An Automated Video Analysis System for Retrospective Assessment and Real-Time Monitoring of Endoscopic Procedures (with Video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Accurate recognition of endoscopic instruments facilitates quantitative evaluation and quality control of endoscopic procedures. However, no relevant research has been reported. In this study, we aimed to develop a computer-assisted system, EndoAdd, for automated endoscopic surgical video analysis based on our dataset of endoscopic instrument images. METHODS: Large training and validation datasets containing 45,143 images of 10 different endoscopic instruments and a test dataset of 18,375 images collected from several medical centers were used in this research. Annotated image frames were used to train the state-of-the-art object detection model, YOLO-v5, to identify the instruments. Based on the frame-level prediction results, we further developed a hidden Markov model to perform video analysis and generate heatmaps to summarize the videos. RESULTS: EndoAdd achieved high accuracy (>97%) on the test dataset for all 10 endoscopic instrument types. The mean average accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score were 99.1%, 92.0%, 88.8%, and 89.3%, respectively. The area under the curve values exceeded 0.94 for all instrument types. Heatmaps of endoscopic procedures were generated for both retrospective and real-time analyses. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed an automated endoscopic video analysis system, EndoAdd, which supports retrospective assessment and real-time monitoring. It can be used for data analysis and quality control of endoscopic procedures in clinical practice.

Biomass-assisted fabrication of rGO-AuNPs as surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates for in-situ monitoring methylene blue degradation.

Reduced graphene oxide-gold nanoparticles nanocomposites (rGO-AuNPs) with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity was created by biomass-assisted green synthesis with Lilium casa blanca petals biomass for the first time, and its application for methylene blue (MB) degradation was explored through in-situ monitoring. Lilium casa blanca petals biomass was used as a reducing agent to reduce GO and chloroauric acid successively when carrying out rGO-AuNPs in-situ synthesis while it also acted as a capping agent. The produced rGO had oxygen-containing functional groups which had an outstanding performance in enhancing the SERS effect. Characterization results confirmed that the AuNPs were grafted onto the rGO sheet, and the mechanism study showed that total flavonoids in Lilium casa blanca petals biomass were the main biological compounds involved in the reduction. rGO-AuNPs had a high Raman enhancement factor (EF) which could reach 3.88 × 107. The synthesized nanocomposite also had a good catalytic activity that could be employed as catalyst in MB degradation, and it could complete degradation within 15min. The reaction rate increased linearly with the amount of rGO-AuNPs, and the degradation could be in-situ monitored both by UV and SERS.

Endoscopic mucosal resection of gastrointestinal polyps with a novel low-temperature plasma radio frequency generator: a non-inferiority multi-center randomized control study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel plasma radio frequency generator and its single-use polypectomy snares for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) of gastrointestinal (GI) polyps. METHODS: A total of 217 patients with 413 GI polyps were recruited from four centers in China. Patients were assigned to experimental or control groups using a central randomization method. The experimental group used the novel plasma radio frequency generator and its matched single-use polypectomy snares (Neowing, Shanghai), while the control group used the high-frequency electrosurgical unit (Erbe, Germany) and disposable electrosurgical snares (Olympus, Japan). The primary endpoint was the en bloc resection rate, and the non-inferiority margin was set at 10%. Secondary endpoint included operation time, coagulation success rate, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding rate, and perforation rate. RESULTS: The en bloc resection rate was 97.20% (104/107) in the experimental group and 95.45% (105/110) in the control group (P = 0.496). The operation time was 29.14 ± 20.21 min in the experimental group and 30.26 ± 18.74 min in the control group (P = 0.671). The average removal time of a single polyp in the experimental group was 7.52 ± 4.45 min, which was slightly shorter than that in the control group 8.90 ± 6.67 min, with no statistical difference (P = 0.076). The intraoperative bleeding rates of the experimental group and control group were 8.41% (9/107) and 10.00% (11/110), respectively (P = 0.686). No intraoperative perforation occurred in either group. The postoperative bleeding rates of the experimental group and the control group were 1.87% (2/107) and 4.55% (5/110), respectively (P = 0.465). No postoperative perforation occurred in the experimental group (0/107), while one case of delayed perforation occurred in the control group (1/110, 0.91%). There was no statistical difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic mucosal resection of GI polyps with the novel plasma radio frequency generator is safe and effective, and non-inferior to the conventional high-frequency electrosurgical system.

