2019 Kidney Tumor Segmentation Challenge: Medical Image Segmentation with Two-Stage Process

Since we are trying to deal with the medical images of real patients, the dataset are usually predominantly composed of ”normal” samples. The target classes only appear in a very small portion of the entire dataset, which leads to the so-called class imbalance problem. Besides, there is only a small percentage of foreground inside the ”abnormal” images. The great majority of background leads the significant detrimental effect on training. In such cases, model tends to focus on learning the dominant classes, leading to the poor prediction of minority class. However, the incorrect classification of pathological images can cause serious consequence in clinical practice

Dual Targeting of 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase and Histone Deacetylase as a Therapy for Colorectal Cancer

AbstractStatins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR) inhibitors decreasing serum cholesterol and have shown promise in cancer prevention. In this study, we demonstrated the oncogenic role of HMGR in colorectal cancer (CRC) by disclosing increased HMGR activity in CRC patients and its enhancement of anti-apoptosis and stemness. Our previous studies showed that statins containing carboxylic acid chains possessed activity against histone deacetylases (HDACs), and strengthened their anti-HDAC activity through designing HMGR-HDAC dual inhibitors, JMF compounds. These compounds exerted anti-cancer effect in CRC cells as well as in AOM-DSS and ApcMin/+ CRC mouse models. JMF mostly regulated the genes related to apoptosis and inflammation through genome-wide ChIP-on-chip analysis, and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) predicted their respective regulation by NR3C1 and NF-κB. Furthermore, JMF inhibited metastasis, angiogenesis and cancer stemness, and potentiated the effect of oxaliplatin in CRC mouse models. Dual HMGR-HDAC inhibitor could be a potential treatment for CRC

Fractal aggregates of the Pt nanoparticles synthesized by the polyol process and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) reduction

[[abstract]]Small-angle X-ray scattering was used to characterize the size and aggregation behavior of the Pt nanoparticles synthesized by the polyol process and the unusual poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) reduction. With formaldehyde (HCHO) as the reduction agent, the Pt nanoparticles synthesized in aqueous solutions with a high PVP/PtCl4 weight ratio were characterized by short rods with a 70% polydispersity in rod length. The size and size distribution of the rodlike Pt nanoparticles (3 nm in rod length and 2 nm in rod diameter) are consistent with the corresponding transmission electron microscopy image. With a comparable PVP/PtCl4 weight ratio in the aqueous solution containing HCHO, the high number density of reduced Pt nanoparticles led to a fractal-like aggregation with a fractal dimension of 2.1 and a correlation length of similar to 30 nm. We also demonstrated that Pt nanoparticles can be synthesized by PVP reduction at 323 K without HCHO. The particle size and the clustering behavior of the Pt nanoparticles reduced by PVP are closely related to the PVP concentration in the solution. Both the Pt nanoparticles synthesized in the commonly used polyol process and the unusual PVP reduction form fractal-like clusters via the PVP-metal nanoparticle association when the number density of the Pt nanoparticles in the solutions is high[[fileno]]2010338010006[[department]]化學

Denaturation Resistance of beta-Lactoglobulin in Monomolecular Films at the Air-Water Interface

Using X-ray reflectometry we report strong differences in the denaturation response of β-lactoglobulin adsorbed as a monomolecular film at the air-water interface from that observed in mixed denaturant/β-lactoglobulin bulk solutions. Using the "flow tr

Resistance of β-casein at the air-water interface to enzymatic cleavage.

X-ray reflectivity from an air-buffer interfacial β-casein monomolecular film placed on a solution of chymosin (renin) showed unexpectedly slow proteolytic cleavage. To understand this, the separate structures of β-casein and chymosin, the presentatio

Protein trapping of silica nanoparticles

We have observed the formation of protein-nanoparticle complexes at the air-water interfaces from three different methods of presenting the nanoparticles to proteins. The structures formed are remarkably reproducible for the three formation mechanisms. The methods of X-ray and neutron reflectivity (with isotopic contrast variation between the protein and nanoparticles) have been used to study the structures formed at the air-water interface of β-casein presented to silica nanoparticle dispersions. Whilst the silica dispersions showed no observable reflectivity, strong signals appear in the reflectivity when protein is present. Dropwise spreading of a small amount of protein at the air-silica sol interface and presentation of the silica sol to an isolated monomolecular protein film (made by the "flow trough" method (A. W. Perriman, D. J. McGillivray and J. W. White, Soft Matter, 2008, 4, 2192-2198)) gave an immediate signal. Mixing the components in solution only produces a slow response but in all cases a similar structure is formed. The different responses are interpreted in structural and stoichiometric ways

Protein interfacial structure and nanotoxicology

Here we briefly recapitulate the use of X-ray and neutron reflectometry at the air-water interface to find protein structures and thermodynamics at interfaces and test a possibility for understanding those interactions between nanoparticles and proteins which lead to nanoparticle toxicology through entry into living cells. Stable monomolecular protein films have been made at the air-water interface and, with a specially designed vessel, the substrate changed from that which the air-water interfacial film was deposited. This procedure allows interactions, both chemical and physical, between introduced species and the monomolecular film to be studied by reflectometry. The method is briefly illustrated here with some new results on protein-protein interaction between β-casein and κ-casein at the air-water interface using X-rays. These two proteins are an essential component of the structure of milk. In the experiments reported, specific and directional interactions appear to cause different interfacial structures if first, a β-casein monolayer is attacked by a κ-casein solution compared to the reverse. The additional contrast associated with neutrons will be an advantage here. We then show the first results of experiments on the interaction of a β-casein monolayer with a nanoparticle titanium oxide sol, foreshadowing the study of the nanoparticle "corona" thought to be important for nanoparticle-cell wall penetration. Crow