Objective To propose an innovative self-supervised learning method for vascular segmentation in computed tomography angiography (CTA) images by integrating feature reconstruction with masked autoencoding. Methods A 3D masked autoencoder-based framework was developed, where in 3D histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) was utilized for multi-scale vascular feature extraction. During pre-training, random masking was applied to local patches of CTA images, and the model was trained to jointly reconstruct original voxels and HOG features of masked regions. The pre-trained model was further fine-tuned on two annotated datasets for clinical-level vessel segmentation. Results Evaluated on two independent datasets (30 labeled CTA images each), our method achieved superior segmentation accuracy to the supervised neural network U-Net (nnU-Net) baseline, with Dice similarity coefficients of 91.2% vs. 89.7% (aorta) and 84.8% vs. 83.2% (coronary arteries). Conclusion The proposed self-supervised model significantly reduces manual annotation costs without compromising segmentation precision, showing substantial potential for enhancing clinical workflows in vascular disease management.

Due to the advancement of 16S rRNA sequencing technology, the lower respiratory tract microbiota, which was considered non-existent, has been revealed. The correlation between these microorganisms and diseases such as tumor has been a hot topic in recent years. As the bacteria in the surrounding can infiltrate the tumors, researchers have also begun to pay attention to the biological behavior of tumor bacteria and their interaction with tumors. In this review, we present the characteristic of the lower respiratory tract bacteria and summarize recent research findings on the relationship between these microbiota and lung cancer. On top of that, we also summarize the basic feature of bacteria in tumors and focus on the characteristic of the bacteria in lung cancer. The relationship between bacteria in lung cancer and tumor development is also been discussed. Finally, we review the potential clinical applications of bacterial communities in the lower respiratory tract and lung cancer, and summarize key points of sample collection, sequencing, and contamination control, hoping to provide new ideas for the screening and treatment of tumors.
.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Bacteria/genetics* ; Microbiota ; Respiratory System ; Lung/microbiology*

OBJECTIVE: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate the early postoperative analgesic effectiveness of using liposomal bupivacaine (LB) for local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). METHODS: Between January 2024 and July 2024, a total of 80 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who met the selection criteria were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to either the LB group or the "cocktail" group in a 1∶1 ratio using a random number table, with 40 patients in each group. Baseline characteristics, including gender, age, body mass index, operated side, Kellgren-Lawrence grade, and preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, and knee joint range of motion, showed no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Both groups received LIA and comprehensive pain management. The surgical duration, incision length, pain-related indicators [resting and activity visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, total dosage of oral morphine, WOMAC scores], knee joint range of motion, first ambulation time after operation, length of hospital stay, and postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in surgical duration, incision length, first ambulation time after operation, length of hospital stay, total dosage of oral morphine, and pre-discharge satisfaction with surgery and WOMAC scores ( P>0.05). At 4, 12, and 24 hours after operation, the resting and activity VAS scores in the "cocktail" group were lower than those in the LB group; at 60 and 72 hours postoperatively, the resting VAS scores in the LB group were lower than those in the "cocktail" group, with the activity VAS scores also being lower at 60 hours; all showing significant differences ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups at other time points ( P>0.05). On the second postoperative day, the sleep scores of the LB group were significantly higher than those of the "cocktail" group ( P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in sleep scores on the day of surgery and the first postoperative day ( P>0.05). Additionally, the incidence of complications showed no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION The use of LB for LIA in UKA can provide prolonged postoperative pain relief; however, it does not demonstrate a significant advantage over the "cocktail" method in terms of short-term analgesic effects or reducing opioid consumption and early functional recovery after UKA. Nevertheless, LB may help reduce postoperative sleep disturbances, making it a recommended option for UKA patients with cardiovascular diseases and insomnia or other mental health issues.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Anesthesia, Local/methods* ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods* ; Bupivacaine/administration & dosage* ; Liposomes ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control* ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Gastric cancer is one of the common malignant tumors worldwide, characteri-zed by poor prognosis. Currently, screening, diagnosis and postoperative recurrence monitoring for gastric cancer rely heavily on methods such as endoscopy, imaging and pathological examinations. However, traditional diagnostic approaches have limitations, including invasiveness and low sensi-tivity. Liquid biopsy techniques, with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection as a representative, can identify and analyze free DNA released into the bloodstream by tumor cells. Liquid biopsy is less invasive and requires smaller sample volumes. Furthermore, ctDNA detection allows for repeated assessments over time, enabling longitudinal monitoring of tumor burden and molecular changes. It has played a crucial role in guiding treatment selection, evaluating treatment efficacy, and monitoring recurrence in various cancer types. Based on the latest literature and clinical practice, the authors elaborate on the research progress of ctDNA detection in gastric cancer.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and genetic characteristics of sapovirus (SaV) in a cluster of schools in Changzhou, so as to provide a reference for the treatment of clustered vomiting and diarrhea events in schools. Methods: The epidemiological data and laboratory test data of sapovirus clusters in Changzhou from 2019 to 2022 were collected and analyzed. Partial VP1 genes of SaV positive samples were amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 8 cases of clusters of SaV epidemics were reported in Changzhou City from 2019 to 2022, with 118 reported cases. The total attack rate was 1.47%, and the median of the attack number was 15. There were 6 outbreaks in kindergartens and 2 outbreaks in primary schools, which were reported in the epidemic period from September to December. The main clinical manifestations were vomiting (113 cases, 95.76 %), abdominal pain (39 cases, 33.05%), and diarrhea (16 cases, 13.56%). Among the 8 outbreaks, 17 sample strains were successfully sequenced. 5 outbreaks were GII.3 , and the other 3 outbreaks were GI.1, GI .3 and GII.2. GI and GII were the main genotypes in this area, and GII .3 was the predominant strain. Conclusion SaV is an important pathogen in the clusters of vomiting and diarrhea in schools after the transmission of norovirus. Continuous surveillance of SaV should be carried out to further understand its epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution, so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of the epidemic in schools.