Improving bowel preparation for colonoscopy with a smartphone application driven by artificial intelligence.

Optimal bowel preparation is a prerequisite for a successful colonoscopy; however, the rate of inadequate bowel preparation remains relatively high. In this study, we establish a smartphone app that assesses patient bowel preparation using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction system trained on labeled photographs of feces in the toilet and evaluate its impact on bowel preparation quality in colonoscopy outpatients. We conduct a prospective, single-masked, multicenter randomized clinical trial, enrolling outpatients who own a smartphone and are scheduled for a colonoscopy. We screen 578 eligible patients and randomize 524 in a 1:1 ratio to the control or AI-driven app group for bowel preparation. The study endpoints are the percentage of patients with adequate bowel preparation and the total BBPS score, compliance with dietary restrictions and purgative instructions, polyp detection rate, and adenoma detection rate (secondary). The prediction system has an accuracy of 95.15%, a specificity of 97.25%, and an area under the curve of 0.98 in the test dataset. In the full analysis set (n = 500), adequate preparation is significantly higher in the AI-driven app group (88.54 vs. 65.59%; P < 0.001). The mean BBPS score is 6.74 ± 1.25 in the AI-driven app group and 5.97 ± 1.81 in the control group (P < 0.001). The rates of compliance with dietary restrictions (93.68 vs. 83.81%, P = 0.001) and purgative instructions (96.05 vs. 84.62%, P < 0.001) are significantly higher in the AI-driven app group, as is the rate of additional purgative intake (26.88 vs. 17.41%, P = 0.011). Thus, our AI-driven smartphone app significantly improves the quality of bowel preparation and patient compliance.

Pathogenetic and Therapeutic Role of Gut Microbiome in Immunoglobin A Nephropathy.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a common primary glomerulonephritis, which is mainly characterized by excessive IgA deposition in the glomerular mesangial area. Although exploring the pathogenesis of IgAN and improving the treatment strategies continuously, the exact pathogenesis of IgAN remains unclear and the disease still leads to high mortality. Recently, emerging evidence has demonstrated that dysregulated intestinal mucosal immunity and gut microbiome imbalance may play a combined role in the development and progression of IgAN. It has been suggested that reconstructing the intestinal microenvironment and maintaining the stability and metabolic balance of gut microbiome are expected to become new treatment strategies. Meanwhile, inhibiting mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) controlled by the gut microbiome may become an alternative treatment, especially used to reduce the excessive production of IgA in IgAN. In this review, we summarized the correlation between gut microbiome and the pathogenesis of IgAN, as well as the therapeutic potential of gut microbiome in this disease.

[Prognostic Significance of LPCAT1 in Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients with FAB Subtype M2].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prognostic value of LPCAT1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: TaqMan-based reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect relative expression of LPCAT1 in 214 newly diagnosed adult AML patients and 24 normal controls. Survival functions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by the Log-rank test. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS: The expression level of LPCAT1 in adult AML was 34.37%(1.83%-392.63%), which was significantly lower than 92.81%(2.60%-325.84%) of normal controls (P<0.001). The prognostic significance of LPCAT1 was evaluated in 171 non-acute promyelocytic leukemia patients with complete clinical information and prognostic data. Survival analysis showed that the expression level of LPCAT1 had no significant effect on the prognosis of the whole cohort. However, in AML patients with FAB subtype M2 (AML-M2), the 2-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rate of patients with low LPCAT1 expression was 35.4%(95%CI: 0.107-0.601), which was significantly lower than 79.2%(95%CI: 0.627-0.957) of patients with high LPCAT1 expression (P=0.012). Multivariate analysis showed that low expression of LPCAT1 was an independent risk factor for RFS of AML-M2 patients (HR=0.355, 95%CI: 0.126-0.966, P=0.049). CONCLUSION: In adult AML patients LPCAT1 shows low expression. Low LPCAT1 expression is an independent risk factor for RFS in M2-AML patients.

Hyperglycemia is associated with worse 3-year survival in older patients admitted to the intensive care unit after non-cardiac surgery: Post hoc analysis of a randomized trial.

