Synthetic CT (sCT) generated from CBCT has proven effective in artifact reduction and CT number correction, facilitating precise radiation dose calculation. However, the quality of different regions in sCT images is severely imbalanced, with soft tissue region exhibiting notably inferior quality compared to others. To address this imbalance, we proposed a Multi-Task Attention Network (MuTA-Net) based on VGG-16, specifically focusing the enhancement of image quality in soft tissue region of sCT. First, we introduced a multi-task learning strategy that divides the sCT generation task into three sub-tasks: global image generation, soft tissue region generation and bone region segmentation. This approach ensured the quality of overall sCT image while enhancing the network's focus on feature extraction and generation for soft tissues region. The result of bone region segmentation task guided the fusion of sub-tasks results. Then, we designed an attention module to further optimize feature extraction capabilities of the network. Finally, by employing a results fusion module, the results of three sub-tasks were integrated, generating a high-quality sCT image. Experimental results on head and neck CBCT demonstrated that the sCT images generated by the proposed MuTA-Net exhibited a 12.52% reduction in mean absolute error in soft tissue region, compared to the best performance among the three comparative methods, including ResNet, U-Net, and U-Net++. It can be seen that MuTA-Net is suitable for high-quality sCT image generation and has potential application value in the field of CBCT guided adaptive radiation therapy.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/methods* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Artifacts ; Algorithms ; Bone and Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Neural Networks, Computer

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignant tumor affecting the head and neck region (Leemans et al., 2018). It is often diagnosed at a later stage, leading to a poor prognosis (Muzaffar et al., 2021; Li et al., 2023). Despite advances in OSCC treatment, the overall 5-year survival rate of OSCC patients remains alarmingly low, falling below 50% (Jehn et al., 2019; Johnson et al., 2020). According to statistics, only 50% of patients with oral cancer can be treated with surgery. Once discovered, it is more frequently at an advanced stage. In addition, owing to the aggressively invasive and metastatic characteristics of OSCC, most patients die within one year of diagnosis. Hence, the pursuit of novel therapeutic drugs and treatments to improve the response of oral cancer to medication, along with a deeper understanding of their effects, remains crucial objectives in oral cancer research (Johnson et al., 2020; Bhat et al., 2021; Chen et al., 2023; Ruffin et al., 2023).
Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism* ; Luteolin/therapeutic use* ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/drug therapy* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Cell Line, Tumor

Objective:To identify the risk factors associated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage I gastric cancer and establish nomograms model based on risk factors.Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, 161 cases with stage Ⅰ primary gastric adenocarcinoma were included who underwent gastrectomy at the Department of General Surgery of the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January to December in 2020, including 129 male cases and 32 females cases, with the average age of (59.90±0.80) years. Among them, 41 cases were treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy group), while 120 cases who did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (no chemotherapy group). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage Ⅰ gastric cancer patients and establish the nomograms predictive model. ROC curve and calibration curve were used to evaluate the performance of the model.Results:Multivariate analysis revealed that primary tumor site, tumor size, T stage, N stage lymph-vascular tumor embolus or perineural invasion were the independent risk factors of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for stage Ⅰ gastric cancer( P<0.05). The ROC curve indicated that area under the curve (AUC) of the multivariate model was 0.91(95% CI: 0.86-0.97). The calibration curve showed that probability predicted by nomograms was consistent with the actual situation(C-index: 0.91). Conclusions:The tumor located in the proximal stomach, tumor size>2 cm, T 2, N 1, lymph-vascular tumor embolus or perineural invasion maybe be the risk factors for chemotherapy decision in stage Ⅰ gastric cancer patients. The established model has good predictive ability for postoperative chemotherapy of stage Ⅰ gastric cancer patients, which might provide reference for the selection of clinical decisions in this part of patients.

Male ; Humans ; Varicocele/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Abdomen ; Vascular Surgical Procedures ; Microsurgery

The implantation of biventricular assist device (BiVAD) is more challenging than that of left ventricular assist device for the interaction in the process of multiple input and output. Besides, ventricular assist device (VAD) often runs in constant speed (CS) mode in clinical use and thus BiVAD also faces the problems of low pulsation and imbalance of blood volume between systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation. In this paper, a delay assist mode for a VAD by shortening the support time of VAD was put forward. Then, the effect of the delay mode on cardiac output, pulsation and the function of the aortic valve was observed by numerical method and the rules of hemodynamics were revealed. The research showed that compared with VAD supported in CS mode, the VAD using delay mode in systolic and diastolic period proposed in this paper could meet the demand of cardiac output perfusion and restore the function of the arterial valves. The open ratio of aortic valve (AV) and pulmonary valve (PV) increased with the time set in delay mode, and the blood through the AV/PV helped to balance the left and the right cardiac volume. Besides, delay mode also improved the pulsation index of arterial blood flow, which is conducive to the recovery of the ventricular pulse function of patients.
Cardiovascular System ; Diastole ; Heart Failure ; Heart Rate ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Models, Cardiovascular

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) in China and to provide scientific evidence for the adjustment of preventive strategy and control measures.

METHODSDemographic and epidemiologic information on human cases were collected from both reported data of field epidemiological investigation and the reporting system for infectious diseases.

RESULTSA total of 433 cases including 163 deaths were reported in mainland China before June 4, 2014. Two obvious epidemic peaks were noticed, in March to April, 2013 and January to February, 2014. Confirmed cases emerged in 14 areas of China. Five provinces, including Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Hunan, reported about 85% of the total cases. Median age of the confirmed cases was 58 years (range, 1-91), with 70% as males. Of the 418 cases with available data, 87% had ever exposed to live poultry or contaminated environments. 14 clusters were identified but human to human transmission could not be ruled out in 9 clusters.

