A Multiscale Attentional Unet Model for Automatic Segmentation in Medical Ultrasound Images.

Ultrasonography has become an essential part of clinical diagnosis owing to its noninvasive, and real-time nature. To assist diagnosis, automatically segmenting a region of interest (ROI) in ultrasound images is becoming a vital part of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD). However, segmenting ROIs on medical images with relatively low contrast is a challenging task. To better achieve medical ROI segmentation, we propose an efficient module denoted as multiscale attentional convolution (MSAC), utilizing cascaded convolutions and a self-attention approach to concatenate features from various receptive field scales. Then, MSAC-Unet is constructed based on Unet, employing MSAC instead of the standard convolution in each encoder and decoder for segmentation. In this study, two representative types of ultrasound images, one of the thyroid nodules and the other of the brachial plexus nerves, were used to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The best segmentation results from MSAC-Unet were achieved on two thyroid nodule datasets (TND-PUH3 and DDTI) and a brachial plexus nerve dataset (NSD) with Dice coefficients of 0.822, 0.792, and 0.746, respectively. The analysis of segmentation results shows that our MSAC-Unet greatly improves the segmentation accuracy with more reliable ROI edges and boundaries, decreasing the number of erroneously segmented ROIs in ultrasound images.

Liposome-based nanomedicine for immune checkpoint blocking therapy and combinatory cancer therapy.

The discovery of immune checkpoint (IC) has led to a wave of leap forward in cancer immunotherapy that represents probably the most promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, the clinical use of immune checkpoint block (ICB) therapy is limited by response rates and side effects. A strategy that addresses the limitations of ICB therapies through combination therapies, using nanocarriers as mediators, has been mentioned in numerous research papers. Liposomes have been probably one of the most extensively used nanocarriers for clinical applications, with broad drug delivery and high safety. A timely review on this hot subject of research, i.e., the application of liposomes for ICB, is thus highly desirable for both fundamental and clinical translatable studies, but remains, to our knowledge, unexplored so far. For this purpose, this review is composed to address the dilemma of ICB therapy and the reasons for this dilemma. We later describe how other cancer treatments have broken this dilemma. Finally, we focus on the role of liposomes in various combinatory cancer therapy. This review is believed to serve as a guidance for the rational design and development of liposome for immunotherapy with enhanced therapeutic efficiency.

Chronic Low Back Pain and Sleep Disturbance in Adults in the US: The NHANES 2009-2010 Study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a significant health challenge with a high prevalence rate. Sleep disorders, which are prevalent among adults, have been linked with CLBP. However, the intricate relationship between sleep and pain adds complexity to our understanding of CLBP. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between CLBP and sleep disorders, with a focus on the potential role of sleep disorders as a risk factor for CLBP. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study based on publicly available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for one cycle (2009-2010). SETTING: The NHANES employs a complex, multistage probability sampling design to select a nationally representative sample. METHODS: In this study, we included patients aged 20 to 69 years from the NHANES 2009-2010 cycle. After eliminating cases with missing data, a total of 863 patients remained. Baseline characteristics were analyzed by stratifying patients based on their CLBP status to assess initial inter-group disparities. Due to age imbalances between groups, we employed a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) method, reducing the sample to 508 patients. The association between CLBP and trouble sleeping was investigated following this calibration using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Upon categorizing the baseline characteristics of 863 patients based on CLBP, we identified that those within the CLBP group tended to be older and had a greater prevalence of health conditions, including cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Notably, the prevalence of sleep disorders was higher in the CLBP group than in the non-CLBP group (P < 0.001). After implementing an age-based PSM for the 2 groups, 508 patients were selected from the initial 863 patients. After adjusting for various confounders using multivariate logistic regression, our analysis revealed a strong association between sleep disorders and an increased risk of CLBP. LIMITATIONS: This is a cross-sectional study, and therefore causality cannot be established. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the significant association between sleep disorders and an elevated risk of CLBP, highlighting the need for comprehensive management strategies that consider the role of sleep disorders in CLBP.

Non-soluble antibacterial polyurethane based on cation mechanism and functionalized by chitosan and heparin azide.

Nowadays, medical polyurethanes with favorable and durable antibacterial properties received more attention, because of avoiding repeated replacement of interventional materials and reducing patients' pain. In this thesis, non-soluble antibacterial polyurethane (NAPU) based on cation antibacterial mechanism was prepared by photo-grafting chitosan azide and heparin azide into polyurethane (PU). -NH3+of chitosan azide absorbed bacteria, inhibiting and breaking their mobility and structures. Heparin azide prevented cations from penetrating bacteria's membranes and inhibited their growth. The results showed that chitosan azide and heparin azide were successfully grafted into PU. The highest antibacterial rate was 92.07%, cytotoxicity grade ranging from 0-1 (RGR standard) and water contact angle exhibiting 60°, attributing to cation antibacterial effect and -OH existing. Tensile strength was up to 23.91 MPa and was suitable for using as medical materials. NAPU with long-lasting coating both possessed antibacterial properties and persistence, which can solve the problem of medical catheters' long-term using.