Objective: Hyperglycemia is common in critically ill patients after surgery and is associated with worse perioperative outcomes. Yet, the impact of postoperative hyperglycemia on long-term outcomes remains unclear. We therefore analyzed the association between early postoperative hyperglycemia and 3-year overall survival in older patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit after surgery. Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of database obtained from a previous randomized trial and 3-year follow-up. The underlying trial enrolled 700 patients aged 65 years or older who were admitted to the intensive care unit after elective non-cardiac surgery. Early postoperative time-weighted average blood glucose was calculated and was divided into three levels, i.e., <8.0 mmol/L, from 8.0 to 10.0 mmol/L, and >10.0 mmol/L. The primary outcome was 3-year overall survival. The association between time-weighted average blood glucose level and 3-year overall survival was analyzed with Cox proportional hazard regression models. Subgroup analyses were also performed in patients with or without diabetes, and in patients following cancer or non-cancer surgery. Results: A total of 677 patients (mean age 74 years, 60% male sex) were included in the final analysis. Within 3 years after surgery, deaths occurred in 22.1% (30/136) of patients with time-weighted average blood glucose <8.0 mmol/L, compared with 35.7% (81/227) of those from 8.0 to 10.0 mmol/L (unadjusted hazard ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.67, P = 0.009), and 36.9% (116/314) of those >10.0 mmol/L (unadjusted hazard ratio 1.91, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.85, P = 0.002). After adjustment for confounding factors, the risk of 3-year mortality remained higher in patients with time-weighted average blood glucose from 8.0 to 10.0 mmol/L (adjusted hazard ratio 2.28, 95% CI 1.47 to 3.54, P < 0.001) and in those >10.0 mmol/L (adjusted hazard ratio 2.00, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.10, P = 0.002). Similar results were obtained in the subgroups of patients without diabetes and patients following cancer surgery. Conclusion: For older patients admitted to the intensive care unit after elective non-cardiac surgery, high early blood glucose (time-weighted average blood glucose ≥ 8.0 mmol/L) was associated with poor 3-year overall survival. The impact of moderate glycemic control on long-term survival deserves further investigation.

Submucosal tunneling endoscopic septum division for esophageal diverticulum with a median follow-up of 39 months: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Submucosal tunneling endoscopic septum division (STESD) is an endoscopic minimally invasive technique for treating esophageal diverticulum. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of STESD and its impact on patients' quality of life. METHODS: This study included consecutive patients who underwent STESD for esophageal diverticulum from April 2016 to August 2020 in 2 centers (Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and Tianjin First Central Hospital). Esophagogram and endoscopic examination were performed before STESD and 30 days after STESD. Patients completed the 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36) before STESD and 1 year after surgery. Clinical symptoms were assessed via telehealth every 6 months until August 2021. Costamagna and Eckardt scores were used to evaluate changes in symptoms. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included. Mucosal injury 1 to 2 cm below the septum occurred in 2 patients. No severe surgical adverse events were observed. Median duration of follow-up was 39 months (range, 12-63). Total SF-36 scores increased from 118.7 ± 18.6 before STESD to 132.4 ± 9.1 at 1 year after the procedure (P = .007). SF-36 subscales of general health (P = .002), vitality (P = .004), social functioning (P = .030), and mental health (P = .020) improved significantly after STESD. The mean Costamagna score decreased from 3.83 ± 1.33 to 1.67 ± 1.51 (P = .010), whereas the mean Eckardt score decreased from 3.50 ± .90 to 1.25 ± 1.76 (P = .002). One patient developed symptom recurrence at 10 months after STESD. CONCLUSIONS: STESD is a safe and valid endoscopic minimally invasive surgery for esophageal diverticulum, which can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Acute Kidney Injury and 3-Year Mortality in Elderly Patients After Non-cardiac Surgery.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate whether acute kidney injury (AKI) was associated with 3-year mortality in elderly patients after non-cardiac surgery. Methods: The present study was a 3-year follow-up study of two randomized controlled trials. A total of 1,319 elderly patients who received non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia were screened. AKI was diagnosed by the elevation of serum creatinine within a 7-day postoperative period according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. A long-term telephonic follow-up was undertaken by investigators who were not involved in the previous two trials and had no access to the study group assignment. The date of death was taken from the official medical death certificate. The primary outcome was to investigate the association between AKI and postoperative 3-year mortality using the multivariable Cox regression risk model. Results: Of the 1,297 elderly patients (mean age 71.8 ± 7.2 years old) who were included in the study, the incidence of AKI was 15.5% (201/1297). Of the patients with AKI, 85% (170/201) were at stage 1, 10% (20/201) at stage 2, and 5% (11/201) at stage 3. The 3-year all-cause mortality was 28.9% (58/201) in patients with AKI and 24.0% (263/1,096) in patients without AKI (hazard ratio 1.247, 95% confidence interval 0.939-1.657, P = 0.128). The multivariable Cox regression showed that AKI was not associated with 3-year mortality after adjustment of confounding factors (adjusted hazard ratio 1.045, 95% confidence interval 0.780-1.401, P = 0.766). Conclusions: AKI was a common postoperative complication, but it was not associated with 3-year mortality in elderly patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery. The low incidence of severe AKI might underestimate its underlying association with long-term mortality.

