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For pre-operative osteoarthritis (OA) patients with varus knee, previous studies showed inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted this study to better identify the association of Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score and mechanical alignment. 44 patients (51 knees) with constitutional varus knee caused by combined deformities (LDFA (lateral distal femoral angle) > 90°and MPTA (medial proximal tibial angle) p = 0.5370). For pre-operative constitutional varus knee caused by combined deformities in chinese populations, no significant association between post-operative lower limb mechanical alignment and HSS score was found.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the main causes of blindness in human eyes, and lesion segmentation is an important basic work for the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. Due to the small lesion areas scattered in fundus images, it is laborious to segment the lesion of diabetic retinopathy effectively with the existing U-Net model. In this paper, we proposed a new lesion segmentation model named FFU-Net (Feature Fusion U-Net) that enhances U-Net from the following points. Firstly, the pooling layer in the network is replaced with a convolutional layer to reduce spatial loss of the fundus image. Then, we integrate multiscale feature fusion (MSFF) block into the encoders which helps the network to learn multiscale features efficiently and enrich the information carried with skip connection and lower-resolution decoder by fusing contextual channel attention (CCA) models. Finally, in order to solve the problems of data imbalance and misclassification, we present a Balanced Focal Loss function. In the experiments on benchmark dataset IDRID, we make an ablation study to verify the effectiveness of each component and compare FFU-Net against several state-of-the-art models. In comparison with baseline U-Net, FFU-Net improves the segmentation performance by 11.97%, 10.68%, and 5.79% on metrics SEN, IOU, and DICE, respectively. The quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate the superiority of our FFU-Net in the task of lesion segmentation of diabetic retinopathy.

The knee joint, as the main lower limb motor joint, is the most vulnerable and susceptible joint. The knee injuries considerably impact the normal living ability and mental health of patients. Understanding the biomechanics of a normal and diseased knee joint is in urgent need for designing knee assistive devices and optimizing a rehabilitation exercise program. In this paper, we systematically searched electronic databases (from 2000 to November 2019) including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and IEEE/IET Electronic Library for potentially relevant articles. After duplicates were removed and inclusion criteria applied to the titles, abstracts, and full text, 138 articles remained for review. The selected articles were divided into two groups to be analyzed. Firstly, the real movement of a normal knee joint and the normal knee biomechanics of four kinds of daily motions in the sagittal and coronal planes, which include normal walking, running, stair climbing, and sit-to-stand, were discussed and analyzed. Secondly, an overview of the current knowledge on the movement biomechanical effects of common knee musculoskeletal disorders and knee neurological disorders were provided. Finally, a discussion of the existing problems in the current studies and some recommendation for future research were presented. In general, this review reveals that there is no clear assessment about the biomechanics of normal and diseased knee joints at the current state of the art. The biomechanics properties could be significantly affected by knee musculoskeletal or neurological disorders. Deeper understanding of the biomechanics of the normal and diseased knee joint will still be an urgent need in the future.

Photoperiodism is a vital environmental factor that regulates the growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction of aquatic organisms. Here, we examined how different photoperiods (0L: 24D, 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, 16L: 8D, 24L: 0D) with a full spectrum LED, influence growth, feeding, digestive enzymes, and antioxidant enzymes in juvenile European Sea Bass (Dicentrachus labrax L.). Specifically, a total of 300 fishes (body length: 13.5 ± 0.54 cm, bodyweight: 45 ± 5.3 g) were randomly divided into 5 different light treatment groups. Sampling and analysis were conducted after 60 days of the experiment. Results revealed significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate, and daily growth index in the 8L: 16D group, relative to 0L: 24D and 24L: 0D. Conversely, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, and 16L: 8D treatments than in 24L: 0D and 0L: 24D. Additionally, activities of intestinal amylase (AMS) lipase (LPS) pepsin (PPS) and trypsin (TPS) in the stomach were significantly higher in the 8L: 16D, relative to the other treatment groups. Gills of juveniles exposed to 0L: 24D recorded significantly higher catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, compared to those in the other groups. Regarding the dorsal muscle, a significantly higher CAT activity was recorded under 0L: 24D light than the other light photoperiods. Moreover, kidneys of juveniles exposed to 24L: 0D recorded the highest CAT and SOD activity. In summary, 8L: 16D, 12L: 12D, and 16L: 8D light photoperiods increased the digestive enzyme activity, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced growth in fish, despite long-term exposure to light or darkness being unsuitable. These findings indicate that light and dark combinations are more conducive for culturing sea bass, with the 8L: 16D regime being the optimal photoperiod for the growth of juveniles.

Aims Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is considered a highly fatal tumor. Importantly, angiogenesis is critical for tumor progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are untranslatable, control cell functions through different pathways. lncRNA EPIC1 has been reported to promote cell viability, cell cycle progression, and invasion. However, the relationship between EPIC1 and tumor angiogenesis remains an enigma. We explored the role of EPIC1 in tumor angiogenesis in NSCLC. Materials and methods First, EPIC1 expression was analyzed using the GEPIA database and was further verified using qPCR in tumor tissues from patients with NSCLC and NSCLC cell lines. Next, EPIC1 function was detected using loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays. Moreover, EdU staining, flow cytometry, and channel formation assays were performed to assess HUVEC proliferation and channel the formation in the NSCLC-HUVEC transwell co-culture system. Key findings EPIC1 expression was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, the overexpression of EPIC1 in NSCLC cells stimulated HUVEC channel formation and proliferation by activating Ang2/Tie2 signaling, and the opposite results were obtained when EPIC1 was silenced in NSCLC cells. The density of new blood vessels was simultaneously increased by EPIC1 overexpression in vivo, using CAM angiogenesis model and a nude mouse tumor model. Finally, all these experimental findings could be established in the samples from patients with NSCLC. We postulate that EPIC1 promotes tumor angiogenesis by activating the Ang2/Tie2 axis in NSCLC. Significance Elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of EPIC1 in tumor angiogenesis provides a novel perspective on NSCLC clinical therapy.

