Estimating yolk weight of duck eggs using VIS-NIR Spectroscopy and RGB images and whole egg weights.

Duck eggs are widely-consumed food and cooking ingredient. The heavier yolk weight (YW) corresponds to a larger size and greater value. However, there is no nondestructive method available to estimate the weight of the yolk. Accurate weight prediction of duck egg yolks must combine both phenotypic and internal information. In this research, we used Visible-Near Infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroscopy to obtain internal information of duck eggs, and a high-definition camera to capture their phenotypic features. YW was predicted by combining the reduced spectral and RGB image information with the whole egg weight. We also investigated the impact of color and thickness of the duck egg on spectral transmittance (ST), as these factors can influence the extent of ST. The results showed that the spectral curves of duck eggs produced 2 peaks and 1 valley, which may be caused by the dual-frequency absorption of the C-H group and O-H group, and can be used to symbolize the internal information of duck eggs. The ST was somewhat affected by the color and thickness of the duck eggshell. Before modelling, Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to significantly reduce the dimensionality of the RGB image with spectral data. A partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was utilized to fit all the features. The test set yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.82 and a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 1.05 g. After removing the eggshell's color and thickness features, the model showed an R2 of 0.79 and an RMSE of 1.11 g. This study demonstrated that the yolk weight of duck eggs can be estimated using VIS-NIR spectroscopy, RGB images and whole egg weight. Furthermore, the effects of shell color and thickness can be neglected.

Sex identification of ducklings based on acoustic signals.

Sex identification of ducklings is a critical step in the poultry farming industry, and accurate sex identification is beneficial for precise breeding and cost savings. In this study, a method for identifying the sex of ducklings based on acoustic signals was proposed. In the first step, duckling vocalizations were collected and an improved spectral subtraction method and high-pass filtering were applied to reduce the influence of noise. Then, duckling vocalizations were automatically detected by using a double-threshold endpoint detection method with 3 parameters: short-time energy (STE), short-time zero-crossing rate (ZCR), and duration (D). Following the extraction of Mel-Spectrogram features from duckling vocalizations, an improved Res2Net deep learning algorithm was used for sex classification. This algorithm was introduced with the Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention mechanism and Ghost module to improve the bottleneck of Res2Net, thereby improving the model accuracy and reducing the number of parameters. The ablative experimental results showed that the introduction of the SE attention mechanism improved the model accuracy by 2.01%, while the Ghost module reduced the number of model parameters by 7.26M and the FLOPs by 0.85G. Moreover, this algorithm was compared with 5 state-of-the-art (SOTA) algorithms, and the results showed that the proposed algorithm has the best cost-effectiveness, with accuracy, recall, specificity, number of parameters, and FLOPs of 94.80, 94.92, 94.69, 18.91M, and 3.46G, respectively. After that, the vocalization detection score and the average confidence strategy were used to predict the sex of individual ducklings, and the accuracy of the proposed model reached 96.67%. In conclusion, the method proposed in this study can effectively detect the sex of ducklings and serve as a reference for automated sex identification of ducklings.

Comparison of cytological adequacy in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thyroid nodules with different numbers of needle passes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the cytological adequacy rates of different needle passes in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules and, thus, to help establish the criterion for selecting the number of needle passes according to the characteristics of thyroid nodules. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-center and randomized prospective study involved 207 consecutive patients with 240 solid or predominantly solid thyroid nodules. These nodules were randomly divided into a 1-pass group, a 2-pass group, and a 3-pass group. Then the nodules were sent for cytopathological diagnosis, and cytological results were classified according to the Bethesda classification. Bethesda I was defined as inadequate, and Bethesda Ⅱ-Ⅵ were defined as adequate. Then the cytological adequacy rates of different groups were compared. RESULTS: In total, 221 nodule specimens were considered as adequate and 19 nodule specimens inadequate. The overall adequacy rate was 92.1%. However, there were no significant differences among the 1, 2, and 3-pass groups in terms of adequacy rates (91.3%, 92.5%, and 92.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The number of needle passes does not significantly affect the cytological adequacy in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of solid or predominantly solid thyroid nodules. The cytological adequacy of one-needle pass is comparable to those of two and three-needle passes.

