Modularity-Guided Graph Topology Optimization And Self-Boosting Clustering

Existing modularity-based community detection methods attempt to find community memberships which can lead to the maximum of modularity in a fixed graph topology. In this work, we propose to optimize the graph topology through the modularity maximization process. We introduce a modularity-guided graph optimization approach for learning sparse high modularity graph from algorithmically generated clustering results by iterative pruning edges between two distant clusters. To the best of our knowledge, this represents a first attempt for using modularity to guide graph topology learning. Extensive experiments conducted on various real-world data sets show that our method outperforms the state-of-the-art graph construction methods by a large margin. Our experiments show that with increasing modularity, the accuracy of graph-based clustering algorithm is simultaneously increased, demonstrating the validity of modularity theory through numerical experimental results of real-world data sets. From clustering perspective, our method can also be seen as a self-boosting clustering method

Evaluation of the competence of an artificial intelligence-assisted colonoscopy system in clinical practice: A post hoc analysis

BackgroundArtificial intelligence-assisted colonoscopy (AIAC) has been proposed and validated in recent years, but the effectiveness of clinic application remains unclear since it was only validated in some clinical trials rather than normal conditions. In addition, previous clinical trials were mostly concerned with colorectal polyp identification, while fewer studies are focusing on adenoma identification and polyps size measurement. In this study, we validated the effectiveness of AIAC in the clinical environment and further investigated its capacity for adenoma identification and polyps size measurement.MethodsThe information of 174 continued patients who went for coloscopy in Chongqing Rongchang District People’s hospital with detected colon polyps was retrospectively collected, and their coloscopy images were divided into three validation datasets, polyps dataset, polyps/adenomas dataset (all containing narrow band image, NBI images), and polyp size measurement dataset (images with biopsy forceps and polyps) to assess the competence of the artificial intelligence system, and compare its diagnostic ability with endoscopists with different experiences.ResultsA total of 174 patients were included, and the sensitivity of the colorectal polyp recognition model was 99.40%, the accuracy of the colorectal adenoma diagnostic model was 93.06%, which was higher than that of endoscopists, and the mean absolute error of the polyp size measurement model was 0.62 mm and the mean relative error was 10.89%, which was lower than that of endoscopists.ConclusionArtificial intelligence-assisted model demonstrated higher competence compared with endoscopists and stable diagnosis ability in clinical use

Potential metabolic mechanism of girls' central precocious puberty: a network analysis on urine metabonomics data

BACKGROUND: Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a common pediatric endocrine disease caused by early activation of hypothalamic-putuitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, yet the exact mechanism was poorly understood. Although there were some proofs that an altered metabolic profile was involved in CPP, interpreting the biological implications at a systematic level is still in pressing need. To gain a systematic understanding of the biological implications, this paper analyzed the CPP differential urine metabolites from a network point of view. RESULTS: In this study, differential urine metabolites between CPP girls and age-matched normal ones were identified by LC-MS. Their basic topological parameters were calculated in the background network. The network decomposition suggested that CPP differential urine metabolites were most relevant to amino acid metabolism. Further proximity analysis of CPP differential urine metabolites and neuro-endocrine metabolites showed a close relationship between CPP metabolism and neuro-endocrine system. Then the core metabolic network of CPP was successfully constructed among all these differential urine metabolites. As can be demonstrated in the core network, abnormal aromatic amino acid metabolism might influence the activity of HPG and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Several adjustments to the early activation of puberty in CPP girls could also be revealed by urine metabonomics. CONCLUSIONS: The present article demonstrated the ability of urine metabonomics to provide several potential metabolic clues for CPP's mechanism. It was revealed that abnormal metabolism of amino acid, especially aromatic amino acid, might have a close correlation with CPP's pathogenesis by activating HPG axis and suppressing HPA axis. Such a method of network-based analysis could also be applied to other metabonomics analysis to provide an overall perspective at a systematic level

Persistent lymphocytopenia in convalescent patients with COVID-19: dysregulated B cell, CD4+ T cell, and treg compartments in 7–12% of moderate-severe cases

BackgroundLong COVID manifests with heterogeneous clinical outcomes, potentially linked to immune dysfunction. However, the recovery of immune-cell subsets during convalescence remains incompletely understood.MethodsIn this longitudinal cohort, 279 unvaccinated patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (13 mild, 218 moderate, 48 severe) were enrolled. Peripheral lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry at admission and at 50 days post-symptom onset (DPSO 50).ResultsTotal T-cell counts normalized in 90–98% of patients in the moderate and severe groups by DPSO 50. Nevertheless, a subgroup exhibited persistent B-cell lymphopenia (<90 cells/µL) in 7.3% of moderate cases (median 77.1 cells/µL, IQR 51.9–83.8) and 12.5% of seltvere cases (median 54.5 cells/µL, IQR 28.4–79.3). Patients with B-cell deficiency also showed concurrent reductions in total T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD4+CD25+CD127low/FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). In moderate cases, CD4+ T cell and Treg counts correlated positively (r = 0.72, p < 0.001), independent of B-cell status, whereas this relationship was absent in severe cases, indicating severity-dependent immune dysregulation.ConclusionsApproximately 7–12% of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 survivors displayed persistent lymphopenia affecting B cells, CD4+ T cells, and Tregs at ~50 days post-symptom onset. These findings highlight distinct recovery trajectories and provide insights into Long COVID pathogenesis that may inform therapeutic strategies

