DIP-MS: ultra-deep interaction proteomics for the deconvolution of protein complexes.

Most proteins are organized in macromolecular assemblies, which represent key functional units regulating and catalyzing most cellular processes. Affinity purification of the protein of interest combined with liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (AP-MS) represents the method of choice to identify interacting proteins. The composition of complex isoforms concurrently present in the AP sample can, however, not be resolved from a single AP-MS experiment but requires computational inference from multiple time- and resource-intensive reciprocal AP-MS experiments. Here we introduce deep interactome profiling by mass spectrometry (DIP-MS), which combines AP with blue-native-PAGE separation, data-independent acquisition with mass spectrometry and deep-learning-based signal processing to resolve complex isoforms sharing the same bait protein in a single experiment. We applied DIP-MS to probe the organization of the human prefoldin family of complexes, resolving distinct prefoldin holo- and subcomplex variants, complex-complex interactions and complex isoforms with new subunits that were experimentally validated. Our results demonstrate that DIP-MS can reveal proteome modularity at unprecedented depth and resolution.

Dielectric Design of High Dielectric Constant Poly(Urea-Urethane) Elastomer for Low-Voltage High-Mobility Intrinsically Stretchable All-Solution-Processed Organic Transistors.

Stretchable organic transistors for skin-like biomedical applications require low-voltage operation to accommodate limited power supply and safe concerns. However, most of the currently reported stretchable organic transistors operate at relatively high voltages. Decreasing their operational voltage while keeping the high mobility still remains a key challenge. Here, the study presents a new dielectric design to achieve high-dielectric constant poly(urea-urethane) (PUU) elastomer, by incorporating a flexible small-molecular diamine crosslinking agent 4-aminophenyl disulfide (APDS) into the main chain of (poly (propylene glycol), tolylene 2,4-diiso-cyanate terminated) (PPG-TDI). Compared with commercial elastomers, the PUU elastomer as dielectric of the stretchable organic transistors shows the outstanding advantages including lower surface roughness (0.33 nm), higher adhesion (45.18 nN), higher dielectric constant (13.5), as well as higher stretchability (896%). The PUU dielectric enables the intrinsically stretchable, all-solution-processed organic transistor to operate at a low operational voltage down to -10 V, while preserving a substantial mobility of 1.39 cm2 V-1 s-1. Impressively, the transistor also demonstrates excellent electrical stability under repeated switching of 10 000 cycles, and remarkable mechanical robustness when stretched up to 100%. The work opens up a new molecular engineering strategy to successfully realize low-voltage high-mobility stretchable all-solution-processed organic transistors.

PCprophet: a framework for protein complex prediction and differential analysis using proteomic data.

Despite the availability of methods for analyzing protein complexes, systematic analysis of complexes under multiple conditions remains challenging. Approaches based on biochemical fractionation of intact, native complexes and correlation of protein profiles have shown promise. However, most approaches for interpreting cofractionation datasets to yield complex composition and rearrangements between samples depend considerably on protein-protein interaction inference. We introduce PCprophet, a toolkit built on size exclusion chromatography-sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectrometry (SEC-SWATH-MS) data to predict protein complexes and characterize their changes across experimental conditions. We demonstrate improved performance of PCprophet over state-of-the-art approaches and introduce a Bayesian approach to analyze altered protein-protein interactions across conditions. We provide both command-line and graphical interfaces to support the application of PCprophet to any cofractionation MS dataset, independent of separation or quantitative liquid chromatography-MS workflow, for the detection and quantitative tracking of protein complexes and their physiological dynamics.

Distribution and diagnostic value of single and multiple high-risk HPV infections in detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A retrospective multicenter study in China.