[Gene Mutation and Overexpression of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of gene mutation and overexpression in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. METHODS: Bone marrow cells from 208 NDMM patients were collected and analyzed. The gene mutation of 28 genes and overexpression of 6 genes was detected by DNA sequencing. Chromosome structure abnormalities were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Gene mutations were detected in 61 (29.33%) NDMM patients. Some mutations occurred in 5 or more cases, such as NRAS, PRDM1, FAM46C, MYC, CCND1, LTB, DIS3, KRAS, and CRBN. Overexpression of six genes (CCND1, CCND3, BCL-2, CCND2, FGFR3, and MYC) were detected in 83 (39.9%) patients, and cell cycle regulation gene was the most common. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) changes were detected in 169 (81.25%) patients, the TP53 P72R gene SNP (70.17%) was the most common. Abnormality in chromosome structure was correlated to gene overexpression. Compared to the patients with normal chromosome structure, patients with 14q32 deletion showed higher proportion of CCND1 overexpression. Similarly, patients with 13q14 deletion showed higher proportion of FGFR3 overexpression, whereas patients with 1q21 amplification showed higher proportion of CCND2, BCL-2 and FGFR3 overexpression. CONCLUSION: There are multiple gene mutations and overexpression in NDMM. However, there is no dominated single mutation or overexpression of genes. The most common gene mutations are those in the RAS/MAPK pathway and the genes of cyclin family CCND are overexpression.

Mdivi-1 improves postoperative neurocognitive disorders in aged rats undergoing splenectomy by inhibiting dynamin-related protein-1.

Background: The regulatory role of mitochondria in the inflammatory response of the nervous system postoperatively remains unclear. This study explored the relationship between mitochondria and postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction (PNCD) by regulating mitochondrial function in aged rats undergoing splenectomy. Methods: A total of 120 aged rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=24) as follows: Control group (not subjected to any form of treatment), Sham group (subjected only to sham-splenectomized operation after anesthesia), Splenectomy group (only underwent splenectomy after anesthesia), Synonyms Mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) group [treated with Mdivi-1, a dynamin-relatedprotein 1 (Drp1) inhibitor], and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) group (treated with DMSO, a solvent). Inflammatory markers, namely interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), were measured in the plasma and brains of the rats. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze test. Results: During the perioperative period, the physiological parameters did not differ among the five groups (P>0.05). The results of the Morris water maze experiments showed that the memory of the rats was significantly impaired after splenectomy, which was alleviated by Mdivi-1 administration (P=0.04). Postoperatively, the proinflammatory cytokine levels in the serum and hippocampus tissue were upregulated, while Mdivi-1 administration reduced this increase. The electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining results indicated that the structure of neurons and mitochondria was minimally impaired in the Mdivi-1 group. Conclusions: Aged rats that underwent splenectomy exhibited significant postoperative cognitive impairments. The selective inhibitor of Drp1, Mdivi-1, exerted protective effects against PNCD by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and reducing the inflammatory response.

Rapid and Visual Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Aquatic Foods Using blaCARB-17 Gene-Based Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification with Lateral Flow Dipstick (LAMP-LFD).

