BACKGROUND:MRI is important for the diagnosis of early knee osteoarthritis.MRI image recognition and intelligent segmentation of knee osteoarthritis using deep learning method is a hot topic in image diagnosis of artificial intelligence. OBJECTIVE:Through deep learning of MRI images of knee osteoarthritis,the segmentation of femur,tibia,patella,cartilage,meniscus,ligaments,muscles and effusion of knee can be automatically divided,and then volume of knee fluid and muscle content were measured. METHODS:100 normal knee joints and 100 knee osteoarthritis patients were selected and randomly divided into training dataset(n=160),validation dataset(n=20),and test dataset(n=20)according to the ratio of 8:1:1.The Coarse-to-Fine sequential training method was used to train the 3D-UNET network deep learning model.A Coarse MRI segmentation model of the knee sagittal plane was trained first,and the rough segmentation results were used as a mask,and then the fine segmentation model was trained.The T1WI and T2WI images of the sagittal surface of the knee joint and the marking files of each structure were input,and DeepLab v3 was used to segment bone,cartilage,ligament,meniscus,muscle,and effusion of knee,and 3D reconstruction was finally displayed and automatic measurement results(muscle content and volume of knee fluid)were displayed to complete the deep learning application program.The MRI data of 26 normal subjects and 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis were screened for validation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The 26 normal subjects were selected,including 13 females and 13 males,with a mean age of(34.88±11.75)years old.The mean muscle content of the knee joint was(1 051 322.94±2 007 249.00)mL,the mean median was 631 165.21 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(291.85±559.59)mL.The mean median was 0 mL.(2)There were 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis,including 30 females and 8 males.The mean age was(68.53±9.87)years old.The mean muscle content was(782 409.18±331 392.56)mL,the mean median was 689 105.66 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(1 625.23±5 014.03)mL.The mean median was 178.72 mL.(3)There was no significant difference in muscle content between normal people and knee osteoarthritis patients.The volume of effusion in patients with knee osteoarthritis was higher than that in normal subjects,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).(4)It is indicated that the intelligent segmentation of MRI images by deep learning can discard the defects of manual segmentation in the past.The more accuracy evaluation of knee osteoarthritis was necessary,and the image segmentation was processed more precisely in the future to improve the accuracy of the results.

Objective:To understand the contamination risk, drug resistance and virulence characteristics of cooked food pathogens in Tianjin.Methods:Pathogenic bacteria were isolated and identified in cooked food sold in Tianjin from 2019 to 2021, drug susceptibility test and whole genome sequencing were conducted for the isolates, and multilocus sequence typing, drug resistance gene, phenotype and virulence gene were analyzed for the data.Results:Ten pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 245 cooked food samples collected. The ST types of 7 Salmonella strains were ST40, ST198, ST14, ST13 and ST155. The two strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were ST647 and ST2622 respectively. One strain of Cronobacter sakazakii was ST8 type. All the 6 isolates were drug-resistant, and 3 of them were multidrug-resistant (MDR). A total of 63 drug-resistant genes were predicted in 10 isolates. Two Salmonella strains were ampicillin-chloramphenicol-streptomycin-sulfamethoxazole-tetracycline resistant (MDR-ACSSuT), and both Salmonella strains carried gyrA double mutations (S83F, D87N) and parC mutations (S80I). Vibrio parahaemolyticus mainly carries blaCARB and tet (35) genes, while Cronobacter sakazakii carries only one resistance gene blaCSA-1. A total of 163 virulence genes were predicted from 10 isolates. Conclusions:In this study, pathogenic bacteria are repeatedly detected in quail eggs, warning that other eggs besides chicken eggs should also pay special attention to the risk of contamination. The isolates in this study are all of the prevalent ST type with widespread drug resistance, and MDR-ACSSuT strains should be paid attention to. The key role of gyrA double mutation (S83F, D87N) and parC mutation (S80I) in the development of quinolone resistance should not be ignored. T3SS (typeⅢ secretory system) and T6SS (typeⅥ secretory system) are important virulence gene clusters of Salmonella and Vibrio parahemolyticus.

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） has emerged as a significant public health concern， posing a serious threat to the lives and health of residents in China. Furthermore， the incidence and mortality rates of HCC are notably higher in males than in females. Androgen receptors （AR） can contribute to the occurrence of male-specific cancers such as prostate cancer， suggesting a potential link to the increased susceptibility of males to HCC. Elucidating the cancer-promoting mechanism of AR and developing specific targeted interventions are effective ways to advance tertiary prevention of HCC and improve patient prognosis. This paper reviews the relevant evidence of AR’s role in promoting the occurrence and development of HCC， summarizes relevant mechanisms discovered to date， including promoting the stemness of HCC cells， altering the immune microenvironment， regulating key signaling pathways， inducing glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma， and synergizing with hepatitis B virus to promote HCC. Additionally， research directions for targeted interventions in HCC through AR-related signaling pathways are discussed.

The occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） induced by chronic infection of hepatitis B virus （HBV） is a typical process of Cancer Evolution-development. Viral replication， viral mutation， and viral integration are three major mechanisms by which HBV promotes evolution of HCC. The replication of HBV induces and maintains chronic inflammatory microenvironment， that induces the generation of somatic mutation and viral mutation and provides selective pressure. HBV mutation helps cells to get stem-ness characteristics by activating key signaling pathways. HBV integration activates oncogenes， participates in the mechanism underlying the male predilection of HCC， and promotes the maintenance of chronic infection. Biomarkers related with HBV are effective predictive and prognostic markers of HCC. Anti-viral treatment significantly reduces the risk of HCC occurrence. High risk HBV mutations can be applied for predicting the effect of anti-viral treatment on improving HCC survival. Continuing to exploring mechanisms of HBV induced hepatocarcinogenesis can improve the specific prophylaxis of HCC by providing more effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological characteristics and analyze the incidence trend of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shanghai， China， and compare with the characteristics of the infection in Jilin Province of China during the same period in 2022 and Wuhan at the beginning of 2020. MethodsInformation of new locally-transmitted confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases， imported confirmed COVID-19 cases， local asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers and imported asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers in Shanghai from March 1 to April 18， 2022 was collected for descriptive analysis. ResultsFrom March 1 to April 18， 2022， a total of 397 933 locally-transmitted SARS-CoV-2 cases were reported in Shanghai. Of those， 27 613 were clinically confirmed cases and 21 were severe cases. Ten deaths were related to COVID-19. The pathogen is Omicron variant BA.2 of SARS-CoV-2. The number of the infected subjects increased rapidly after March 24 and lead to a disease outbreak. Severe and deceased cases had severe comorbidity and were mostly unvaccinated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers accounted for 93.06%， which is significantly higher than that in Jilin Province during the same period （48.07%， P<0.001）. Daily increase in the number of clinically confirmed COVID-19 cases in Shanghai in 2022 was much lower than that in Wuhan， Hubei Province， in 2020. Number of daily newly imported confirmed COVID-19 cases and imported asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers declined during this period. ConclusionThe Omicron variant in Shanghai 2022 is highly infectious and less pathogenic. Omicron variant BA.2 replicates rapidly in asymptomatic carriers， which makes the carriers the major source of infection. Full-term vaccination of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine might decrease the pathogenicity and fatality of SARS-CoV-2 variants. SARS-CoV-2 of the Omicron BA2 strain is likely transmitted through aerosols and droplets， which poses a great challenge to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in large cities with high population density and sophisticated public transportation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of sofosbuvir tablets, and to evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of two preparations. MethodsHealthy volunteers were recruited through the platform of clinical trial recruitment in The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine. Screening physical examination was performed for fasting group on September 18, 2018 and for postprandial group on September 28, 2018, and the volunteers were enrolled after their physical examination results met the inclusion criteria. The fasting group and the postprandial group, with 40 volunteers in each group, were given oral administration of the test preparation sofosbuvir tablets or the reference preparation sofosbuvir tablets (SOVALDI, 400 mg). This was a randomized, open-label, two-sequence, four-cycle, single-dose, and completely repeated cross-over bioequivalence test in the fasting or postprandial state in the healthy population; in the fasting group, 20 volunteers each received oral administration of the test preparation and the reference preparation, and in the postprandial group, 20 volunteers each received oral administration of the test preparation and the reference preparation. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the content of sofosbuvir and its major metabolite GS-331007 in human EDTA-K2 plasma; the plasma concentration of sofosbuvir was measured at 15 time points from 0 hour to 8 hours after administration, and that of GS-331007 was measured at 16 time points from 0 hour to 72 hours after administration. WinNonlin software was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters and evaluate bioequivalence. ResultsAfter the administration of the test preparation and the reference preparation in the fasting state, when the pharmacokinetic parameters of sofosbuvir was used to evaluate the bioequivalence of the test preparation and the reference preparation, the ratios of the geometric means of Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf were 90.55%, 97.26%, and 94.62%, respectively; when the pharmacokinetic parameters of GS-331007 was used to evaluate the bioequivalence of the test preparation and the reference preparation, the ratios of the geometric means of Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf were 98.91%, 98.98%, and 99.46%, respectively. All of the above values were within the range of 80.00%-125.00%. An analysis of variance was performed after the pharmacokinetic parameters of sofosbuvir Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf were transformed by natural logarithm, and the results showed that sequence, cycle, and preparation had no marked influence on Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-inf (all P＞0.05). ConclusionThe test preparation of sofosbuvir tablets is bioequivalent to the reference preparation in the fasting and postprandial states.