A Novel Application of Image-to-Image Translation: Chromosome Straightening Framework by Learning from a Single Image

In medical imaging, chromosome straightening plays a significant role in the pathological study of chromosomes and in the development of cytogenetic maps. Whereas different approaches exist for the straightening task, typically geometric algorithms are used whose outputs are characterized by jagged edges or fragments with discontinued banding patterns. To address the flaws in the geometric algorithms, we propose a novel framework based on image-to-image translation to learn a pertinent mapping dependence for synthesizing straightened chromosomes with uninterrupted banding patterns and preserved details. In addition, to avoid the pitfall of deficient input chromosomes, we construct an augmented dataset using only one single curved chromosome image for training models. Based on this framework, we apply two popular image-to-image translation architectures, U-shape networks and conditional generative adversarial networks, to assess its efficacy. Experiments on a dataset comprised of 642 real-world chromosomes demonstrate the superiority of our framework, as compared to the geometric method in straightening performance, by rendering realistic and continued chromosome details. Furthermore, our straightened results improve the chromosome classification by 0.98%-1.39% mean accuracy.Comment: This work has been accepted by CISP-BMEI202

Mortality risk factors related to listeriosis — A meta-analysis

Background: Relatively few studies have focused on mortality risk factors for listeriosis in the literature. Information on the mortality of populations with listeriosis is needed. We aimed to explore the mortality risk factors related to listeriosis in this meta-analysis. Methods: The studies were considered eligible for inclusion only if they directly compared the mortality risk factors for listeriosis between dead patients and surviving patients. The mortality risk factors included clinical predisposing factors and predisposing comorbidities. Results: Thirteen studies were included in this study. There were 12,265 listeriosis patients, including 2863 (23.3%) dead patients. The meta-analysis provided evidence that the mortality risk factors related to listeriosis were as follows: 1. Clinical predisposing factors included age ≥ 60 years, primary bacteremia and central nervous system involvement; 2. Predisposing comorbidities included non-hematological malignancies, alcoholism, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease. In addition, autoimmune disease comorbidity had a protective effect against listeriosis. Conclusion: The presence of older patients, primary bacteremia, central nervous system involvement, non-hematological malignancies, alcoholism, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease should alert physicians to the higher risk of mortality

The efficacy of -acetylcysteine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a meta-analysis

Background: N -acetylcysteine (NAC) may reduce acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through an antioxidant effect. Due to the heterogeneity in studies, the currently available data do not confirm the efficacy of oral NAC therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. We hypothesize that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients receiving regular oral NAC therapy do not achieve improved clinical outcomes. Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of long-term oral NAC therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Data sources and methods: The literature search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify all included clinical studies. Studies were eligible for inclusion only if they directly compared the outcomes of NAC versus placebo in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease between 1 January 2000 and 30 May 2022. All studies were included if they reported one or more of the following outcomes: number of patients with no acute exacerbations, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score, glutathione level, and adverse events. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. There were 1061 patients in the NAC group and 1076 patients in the placebo group. The current meta-analysis provides evidence that the number of patients with no acute exacerbations (965 patients receiving NAC therapy, 979 control group patients), change in FEV1 (433 patients receiving NAC therapy, 447 control group patients), change in FVC (177 patients receiving NAC therapy, 180 control group patients), change in St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire score (128 patients receiving NAC therapy, 131 control group patients), change in glutathione levels (38 patients receiving NAC therapy, 40 control group patients), and adverse events (832 patients receiving NAC therapy, 846 control group patients) were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: NAC did not reduce the risk of acute exacerbation or ameliorate the decline in lung volume in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Addition and Subtraction but Not Multiplication and Division Cause Shifts of Spatial Attention

Many studies have shown that solving addition and subtraction problems can induce overt shifts of spatial attention. In particular, right-side targets are detected faster than left-side targets when preceded by an addition operation, while left-side targets are detected faster than right-side targets when preceded by a subtraction operation. However, the interaction between space and arithmetic in multiplication or division is hardly studied and remains controversial. In order to make a strong case for the interaction between space and mental arithmetic, we attempted to replicate the spatial-arithmetic association in addition and subtraction (Experiment 1), and at the same time investigated whether shift of spatial attention would also be induced by multiplication or division operations (Experiment 2). We found that solving addition problems facilitated the detection of right-side targets, whereas left-side targets were detected faster after solving subtraction problems. However, no interaction between space and arithmetic operation was observed in multiplication or division. The implication of these findings is discussed

Identification and Characterization of Genes Related to Ampicillin Antibiotic Resistance in Zymomonas mobilis

Antibiotics can inhibit or kill microorganisms, while microorganisms have evolved antibiotic resistance strategies to survive antibiotics. Zymomonas mobilis is an ideal industrial microbial chassis and can tolerate multiple antibiotics. However, the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and genes associated with antibiotic resistance have not been fully analyzed and characterized. In this study, we investigated genes associated with antibiotic resistance using bioinformatic approaches and examined genes associated with ampicillin resistance using CRISPR/Cas12a−based genome−editing technology. Six ampicillin−resistant genes (ZMO0103, ZMO0893, ZMO1094, ZMO1650, ZMO1866, and ZMO1967) were identified, and five mutant strains ZM4∆0103, ZM4∆0893, ZM4∆1094, ZM4∆1650, and ZM4∆1866 were constructed. Additionally, a four−gene mutant ZM4∆ARs was constructed by knocking out ZMO0103, ZMO0893, ZMO1094, and ZMO1650 continuously. Cell growth, morphology, and transformation efficiency of mutant strains were examined. Our results show that the cell growth of ZM4∆0103 and ZM4∆ARs was significantly inhibited with 150 μg/mL ampicillin, and cells changed to a long filament shape from a short rod shape. Moreover, the transformation efficiencies of ZM4∆0103 and ZM4∆ARs were decreased. Our results indicate that ZMO0103 is the key to ampicillin resistance in Z. mobilis, and other ampicillin−resistant genes may have a synergetic effect with it. In summary, this study identified and characterized genes related to ampicillin resistance in Z. mobilis and laid a foundation for further study of other antibiotic resistance mechanisms

