Actin-bundling protein fimbrin serves as a new auxin biosynthesis orchestrator in Arabidopsis root tips.

Plants delicately regulate endogenous auxin levels through the coordination of transport, biosynthesis, and inactivation, which is crucial for growth and development. While it is well-established that the actin cytoskeleton can regulate auxin levels by affecting polar transport, its potential role in auxin biosynthesis has remained largely unexplored. Using LC-MS/MS-based methods combined with fluorescent auxin marker detection, we observed a significant increase in root auxin levels upon deletion of the actin bundling proteins AtFIM4 and AtFIM5. Fluorescent observation, immunoblotting analysis, and biochemical approaches revealed that AtFIM4 and AtFIM5 affect the protein abundance of the key auxin synthesis enzyme YUC8 in roots. AtFIM4 and AtFIM5 regulate the auxin synthesis enzyme YUC8 at the protein level, with its degradation mediated by the 26S proteasome. This regulation modulates auxin synthesis and endogenous auxin levels in roots, consequently impacting root development. Based on these findings, we propose a molecular pathway centered on the 'actin cytoskeleton-26S proteasome-YUC8-auxin' axis that controls auxin levels. Our findings shed light on a new pathway through which plants regulate auxin synthesis. Moreover, this study illuminates a newfound role of the actin cytoskeleton in regulating plant growth and development, particularly through its involvement in maintaining protein homeostasis via the 26S proteasome.

The role of mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment and pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Psoriasis, a prevalent inflammatory skin condition impacting millions globally, continues to pose treatment challenges, despite the availability of multiple therapies. This underscores the demand for innovative treatments. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their capacity to modulate the immune system and facilitate tissue healing. Recent research indicates that MSCs don't just work through direct cell-to-cell interactions but also release extracellular vesicles (EVs), containing various bioactive substances like proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. This article explores our current knowledge of psoriasis's origins and the potential utilization of MSCs and their EVs, particularly exosomes, in managing the condition. Additionally, we delve into how MSCs and EVs function in therapy, including their roles in regulating immune responses and promoting tissue repair. Lastly, we discuss the obstacles and opportunities associated with translating MSC-based treatments for psoriasis into clinical practice.

Longitudinal ultrasound-based AI model predicts axillary lymph node response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: Developing a deep learning radiomics model from longitudinal breast ultrasound and sonographer's axillary ultrasound diagnosis for predicting axillary lymph node (ALN) response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer. METHODS: Breast cancer patients undergoing NAC followed by surgery were recruited from three centers between November 2016 and December 2022. We collected ultrasound images for extracting tumor-derived radiomics and deep learning features, selecting quantitative features through various methods. Two machine learning models based on random forest were developed using pre-NAC and post-NAC features. A support vector machine integrated these data into a fusion model, evaluated via the area under the curve (AUC), decision curve analysis, and calibration curves. We compared the fusion model's performance against sonographer's diagnosis from pre-NAC and post-NAC axillary ultrasonography, referencing histological outcomes from sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection. RESULTS: In the validation cohort, the fusion model outperformed both pre-NAC (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.786, p < 0.001) and post-NAC models (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.853, p = 0.014), as well as the sonographer's diagnosis of ALN status on pre-NAC and post-NAC axillary ultrasonography (AUC: 0.899 vs. 0.719, p < 0.001). Decision curve analysis revealed patient benefits from the fusion model across threshold probabilities from 0.02 to 0.98. The model also enhanced sonographer's diagnostic ability, increasing accuracy from 71.9% to 79.2%. CONCLUSION: The deep learning radiomics model accurately predicted the ALN response to NAC in breast cancer. Furthermore, the model will assist sonographers to improve their diagnostic ability on ALN status before surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Our AI model based on pre- and post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy ultrasound can accurately predict axillary lymph node metastasis and assist sonographer's axillary diagnosis. KEY POINTS: Axillary lymph node metastasis status affects the choice of surgical treatment, and currently relies on subjective ultrasound. Our AI model outperformed sonographer's visual diagnosis on axillary ultrasound. Our deep learning radiomics model can improve sonographers' diagnosis and might assist in surgical decision-making.

