Search

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the T2W hypointense ring and T2-FLAIR mismatch signs in gliomas and use these signs to construct prediction models for glioma grading and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status. Methods Two independent radiologists retrospectively evaluated 207 glioma patients to assess the presence of T2W hypointense ring and T2-FLAIR mismatch signs. The inter-rater reliability was calculated using the Cohen’s kappa statistic. Two logistic regression models were constructed to differentiate glioma grade and predict IDH genotype noninvasively, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the developed models. Results Of the 207 patients enrolled (119 males and 88 females, mean age 51.6 ± 14.8 years), 45 cases were low-grade gliomas (LGGs), 162 were high-grade gliomas (HGGs), 55 patients had IDH mutations, and 116 were IDH wild-type. The number of T2W hypointense ring signs was higher in HGGs compared to LGGs (p

Based on the conventional observation data, FY-4A TBB data, and ERA5 reanalysis data, a sustained extreme rainstorm event occurred in the western Sichuan Basin from August 14 to 18, 2020 was analyzed from the aspects of circulation background, mesoscale characteristics, water vapor and dynamic conditions, energy and instability conditions, etc. The results are as follows. The rainstorm was caused by the stable and limited movement of the western Pacific subtropical high, which blocked the eastward movement of the plateau low-trough and kept it stable in the western basin. At the same time, the shear line and jet stream were maintained in the middle and lower levels, and the surface cold air moving southward provides a favorable circulation background for the continuous extreme rainstorm. The formation, merging, and strengthening of mesoscale convective cloud clusters were affected by the topographic barrier, peripheral airflow of subtropical high, the shear line, and mesoscale low vortex. The strong center of the convective cloud cluster was maintained in the western part of the basin, which was the direct influence system of the rainstorm event. The rainstorm water vapor originated from the Bay of Bengal and the western Pacific Ocean. Under the influence of the topographic convergence uplift, a strong water vapor convergence center was formed in the western part of the basin. The each water vapor physical quantity in the rainstorm event presents extreme characteristics, providing sufficient water vapor conditions for the generation of continuous extreme rainstorm. Convergence and positive vorticity were developed throughout the rainstorm over the rainstorm area, which favored the enhancement of vertical upward movement. The rainstorm area was located in the frontal area of dense pseudo-equivalent potential temperature, and the dynamic forcing of the frontal area was beneficial to the upward transport of energy and water vapor, which made the rainstorm area maintain a high-energy and high-humidity environment continuously. The generalized wet potential vorticity anomalies were also found over the rainstorm area. The instability of the rainstorm area potential was mainly caused by its divergence component, which represented the coupling effect of horizontal divergence and potential stability. The positive divergence of potential was determined by the divergence component and the vertical wind shear component. The 850 hPa area with a high potential divergence value corresponded well with the heavy precipitation area.

Objective: A biological system's internal morphological structure or function can be changed as a result of the mechanical effect of focused ultrasound. Pulsed low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) has mechanical effects that might induce follicle development with less damage to ovarian tissue. The potential development of LIFU as a non-invasive method for the treatment of female infertility is being considered, and this study sought to explore and confirm that LIFU can activate ovarian follicles. Results: We found a 50% increase in ovarian weight and in the number of mature follicles on the ultrasound-stimulated side with pulsed LIFU and intraperitoneal injection of 10 IU PMSG in 10-day-old rats. After ultrasound stimulation, the PCOS-like rats had a decrease in androgen levels, restoration of regular estrous cycle and increase in the number of mature follicles and corpora lutea, and the ratio of M1 and M2 type macrophages was altered in antral follicles of PCOS-like rats, consequently promoting further development and maturation of antral follicles. Conclusion: LIFU treatment could trigger actin changes in ovarian cells, which might disrupt the Hippo signal pathway to promote follicle formation, and the mechanical impact on the ovaries of PCOS-like rats improved antral follicle development.

Objective To analyze the pregnancy outcomes and influencing factors of fresh embryo transfer cycle in patients with primary and secondary infertility. Methods Clinical data of infertility patients who underwent fresh embryo transfer cycle were collected. All patients were divided into the primary and secondary infertility groups according to the type of infertility. Clinical data，infertility factors and pregnancy outcomes were statistically compared between two groups. The influencing factors of different pregnancy outcomes were identified by logistic regression analysis. Results The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in the primary infertility group were higher than those in the secondary infertility group （both P < 0.05）. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of spontaneous abortion. Maternal age，duration of infertility，number of oocytes retrieved，number of high-quality embryos and endometrial thickness were correlated with clinical pregnancy （all P < 0.05）. For clinical pregnancy outcomes，without adjusting for any clinical characteristics，the odds ratio （OR） for clinical pregnancy between primary and secondary infertility was 1.34 （1.14-1.59， P < 0.001）. After adjusting for male and female factors as well as embryo factors，the OR for clinical pregnancy between primary and secondary infertility was 1.25 （1.02-1.53， P = 0.032）. For live birth outcomes，without adjusting for any factors，the OR for live birth between primary and secondary infertility was 1.48 （1.08-2.13， P = 0.014）. After adjusting for male and female factors as well as embryo factors，the OR for live birth between primary and secondary infertility was 1.27 （0.86-1.88， P = 0.237）. Conclusion In the fresh embryo transfer cycle，higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates can be obtained in primary infertility patients compared with their counterparts with secondary infertility.

