Diagnostic performance of convolutional neural network-based Tanner-Whitehouse 3 bone age assessment system.

BACKGROUND: Bone age can reflect the true growth and development status of a child; thus, it plays a critical role in evaluating growth and endocrine disorders. This study established and validated an optimized Tanner-Whitehouse 3 artificial intelligence (TW3-AI) bone age assessment (BAA) system based on a convolutional neural network (CNN). METHODS: A data set of 9,059 clinical radiographs of the left hand was obtained from the picture archives and communication systems (PACS) between January 2012 and December 2016. Among these, 8,005/9,059 (88%) samples were treated as the training set for model implementation, 804/9,059 (9%) samples as the validation set for parameters optimization, and the remaining 250/9,059 (3%) samples were used to verify the accuracy and reliability of the model compared to that of 4 experienced endocrinologists and 2 experienced radiologists. The overall variation of TW3-metacarpophalangeal, radius, ulna and short bones (RUS) and TW3-Carpal bone score, as well as each bone (13 RUS + 7 Carpal) between reviewers and the AI, were compared by Bland-Altman (BA) chart and Kappa test, respectively. Furthermore, the time consumption between the model and reviewers was also compared. RESULTS: The performance of TW3-AI model was highly consistent with the reviewers' overall estimation, and the root mean square (RMS) was 0.50 years. The accuracy of the BAA of the TW3-AI model was better than the estimate of the reviewers. Further analysis revealed that human interpretations of the male capitate, hamate, the first distal and fifth middle phalanx and female capitate, the trapezoid, and the third and fifth middle phalanx, were most inconsistent. The average image processing time was 1.5±0.2 s in the TW3-AI model, which was significantly shorter than manual interpretation. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic performance of CNN-based TW3 BAA was accurate and timesaving, and possesses better stability compared to diagnostics made by experienced experts.

Cytotoxic 19,20-epoxycytochalasans from endophytic fungus Xylaria cf. curta.

Nine new 19,20-epoxycytochalasans (1-9) were isolated from the rice fermentation extracts of endophytic fungus Xylaria cf. curta, along with four known compounds 19,20-epoxycytochalasin C (10), 18-desoxy-19,20-epoxycytochalasin C (11), 19,20-epoxycytochalasin D (12) and 5,6-dihydro-7-oxo-19,20-epoxycytochalasin C (13). Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, X-ray diffraction and ECD calculation. The cytotoxicity of obtained compounds (1-13) was evaluated against human cancer cell lines HL-60, A549, SMMC-7721, MCF-7, and SW480. Remarkably, compound 10 showed significant specific cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell lines with IC50 value of 1.11 µM.

Ophiorrhines A and B, Two Immunosuppressive Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Ophiorrhiza japonica.

Two monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, ophiorrhines A (1) and B (2), were obtained from plant Ophiorrhiza japonica BI. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 possess a novel spirocyclic ring system. Its biosynthesis pathway is proposed. Compound 2 exhibits potent inhibitory activity against concanavalin A (Con A) induced T cell proliferation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced B lymphocyte cell proliferation with IC50 values 13.3 and 7.5 µM, respectively. Compound 1 exhibits significant inhibition specifically against the LPS-induced proliferation of B lymphocyte cells with IC50 value 18.6 µM.

Research of shRNAmir inhibitory effects towards focal adhesion kinase expression in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common type of malignant tumor, with a poor prognosis. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediates the crosslink of intracellular signaling networks, playing a key role in cell migration and invasion. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of FAK interference on the proliferation ability, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells. The FAK-RNAi lentiviral vector was infected into SGC7901 gastric cancer cells in order to observe the in vivo situations of tumor growth and metastasis before and after the FAK interference. The growth of SGC7901 gastric cancer cells in the interference group was significantly inhibited compared with that of the negative control (P<0.05) and the blank control groups (P<0.05), and the FAK expression significantly decreased (P<0.05). The in vitro invasion and metastasis experiments showed that the cell invasion and metastasis abilities of the interference group significantly decreased when compared with those of the negative control (P<0.05) and blank control groups (P<0.05). In the nude mouse subcutaneous tumor transplantation model, the mean ± standard deviation tumor weight of the interference group (1.474±0.9840 g) was lower than that of the negative control (3.134±0.3299 g) and blank control (2.68±0.12 g) groups (P<0.05). In the nude mice, the liver and peritoneal metastasis rates of the interference group were significantly lower than those of the negative control (P<0.05) and the blank control groups (P<0.05), and the FAK mRNA of the interference group significantly reduced (P<0.05). In conclusion, FAK interference could effectively suppress the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of transfected SGC7901 gastric cancer cells, and could inhibit the growth and distant metastasis of gastric cancer in nude mice.

Distinct expression pattern of miRNAs in Marek's disease virus infected-chicken splenic tumors and non-tumorous spleen tissues.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that differential miRNA expression is associated with viral infection and tumorigenesis. Recently discovered microRNAs in the Marek's disease virus (MDV) genome have been suggested to have regulatory roles during MDV oncogenesis. To gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms of the tumorigenesis of MDV, we used microarrays to screen host and viral miRNAs that were sensitive to infection by MDV. Microarray analysis showed significant differential expression of 79 miRNAs, which was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. These data suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs may have major roles in MDV-induced tumorigenesis. In addition, we found two clades of chicken miRNAs had increased expression in splenic tumors and non-tumorous spleen tissues from GA-infected chickens. Thus, the expression of these miRNAs can be considered signatures for MDV infection and tumorigenesis.

[Synthesis of 1,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2H-isoindole derivatives].

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize a series of derivatives of Thalidomide. METHODS: The N-Phthaloyl-L-glutamic anhydride was ammonolyzed with amino acid benzyl esters, followed by hydrogenization. The reaction between the hydogenized products and ammonia gas produced ammonium salt, 1,3-dihydro-1,3-dioxo-2H-isoindole derivatives. RESULTS: Four new derivatives of Thalidomide were obtained and confirmed by spectral detection. CONCLUSION: The derivatives of Thalidomide can be efficiently synthesized under mild conditions.

[The application of forward and reversal flow axial island flap based on the superficial temporal artery in the orbital skin defects].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of forward and reversal flow axial island flap in the orbital skin defects. METHODS: According to the distribution of superficial temporal artery as well as the anastomoses with the branches of supraorbital artery and supratrochlear artery, etc, the frontal, scalp, preauricular and postauricular island flaps were designed. The flaps were displaced through subcutaneous tunnel to cover all kinds of orbital skin defects. RESULTS: 13 cases of forward flow flap and 9 of reversal flow flap out of 22 cases in all were observed. One postauricular reversal flow axial island flap showed the obstruction of venous refluence in early postoperative stage, however, after active treatment, mere the distal epidermal necrosis was revealed. There were six re-operations on the postoperative flap hypertrophy. The others were in good shape and functional state. CONCLUSIONS: The superficial temporal artery is one of most vital blood supply in the upper face. It has wide anastomoses with the supraorbital artery and supratrochlear artery. As the colors and the nature of the frontal, preauricular and post auricular skin are close to orbital skin, the application of forward and reversal flow axial island flap based on the superficial temporal artery can be used in the reconstruction of all kinds of orbital skin defects.