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is recognized as one of the most important foodborne pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis in humans. The blaCARB-17 gene is an intrinsic ß-lactamase gene and a novel species-specific genetic marker of V. parahaemolyticus. In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was developed targeting this blaCARB-17 gene. The specificity of LAMP-LFD was ascertained by detecting V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 and seven other non-V. parahaemolyticus strains. Finally, the practicability of LAMP-LFD was confirmed by detection with V. parahaemolyticus-contaminated samples and natural food samples. The results showed that the optimized reaction parameters of LAMP are as follows: 2.4 mmol/l Mg2+, 0.96 mmol/l dNTPs, 4.8 U Bst DNA polymerase, and an 8:1 ratio of inner primer to outer primer, at 63°C for 40 min. The optimized reaction time of the LFD assay is 60 min. Cross-reactivity analysis with the seven non-V. parahaemolyticus strains showed that LAMP-LFD was exclusively specific for V. parahaemolyticus. The detection limit of LAMP-LFD for V. parahaemolyticus genomic DNA was 2.1 × 10-4 ng/µl, corresponding to 630 fg/reaction and displaying a sensitivity that is 100-fold higher than that of conventional PCR. LAMP-LFD in a spiking study revealed a detection limit of approximately 6 CFU/ml, which was similar with conventional PCR. The developed LAMP-LFD specifically identified the 10 V. parahaemolyticus isolates from 30 seafood samples, suggesting that this LAMP-LFD may be a suitable diagnostic method for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in aquatic foods.

The Relationship between Patterns of Remodeling and Degree of Enhancement in Patients with Atherosclerotic Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis: A High-Resolution MRI Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between remodeling patterns and degree of enhancement in patients with atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2015 to May 2016, 38 consecutive patients with unilateral MCA stenosis on time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography were prospectively enrolled. The routine MR scan and cross-sectional images of the stenotic MCA vessel wall on HR-MRI were performed in all patients. Among them, 17 patients displayed positive remodeling (PR) and the other 21 patients displayed negative remodeling or non-remodeling (non-PR). The patients displaying hyperintense on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the territory of ipsilateral stenotic MCA were considered to have had acute stroke. Subsequently, the differences in the degree of enhancement and the number of acute stroke patients between the PR group and the non-PR group were compared. The Spearman rank correlation analysis of the enhancement degree (ED) and the remodeling index (RI) was calculated. Then, receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate diagnostic efficiency of RI and ED for acute infarction. RESULTS: The PR group had more obvious enhancement plaques than the non-PR group (10 versus 3, P = 0.006). The PR group also had a larger number of acute stroke patients than the non-PR group (15 versus 4, P = 0.000). The spear-man rank correlation analysis showed that the degree of enhancement had a weak positive correlation with the remodeling index (r = 0.379, P = 0.019). The area under the curve (AUC) of RI and ED was higher than that of RI (0.924: 0.842). CONCLUSION: The PR, obvious enhancement predicted vulnerable plaques that were more prone to causing acute stroke. RI and ED had valuable diagnostic efficiency for acute infarction.

Anti-hemorrhoidal activity of Lian-Zhi-San, a traditional Chinese medicine, in an experimental hemorrhoidal model in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is the most common proctological disease, with an estimated prevalence rate of 4.4%, and a peak in individuals between 45 and 65 years of age. This study was done to evaluate whether Lian-Zhi-San (LZS), a clinically used anti-hemorrhoidal ointment could alleviate the inflammatory injury, with its associated changes of inflammatory cytokines and morphology of anorectal tissues, in an experimental model of HD in rats. METHODS: HD was induced by croton oil preparation (COP) applied to the anorectal region. Rats were then treated with cotton swabs soaked in LZS ointment, water or white vaseline, twice a day for 7 d. At the end of the experiment, HD was evaluated by measuring hemorrhoidal and biochemical parameters along with histopathological observations. RESULTS: In this study, COP induced a significant increase in the macroscopic severity score, anorectal coefficient and Evans blue extravasation, compared to normal rats. Additionally, it greatly enhanced the expression and secretion levels of some important inflammation-related cytokines along with marked histological damage, compared to normal rats. Rats treated with LZS ointment experienced significantly ameliorated Evans blue extravasation (P < 0.05), decreased macroscopic severity score (0.86 ± 0.14 vs. 1.65 ± 0.16) and the anorectal coefficient (P < 0.01); its use also attenuated tissue damage and inhibited the expression and secretion levels of inflammation-related cytokines (interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α). CONCLUSION: This study validates a preliminary understanding of the use of LZS ointment to treat inflammatory factors and tissue damage in an experimental model of HD in rats.

