enhancers for designing activatable probes with huge F/F0 and S/N ratio. It utilizes lipid-droplets (LDs) as controllable background input and sets the target analyte as variable input. The fluorescence is tremendously quenching due to double locking, thus an extreme F/F0 ratio of target analyte is obtained. Importantly, this probe can transfer to LDs after a response occurs. The target analyte can be directly visualized through the spatial location without a control group. Accordingly, a peroxynitrite (ONOO- ) activatable probe (CNP2-B) is de novo designed. The F/F0 of CNP2-B achieves 2600 after reacting with ONOO- . Furthermore, CNP2-B can transfer from mitochondria to lipid droplets after being activated. The higher selectivity and S/N ratio of CNP2-B are obtained than commercial probe 3'-(p-hydroxyphenyl) fluorescein (HPFin vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the atherosclerotic plaques at mouse models are delineated clearly after administration with in situ CNP2-B probe gel. Such input controllable "AND" logic gate is envisioned to execute more imaging tasks.
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Aterosclerose , Placa Aterosclerótica , Camundongos , Animais , Aterosclerose/diagnóstico por imagem , Corantes Fluorescentes , Diagnóstico por Imagem , FluorescênciaRESUMO
Herein, a chemiluminescence (CL) biosensor based on CRISPR-Cas12a and cation exchange reaction was constructed to detect the biomarker microRNA-21 (miRNA-21). The rolling circle amplification (RCA) reaction was introduced to convert each target RNA strand into a long single-stranded DNA with repeated sequences, which acted as triggers to initiate the transcleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a. The activated Cas12a could cleave the biotinylated linker DNA of CuS nanoparticles (NPs) to inhibit the binding of CuS NPs to streptavidin immobilized on the surface of the microplate, which strongly reduced the generation of Cu2+ from a cation exchange between CuS NPs and AgNO3, and thus efficiently suppressed the CL of Cu2+-luminol-H2O2 system, giving a "signal off" biosensor. With the multiple amplification, the detection limit of the developed sensor for miRNA-21 reached 16 aM. In addition, this biosensor is not only suitable for a professional chemiluminescence instrument but also for a smartphone used as a detection tool for the purpose of portable and low-cost assay. This method could be used to specifically detect quite a low level of miRNA-21 in human serum samples and various cancer cells, indicating its potential in ultrasensitive molecular diagnostics.
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Técnicas Biossensoriais , MicroRNAs , Humanos , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas/genética , Luminescência , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/química , DNA/genética , MicroRNAs/genética , MicroRNAs/química , Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodosRESUMO
PURPOSE: To assess awareness and recognition of vestibular function tests in otorhinolaryngology medical staffs, especially the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) testing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: A survey was delivered via either email or a social media app. The medical staffs of the Chinese Medical Association of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery from various branches were enrolled. Study data were collected and managed with an online data collection tool. RESULTS: A total of 1781 emails and 623 social media messages were sent to 2404 otorhinolaryngology medical staffs. One hundred and fifty-seven of them participated in the survey, including 24 via emails and 133 via the social media app. Regarding the knowledge of VEMP, only 59 (37.6%) of them agreed that OSA could be related to vertigo/dizziness/imbalance and 28 (17.8%) believed that OSA could result in VEMP abnormalities and would factor this in diagnosing the impairment of the vestibular function of OSA patients. A total of 7.6% of the respondents had never heard of the VEMP tests. Responses regarding the minimum age at which VEMP are possible ranged from younger than 6 months to greater than 18 years of age. Beliefs regarding the utility and reliability of VEMP varied, with 'unsure' being the most frequent response. In addition, only 17.8% of otolaryngologists indicated some access to the VEMP test. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge and beliefs about the role of VEMP in diagnosing otolithic organ dysfunction caused by OSA in otorhinolaryngology vary widely. It is important for otorhinolaryngology medical staffs to learn the latest literatures and updated knowledge through continuing education.