The risk associated with single and multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) remains uncertain. This study aims to explore the distribution and diagnostic significance of the number of high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) infections in detecting CIN, addressing a crucial gap in our understanding. This comprehensive multicenter, retrospective study meticulously analyzed the distribution of single and multiple hr-HPV, the risk of CIN2+, the relationship with CIN, and the impact on the diagnostic performance of colposcopy using demographic information, clinical histories, and tissue samples. The composition of a single infection was predominantly HPV16, 52, 58, 18, and 51, while HPV16 and 33 were identified as the primary causes of CIN2+. The primary instances of dual infection were mainly observed in combinations such as HPV16/18, HPV16/52, and HPV16/58, while HPV16/33 was identified as the primary cause of CIN2+. The incidence of hr-HPV infections shows a dose-response relationship with the risk of CIN (p for trend <0.001). Compared to single hr-HPV, multiple hr-HPV infections were associated with increased risks of CIN1 (1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-1.72), CIN2 (1.70, 95% CI: 1.38-2.09), and CIN3 (1.08, 95% CI: 0.86-1.37). The colposcopy-based specificity of single hr-HPV (93.4, 95% CI: 92.4-94.4) and multiple hr-HPV (92.9, 95% CI: 90.8-94.6) was significantly lower than negative (97.9, 95% CI: 97.0-98.5) in detecting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (HSIL+). However, the sensitivity of single hr-HPV (73.5, 95% CI: 70.8-76.0) and multiple hr-HPV (71.8, 95% CI: 67.0-76.2) was higher than negative (62.0, 95% CI: 51.0-71.9) in detecting HSIL+. We found that multiple hr-HPV infections increase the risk of developing CIN lesions compared to a single infection. Colposcopy for HSIL+ detection showed high sensitivity and low specificity for hr-HPV infection. Apart from HPV16, this study also found that HPV33 is a major pathogenic genotype.

Genotype, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and type-specific cervical intraepithelial neoplasia distributions in hrHPV+ cases referred to colposcopy: A multicenter study of Chinese mainland women.

To investigate age and type-specific prevalences of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in hrHPV+ women referred to colposcopy. This is a retrospective, multicenter study. Participants were women referred to one of seven colposcopy clinics in China after testing positive for hrHPV. Patient characteristics, hrHPV genotyping, colposcopic impressions, and histological diagnoses were abstracted from electronic records. Main outcomes were age-related type-specific prevalences associated with hrHPV and CIN, and colposcopic accuracy. Among 4419 hrHPV+ women referred to colposcopy, HPV 16, 52, and 58 were the most common genotypes. HPV 16 prevalence was 39.96%, decreasing from 42.57% in the youngest group to 30.81% in the eldest group. CIN3+ prevalence was 15.00% and increased with age. As lesion severity increases, HPV16 prevalence increased while the prevalence of HPV 52 and 58 decreased. No age-based trend was identified with HPV16 prevalence among CIN2+, and HPV16-related CIN2+ was less common in women aged 60 and above (44.26%) compared to those younger than 60 years (59.61%). Colposcopy was 0.73 sensitive at detecting CIN2+ (95% confidence interval[CI]: 0.71, 0.75), with higher sensitivity (0.77) observed in HPV16+ women (95% CI: 0.74, 0.80) compared to HPV16- women (0.68, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.71). Distributions of hrHPV genotypes, CIN, and type-specific CIN in Chinese mainland hrHPV+ women referred to colposcopy were investigated for the first time. Distributions were found to be age-dependent and colposcopic performance appears related to HPV genotypes. These findings could be used to improve the management of women referred to colposcopy.

Experimental Observation of the Yang-Lee Quantum Criticality in Open Quantum Systems.

The Yang-Lee edge singularity was originally studied from the standpoint of mathematical foundations of phase transitions. However, direct observation of anomalous scaling with the negative scaling dimension has remained elusive due to an imaginary magnetic field required for the nonunitary criticality. We experimentally implement an imaginary magnetic field with an open quantum system of heralded single photons, directly measure the partition function, and demonstrate the Yang-Lee edge singularity via the quantum-classical correspondence. We also demonstrate unconventional scaling laws for finite-temperature quantum dynamics.