3D-CEUS/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging vs 2D-CEUS after locoregional therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter prospective study of therapeutic response evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3D contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging with 2D-CEUS in assessing the response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to locoregional therapies in a multicenter prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of patients with HCC scheduled for locoregional treatment were enrolled between April 2021 and March 2023. Patients were randomly divided into 3D-CEUS/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging group (3D/fusion group) or 2D-CEUS group (2D group). CEUS was performed 1 week before and 4-6 weeks after locoregional treatment. Contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) 4-6 weeks after treatment was set as the reference standard. CEUS images were evaluated for the presence or absence of viable tumors. Diagnostic performance criteria, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve (AUC), were determined for each modality. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were included, 70 patients in the 2D group (mean age, 60.2 ± 10.4 years) and 70 patients in the 3D/fusion group (mean age, 59.8 ± 10.6 years). The sensitivity of the 3D/fusion group was 100.0% (95% CI: 75.9, 100.0), higher than that of the 2D group (55.6%, 95% CI: 22.7, 84.7; p = 0.019). The specificity of the 3D/fusion group was 96.3% (95% CI: 86.2, 99.4), which was comparable to that of the 2D group (98.4%, 95% CI: 90.0, 99.9; p = 0.915). The AUC of the 3D/fusion group was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.00), higher than that of the 2D group (0.77, 95% CI: 0.56, 0.98; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: 3D-CEUS/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging exhibits superior diagnostic accuracy in evaluating the treatment response to locoregional therapies for HCC. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: 3D-CEUS/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging can be applied for post-treatment assessment of residual tumors in HCC undergoing locoregional treatment, offering potential benefits in terms of accurate diagnosis and clinical management. KEY POINTS: Evaluating for HCC recurrence following locoregional therapy is important. 3D-CEUS/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging achieved a higher sensitivity than 2D-CEUS in assessing residual tumors after locoregional therapies. 3D-CEUS/MRI-CEUS fusion imaging can help clinicians intervene early in residual HCC lesions after locoregional treatment.

Rational design of a polypropylene composite foam with open-cell structure via graphite conductive network for sound absorption.

An exciting result is reported in this study where a polypropylene (PP) foam with a high open-cell content was achieved by constructing a thermally conductive network for the first time. PP and nano-graphite particles were used as substrate and filler, respectively, to prepare the PP-graphite (PP-G) composite foam by twin-screw blending, hot pressing, and supercritical CO2 foaming. The nano-graphite particles can effectively adjust the microstructure of the PP-G foam and achieve a high porosity. When the amount of nano-graphite is 10.0 wt%, the PP-G foam exhibits optimal sound absorption performance, compression resistance, heat insulation, and hydrophobic properties. In the human-sensitive frequency range of 1000-6000 Hz, the corresponding average SAC is above 0.9, and the internal tortuosity is 5.27. After 50 cycles of compression, the compressive stress is 980 kPa and the SAC loss is only 7.8%. This study also innovatively proposed a new strategy to achieve the simple and rapid preparation of open-cell PP foams by increasing the thermal conductivity of the foaming substrate.