Screening of Spirulina strains for high copper adsorption capacity through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Microalgae have emerged as promising biosorbents for the removal of toxic metals from industrial effluents due to the presence of various free functional groups. While the constitutes are distinct among different algal strains, it needs to screen the algae with high adsorption capacities for heavy metal ions by analyzing the algal components. In this study, a rapid and nondestructive Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method combined PCA algorithm was used to discriminate algal strains according to their cellular components. With FTIR spectroscopy, we have found that the algal strains for high copper adsorption capacity (RH44, XS58, AH53, and RZ22) can be well differentiated from other strains via assessing the components involved in the biosorption of copper ions at the spectral window range of 1,200-900 cm-1 mainly attributed to polysaccharides. Correspondingly, the copper removal efficiency by different Spirulina strains was also measured by biochemical assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to confirm the screening result. Compared with the chemical measurement, the assessment based on spectral features appears fairly good in the evaluation and differentiation of copper adsorption capacity in various Spirulina strains. This study illustrates that FTIR spectroscopy may serve as a fast and effective tool to investigate the functional groups for copper ions binding in the Spirulina cell and it even offers a useful and accurate new approach to rapidly assess potential adsorbents for the high capacity of copper adsorption.

The biogeochemical characteristics of phosphorus in coastal sediments under high salinity and dredging conditions.

The geochemistry of phosphorus (P) can usually be related to prevailing environmental conditions. To investigate sedimentary P cycling mechanism and biogeochemical characteristics under high salinity and dredging conditions in polluted coastal sediments, thirty-three surface sediment samples were collected from the Jiehe River (JH), Jiaolai River (JL) and their estuarine and offshore areas in the Bohai Sea. Analyses included the Standards, Measurements and Testing method (SMT), Ivanoff organic P (OP) fractionation, and nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) of soluble P and indicated that HCl-P was the dominant fraction in sediments under high salinity stress. However, under dredging conditions in freshwater river sediments, NaOH-P was the dominant fraction. The potential activity of the OP fraction was reactive in freshwater river sediments, while it was unreactive under high salinity conditions. NaOH-P and HCl-P were found to be mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs, whereas both in-situ biological and anthropogenic inputs were important sources of the OP fractions. High salinity had the potential to increase NaOH-P content in acidic river sediments, resulting in the OP being relatively stable with a low risk level. Sediment dredging potentially increased the regeneration of P from HCl-P and OP and increased the potential activity of OP and IP. Seawater was found to induce removal of the NaOH-P and OP from offshore sediments, resulting in the regeneration of the remaining P at a low level.

Treatment of acidic sulfate-containing wastewater using revolving algae biofilm reactors: Sulfur removal performance and microbial community characterization.

Industries such as mining operations are facing challenges of treating sulfur-containing wastewater such as acid mine drainage (AMD) generated in their plant. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of a revolving algal biofilm (RAB) reactor to treat AMD with low pH (3.5-4) and high sulfate content (1-4 g/L). The RAB reactors resulted in sulfate removal efficiency up to 46% and removal rate up to 0.56 g/L-day, much higher than those obtained in suspension algal culture. The high-throughput sequencing revealed that the RAB reactor contained diverse cyanobacteria, green algae, diatoms, and acid reducing bacteria that contribute the sulfate removal through various mechanisms. The RAB reactors also showed a superior performance of COD, ammonia and phosphorus removal. Collectively, the study demonstrated that RAB-based process is an effective method to remove sulfate in wastewater with small footprint and can be potentially installed in municipal or industrial wastewater treatment facilities.

Synthesis, characterization, and antifungal activity of novel inulin derivatives with chlorinated benzene.

A group of novel inulin derivatives containing benzene or chlorinated benzene were synthesized by reaction of chloracetyl inulin (CAIL) with the Schiff bases of 4-amino-pyridine, including (2-pyridyl)acetyl inulin chloride (PAIL), 2-[4-(2-chlorobenzylideneamino)-pyridyl]acetyl inulin chloride (2CPAIL), 2-[4-(4-chlorobenzylideneamino)-pyridyl]acetyl inulin chloride (4CPAIL), and 2-[4-(2,4-dichlorobenzylideneamino)-pyridyl]acetyl inulin chloride (2,4DCPAIL). Their antifungal activity against three kinds of phytopathogens was estimated by hypha measurement in vitro. Of all the synthesized chitosan derivatives, 2,4DCPAIL inhibited the growth of the tested phytopathogens with inhibitory indices of 67%, 47%, and 43% against Colletotrichum lagenarium (Pass) Ell.et halst, Phomopsis asparagi (Sacc.) Bubak and Fusarium oxysporum (schl.) F.sp. niveum (F. oxysporum) respectively at 1.0 mg/mL. The results indicate that all the inulin derivatives have better antifungal activity than inulin, and the inhibitory index is affected by the chlorine atom grafted to the inulin derivatives.