[Efficacy of plasma exchange in severe crescentic IgA nephropathy: A multicentered, cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of plasma exchange therapy on crescentic IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in a cohort of patients with crescentic IgAN from January 2012 to September 2020 at 9 sites across China. Clinical and pathological data, as well as therapeutic regimens, were collected. In order to minimize the effect of potential confounders in baseline characteristics, propensity score matching using a 1 ∶1 ratio nearest neighbor algorithm was performed between the adjunctive plasma exchange therapy group and the intensive immunosuppressive therapy group. The primary outcome was end-stage of kidney disease (ESKD). Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the difference in renal survival between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 95 crescentic IgAN patients with acute kidney disease were included in this study, including 37 (38.9%) patients receiving adjunctive plasma exchange therapy, and 58 (61.1%) patients receiving intensive immunosuppressive therapy. In the whole cohort, the baseline eGFR was 12.77 (7.28, 21.29) mL/(min·1.73 m2), 24-hour urinary protein quantification was 5.9 (4.0, 8.9) g, and crescent percentage was 64.71% (54.55%, 73.68%). In the study, 23 patients in each group were matched after propensity score matching The median follow-up time was 7 (1, 26) months. As a whole, 29 patients (63.0%) reached ESKD, including 16 patients (69.6%) in the adjunctive plasma exchange therapy group and 13 (56.5%) patients in the intensive immunosuppressive therapy group.. There were no stastical difference between the two groups in terms of baseline eGFR [14.30 (9.31, 17.58) mL/(min·1.73 m2) vs. 11.45 (5.59, 20.79) mL/(min·1.73 m2)], 24-hour urinary protein (7.4±3.4) g vs. (6.6±3.8) g, crescent percentage 64.49%±13.23% vs. 66.41%±12.65% and the proportion of patients received steroid therapy[23 (100.0%) vs. 21 (91.3%)] (All P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference in renal survival rate between the two groups (Log-rank test, P=0.933). CONCLUSION: The adjunctive plasma exchange therapy in addition to conventional intense immunosuppressive therapy did not additionally improve the prognosis of crescentic IgA nephropathy.

[Analysis of factors influencing radiation-induced liver injury caused by stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To analyze the factors influencing radiation-induced liver injury after receiving Cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: 278 cases with primary hepatocellular carcinoma from July 2016 to April 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Stereotactic radiosurgery with a prescription dose of 48-55gy/5-8 times were given. Liver function, coagulation function, Child-Pugh score, and liver imaging changes were dynamically observed before and after treatment to evaluate the occurrence of radiation-induced liver injury. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing radiation-induced liver injury. Results: Among 278 cases, 3 cases of tumor progression were excluded, and a total of 275 cases were included for analysis. The overall survival rate after 8 months of treatment was 100%. Among them, 22 cases were diagnosed as radiation-induced liver injury, with an incidence rate of 8%, and all cases were recovered after symptomatic treatment. Multivariate analysis result suggested that the peripheral white blood cell count was factors influencing the occurrence of radiation-induced liver injury. Conclusion: Cyberknife stereotactic radiotherapy has a low incidence of radiation-induced liver injury in patients with liver cancer, and it is a relatively safe treatment method. Patients with low peripheral white blood cell counts before treatment should be closely monitored for early detection and treatment.

[Interpretation of group standard for Clostridioides difficile infection diagnosis].

Clostridioides difficile is a key pathogen of antibiotic related diarrhea and hospital associated infection, causing several outbreaks in Europe and North Americans and resulting in severe disease burden. However, the standardized diagnostic principle and detection specifications in C. difficile infection (CDI) survey are limited in China, and the infection rate and disease burden of CDI in China are unclear. Therefore, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention,National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, together with another 11 institutions, draft the group standard entitled "Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (T/CPMA 008-2020)" of Chinese Preventive Medicine Association. Based on the principle of "legality, scientificity, advancement, and feasibility", this standard clarifies risk factors, diagnosis principles, diagnoses and differential diagnoses in order to improve the accuracy of CDI diagnosis in clinical practice, guide the surveillance for CDI, and understand the infection rate and disease burden of CDI in China.

[Management of renal injury include hepatorenal syndrome in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis].

Renal dysfunction is common in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The types include of prerenal and postrenal, structural kidney disease, interstitial nephritis and functional renal failure, which is related to hemodynamic changes without obvious histopathological changes, the most common of which are acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome. In recent years, there have been updated to some extents in the liver cirrhosis combined with kidney diseases, especially in the definition, classification, pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, management process of acute kidney injury and hepatorenal syndrome.

[Clinical characteristics of infection-induced acute renal injury in acute-on-chronic liver failure].

