BACKGROUND:MRI is important for the diagnosis of early knee osteoarthritis.MRI image recognition and intelligent segmentation of knee osteoarthritis using deep learning method is a hot topic in image diagnosis of artificial intelligence. OBJECTIVE:Through deep learning of MRI images of knee osteoarthritis,the segmentation of femur,tibia,patella,cartilage,meniscus,ligaments,muscles and effusion of knee can be automatically divided,and then volume of knee fluid and muscle content were measured. METHODS:100 normal knee joints and 100 knee osteoarthritis patients were selected and randomly divided into training dataset(n=160),validation dataset(n=20),and test dataset(n=20)according to the ratio of 8:1:1.The Coarse-to-Fine sequential training method was used to train the 3D-UNET network deep learning model.A Coarse MRI segmentation model of the knee sagittal plane was trained first,and the rough segmentation results were used as a mask,and then the fine segmentation model was trained.The T1WI and T2WI images of the sagittal surface of the knee joint and the marking files of each structure were input,and DeepLab v3 was used to segment bone,cartilage,ligament,meniscus,muscle,and effusion of knee,and 3D reconstruction was finally displayed and automatic measurement results(muscle content and volume of knee fluid)were displayed to complete the deep learning application program.The MRI data of 26 normal subjects and 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis were screened for validation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The 26 normal subjects were selected,including 13 females and 13 males,with a mean age of(34.88±11.75)years old.The mean muscle content of the knee joint was(1 051 322.94±2 007 249.00)mL,the mean median was 631 165.21 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(291.85±559.59)mL.The mean median was 0 mL.(2)There were 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis,including 30 females and 8 males.The mean age was(68.53±9.87)years old.The mean muscle content was(782 409.18±331 392.56)mL,the mean median was 689 105.66 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(1 625.23±5 014.03)mL.The mean median was 178.72 mL.(3)There was no significant difference in muscle content between normal people and knee osteoarthritis patients.The volume of effusion in patients with knee osteoarthritis was higher than that in normal subjects,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).(4)It is indicated that the intelligent segmentation of MRI images by deep learning can discard the defects of manual segmentation in the past.The more accuracy evaluation of knee osteoarthritis was necessary,and the image segmentation was processed more precisely in the future to improve the accuracy of the results.

Plasmids are the most commonly used gene carriers in the field of gene synthesis and sequencing. However, the main problems faced by traditional plasmid DNA extraction technology are low extraction throughput and high production cost, so they cannot meet the growing demand. In this study, a double-magnetic-bead method (DMBM) for plasmid extraction was developed based on the principle of plasmid extraction. The effects of the input of magnetic beads, the size of plasmid DNA fragments, and the volume of bacterial on plasmid DNA extraction were explored. In addition, the quality, throughput, and cost of plasmid DNA extraction were also compared between this technique and the commercial plasmid DNA extraction kits. The results showed that the DMBM can meet the needs of extracting plasmid DNA with different cell densities and fragment lengths. Moreover, the sensitivity and quality of plasmid extraction by the DMBM method were both superior to those of the centrifugal adsorption column method. In addition, this technique could be applied on a 96-channel automated nucleic acid extractor, resulting in higher purity of the extracted plasmid DNA, 80% reduction in extraction time, and 57.1% reduction in cost. It also reduces manual operations, achieving high-throughput and low-cost plasmid DNA extraction, thus may facilitate gene synthesis and sequencing.
Plasmids/genetics* ; DNA/genetics* ; Nucleic Acids ; Genetic Techniques ; Magnetic Phenomena

Objective:To investigate the role of chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in chronic skin inflammation and its regulatory mechanism.Methods:Wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and Cx3 cr1 GFP/GFP mice were induced by DNFB to establish acute and chronic allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) model. Ear inflammation and swelling were observed with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the changes in classical Langerhans cell (LC) and monocyte-derived LC (Mo-LC), as well as the expression of major histocompatibility complex Ⅱ (MHCⅡ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF-α. Changes in epidermal LC in UV irradiation-induced dermatitis models were also analyzed. In human chronic skin inflammation, CX3CL1 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot and CD1a, CD14 and CD207 expression was observed with immunofluorescence staining. Results:In the chronic ACD model, Cx3 cr1 GFP/GFP mice showed significantly alleviated ear inflammatory and swelling as compared with WT mice, but no significant difference was found in the acute ACD model. The percentages of Mo-LC were decreased in the chronic ACD model and after three weeks of UV irradiation. Moreover, MHCⅡ, TNF-α and iNOS expressed by Mo-LC were significantly upregulated as compared with those by classical LC. CX3CL1 expression was significantly upregulated and the numbers of CD14 + monocytes and CD1a + langerin - Mo-LC were dramatically increased in human chronic skin inflammation. Conclusions:CX3CR1 might maintain inflammatory response by regulating local remodeling of Mo-LC in chronic skin inflammation.