CONCLUSIONHuman infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus showed the characteristics of obvious seasonal distribution, with certain regional clusters. The majority of confirmed cases were among the elderly, with more males seen than the females. Data showed that main source of infection was live poultry and the live poultry market had played a significant role in the transmission of the virus.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Demography ; Environmental Pollution ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Male ; Meat ; Poultry ; Research Design

BACKGROUNDRecently, studies have disclosed soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) during atherosclerosis development and plaque destabilization. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that sCD40L levels are higher in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with a greater extent of angiographic coronary involvement.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study examined ACS patients who underwent coronary angiography by measuring their sCD40L levels. In order to estimate the serum levels of sCD40L, 10 ml of peripheral venous blood was drawn within 24 hours of admission. sCD40L levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, RapidBio, West Hills, CA, USA). Demographic data, presence of concomitant diseases, ACS characteristics, and angiographic findings were evaluated. A review of medical records and patient interviews were conducted to assess coronary risk factors. And the severity of coronary artery disease was evaluated using the Gensini score index.

RESULTSTwo hundred and eighty-nine patients were included in the study, of whom 186 were male, with an average age of 64.1 ± 10.0 years. Median sCD40L levels were 1.7 ng/ml (0.3-7.3 ng/ml) and Gensini scores were 50 (0-228). After adjusting for demographic variables and cardiovascular risk factors, the Gensini score was associated with the natural logarithm of the sCD40L level (Coefficient b = 0.002, 95% CI 0.000-0.003, P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONsCD40L levels were independently associated with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease in patients with ACS.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Aged ; CD40 Ligand ; blood ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severity of Illness Index

Objective To compare two separation medium of isolation of adult rat cardiomyocytes , and to observe the characteristics of excitation-contraction coupling of cardiomyocytes .Methods The isolated adult rat heart was hanged on to the Langendorff apparatus for aortic counter-current perfusion and collagenase digestion using two different separation medium.The single cardiomyocytes were cultured and infected with adenovirus . The morphological features of cardiomyocytes were observed with microscope and fluorescent microscope . The shortening-re-lengthening features of sarcomere and the intake-discharge features of calcium were simultaneously recorded by IonOptix equipment .Results 70%rod-shaped with clear-striation adult rat cardiomyocytes could be obtained with the stated two separation medium and cultured in serum-free medium for more than 7 days.GFP could express more than 7 days when the cardiomyocytes were infected with adenovirus .Cardiomyocytes obtained by the first separation medium could not contract with the electrical stimulation, while cardiomyoctyes obtained by the second separation medium could be used for the detection of excitation -contraction coupling .The shortening fraction of sarcomere was 11.61%±2.15% and the relaxing time was ( 0.177 ± 0.031) s.The amplitude of calcium transient was 30.79% ±9.74 % and the decaying time of calcium transient was (0.300 ±0.074) s.Conclusion With the stated two separation medium , adult rat cardiomyocytes can be well isolated , cultured and infected with adenovirus .The second separation medium can be used for the detection of excitation-contraction coupling characteristics .

Objective To discuss spinal fusion effect of lumbar intertransverse process in rabbits by using bone marrow stromal stem cells(MSCs)in conjunction with bone morphogenetic protein(BMP)and freeze-dried demineralized bone matrix(FDBM)as scaffold.Methods To separate and cultivate MSCs in vitro,with FDBM as scaffold,osteogenesis was induced by BMP.Sixty Japan white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups.Group A was MSCs+FDBM+BMP,group B was FDBM,group C was autogenous ilium cancellous bone(AIB).Lumbar intertransverse process was fused in lumbar five to six.Rabbits were killed at 8 weeks after operation.The general observation and imageology were used to assess the fusion condition.To estimate the implantation using DR image.Gray scale analysis of DR image caculated the osteogenic density and acreage.The CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction was used to observe the fusion configuration of lumbar intertransverse process.Results The fusion mass character in group A and C was hard,the morphology was not regulation.The fusion mass was almost absorbed in group B beside little tissue approach transverse process.There were high density image between intertransverse processes,osteogenic density were nonuniform in group A and C.There were nonunion in group B.Consistent callus were existed between intertransverse process in group A and C.There were not consistent callus in group B.Group A was similar to group C in osteogenesis density and acreage.Group B was the worst.There were cartilage and newly born bone trabecular formation in group A and group C.Between transverse process were mainly fiber tissue in group B.Conclusion MSCs in conjunction with BMP and FDBM has the similar osteogenic capability to the AIB and better osteogenic capability than that of FDBM alone when spinal fusion of lumbar intertransverse process is performed in rabbits.

Objective To explore the relationship between interleukin 1 receptor accessory protein-like 2 (IL1RAPL2) gene and cognitive abilities of children in Qin-Ba mountainous region. Methods Four tagged SNPs (rs5962434,rs5916817, rs3764765 and rs5962298 ) in IL1RAPL2 were selected, and then genotyped by PCR-SSCP method in a 320 children sample aged from six to fourteen years old. Results The results showed the rs5962434, rs5916817 ,rs3764765 and rs5962298 had no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P＞0.05),and there were no significant statistical differences in the average psychometric scores of general cognitive ability(P=0.81,0.53,0.79,0.90) ,verbal comprehension (P=0.58,0.47,0.69,0.87 ) ,memory and concentration (P=0.69,0.35,0.76,0.90) among the compared genotype groups at each of the markers. Furthermore,the results also indicated that the four SNPs were not associated with perceptual organization in males and females respectively (P = 0.70,0.85,0.76,0.90,0.65,0.22,0.98,0.90 ). Conclusion The present work suggests that the human general cognitive ability, the three cognitive factors of C-WISC scale are not influenced manifestly by the genetic variations in IL1RAPL2.