The combined treatment of fiber post and root canal by the Er:YAG laser enhances the bond strength of composite reconstruction.

Fiber post bonding failure remains an issue during crown restoration procedures. This experiment examines the bonding effect of combined Er:YAG laser treatment on both root canal and fiber post. Sixty extracted mandibular first premolars were randomly selected and divided into 6 groups (n = 10 per group): G1 (control group): root canal with 2.5% NaClO treatment, no treatment of fiber post; G2: root canal with 2.5% NaClO treatment and fiber post with airborne-particle abrasion; G3: root canal with Er:YAG laser treatment and fiber post with airborne-particle abrasion; G4: root canal with Er:YAG laser treatment, no treatment of fiber post; G5: root canal with 2.5% NaClO treatment, fiber post with Er:YAG laser irradiation; G6: combined Er:YAG laser irradiation of both root canal and fiber post. An Er:YAG laser with a wavelength of 2940 nm was used to treat the fiber post (4.5 W, 450 mJ, 10 Hz for 60 s at 100-µs pulse duration with 100% water cooling) and the root canal (1.5 W, 150 mJ, 10 Hz for 60 s at 100-µs pulse duration with 100% water cooling). When the root canal was treated with the laser, the fiber tip was inserted into the root canal to make a spiral reciprocating motion. Bond strength was analyzed by a micro push-out test. Data were analyzed using both the Tukey test and two-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Failure modes were observed and counted through a stereo microscope. The root canal and fiber post surface analysis was performed using SEM. The bond strength of G3 and G6 were significantly enhanced compared to those of the other groups (p < 0.05). The SEM analysis showed that the smear layers of groups with root canals subjected to Er:YAG laser irradiation were significantly reduced compared to those of the control group (G1). In groups with fiber posts treated with Er:YAG laser irradiation, the surfaces of the fiber posts exhibited greater surface roughness and a certain degree of epoxy matrix removal. Through the combined Er:YAG laser irradiation of both root canal and fiber post, the bond strength between them was significantly enhanced, which was superior to the individual treatment of either fiber posts or root canal.

Siting MPAs for multiple protecting purposes by co-consideration of ecological importance and anthropogenic impacts.

The global marine ecosystem has been significantly altered by the combined effects of multiple anthropogenic impacts. Systematic planning of marine protected areas (MPAs) is of paramount importance in alleviating conflicts between humans and the sea. Existing approaches, however, merely integrate both ecological and anthropogenic factors for multiple conservation purposes. By combining the three main anthropogenic impact factors with two main ecological importance factors, this study used a GIS-based AHP-OWA method to identify different levels of priority protection for MPAs in Zhejiang, China. Our results proved that: 1) the multi-objective MPA siting issues can be addressed by the GIS-based AHP-OWA method through scenario simulation; 2) the best locations for MPAs are in the northeast, central, and southern marine areas of Zhejiang; 3) considering the trade-off degree, spatial conservation efficiency, and spatial heterogeneity, an optimized MPA siting scheme can be developed for decision-makers. The proposed MPA siting method and case study may provide an effective technical reference for solving regional marine spatial planning (MSP) issues in the future.

Mapping mangrove sustainability in the face of sea level rise and land use: A case study on Leizhou Peninsula, China.

Habitat loss and degradation of mangrove forests can be caused by both sea level rise (SLR) and unsustainable land practices. Current long-term change projections are often based on changes to mangrove extent; however, this may overlook fragmentation and the associated habitat resilience decline and therefore fail to adequately reveal the risks to mangrove habitats. A mangrove sustainability index (MSI) was proposed in this study to assess the impact of SLR and land use on mangrove habitats. The index consists of four components: habitat area change, habitat quality, landscape pattern, and protection ratio. Ecological models and landscape models were combined to calculate the MSI. Considering the SLR under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 and land use strategies, four scenarios were set with prediction periods of base year (2020) to 2050 and 2100. The Leizhou Peninsula, China was used as the case study. The results showed that dual stressors would reduce the extent of mangroves by 16.6%-56.2%. Habitat quality was sensitive to land use change but was not affected by SLR. Landscape pattern and protection ratio were influenced by SLR but less effected by land use. In all scenarios, mangroves tended to migrate out of the protected areas, with protection ratio decreasing from 37% to 16.9%-29.9%. Newly expanding habitats may suffer from patch fragmentation and low connectivity. Unsustainable mangrove distribution sites on Leizhou Peninsula were identified as hotspots for management. Projections under different scenarios showed that some unsustainable sites could be reversed to sustainable sites through improvements in land use policies. The proposed approach could provide essential tools for the formulation of mangrove conservation and restoration strategies adapted to climate change.

