A Depth Evidence Score Fusion Algorithm for Chinese Medical Intelligence Question Answering System.

Question answering (QA) system is becoming the focus of the research in medical health in terms of providing fleetly accurate answers to users. Numerous traditional QA systems are faced to simple factual questions and do not obtain accurate answers for complex questions. In order to realize the intelligent QA system for disease diagnosis and treatment in medical informationization, in this paper, we propose a depth evidence score fusion algorithm for Chinese Medical Intelligent Question Answering System, which can measure the text information in many algorithmic ways and ensure that the QA system outputs accurately the optimal candidate answer. At the semantic level, a new text semantic evidence score based on Word2vec is proposed, which can calculate the semantic similarity between texts. Experimental results on the medical text corpus show that the depth evidence score fusion algorithm has better performance in the evidence-scoring module of the intelligent QA system.

Detection, sequence analysis, and antibody prevalence of porcine deltacoronavirus in Taiwan.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) was initially documented in Hong Kong and later in the United States, South Korea, and Thailand. To investigate if PDCoV is also present in Taiwan, three swine coronaviruses-PDCoV, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV)-were tested using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) in 172 rectal swab samples from piglets exhibiting diarrhea between January 2016 and May 2017 on 68 pig farms in Taiwan. The rRT-PCR results were positive for PDCoV (29/172, 16.9%), PEDV (36/172, 20.9%), TGEV (2/172, 1.2%), and coinfections (16/172, 9.3%). After cloning and sequencing, PDCoV nucleocapsid genes were analyzed. Phylogeny results indicated that the nucleotide sequences of all isolates were like those reported in other countries. To further trace PDCoV in the period of 2011 to 2015, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect antibodies against PDCoV. The results showed that 279 of 1,039 (26.9%) sera were positive for the PDCoV nucleocapsid protein, implying that PDCoV might have existed in Taiwan before 2011.

Reduced tumorigenicity and drug resistance through the downregulation of octamer-binding protein 4 and Nanog transcriptional factor expression in human breast stem cells.

Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy among females. Previous studies examining breast cancer tissue have demonstrated the presence of stem cells, and have detected octamer­binding protein 4 (Oct4) and Nanog transcription factor expression. In the present study, breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) were isolated and enriched from MDA­MB­231 breast cancer cell lines, and were defined as MDA­MB­231 stem cells using flow cytometry. The expression of Oct4 and Nanog in breast CSCs were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. RNA interference (RNAi) was used in order to downregulate the expression of Oct4 and Nanog. Drug resistance and tumor­initiating capability following in vivo injection of MDA­MB­231 stem cells trans-duced with negative RNAi, Oct4 RNAi and Nanog RNAi were compared with that of MDA­MB­231 stem cells without siRNA transfection as a control group. In addition the capability of MDA­MB­231 breast cancer cells to initiate tumor formation in mice was compared with that of MDA­MB­231 stem cells. A paclitaxel inhibition test was also conducted in order to detect resistance of MDA­MB­231 breast cancer stem cells to this treatment. The MDA­MB­231 stem cells were revealed to exhibit elevated percentages of the cluster of differentiation (CD)44+CD24­/low subset, high tumorigenicity and resistance to chemotherapy, all of which are characteristic stem cell properties. In addition, the MDA­MB­231 stem cells were more tumorigenic in vivo. Furthermore, the breast CSCs also expressed high levels of the Oct4 and Nanog transcription factors. Therefore, downregulation of Oct4 or Nanog expression may reduce chemotherapeutic drug resistance and tumorigenicity in breast CSCs. In conclusion, Oct4 and Nanog expression may be a key factor in the development of resistance to chemotherapy and tumor growth of breast CSCs. This finding indicates that Oct4 or Nanog­targeted therapy may be a promising means of overcoming resistance to chemotherapy and inhibiting tumor growth in breast cancer treatment.

Simvastatin inhibits inflammation in ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is associated with leukocyte accumulation and tissue injury. The aim of this research was to investigate the protective effect of simvastatin on hind limb I/R inflammation and tissue damage. Mice were subjected to hind limb ischemic insult for 2 h and were simultaneously administered an intraperitoneal injection of simvastatin (5 mg/kg); this was followed by 36 h of reperfusion. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in the muscles of the hind limb were determined. CXC chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and P-selectin, were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Leukocyte rolling and adhesion in vitro was assessed to indicate leukocyte recruitment at the site of inflammation. Quantitative measurement of skeletal muscle tissue injury was performed. The fluorescent dye level in tissue and serum was used to determine hind limb vascular leakage and tissue edema after I/R. Systemic and differentiated leukocytes were also counted. Simvastatin significantly reduced MIP-2, KC, TNF-α, MPO, IL-6, and P-selectin levels compared to the sham group and I/R plus pretreatment with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group (P<0.05). Compared to the sham group and I/R plus PBS group, the I/R plus simvastatin group had attenuated inflammation, vascular leakage, and muscular damage (P<0.05). Simvastatin also significantly inhibited leukocyte rolling and adhesion compared to PBS (P<0.05). Our results suggest that simvastatin may be an effective protectant against tissue injury associated with I/R.

[The clinical significance of preoperative enteral immune nutrition in patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of preoperative enteral immune nutrition on patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors. METHODS: 82 patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors were divided equally into 2 groups:enteral nutrition group (EN) and normal diet group (Control). Enteral Nutritional Emulsion (TPF-T) served as nasogastically-fed liquid diet for the patients in EN group over a period of 7 days prior to surgery. Normal diet was given to the patients in control group under the same condition as those in EN group in terms of calories and nitrogen contents. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the quantity of serum albumin (ALB), transferrin protein (TRF), pre-albumin (PA) and retinol binding protein (RBP). Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to determine T cell subsets. Postoperative complications, resumption of peristalsis, length of hospital stay, and nutritional costs were also recorded. RESULTS: TRF, PA and RBP increased significantly in the patients in EN group compared with those in control group (P < 0.05). The patients in EN group had significantly higher proportions of CD3+, CD4+/CD8+ higher than those of control (P < 0.05). No serious complications (eg. death or gastrointestinal fistula) were found in the patients. The total nutritional cost for the patients in EN group was similar to that of the controls (P > 0.05). The patients in EN group had less postoperative complications, quicker resumption of peristalsis, shorter hospital stay and lower level of postoperative nutrition cost compared with those of controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Enteral nutrition support can improve the nutritional status and immunity of patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors, which has both pre-operative and post-operative benefits for the patients.