Predictive nomograms of repeat intrahepatic recurrence and overall survival after radiofrequency ablation of recurrent colorectal liver metastases.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop nomograms for predicting repeat intrahepatic recurrence (rIHR) and overall survival (OS), after radiofrequency ablation (RFA), treatment in patients with recurrent colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) after hepatectomy based on clinicopathologic features. METHODS: A total of 160 consecutive patients with recurrent CLMs after hepatectomy who were treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA from 2012 to 2022 were retrospectively included. Patients were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort, with a ratio of 8:2. Potential prognostic factors associated with rIHR and OS, after RFA, were identified by using the competing-risks and Cox proportional hazard models, respectively, and were used to construct the nomogram. The nomogram was evaluated by Harrell's C-index and a calibration curve. RESULTS: The 1-, 2-, and 3-year rIHR rates after RFA were 58.8%, 70.2%, and 74.2%, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 96.3%, 60.4%, and 38.5%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, mutant RAS, interval from hepatectomy to intrahepatic recurrence ≤ 12 months, CEA level >5 ng/ml, and ablation margin <5 mm were the independent predictive factors for rIHR. Mutant RAS, largest CLM at hepatectomy >3 cm, CEA level >5 ng/ml, and extrahepatic disease were independent predictors of poor OS. Two nomograms for rIHR and OS were constructed using the respective significant variables. In both cohorts, the nomogram demonstrated good discrimination and calibration. CONCLUSIONS: The established nomograms can predict individual risk of rIHR and OS after RFA for recurrent CLMs and contribute to improving individualized management.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for patients with liver metastases from gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver metastases from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). METHODS: Between March 2011 and November 2022, 34 patients (16 males; age range, 25-72 [median age, 52.5] years) who underwent RFA for liver metastasis from GISTs were included. The mean maximum diameter of metastatic lesions was 2.4 ± 1.0 (range, 1.1-5.2) cm. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: For 79 lesions among 34 patients, all targeted lesions were completely ablated. The mean hepatic progression-free survival (HPFS) period was 28.4 ± 3.8 (range, 1.0-45.7) months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year HPFS rates were 67.2%, 60.5%, and 20.2%, respectively. Based on the univariate analysis, the number of metastatic tumors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKI) therapy before RFA were prognostic factors for HPFS. Multivariate analysis showed that pre-RFA TKI therapy was associated with a better HPFS(p = 0.030). The mean overall survival (OS) period was 100.5 ± 14.1 (range, 3.8-159.5) months and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 96.9%, 77.1%, and 58.7%, respectively. Both univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that extrahepatic metastasis before RFA (p = 0.044) was a significant prognostic factor for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Liver metastases from GIST exhibit relatively mild biological behavior. RFA is safe and effective, particularly in patients without pre-RFA extrahepatic metastases. Patients received targeted therapy before RFA can obtain an extended HPFS.

Sinomenine protects against atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-knockout mice by inhibiting of inflammatory pathway.

Atherosclerosis, a multifaceted and persistent inflammatory condition, significantly contributes to the progression of cardiocerebrovascular disorders, such as myocardial infarctions and cerebrovascular accidents. It involves the accumulation of cholesterol, fatty deposits, calcium and cellular debris in the walls of arteries, leading to the formation of plaques. Our aim is to investigate the potential of sinomenine to counteract atherosclerosis in mice lacking Apolipoprotein E (ApoE-/-) Mice. We employed the high-fat diet-induced method to induce atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice, and the mice were treated with sinomenine (5, 10, and 15 mg/kg) and simvastatin (0.5 mg/kg) for 12 weeks. Body weight, water intake, and food intake were assessed. Lipid parameters, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and mRNA levels were estimated. Sinomenine treatment remarkably (P < 0.001) suppressed body weight, along with food and water intake. Sinomenine altered the levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which were modulated in the atherosclerosis group. Sinomenine treatment also altered the levels of oxidative stress parameters such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). In addition, it modulated cardiac parameters like C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelin-1 (ET-1), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), nitric oxide (NO), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB). Inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were also affected. Sinomenine further suppressed the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-17, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Il-1ß, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), MCP-2, MCP-3, transforming Growth Factor-1ß (TGF-1ß), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The results suggest that sinomenine remarkably suppressed the development of atherosclerosis in the early stage.

Transduodenal accessory papillary Rendezvous technique assisted ERCP in the treatment of severe pancreatic duct stenosis caused by chronic pancreatitis in children.

Chronic pancreatitis in children is an irreversible inflammatory disease, which can cause intractable abdominal pain and abnormal internal and external secretion function of the pancreas, seriously affecting the growth and development of children and the quality of life. ERCP has become the first choice because of its good effect and less trauma. However, the severe stenosis of pancreatic duct caused by chronic pancreatitis may make ERCP more difficult. Here we used the rendezvous technique to assist ERCP to complete the treatment of severe pancreatic duct stenosis and abdominal pain.