Objective:To investigate the optimal monoenergetic level of virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) in transplanted renal artery on a dual-layer spectral detector CT.Methods:A retrospective study was performed on 16 renal transplant patients who underwent transplanted renal angiography on a dual-layer spectral detector CT in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from June 2020 to April 2021. Conventional 120 kVp polyenergetic images (PI) were reconstructed, and virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) in range of 40-200 keV with interval of 10 keV were reconstructed, too. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 120 kVp PI and VMIs were measured. Meanwhile, the subjective scores of the display of transplanted renal artery were performed on volume rendering images of 120 kVp PI and VMIs. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between energy levels and SNR or CNR. Rank sum tests were performed to compare the parameters of image quality between the VMI which had the highest SNR and CNR, and the other VMIs, or 120 kVp PI.Results:Among the VMIs, SNR or CNR was negatively correlated with energy levels ( r =-0.86 and -0.88, all P<0.001). The SNR [22.80(18.57, 34.16)] and CNR [35.38(25.97, 39.01)] of 40 keV VMI were the highest, and significantly higher than that of 120 kVp PI and 50-200 keV VMIs, all the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The subjective scores of 40 keV VMI and 120 kVp PI were 5 (5, 5) and 4 (3, 5), respectively. The score of 40 keV VMI was significantly higher than that of 120 kVp PI ( Z=-2.60, P=0.009). There were no significant differences in subjective scores between 40 keV VMI and 50-70 keV VMIs ( Z=-1.00, -1.41, -1.73, P=0.317, 0.157, 0.083), but the subjective score of 40 keV VMI was higher than that of 80-200 keV VMIs and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:As for the images of transplanted renal angiography on a dual-layer spectral detector CT, the image quality of 40 keV VMI was best, thus 40 keV was the optimal monoenergetic level.

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic regulated cell death caused by iron accumulation and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Currently, the therapeutic role of ferroptosis on cancer is gaining increasing interest. Baicalin an active component in

Objective:To investigate the role of Sestrin2 overexpression in regulating mitochondrial fission and its mechanism in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell model of glucose and oxygen deprivation/recovery (OGD/R). Methods:(1) SH-SY5Y cells were divided into normal control group, OGD/R group, Vector group, and Sestrin2 overexpression group; Sestrin2 overexpression or empty vector stable cell lines in the Sestrin2 overexpression group and Vector group were constructed by lentivirus infection; cells in the later 3 groups were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 4 h followed by restoration of O 2 supply for 18 h. The cell survival rate was detected by cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay. The protein levels of Sestrin2, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Kelch-like ECH-related protein 1 (Keap1) in the cytoplasm and nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) in the nucleus were detected by Western blotting. The mitochondria ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscope. The Nrf2 nuclear translocation was detected by immunofluorescence staining. (2) Cell lines with Sestrin2 overexpression were divided into Sestrin2 overexpression group, Brusatol+ Sestrin2 overexpression group, and DMSO+ Sestrin2 overexpression group. Cells in the Brusatol+ Sestrin2 overexpression group were pretreated with normal medium containing Brusatol (Keap1/Nrf2 pathway inhibitor, final concentration: 100 nmol/L) for 4 h before OGD/R; cells in the DMSO+ Sestrin2 group were pretreated with normal medium containing DMSO (final volume fraction: 0.1%) for 4 h before OGD/R. Cells in these groups were then subjected to OGD for 4 h followed by restoration of O 2 supply for 18 h. The protein levels of Drp1, Fis1, Keap1 in the cytoplasm, and Nrf2 in the nucleus were measured by Western blotting. Results:(1) As compared with those in the OGD/R group, cells in the Sestrin2 overexpression group had significantly increased survival rate (61.33%±1.15% vs. 81.00%±3.00%), significantly up-regulated Bcl-2/Bax ratio (0.467±0.006 vs. 0.880±0.010), significantly decreased Drp1, Fis1 and cytoplasmic Keap1 protein levels (1.089±0.033 vs. 0.865±0.014; 0.829±0.009 vs. 0.350±0.007; 0.967±0.017 vs. 0.881±0.024), and significantly up-regulated nuclear Nrf2 protein level (0.627±0.025 vs. 0.957±0.015, P<0.05). The mitochondrial structure in the Sestrin2 overexpression group under electron microscope was more complete than that in the OGD/R group, and obvious nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was