Dual-NMS: A Method for Autonomously Removing False Detection Boxes from Aerial Image Object Detection Results.

In the field of aerial image object detection based on deep learning, it's difficult to extract features because the images are obtained from a top-down perspective. Therefore, there are numerous false detection boxes. The existing post-processing methods mainly remove overlapped detection boxes, but it's hard to eliminate false detection boxes. The proposed dual non-maximum suppression (dual-NMS) combines the density of detection boxes that are generated for each detected object with the corresponding classification confidence to autonomously remove the false detection boxes. With the dual-NMS as a post-processing method, the precision is greatly improved under the premise of keeping recall unchanged. In vehicle detection in aerial imagery (VEDAI) and dataset for object detection in aerial images (DOTA) datasets, the removal rate of false detection boxes is over 50%. Additionally, according to the characteristics of aerial images, the correlation calculation layer for feature channel separation and the dilated convolution guidance structure are proposed to enhance the feature extraction ability of the network, and these structures constitute the correlation network (CorrNet). Compared with you only look once (YOLOv3), the mean average precision (mAP) of the CorrNet for DOTA increased by 9.78%. Commingled with dual-NMS, the detection effect in aerial images is significantly improved.

Establishment and evaluation of a model for predicting 3-month mortality in Chinese patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a serious complication of liver disease. To establish a model for predicting 3-month mortality in patients with HE in China. This retrospective study included 609 patients with HE admitted to the Peoples' Hospital, Liaocheng City, China (August 2006 to January 2016). Patients were allocated to a modeling (n = 409) or validation (n = 200) group. Demographic/clinical characteristics, laboratory test results, Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score were extracted from medical records. A model for predicting death within 3 months after admission was established using logistic regression analysis (modeling group). Model validity (validation group) was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. 270/409(66.0%) patients died in the modeling group and 142/203(70.0%) died in the validation group. Compared with survivors, patients who died had more severe HE, and higher MELD score, CTP score, incidence of complications including hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and values for laboratory parameters including red blood cell count(RBC) and total bilirubin(TBIL)(P < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed RBC, TBIL, HE stage, HRS and upper gastrointestinal bleeding as independent factors associated with death (P < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the model was 0.931.The model had a higher Youden index than MELD or CTP scores and predicted death in the validation group with a sensitivity of 83.1% and specificity of 93.4%. The established model has superior performance to MELD and CTP scores for predicting mortality in patients with HE.

Prognostic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma on the background of liver cirrhosis via contrast-enhanced ultrasound and pathology.

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between the quantitative parameters of contrast-enhancement ultrasound for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biological manifestations of tumor (Ki-67), and to explore the related risk factors of primary hepatocellular carcinoma, so as to provide the theoretical basis for the further study on contrast-enhancement ultrasound manifestations, clinical features and prognosis of HCC. The patients with HCC confirmed by operation or puncture were collected, and those with the background of liver cirrhosis and immunohistochemical staining for tumor sample sections were selected. H&E staining sections of pathological tissues of tumor samples were observed, whether there was any microvessel invasion (MVI) was recorded, the microvessel density (MVD) was counted and the recurrence situations after liver cancer operation was followed up. The change in size of tumor at arterial phase in contrast-enhancement ultrasound, enhancement mode and form at arterial phase, and whether there were tortuous vessels inside or not, and the enhancement intensity, extinction time and extinction intensity at portal phase were observed. The relationship between the parameters of contrast-enhancement ultrasound and Ki-67, AFP, MVD, MVI, tissue differentiation degree of tumor samples and recurrence was analyzed. Under the background of liver cirrhosis, there were significant differences in different enhancement modes and quantification parameters of contrast-enhancement ultrasound for HCC with different expression of Ki-67. Those with obvious tumor enlargement, inhomogeneous enhancement at arterial phase and irregular enhancement form at arterial phase after contrast-enhancement ultrasound had a high incidence of positive Ki-67 and a high early recurrence rate. The inhomogeneous enhancement at arterial phase might predict the proliferative activity and recurrence time of tumor cells; irregular enhancement form at arterial phase might indicate tumor MVI; and the low enhancement of tumor at portal phase may predict a lower degree of tissue differentiation, a higher tumor malignancy and poor prognosis. The incidence of positive Ki-67 under the background of liver cirrhosis is high, indicating poor prognosis. The enhancement mode and parameters of contrast-enhancement ultrasound for HCC may help evaluate the clinical biological manifestations of HCC and predict the postoperative recurrence of HCC.

Morphomics of the Talus.