Objective: To investigate the incidence rate, influencing factors and prognosis of infection-induced acute renal injury (AKI) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Methods: 516 cases with acute-on-chronic liver failure complicated with infection that were hospitalized in our hospital during 2014 to 2016 were retrospectively studied. General conditions and clinical characteristics of the patients were collected, and grouped according to the presence or absence of incidence and severity of AKI. General conditions, laboratory results, occurrence of complications and survival were compared and analyzed. Results: The main causes were HBV infection (67.8%) and alcoholic liver disease (20.0%). The most common sites of infection were abdominal cavity, lung and blood. Multivariate analysis showed that neutrophil count, TBIL, lactate and septic shock were independent risk factors for infection-induced AKI in ACLF patients. The cumulative mortality in patients with AKI after infection at 28, 90 and 360 days was significantly higher than those without AKI (51.6% and 20.5%, 70.2% and 40.3%, 73.4% and 45.9%; P < 0.01). In both groups, deaths had occurred mainly in the early (0 ~ 28 d) and middle (29 ~ 90 d) stage of follow-up period. In the late follow-up period (91-360 d), there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rate between the two groups. Conclusion: Infection is an important inducing cause of AKI in ACLF patients. The underlying liver disease and the severity of infection are significantly related to the infection-induced AKI in ACLF patients, and once AKI occurs after infection, the mortality rate of the patients is significantly increased.

[Clinical analysis of 43 cases of retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal biopsy].

Objective: Percutaneous renal biopsycurrently is the most important and widely used method of renal biopsy. However, there still are some patients in whom a percutaneous approach may be considered a major risk. In these patients, renal biopsy under direct vision is a reliable alternative. We described our personal technique and experience in a series of Chinese patients who underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal biopsy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patients who had performed retroperitoneal laparoscopic renal biopsy over a 4-year period (Jan 2013 to Jan 2017).Forty-three patients with renal dysfunction were involved inour center.Especially some patients showed atrophic kidney and poor visualization on ultrasonography. The patients' abnormal conditions includeddialysis (10 cases), morbid obesity (5 cases), deaf-mutes (2 cases) and uncontrolled severe hypertension. The kidney was approached via alaparoscopic retroperitoneal route using athree-ports technique. Then biopsies were performed bya 16-gaugebiopsy needle, and hemostasis was achieved by compression.In less cases, a topical spray hemostatic gel was required. Results: Biopsy was performed successfully in all cases and adequate renal tissue was acquired.Mean operative time was 59.4 minutes, mean blood loss was 36.5 ml.Under general anesthesia, no anesthetic accidents and related complications were recorded. Forty-onepatients were discharged within 24 h after operation. Onepatient occurred disseminated intravascular coagulationduring operation. Red blood cell transfusion and fresh-frozen plasma infusion were performed. Injury at hilum of kidney was detected in another patient. And extrapyelogenic repair surgery was performed. Conclusions: The retroperitoneallaparoscopic renal biopsy is a safe, reliable, minimallyinvasive alternative renal biopsy method with better haemostasis, fewer complications and a rapid recovery. As the helpful supplement of percutaneous renal biopsy, this technique may have to be used more often in the future.

[Initial exploration of discordance in public health standards in China].

Discordance, such as overlap, repetition and inconsistent, of standards is one of the major problems in current standardization affair in China. Therefore, improving the unity and authority of standards through reduction of overlap, repetition and inconsistency has become the main goal of deepening standardization reform in China. This paper summarizes the discordance in public health standards in China, analyzes the major reasons and provides specific strategic suggestions through case analysis of public health standards in the ways of comparisons of same kind standards of other deparments and standards in administration documents and guidelines or technical specifications of academic associations or societies.

[Clinicopathologic features of lipoprotein glomerulopathy: observation of 6 cases].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features of lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG). Methods: A total of 6 cases (5 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 27.5 years and age range of 11-53 years) of lipoprotein glomerulopathy with complete clinicopathologic data were enrolled. Except for light microscope, immunofluorescence and electron microscopic examination, renal biopsy tissues were checked by oil red O staining. The gene map of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) of 2 cases were analyzed. Results: All 6 cases presented with heavy proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome, and high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL), ApoE. Family history of LPG was found in 3 cases, and 2 patients progressed to uremia, or even to death. Pathologic features showed that lipoprotein deposited in glomerulus capillary lumen and renal tubular epithelial cells. Gene analysis demonstrated that 2 cases expressed abnormal ApoE gene (162G>C and 455G>C). Conclusions: Lipoprotein glomerulopathy is autosomal-recessive disease with mutation of ApoE. Common clinical manifestations of LPG are heavy proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome, with a poor prognosis. Renal biopsy pathologic diagnosis can confirm this kidney disease. Emboli of lipoprotein being observed in glomerulus capillary lumen is the pathological feature of LPG.