Clinical and immunological characteristics in COVID-19 convalescent patients.

The humoral and cellular immunity of convalescent COVID-19 patients is involved in pathogenesis and vaccine immunity. In this study, through CoV-psV neutralization assay and IFN-γ ELISpot testing in 30 cases of COVID-19 patients after 9 months post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, it found that the ratio of memory/naive CD4+ T lymphocytes cells and levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgM and RBD-IgM were slightly but significantly higher in COVID-19 severe convalescent patients than that in non-severe patients. The specific cellular and humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 were detectable, regardless of the severity of the disease in the acute phase. This information may help understanding the immune status after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Fish consumption, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids intake and risk of stroke: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although fish consumption or omega-3 intake is associated with cardio- cerebrovascular disease including stroke, their correlation is still controversial. Therefore, this meta-analysis is to identify the relationship between the risk of stroke and fish consumption or omega-3 intake. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases as of May 2019. Multivariateadjusted risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for stroke in different level intake of fish or Longchain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC ω3-PUFAs) were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. A dose-response analysis was conducted with the 2-stage generalized least-squares trend program. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis identified a total of 17 prospective cohort studies including 14986 strokes events in 672711 individuals. Meta-analysis revealed that the higher fish consumption was significantly associated with lower risk of stroke (RR=0.871, 95% CI: 0.779-0.975, p=0.016), especially with ischemic stroke (RR=0.808, 95% CI: 0.696- 0.937, p=0.005). Meantime, the combined RR of total stroke was 0.859 (95% CI: 0.769-0.959, p=0.007) for the highest versus lowest intake of LC ω3-PUFAs, and stratification analysis showed that higher LC ω3-PUFAs intake was associated with reduced stroke risk in women (RR=0.793, 95% CI: 0.706-0.891, p=0.000) but not in men. In addition, the dose-response analysis showed fish consumption with 1000g per month and LC ω3-PUFAs intake with 0.5g per month was associated with 17.3% (RR=0.927, 95% CI: 0.83-0.98) and 14% (RR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.78-0.95) lower risk of stroke, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both fish consumption and LC ω3-PUFAs intake were negatively associated with the risk of stroke, especially in women, which suggest that increased intake of fishery products and LC ω3-PUFAs may benefit primary prevention of stroke.

MicroRNA-296-5p inhibits cell metastasis and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by reversing transforming growth factor-ß-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

AIM: To explore the effect of miR-296-5p on the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and investigate the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The expressions of miR-296-5p in NPC tissues and cells were determined using GSE32920 database analysis and real-time PCR and miRNA microarray assays. An miR-296-5p mimic and inhibitor were transfected into NPC cells. Then, immunofluorescence imaging, scratch wound-healing, transwell migration and invasion assays were used to observe the effects of miR-296-5p on cell metastasis and invasion. Real-time PCR and western blotting were carried out to detect the expressions of genes and proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to identify whether TGF-ß is the target gene of miR-296-5p. Finally, TGF-ß expression plasmids were transfected into NPC cells to verify the role of TGF-ß in the miR-296-5p-mediated inhibition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell metastasis. RESULTS: Our results show that miR-296-5p inhibits the migratory and invasive capacities of NPC cells by targeting TGF-ß, which suppresses EMT. Importantly, the miR-296-5p level was significantly lower in human NPC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. It also negatively correlated with TGF-ß and was significantly associated with the lymph node metastasis of patients with NPC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that miR-296-5p represses the EMT-related metastasis of NPC by targeting TGF-ß. This provides new insight into the role of miR-296-5p in regulating NPC metastasis and invasiveness.

