Learning Contrast-Enhanced Shape-Biased Representations for Infrared Small Target Detection.

Detecting infrared small targets under cluttered background is mainly challenged by dim textures, low contrast and varying shapes. This paper proposes an approach to facilitate infrared small target detection by learning contrast-enhanced shape-biased representations. The approach cascades a contrast-shape encoder and a shape-reconstructable decoder to learn discriminative representations that can effectively identify target objects. The contrast-shape encoder applies a stem of central difference convolutions and a few large-kernel convolutions to extract shape-preserving features from input infrared images. This specific design in convolutions can effectively overcome the challenges of low contrast and varying shapes in a unified way. Meanwhile, the shape-reconstructable decoder accepts the edge map of input infrared image and is learned by simultaneously optimizing two shape-related consistencies: the internal one decodes the encoder representations by upsampling reconstruction and constraints segmentation consistency, whilst the external one cascades three gated ResNet blocks to hierarchically fuse edge maps and decoder representations and constrains contour consistency. This decoding way can bypass the challenge of dim texture and varying shapes. In our approach, the encoder and decoder are learned in an end-to-end manner, and the resulting shape-biased encoder representations are suitable for identifying infrared small targets. Extensive experimental evaluations are conducted on public benchmarks and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.

Elevated serum irisin levels in boys with central precocious puberty independent of BMI.

INTRODUCTION: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a prevalent endocrine disorder. Research has indicated that pubertal development is linked to nutritional metabolism. Irisin, a novel myokine/adipokine, has been identified as a potential predictor of CPP in girls. This study aims to examine the relationship between serum irisin levels and CPP in boys. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum irisin levels in 32 boys diagnosed with CPP and 33 prepubertal age-matched boys as normal controls (NC). To assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) on irisin levels, both the CPP and NC groups were divided into overweight/obese and normal-weight subgroups. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to assess the connection between irisin and clinical and biochemical parameters. Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic curve was utilised to determine the optimal threshold value for irisin. RESULTS: In the normal-weight subgroups, boys with CPP exhibited elevated irisin levels compared to controls, but not in the overweight/obese subgroups. The optimal cut-off value for irisin levels to predict CPP in the normal-weight groups was 93.09 ng/mL, yielding a sensitivity of 47.6% and a specificity of 100%. Furthermore, a positive correlation was noted between irisin levels and bone age (BA), bone age advancement (BA-CA), and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Serum irisin levels correlate with BMI and pubertal development. Given its limited sensitivity, irisin level can only be utilised as a supplementary rather than a standalone diagnostic indicator for CPP.

Association between polymorphisms and atopic dermatitis susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease that is closely linked to genetic factors. Previous studies have revealed numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that been related to susceptibility to AD; however, the results are conflicting. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the associations of these polymorphisms and AD risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were retrieved to identify eligible studies, with selected polymorphisms being reported in a minimum of three separate studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate study quality. Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 14.0 were used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: After screening, 64 studies involving 13 genes (24 SNPs) were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Nine SNPs were positively correlated with AD susceptibility [filaggrin (FLG) R501X, FLG 2282del4, chromosome 11q13.5 rs7927894, interleukin (IL)-17A rs2275913, IL-18 -137 G/C, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) rs5743708, TLR2 A-16934 T, serine protease inhibitor Kazal type-5 (SPINK5) Asn368Ser, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) T874A] and one was negatively associated with AD susceptibility (IL-4 -1098 T/G). The 14 remaining SNPs were not significantly associated with AD susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: Nine SNPs that may be risk factors and one SNP that may be a protective factor for AD were identified, providing a reference for AD prediction, prevention, and therapy.