Observation of Non-Hermitian Edge Burst in Quantum Dynamics.

The non-Hermitian skin effect, by which the eigenstates of the Hamiltonian are predominantly localized at the boundary, has revealed a strong sensitivity of non-Hermitian systems to the boundary condition. Here we experimentally observe a striking boundary-induced dynamical phenomenon known as the non-Hermitian edge burst, which is characterized by a sharp boundary accumulation of loss in non-Hermitian time evolutions. In contrast to the eigenstate localization, the edge burst represents a generic non-Hermitian dynamical phenomenon that occurs in real time. Our experiment, based on photonic quantum walks, not only confirms the prediction of the phenomenon, but also unveils its complete space-time dynamics. Our observation of edge burst paves the way for studying the rich real-time dynamics in non-Hermitian topological systems.

Assessing colposcopy competencies in medically underserved communities: a multi-center study in China.

BACKGROUND: Colposcopy plays an essential role in diagnosing cervical lesions and directing biopsy; however, there are few studies of the capabilities of colposcopists in medically underserved communities in China. This study aims to fill this gap by assessing colposcopists' competencies in medically underserved communities of China. METHODS: Colposcopists in medically underserved communities across China were considered eligible to participate. Assessments involved presenting participants with 20 cases, each consisting of several images and various indications. Participants were asked to determine transformation zone (TZ) type, colposcopic diagnoses and to decide whether biopsy was necessary. Participants are categorized according to the number of colposcopic examinations, i.e., above or below 50 per annum. RESULTS: There were 214 participants in this study. TZ determination accuracy was 0.47 (95% CI 0.45,0.49). Accuracy for colposcopic diagnosis was 0.53 (95% CI 0.51,0.55). Decision to perform biopsies was 0.73 accurate (95% CI 0.71,0.74). Participants had 0.61 (95% CI 0.59,0.64) sensitivity and a 0.80 (95% CI 0.79,0.82) specificity for detecting high-grade lesions. Colposcopists who performed more than 50 cases were more accurate than those performed fewer across all indicators, with a higher sensitivity (0.66 vs. 0.57, p = 0.001) for detecting high-grade lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In medically underserved communities of China, colposcopists appear to perform poorly at TZ identification, colposcopic diagnosis, and when deciding to biopsy. Colposcopists who undertake more than 50 colposcopies each year performed better than those who perform fewer. Therefore, colposcopic practice does improve through case exposure although there is an urgent need for further pre-professional and clinical training.

Association of obesity and menarche SNPs and interaction with environmental factors on precocious puberty.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an important cause for the precocious or early puberty. However, the association between obesity-related loci and the risk of precocious puberty as well as the effect of gene-environment interaction are unclear, especially in the Chinese children population. METHODS: This was a case-control study using baseline data from two cohorts and hospital cases in China. 15 SNPs loci and several environmental factors were included in the analysis of 1201 participants. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the association between SNPs and precocious puberty. Additionally, exploratory factor analysis was conducted on 13 environmental variables, and then to explore their interaction with genes on precocious puberty. RESULTS: The effect allele C of rs571312, and G of rs12970134 MC4R were associated with precocious puberty in girls with obesity. Regarding the gene-environment interaction, we found that when girls were in the high socioeconomic status, the rs571312 (OR: 3.996; 95% CI: 1.694-9.423) and rs12970134 (OR: 3.529; 95% CI: 1.452-8.573) risk genotypes had a greater effect on precocious puberty. CONCLUSIONS: The obesity risk gene polymorphisms MC4R rs571312 and rs12970134 were associated with precocious puberty in Chinese girls with obesity, and girls with risk genotypes and high socioeconomic status should be given extra attention. IMPACT: This is the first study that identified the association between rs571312 and rs12970134 of MC4R gene and precocious puberty in Chinese children. We found that when girls were in the high socioeconomic status, the risk genotypes of rs571312 and rs12970134 had a greater effect on precocious puberty. The results of this study have great public health implications. It is recommended that girls who are in high socioeconomic status and have a high genetic risk for early sexual maturity should closely monitor their pubertal development and consider early intervention strategies.