Positive expression of chemokine (C-C Motif) ligand 18 and prognosis in cancer: A meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Chemokine (C-C Motif) Ligand 18 (CCL18) is a chemotactic cytokine involved in the pathogenesis and progression of various cancers by activating downstream signaling pathways and affecting cellular behaviors. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the CCL18 as a prognostic marker for cancer and determine the relationship between CCL18 and clinicopathological features of cancer. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science and SinoMed databases for publications to investigate the association between CCL18 expression and survival outcome in cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of overall survival (OS) were pooled. Odds ratios (ORs) of clinicopathological features were computed. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 12.0 software. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis identified a total of 17 studies including 2829 cases. Meta-analysis revealed that the expression of CCL18 in various cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in the normal group (OR=16.694, 95% CI=14.117-27.476, p<0.01, random effects). The abnormal expression of CCL18 was associated with lymph node metastasis (OR=4.409, 95% CI=2.129-9.128, p<0.01, random effects) and TNM stage (breast cancer subgroup: III+IV vs I+II OR=13.187, 95% CI=8.417-20.660, p<0.01; gastric cancer subgroup: III+IV vs I+II OR=0.034, 95% CI=0.008-0.137, p<0.01) but is was not related to gender (male vs. female: OR=0.88, 95% CI=0.667-1.162, p=0.368) and age (>60 vs. ≤60 years: OR=1.118, 95% CI=0.795-1.571, p-0.522). CCL18 overexpression was associated with poor overall prognosis of breast cancer (Hazard Ratio/HR=2.969, 95% CI=1.361- 6.478, p<0.01, random effects). CONCLUSIONS: CCL18 is highly expressed in cancer tissues and is closely related to tumor metastasis and prognosis, and its role in tumor development is worth of further study.

[Study of PbSe quantum dots for use in luminescence solar concentrators].

With the study of the characteristic of luminescence solar concentrator, a simple and practicable Monte Carlo simulation system was invented based on ray tracing method. PbSe quantum dots were successfully introduced into this system, and the optical parameter and quantum dots concentration were simulated and optimized. The cost per unit of the solar cell base on luminescence solar concentrator was investigated, and it was found that the cost of traditional solar cells can be reduced by 49.2%.

Fibro-Adipose Vascular Anomaly: Characteristic Imaging Features on Sonography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the image characteristics of fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) and the value of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for its diagnosis. METHODS: The clinical and imaging data characteristics of 10 patients with FAVA admitted to our hospital between January 2018 and December 2020 who underwent ultrasound and MRI diagnosis were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients (six males and four females) with pathologically confirmed FAVA, aged from 3 to 27 years (median: 13 years), underwent ultrasound and MRI; of these, two patients underwent MRI-enhanced examinations. All lesions involved mainly muscle, with a few disruptions and involvements of subcutaneous fat. Five cases were located subcutaneously near the fascia; one case was adjacent to the periosteum. Ultrasound showed fascial tail in seven cases, and MRI showed fascial tail in six cases. Both ultrasound and MRI showed the lesions to be oval-shaped masses with blurred borders and a mean maximum diameter of 99.8 ± 48.7 mm. Ultrasound showed a mass with a mixture of high and low echoic areas. Magnetic resonance imaging imaging showed a heterogeneous, mixed-signal intensity on T1-weighted images, probably influenced by the fibrous and fatty components of the lesion. T2-weighted images showed a mixed-high signal. Enhanced computed tomography scans showed significant heterogeneous enhancement of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Both ultrasound and MRI showed that fascial tail sign is an important imaging feature for FAVA disease; this provides a reliable basis for its diagnosis and can be used to distinguish it from venous malformations, which have no fascial tail signs. Therefore, fascial tail signs can be used as imaging features and require special attention in the diagnosis of FAVA disease.

Forecasting land-cover change effects on waterbirds in Xiamen Bay, China: Determining prospective species winners and losers.