Clinical observation of Otitis Media Secretory during Covid-19.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the onset of otitis media secretory, the peak period of infection with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the time of transmigration during a pandemic of the Omicron strain. Additionally, the study aims to investigate to study the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the middle ear cavity of patients with otitis media secretory and the survival time through a new method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen in middle ear effusion. METHODS: Retrospective comparison of the incidence of otitis media secretory during infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron strain from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023, versus the noninfection period from December 15, 2021, to January 15, 2022. We used a questionnaire star application to investigate the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of the 40 patients with otitis media secretory who participated in this study were investigated. A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) antigen detection kit (colloidal gold method) was used to detect middle ear effusion in patients with otitis media secretory. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 29.0 software. The measurement data are expressed as x ± s , the count data are expressed as the number of cases (%), and the data were compared using the χ 2 test. p < 0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference. RESULTS: During the SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron strain pandemic, the incidence of otitis media secretory increased by 15% compared with the noninfection period. The peak infection period for the SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron strain was December 25, 2022, and December 15, 2022, and the peak time of conversion was 7 to 9 days after the infection. Middle ear effusion SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen testing was performed in patients with otitis media secretory after conversion; 5 patients (12%) were positive, and 35 patients (88%) were negative. The disease duration in patients with negative results was more than 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Otitis media secretory is one of the most common ear complications after infection with the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the significantly higher incidence is associated with middle ear viral infection. Middle ear effusion SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen test detected the virus, which survived longer in the middle ear effusion than in the nasal cavity. The middle ear effusion test can detect SARS-CoV-2 virus antigen and determine whether the organism contains virus residue.

Genotype analysis of 55,281 cases of thalassemia in northern Guangxi.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the genotype and distribution of thalassemia in northern Guangxi. METHODS: The study subjects were 55,281 individuals who came to the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University for genetic diagnosis of thalassemia from January 2012 to August 2023. All of their household registration was in the precincts of Guibei District and its affiliated counties. Red blood cell parameters and hemoglobin analysis were used for thalassemia screening. Gap-PCR, PCR-reverse dot blot hybridization (PCR-RDB), and multicolor melting curve analysis (MMCA) were used to identify common thalassemia genes. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), Sanger sequencing, and third-generation single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing were employed to identify rare thalassemia genes. RESULTS: Among the 55,281 samples, 16,442 (29.74%) were diagnosed with thalassemia. The detection rates of α, ß, and α combined ß-thalassemia were 18.57%, 9.99% and 1.18%, respectively. Among ethnical groups, allele mutation frequency of thalassemia was the highest in Zhuang (44.97%), followed by Yao (40.11%), Dong (31.33%), Han (29.85%), Miao (24.31%), and Hui (20.6%). A total of 11,659 alleles (21.09%) of 8 types of α-thalassemia were identified in 55,281 samples, primarily --SEA (53.9%), followed by -α3.7 (21.3%), including rare alleles: --THAI (0.45%) and HKαα (0.38%). A total of 6367 (11.52%) and 14 types of ß-thalassemia alleles were identified, mainly CD41-42 (50.12%), followed by CD17 (22.22%), including rare alleles: ßCD37 (0.16%) and Gγ+ (Aγδß)0/ßN (0.05%). A total of 31 genotypes were detected in 10,264 cases of α-thalassemia, and the main types were --SEA/αα (53.23%), -α3.7/αα (19.15%), and -α4.2/αα (7.21%). A total of 34 genotypes were detected in 5525 cases of ß-thalassemia, and the main types were ßCD41-42/ßN (50.53%), ßCD17/ßN (21.77%), and ßIVS-II-654/ßN (12.16%). A total of 78 gene types were detected in 653 cases of α- and ß-thalassemia, and the main types were --SEA/αα, ßCD41-42/ßN (18.68%) and -α3.7/αα, ßCD41-42/ßN (13.02%). There were 580 cases (5.65%) of HbH disease (α0/α+), and 4 cases of Hemoglobin Bart's Hydrops Foetus syndrome (--SEA/--SEA). In addition, there were 92 cases (1.67%) of intermedia or severe types of ß-thalassemia (ß0/ß0, ß0/ß+, ß+/ß+), including 23 cases of combined α-thalassemia. Among the samples screened negative for thalassemia, 3.7% of them were found to carry thalassemia genes, and 91.35% of the genotypes were αWSα/αα, -α3.7/αα, and -α4.2/αα. In addition, 40.26% of αWSα/αα, 22.89% of -α3.7/αα, and 18.51% of -α4.2/αα had no hematological phenotype. CONCLUSION: The population in northern Guangxi exhibited rich ethnic diversity, with high allelic carrying rates among the Zhuang, Yao and Dong ethnic groups. Thalassemia gene mutations are diverse, encompassing a variety of gene types, with α thalassemia predominating, notably the --SEA/αα gene type. The prevalence of intermedia or severe types of thalassemia is not low, but there are still some carriers of thalassemia in people who are initially tested negative.