Design, synthesis and anti-HBV activity study of novel HBV capsid assembly modulators.

Capsid assembly modulators (CAMs) have the potential to cure chronic hepatitis B, as demonstrated in clinical trials. Lead compounds NVR3-778 and 5a were found to exist in normal and flipped conformations through induced fit docking. Therefore, we designed and synthesized series I and II compounds by interchanging the amide and sulfonamide bonds of 5a to modify both the tolerance region and solvent-opening region. Among them, compound 4a (EC50 = 0.24 ± 0.10 µM, CC50 > 100 µM) exhibited potent anti-HBV activity with low toxicity, surpassing the lead compounds NVR3-778 (EC50 = 0.29 ± 0.03 µM, CC50 = 20.78 ± 2.29 µM) and 5a (EC50 = 0.50 ± 0.07 µM, CC50 = 48.16 ± 9.15 µM) in HepAD38 cells. Additionally, compared with the lead compound, 4a displayed a stronger inhibitory effect on HBV capsid protein assembly. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirmed that the normal conformation of 4a had relatively stable conformation at different frames of binding modes. Furthermore, 4a showed better metabolic stability in human plasma than positive control drugs. Therefore, compound 4a could be further structurally modified as a potent lead compound.

Teleost-specific TLR23 in Takifugu rubripes recruits MyD88 to trigger ERK pathway and promotes antibacterial defense.

Takifugu rubripes is a highly valued cultured fish in Asia, while pathogen infections can result in severe diseases and lead to substantial economic losses. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), as pattern recognition receptors, play a crucial role on recognition pathogens and initiation innate immune response. However, the immunological properties of teleost-specific TLR23 remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of TLR23 (TrTLR23) from T. rubripes, found that TrTLR23 existed in various organs. Following bacterial pathogen challenge, the expression levels of TrTLR23 were significantly increased in immune related organs. TrTLR23 located on the cellular membrane and specifically recognized pathogenic microorganism. Co-immunoprecipitation and antibody blocking analysis revealed that TrTLR23 recruited myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88), thereby mediating the activation of the ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo showed that, when TrTLR23 is overexpressed in T. rubripes, bacterial replication in fish tissues is significantly inhibited. Consistently, when TrTLR23 expression in T. rubripes is knocked down, bacterial replication is significantly enhanced. In conclusion, these findings suggested that TrTLR23 played a critical role on mediation TLR23-MyD88-ERK axis against bacterial infection. This study revealed that TLR23 involved in the innate immune mechanism, and provided the foundation for development disease control strategies in teleost.

PoIL8-L, a teleost interleukin-8 like, enhances leukocyte cellular vitality and host defense against bacterial infections in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), a CXC chemokine, exerts pivotal effect on cell migration, inflammatory response, and immune regulation. In this study, we examined the immunological characteristics of an IL-8 homologue (PoIL8-L) in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). PoIL8-L contains a conserved chemokine CXC domain and 105 amino acid residues. PoIL8-L expression in tissues was constitutive, and significantly regulated by V. havieri or E. tarda infection. In vitro, rPoIL8-L could bind to eight tested bacteria, exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects against certain bacteria, and could bind to the targeted bacterial Ⅳ pilin protein rPilA of E. tarda. Furthermore, rPoIL8-L could attach to peripheral blood leukocytes, and enhance their immune genes expression, respiratory burst, chemotaxis, proliferation, acid phosphatase activity, and phagocytic activity. Additionally, rPoIL8-L induce neutrophils to extrude neutrophil extracellular traps. In vivo, rPoIL8-L could promote host resistance to E. tarda infection. In summary, these findings provide fresh perspectives on the immunological antibacterial properties of IL-8 in teleost.

