Objective To develop a three-dimensional(3D)deep neural network based preoperative classification model for coronary computed tomography angiography(CTA)in atrial fibrillation patients,and to explore the effects of transfer learning on the performance of medical image classification models,thereby providing preoperative decision support for catheter ablation to advance atrial fibrillation treatment toward precision and personalization.Methods Utilizing 3D ConvNet and 3D ResNet as backbone network,the three-dimensional classification features were extracted from coronary CTA sequences.The publicly available pre-trained weights were used for transfer learning.The model performance was evaluated through metrics such as confusion matrix,classification accuracy,and area under the curve(AUC).A comparative analysis was also conducted to evaluate the performance differences between the transfer learning model and the initialized training model.Results Transfer learning yielded significant performance improvements over the initialized training models,attaining AUC improvement of 9.1%-16.7%and accuracy enhancement of 6.2%-23.5%.Among all models,3D-ResNet18 model with MedicalNet pre-training weights performed the best,achieving an AUC of 0.77 and an accuracy of 0.71.Conclusion The proposed three-dimensional deep network enhanced by transfer learning can effectively identify atrial fibrillation patients requiring additional ablation besides pulmonary vein isolation through preoperative coronary CTA,which will assist clinicians in optimizing surgical strategies and improving treatment outcomes,thereby reducing long-term postoperative recurrence rates.

Objective To develop a three-dimensional(3D)deep neural network based preoperative classification model for coronary computed tomography angiography(CTA)in atrial fibrillation patients,and to explore the effects of transfer learning on the performance of medical image classification models,thereby providing preoperative decision support for catheter ablation to advance atrial fibrillation treatment toward precision and personalization.Methods Utilizing 3D ConvNet and 3D ResNet as backbone network,the three-dimensional classification features were extracted from coronary CTA sequences.The publicly available pre-trained weights were used for transfer learning.The model performance was evaluated through metrics such as confusion matrix,classification accuracy,and area under the curve(AUC).A comparative analysis was also conducted to evaluate the performance differences between the transfer learning model and the initialized training model.Results Transfer learning yielded significant performance improvements over the initialized training models,attaining AUC improvement of 9.1%-16.7%and accuracy enhancement of 6.2%-23.5%.Among all models,3D-ResNet18 model with MedicalNet pre-training weights performed the best,achieving an AUC of 0.77 and an accuracy of 0.71.Conclusion The proposed three-dimensional deep network enhanced by transfer learning can effectively identify atrial fibrillation patients requiring additional ablation besides pulmonary vein isolation through preoperative coronary CTA,which will assist clinicians in optimizing surgical strategies and improving treatment outcomes,thereby reducing long-term postoperative recurrence rates.

Transmission X-ray tubes are relatively new devices characterized by portability,suitability for miniaturization,and low requirements for shielding,making them ideal radiation sources for kilovoltage X-ray therapy.However,their application in radiotherapy remains underexplored.An electron target model of a transmission X-ray tube is developed using the Monte Carlo toolkit TOPAS 3.8.1.The study investigates the effect of tungsten target thickness on X-ray output efficiency,finding that a tube voltage of 50 kV and a tungsten thickness of 1.4 μm yields the highest emission efficiency.Based on the energy spectrum at this optimal efficiency,polynomial fitting approach is applied to determine the corresponding aluminum filter thickness for mean energies ranging from 20 keV to 35 keV,achieving a mean fitting error of 0.91%.Next,the study simulates dose deposition in a water phantom for spectra with different mean energies and various source-to-surface distances,and plots percent-depth-dose curves,relative normalized dose-depth curves,and relative normalized dose histograms under each treatment condition.Finally,the simulated results are compared with experimental data from the intraoperative radiotherapy system Intrabeam and the superficial X-ray therapy unit SRT-100,obtaining average relative errors of 3.71%and 4.38%,respectively.These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further optimization of transmission X-ray tubes in kilovoltage radiotherapy.

