Do the combination of multiparametric MRI-based radiomics and selected blood inflammatory markers predict the grade and proliferation in glioma patients?

PURPOSEWe aimed to explore whether multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics combined with selected blood inflammatory markers could effectively predict the grade and proliferation in glioma patients.METHODSThis retrospective study included 152 patients histopathologically diagnosed with glioma. Stratified sampling was used to divide all patients into a training cohort (n=107) and a validation cohort (n=45) according to a ratio of 7:3, and five-fold repeat cross-validation was adopted in the training cohort. Multiparametric MRI and clinical parameters, including age, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and red cell distribution width, were assessed. During image processing, image registration and gray normalization were conducted. A radiomics analysis was performed by extracting 1584 multiparametric MRI-based features, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was applied to generate a radiomics signature for predicting grade and Ki-67 index in both training and validation cohorts. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, intraclass correlation coefficient, multivariate logistic regression, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.RESULTSThe radiomics signature demonstrated good performance in both the training and validation cohorts, with areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 0.92, 0.91, and 0.94 and 0.94, 0.75, and 0.82 for differentiating between low and high grade gliomas, grade III and grade IV gliomas, and low Ki-67 and high Ki-67, respectively, and was better than the clinical model; the AUCs of the combined model were 0.93, 0.91, and 0.95 and 0.94, 0.76, and 0.80, respectively.CONCLUSIONBoth the radiomics signature and combined model showed high diagnostic efficacy and outperformed the clinical model. The clinical factors did not provide additional improvement in the prediction of the grade and proliferation index in glioma patients, but the stability was improved

Small-molecule activation of lysosomal TRP channels ameliorates Duchenne muscular dystrophy in mouse models

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disease caused by mutations in dystrophin that compromise sarcolemma integrity. Currently, there is no treatment for DMD. Mutations in transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (ML1), a lysosomal Ca2+ channel required for lysosomal exocytosis, produce a DMD-like phenotype. Here, we show that transgenic overexpression or pharmacological activation of ML1 in vivo facilitates sarcolemma repair and alleviates the dystrophic phenotypes in both skeletal and cardiac muscles of mdx mice (a mouse model of DMD). Hallmark dystrophic features of DMD, including myofiber necrosis, central nucleation, fibrosis, elevated serum creatine kinase levels, reduced muscle force, impaired motor ability, and dilated cardiomyopathies, were all ameliorated by increasing ML1 activity. ML1-dependent activation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) corrects lysosomal insufficiency to diminish muscle damage. Hence, targeting lysosomal Ca2+ channels may represent a promising approach to treat DMD and related muscle diseases

Analysis of Arsenic Speciation Distribution in Agaric, Shiitake Mushroom, Matsutake and Agrocybe by IC-ICP-MS Method

To analyze the speciation distribution of arsenic in agaric, shiitake mushroom, matsutake and agrocybe, the ion chromatography-inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometer (IC-ICP-MS) was used to determine arsenobetaine, dimethyl arsenic, arsenous acid, arsenic choline, monomethyl arsenic and arsenic acid, and the methodological investigation and content determination were carried out. The results showed that the method could completely separate all six arsenic forms within 5 minutes, and the peak patterns were good. The linear relationship of the method was good (mass concentration of 0.5~20 μg/L, r>0.999). The detection limit and quantification limit of six arsenic species were not more than 0.005 and 0.017 mg/kg respectively. The recovery rate of six arsenic forms in agaric, agrocybe and shiitake mushroom could reach 80%~120% with standard addition. For matsutake, the standard addition recovery rate could also reach 80%~120% when adding right standard amounts (0.05 mg/kg dimethyl arsenic, arsenic choline and arsenic acid; 0.2 mg/kg arsenite and monomethyl arsenic; 5 mg/kg arsenic betaine). Combined with the dehydration rate of dry products, the inorganic arsenic content of the tested samples met the requirements of GB 2762-2022. The content of total arsenic in matsutake was the highest, but the proportion of inorganic arsenic（arsenic choline+arsenic acid） in total arsenic was the lowest 3.6%~6.8%, and the highest proportion was arsenobetaine (75.8%~87.3%). The main form of arsenic in agaric, agrocybe, and shiitake mushroom were inorganic arsenic. The proportion of inorganic arsenic to total arsenic could reach 58.4%~66.1%、60.0%~66.7%、81.2%~91.7%, respectively. There was a risk of food safety when the total arsenic content was high

