In vivo prediction of abdominal fat and breast muscle in broiler chicken using live body measurements based on machine learning.

The purpose of this study was to predict the carcass characteristics of broilers using support vector regression (SVR) and artificial neural network (ANN) model methods. Data were obtained from 176 yellow feather broilers aged 100-day-old (90 males and 86 females). The input variables were live body measurements, including external measurements and B-ultrasound measurements. The predictors of the model were the weight of abdominal fat and breast muscle in male and female broilers, respectively. After descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, the datasets were randomly divided into train set and test set according to the ratio of 7:3 to establish the model. The results of this study demonstrated that it is feasible to use machine learning methods to predict carcass characteristics of broilers based on live body measurements. Compared with the ANN method, the SVR method achieved better prediction results, for predicting breast muscle (male: R2 = 0.950; female: R2 = 0.955) and abdominal fat (male: R2 = 0.802; female: R2 = 0.944) in the test set. Consequently, the SVR method can be considered to predict breast muscle and abdominal fat of broiler chickens, except for abdominal fat in male broilers. However, further revaluation of the SVR method is suggested.

The enigmatic helicase DHX9 as a candidate prognostic biomarker for resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies, and current therapies have limited efficacy on PDAC. The DEAH-box helicase 9 (DHX9) is widely reported to influence cell biological behavior via regulating DNA replication, genomic stability, transcription, translation, and microRNA biogenesis. However, the prognostic role of DHX9 in PDAC remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate the prognostic value of DHX9 expression in PDAC patients. Methods: Tumor specimens from PDAC patients with surgical resection were obtained, and DHX9 was stained and analyzed in this study. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were utilized to identify independent risk factors of overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The prognostic nomograms for predicting OS and RFS were established to obtain superior predictive power. Results: Among the enrolled 110 patients, 61 patients were identified as having high expression of DHX9. The correlation analysis revealed that higher DHX9 expression in PDAC was prone to have advanced N stage (p = 0.010) and TNM stage (p = 0.017). For survival, the median OS (21.0 vs. 42.0 months, p < 0.001) and RFS (12.0 vs. 24.0 months, p < 0.001) of patients in the high DHX9 group were significantly shorter than those in the low DHX9 group. Within the univariate and multivariate analyses, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) N stage (p = 0.036) and DHX9 expression (p = 0.041) were confirmed as independent prognostic factors of OS, while nerve invasion (p = 0.031) and DHX9 expression (p = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors of RFS. Finally, the novel prognostic nomograms for OS and RFS were established and showed superior predictive accuracy. Conclusion: This study identified the independent prognostic value of DHX9 for RFS and OS in resected PDAC patients, and higher DHX9 expression was prone to have an earlier recurrence and shorter OS. Therefore, DHX9 may be a promising and valuable biomarker and a potential target for treating PDAC. More accurate and promising predictive models would be achieved when DHX9 is incorporated into nomograms.

A Multicenter Randomized Trial Assessing ZENFlow Carrier-Free Drug-Coated Balloon for the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions.

Backgrounds and Objectives: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have shown promising benefits in improving the outcomes for patients with peripheral artery disease. Several randomized clinical trials have reported that paclitaxel-coated balloon significantly reduce the rates of restenosis and the need for reintervention in comparison with regular balloon angioplasty. Due to the differences in excipients, paclitaxel dose, and coating techniques, variable clinical outcomes have been observed with different DCBs. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel ZENFlow carrier-free DCB in the treatment of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial conducted at 15 sites, 192 patients with Rutherford class 3-5 were randomly assigned into two groups: drug-coated balloon group and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty group. The primary endpoint was a late lumen loss at 6 months based on blinded angiographic core laboratory evaluations, and the secondary endpoints included primary patency rate, binary restenosis, clinically driven target lesion revascularization, ankle-brachial index, Rutherford class change, and major adverse events. Results: In this multicenter trial, 93 patients received DCB angioplasty, whereas 99 patients underwent regular balloon angioplasty. The late lumen loss at 6-month follow-up was 0.50 ± 0.82 and 1.69 ± 0.87 mm in the drug-coated balloon and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty groups, respectively (p < 0.001). During the 12-month follow-up period, the drug-coated balloon group showed a significantly higher primary patency rate (54 vs. 31.3%, p = 0.009) and markedly lower rates of target vessel restenosis (22.1 vs. 64.3%, p < 0.001) and clinically driven target lesion revascularization rate (5.4 vs. 19.2%, p = 0.006) than the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty group. Compared with the percutaneous transluminal angioplasty group, the drug-coated balloon group had significant improvements in the ankle-brachial index and Rutherford class. The all-cause mortality rate was comparable, and no device-related deaths occurred in either groups. Conclusions: Balloon angioplasty using a ZENFlow carrier-free drug-coated balloon is a safe and effective treatment method for femoropopliteal artery lesions. This novel drug-coated balloon catheter achieved satisfactory early and 1-year outcomes in this trial. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03844724.