Waterbirds are vital to coastal wetland ecosystem, and play significant roles in global biodiversity maintenance, cultural and educational services, etc. Waterbirds are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, particularly land-cover change, which has severely degraded their ecological niches. Accordingly, this study developed a waterbird-habitat preference index to quantify waterbird dependence on Xiamen Bay's habitats and a subsidiary waterbird-specific habitat suitability index to predict potential effects of future land-cover change on waterbirds. Results showed that the waterbird-habitat preference index ranged from -9.8 to 18.71, indicating that habitat selection varied greatly among different waterbird species, where tidal flats were the most popular waterbird habitat. Additionally, most waterbird species showed a preference for more than one habitat, which could be indicative of their diverse ecological demands. Effects on waterbirds varied greatly among the three different land-cover scenarios, where positive benefits were predicted under the ecological protection scenario (EPS), while the greatest negative effects were observed under the development and utilization scenario (DUS). Effects also varied among different waterbirds species. Those under the current trend scenario (CTS) (e.g., Tringa brevipes and Calidris ruficollis) could be at risk for species abundance loss (i.e., losers) while others (i.e., Egretta garzetta and Saundersilarus saundersi) could benefit from increased abundance (i.e., winners). Generally, migratory and traveling birds were much more vulnerable than resident birds. Spatially, conservation priority should be given to the Dadeng Waters and those waters adjacent to it (i.e., Tongan Bay and Anhai Bay) because of the highest waterbird loss risk in these areas under a conflict between an urgent need to protect waterbird biodiversity and intense present and future land-cover development. The intent of this study is to provide a useful tool to explore land-cover effects on waterbirds in similar coastal regions, which can provide important information on protection and restoration strategies.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute kidney injury in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonosis caused by a novel bunyavirus. Until recently, the SFTS related acute kidney injury (AKI) was largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of AKI in patients with SFTS. Methods: The non-AKI and AKI groups were compared in terms of general characteristics, clinical features, laboratory parameters and cumulative survival rate. The independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with SFTS were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression to identify the population with poor prognosis. Results: A total of 208 consecutive patients diagnosed with SFTS were enrolled, including 153 (73.6%) patients in the non-AKI group and 55 (26.4%) patients in the AKI group. Compared with patients without AKI, patients with AKI were older and had a higher frequency of diabetes. Among these laboratory parameters, platelet count, albumin and fibrinogen levels of patients with AKI were identified to be significantly lower than those of patients without AKI, while ALT, AST, ALP, triglyceride, LDH, BUN, uric acid, creatine, Cys-C, ß2-MG, potassium, AMY, lipase, CK-MB, TnI, BNP, APTT, thrombin time, D-dimer, CRP, IL-6, PCT and ESR levels were significantly higher in patients with AKI. A higher SFTS viral load was also detected in the AKI patients than in the non-AKI patients. The cumulative survival rates of patients at AKI stage 2 or 3 were significantly lower than those of patients without AKI or at AKI stage 1. However, there was no significant difference in the cumulative survival rates between patients without AKI and those with stage 1 AKI. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that stage 2 or 3 AKI was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality in patients with SFTS. Conclusion: AKI is associated with poor outcomes in patients with SFTS, especially patients at AKI stage 2 or 3, who generally have high mortality. Our findings support the importance of early identification and timely treatment of AKI in patients with SFTS.

Transcriptomic study reveals changes of lncRNAs in PBMCs from HIV-1 patients before and after ART.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in regulating HIV-1 infection and virus-host interactions. However, it is unclear whether and how ART alters lncRNAs in HIV-infected patients. In the present study, we investigated changes of lncRNAs in PBMCs from HIV-1 patients pre- and post-ART. We identified a total of 974 lncRNAs whose expression was restored to normal levels after ART. Cis-acting analysis showed that six lncRNAs have cis-regulated target genes, among which RP11-290F5.1 and interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2) were reported to promote HIV replication. Furthermore, we found that lncRNA CTB-119C2.1, which regulates most mRNAs with differential expression in PBMCs from HIV-1 infected patients after ART, was significantly upregulated by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR assays. KEGG analysis of CTB-119C2.1-associated genes revealed that most of the genes are involved in the p53 signaling pathway and pathways related to cell cycle and DNA replication. Our findings thus reveal the dynamic change of lncRNAs in people living with HIV-1 pre- and post-ART and warrant further investigation of the role of lncRNAs in HIV-1 pathogenesis and treatment.

Characteristics of refined lymphocyte subsets changes in people living with HIV/AIDS during antiretroviral therapy period: An observation from Wuhan, China.