Effects of Complex Antioxidants Added to Chicken Diet on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices, Meat Quality, and Antioxidant Capacity.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with various levels of complex antioxidants (CA) containing tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and tea polyphenols (TP) on growth performance, meat quality of breast and leg muscles, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant capacity of serum, liver, breast meat, jejunum, and ileum in broilers. A total of 600 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers with similar body weights were randomly divided into three groups (10 replicates/group, 20 broilers/replicate). Birds in the three experimental groups were fed a basal diet with CA at 0, 300, and 500 mg/kg. The results showed that supplementing with 300 mg/kg CA significantly increased (p < 0.05) 42 d BW and 22-42 d ADG, and markedly decreased (p < 0.05) 22-42 d F: G ratio in comparison to the control group. Birds fed a diet with 300 mg/kg CA had a higher (p < 0.05) pH of chicken meat at 24 h and 48 h post mortem and lower (p < 0.05) yellowness values (b*) of chicken meat at 45 min and 24 h post mortem, along with a lower (p < 0.05) cooking loss. Supplementing with 300 mg/kg CA significantly increased (p < 0.05) serum and liver T-SOD activity, serum T-AOC level, as well as jejunual GST activity, and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) liver MDA content when compared with the control group. These results indicate that diet supplementation with 300 mg/kg CA containing TBHQ and TP could improve growth performance and meat quality by increasing the antioxidant capacity of broilers.

Development and validation of a model for predicting the expression of Ki-67 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with radiological features and dual-energy computed tomography quantitative parameters.

OBJECTIVE: To construct and validate a model based on the dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) quantitative parameters and radiological features to predict Ki-67 expression levels in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 143 PDAC patients were analysed. The variables of clinic, radiology and DECT were evaluated. In the arterial phase and portal venous phase (PVP), the normalized iodine concentration (NIC), normalized effective atomic number and slope of the spectral attenuation curves were measured. The extracellular volume fraction (ECVf) was measured in the equilibrium phase. Univariate analysis was used to screen independent risk factors to predict Ki-67 expression. The Radiology, DECT and DECT-Radiology models were constructed, and their diagnostic effectiveness and clinical applicability were obtained through area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis, respectively. The nomogram was established based on the optimal model, and its goodness-of-fit was assessed by a calibration curve. RESULTS: Computed tomography reported regional lymph node status, NIC of PVP, and ECVf were independent predictors for Ki-67 expression prediction. The AUCs of the Radiology, DECT, and DECT-Radiology models were 0.705, 0.884, and 0.905, respectively, in the training cohort, and 0.669, 0.835, and 0.865, respectively, in the validation cohort. The DECT-Radiology nomogram was established based on the DECT-Radiology model, which showed the highest net benefit and satisfactory consistency. CONCLUSIONS: The DECT-Radiology model shows favourable predictive efficacy for Ki-67 expression, which may be of value for clinical decision-making in PDAC patients. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The DECT-Radiology model could contribute to the preoperative and non-invasive assessment of Ki-67 expression of PDAC, which may help clinicians to screen out PDAC patients with high Ki-67 expression. KEY POINTS: • Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) can predict Ki-67 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). • The DECT-Radiology model facilitates preoperative and non-invasive assessment of PDAC Ki-67 expression. • The nomogram may help screen out PDAC patients with high Ki-67 expression.

Histone deacetylase 3 inhibition alleviates 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis via epigenetically upregulating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a frequent skin disorder that is associated with immune dysfunction and skin inflammation. Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) possesses strong immune and inflammatory modulatory properties in multiple diseases. However, the role and mechanism of HDAC3 in AD remain unknown. Here, we reported that HDAC3 expression was aberrantly upregulated in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced lesional AD skin in mice. Inhibition of HDAC3 by RGFP966 protected against DNCB-induced AD, indicated by improved histological damages, relieved inflammatory and immune dysfunction. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) signaling pathway activity in lesional AD skin was significantly decreased and RGFP966 attenuated the decrease. Inhibition of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway via Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 blunted anti-AD effect of RGFP966 in DNCB-treated mice. Mechanistically, RGFP966 promoted Nrf2 expression and upregulated H3K27ac deposition on the promoter region of Nrf2. Collectively, HDAC3 inhibition protects against AD via epigenetically activating Nrf2 transcription to upregulate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway activity. HDAC3 may act as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of AD.