Ferulic Acid Exerts Anti-Angiogenic and Anti-Tumor Activity by Targeting Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1-Mediated Angiogenesis.

Most anti-angiogenic therapies currently being evaluated target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway; however, the tumor vasculature can acquire resistance to VEGF-targeted therapy by shifting to other angiogenesis mechanisms. Therefore, other therapeutic agents that block non-VEGF angiogenic pathways need to be evaluated. Here, we identified ferulic acid as a novel fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) inhibitor and a novel agent with potential anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer activities. Ferulic acid demonstrated inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation in response to basic fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1). In ex vivo and in vivo angiogenesis assays, ferulic acid suppressed FGF1-induced microvessel sprouting of rat aortic rings and angiogenesis. To understand the underlying molecular basis, we examined the effects of ferulic acid on different molecular components and found that ferulic acid suppressed FGF1-triggered activation of FGFR1 and phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling. Moreover, ferulic acid directly inhibited proliferation and blocked the PI3K-Akt pathway in melanoma cell. In vivo, using a melanoma xenograft model, ferulic acid showed growth-inhibitory activity associated with inhibition of angiogenesis. Taken together, our results indicate that ferulic acid targets the FGFR1-mediated PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, leading to the suppression of melanoma growth and angiogenesis.

[In vitro chemo-sensitivity MTT assay guided intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites caused by different types of abdominal cancers guided by chemo-sensitivity methyl tetrojolium coloremetric (MTT) assay in vitro. METHODS: Cancer cells in the malignant ascites were collected for MTT assay to determine the chemo-sensitivity. The drug producing the highest or the second highest inhibition rate was selected for intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The correlation between the results of MTT assay and the response of malignant ascites, the clinical features, Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: MTT assay indicated that Taxotere (TXT) and Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) were the most effective to cancer cells in malignant ascites, and HCPT was mostly frequently used for intraperitoneal chemotherapy (56.9%). Twenty-four patients showed response by intraperitoneal chemotherapy (complete response: 7; partial response: 17) with a slightly significant correlation between the results of MTT assay and response of malignant ascites (P = 0. 014). The KPS of the responders was improved significantly (P < 0.001), and the response of malignant ascites to intraperitoneal chemotherapy was demostrated as an independent prognostic factor by multi-variate analysis in this series. CONCLUSION: In vitro chemo-sensitivity MTT assay guided intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites is simple, effective and safe, which can improve the KPS and prognosis of the responders.

Pancreatoduodenectomy with vascular reconstruction in treating carcinoma of the pancreatic head.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of carcinoma of the pancreas is increasing in the world. Pancreatic carcinoma is characterized by early local extension to contiguous structures and metastases to regional lymph nodes and the liver. This study was conducted to increase the rate of pancreatoduodenectomy combined with vascular reconstruction. METHODS: Pancreatoduodenectomy with vascular reconstruction was performed for 79 patients at a number of hospitals in Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province, Shanghai and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from April 1994 to December 2003. One of these patients also underwent right hemicolectomy; but all received through superior mesenteric vein (SMV)-portal vein (PV) reconstruction. The reconstructions of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and hepatic artery (HA) were performed in 4 patients, and reconstructions of the SMA or HA were carried out in 7 and 4 patients respectively. Partial reconstruction of the inferior vena cava (ICV) was done in 2 patients when the tumor was adhering to the wall of the inferior caval vein. RESULTS: Four patients died during the peri-operative period, with a mortality rate of 5%. No complications such as biliary or pancreatic fistulae or artificial blood vessel infection were noted. Histological examination showed one patient with neuroendocrine cancer and the other 78 patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. Resected endothelia and vascular margins proved to be microscopically tumor-free. Follow-up for 3 months to 10 years for all except two patients showed 7 of the 9 patients who had undergone resection and reconstruction of the SMA and HA died 7 months or 4 years after operation and 37 survived for over 3 years and 12 for more than 5 years. The rest are still under follow-up. CONCLUSION: Pancreatoduodenectomy with vascular reconstruction for carefully selected patients with carcinoma of the pancreatic head has proved to be a safe and reliable treatment, capable of raising the rates of tumor resection and survival.

Enteral nutrition in treatment of severe acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the role and the timing of EN in the treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Eleven patients with severe acute pancreatitis underwent systemic nutrition support were studied. EN was given through jejunostomy tube (or Bengmark tube) after a period of PN maintenance. EN started when serum and urine amylase activity returned to normal with regular peristaltic sound, defecation or break wind. The sequence of preparation was as follows: saline glucose-->chemically defined diet-->polymeric diet-->normal diet. RESULTS: In all the patients, none died. The rate of late complications was lower, and the levels of serum albumin and transferritin significantly increased in the post-EN period as compared with the pre-EN period, although the count of lymphocytes was less changed. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional support should be transformed from PN to EN as early as possible during the treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis. EN could not only continue sufficient nutritional support, but also avoid the unfavorable effects of long-time PN, thus reducing complications as well as mortality.