Background: To analyze the changing characteristics of continuous monitoring of refined lymphocyte subsets in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) during ART period. Methods: Refined lymphocyte subsets was continuously monitored using flow cytometry for 173 PLWHA, who were hospitalized in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from August 17, 2021 to September 14, 2022. The effect of ART status and duration of ART on changes of refined lymphocyte subsets were compared in different groups. Then, the levels of refined lymphocyte subsets in PLWHA treated for more than 10 years were compared to those of 1086 healthy individuals. Results: In addition to conventional CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, gradually increasing in numbers of CD3+CD4+CD45RO cells, CD3+CD4+CD45RA cells, CD45RA+CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127low and CD45RO+CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127low cells were found with the increase of ART duration. The number of CD4+CD28+ cells and CD8+CD28+ cells were 174/ul and 233/ul at 6 months post-ART, which gradually increased to 616/ul and 461/ul after ART initiation more than 10 years. Moreover, in ART ≤ 6 months, 6 months-3years, 3-10 years and >10 years groups, the percentage of CD3+CD8+HLA-DR+/CD8 were 79.66%, 69.73%, 60.19% and 57.90%, respectively, and the differences between groups showed statistical significance (F=5.727, P=0.001). For those PLWHA with ART more than 10 years, the levels of CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD3+CD4+CD45RO cells, CD3+CD4+CD45RA cells, CD4+CD28+ cells and CD8+CD28+ cells can increase to levels similar to those of healthy control. However, for those PLWHA with ART more than 10 years, CD4+/CD8+ ratio was 0.86 ± 0.47, which was lower than that of healthy control (0.86 ± 0.47 vs 1.32 ± 0.59, t=3.611, P=0.003); absolute counts and percentage of CD3+CD8+HLA-DR+ cells were 547/ul and 57.90%, which were higher than those of healthy control(547/ul vs 135/ul, t=3.612, P=0.003; 57.90% vs 22.38%, t=6.959, P<0.001). Conclusion: Persistent ART can gradually improve the immune status of PLWHA, which is manifested in the increase of lymphocytes, function recovery of lymphocytes and reduction of aberrant activation status of the immune system. After 10 years of standardized ART, most lymphocytes could return to levels of healthy persons, although it may take longer to complete recovery for CD4+/CD8+ ratio and CD3+CD8+HLA-DR+ cells.

MicroRNA-199a-3p suppresses the invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through SCD1/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are 18-25 nucleotides non-coding RNAs, which contribute to tumorigenesis. Previous studies have demonstrated that miR-199a-3p is dysregulated in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but its role in NPC progression still largely unknown. The current study aimed to determine the potential role of miR-199a-3p in NPC progression and the underlying mechanisms. In this study, miR-199a-3p was found to be prominently down-regulated in NPC tissues and cells. The cellular assay showed that transfection of miR-199a-3p markedly repressed the migration, invasion and induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in both 5-8F and CNE-2 cell lines. By dual-luciferase reporter, western blotting and gas chromatography assays, we found that SCD1 is not only highly expressed in NPC tissues and negatively associated with the prognosis of NPC patients but also can be apparently downregulated by miR-199a-3p in NPC cells, suggesting that SCD1 is a direct target gene of miR-199a-3p. Moreover, inhibition of miR-199a-3p expression activated PI3K/Akt signaling and up-regulated the expression of MMP-2. With tumor xenograft models in nude mice, we also showed that miR-199a-3p repressed tumor growth in vivo. Our study demonstrated that miR-199a-3p inhibited migration and invasion of NPC cells through downregulating SCD1 expression, thus providing a potential target for the treatment of NPC.

Advancing DNA Barcoding to Elucidate Elasmobranch Biodiversity in Malaysian Waters.

The data provided in this article are partial fragments of the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (CO1) sequences of 175 tissues sampled from sharks and batoids collected from Malaysian waters, from June 2015 to June 2022. The barcoding was done randomly for six specimens from each species, so as to authenticate the code. We generated barcodes for 67 different species in 20 families and 11 orders. DNA was extracted from the tissue samples following the Chelex protocols and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the barcoding universal primers FishF2 and FishR2. A total of 654 base pairs (bp) of barcode CO1 gene from 175 samples were sequenced and analysed. The genetic sequences were blasted into the NCBI GenBank and Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). A review of the blast search confirmed that there were 68 valid species of sharks and batoids that occurred in Malaysian waters. We provided the data of the COI gene mid-point rooting phylogenetic relation trees and analysed the genetic distances among infra-class and order, intra-species, inter-specific, inter-genus, inter-familiar, and inter-order. We confirmed the addition of Squalus edmundsi, Carcharhinus amboinensis, Alopias superciliosus, and Myliobatis hamlyni as new records for Malaysia. The establishment of a comprehensive CO1 database for sharks and batoids will help facilitate the rapid monitoring and assessment of elasmobranch fisheries using environmental DNA methods.

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing versus traditional laboratory methods for the diagnosis of central nervous system opportunistic infections in HIV-infected Chinese adults.