Effect of shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cell SKOV3: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study will investigate the effect of shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian cancer cell SKOV3 (HOCC-SKOV3). METHODS: We will retrieve potential studies from inception to the March 1, 2020 in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, WANGFANG, and China National Knowledge In-frastructure. There are not restrictions related to the language and publication status. This study will include case-controlled studies (CCSs) or randomized controlled studies (RCSs) that examine the effect of shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of HOCC-SKOV3. Two researchers will independently identify literatures, extract data, and appraise study quality. Any disagreements will be resolved by discussion with another researcher. RevMan 5.3 software will be placed to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: This study will summarize the present evidence to test the effect of shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of HOCC-SKOV3. CONCLUSION: It will provide evidence to investigate the effect of shikonin on the proliferation and apoptosis of HOCC-SKOV3, and will supply reference for further study.Systematic review registration: INPLASY202040146.

Weekly cisplatin for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer: A protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most leading causes of deaths in the Chinese women. The objective of this protocol is to perform a full-scale systematic review on the efficacy of weekly cisplatin (WC) for the treatment of patients with OC. METHODS: Data sources will comprise of PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Opengrey, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. All relevant randomized controlled trials from searched databases will be identified from their inception to the present. A defined search strategy will be implemented along with eligibility criteria. Relevant data will be extracted according to the predefined data collection form. Methodologic quality will be assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias tool; and data pooled and meta-analysis will be conducted by using fixed-effects, or random-effects model with RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This proposed systematic review will evaluate the efficacy of WC for patients with OC. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may summarize the latest evidence for the WC on OC. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval is not required for this study, because it will be based on published studies, and existing sources of literature. The results of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42018120938.

Response surface optimization of conditions for culturing Azotobacter chroococcum in Agaricus bisporus industrial wastewater.

In the present study, the conditions for Azotobacter chroococcum fermentation using Agaricus bisporus wastewater as the culture medium were optimized. We analyzed the total number of living A. chroococcum in the fermentation broth, using multispectral imaging flow cytometry. Single-factor experiments were carried out, where a Plackett-Burman design was used to screen out three factors from the original six processing factors wastewater solubility, initial pH, inoculum size, liquid volume, culture temperature, and rotation speed that affected the total number of viable A. chroococcum. The Box-Behnken response surface method was used to optimize the interactions between the three main factors and to predict the optimal fermentation conditions. Factors significantly affecting the total number of viable A. chroococcum, including rotation speed, wastewater solubility, and culture temperature, were investigated. The optimum conditions for A. chroococcum fermentation in A. bisporus wastewater were a rotation speed of 200 rpm, a solubility of 0.25%, a culture temperature of 26°C, an initial pH of 6.8, a 5% inoculation volume, a culture time of 48 h, and a liquid volume of 120 mL in a 250 mL flask. Under these conditions, the concentration of total viable bacteria reached 4.29 ± 0.02 ✕ 107 Obj/mL A. bisporus wastewater can be used for the cultivation of A. chroococcum.

Electrical stimulation on adverse events caused by chemotherapy in patients with cervical cancer: A protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This protocol of systematic review aims to investigate the effectiveness of electrical stimulation (ES) on adverse events (AEs) caused by chemotherapy in patients with cervical cancer (CC). METHODS: This systematic review of randomized controlled trials will be identified through searchers of PUBMED, PsycINFO, Scopus, Opengrey, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. All the sources will be searched from the inception to the date of study search ran. Additionally, websites of clinical trials registry and reference lists provided in relevant studies and reviews will also be searched. Two independent reviewers will evaluate the eligibility criteria of all potential literature, extract the data, and determine the risk of bias for each included study. RevMan 5.3 software will be used to pool the data and to conduct a meta-analysis. RESULTS: This systematic review will assess the effectiveness of ES on AEs caused by chemotherapy in patients with CC. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may summarize the latest evidence for the ES on AEs following chemotherapy for CC. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42019120191.