Objective:To evaluate the value of time-of-flight (TOF) combined with point spread function (PSF) reconstruction for the improvement of brain PET images and lesion localization in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).Methods:A retrospective collection of brain 18F-FDG PET imaging data of 52 hospitalized patients with TLE (30 males, 22 females, age: (26.7±7.1) years) and 26 healthy volunteers (14 males, 12 females, age: ( 31.7±6.8) years) from Xuanwu Hospital between 2017 and 2019 was conducted. Images were reconstructed and divided into 4 groups based on different algorithms: ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM), OSEM+ TOF, OSEM+ PSF, and OSEM+ TOF+ PSF. The image quality, clarity, noise, and the clarity of lesion display of all subjects were visually analyzed using a four-point scale. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast, and asymmetry index (AI) of the lesions were calculated. Differences in visual scores, SNR, contrast, and AI among the 4 groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. The ROC curve was used to analyze the efficiency of PET images in localization of epileptogenic foci. Results:The visual score of OSEM+ TOF+ PSF group was the highest (4.0±0.0) among healthy volunteers; compared with OSEM group, OSEM+ TOF+ PSF group showed lower SNR (decreased by 46.6%; the lower the SNR value, the better the image quality) and contrast (increased by 29.8%). Visual assessment of PET images of patients with TLE showed that the scores of OSEM+ TOF+ PSF group , OSEM+ PSF group , OSEM+ TOF group and OSEM group were decreased in order (4.0±0.0 vs 3.4±0.5 vs 2.3±0.4 vs 1.0±0.0; F=884.0, P<0.001); SNRs of those 4 groups were increased in order ((5.2±2.4)% vs (6.2±2.4)% vs (7.9±2.6)% vs (8.9±3.5)%; F=18.82, P<0.001). The contrast and AI of the lesions in 4 groups were as follows: OSEM+ TOF+ PSF (contrast: 0.81±0.03; AI: 0.28±0.05) > OSEM+ TOF (0.74±0.05; 0.23±0.06) > OSEM+ PSF (0.72±0.06; 0.22±0.07) > OSEM (0.64±0.05; 0.19±0.06) ( F values: 107.10, 19.94, both P<0.001). MRI found unilateral hippocampal sclerosis in 32 patients, and the rest 20 patients with TLE were MRI-negative. ROC curve analysis showed that visual analysis and SUV ratio (SUVR) of lesion/contralateral ROI based on OSEM+ TOF+ PSF PET image could localize epileptogenic foci efficiently, with AUC of 0.874 in MRI-positive patients, and AUC of 0.932 in MRI-negative patients. Conclusions:The application of TOF and PSF significantly improves the quality of PET images. The combined use of both techniques yields the best results and aids in the localization of epileptogenic foci in patients with TLE.

Objective To establish an online quantitative analysis model for moisture content assay of hydroxychloroquine sulfate particles by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Methods The NIR spectra were collected in real time when the material particles were dried in the fluidized bed. Meanwhile the water content of the particles was measured with the standard moisture tester. The multiplicative signal correction (MSC) and first derivative followed by Karl Norris smoothing were used for spectra pretreatment. Two spectral range (4 935−5 336 cm⁻¹ and 6 911−7 297 cm⁻¹) were selected for the quantitative model with the partial least squares (PLS) regression. Results The quantitative calibration model had good correlation coefficients with Rc value=0.952 9 and Rp value=0.936 6. The root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) was 0.408 and the root mean square error of prediction error (RMSEP) was 0.435. The ratio of standard deviation of validation set to prediction standard deviation (RPD) was 5.18. There was no significant difference between the predicted value and the reference value by t test when the established model was applied in large-scale production. Conclusion The online model established for monitoring water content has high accuracy and stability, which can be applied in industrial scale process to monitor the particle moisture in real time.