Recent Advance of Nanomaterial-Mediated Tumor Therapies in the Past Five Years

Cancer has posed a major threat to human life and health with a rapidly increasing number of patients. The complexity and refractory of tumors have brought great challenges to tumor treatment. In recent years, nanomaterials and nanotechnology have attracted more attention and greatly improved the efficiency of tumor therapies and significantly prolonged the survival period, whether for traditional tumor treatment methods such as radiotherapy, or emerging methods, such as phototherapy and immunotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy and RNA interference therapeutics. Various monotherapies have obtained positive results, while combination therapies are further proposed to prevent incomplete eradication and recurrence of tumors, strengthen tumor killing efficacy with minimal side effects. In view of the complementary promotion effects between different therapies, it is vital to utilize nanomaterials as the link between monotherapies to achieve synergistic performance. Further development of nanomaterials with efficient tumor-killing effect and better biosafety is more in line with the needs of clinical treatment. In a word, the development of nanomaterials provides a promising way for tumor treatment, and here we will review the emerging nanomaterials towards radiotherapy, phototherapy and immunotherapy, and summarized the developed nanocarriers applied for the tumor combination therapies in the past 5 years, besides, the advances of some other novel therapies such as sonodynamic therapy, chemodynamic therapy, and RNA interference therapeutics have also been mentioned.</jats:p

Ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis surgical correction postoperative evaluation via SRS-22 domain investigation

Abstract Background The SRS-22 is used to evaluate clinical outcomes in ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) domains and satisfaction with management in patients who underwent surgical correction for ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis. The relationship between patient satisfaction and SRS-22 domain scores will feedback abundant information of therapeutic effect and significance for treatment guidance. Methods In this work, 106 patients with ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis at a single institution, who underwent posterior spinal fusion of five levels or more to the sacrum, completed SRS-22 evaluation preoperatively and followed up for a minimum of 2-year postoperation. Wilcoxon tests were performed to compare preoperative with 2-year postoperative scores. Spearman correlations were investigated to evaluate associations between the 2-year treatment satisfaction and therapeutic effect in SRS-22 domain scores. Results There were 12 females and 94 males with mean BMI of 16.4 kg/m2 and at the mean age of 46.3 years. All of the primary surgeries were treatments performed with mean follow-up of 26 months. A statistical improvement between paired pre- and 2-year postoperative SRS-22 domain scores and most radiographical parameters, commonly P ≤ 0.05, was designed and implemented. The majority of patients gave SRS-22 satisfaction score with 3.0 or more (88.5%) or 4.0 or more (68.8%), which are consistent with the moderate ceiling effect. Spearman coefficient correlations between the SRS-22 domain scores and patient satisfaction were all statistically significant, and they were from low to strong: [Mental (0.30), Activity (0.71), Pain (0.25), and Appearance (0.40)]. Furthermore, correlations for all radiographical and operative parameters were from low to strong. Conclusion SRS-22 Activity domain correlates strongest with patient satisfaction in ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis patients who have undergone surgical correction at 2-year follow-up

Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy of L5–S1 disc herniation: a comparison between intermittent endoscopy technique and full endoscopy technique

Abstract Background Percutaneous endoscopic laminar discectomy is a typical minimally invasive discectomy operation that is classified into the percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy and the percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy. Based on whether the surgeon chooses to deal with the ligamentum flavum under endoscope guidance, percutaneous endoscopic discectomy by the interlaminar approach can be performed with a full endoscope technique with the intermittent endoscope technique. To our knowledge, there is no study comparing these two techniques in regard to their surgical effects and advantages. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the cost, safety, and efficacy between the intermittent endoscopy technique and full endoscopy technique of endoscopic interlaminar lumbar discectomy at the L5–S1 level. Methods From September 2014 to March 2015, a total of 126 patients with radiculopathy due to L5–S1 disc herniation who were treated by a full endoscopy technique (65 patients) or intermittent endoscopy technique (61 patients) were included. Relevant data, such as duration time of the operation, hospitalization expenses, postoperative bed rest time, length of hospitalization, and complication rates, were recorded. Clinical outcomes were assessed by the visual analog scale score, modified MacNab criteria, and Oswestry disability index. Results In the full endoscope (FE) group, the mean duration time of surgery was 75.0 ± 11.9 min. The postoperative bed rest time was 6.5 ± 1.1 h, length of hospitalization was 3.8 ± 1.1 days, and complication rate was 7.69%. In the intermittent endoscopy (IE) group, the mean duration time of surgery was 43.0 ± 16.4 min. The postoperative bed rest time was 5.0 ± 1.1 h, length of hospitalization was 3.6 ± 1.2 days, and complication rate was 6.60%. The average hospitalization expenses of the FE group and IE group, respectively, were 32,069 ± 1086 RMB and 22,665 ± 899 RMB. There were significant differences in the surgical duration and hospitalization expenses (P  0.05). The postoperative Oswestry disability index and VAS were clearly improved in both groups compared with those of preoperation (P  0.05). Conclusions Both the full endoscopy technique and intermittent endoscopy technique achieved good outcomes, whereas the intermittent endoscopy technique is a more effective option for a shorter duration surgery and lower hospitalization expenses

NOD2/c-Jun NH ₂ -Terminal Kinase Triggers Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae-Induced Macrophage Autophagy

M. ovipneumoniae , which lacks a cell wall, causes infectious pleuropneumonia in goats and sheep. In the present study, we focused on the interaction between NOD and M. ovipneumoniae , as well as its association with autophagy. We showed for the first time that NOD2 was activated by M. ovipneumoniae even when peptidoglycans were not present. We also observed that both NOD2 and JNK pathway activation promoted M. ovipneumoniae -induced autophagy. </jats:p