noted. (2) As compared with the Sestrin2 overexpression group, Brusatol+ Sestrin2 overexpression group had significantly decreased nuclear Nrf2 protein level (0.920±0.013 vs. 0.627±0.035), and statistically increased Drp1 and Fis1 protein levels (0.994±0.020 vs. 1.084±0.005; 0.728±0.010 vs. 0.906±0.022, P<0.05). Conclusion:Sestrin2 overexpression could suppress mitochondrial fission, reduce cell apoptosis, and attenuate OGD/R injury of SH-SY5Y cells by activating Keap1/Nrf2 pathway via down-regulating cytoplasmic Keap1 protein level and promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of dual-tube epidural segmental injection of lidocaine analgesia on the delivery outcome and maternal and infant complications of persistent posterior occipital position postpartum or lateral occipital position postpartum patients with protracted active phase.Methods:The full and single-term primiparas ( n=216, 37 to 42 weeks gestation, 22 to 35 years) diagnosed as persistent posterior or lateral occipital position during the active period were selected from the Department of Obstetrics of Qingdao Municipal Hospital from January 2015 to October 2019. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: double-tube epidural block group ( n=108) and single-tube epidural block group ( n=108), 1% lidocaine was used for epidural analgesia respectively under ultrasound guidance. Senior midwife or obstetricians implement new partogram, and guide women to perform position management, and push or rotate the fetal head in a timely manner. Observation indicators: general condition, the use of non-pharmacological analgesic measures, analgesia related conditions and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, delivery-related indicator, cesarean section indication, anesthesia-related indicator, maternal and child complications. Results:(1) General condition: the age, weight, height, gestational age, the ratio of persistent lateral or posterior occipital position, cephalic score, and neonatal birth weight between the two groups of women were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). (2) The use of non-pharmacological analgesic measures: the women’s Lamaze breathing method, Doula delivery companionship, percutaneous electrical stimulation, and other measures between two groups were compared, and there were not significant differences (all P>0.05). (3) Analgesia related conditions and VAS scores of women undergoing vaginal delivery: compared with the single-tube epidural block group ( n=40), the second-partum time of the women in the double-tube epidural block group ( n=59) was significantly shortened [(124±44) vs (86±33) minutes, P<0.01]; after 30 minutes of analgesia (4.4±0.5 vs 0.9±0.5, P<0.01), during forced labor in the second stage of labor (5.7±0.6 vs 1.3±0.4, P<0.01), the VAS scores of pain were also significantly reduced ( P<0.01). (4) Labor-related indicators: compared with the single-tube epidural block group, the natural delivery rate (21.3% vs 49.1%) and the delivery experience satisfaction rate (51.9% vs 98.1%) of women in the double-tube epidural block group were significantly increased (all P<0.01), cesarean section rate (63.0% vs 45.4%), instrument assisted rate (15.7% vs 5.6%) decreased significantly (all P<0.05). (5) Cesarean section indications: compared with the single-tube epidural block group, the cesarean section rate caused by prolonged labor or protracted active phase of women in the double-tube epidural block group was significantly reduced (38.0% vs 22.2%； P<0.05), and the fetal distress, intrauterine infection, and social factors caused by cesarean section between the two groups were compared, while the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05).(6) Anesthesia related indexes: the block planes of the maternal upper tube administration in the double-tube epidural block group were mostly T7, T8, T9-L2 and L3,While,the block planes in the single-tube epidural block group were mostly T10, T11-S1, S2, S3, and the modified Bromage score were all 0. (7) Maternal and child complications: compared with the single-tube epidural block group, the postpartum hemorrhage rate (18.5% vs 7.4%), the perineal lateral cut rate (20.4% vs 5.6%), the neonatal asphyxia rate (12.0% vs 3.7%), ICU rate of transferred neonates (13.9% vs 4.6%) in the double-tube epidural block group were significantly reduced (all P<0.05). Soft birth canal injury rate, puerperal disease rate and neonatal birth rate between two groups were compared, and there were not statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Dual-tube epidural segmental injection of lidocaine analgesia could increase the natural delivery rate of women with posterior occipital or lateral occipital position with active stagnation, reduce the rate of cesarean section and the rate of transvaginal instruments, and reduce the complications of mother and child.