Objective:To analyze the differences in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging and preoperative localization between patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and extratemporal epilepsy (ETLE) caused by focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Methods:From April 2015 to August 2018, a total of 71 patients (45 males, 26 females, age (24.3±9.1) years) with refractory epilepsy who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging before surgery and confirmed as FCD by pathology in Xuanwu Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into TLE and ETLE groups based on pathological results. 18F-FDG PET/CT images were analyzed qualitatively and compared with the operation result, then region of interest (ROI) was used to calculate the asymmetry index (AI), and evaluated the hypometabolism of every cerebral region by |AI| semi-quantitatively. Engle classification were followed-up after surgery. Independent-sample t test and χ2 test were used to analyze data. Results:Of 71 FCD patients, 35 were TLE and 36 were ETLE. The onset age of ETLE patients were younger than TLE patients ((10.1±6.5) vs (14.9±9.7) years; t=2.48, P=0.02). In TLE group, 54.29%(19/35) were completely consistent with the operation results, and 42.86%(15/35) showed hypometabolized brain regions in extratemporal lobe. In ETLE group, 27.78%(10/36) were completely consistent with the operation results, and 47.22%(17/36) showed hypometabolized brain regions in temporal lobe. There were significant differences in the lateral accuracy and positioning accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT between TLE and ETLE patients (97.14%(34/35) vs 75.00%(27/36), 54.29%(19/35) vs 27.78%(10/36); χ2 values: 7.19, 6.27, both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in |AI| values between the brain regions of TLE and ETLE patients ( z values: from -1.25 to -0.06, all P>0.05). Conclusion:The lateral accuracy and positioning accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in TLE patients are better than that in ETLE patients.

Clostridia inhabiting in jiupei and pit mud plays key roles in the formation of flavour during the fermentation process of Luzhou-flavour baijiu. However, the differences of Clostridial communities between jiupei and pit mud remains unclear. Here, the species assembly, succession, and metabolic capacity of Clostridial communities between jiupei and pit mud were analysed by high-throughput sequencing and pure culture approaches. The ratio of Clostridial biomass to bacterial biomass in the pit mud was relatively stable (71.5%-91.2%) throughout the fermentation process. However, it varied widely in jiupei (0.9%-36.5%). The dominant Clostridial bacteria in jiupei were Clostridium (19.9%), Sedimentibacter (8.8%), and Hydrogenispora (7.2%), while Hydrogenispora (57.2%), Sedimentibacter (5.4%), and Caproiciproducens (4.9%) dominated in the Clostridial communities in pit mud. The structures of Clostridial community in pit mud and jiupei were significantly different (P=0.001) throughout fermentation. Isolated Clostridial strains showed different metabolic capacities of volatile fatty acids in pure culture. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of Clostridial communities existed in the baijiu fermentation pit, which was closely related to the main flavour components of Luzhou-flavour baijiu.
Alcoholic Beverages ; microbiology ; Bacteria ; classification ; metabolism ; Clostridium ; physiology ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Food Microbiology

Multi-species solid-state fermentation in a mud pit is one of the typical features of strong-flavor baijiu, in which archaea plays important roles, however, the archaeal community distribution and diversity during fermentation are still lack of research. The biomass, composition and succession of archaea communities in fermented grains and pit mud were analyzed by high throughput sequencing. The potential interaction between archaea and bacteria was analyzed by co-occurrence network. Results demonstrate that the average biomass of archaea in pit mud was about 200 times higher than that of fermented grains. There was no significant difference in archaeal community structure between fermented grains and pit mud (r=0.017, P=0.074), but succession patterns between them showed significant correlation (r=0.30, P=0.03). Methanobacterium was the most abundant archaea in fermented grains and pit mud, and other dominant groups included Methanosarcina, Methanocorpusculum, Methanoculleus, and Methanobrevibacter. The co-occurrence network analysis showed that Methanobacterium was positively correlated with most bacteria in fermented grains and pit mud, especially with Hydrogenispora and Caproiciproducens, the dominant bacteria in pit mud. Our results revealed the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics and potential functions of the archaeal community in the mud pit of strong-flavor baijiu.
Alcoholic Beverages/analysis* ; Archaea/genetics* ; Bacteria ; Fermentation ; Taste

Objective To explore the expression of Fascin-1 and EGFR in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-triple-negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) and its correlation.Methods According to ER,PR,and HER2 status,breast cancer were categorized into 2 subtypes:70 cases of TNBC and 370 cases of non-TNBC.The immunohistochemical technique,EnVision method,was used to evaluate the expression of Fascin-1 and EGFR in breast cancer.Results Expression rate of Fascin-1 and EGFR protein in TNBC was 88.6％(62/70)and 78.6％(55/70),while it was 19.2％(71/370)and 44.3％(164/370)in non-TNBC,respectively.Fascin-1 expression rate was significantly higher in EGFR positive non-TNBC cases (34.8％,57/164) than in EGFR negative cases (6.8％,14/206)(x2=46.032,P=0.000).The positive rate of Fascin-1 protein in EGFR-positive TNBC cases (92.7％,51/55) was higher than that in EGFR negative cases (73.3％,11/15),and the difference had no statistically significance (x2=2.673,P=0.102).Conclusions EGFR signal pathway may positively regulate Fascin-1 expression in non-TNBC.The relationship between EGFR and Fascin-1 in TNBC is needed for further study.