EUS-guided bridging technique for treatment of biliary-enteric anastomotic stenosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Biliary-enteric anastomotic stenosis is one of the main long-term complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy, with an incidence of 2%-8%. Although the relevant reports and studies are relatively few, the consequences such as biliary obstruction and refractory cholangitis seriously affect the quality of life of patients. In this case, the patient is not willing to receive conventional surgery again. This paper provides a bridge technique of EUS-guided Biliary Drainage (EUS-BD) to treat biliary-enteric anastomotic stenosis and solve the problem of obstructive jaundice in the patient.

External fistula internalization - Endoscopic ultrasound guided stent implantation between stomach and fistula in the treatment of refractory pancreatic cutaneous fistula.

Pancreatic cutaneous fistula is a complex condition, making it challenging to achieve favorable outcomes with conservative medical treatment. Surgical interventions often entail surgical risks and postoperative complications. Here, we present a case involving endoscopically guided stent placement between the stomach and the fistula. By internalizing the fistula, patients can potentially remove the external drainage tube, offering a novel endoscopic treatment approach for such cases.

[A multicenter study of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen, China]. / 深圳市新生儿脑卒中多中心现况调查.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence rate, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen, China. METHODS: Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital, the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022. The incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137, 1/6 060, and 1/7 704, respectively. Ischemic stroke accounted for 75% (27/36); boys accounted for 64% (23/36). Among the 36 neonates, 31 (86%) had disease onset within 3 days after birth, and 19 (53%) had convulsion as the initial presentation. Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates (61%) had left cerebral infarction and 13 (36%) had basal ganglia infarction. Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates, among whom 9 (75%) had involvement of the middle cerebral artery. Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates, with sharp waves in 21 neonates (72%) and seizures in 10 neonates (34%). Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals. Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates (33%, 12/36), with a mean score of (32±4) points. The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age, with 44% (12/27) of the neonates having a good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke, often with convulsions as the initial presentation, involvement of the middle cerebral artery, sharp waves on electroencephalography, and a relatively low neurodevelopment score. Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method, and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Automated highway pavement crack recognition under complex environment.

The pavement is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters, accidents and other human factors, resulting in the formation of cracks. Periodic pavement monitoring can facilitate prompt detection and repair the pavement diseases, thereby minimizing casualties and property losses. Due to the presence of numerous interferences, recognizing highway pavement cracks in complex environments poses a significant challenge. Nevertheless, several computer vision approaches have demonstrated notable success in tackling this issue. We have employed a novel approach for crack recognition utilizing the ResNet34 model with a convolutional block attention module (CBAM), which not only saves parameters and computing power but also ensures seamless integration of the module as a plug-in. Initially, ResNet18, ResNet34, and ResNet50 models were trained by employing transfer learning techniques, with the ResNet34 network being selected as a fundamental model. Subsequently, CBAM was integrated into ResBlock and further training was conducted. Finally, we calculated the precision, average recall on the test set, and the recall of each class. The results demonstrate that by integrating CBAM into the ResNet34 network, the model exhibited improved test accuracy and average recall compared to its previous state. Moreover, our proposed model outperformed all other models in terms of performance. The recall rates for transverse crack, longitudinal crack, map crack, repairing, and pavement marking were 88.8%, 86.8%, 88.5%, 98.3%, and 99.9%, respectively. Our model achieves the highest precision of 92.9% and the highest average recall of 92.5%. However, the effectiveness in detecting mesh cracks was found to be unsatisfactory, despite their significant prevalence. In summary, the proposed model exhibits great potential for crack identification and serves as a crucial foundation for highway maintenance.

Time-varying gain extended state observer-based adaptive optimal control for disturbed unmanned helicopter.

