Utility of cone-beam CT imaging for the determination of feeding vessels during arterial embolization for massive hemoptysis

PURPOSE:We aimed to evaluate the role of cone-beam computed tomography (CT) performed as an adjunct to angiography for the determination of feeding vessels responsible for bleeding during arterial embolization for massive hemoptysis.METHODS:In this retrospective study, 23 patients with massive hemoptysis who underwent cone-beam CT evaluation prior to arterial embolization from December 2014 to December 2017 were included. During the angiographic session, two interventional radiologists selected the possible feeding vessels that were likely to supply the bleeding target lesions. Contrast-enhanced cone-beam CT was performed at the indefinite feeding arteries as an adjunct to angiography to determine whether the artery was a real feeding vessel, based on whether the target lesion was detected in the perfused territory of the study artery on images.RESULTS:Selective cone-beam CT was successfully performed in 21 patients, at 26 possible feeding vessels that were detected by selective angiography. Cone-beam CT determined the feeding vessel in 24 arteries (92.3%) in 19 patients (90.5%). As a result of cone-beam CT findings, 16 of 24 study arteries were judged as definitively not feeding vessels (66.7%) and the remaining 8 study arteries were judged as definitively feeding vessels (33.3%). In 2 of 26 study arteries, cone-beam CT could not determine the feeding vessel (7.7%).CONCLUSION:Cone-beam CT performed as an adjunctive technique to angiography is sufficient to provide adequate information for confident determination of the feeding vessel, which is essential for the operators to perform accurate embolization during arterial embolization for massive hemoptysis

A statistics-based method to quantify residential energy consumption and stock at the city level in China:The case of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities

The residential sector is a substantial consumer of energy worldwide, especially in China, and therefore a focus of energy conservation efforts. Although cities are basic executive units nowadays, their residential energy consumption (REC) is often overlooked. By revealing this research gap, we develop a REC calculation model at the city level (CRECM) and an improved residential stock turnover model (RSTM) to calculate the REC and residential stock of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities. Based on these two indicators, the REC intensity is quantified to measure residential energy efficiency. The results show that 11 GBA cities see a dramatic increase in REC over the past 16 years and REC intensities of most cities have plateaued out. The total REC of GBA is expected to rise until that of Guangzhou and Shenzhen reaches the peak. Also, the over residential stock of GBA has tended to saturation in recent years after significant growth, while some cities (i.e. Zhuhai, Huizhou, and Zhongshan) tend to increase. The gaps in REC among cities can be attributed to socio-economic factors (population, GDP, and residential stock) and building characteristics (unit area and construction vintage). Both CRECM and RSTM proposed in this study can provide robust data support for developing building energy efficiency policies for GBA cities as well as other cities across the country</p

Failure To Proliferate and Mitotic Arrest of CDK11(p110/p58)-Null Mutant Mice at the Blastocyst Stage of Embryonic Cell Development

The CDK11(p110) protein kinases are part of large-molecular-weight complexes that also contain RNA polymerase II, transcriptional elongation factors, and general pre-mRNA splicing factors. CDK11(p110) isoforms may therefore couple transcription and pre-mRNA splicing by their effect(s) on certain proteins required for these processes. The CDK11(p58) kinase isoform is generated from the CDK11(p110) mRNA through the use of an internal ribosome entry site in a mitosis-specific manner, suggesting that this kinase may regulate the cell cycle during mitosis. The in vivo role and necessity of CDK11(p110/p58) kinase function during mammalian development were examined by generating CDK11(p110/p58)-null mice through targeted disruption of the corresponding gene using homologous recombination. While heterozygous mice develop normally, disruption of both CDK11(p110/p58) alleles results in early embryonic lethality due to apoptosis of the blastocyst cells between 3.5 and 4 days postcoitus. Cells within these embryos exhibit both proliferative defect(s) and a mitotic arrest. These results are consistent with the proposed cellular functions of the CDK11(p110/p58) kinases and confirm that the CDK11(p110/p58) kinases are essential for cellular viability as well as normal early embryonic development

The Physalis floridana genome provides insights into the biochemical and morphological evolution of Physalis fruits

The fruits of Physalis (Solanaceae) have a unique structure, a lantern-like fruiting calyx known as inflated calyx syndrome (ICS) or the Chinese lantern, and are rich in steroid-related compounds. However, the genetic variations underlying the origin of these characteristic traits and diversity in Physalis remain largely unknown. Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome assembly of Physalis floridana (similar to 1.40 Gb in size) with a contig N50 of similar to 4.87 Mb. Through evolutionary genomics and experimental approaches, we found that the loss of the SEP-like MADS-box gene MBP21 subclade is likely a key mutation that, together with the previously revealed mutation affecting floral MPF2 expression, might have contributed to the origination of ICS in Physaleae, suggesting that the origination of a morphological novelty may have resulted from an evolutionary scenario in which one mutation compensated for another deleterious mutation. Moreover, the significant expansion of squalene epoxidase genes is potentially associated with the natural variation of steroid-related compounds in Physalis fruits. The results reveal the importance of gene gains (duplication) and/or subsequent losses as genetic bases of the evolution of distinct fruit traits, and the data serve as a valuable resource for the evolutionary genetics and breeding of solanaceous crops