Prediction of ESRD in IgA Nephropathy Patients from an Asian Cohort: A Random Forest Model

Background/Aims: There is an increasing risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among Asian people with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). A computer-aided system for ESRD prediction in Asian IgAN patients has not been well studied. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed biopsy-proven IgAN patients treated at the Department of Nephrology of the Second Xiangya Hospital from January 2009 to November 2013. Demographic and clinicopathological data were obtained within 1 month of renal biopsy. A random forest (RF) model was employed to predict the ESRD status in IgAN patients. All cases were initially trained and validated, taking advantage of the out-of-bagging(OOB) error. Predictors used in the model were selected according to the Gini impurity index in the RF model and verified by logistic regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve (AUC) and F-measure were used to evaluate the RF model. Results: A total of 262 IgAN patients were enrolled in this study with a median follow-up time of 4.66 years. The importance rankings of predictors of ESRD in the RF model were first obtained, indicating some of the most important predictors. Logistic regression also showed that these factors were statistically associated with ESRD status. We first trained an initial RF model using gender, age, hypertension, serum creatinine, 24-hour proteinuria and histological grading suggested by the Clinical Decision Support System for IgAN (CDSS, www.IgAN.net). This 6-predictor model achieved a F-measure of 0.8 and an AUC of 92.57%. By adding Oxford-MEST scores, this model outperformed the initial model with an improved AUC (96.1%) and F-measure (0.823). When C3 staining was incorporated, the AUC was 97.29% and F-measure increased to 0.83. Adding the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) improved the AUC to 95.45%. We also observed improved performance of the model with additional inputs of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, hemoglobin and albumin. Conclusion: In addition to the predictors in the CDSS, Oxford-MEST scores, C3 staining and eGFR conveyed additional information for ESRD prediction in Chinese IgAN patients using a RF model

The Asian arowana (<i>Scleropages formosus</i>) genome provides new insights into the evolution of an early lineage of teleosts

The Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus), one of the world’s most expensive cultivated ornamental fishes, is an endangered species. It represents an ancient lineage of teleosts: the Osteoglossomorpha. Here, we provide a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of a female golden-variety arowana using a combination of deep shotgun sequencing and high-resolution linkage mapping. In addition, we have also generated two draft genome assemblies for the red and green varieties. Phylogenomic analysis supports a sister group relationship between Osteoglossomorpha (bonytongues) and Elopomorpha (eels and relatives), with the two clades together forming a sister group of Clupeocephala which includes all the remaining teleosts. The arowana genome retains the full complement of eight Hox clusters unlike the African butterfly fish (Pantodon buchholzi), another bonytongue fish, which possess only five Hox clusters. Differential gene expression among three varieties provides insights into the genetic basis of colour variation. A potential heterogametic sex chromosome is identified in the female arowana karyotype, suggesting that the sex is determined by a ZW/ZZ sex chromosomal system. The high-quality reference genome of the golden arowana and the draft assemblies of the red and green varieties are valuable resources for understanding the biology, adaptation and behaviour of Asian arowanas

The Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) Genome Provides New Insights into the Evolution of an Early Lineage of Teleosts

The Asian arowana (Scleropages formosus), one of the world’s most expensive cultivated ornamental fishes, is an endangered species. It represents an ancient lineage of teleosts: the Osteoglossomorpha. Here, we provide a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of a female golden-variety arowana using a combination of deep shotgun sequencing and high-resolution linkage mapping. In addition, we have also generated two draft genome assemblies for the red and green varieties. Phylogenomic analysis supports a sister group relationship between Osteoglossomorpha (bonytongues) and Elopomorpha (eels and relatives), with the two clades together forming a sister group of Clupeocephala which includes all the remaining teleosts. The arowana genome retains the full complement of eight Hox clusters unlike the African butterfly fish (Pantodon buchholzi), another bonytongue fish, which possess only five Hox clusters. Differential gene expression among three varieties provides insights into the genetic basis of colour variation. A potential heterogametic sex chromosome is identified in the female arowana karyotype, suggesting that the sex is determined by a ZW/ZZ sex chromosomal system. The high-quality reference genome of the golden arowana and the draft assemblies of the red and green varieties are valuable resources for understanding the biology, adaptation and behaviour of Asian arowanas

Simulation Study on Hydrological Process of Soil Cracks in Open-Pit Coal Mine Dump