QEVIS: Multi-Grained Visualization of Distributed Query Execution.

Distributed query processing systems such as Apache Hive and Spark are widely-used in many organizations for large-scale data analytics. Analyzing and understanding the query execution process of these systems are daily routines for engineers and crucial for identifying performance problems, optimizing system configurations, and rectifying errors. However, existing visualization tools for distributed query execution are insufficient because (i) most of them (if not all) do not provide fine-grained visualization (i.e., the atomic task level), which can be crucial for understanding query performance and reasoning about the underlying execution anomalies, and (ii) they do not support proper linkages between system status and query execution, which makes it difficult to identify the causes of execution problems. To tackle these limitations, we propose QEVIS, which visualizes distributed query execution process with multiple views that focus on different granularities and complement each other. Specifically, we first devise a query logical plan layout algorithm to visualize the overall query execution progress compactly and clearly. We then propose two novel scoring methods to summarize the anomaly degrees of the jobs and machines during query execution, and visualize the anomaly scores intuitively, which allow users to easily identify the components that are worth paying attention to. Moreover, we devise a scatter plot-based task view to show a massive number of atomic tasks, where task distribution patterns are informative for execution problems. We also equip QEVIS with a suite of auxiliary views and interaction methods to support easy and effective cross-view exploration, which makes it convenient to track the causes of execution problems. QEVIS has been used in the production environment of our industry partner, and we present three use cases from real-world applications and user interview to demonstrate its effectiveness. QEVIS is open-source at https://github.com/DBGroup-SUSTech/QEVIS.

Screening and verification of antiviral compounds against HSV-1 using a method based on a plaque inhibition assay.

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is a common viral disease that mainly causes oral lesions, but can also cause genital lesions in some instances. Current treatments with nucleoside analogs are limited by the emergence of drug resistance. Therefore, novel anti-HSV-1 drugs are urgently needed. METHODS: In this study, we screened a library of 2080 compounds for anti-HSV-1 activity using a plaque formation assay. We selected 11 potential inhibitors of HSV-1 and further evaluated their antiviral effects by plaque reduction assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: Five compounds, namely ginsenoside Rd, brassinolide, rosamultin, 3'-hydroxy puerarin, and clinafloxacin HCl, showed potent anti-HSV-1 activity and completely suppressed plaque formation at a concentration of 10 µM. Among them, clinafloxacin HCl, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, exhibited a high selectivity index for HSV-1. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that these five compounds have potential antiviral properties against HSV-1 and may have different mechanisms of action. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the antiviral mechanisms of these compounds and to explore their therapeutic potential for HSV-1 infection.

Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis-Induced Inflammation by Inhibiting HDAC3-Mediated STAT1 and NF-κB Pathway.

A topic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic and recurrent skin disorder. The protective effects of sodium butyrate (NaB), a metabolite of short-chain fatty acid breakdown by the gut microbiota, have been widely reported in numerous inflammatory diseases. However, the effect of NaB treatment alone on AD has not been reported. In the current study, AD was induced in BALB/c mice with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) for 28 days with NaB (200 mg/kg) treatment by gavage. NaB attenuated AD-induced skin bleeding, scarring, dryness, abrasions and erosions. In addition, NaB inhibited inflammatory cells infiltration and attenuated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Mechanistically, NaB reduced histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) expression and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation by increasing the lysine acetylation levels of STAT1 and NF-κB p65 in AD. Taken together, our study suggests that NaB inhibits inflammatory mediators and ameliorates AD by inhibiting HDAC3 expression, thereby upregulating STAT1 and NF-κB p65 lysine acetylation levels and reducing NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Therefore, this study provides a new theoretical basis for NaB in the treatment of AD.

Targeting the DNA repair pathway for breast cancer therapy: Beyond the molecular subtypes.