[The clinical impact of artery-first approach combined with vascular resection and reconstruction in the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the application of artery first, combined vascular resection and reconstruction in the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma. Methods: The clinical data of 13 patients with pancreatic head cancer were retrospectively analyzed from February 2014 to March 2016 in the Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University. Preoperative computed tomography of high resolution layer or magnetic resonance imaging examination demonstrated pancreatic head carcinoma, as well as close adhesion, stenosis, compression or displacement of superior mesenteric vein or portal vein wall. In the operation, the artery first approach was used and the whole arterial blood supply in the head of the pancreas was fully exposed and interdicted. Finally, en block resection and vascular resection and reconstruction was adopted. Results: 12 of 13 patients had pancreatoduodenectomy synchronously with vascular resection and reconstruction; the other patient had these two surgery sequentially. Four patients received blood vessel wedge resection, five had segmental resection combined with end to end suture, and four had segmental resection combined with artificial vascular graft reconstruction. Operation time was (327.2±65.5) minutes, and the amount of blood loss was (472.6±226.4) millilitres. One patient suffered from delayed gastric emptying, and two patients had pancreatic fistula. All patients recovered from postoperative complications by conservative treatment. No patients developed biliary fistula, gastrointestinal fistula, abdominal infection, pulmonary infection, diarrhea, hypoglycemia or other complications, and none died in perioperative period. Postoperative pathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mean tumor diameter was (4.2±1.5)cm, and (3.8±1.5) metastasis were found in (13.6±2.5) resected lymph nodes. In 11 cases, the tumor cells were found in the outer membrane of blood vessels, 2 cases were found to have tumor invasion in the inner membrane, and all the resection margins were negative. All patients were followed up, and 2 patients died of liver metastasis 11 months and 18 months after operation, respectively. One patient survived with local recurrence of tumor 13 months after surgery. Other patients had no tumor recurrence and metastasis. Conclusions: The artery first approch combined vascular resection and reconstruction is safe effective and feasible in the treatment of pancreatic head carcinoma. It can improve the ablation rate of pancreatoduodenectomy.

[Clinical and genetic analysis of a family with Joubert syndrome type 10 caused by OFD1 gene mutation].

Objective: To investigate the genetic cause for a family with multiorgan dysplasia and "molar tooth sign" on MRI image. Method: The patient, a 3 months and 21 days old boy, was clinically examined and the medical history of his family was collected. Next generation sequencing was performed to analyze his clinical and genetic causes. Result: Clinical manifestation of the child displayed multiorgan dysplasia, such as six finger deformity, short limbs, coloboma of optic disc and choroid, situs inversus.Cranial MRI showed "molar tooth sign" . The gene sequencing confirmed that the child carried a de novo deletion of c. 2843_2844 delAA in OFD1 gene. Conclusion: The child has typical clinical features of Joubert syndrome, such as MRI "molar syndrome" , developmental abnormalities of ocular tissue and limb, visceral inversion, and so on.The OFD1 gene had a novel deletion mutation through gene detection. Combined clinical features with gene detection, it was clear that the child was a rare case of Joubert syndrome type 10 which was the first case of Joubert syndrome caused by OFD1 gene mutation in China.

Novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 5' regulatory region of the duck SCD1 gene and their associations with serum biochemical levels and fatty acid composition.

Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) is the key limiting enzyme in the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids, and plays a crucial role in the regulation of oleic acid. In this study, 165 ten-week-old Cherry Valley ducks were used to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5' regulatory region of the SCD1 gene, and their associations with duck serum biochemical levels and fatty acid composition. Two novel SNPs, g.936516 C > G and g.936551 T > C, were found by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing methods, exhibiting six genotypes (AA, BB, CC, AB, AC, and BC). The frequency of the dominant genotype BB and allele B was 0.321 and 0.403, respectively. The polymorphism information content value was 0.617, indicating high polymorphism. The chi-square test indicated that the genotype distribution deviated markedly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.01). The linkage of the two mutant sites in the duck SCD1 gene had significant effects on the serum albumin, total protein, globulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and cholinesterase levels, as well as on 16 kinds of fatty acids except for C14:1 and C20:0 (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the C allele might have a positive effect on polyunsaturated fatty acids with potential health benefits. Therefore, the SCD1-gene-specific SNPs in the 5' regulatory region may be a useful marker for serum lipid, serum protein, and fatty acid composition in future marker-assisted selection for duck breeding.