Objective To study the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) protein in breast cancer and its correlation to molecular subtyping and hormone receptor status.Methods 467 cases of breast cancer were included.According to ER,PR,HER2,and Ki-67 status,the cases were categorized into 4 molecular subtypes,including 185 cases of luminal A,109 cases of luminal B,76 cases of HER2-enriched,and 70 cases of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).According to ER and PR status,the cases were divided into 4 subtypes,including 240 cases of ER+/PR+,50 cases of ER+/PR-,4 cases of ER-/PR+,and 173 cases of ER-/PR-.Results EGFR protein expression rates in Luminal A,Luminal B,HER2-enriched and TNBC were 16.8％(31/185),54.1％(59/109),97.4％(74/76),78.6％(55/70),respectively.The EGFR expression in HER2-enriched was significantly higher than those in TNBC,Luminal B and Luminal A(P＜0.01),and EGFR expression in TNBC was significantly higher than those in Luminal B and Luminal A (P＜0.01),furthermore,EGFR expression in Luminal B was significantly higher than that in Luminal A (P＜0.01).EGFR protein expression rates in ER+/PR+ subtype,ER+/PR-subtype,ER-/PR+ subtype and ER-/PR-subtype were 25.4％ (61/240),52.0％ (26/50),75.0％ (3/4),88.4％(153/173),respectively.The EGFR expression in ER-/PR-subtype was significantly higher than in ER+/PR+ subtype and ER+/PR-subtype (P＜0.01),and EGFR expression in ER+/PR-subtype was significantly higher than that in ER+/PR+ subtype (P＜0.01).EGFR protein expression rate was higher in ER-/PR-subtype than in ER-/PR+ subtype,and EGFR protein expression rate was higher in ER-/PR+ subtype than that in ER+/PR+ subtype and ER+/PR-subtype,but all of the difference were not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusion EGFR protein expression is closely related to breast cancer molecular subtyping and negative hormone receptor expression,which is a potential biomarker of anti-breast cancer therapy.

The infection by Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède, 1862 (Oligochaeta: Tubificinae) in humans is relatively uncommon. The present report is to describe an incidental human infection with oligochaetes in the nasal cavity of a Chinese man, a 25-year-old man residing in Zhangjiakou city, Hebei province, China presenting with nose bleed, severe itching, continuous sneezing, and rhinorrhea. A lot of oligochaete worms were found in the nasal discharge of the patient. The detected worms were identified as Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Annelida: Oligochaeta) based on morphological and molecular characteristics. This incidental L. hoffmeisteri nasal infection is the first case in China and indicates that oligochaete worms can be encountered in humans.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; China ; Epistaxis ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity* ; Pruritus ; Sneezing

Taiwanofungus camphoratus is a valuable and rare medicinal mushroom with various bioactivities, such as liver protection and anti-cancer. T. camphoratus can produce many arthroconidia at the end of submerged fermentation, but molecular mechanism underlying this submerged conidiation remains unknown. In this study, we found that Ca²⁺ concentration in culture medium significantly affected the arthroconidium production of T. camphoratus. Then, we identified two proteins (CaM and HSP90) involved in Ca²⁺/calmodulin signaling pathway and one protein (AbaA) involved in FluG-mediated conidiation pathway by two-dimensional electrophoresis analyses. Furthermore, we proposed a Ca²⁺/calmodulin- and FluG-mediated signaling pathway by bioinformatics analysis. By real-time quantitative PCR analyses of 23 key genes in the Ca²⁺/calmodulin- and FluG-mediated conidiation pathway, we found that expression levels of 7 genes (crz1, hsp90, flbB, brlA, abaA, wetA and fadA) showed significant responses to Ca²⁺ concentration in fermentation medium. Our research is beneficial for elucidating the underlying mechanism of submerged fermentation conidiation for T. camphoratus.

Next generation sequencing technology has revolutionized studies in fermentation process, in particular, to explore the mechanism by which food microorganisms, including physiology, metabolic pathways, diversity and dynamic changes of microbial community. In addition, phylogenetic characteristics of different species or strains of the food microorganisms are disclosed. All these aspects will help explain how the microbes are interacting and responding to environmental factors. Bioinformatics analysis of genome and metagenome sequence data of food microorganisms could provide essential clues to improve fermentation process and function of microbes as well as control and prevention of foodborne disease outbreak. In this review, we summarized recent genomics and metagenomics studies on food microorganisms. The impact of next generation sequencing for the development and trends of food microorganism researches were discussed in details.
Computational Biology ; Food Microbiology ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Metagenomics ; Phylogeny