CsIL-20, a tongue sole interleukin-20, negatively mediates leucocyte activity and antibacterial defense.

Interleukin-20 (IL-20), as an essential member of IL-10 family, plays vital roles in mammalian immunological response such as antimicrobial, inflammation, hematopoiesis, and immune diseases. In teleost, the study about immune antimicrobial function of IL-20 is largely scarce. In this article, we revealed the expression profiles and the immunological functions of the IL-20 (CsIL-20) in tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. CsIL-20 is composed of 183 amino acid residues, with seven cysteine residues and a typical IL-10 domain which comprises six α-helices and two ß-sheets, and shares 34.4-71.2 % identities with other teleost IL-20. CsIL-20 was constitutively expressed in a variety of tissues and regulated by bacterial invasion, and the recombinant CsIL-20 (rCsIL-20) could bind to different bacteria. In vitro rCsIL-20 could interact with the membrane of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), leading to the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and acid phosphatase activity in PBLs. In line with In vitro results, In vivo rCsIL-20 could obviously suppressed the host immune against bacterial infection. Furthermore, knockdown of CsIL-20 in vivo could markedly enhance the host antibacterial immunity. Collectively, these observations offer new insights into the negative effect of CsIL-20 on antibacterial immunity.

Discovery of indole-2-one derivatives as BRD4 (BD1) selective inhibitors.

Bromodomain protein 4 (BRD4) is a member of the BET family, and its overexpression is closely associated with the development of many tumors. Inhibition of BRD4 shows great therapeutic potential in anti-tumor, and pan-BRD4 inhibitors show adverse effects of dose limiting toxicity and thrombocytopenia in clinical trials. To improve clinical effects and reduce side effects, more efforts have focused on seeking selective inhibitors of BD1 or BD2. Herein, a series of indole-2-one derivatives were designed and synthesized through docking-guided optimization to find BRD4-BD1 selective inhibitors, and their BRD4 inhibitory and antiproliferation activities were evaluated. Among them, compound 21r had potent BRD4 inhibitory activity (the IC50 values of 41 nM and 313 nM in BD1 and BD2 domain), excellent anti-proliferation (the IC50 values of 4.64 ± 0.30 µM, 0.78 ± 0.03 µM, 5.57 ± 1.03 µM against HL-60, MV-4-11 and HT-29 cells), and displayed low toxicity against normal cell GES-1 cells. Further studies revealed that 21r inhibited proliferation by decreasing the expression of proto-oncogene c-Myc, blocking cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, and inducing apoptosis in MV-4-11 cells in a dose-dependent manner. All the results showed that compound 21r was a potent BRD4 inhibitor with BD1 selectivity, which had potential in treatment of leukemia.

Description of Fuscovulum ytuae sp. nov, a facultative autotroph isolated from the intertidalite of Yangma island, China.

In this study, we reported a Gram-stain-negative, ovoid to rod-shaped, atrichous, and facultative anaerobe bacteria strain named YMD61T, which was isolated from the intertidal sediment of Yangma island, China. Growth of strain YMD61T occurred at 10.0-45.0 °C (optimum, 30.0 °C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum, 8.0) and with 0-3.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0%). Phylogenetic tree analysis based on 16 S rRNA gene or genomic sequence indicated that strain YMD61T belonged to the genus Fuscovulum and was closely related to Fuscovulum blasticum ATCC 33,485T (96.6% sequence similarity). Genomic analysis indicated that strain YMD61T contains a circular chromosome of 3,895,730 bp with DNA G + C content of 63.3%. The genomic functional analysis indicated that strain YMD61T is a novel sulfur-metabolizing bacteria, which is capable of fixing carbon through an autotrophic pathway by integrating the processes of photosynthesis and sulfur oxidation. The predominant respiratory quinone of YMD61T was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The polar lipids of YMD61T contained phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, five unidentified lipids, unidentified aminolipid and unidentified aminophospholipid. The major fatty acids of strain YMD61T contained C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω 7c or/and C18:1 ω 6c). Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological analyses suggested that strain YMD61T represents a novel species of the genus Fuscovulum, and the name Fuscovulum ytuae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YMD61T (= MCCC 1K08483T = KCTC 43,537T).