Transmission X-ray tubes are relatively new devices characterized by portability,suitability for miniaturization,and low requirements for shielding,making them ideal radiation sources for kilovoltage X-ray therapy.However,their application in radiotherapy remains underexplored.An electron target model of a transmission X-ray tube is developed using the Monte Carlo toolkit TOPAS 3.8.1.The study investigates the effect of tungsten target thickness on X-ray output efficiency,finding that a tube voltage of 50 kV and a tungsten thickness of 1.4 μm yields the highest emission efficiency.Based on the energy spectrum at this optimal efficiency,polynomial fitting approach is applied to determine the corresponding aluminum filter thickness for mean energies ranging from 20 keV to 35 keV,achieving a mean fitting error of 0.91%.Next,the study simulates dose deposition in a water phantom for spectra with different mean energies and various source-to-surface distances,and plots percent-depth-dose curves,relative normalized dose-depth curves,and relative normalized dose histograms under each treatment condition.Finally,the simulated results are compared with experimental data from the intraoperative radiotherapy system Intrabeam and the superficial X-ray therapy unit SRT-100,obtaining average relative errors of 3.71%and 4.38%,respectively.These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further optimization of transmission X-ray tubes in kilovoltage radiotherapy.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis of patients with initially resectable gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) who were treated by different modalities, and analyze the influencing factors for prognosis of patients.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 327 patients with initially resectable GCLM who were included in the database of a nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study on GCLM based on real-world data from January 2010 to December 2019 were collected. There were 267 males and 60 females, aged 61(54,68)years. According to the specific situations of patients, treatment modalities included radical surgery combined with systemic treatment, palliative surgery combined with systemic treatment, and systemic treatment alone. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of patients who were treated by different modalities; (2) prognostic outcomes of patients who were treated by different modalities; (3) analysis of influencing factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM; (4) screening of potential beneficiaries in patients who were treated by radical surgery plus systemic treatment and patients who were treated by palliative surgery plus systemic treatment. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate and draw survival curve, and Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using the COX proportional hazard regression model. The propensity score matching was employed by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method with a caliper value of 0.1. The forest plots were utilized to evaluate potential benefits of diverse surgical combined with systemic treatments within the population. Results:(1) Clinical characteristics of patients who were treated by different modalities. Of 327 patients, there were 118 cases undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment, 164 cases undergoing palliative surgery plus systemic treatment, and 45 cases undergoing systemic treatment alone. There were significant differences in smoking, drinking, site of primary gastric tumor, diameter of primary gastric tumor, site of liver metastasis, and metastatic interval among the three groups of patients ( P<0.05). (2) Prognostic outcomes of patients who were treated by different modalities. The median overall survival time of the 327 pati-ents was 19.9 months (95% confidence interval as 14.9-24.9 months), with 1-, 3-year overall survival rate of 61.3%, 32.7%, respectively. The 1-year overall survival rates of patients undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment, palliative surgery plus systemic treatment and systemic treatment alone were 68.3%, 63.1%, 30.6%, and the 3-year overall survival rates were 41.1%, 29.9%, 11.9%, showing a significant difference in overall survival rate among the three groups of patients ( χ2=19.46, P<0.05). Results of further analysis showed that there was a significant difference in overall survival rate between patients undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment and patients undergoing systemic treatment alone ( hazard ratio=0.40, 95% confidence interval as 0.26-0.61, P<0.05), between patients undergoing palliative surgery plus systemic treatment and patients under-going systemic treatment alone ( hazard ratio=0.47, 95% confidence interval as 0.32-0.71, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of influencing factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the larger primary gastric tumor, poorly differentiated tumor, larger liver metastasis, multiple hepatic metastases were independent risk factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM ( hazard ratio=1.20, 1.70, 1.20, 2.06, 95% confidence interval as 1.14-1.27, 1.25-2.31, 1.04-1.42, 1.45-2.92, P<0.05) and immunotherapy or targeted therapy, the treatment modality of radical or palliative surgery plus systemic therapy were independent protective factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM ( hazard ratio=0.60, 0.39, 0.46, 95% confidence interval as 0.42-0.87, 0.25-0.60, 0.30-0.70, P<0.05). (4) Screening of potentinal beneficiaries in patients who were treated by radical surgery plus systemic treatment and patients who were treated by palliative surgery plus systemic treatment. Results of forest plots analysis showed that for patients with high-moderate differentiated GCLM and patients with liver metastasis located in the left liver, the overall survival rate of patients undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment was better than patients undergoing palliative surgery plus systemic treatment ( hazard ratio=0.21, 0.42, 95% confidence interval as 0.09-0.48, 0.23-0.78, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared to systemic therapy alone, both radical and palliative surgery plus systemic therapy can improve the pro-gnosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM. The larger primary gastric tumor, poorly differen-tiated tumor, larger liver metastasis, multiple hepatic metastases are independent risk factors for prognosis of patients with initial resectable GCLM and immunotherapy or targeted therapy, the treatment modality of radical or palliative surgery plus systemic therapy are independent protective factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM.

