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In this paper, we address a blind frame synchronization problem where the receiver acts as an eavesdropper in the wiretap channel. A challenging condition is considered, where the receiver has completely no prior information except that an unknown synchronization word (SW) is repeated in a nonperiodic fashion. Although an autocorrelation method was proposed for the fixed frame length scenario, the scheme is not applicable to the variable-length scenario. To solve the problem, we propose a deep learning-aided blind SW estimation method where recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are used as a symbol predictor that predicts a symbol from an observation of preceding symbols. The prediction confidence of the RNN-based predictor is used for the localization of the SW symbols in the received signal. Two RNNs fed with the received signal forward and backward are used for accurate SW localization. It has been verified by simulation that the proposed schemes estimate the SW well when the amount of the received signal is sufficiently large. It is straightforward to get synchronization to the received signal with the correctly estimated SW.

Aripiprazole (ARP) is an atypical anti-psychotic drug widely used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The pharmacological effects of ARP on cancer cells are still poorly understood. In this study, anti-cancer effects of ARP on various malignant tumor cells and its molecular mechanism were further carefully examined by using cell proliferation assay, xenograft mouse model, immunoblotting analysis, migration assay, luciferase reporter gene assay, kinase assay, and overexpression strategy. Treatment with ARP induced cytotoxicity in U251 glioma cells, MKN-1 gastric adenosquamous carcinoma cells, and CT26 colon carcinoma cells. ARP suppressed cell proliferation of LN428, MDA-MB-231, and HEK293 cells. Pro-apoptotic factors active caspase-3, -8, and -9, as well as p53, were upregulated, whereas the protein and mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic factor B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) decreased. In agreement with the in vitro results, ARP compound also significantly suppressed the growth of tumor masses formed by injecting CT26 colon cancer cells into mice. ARP treatment also effectively decreased the migratory ability of U251 glioma cells by downregulating metalloproteinase-9. Levels of phosphorylated Src, phosphorylated phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were significantly decreased following ARP treatment. ARP compound reduced the kinase activity of Src. Our studies suggest that Src may be an important target molecule linked to the antitumor effects of ARP.

In this paper, the problem of detecting a frame syncword (SW), which is repeated in received signal stream, is addressed. We propose a preprocessing technique for deep neural networks used for estimating the SW. As SW has a specific sequence, consecutive received signals are mapped to a symbol using a linear filter in order to make the neural network train their sequence. The performance of SW detection of multilayer perceptron (MLP) and convolutional neural network (CNN) depending on the frame length and the data preprocessing are evaluated. Simulation results show that CNN has better performance than MLP and data processing improves the performance of CNN.

In recent years, natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in the treatment of colorectal cancer has attracted widespread attention. The potential benefits of NOSES including reduction in postoperative pain and wound complications, less use of postoperative analgesic, faster recovery of bowel function, shorter length of hospital stay, better cosmetic and psychological effect have been described in colorectal surgery. Despite significant decrease in surgical trauma of NOSES have been observed, the potential pitfalls of this technique have been demonstrated. Particularly, several issues including bacteriological concerns, oncological outcomes and patient selection are raised with this new technique. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to reach a consensus as an industry guideline to standardize the implementation of NOSES in colorectal surgery. After three rounds of discussion by all members of the International Alliance of NOSES, the consensus is finally completed, which is also of great significance to the long-term progress of NOSES worldwide. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

It is important for lymph node dissection around the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) with preservation of the left colic artery (LCA) to be aware of the track and the length of the LCA. We aimed to investigate the branching pattern and trajectory of LCA and measure the distances from the root of the IMA to the origin of the LCA (D mm) and from the origin of LCA to intersection of LCA and IMV (d mm) during laparoscopic left-sided colorectal operations.We analyzed 106 patients who underwent laparoscope-assisted left-side colorectal surgery during laparoscopic surgery. The branching patterns among the IMA, LCA, and sigmoidal trunk were evaluated; the trajectory of LCA was examined; the D mm and d mm were measured using a length of silk in the surgical operation.In 59.5% patients, the LCA arose independently from the sigmoidal trunk (type A); in 8.5% patients, the LCA and sigmoidal trunk arose from the IMA at the same point (type B); in 29.2% patients, the LCA and sigmoidal trunk had a common trunk (type C); the LCA did not exist in 2.8% (type D).The D mm and d mm for all cases ranged from 15.0 to 65.3 mm (median, 43.1 mm) and from 20.3 to 46.2 mm (median, 34.8 mm), respectively. 74.8% of the LCA went straight upper left and upward to proximal part of descending colon (type I), 25.2% went to the lower left at first, then turned to travel straight upward to proximal part of descending colon (type II).This study showed the anatomic variations of LCA during laparoscopic left-sided colorectal operation, which would help surgeons safely perform laparoscopic surgery in the left-side colon and rectum.