DNA repair is a vital mechanism in cells that protects against DNA damage caused by internal and external factors. It involves a network of signaling pathways that monitor and transmit damage signals, activating various cellular activities to repair DNA damage and maintain genomic integrity. Dysfunctions in this repair pathway are strongly associated with the development and progression of cancer. However, they also present an opportunity for targeted therapy in breast cancer. Extensive research has focused on developing inhibitors that play a crucial role in the signaling pathway of DNA repair, particularly due to the remarkable success of PARP1 inhibitors (PARPis) in treating breast cancer patients with BRCA1/2 mutations. In this review, we summarize the current research progress and clinical implementation of BRCA and BRCAness in targeted treatments for the DNA repair pathway. Additionally, we present advancements in diverse inhibitors of DNA repair, both as individual and combined approaches, for treating breast cancer. We also discuss the clinical application of DNA repair-targeted therapy for breast cancer, including the rationale, indications, and summarized clinical data for patients with different breast cancer subtypes. We assess their influence on cancer progression, survival rates, and major adverse reactions. Last, we anticipate forthcoming advancements in targeted therapy for cancer treatment and emphasize prospective areas of development.

Effect of exercise intervention on lung function in asthmatic adults: a network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise has traditionally been viewed as a contraindication for individuals with asthma, as it was believed to trigger or worsen acute asthma attacks. However, with scientific and appropriate exercise training, it has been proven that respiratory function and exercise capacity can be effectively improved and enhanced in asthma patients. This study aimed to compare the effects of different types of exercise on pulmonary function in adult patients with asthma using Network Meta-analysis. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of exercise on lung function in adult patients with asthma from inception to February 2023. Information including on first author, publication time, total sample size, intervention period, interventions, and outcome indicators were collected, and relevant statistical analyses were performed using Stata 17.0 software and Revman 5.4. RESULTS: A total of 28 randomized controlled trials with 2,155 patients with asthma were finally included. The results of Network Meta-analysis showed that compared with control group, breathing training (BT)、aerobic training (AT)、relaxation training (RT)、yoga training (YG) and breathing combined with aerobic training (BT + AT) improved Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) levels; AT、BT、YG and BT + AT improved the level of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC); BT、AT、RT、YG and BT + AT improved Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF); BT、AT、and YG improved Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second/Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC).The results of SUCRA probability ranking showed that RT had the most significant effect on improving the FEV1[SMD = 1.13,95%CI(0.83,1.43), p<0.001] levels, BT + AT had the most significant effect on improving the FVC[SMD = 0.71,95%CI(0.47,0.95), p<0.001] level; YG had the most significant effect on improving the PEF[SMD = 0.79,95%CI(0.55,1.02), p<0.001] level. CONCLUSIONS: BT + AT and YG may be more advantageous in improving lung function in adult asthmatics.

Optimal exercise to improve physical ability and performance in older adults with sarcopenia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to pool and analyze the effects of different forms of exercise on muscle strength (handgrip strength [HGS]), and physical performance (timed up and go test [TUGT], gait speed [GS] and chair stand test [CS]) in older adults with sarcopenia. METHODS: The effect sizes of all studies retrieved and included by the four databases were analyzed using the network meta-analysis and expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Twenty studies were included in this study with 1347 older adults with sarcopenia. Compared with control and other intervention groups, resistance training (RT) improved HGS [SMD=3.8, 95% CI (1.3, 6.0), p<0.05] and TUGT [SMD = -1.99, 95% CI (-2.82, -1.16), p<0.05] significantly. comprehensive training (CT) [SMD = -2.04, 95% CI (-3.05, -1.06), Pp<0.05] and Comprehensive training under self-management (CT_SM) [SMD = -2.01, 95% CI (-3.24, -0.78), p<0.05] improved TUGT significantly. CONCLUSION: In older adults with sarcopenia, RT could improve HGS and TUGT, CT and CT_SM could improve TUGT. There were no significant changes in CS and GS with any of the exercise training modes.