To evaluate clinical value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who had CNS disorders. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 48 PLWHA presenting with CNS disorders were sequenced using mNGS and compared with clinical conventional diagnostic methods. In total, 36/48 ss(75%) patients were diagnosed with pathogen(s) infection by mNGS, and the positive detection proportion by mNGS was higher than that by clinical conventional diagnostic methods (75% vs 52.1%, X2 = 5.441, P = 0.020). Thirteen out of 48 patients (27.1%) were detected with 3-7 pathogens by mNGS. Moreover, 77 pathogen strains were detected, of which 94.8% (73/77) by mNGS and 37.0% (30/77) by clinical conventional methods (X2 = 54.206, P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of pathogens detection by mNGS were 63.9% (23/36) and 66.7% (8/12), respectively, which were superior to that by clinical conventional methods (23/36 vs 9/25, X2 = 4.601, P = 0.032; 8/12 vs 5/23, X2 = 5.029, P = 0.009). The application of mNGS was superior for its ability to detect a variety of unknown pathogens and multiple pathogens infection, and relatively higher sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis of CNS disorders in PLWHA.

Heterogeneity of Fish Taxonomic and Functional Diversity Evaluated by eDNA and Gillnet along a Mangrove-Seagrass-Coral Reef Continuum.

The effective and reliable monitoring of fish communities is important for the management and protection of marine ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a relatively new method that has been widely used in recent years, while traditional sampling via fish catching (i.e., gillnets) is one of the most common and reliable fish monitoring methods used to date. We compared the taxonomic and functional diversity of fish detected within a mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum using both survey methods. One liter seawater and gillnet samples were collected in August 2021 from mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reef habitats (n = 3 each) in Hainan, China. Surveys using eDNA and gillnets identified 139 genera belonging to 66 families and 58 genera belonging to 42 families, respectively. Regardless of the survey method, fish detected in mangrove, seagrass and coral reef habitats were heterogeneous in their communities; however, the shared species between habitats suggest some degree of connectivity. There were no significant differences between habitats in terms of taxonomic and functional diversity, but a higher taxonomic diversity was detected using eDNA. Both methods were able to distinguish fish assemblages between different habitats; however, gillnet surveys performed better than eDNA surveys for distinguishing mangrove from seagrass assemblages. Therefore, the concurrent use of eDNA and gillnet survey methods provides a more comprehensive approach to understanding the heterogeneity of fish taxonomic and functional diversity along mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuums.

Summary of the application value of ultrasound imaging features in the clinical differential diagnosis of intramuscular capillary-type hemangioma and fibro-adipose vascular anomaly.

Objective: To investigate the value of ultrasonography as a diagnostic aid in differentiating intramuscular capillary-type hemangioma (ICTH) from fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical and ultrasound imaging data of 20 patients with ICTH and 45 patients with FAVA who were admitted to and pathologically confirmed in hospital between January 2013 and April 2023. The clinical and ultrasonographic appearances of the lesions in the two groups were compared and analyzed. A stepwise regression analysis was performed, and a joint diagnostic equation was constructed using the final variables selected. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and indicators, including sensitivity and specificity, were used to evaluate the efficacy of the joint diagnostic model. Results: The two groups of patients suffering from ICTH and FAVA presented a statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) in terms of 'age', 'lesion size', 'fascial tail sign', 'presence of a fatty-tissue-like hyperecho around the lesion', 'blood flow' and 'presence of straight blood capillaries within the lesion'. Finally, the variables 'fascial tail sign' and 'presence of straight blood capillaries within the lesion' were selected to construct the model. The constructed joint diagnostic model had a sensitivity value of 70.0% (95% CI: 59.00-81.00), a specificity value of 98.0% (95% CI: 94.70-100.00) and a ROC curve value of 0.908, indicating the high efficacy of the combined diagnosis method. Conclusions: Ultrasonography can be utilized to differentiate ICTH from FAVA, and the combined diagnosis method can further improve the technique's diagnostic efficacy.

Virtual elastography ultrasound via generative adversarial network for breast cancer diagnosis.

Elastography ultrasound (EUS) imaging is a vital ultrasound imaging modality. The current use of EUS faces many challenges, such as vulnerability to subjective manipulation, echo signal attenuation, and unknown risks of elastic pressure in certain delicate tissues. The hardware requirement of EUS also hinders the trend of miniaturization of ultrasound equipment. Here we show a cost-efficient solution by designing a deep neural network to synthesize virtual EUS (V-EUS) from conventional B-mode images. A total of 4580 breast tumor cases were collected from 15 medical centers, including a main cohort with 2501 cases for model establishment, an external dataset with 1730 cases and a portable dataset with 349 cases for testing. In the task of differentiating benign and malignant breast tumors, there is no significant difference between V-EUS and real EUS on high-end ultrasound, while the diagnostic performance of pocket-sized ultrasound can be improved by about 5% after V-EUS is equipped.