The dumping site is the most serious soil erosion area in an industrial and mining construction area. The development of cracks and water movement in the dumping site is the main factors that induce slope collapse. In this text, the influence of the crack width, rainfall intensity, and two simulation methods of hydrological processes are investigated under artificial rainfall conditions. The results show that the total runoff is affected by two factors, namely rainfall intensity and crack width, and the total runoff decreases with the increase in the crack width. The stable infiltration rate decreases with the increase in the crack width under the same rainfall intensities. When the rainfall intensity is greater than 90 mm/h, the contribution of leakage to the total infiltration is more than 50%. Under simulated rainfall conditions, the total runoff of the solid model was reduced by 5% to 13% compared with the equivalent model. Hence, the cumulative leakage of the solid model is 29% to 71% larger than that of the equivalent model under the same conditions. In this text, the transformation equations from the solid model of the dump site to the equivalent models of runoff, infiltration, and leakage are constructed, and then it can be corrected by the fitting equation

Simulation Study on Hydrological Process of Soil Cracks in Open-Pit Coal Mine Dump

The dumping site is the most serious soil erosion area in an industrial and mining construction area. The development of cracks and water movement in the dumping site is the main factors that induce slope collapse. In this text, the influence of the crack width, rainfall intensity, and two simulation methods of hydrological processes are investigated under artificial rainfall conditions. The results show that the total runoff is affected by two factors, namely rainfall intensity and crack width, and the total runoff decreases with the increase in the crack width. The stable infiltration rate decreases with the increase in the crack width under the same rainfall intensities. When the rainfall intensity is greater than 90 mm/h, the contribution of leakage to the total infiltration is more than 50%. Under simulated rainfall conditions, the total runoff of the solid model was reduced by 5% to 13% compared with the equivalent model. Hence, the cumulative leakage of the solid model is 29% to 71% larger than that of the equivalent model under the same conditions. In this text, the transformation equations from the solid model of the dump site to the equivalent models of runoff, infiltration, and leakage are constructed, and then it can be corrected by the fitting equation

Analysis of the Economy-Wide Rebound Effect of Water Efficiency Improvement in China Based on a Multi-Sectoral Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

The effectiveness of water efficiency improvement is restricted by the water rebound effect by which anticipated water resource saving from improved water efficiency may be partly or wholly offset or even surpassed by an increase in water demand. The economy-wide rebound effect of water efficiency improvement in China is poorly understood. This study explored the economy-wide rebound effect of water efficiency improvement in China based on a multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium model. The results suggested that water efficiency improvement could effectively reduce water consumption in producing sectors and benefit economic growth and employment. However, the decrease in water consumption was much lower than the volume of water efficiency improvement, which indicated that the rebound effect partly offset water savings caused by water efficiency improvement. We observed a larger reduction in water consumption in the long run, which indicated a smaller rebound effect and a more significant effect in saving water resources in the long term. Notably, the total rebound effect in the short-run closure was much larger than that in the long-run closure, and the effect from the production side was much smaller. Hence, the economic-wide rebound effect is primarily derived from the incremental water consumption by households, investors, and governments

Impact of different processing mulberry leaf on growth, metabolism and liver immune function of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Mulberry leaf is abundant in bioactive ingredients, and their release could be affected by different treatment technologies. In this study, the mulberry leaf was treated with methods of superfine grinding (MG), wall-broken (MB), and water extraction-methanol precipitation (ME). Three processing mulberry leaves were equally added to the feed of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), respectively, and the growth, liver health and intestinal microorganisms were analyzed. According to statistical analysis, the growth of the three experimental groups was remarkedly better than that of the control group fed with a basic diet. The MB group had a higher specific growth rate (SGR) and weight gain rate (WGR) than the MG and ME groups. Mulberry leaf supplementation could significantly reduced blood glucose and serum total cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels, improved hepatic glycogen, lipid and TG levels, and these parameter values of the MB group were superior to the other treatments. Additionally, MB treatment could up-regulate the expressions of gpx and cat in the liver compared with the control and boost the activities of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and CAT). Meanwhile, MB supplementation suppressed the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-8) and up-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β) in liver compared to the control group. Accordingly, the hepatic histostructure showed an improvement in the treatment group, and mulberry leaf could also dramatically lower the apoptosis of hepatic cells, particularly in the MB group. Furthermore, MB treatment reduced gut dysbiosis by limiting the development of gram-negative and possibly dangerous bacteria. In sum, this study firstly disclosed that the biological effectiveness of mulberry leaf might be impacted by various processing techniques. Especially MB-treatment effectively ameliorates glucose, lipid metabolism and liver immunology in largemouth bass