Background::Although some well-established oncogenes are involved in cancer initiation and progression such as prostate cancer (PCa), the long tail of cancer genes remains to be defined. Goosecoid ( GSC) has been implicated in cancer development. However, the comprehensive biological role of GSC in pan-cancer, specifically in PCa, remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of GSC in PCa development. Methods::We performed a systematic bioinformatics exploration of GSC using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Expression Omnibus, German Cancer Research Center, and our in-house cohorts. First, we evaluated the expression of GSC and its association with patient prognosis, and identified GSC-relevant genetic alterations in cancers. Further, we focused on the clinical characterization and prognostic analysis of GSC in PCa. To understand the transcriptional regulation of GSC by E2F transcription factor 1 ( E2F1), we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Functional experiments were conducted to validate the effect of GSC on the tumor cellular phenotype and sensitivity to trametinib. Results::GSC expression was elevated in various tumors and significantly correlated with patient prognosis. The alterations of GSC contribute to the progression of various tumors especially in PCa. Patients with PCa and high GSC expression exhibited worse progression-free survival and biochemical recurrence outcomes. Further, GSC upregulation in patients with PCa was mostly accompanied with higher Gleason score, advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Mechanistically, the transcription factor, E2F1, stimulates GSC by binding to its promoter region. Detailed experiments further demonstrated that GSC acted as an oncogene and influenced the response of PCa cells to trametinib treatment. Conclusions::GSC was highly overexpressed and strongly correlated with patient prognosis in PCa. We found that GSC, regulated by E2F1, acted as an oncogene and impeded the therapeutic efficacy of trametinib in PCa.

Astaxanthine (AST) has important biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could alleviate neurological and heart diseases, but its role in the prevention of cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL) is not yet well understood. In our study, a steady interaction between AST and the E3 ligase adapter Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, a predominant repressor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), was performed and tested via computer molecular docking and dynamics. AST protected against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity via NRF2 mediated pathway using quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential revealed that AST reduced ROS overexpression and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, AST exerted anti-apoptosis effects in mouse cochlear explants using immunofluorescence staining and HEI-OC1 cell lines using quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Finally, AST combined with poloxamer was injected into the middle ear through the tympanum, and the protection against CIHL was evaluated using the acoustic brain stem test and immunofluorescent staining in adult mice. Our results suggest that AST reduced ROS overexpression, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis via NRF2-mediated pathway in cisplatin-exposed HEI-OC1 cell lines and mouse cochlear explants, finally promoting cell survival. Our study demonstrates that AST is a candidate therapeutic agent for CIHL.

Objectve To investigate the psychological status of infertile couples entering the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment cycle. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, convenience sampling method was used to selected couples who received IVF-ET treatment for the first time in the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital from October 2019 to August 2020. We used the basic questionnaire of infertility designed by ourselves, fertility problem inventory, the Chinese version of the fertility quality of life to evaluate the Status-Trait anxiety scale.Results:Totally 803 couples were included. The fertility stress score was 155.65 ±22.07 in female and 153.70 ±22.25 in male with no statistical difference ( P=0.101). The quality of life score was 90.60 ±18.27 in female and 84.24 ±16.47 in male. Female had better quality of life than male ( P<0.001). No statistical difference was observed in state anxiety scores ( P=0.074). The male trait anxiety score (43.38 ±6.91) was higher than that in female (41.93 ±6.89) ( P<0.001). Conclusion:When entering the IVF-ET treatment cycle, the fertility pressure level of the couple is the same, but the level of male anxiety characteristics is higher than that in women, and the quality of life is lower than that in women. Medical staff should strengthen the attention and intervention to the psychological state of men in the management of marital treatment.

Objectve To investigate the psychological status of infertile couples entering the in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment cycle. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, convenience sampling method was used to selected couples who received IVF-ET treatment for the first time in the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital from October 2019 to August 2020. We used the basic questionnaire of infertility designed by ourselves, fertility problem inventory, the Chinese version of the fertility quality of life to evaluate the Status-Trait anxiety scale.Results:Totally 803 couples were included. The fertility stress score was 155.65 ±22.07 in female and 153.70 ±22.25 in male with no statistical difference ( P=0.101). The quality of life score was 90.60 ±18.27 in female and 84.24 ±16.47 in male. Female had better quality of life than male ( P<0.001). No statistical difference was observed in state anxiety scores ( P=0.074). The male trait anxiety score (43.38 ±6.91) was higher than that in female (41.93 ±6.89) ( P<0.001). Conclusion:When entering the IVF-ET treatment cycle, the fertility pressure level of the couple is the same, but the level of male anxiety characteristics is higher than that in women, and the quality of life is lower than that in women. Medical staff should strengthen the attention and intervention to the psychological state of men in the management of marital treatment.