Previous studies of frontal crash databases reported that ankle fractures are among the most common lower extremity fractures. While not generally life threatening, these injuries can be debilitating. Laboratory research into the mechanisms of ankle fractures has linked dorsiflexion with an increased risk of tibia and fibula malleolus fractures. However, talus fractures were not produced in the laboratory tests and appear to be caused by more complex loading of the joint. In this study, an analysis of the National Automotive Sampling System - Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) for the years 2004-2013 was conducted to investigate foot-ankle injury rates in front seat occupants involved in frontal impact crashes. A logistic regression model was developed indicating occupant weight, impact delta velocity and gender to be significant predictors of talus fracture (p<0.05). Separately, a specific set of Computed Tomography (CT) scans from the International Center for Automotive Medicine (ICAM) scan database was used to characterize the talar dome. This control population consisted of 207 adults aged 18 to 84, with no foot or ankle trauma, and scans that had suitable coverage of the talus. Size of the talus was determined using medial-to-lateral width and anterior-to-posterior depth measurements. Geometry was assessed by evaluating the radius of the articulating talus and strength was assessed using a combination of cross sectional area and density. Demographics were studied to investigate correlation with talus measurements from the CT scan database. A multi-variable linear regression model of the morphomics showed gender to be statistically significant (p<0.05) for talus depth, width, cross-sectional area, radius and strength. Body Mass Index (BMI) was significant for depth and radius. Weight was significant for depth, width, density and strength. Stature was significant for depth, cross-sectional area, radius and strength. Age was significant for radius and density.

Thoracic Injury Risk Curves for Rib Deflections of the SID-IIs Build Level D.

Injury risk curves for SID-IIs thorax and abdomen rib deflections proposed for future NCAP side impact evaluations were developed from tests conducted with the SID-IIs FRG. Since the floating rib guide is known to reduce the magnitude of the peak rib deflections, injury risk curves developed from SID-IIs FRG data are not appropriate for use with SID-IIs build level D. PMHS injury data from three series of sled tests and one series of whole-body drop tests are paired with thoracic rib deflections from equivalent tests with SID-IIs build level D. Where possible, the rib deflections of SID-IIs build level D were scaled to adjust for differences in impact velocity between the PMHS and SID-IIs tests. Injury risk curves developed by the Mertz-Weber modified median rank method are presented and compared to risk curves developed by other parametric and non-parametric methods.

MicroRNA-1297 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting EZH2.

In this study, we suggested the level of miR-1297 was downreguled in the human hepatocellular carcinoma compared to the normal cells. We demonstrate ectopic expression of miR-1297 could significantly suppress hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation and enhance the cell apoptosis. In vitro reporter assay suggested EZH2 is a direct target gene of miR-1297. Furthermore, knockdown of EZH2 have the same effect with miR-1297 overeexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. These findings provide evidence that miR-1297 plays a key role in inhibition of the hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation, and enhancing cell apoptosis through targeting EZH2, and strongly suggest that ex ogenous miR-1297 may have therapeutic value in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

Increased frequency of circulating Th17 cells in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

BACKGROUND: T helper (Th) 17 cells participate in the pathogenesis of liver diseases but their exact role in acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) still remains obscure. AIMS: This present study was aimed to characterize the circulating Th17 cells and to analyze their association with disease progression in ACHBLF. METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of 40 ACHBLF patients, 40 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 20 healthy controls. The frequency of peripheral Th17 cells and IL-17 mRNA level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were estimated by flow cytometry and relative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: We found that the frequency of peripheral Th17 cells, as well as the level of IL-17 mRNA in PBMCs, was significantly increased in ACHBLF patients compared with CHB patients and healthy controls. In ACHBLF patients, the frequency of Th17 cells was positively correlated with serum total bilirubin (r = 0.392, P = 0.012) and model for end-stage liver disease scores (r = 0.383, P = 0.015), but negatively correlated with prothrombin activity (r = -0.317, P = 0.046). The same trend was observed as for relative expression of IL-17. Furthermore, the frequency of Th17 cells and IL-17 mRNA level were significantly elevated in non-survivors compared with survivors in ACHBLF patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that Th17 cells as well as IL-17 might be related with disease severity and prognosis in ACHBLF patients.

Enhanced demethylation of interferon-γ gene promoter in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

Acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) refers to liver failure occurring in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related liver diseases. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) plays an important role in the exacerbation of liver function. However, the exact mechanism, by which IFN-γ mediates ACHBLF, is not fully understood. Forty patients with ACHBLF, fifteen patients with CHB and ten healthy controls were included in this present study. ELISA was performed to measure the level of serum IFN-γ. The methylation status of IFN-γ promoter in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined using methylation-specific PCR. Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scoring was performed for evaluating the severity of liver failure. The serum level of IFN-γ in patients with ACHBLF or CHB was significantly lower than that in healthy controls, while the serum IFN-γ level in ACHBLF patients was significantly higher than that in CHB patients. In ACHBLF patients, the level of IFN-γ was positively correlated with total bilirubin and MELD score, but negatively correlated with prothrombin time activity. These results suggest the involvement of IFN-γ in the pathogenesis of ACHBLF. Importantly, the degree of methylation of the IFN-γ gene promoter in ACHBLF patients (60%, 24/40) was significantly lower than that in CHB patients (93%, 14/15), but was higher than that in the control group (20%, 2/10). Furthermore, in ACHBLF patients, the serum IFN-γ level was significantly higher in unmethylation group than that in methylation group. In conclusion, enhanced demethylation of IFN-γ gene promoter in PBMCs may be associated with the onset of ACHBLF.