In this paper, the robust adaptive optimal tracking control problem is addressed for the disturbed unmanned helicopter based on the time-varying gain extended state observer (TVGESO) and adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) methods. Firstly, a novel TVGESO is developed to tackle the unknown disturbance, which can overcome the drawback of initial peaking phenomenon in the traditional linear ESO method. Meanwhile, compared with the nonlinear ESO, the proposed TVGESO possesses easier and rigorous stability analysis process. Subsequently, the optimal tracking control issue for the original unmanned helicopter system is transformed into an optimization stabilization problem. By means of the ADP and neural network techniques, the feedforward controller and optimal feedback controller are skillfully designed. Compared with the conventional backstepping approach, the designed anti-disturbance optimal controller can make the unmanned helicopter accomplish the tracking task with less energy. Finally, simulation comparisons demonstrate the validity of the developed control scheme.

Circ_0020460 drives tumorigenesis in cervical cancer through miR-485-3p sponging.

Deregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) is widely recognized in cancer progression. Our study aims to investigate the role of circ_0020460 in the development of cervical cancer (CC) and its potential mechanism of action. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot assays were used to detect the expression levels of circ_0020460, miR-485-3p and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1). The roles of circ_0020460 on cell proliferation, cell migration, cell invasion, cell apoptosis, and angiogenesis were investigated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Ethynyl deoxyuridine (Edu) assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry assay, and tube formation assay, respectively. The putative relationship predicted by bioinformatics analysis was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Xenograft models were constructed to explore the role of circ_0020460 in vivo. The expression of circ_0020460 and CXCL1 expression were increased, while miR-485-3p expression was declined in CC tissues and cells. Circ_0020460 knockdown suppressed CC cell proliferation, cell migration, cell invasion, angiogenesis, and promoted cell apoptosis. Circ_0020460 functioned as a miR-485-3p sponge to inhibit miR-485-3p level, and the anti-cancer effects mediated by circ_0020460 knockdown were reversed by miR-485-3p inhibitor. MiR-485-3p bound to CXCL1 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) to degrade CXCL1 expression, and the anti-cancer effects of miR-485-3p restoration were impaired by CXCL1 overexpression. Circ_0020460 downregulation inhibited CC xenograft tumor growth. These results suggest that circ_0020460 promoted the malignant behavior of CC cells by modulating the miR-485-3p/CXCL1 axis.

Study on the value of Inhibin B in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its correlation with traditional Chinese medicine syndromes: An observational study.

To investigate the expression of Inhibin B between various clinical stages, Chinese medicine dialectic typing, and in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues and serum, and to evaluate the potential of Inhibin B as a new biomarker for NPC. Paraffin specimens of pathologically confirmed NPC tissues and paracancerous tissues were retrospectively collected, and the expression of Inhibin α (INHA) and Inhibin ßB (INHBB) was detected by SP method, and their relationship with clinicopathological indexes was analyzed; in addition, patients with NPC who had received radiotherapy were included as the study subjects, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA), INHA, and INHBB in patients were detected by using the fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and chemiluminescent immuno-sandwiching method, respectively. EBV-DNA, EBV-viral capsid antigen-immunoglobulin A (VCA IgA), INHA, and INHBB were detected in the patients, respectively, and their relationships with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns were also analyzed. The expression of INHA and INHBB in NPC tissues was lower than that in paracancerous tissues, and the expression of INHA in NPC patients was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, clinical staging, and TCM staging; the levels of EBV-DNA and VCA IgA were higher than that of healthy populations in NPC patients and were higher than that of patients with stage III + IV than that of patients with stage I + II, and the levels of INHA and INHBB were lower than those of healthy populations and were lower than those of patients with stage III + IV than that of patients with stage I + II. The levels of INHA and INHBB in nasopharyngeal cancer patients were lower than those in healthy people, and the levels in stage III + IV patients were lower than those in stage I + II patients. The levels of EBV-DNA and VCA IgA in nasopharyngeal cancer patients were correlated with the Chinese medicine patterns, and had different patterns. The expression of Inhibin B may be related to the progression of NPC, and it has certain typing significance for different TCM syndromes of NPC, which is helpful for TCM typing diagnosis.