The analysis of cancer-associated genetic copy number variations (CNVs) has been employed for cancer diagnostics, treatment, and prognostic assessments. The use of liquid biopsies to identify mutated gene biomarkers is of clinical significance to cancer diagnostics, but the methodology of the procedure remains challenging. In this study, we establish ligation-mediated droplet digital PCR for the highly sensitive and precise quantification of CNVs which enables precise copy number assessments in various biosamples at the single-molecule level. In virtue of its excellent performances, circulating-free target DNA in cell or plasma samples can be assessed, permitting a more detailed analysis of cancer-related genetic alterations. The proposed assay provides a useful tool to reveal how CNVs influence the occurrence of cancer in liquid biopsy samples, which is of clinical significance to cancer diagnostics and treatment.

In this study, the impacts of various illumination intensities on growth, digestion and metabolism as well as antioxidant enzyme dynamics of Takifugu rubripes (0.03 ± 0.01 g) were investigated. Activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), pepsin (PPS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were measured. Juveniles were reared under four degrees of illumination intensities: 50 mW/m2, 250 mW/m2, 500 mW/m2 and 750 mW/m2, at a constant photoperiod (12D:12 L). Samples were collected at days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. After 35 days, the 750 mW/m2 light intensity was found to have significantly increased the final body weight, which was 1.1 ± 0.005 g. On day 35, PPS activities of T. rubripes juveniles in the 750 mW/m2 sample group were significantly low when compared to those of the 250 mW/m2 group while AKP activities in the 750 mW/m2 group were significantly higher than those of the 50 and 500 mW/m2 groups (p 0.05). Even though they were relatively lower, there were no significant differences in SOD activities in the 250 mW/m2 group relative to the 500 and 750 mW/m2 groups. On day 35, high light intensity (750 mW/m2) resulted in stress responses that were characterized by T-AOC activities, and activity values were significantly lower than those of other groups (p

Photoperiod is one of the important environmental factors, which have important effects on the early growth and development, survival, metabolism and immune system of larvae. In the present study, Takifugu rubripes larvae were exposed to four different LED photoperiods: 8 L:16 D, 16 L:8 D, 20 L:4 D and 24 L:0 D from −1 to 30 days post hatching (DPH). We measured growth, activity of pepsin (PPS), lipase (LPS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and non-specific immune enzyme activity of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and acid phosphate (ACP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxide (GSH-PX), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 DPH. The results showed that there was no difference in the effects of photoperiod on the growth within 18 DHP, while 20 L:4 D had a positive effect on the growth of the larvae after 19 DPH. The effect of photoperiod on digestive enzymes did not show obvious regularity. Compared with photoperiod, the changes of some digestive and metabolic enzymes were mainly affected by exogenous food (LPS, ALT, AST changed obviously after feeding Artemia). On the 30 DPH, the AKP of 8 L: 16 D and 24 L: 0 D groups was significantly higher than that of the other two groups, which indicated that 8 L: 16 D and 24 L: 0 D lighting might cause stress to fish body and lead to the increase of AKP. GSH-PX in newly hatched fish at 24 L:0 D was significantly higher than that in other groups. Photoperiod had no significant effect on the enzyme activity of PPS, LDH, ACP, CAT and no obvious pattern was found. Overall, our results suggested that 20 L:4 D promoted larval growth after 19 DPH and shorter photoperiods can be used to save electricity before 18 DPH of Takifugu rubripes larva.

Rationale The JAK2 V617F mutation is frequently found in ET, while it is rare in de novo AML. ET has a low frequency of leukemic transformation. Both secondary AML (sAML) from ET and AML with JAK2 V617F mutation have poor prognoses. Because of the low incidence of JAK2 mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the clinical features of AML with JAK2 mutation are rarely reported so far, either transformed from essential thrombocythemia (ET) or de novo AML. Patient concerns In this article, we present a pediatric AML patient with the JAK2 V617F mutation. Diagnoses A diagnosis of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia was made and sAML was ruled out. Interventions The patient underwent chemotherapy. Outcomes In the first two complete remission periods, we found significantly increased numbers of platelets and bone marrow megakaryocytes, which are characteristic of ET. After the third chemotherapy phase, the disease relapsed; the platelet count was reduced and continued to decrease. When disease relapsed, her family abandoned treatment. Lessons These observations of our case raise two possibilities: either transient posttreatment thrombocythemia is a feature of AML with JAK2 V617F mutation, or this was a case of secondary AML. Additional information is required to reach better conclusions on the connection between AML and JAK2 mutations.

Screening of strains for improvement in the yields of the desired steroid as well as production of novel steroid is highly demanded. In this study, a filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae capable of transforming steroid efficiently was screened from the collection of fresh bark of south China. A novel transformation product was purified, crystallized, and determined as [13, 17β-]furan-17-hydroxyl-4-gonene-3one by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. At the end of the transformation, the yields of the product reached to 95 %, which indicated A. oryzae can be efficiently applied in the field of steroid biotransformation with the novel biocatalytic ability.