Traditional Chinese medicine invigorating the spleen and kidney promotes HBsAg seroclearance in the mouse model.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is often used as an adjuvant or alternative therapy for abnormal liver biochemistry or liver fibrosis associated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the role of TCM in HBsAg seroclearance remains unclear. We aimed at exploring the role and possible mechanisms of TCM in HBsAg seroclearance. Fifteen widely used TCM granules invigorating the spleen and kidneys were screened. C57BL/6J mice were administered daily with TCM granules by gavage for 1 week. The effect of TCM on the M1 polarization of macrophages was measured using a CD86 assay. According to the principles of formulating prescriptions, three single TCM with the most noticeable effect on M1 polarization, accompanied by two other TCM granules, were used to develop a TCM formula. The hepatitis B virus-expressing mouse model was constructed by hydrodynamic injection of the pAAV/HBV1.2 plasmid. Hepatitis B virus-expressing mice were gavaged daily with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), TCM formula, or Codonopsis Radix, for 1 week. HBsAg, HBeAg, and hepatitis B virus DNA levels were measured. In addition, gut microbiota was profiled using 16S rDNA sequencing. Several TCM granules showed significant effects on M1 polarization. The TCM formula accelerated HBsAg seroclearance compared with the Codonopsis Radix and PBS groups. Intrahepatic M1 polarization, as indicated by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, was induced in the TCM formula and Codonopsis Radix groups. The abundance of Alloprevotella significantly increased in the TCM formula and Codonopsis Radix groups. These results demonstrate that the TCM formula for invigorating the spleen and kidney can accelerate HBsAg seroclearance. This effect can be attributed, at least in part, to M1 polarization of intrahepatic macrophages.

US LI-RADS in surveillance for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the performance of US LI-RADS in surveillance for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (RHCC) after curative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 644 patients between January 2018 and August 2018 as a derivation cohort, and 397 patients from September 2018 to December 2018 as a validation cohort. The US surveillance after HCC curative treatment was performed. The US LI-RADS observation categories and visualization scores were analyzed. Four criteria using US LI-RADS or Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as the surveillance algorithm were evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 212 (32.9%) patients in derivation cohort and 158 (39.8%) patients in validation cohort were detected to have RHCCs. The criterion of US-2/3 or AFP ≥ 20 µg/L had higher sensitivity (derivation, 96.7% vs 92.9% vs 81.1% vs 90.6%; validation, 96.2% vs 90.5% vs 80.4% vs 89.9%) and NPV (derivation, 95.7% vs 93.3% vs 88.0% vs 91.8%; validation, 94.6% vs 89.4% vs 83.6% vs 89.0%), but lower specificity (derivation, 35.9% vs 48.2% vs 67.6% vs 51.9%; validation, 43.5% vs 52.7% vs 66.1% vs 54.0%) than criterion of US-2/3, US-3, and US-3 or AFP ≥ 20 µg/L. Analysis of the visualization score subgroups confirmed that the sensitivity (89.2-97.6% vs 81.0-83.3%) and NPV(88.4-98.0% vs 80.0-83.3%) of score A and score B groups were higher than score C group in criterion of US-2/3 in both two cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In the surveillance for RHCC, US LI-RADS with AFP had a high sensitivity and NPV when US-2/3 or AFP ≥ 20 µg/L was considered a criterion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The criterion of US-2/3 or AFP ≥ 20 µg/L improves sensitivity and NPV for RHCC surveillance, which provides a valuable reference for patients in RHCC surveillance after curative treatment. KEY POINTS: • US LI-RADS with AFP had high sensitivity and NPV in surveillance for RHCC when considering US-2/3 or AFP ≥ 20 µg/L as a criterion. • After US with AFP surveillance, patients with US-2/3 or AFP ≥ 20 µg/L should perform enhanced imaging for confirmative diagnosis. Patients with US-1 or AFP < 20 µg/L continue to repeat US with AFP surveillance. • Patients with risk factors for poor visualization scores limited the sensitivity of US surveillance in RHCC.

Corrigendum: Advances in eggshell membrane separation and solubilization technologies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1116126.].

Malfunctioned inflammatory response and serotonin metabolism at the microbiota-gut-brain axis drive feather pecking behavior in laying hens.

