Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology in detecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.Methods:Outpatients who were scheduled for endoscopic examination at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College from June 21, 2021 to May 12, 2022 were selected. Artificial intelligence-assisted cytology and painless gastroscopy (add narrow-band imaging and biopsy pathology when need) (hereinafter referred to as gastroscopy) were performed. The detection rates of esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions by the two methods were compared. Taking gastroscopy as the standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology diagnosis were calculated to verify its diagnostic efficacy.Results:A total of 849 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Artificial intelligence-assisted cytology detected 365 cases of esophageal lesions, with a detection rate of 42.99%. One hundred cases of esophageal cancer, precancerous lesions, and atypical squamous cell hyperplasia were detected, with a detection rate of 11.78%. Gastroscopy detected 281 cases of esophageal lesions, with a detection rate of 33.10%. Eighty cases of esophageal cancer and precancerous lesion were detected, with a detection rate of 9.42%. The sensitivity and specificity of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology diagnosis were 81.25% (65/80) and 95.45% (734/769), respectively. The positive predictive value was 65.00% (65/100), and the negative predictive value was 98.00% (734/749). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology in dectecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.785.Conclusion:Artificial intelligence-assisted cytology demonstrates relatively high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions, exhibiting good diagnostic performance for esophageal lesions.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology in detecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.Methods:Outpatients who were scheduled for endoscopic examination at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College from June 21, 2021 to May 12, 2022 were selected. Artificial intelligence-assisted cytology and painless gastroscopy (add narrow-band imaging and biopsy pathology when need) (hereinafter referred to as gastroscopy) were performed. The detection rates of esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions by the two methods were compared. Taking gastroscopy as the standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology diagnosis were calculated to verify its diagnostic efficacy.Results:A total of 849 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Artificial intelligence-assisted cytology detected 365 cases of esophageal lesions, with a detection rate of 42.99%. One hundred cases of esophageal cancer, precancerous lesions, and atypical squamous cell hyperplasia were detected, with a detection rate of 11.78%. Gastroscopy detected 281 cases of esophageal lesions, with a detection rate of 33.10%. Eighty cases of esophageal cancer and precancerous lesion were detected, with a detection rate of 9.42%. The sensitivity and specificity of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology diagnosis were 81.25% (65/80) and 95.45% (734/769), respectively. The positive predictive value was 65.00% (65/100), and the negative predictive value was 98.00% (734/749). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of artificial intelligence-assisted cytology in dectecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions was 0.785.Conclusion:Artificial intelligence-assisted cytology demonstrates relatively high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions, exhibiting good diagnostic performance for esophageal lesions.

The association of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection with microcephaly has raised alarm worldwide. Their causal link has been confirmed in different animal models infected by ZIKV. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ZIKV pathogenesis are far from clear. Hence, we performed global gene expression analysis of ZIKV-infected mouse brains to unveil the biolog-ical and molecular networks underpinning microcephaly. We found significant dysregulation of the sub-networks associated with brain development, immune response, cell death, microglial cell acti-vation, and autophagy amongst others. We provided detailed analysis of the related complicated gene networks and the links between them. Additionally, we analyzed the signaling pathways that were likely to be involved. This report provides systemic insights into not only the pathogenesis, but also a path to the development of prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against ZIKV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection and gastric mucosa change and blood-lipid in people undergoing the physical examination in Changsha. METHODS: A total of 2 264 people undergoing physical examination were divided into an H. pyloripositive group (n=1 068) and an H. pylori-negative group (n=1 196). Gastric mucosa change was diagnosed by gastroscopy, blood-lipid and blood sugar were detected, and the statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The incidence rate of H.pylori infection was 47.2%. The incidence rate of gastric mucosal erosion, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric mucosal atrophy, gastric polyp, dyslipidemia, increase of triglyceride were (TG) and decrease of the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the H.pylori-positive group were all higher than those in the H.pylori-negative group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the H. pylori-positive group, the level of TG in people with gastric mucosal erosion, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer was higher than that in people with normal gastric mucosa or mild gastritis, and HDL-C was lower than that in people with normal gastric mucosa or mild gastritis. CONCLUSION H. pylori infection can induce the gastric mucosa injury and dyslipidemia, which may result in the occurrence and development of coronary heart disease by increasing TG and decreasing HDL-C, thus increasing the risk of atherosclerosis.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Duodenal Ulcer ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Dyslipidemias ; microbiology ; Gastric Mucosa ; microbiology ; pathology ; Gastritis ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Helicobacter Infections ; physiopathology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Physical Examination ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Stomach Ulcer ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To determine the application of serum thymidine kinase 1 (STK1) in general health screening for early detection of premalignant/early malignant tumors. METHODS: A cross sectional study was carried out in 26 055 health screenings from 8 centers of Changsha in 2011. The concentration of STK1 was determined by a sensitive chemiluminescent dot blot ECL assay. RESULTS: In the elevated STK1 group 60.35% showed diseases with a higher risk of premalignant/ early cancerous progression. The positive rate of elevated STK1 (>2.0 pmol/L) was 2.61%. There was a significantly higher rate with moderate/severe type of hyperplasia of breasts and prostate with elevated STK1 than people with normal STK1 values. CONCLUSION STK1 may be a reliable marker for risk assessment of premalignant/early malignant tumors.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Breast ; pathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; Prostate ; pathology ; Thymidine Kinase ; blood

Objective To investigate the role of NF-κB in apoptosis of immortalized neural progenitor cells (INPCs) . Methods INPCs were cultured in 6-well plates and were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n = 6 each) : group I was not transfected with any plasmid (group INPC); group Ⅱ was transfected with control plasmid (group INPC/CMV); group Ⅲ was transfected with plasmid RcCMV-p50 (group INPC/p50); group Ⅳ was transfected with plasmid RcCMV-p65 (group INPC/p65) and group V was transfected with plasmid RcCMV-p50 and RcCMV-p65 (group INPC/p50p65). Group INPC/CMV ( H ), INPC/p50 (Ⅲ) and INPC/p65 (Ⅳ) were screened by G418, and the positive clones were then cultured for 3-4 weeks. The transcription of p50 mRNA or p6S mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The NF-κB activity was measured by luciferase reporter gene assay. The cell apoptosis was measured by annexin V/PI staining. In group INPC/p50p65 and group INPC/p65, the cultured positive clone was transiently transfected with plasmid RcCMV-p50. Two days after transfection, the same measurement was performed in group INPC/pS0p65 and the other groups. Results The expression of p50 mRNA was significantly increased in group INPC/p50 and INPC/p50p65 as compared with the other groups ( P < 0.05) . The expression of p65 mRNA, the NF-κB activity and the apoptotic rate were significantly increased in group INPC/p65 and INPC/p50p65 as compared with the other groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Enhanced NF-κB activity can increase immortalized neural progenitor cell apoptosis.