Macrophage membrane (MMs) camouflaged near-infrared (NIR) responsive bone defect area targeting nanocarrier delivery system (BTNDS) for rapid repair: promoting osteogenesis via phototherapy and modulating immunity.

Bone defects remain a significant challenge in clinical orthopedics, but no targeted medication can solve these problems. Inspired by inflammatory targeting properties of macrophages, inflammatory microenvironment of bone defects was exploited to develop a multifunctional nanocarrier capable of targeting bone defects and promoting bone regeneration. The avidin-modified black phosphorus nanosheets (BP-Avidin, BPAvi) were combined with biotin-modified Icaritin (ICT-Biotin, ICTBio) to synthesize Icaritin (ICT)-loaded black phosphorus nanosheets (BPICT). BPICT was then coated with macrophage membranes (MMs) to obtain MMs-camouflaged BPICT (M@BPICT). Herein, MMs allowed BPICT to target bone defects area, and BPICT accelerated the release of phosphate ions (PO43-) and ICT when exposed to NIR irradiation. PO43- recruited calcium ions (Ca2+) from the microenvironment to produce Ca3(PO4)2, and ICT increased the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins. Additionally, M@BPICT can decrease M1 polarization of macrophage and expression of pro-inflammatory factors to promote osteogenesis. According to the results, M@BPICT provided bone growth factor and bone repair material, modulated inflammatory microenvironment, and activated osteogenesis-related signaling pathways to promote bone regeneration. PTT could significantly enhance these effects. This strategy not only offers a solution to the challenging problem of drug-targeted delivery in bone defects but also expands the biomedical applications of MMs-camouflaged nanocarriers.

An assessment of ChatGPT's responses to frequently asked questions about cervical and breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) and breast cancer (BC) threaten women's well-being, influenced by health-related stigma and a lack of reliable information, which can cause late diagnosis and early death. ChatGPT is likely to become a key source of health information, although quality concerns could also influence health-seeking behaviours. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey compared ChatGPT's responses to five physicians specializing in mammography and five specializing in gynaecology. Twenty frequently asked questions about CC and BC were asked on 26th and 29th of April, 2023. A panel of seven experts assessed the accuracy, consistency, and relevance of ChatGPT's responses using a 7-point Likert scale. Responses were analyzed for readability, reliability, and efficiency. ChatGPT's responses were synthesized, and findings are presented as a radar chart. RESULTS: ChatGPT had an accuracy score of 7.0 (range: 6.6-7.0) for CC and BC questions, surpassing the highest-scoring physicians (P < 0.05). ChatGPT took an average of 13.6 s (range: 7.6-24.0) to answer each of the 20 questions presented. Readability was comparable to that of experts and physicians involved, but ChatGPT generated more extended responses compared to physicians. The consistency of repeated answers was 5.2 (range: 3.4-6.7). With different contexts combined, the overall ChatGPT relevance score was 6.5 (range: 4.8-7.0). Radar plot analysis indicated comparably good accuracy, efficiency, and to a certain extent, relevance. However, there were apparent inconsistencies, and the reliability and readability be considered inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: ChatGPT shows promise as an initial source of information for CC and BC. ChatGPT is also highly functional and appears to be superior to physicians, and aligns with expert consensus, although there is room for improvement in readability, reliability, and consistency. Future efforts should focus on developing advanced ChatGPT models explicitly designed to improve medical practice and for those with concerns about symptoms.

Exposure to synthetic steroid hormones and precocious puberty in girls: A case-control study.

