Ultrasound Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Function after Transumbilical Laparoscopic Single-Site Total Hysterectomy Using Deep Learning Algorithm.

This study was aimed at investigating the ultrasound based on deep learning algorithm to evaluate the rehabilitation effect of transumbilical laparoscopic single-site total hysterectomy on pelvic floor function in patients. The bilinear convolutional neural network (BCNN) structure was constructed in the ultrasound imaging system. The spatial transformer network (STN) was used to preserve image information. Two algorithms, BCNN-R and BCNN-S, were proposed to remove sensitive information after ultrasonic image processing, and then, subtle features of the image were identified and classified. 80 patients undergoing transumbilical laparoscopic single-site total hysterectomy in hospital were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, with 40 cases in each group. In the control group, conventional ultrasound was used to assess the image of pelvic floor function in patients undergoing laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS); in the observation group, ultrasound based on deep learning algorithm was used. The postoperative incision pain score, average postoperative anus exhaust time, average hospital stay, and postoperative satisfaction of the two groups were evaluated, respectively. The highest accuracy of constructed network BCNN-S was 88.98%; the highest recall rate of BCNN-R was 88.51%; the highest accuracy rate of BCNN-R was 97.34%. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and exhaust time were similar between the two groups, and the difference had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were compared, the observation group had less pain, the difference between the two groups had statistical significance (P < 0.05), and the postoperative recovery was good. The BCNN based on deep learning can realize the imaging of the uterus by ultrasound and realize the evaluation of pelvic floor function, and the probability of pelvic floor dysfunction is small, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Identification of a novel CYP26A1 mutation in a Chinese family with congenital microtia.

OBJECTIVES: Microtia is defined as a congenital malformation characterized by a small, abnormally shaped auricle, with atresia or stenosis of the auditory canal. This study investigated a mutation of the cytochrome P450, family 26, subfamily A, polypeptide 1(CYP26A1) gene, which is considered important in craniofacial development, in a family affected with microtia. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the proband and his family members to identify disease-associated variants. Computational predictions of the altered protein were analyzed using several bioinformatics tools. The wild-type (WT) and mutant forms of CYP26A1 cDNA were transfected into human embryonic kidney cells, and the mRNA and protein levels were compared using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot analyses. RESULTS: In this two-generation family, the proband and his mother were diagnosed with unilateral microtia. Unilateral microtia and ipsilateral accessory ear were observed in one of the twins, who were sisters of the proband. The father and the other twin showed no abnormal clinical features. A heterozygous mutation of a C to T in the CYP26A1 gene, which leads to truncation of the CYP26A1 protein, was identified in this family. The nonsense mutation cosegregated with patients and was absent in normal members of the family. The prediction software indicated that it was a possibly pathogenic mutation. The structure of the protein varied significantly between the WT and mutant proteins. Functional analysis showed that this mutation caused a significant decrease in both the mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that this mutation of CYP26A1 may be a pathogenic factor leading to the phenotypes of microtia and accessory ear in this family. Further studies are needed to prove the function of this mutation and to explore the possible mechanism by which this variant is involved in the occurrence of microtia.

Effects of a selective cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitor in SKOV-3 ovarian carcinoma xenograft-bearing mice.

To evaluate the effect of a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibitor, SC-560, on the growth inhibition of s.c. human ovarian SKOV-3 carcinoma and on angiogenesis. Human ovarian SKOV-3 carcinoma cells xenograft-bearing mice were treated with SC-560, a COX-1-selective inhibitor, 6 mg/kg alone i.g. daily, and i.p. injections of cisplatin 3 mg/kg every other day for 21 days. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels were determined by ELISA. Microvessel density (MVD) of ovarian carcinoma was determined with anti-CD(34) as the label by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the expression of COX-1 at protein levels in the control group was detected by immunohistochemistry. SC-560 reduced the growth of tumors when SKOV-3 cells were xenografted in nude female mice. The inhibitory rates in SC-560 group and cisplatin group were 47.1% and 51.7%, respectively, which is significant statistically compared to that of control group (all, P < 0.05). In treatment groups, SC-560 significantly reduced intratumor PGE(2) levels (P < 0.01). MVDs in SC-560 group were 35.73 +/- 9.87, which are significant statistically compared to that of control group (74.33 +/- 9.50) (P < 0.01). COX-1, not COX-2, protein levels are elevated in tumor tissues. These findings may implicate COX-1 as a suitable target for the treatment of ovarian cancer and that antiangiogenic therapy can be used to inhibit ovarian cancer growth.