[Effect of double-J stent indwelling time in treatment of ureteric calculi complicated with infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and double-J stent indwelling time in the treatment of acute upper urinary tract infection caused by ureteral calculi. METHODS: A prospective non-randomized controlled study was carried out. From January 2011 to August 2015, a total of 142 patients treated in Department of Urology of Shanghai First People's Hospital for ureteral calculi with systematic inflammatory response syndrome were divided into double-J stent indwelling 7 days group (n=63) and double-J stent indwelling > 7 days group (n=79). The preoperative routine blood test, urinalysis, and urine culture, the urinalysis and urine culture immediately after double-J indwelling, and the routine blood test, urinalysis, and urine culture 7 days after indwelling were compared between the two groups. Postoperative complications after lithotripsy were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative blood white blood cell (WBC) count, urine WBC count, and positive bacterial culture between the two groups (all P>0.05). Seven days after double-J stent indwelling, significant improvement was seen in both the 7 d group and the >7 d group in blood WBC count, urine WBC count, and positive urine culture [(8.1±1.7) vs (14.8±3.1) ×10(9)/L, (356±44) vs (3 077±643)/µl, 1.6% vs 52.4%; (7.9±1.1) vs (15.1±3.8) ×10(9)/L, (363±52) vs (3 122±805)/µl, 3.8% vs 48.1%], and infection was managed effectively, while no statistically significant inter-group differences were observed. There was no significant difference in stone clearance rate between the two groups (96.8% vs 96.2%, P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications, especially infectious complications (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Indwelling double-J stents for 7 days could effectively manage the infection in patients with acute upper urinary tract infection secondary to ureteral calculi. These patients can be treated with lithotripsy safely. The time of double-J stent indwelling could be shortened.

Association of CD36 expression and polymorphism with serum biochemical indices in Cherry Valley duck.

Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) plays a crucial role in lipid sensing, innate immunity, atherogenesis, and glycolipid metabolism. This aims of this study were to delineate the CD36 mRNA expression profile in 16 duck tissues using relative quantitative real-time PCR and to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the duck CD36 gene by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism and DNA direct sequencing. In addition, this study investigated CD36 gene expression, genetic variation, and their effect on serum biochemical indices in duck. The results showed that CD36 mRNA was expressed in all tissues, and was highly specific to the pituitary and large intestine, and to subcutaneous and abdominal fat. Furthermore, three genotypes of the SNP g.476593 T > C in exon 9 of the duck CD36 gene were identified: MM, MN, and NN. The dominant genotype and allele were MM and M, with frequencies of 0.453 and 0.643, respectively. The genotype distributions deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05) and achieved moderate levels of polymorphism in ducks. Correlation results showed that CD36 mRNA was significantly negatively correlated with triglycerides (P < 0.05), and significantly positively correlated with total protein, globulin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol (P < 0.01). All serum biochemical indices measured, with the exception of triglycerides, in birds with the NN genotype were significantly higher than those in birds with the MM genotype. These findings demonstrated that CD36 might be an important genetic marker for the selection of lipid metabolism and meat quality traits in ducks.

[The clinical study of IgA nephropathy with severe chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) with severe chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 436 hospitalized patients who underwent renal needle biopsy in the department of nephrology of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from November 2013 to December 2014 were recruited in the study and blindly had periodontal examination. The patients were divided into IgAN group and non-IgAN group according to the renal pathology. The patients with IgAN were further categorized as non-periodontitis, chronic periodontitis and aggressive peridontitis group by Haas classification. The chronic periodontitis group was continually divided into mild, moderate and severe periodontitis group. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 in gingival crevicular fluid were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The prevalence of periodontitis in the study was 88.3% (385/436). The prevalence of chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis were higher in patients with IgAN than those with non-IgAN (P<0.05). Degree of chronic periodontitis was correlated with pathologic grading of IgAN (r=0.48, P<0.001). Compared with IgAN patients with other types of periodontitis, those with severe chronic and aggressive periodontitis had more severe pathology, more frequent recurrent gross hematuria, higher levels of 24 h proteinuria, serum triglyceride and uric acid, higher periodontal probing depth and clinical attatchment level, as well as higer levels of IL-1ß and IL-6, but had lower creatinine clearance rate (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of severe chronic and aggressive periodontitis was higher in patients with IgAN. Chronic periodontitis is correlated with the onset and development of IgAN. Patients with IgAN have worse condition with the aggravation of periodontitis.