Development and validation of the CAIL prognostic score in non‐small cell lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion

Abstract Background Patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) typically have poor prognoses, and predicting survival is challenging. The present study aimed to identify prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with MPE in the time of immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Methods Data of 344 consecutive NSCLC patients with MPE on clinical, radiological, and molecular characteristics and treatment options were collected. The risk factors in the training cohort were assessed using univariate and multivariate proportional hazards analyses. A clinical prognostic score was established and validated. Results According to the results of the multivariable survival analysis, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score (PS), antiangiogenic therapy, immunotherapy, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in pleural fluid (CAIL) prognostic score was developed (n = 275) and subsequently validated (n = 69). Patients who underwent risk stratification into low‐, moderate‐, and high‐risk groups had median OS of 46.1, 23.1, and 9.6 months, respectively (P < 0.0001). The area under the curve (AUC) analysis showed the CAIL score to be superior at predicting survival compared with the LENT score at 6 (0.84 vs. 0.77, P < 0.01), 12 (0.87 vs. 0.82, P < 0.01), and 36 months (0.80 vs. 0.77, P < 0.01). Conclusions For NSCLC patients with MPE, the validated CAIL prognostic score integrates clinical characteristics and therapeutic modalities to predict survival

High PD-L1 Expression Correlates with an Immunosuppressive Tumour Immune Microenvironment and Worse Prognosis in <em>ALK</em>-Rearranged Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

High tumour programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) after tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the characteristics of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and their prognostic values in ALK-rearranged NSCLC are unknown. Here, we collected tumour tissues from pretreated ALK-rearranged NSCLC patients, immunohistochemical staining was used to assess PD-L1 expression, and tumour-infiltrating immune cells were determined via multiplex immunofluorescence staining (mIF). Our data showed that the median values of PFS for the high PD-L1 group and low PD-L1 group who received ALK-TKI treatment were 4.4 and 16.4 months, respectively (p = 0.008). The median overall survival (OS) of the two groups was 24.0 months and not reached, respectively (p = 0.021). Via univariate and multivariate analyses, a high PD-L1 expression and a worse ECOG PS were determined to be independent prognostic factors of OS (HR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.23–9.11, p = 0.018; HR = 6.42, 95% CI: 1.45–28.44, p = 0.014, respectively). In addition, the high PD-L1 group had increased Tregs and exhausted CD8+ T cells in both the tumour and stroma (all p ALK-rearranged NSCLC. The characteristics of the TME in patients with high PD-L1 expression were shown to have an immunosuppressive status

Lignin Pyrolysis and in Situ Hydrodeoxygenation over MoO₃: Interaction between MoO₃ and Lignin

Lignin pyrolyses and in situ hydrodeoxygenation over MoO₃ with varying lignin/MoO₃ mass ratios (L/M) at different temperatures were studied in a free-falling reactor. The presence of MoO₃ not only facilitated the depolymerization of lignin to liquid and gas products but also catalyzed the in situ hydrodeoxygenation of the resulting liquid product to phenol, both of which were further intensified with the increases of temperature and the MoO₃ amount. Negative apparent solid yield and over 100% apparent gas yield were obtained in some cases because of the reaction of MoO₃ during lignin pyrolysis. To clarify this phenomenon, detailed TG/MS, XRD, and XPS investigations on spent MoO₃ were carried out. The results indicate that Mo⁶⁺ was partly reduced to Mo⁴⁺ and Mo⁵⁺ during the lignin pyrolysis, mainly caused by the reaction with carbon from lignin rather than hydrogen from carrier gas

Interactions between Volatiles and Char during Pyrolysis of Biomass: Reactive Species Determining and Reaction over Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

This paper investigated the interactions between volatiles and char during pyrolysis of biomass with an emphasis on those between the reactive compounds in volatiles and the oxygen-containing functional groups in char. On the basis of a comparative study on the products from biomass pyrolysis with and without heavy oil (HO) recycling, which represented a maximization and minimization of the volatile–char interactions, respectively, levoglucosan (LG) was selected as the typical reactive compound in the volatiles. The interactions between LG and functionalized graphitized multiwalled carbon nanotubes with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups (HGMCN and CGMCN, respectively) as char models were surveyed at 300, 350, 400, and 450 °C. The results show that temperature plays an important role in the interactions between LG and GMCNs. HGMCN interacted with LG only at 400 °C, while the LG–CGMCN interactions started at 400 °C and intensified at 450 °C with a significant increase in gas yield. The GC–MS analyses indicated that the liquid products from the LG–GMCNs interactions were predominant in furfural and 5-methyl-2-furan­carbox­aldehyde