Controlled Twill Surface Structure Endowing Nanofiber Composite Membrane Excellent Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Inspired by the Chinese Knotting weave structure, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) nanofiber composite membrane with a twill surface was prepared. Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (Pva-co-PE) nanofibers and twill nylon fabric were used as the matrix and filter templates, respectively. A Pva-co-PE-MXene/silver nanowire (Pva-co-PE-MXene/AgNW, PMxAg) membrane was successfully prepared using a template method. When the MXene/AgNW content was only 7.4 wt% (PM7.4Ag), the EMI shielding efficiency (SE) of the composite membrane with the oblique twill structure on the surface was 103.9 dB and the surface twill structure improved the EMI by 38.5%. This result was attributed to the pre-interference of the oblique twill structure in the direction of the incident EM wave, which enhanced the probability of the electromagnetic waves randomly colliding with the MXene nanosheets. Simultaneously, the internal reflection and ohmic and resonance losses were enhanced. The PM7.4Ag membrane with the twill structure exhibited both an outstanding tensile strength of 22.8 MPa and EMI SE/t of 3925.2 dB cm-1. Moreover, the PMxAg nanocomposite membranes demonstrated an excellent thermal management performance, hydrophobicity, non-flammability, and performance stability, which was demonstrated by an EMI SE of 97.3% in a high-temperature environment of 140 °C. The successful preparation of surface-twill composite membranes makes it difficult to achieve both a low filler content and a high EMI SE in electromagnetic shielding materials. This strategy provides a new approach for preparing thin membranes with excellent EMI properties.

A novel nomogram for prediction of intrahepatic recurrence-free survival in patients with HCC followed by radiofrequency ablation.

OBJECTIVE: Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been considered as the favourable treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there still exist some challenges for new recurrence after RFA. The present study aims to determine the factors affecting recurrence and develop an effective model to predict intrahepatic recurrence-free survival (RFS). METHODS: Patients with HCC followed by RFA between 2000 and 2021 were included in this study. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independent prognostic factors and establish the nomogram predicting intrahepatic RFS after RFA. The predictive performance of the nomogram was assessed according to the C-index, calibration plots, and Kaplan-Meier curves stratified by the tertiles. RESULTS: A total of 801 sessions in 660 patients (including 1155 lesions) were enrolled into this study. Intrahepatic new recurrence was observed in all patients during the follow-up, and the mean intrahepatic RFS was 21.9 months in the present cohort. According to multivariate COX regression analysis, five independent prognostic factors affecting intrahepatic RFS were determined, including age, Child-Pugh class, tumour distribution, number of tumours, and a-fetoprotein (AFP). Based on all independent prognostic factors, the nomogram model was developed and evaluated, which achieved favourable discrimination and calibration. CONCLUSION: This study established five independent prognostic factors and constructed a nomogram model to predict intrahepatic RFS for HCC patients followed by RFA. It could better help clinicians select RFA candidates, as well as offering the important information about whether patients need receive comprehensive treatment to prevent new recurrence after RFA. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: (1) In this study, 5 preoperative clinic-pathological variables were determined as the independent prognostic factors affecting RFS after RFA in the current largest sample size. (2) Based on these independent prognostic factors, a prognostic nomogram predicting RFS after RFA was established, which may be used to select patients who benefit from RFA and could help both surgeons and patients provide useful information for choosing the personalized treatment.

Exploring Unlabeled Data in Multiple Aspects for Semi-Supervised MRI Segmentation.

Background: MRI segmentation offers crucial insights for automatic analysis. Although deep learning-based segmentation methods have attained cutting-edge performance, their efficacy heavily relies on vast sets of meticulously annotated data. Methods: In this study, we propose a novel semi-supervised MRI segmentation model that is able to explore unlabeled data in multiple aspects based on various semi-supervised learning technologies. Results: We compared the performance of our proposed method with other deep learning-based methods on 2 public datasets, and the results demonstrated that we have achieved Dice scores of 90.3% and 89.4% on the LA and ACDC datasets, respectively. Conclusions: We explored the synergy of various semi-supervised learning technologies for MRI segmentation, and our investigation will inspire research that focuses on designing MRI segmentation models.