Feather pecking (FP) is a multifactorial abnormal behavior in laying hens where they display harmful pecks in conspecifics. FP has been associated with the altered functioning of the microbiome-gut-brain axis affecting host emotions and social behavior. The altered levels of serotonin (5-HT), a key monoaminergic neurotransmitter at both terminals of the gut-brain axis, affect the development of abnormal behavior, such as FP in laying hens. However, the underlying mechanism involving reciprocal interactions along the microbiota-gut-brain axis, particularly about the metabolism of 5-HT, remains unclear in FP phenotypes. This study examined the microbiota diversity, intestinal microbial metabolites, inflammatory responses, and 5-HT metabolism in divergently selected high (HFP; n = 8) and low (LFP; n = 8) FP hens to investigate the possible interconnections between FP behavior and the examined parameters. The 16S rRNA analysis revealed that compared to LFP birds, the gut microbiota of HFP birds exhibited a decrease in the abundance of phylum Firmicutes and genera Lactobacillus, while an increase in the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria and genera Escherichia Shigella and Desulfovibrio. Furthermore, the intestinal differential metabolites associated with FP phenotypes were mainly enriched in the tryptophan metabolic pathway. HFP birds had higher tryptophan metabolites and possibly a more responsive immune system compared to the LFP birds. This was indirectly supported by altered TNF-α levels in the serum and expression of inflammatory factor in the gut and brain. Moreover, HFP birds had lower serum levels of tryptophan and 5-HT compared to LFP birds, which was consistent with the downregulation of 5-HT metabolism-related genes in the brain of HFP birds. The correlation analysis revealed that genera Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio were associated with differences in intestinal metabolites, 5-HT metabolism, and inflammatory response between the LFP and HFP birds. In conclusion, differences in the cecal microbiota profile, immune response and 5-HT metabolism drive FP phenotypes, which could be associated with the gut abundance of genera Lactobacillus and Desulfovibrio.

Prognostic nutritional index combined with NLR to construct a survival prediction model and decision analysis of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer after surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To build a nomogram prediction model, assess its predictive ability, and perform a survival decision analysis on patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) to study risk factors affecting overall survival (OS). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical information of 262 patients with MIBC who underwent radical cystectomy (RC) at the Urology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University between July 2015 and August 2021. The final model variables that were included were chosen using single-factor stepwise Cox regression, optimal subset regression, and LASSO regression + cross-validation with the minimum AIC value. The next step was to do a multivariate Cox regression analysis. The establishment of a nomogram model by fitting and the screening out of independent risk factors impacting the survival of patients with MIBC having radical resection. Receiver Activity Characteristic curves, C-index, and a calibration plot evaluated the prediction accuracy, validity, and clinical benefit of the model. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were then computed for each risk factor using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: 262 eligible patients in total were enrolled. With a median follow-up of 32 months, the follow-up period ranged from 2 to 83 months. 171 cases (65.27%) survived while 91 cases (34.73%) perished. Age (HR = 1.06 [1.04; 1.08], p = 0.001), preoperative hydronephrosis (HR = 0.69 [0.46, 1.05], p = 0.087), T stage (HR = 2.06 [1.09, 3.93], p = 0.027), lymphovascular invasion (LVI, HR = 1.73 [1.12, 2.67], p = 0.013), prognostic nutritional index (PNI, HR = 1.70 [1.09, 2.63], p = 0.018), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR, HR = 0.52 [0.29, 0.93)], p = 0.026) were independent risk factor for the survival of bladder cancer patients. Create a nomogram based on the aforementioned findings, and then draw the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS receiver operating characteristic curves by the nomogram. The AUC values were 0.811 (95% CI [0.752, 0.869]), 0.814 (95% CI [0.755, 0.873]), and 0.787 (95% CI [0.708, 0.865]), respectively, and the calibration plot matched the predicted value well. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year decision curve analyses were higher than the ALL line and None line at threshold values of >5%, 5%-70%, and 20%-70% indicating that the model has good clinical applicability. The calibration plot for the Bootstrap 1000-time resampled validation model was similar to the actual value. Patients with preoperative combination hydronephrosis, higher T-stage, combined LVI, low PNI, and high NLR had worse survival, according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for each variable. CONCLUSIONS: This study might conclude that PNI and NLR were separate risk factors that affect a patient's OS after RC for MIBC. The prognosis of bladder cancer may be predicted by PNI and NLR, but additional confirmation in randomized controlled trials is required.