Objective To investigate the impact of the changes of posttreatment karnofsky performance status (KPSpost) on the overall survival (OS) for patients with stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) underwent concurrent chemoradiation.Methods A total of 279 patients (male 198 and female 81) with histological confirmed stage Ⅳ NSCLC were enrolled in this study with a median age of 58 years old (range 22 to 80 years old).There were 166 cases of squamous carcinoma,87 cases of adenocarcinoma,and 22 cases of unclassified carcinoma,respectively.All enrolled patients received more than 2 cycles of chemotherapy and more than 36 Gy of concurrent radiotherapy.Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were applied to evaluate OS.Multivariate analyses were carried out by the Cox proportionalhazard model.Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the related factors of KPSpost.Results There were 198 patients with improved KPSpost and 81 patients with decreased KPSpost,respectively.Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the improvement of KPSpost was associated with longer OS.Logistic regression analysis showed that the improvement of KPSpost was positively related with treatment of more than 4-6 cycles chemotherapy concurrent with over 63 Gy radiation to primary tumor.The improvement of KPSpost also correlated positively with disease control rate (DCR),but negatively with PLT toxicity and radiation esophagitis.Conclusions KPSpost was an independent prognostic factor of OS for patients with stage Ⅳ NSCLC underwent concurrent chemoradiation.Chemotherapy of 4-6 cycles and concurrent over 63 Gy radiotherapy dose to primary tumor,as well as DCR were positive factors for KPSpost improvement.However,stage 3-4 PLT toxicities and radiation esophagitis decreased the KPSpost.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of concurrent pemetrexed-cisplatin (PP) or docetaxel-cisplatin (DP) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with stageⅠV lung adenocarcinoma. Methods Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma patients with unknown EGFR mutation status or wild-type admitted to Guizhou Cancer Hospital from 2011 to 2016 were randomly assigned into the PP (n=50) and DP groups (n=51).All patients received concurrent IMRT of the chest at a prescription dose of 60-70 Gy. Primary endpoint was 1-year survival rate, and secondary endpoint was acute toxicity. Results The overall response rate was 68. 0％ and 72. 5％ in the PP and DP groups (χ2=0. 250, P=0. 617) . The median survival time was 19. 6 months ( 95％CI 13. 9-25. 3) versus 12. 1 months ( 95％CI 10. 7-13. 5) in the PP and DP groups. The 1-, 2-and 3-year overall survival rates were 72. 0％ versus 52. 9％, 28. 0％ versus 17. 6％, and 16. 0％ versus 13. 7％, respectively in the PP and DP groups ( P=0. 049) . In the PP and DP groups, the incidence of grade 3-4 leukopenia was declined by 48％ and 63％( P=0. 098) , and the incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia was decreased by 34％ and 65％( P=0. 002) , the incidence of grade 3-4 anemia was reduced by 38％ and 10％(P=0. 024), and the incidence of grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia was declined by 40％ and 14％( P=0. 003) . The incidence rate of grade 2 pneumonitis ( P=0. 625) and grade 3 esophagitis ( P=0. 484) were similar in both groups. No patients experienced ≥grade 3 pneumonitis or ≥ grade 4 radiation esophagitis. Conclusions Pemetrexed-cisplatin combined with chemoradiotherapy yields higher clinical efficacy compared with docetaxel-cisplatin plus concurrent chemoradiation in the treatment of stageⅠV lung adenocarcinoma. The incidence of radiation pneumonitis and esophagitis is similar. The incidence and severity of hematological toxicity does not significantly differ between two groups.Treatment-related toxicity is tolerable in both groups. Clinical Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR-TRC-13004184) .