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a multi-effect endocrine factor, mainly secreted in liver and adipose tissue, with the properties of lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerosis. Recent studies found that FGF21 can induce protective effect in cardiovascular disease, and plasma FGF21 levels in patients with disease cardiovascular are elevated. These studies have suggested the use of FGF21 as a biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis and its potential role in the treatment of established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This article will review the recent advances in the anti-atherosclerosis effect of FGF21.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that the expression of follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) was significantly down-regulated in metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In this study, we aimed to characterize the role of FSTL1 in the development of ccRCC. METHODS: The effects of FSTL1 on cell activity and cell cycle were investigated in ccRCC cell lines with altered FSTL1 expression. Gene expression microarray assays were performed to identify the major signaling pathways affected by FSTL1 knockdown. The expression of FSTL1 in ccRCC and its effect on postoperative prognosis were estimated in a cohort with 89 patients. RESULTS: FSTL1 knockdown promoted anchorage-independent growth, migration, invasion, and cell cycle of ccRCC cell lines, whereas FSTL1 overexpression attenuated cell migration. FSTL1 knockdown up-regulated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathways, increased epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, up-regulated interleukin-6 expression, and promoted tumor necrosis factor-α-induced degradation of NF-κB inhibitor (IκBα) in ccRCC cell lines. FSTL1 immunostaining was selectively positive in epithelial cytoplasm in the loop of Henle, and positive rate of FSTL1 was significantly lower in ccRCC tissues than in adjacent renal tissues (P < 0.001). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the intratumoral FSTL1 expression conferred a favorable independent prognosis with a hazard ratio of 0.325 (95% confidence interval 0.118-0.894). HIF-2α expression was negatively correlated with FSTL1 expression in ccRCC specimens (r = - 0.229, P = 0.044). Intratumoral expression of HIF-2α, rather than HIF-1α, significantly predicted an unfavorable prognosis in ccRCC (log-rank, P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS FSTL1 plays a tumor suppression role possibly via repressing the NF-κB and HIF-2α signaling pathways. To increase FSTL1 expression might be a candidate therapeutic strategy for metastatic ccRCC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; genetics ; Female ; Follistatin-Related Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Objective:To determine the prevalence, disease burden, and possible causes of lung cancer. Population-based lung cancer registration data collected from 1993 to 2012 were used to analyze the lung cancer epidemic status in Qidong City. Methods:Joinpoint regression was used to calculate the trend of incidence and mortality for lung cancer. Age-period-cohort model was used to assess the effects of age and exposure on the incidence and mortality rates. Results:Upward trends were observed both for the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer. The risk of incidence and mortality increased with age. According to the cohort effect, the risk of lung cancer increased with recent birth dates. Women had higher risk than men. Conclusion:The incidence and mortality rates of pulmo-nary neoplasms have annually increased, and the exposure to risk factors for lung cancer gradually increases. Among the community population in Qidong City, people over 70 years belong to the high-risk groups.

Objective To develop a hyperthermia temperature control system for the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease. Methods Temperature was controlled by using PWM method based on a single chip computer. The system was heated by using heating wire. In the whole cycle of T, the heating wire's work time was divided into three different stages according to different temperature of system: in the lower temperature, the duty cycle of the heating wire's work time was 100%; when the system temperature entered to a certain stage, a control variable was obtained through the PID algorithm which was used to compare the difference between the current temperature and the temperature requirements. The control variable determined the duty cycle of the heating wire's work time: the more close to the temperature required for the temperature of system, the duty cycle of the heating wire's work time was more close to 0; if the temperature exceeded a predetermined value, then the heating wire would not heat in the whole cycle. Results The accuracy of the temperature control system was ?0.2 ℃, the overshoot of the temperature control system was ?0.3 ℃, and the response time of the temperature control system was 500 seconds. Conclusion The temperature control method has high precision, small overshoot, and the right response time, which can meet the requirements of constant temperature of hyperthermia treatment. Besides, it is simple and cheap.