Objective To explore the feasibility,safety and effect of endovascular revascularization for chronic long segment internal carotid artery occlusion. Methods The cases of chronic long segment internal carotid artery occlusion who were treated by endovascular revascularization in our center from May 2015 to April 2017 were reviewed. Eleven cases met the inclusion criteria:the duration of the occlusion was more than three weeks and the segment of the occlusion was beyond the petrosal segment of internal carotid arteries from the initial segment. All of the cases had the related symptoms and had declining cerebral perfusion. The analysis index included:baseline information,radiological information,perioperative results, clinical follow-up and imaging follow-up. The imaging follow-up index were the re-stenosis or re-occlusion of the revascularized artery. Results The occlusion was recanalized successfully in 9 of 11 patients,the two procedures were abandoned after repeated attempts and the guide wire could not reach the true lumen when navigating in the cavernous segment. Six cases of the nine successfully recanalized cases accepted perfusion-weighted imaging scan. Cerebral perfusion of all the cases were improved. Thrombus shifting was observed in one case and occluded a subbranch,mechanical thrombectomy was performed successfully,the case was recovered well without sequela. No symptomatic stroke or death was happened in the perioperative period. All of the nine cases who successfully recanalized acquired clinical follow-up,median follow-up time was ten months(4—28 months). No ischemic stroke and death happened after the procedures. Seven of nine cases improved in the clinical symptoms. Five cases accepted the imaging follow-up. The meantime was six months. No re-occlusion was happened. Conclusions Endovascular revascularization for chronic long segment internal carotid artery occlusion is feasible,safe,and short-term effective. More clinical research is needed to verify the long-term effect.

Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on chronic bronchitis. Methods The data were retrieved by computer from data bases, including the data bases in Cochrane library, American National Library Pubmed, Holland Medical Digest EMBase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biology Medicine (CBM), Wanfang and the Chinese Journal of Science and Technology (VIP), starting from the dates of various database establishments to April 2017 for collecting the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of using NAC combined with conventional drugs like ambroxol hydrochloride, montelukast or placebo (treatment group) and simply using the conventional drug alone as above conventional drugs (control group) for treatment of chronic bronchitis, and the therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. The main indicators were total effective rate, lung function indexes [forced vital capacity (FVC), percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) / the predictive value (FEV1%)]; the secondary indicator was St. George Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire evaluation score (the SGRQ evaluation score). Document quality evaluation and data acquisition were carried out independently by two researchers. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. A funnel graph was drawn to evaluate the article publication bias. Results There were 7 Chinese and 3 English RCTs, including 1521 patients in the study. The results of Meta analyses showed: NAC could elevate the overall therapeutic efficiency of patients with chronic bronchitis [relative risk (RR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.10-1.25, P < 0.00001], FVC [mean difference (MD) = 0.22, 95%CI was 0.02-0.42, P = 0.03), FEV1% (MD = 4.10, 95%CI was 1.02-7.18, P = 0.005) and lower the SGRQ score (MD = -6.32, 95%CI was -10.48 to -2.17, P = 0.003), showing that the therapeutic effects on these aspects in using NAC treatment group were more prominent than those in the control group. The subgroup analyses showed that NAC combined with ambroxol hydrochloride could elevate overall therapeutic efficiency (RR = 1.20, 95%CI was 1.11-1.29, P <0.00001), FVC (RR = 1.18, 95%CI was 0.99-1.41, P = 0.04) and FEV1% (MD = 4.10, 95%CI was 1.02-7.18, P = 0.005), showing that the therapeutic effects on these aspects in using NAC combined with ambroxol hydrochloride group were more prominent than those in the control group; the total rate of therapeutic effect of NAC combined with montelukast was superior to that of the control group (RR = 1.12, 95%CI =1.03-1.22, P = 0.006); NAC combined with placebo in elevating FVC aspect was better than the control group (MD =-0.01, 95%CI = -0.02 to -0.01, P < 0.00001); funnel plots showed that no publication bias was found in the literatures in the study. Conclusion It is shown that NAC for treatment of chronic bronchitis can improve the overall therapeutic efficiency, lower the SGRQ evaluation score and elevate the lung function in FVC and FEV1% aspects, but no effect on FEV1/FVC.