Synthetic steroid hormones are an emerging class of environmental pollutants, but their influence on pubertal timing remains unclear. This case-control study explored the association between synthetic steroid hormone exposure and precocious puberty. Using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), synthetic steroid hormones were detected in urine samples from 229 Chinese girls, aged 6-9 years. Puberty status was assessed using Tanner staging by professional pediatricians. We conducted the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression combined with logistic regression. Besides, we evaluated the joint effects of steroid hormone mixture and identified the main contributor using the Weighted quantile sum (WQS) model and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model. The logistic regression model reflected an inverse individual association between precocious puberty and halcinonide [OR (95 %CI): 0.20 (0.07, 0.46)], and budesonide [OR (95 %CI): 0.77 (0.62, 0.95)]. In the joint effects utilizing the WQS model, precocious puberty showed a marginal association with steroid hormone mixture, but was not significant [OR (95 %CI): 0.88 (0.75, 1.04)]. Prednisolone (0.31), fluorometholone acetate (0.24), and dexamethasone acetate (0.12) had the highest weight. Consistently, mixture exposure was not associated with precocious puberty in the BKMR model. In conclusion, precocious puberty was associated with halcinonide and budesonide exposure, but not steroid hormone mixture among girls. It highlighted the management of the residual synthetic steroid hormones in the environment and provided a direction for the prevention of precocious puberty.

Artificial intelligence performance in detecting lymphoma from medical imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis and early treatment are essential in the fight against lymphatic cancer. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of medical imaging shows great potential, but the diagnostic accuracy of lymphoma is unclear. This study was done to systematically review and meta-analyse researches concerning the diagnostic performance of AI in detecting lymphoma using medical imaging for the first time. METHODS: Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, IEEE and Cochrane up to December 2023. Data extraction and assessment of the included study quality were independently conducted by two investigators. Studies that reported the diagnostic performance of an AI model/s for the early detection of lymphoma using medical imaging were included in the systemic review. We extracted the binary diagnostic accuracy data to obtain the outcomes of interest: sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), and Area Under the Curve (AUC). The study was registered with the PROSPERO, CRD42022383386. RESULTS: Thirty studies were included in the systematic review, sixteen of which were meta-analyzed with a pooled sensitivity of 87% (95%CI 83-91%), specificity of 94% (92-96%), and AUC of 97% (95-98%). Satisfactory diagnostic performance was observed in subgroup analyses based on algorithms types (machine learning versus deep learning, and whether transfer learning was applied), sample size (≤ 200 or >  200), clinicians versus AI models and geographical distribution of institutions (Asia versus non-Asia). CONCLUSIONS: Even if possible overestimation and further studies with a better standards for application of AI algorithms in lymphoma detection are needed, we suggest the AI may be useful in lymphoma diagnosis.

A Precise Pulmonary Airway Tree Segmentation Method Using Quasi-Spherical Region Constraint and Tracheal Wall Gap Sealing.

Accurate segmentation of the pulmonary airway tree is crucial for diagnosing lung diseases. To tackle the issues of low segmentation accuracy and frequent leaks in existing methods, this paper proposes a precise segmentation method using quasi-spherical region-constrained wavefront propagation with tracheal wall gap sealing. Based on the characteristic that the surface formed by seed points approximates the airway cross-section, the width of the unsegmented airway is calculated, determining the initial quasi-spherical constraint region. Using the wavefront propagation method, seed points are continuously propagated and segmented along the tracheal wall within the quasi-spherical constraint region, thus overcoming the need to determine complex segmentation directions. To seal tracheal wall gaps, a morphological closing operation is utilized to extract the characteristics of small holes and locate low-brightness tracheal wall gaps. By filling the CT values at these gaps, the method seals the tracheal wall gaps. Extensive experiments on the EXACT09 dataset demonstrate that our algorithm ranks third in segmentation completeness. Moreover, its performance in preventing airway leaks is significantly better than the top-two algorithms, effectively preventing large-scale leak-induced spread.