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Otolaringologia , Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono , Potenciais Evocados Miogênicos Vestibulares , Humanos , Lactente , Potenciais Evocados Miogênicos Vestibulares/fisiologia , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Inquéritos e Questionários , Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono/diagnósticoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Acute tonsillitis is a common disease in otorhinolaryngology. Meteorological factors can affect the incidence of many infectious diseases. This study aims to analyze the correlation between acute tonsillitis and meteorological conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected the meteorological data, including daily temperature, humidity, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of Shanghai, China, from 2014 to 2015. The monthly number of acute tonsillitis cases in our hospital was also calculated and used as the outcome variable. The associations between them were evaluated, respectively. RESULTS: The average number of patients diagnosed with acute tonsillitis in our hospital per month was 68.67 ± 18.67 from 2014 to 2015. The average temperature, humidity, and PM2.5 of Shanghai during the defined period was 16.84 °C ± 7.80 °C, 75.93% ± 5.45%, and 52.38 ± 14.23 µg/m3, respectively. The temperature was significantly positively associated with the acute tonsillitis cases number both in Pearson correlation analysis (R = 0.423, P = .039) and in multivariate regression analysis (coefficient =2.194, P = .012). However, no correlation between the acute tonsillitis cases number and relative humidity or PM2.5 was found through a multivariate regression model (P = .225 and P = .243), respectively. CONCLUSION: The high temperature was associated with an increased incidence of acute tonsillitis.
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Fatores de Risco , Humanos , China/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The associations between climate variables and diseases such as respiratory infections, influenza, pediatric seizure, and gastroenteritis have been long appreciated. Infection is the main reason for acute otitis media (AOM) incidence. However, few previous studies explored the correlation between climatic parameters and AOM infections. The most important meteorological factors, temperature, relative humidity, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), were included in this study. We studied the relationship between these meteorological factors and the AOM visits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective cross-sectional study. A linear correlation and a linear regression model were used to explore the AOM visits and meteorological factors. RESULTS: A total of 7075 emergency department visits for AOM were identified. Relative humidity was found an independent risk factor for the AOM visits in preschool children (regression coefficient = -10.841<0, P = .039 < .05), but not in infants and school-age children. Average temperature and PM2.5 were not correlated with AOM visits. CONCLUSION: Humidity may have a significant inverse impact on the incidence of AOM in preschool-age children.
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Otite Média , Lactente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Humanos , Umidade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estudos Transversais , Otite Média/epidemiologia , Otite Média/etiologia , Material Particulado/efeitos adversos , Material Particulado/análise , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Doença AgudaRESUMO
Tunable terahertz (THz) microcavities are crucial for the compact on-chip THz devices, aiming to future cloud-based computing, and artificial-intelligence technologies. However, the solutions to effectively modulate THz microcavities remain elusive. Strong coupling has been widely demonstrated in many configurations at different ambient conditions to date and may serve as a promising tool to modulate THz microcavities. Here, we schematically design a microcavity-plasmon hybrid system, and propose an effective approach to modulating the resonant frequencies of THz microcavities by the microcavity-resonator strong coupling. In this case, we observed the strongly coupling states, where the resultant two-polariton branches exhibit an anti-crossing splitting in the frequency domain, experimentally exhibiting a â¼6.2% frequency modulation to the microcavity compared to the uncoupled case. This work provides an efficient approach to modulating chip-scale THz microcavities, thereby facilitating the development and application of compact THz integrated devices, further empowering the evolution of future information processing and intelligent computing system.
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The low-voltage droop of high-voltage pulses is required to provide stable pulsed electric fields in many applications. Increasing the capacitance of energy storage capacitors increases both the size and the cost of the system. In this paper, four compensation stages based on the resonant circuit have been inserted into a 16-stage solid-state Marx generator to compensate for the voltage droop in different conditions. The nearly linear part of the sinusoidal voltage is precisely added to the load during discharging as compensation, and the rectangular pulsed voltage with little droop can be realized. Different numbers of compensation stages and different resonant inductances can compensate the droop to different levels, which means the compensation effect is also adjustable. Moreover, these compensation stages can operate as common stages in Marx generators as long as we open-circuit the resonant circuits. Since the capacitors in resonant compensation stages are also charged in parallel with capacitors in common stages, no auxiliary power supply is required. Simulating and experimental results show that the droop of a 9 kV pulse can be ideally compensated over a 500 Ω resistive load at various pulse widths. The pulse width should be shorter than the length of the nearly linear part of the sinusoidal voltage.