Objective: The objective of this study was to pinpoint pathogenic genes and assess the mutagenic pathogenicity in two pediatric patients with hereditary spherocytosis.Methods: We utilized whole-exome sequencing (WES) for individual analysis (case 1) and family-based trio analysis (case 2). The significance of the intronic mutation was validated through a Minigene splicing assay and supported by subsequent in vitro experiments.Results: Both probands received a diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis. WES identified a novel ANK1 c.1504-9G>A mutation in both patients, causing the retention of seven nucleotides at the 5′ end of intron 13, as substantiated by the Minigene assay. This variant results in a premature stop codon and the production of a truncated protein. In vitro studies indicated a reduced expression of the ANK1 gene.Conclusion: The novel ANK1 c.1504-9G>A variant is established as the causative factor for hereditary spherocytosis, with the c.1504-9G site functioning as a splicing receptor.

AbstractBackground This study was designed to investigate the association between nutrients and female infertility.Methods A cross-sectional study on 18–45 years of age reproductive-age women was conducted using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for the periods 2013–2014 and 2015–2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between nutrients and female infertility. Subgroup analysis was applied to the body mass index (BMI). Results were summarised using an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).Results Of the total 1713 women, 204 women (11.91%) were infertile. The result demonstrated that higher intake of carbohydrate (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24–0.86, p = 0.018), vitamin A (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24–0.80, p = 0.009), vitamin C (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26–0.88, p = 0.020), magnesium (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17–0.76, p = 0.009), iron (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.23–0.82, p = 0.012), lycopene (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33–0.91, p = 0.022), and total folate (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.20–0.70, p = 0.003) were associated with a lower risk of female infertility. The subgroup analysis also reported that intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, and lycopene were related to a lower risk of female infertility among women with a BMI being 18.5–24.9 kg/m2. Among women with BMI > 24.9 kg/m2, high intakes of magnesium, iron and total folate were associated with a decreased risk of female infertility.Conclusions The intake of several nutrients is associated with a decreased risk of female infertility. These findings provide insight into potentially modifiable lifestyle factors associated with female infertility.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of varicella in Minhang District， Shanghai from 2013 to 2022， and to evaluate the impact of adjusting the varicella vaccination program to a two-dose regimen and its inclusion in the Shanghai immunization program on the incidence of varicella.MethodsData on reported varicella cases from 2013 to 2022 in Minhang District were collected. Interrupted time series analysis and segmented regression models were used to analyze the changes in varicella incidence before and after the adjustment of varicella immunization strategies.ResultsFrom 2013 to 2022， the average annual incidence of varicella was 76.58/100 000， with the highest incidence in 2017 （119.21/100 000） and the lowest in 2022 （27.02/100 000）. The varicella incidence exhibited seasonal patterns with peaks occurring from March to June and October to January of the following year. Prior to the adjustment of varicella immunization strategies （2013‒2017）， the varicella incidence showed an upward trend （z=2.20， P=0.03）， while after the adjustment （2018‒2022）， a adownward trend was observed （2018‒2022） （z=-2.25， P=0.02）. Interrupted time series analysis showed that following the adjustment of varicella immunization strategies， an immediate change of -33.91/100 000 （t=-4.35， P

There are many terminals in the central air-conditioning system of which load demands vary frequently. Although conventional proportional integral derivative control or fixed parameter control can meet the load demand, there is a problem of energy waste caused by excess cooling. This paper proposes a central air-conditioning system energy-saving control method based on an improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA) for the air-water system in the central air-conditioning system. The ISSA applies t-distribution to strengthening the search ability and enables the individual to learn from the best group based on the roulette wheel selection, which enhances the ability of the algorithm to jump out of the local optimum and improves the accuracy and stability of control parameters effectively. For the 12 test functions, most of the optimization accuracy and stability have been improved by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Compared with the original control strategy, the ISSA has shown a good energy-saving potential for energy optimization of air conditioning subsystems, reducing energy consumption by 25.13%. The feasibility of the ISSA in actual engineering problems has also been verified.

Abstract Background and purpose Ki-67 labeling index (LI) is an important indicator of tumor cell proliferation in glioma, which can only be obtained by postoperative biopsy at present. This study aimed to explore the correlation between Ki-67 LI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) parameters and to predict the level of Ki-67 LI noninvasively before surgery by multiple MRI characteristics. Methods Preoperative MRI data of 166 patients with pathologically confirmed glioma in our hospital from 2016 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The cut-off point of Ki-67 LI for glioma grading was defined. The differences in MRI characteristics were compared between the low and high Ki-67 LI groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to estimate the accuracy of each ADC parameter in predicting the Ki-67 level, and finally a multivariate logistic regression model was constructed based on the results of ROC analysis. Results ADCmin, ADCmean, rADCmin, rADCmean and Ki-67 LI showed a negative correlation (r = − 0.478, r = − 0.369, r = − 0.488, r = − 0.388, all P

Electric vehicles are powered by battery packs, which are usually composed of hundreds of units in series or in parallel. For power battery pack performance evaluation, many literatures have been published, including online performance assessment, life prediction and offline performance evaluation. Nevertheless, performance evaluation strategies that include both online and offline have not attracted sufficient attention. In this paper, we propose a performance evaluation method based on MCPE-DEKF, which can solve the problem of consistency analysis and sort of battery cells offline, as well as, implementing battery pack state estimation online. MCPE-DEKF is designed to enhanced the accuracy and adaptability for power battery pack SOC estimation. The pack SOC online estimation value from cells means model and the standard deviation of SOC estimation are combined with MCPE to determine their aggregation weights. An offline evaluation framework for cells grading and sorting problem is solved by MCPE methods. As the results show that, the RMSE of the online estimation for the battery pack is less than 2% and 7 mV for the SOC and the terminal voltage, respectively. The RMSE of the cell estimation is less than 0.3% and 6 mV, respectively. In terms of offline evaluation approaches for cells, we propose an approach with a fusion method to improve the reliability of sorting by integrating method 1 and method 4 (the second-best sorting method).