[Extracting target from blurred midwave infrared image based on immune template clustering].

Extracting targets from a blurred midwave infrared image is a challenging task due to the fuzziness of the image. Inspired by the coordination mechanism between biological innate immunity and adaptive immunity, an immune template clustering targets extraction method is proposed, which based on imaging mechanism and template statistical property of midwave image. Firstly, by learning from the recognition function of innate immunity and maximizing the between-cluster variance, a midwave blurred infrared image is segmented into a target pixel set, a background pixel set and a blurred pixel set. Secondly, according to the presentation function of innate immunity, the frequency domain template features of pixels in midwave blurred infrared image are extracted. Finally, adaptive immune clustering is completed for the blurred pixel set based on frequency domain template feature, in order to divide each blurred pixel into target pixel or background pixel. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can extract targets from a midwave blurred infrared image efficiently. Compared with classical edge template and conventional region template methods, the immune template clustering method has better extraction efficiency, absolute error rate and coincidence degree with ground truth.

Neonatal effect of remifentanil in cesarean section with general anesthesia: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although several previous studies have reported the efficacy of remifentanil in cesarean section (CS) under general anesthesia, no study has specifically addressed its neonatal effect (NE) in CS under general anesthesia systematically. Thus, this study will systematically investigate the NE of remifentanil in CS under general anesthesia. METHODS: Electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure will be systematically retrieved with the assistance of a specialist librarian to check randomized controlled trials reporting NE in CS under general anesthesia. We will retrieve all electronic databases from their initial time to March 20, 2020 without restrictions of language. All process of study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias evaluation will be carried out by 2 independent authors. We will invite another senior expert to solve the problems that arise between 2 authors. Data will be pooled and analyzed using RevMan V.5.3 software. RESULTS: Outcomes consist of assessment of neonatal adaptation, requirements for postoperative respiratory support of neonates, systolic and diastolic noninvasive blood pressure, mean blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiography, umbilical cord blood gas analysis, and adverse events. CONCLUSION: This study will present evidence of the NE of remifentanil in CS under general anesthesia. This information may inform benefits of intervention to guide the usage of remifentanil in CS under general anesthesia. STUDY REGISTRATION: INPLASY202040028.

Rapid screening for Klinefelter syndrome with a simple high-resolution melting assay: a multicenter study.

Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is the set of symptoms that result from the presence of an extra X chromosome in males. Postnatal population-based KS screening will enable timely diagnosis of this common chromosomal disease, providing the opportunity for early intervention and therapy at the time point when they are most effective and may prevent later symptoms or complications. Therefore, through this study, we introduced a simple high-resolution melting (HRM) assay for KS screening and evaluated its clinical sensitivity and specificity in three medical centers using 1373 clinical blood samples. The HRM assay utilized a single primer pair to simultaneously amplify specific regions in zinc finger protein, X-linked (ZFX) and zinc finger protein, Y-linked (ZFY). In cases of KS, the ratios of ZFX/ZFY are altered compared to those in normal males. As a result, the specific melting profiles differ and can be differentiated during data analysis. This HRM assay displayed high analytical specificity over a wide range of template DNA amounts (5 ng-50 ng) and reproducibility, high resolution for detecting KS mosaicism, and high clinical sensitivity (100%) and specificity (98.1%). Moreover, the HRM assay was rapid (2 h per run), inexpensive (0.2 USD per sample), easy to perform and automatic, and compatible with both whole blood samples and dried blood spots. Therefore, this HRM assay is an ideal postnatal population-based KS screening tool that can be used for different age groups.

[Study of interaction between the phase states of liposome and dyes by UV-visible absorption spectra].

Liposome is one of the major areas of interest in recent years because of its many potential applications. In this paper, three phase states of liposome (micelle, lamellar and reversed hexagonal) were prepared by thin-film hydration method and their structures were observed with electron microscope. We studied the interaction between these phase states and various dyes by UV-visible spectra. As a result, the phase states of liposome can be detected by the color change or the spectroscopic change. Through careful selection, 4 kinds of useful dyes were found to detect different liposome structures, that is 2,6-dichloroindophenol sodium, congred, pinacyanol chloride and calcein. The possible mechanism of the interaction between the phases of liposome and dyes was discussed. The liposome undertakes hydrolysis and forms mixed micelle. The hydrolysis rate of lamellar is faster than that of reversed hexagonal, which makes pH of the solution to decrease and causes a color change of the dyes in a short time. This method can be applied to the separation of natural phosphatides and monitor in the production of liposome.

Liver fibrosis evaluation by ARFI and APRI in chronic hepatitis C.

AIM: To explore the value of liver fibrosis assessment by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and the AST/PLT ratio index (APRI) in chronic hepatitis C patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty eight patients with chronic hepatitis C were examined using ARFI elastometry and APRI, calculated according to known formulae. The gold standard of liver biopsy was referred; ROC curve analysis was used to assess all ARFI and APRI values. The corresponding cut-off values, sensitivities, and specificities were calculated and compared. In addition, the correlation of liver fibrosis stages in chronic hepatitis C patients with ARFI measurements and APRI were also tested to evaluate significant data. RESULTS: The values of ARFI in S1-S4 were 1.23 ± 0.34 m/s, 1.48 ± 0.43 m/s, 2.06 ± 0.45 m/s, and 2.30 ± 0.87 m/s. The values of APRI in S1-S4 were 0.31 ± 0.45 m/s, 0.28 ± 0.38 m/s, 0.58 ± 0.59 m/s and 0.65 ± 0.34 m/s. ARFI (r = 0.649, P < 0.05) showed a better correlation with liver fibrosis stages in chronic hepatitis C than APRI (r = 0.478, P < 0.05). The areas under the ROC curves for ARFI and APRI were 0.775 and 0.721 for stages ≥ S2, 0.901 and 0.787 for stages ≥ S3, and 0.792 and 0.780 for S = 4, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both ARFI and APRI could evaluate liver fibrosis stages in chronic hepatitis C. ARFI is more accurate than the APRI index.