BACKGROUND In patients suffering from acute pancreatitis, the pathogenesis is not completely understood, and several recent studies in vitro suggested that heat shock proteins might play an important role in cell signaling. To investigate the possible role of extracellular heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in pancreatitis, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4)-deficient and wild-type mice were administered with exogenous Hsp70 during the course of cerulein-induced pancreatitis (CIP). METHODS Acute pancreatitis was induced by 5 intraperitoneal injections of cerulein at hourly intervals, and then treated with recombinant Hsp70 through the caudal vein 4 hours after the start of cerulein injections. Subsequently serum amylase and serum cytokines levels were detected. Histologic alteration of the pancreas was evaluated. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in both pancreas and lungs were analyzed. The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in pancreatic tissue was measured using a sensitive RelA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Treatment with recombinant Hsp70 to wild-type mice in CIP resulted in significant aggravation of inflammation in pancreas, elevated levels of serum cytokines, up-regulation of pulmonary MPO activity and increase of lung tissues TNF-alpha concentrations. In contrast, treatment with Hsp70 to TLR4-deficient mice had little effect on serum cytokines levels, pancreatic inflammation, pulmonary MPO activity and TNF-alpha concentrations. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that extracellular Hsp70 might induce systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)-like response in vivo and TLR4 might be involved in the Hsp70-mediated activation of inflammatory reaction in the progression of CIP without infection.

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have achieved therapeutic benefit in treatment of solid tumors in clinic. However, some patients show no response after CIK treatment. Animal assays have shown that successful infiltration of CIK cells to the tumor sites could affect the outcome. Chemokines play important roles in lymphocyte trafficking. Understanding the molecular mechanism of chemokines in the process of CIK cell homing is important for further modification of CIK therapy. In this study, we investigated the spectrum of chemokine ligands in the colorectal cancer sites and observed that chemokine ligands CCL20 and CXCL10 were overexpressed in the CRC tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Although the corresponding receptors CCR6 and CXCR3 increased on CIK cells compared with PBMCs, their expression on CIK cells derived from CRC patients had lower levels than healthy donors, which might be a limited factor for autologous-CIK cells trafficking to tumor site. Importantly, stimulation with chemokines CCL20 and CXCL10 promotes the expression levels of CCR6 and CXCR3 on CIK cells, thus augmenting the relative migration of CIK cells in vitro. Our results suggest that modification of surface chemokine receptors may enhance the homing ability of CIK cells for better therapeutic achievements.

Amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1) has been shown to promote growth and invasion in several types of human cancers and to have a prognostic role in some of cancers. However, its prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study aimed to address the issue. Immunohistochemical staining of AIB1 was performed for HCC and paired paratumorous liver (PTL) tissues from 139 patients. Associations between AIB1 expression with clinicopathological variables and patient survival were evaluated. The expression rate of AIB1 was significantly higher in HCC (71/139, 51.1%) than in PTL tissues (1/139, 0.72%, P

To explore the relationship between the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and slow transit constipation(STC).The expression of AQP4 in the ascending colon mucosa of 45 patients with STC was detected by immunohistochemistry. The transit time of stool was measured with barium sulfate suspensions. Stool was classified using Bristol stool chart. The difference between the pre- and post-operation groups was analyzed.Of 45 STC patients, 36 had high AQP4 expression (high expression group) and 9 had low AQP4 expression(low expression group). Preoperatively 30(83.3%) patients in the high expression group and 3(3/9) patients in the low expression group presented dry and hard stool (type I( or II()(P0.01). Postoperatively, stool pattern was improved in all the patients of high expression group. One patient in low expression group still presented dry and hard stool(P0.01). Preoperatively the transit time was(127.3+/-28.2) h in high expression group and (64.2+/-12.9) h in low expression group(P0.01). Postoperatively, the transit time was (17.3+/-7.0) h in high expression group and (28.0+/-12.6) h in low expression groups(P0.01).High expression of AQP4 accelerates the water absorption in colon mucosa and may be one of the crucial events in the development of STC.

The conventional methods of pavement performance assessment indices were established by statistical analyses based on single item and multiple linear regression techniques. These regression models have many deficiencies and are not able to truly reflect the inherent complex nonlinear relationships among the performance indices. However, the Back-Propagation (BP) neural network method with ca comprehensive nonlinear dynamic system is able to address some of these weaknesses. In this paper, the International Roughness Index (IRI), Damage Rate (DR), Structure Strength Index (SSI), Sideway Force Coefficient (SFC), and Rutting Depth (RD) were selected as the five index variables. These variables are considered as some of the most significant factors that affect pavement performance. Additionally, these indices were easily classified as non-dimensional quantities and became input data units in the application of the BP neural network. In the study, Pavement Management Index (PMI) was accordingly sub-divided into five groups representing five grades; namely (1) excellent, (2) good, (3) medium, (4) subordinated, and (5) inferior. In this paper, pavement performance assessment based on the BP neural network method and PMI is presented along with a practical application example; followed by a summary of findings and recommendations

Objectives: To investigate the expression of caspase-8 and -10 in rectal adenoma, adenocarcinoma and the corresponding normal mucosa tissue, and to clarify the relationship between their expression and clinicopathological parameters of rectal cancer. Methods: The expression of caspase-8 and -10 was determined by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in 36 rectal adenomas, 93 rectal cancers and 93 corresponding normal rectal mucosa samples. Results: Compared with normal mucosa, the mRNA expression of caspase-8 was higher in adenomas (p = 0.003), while that of caspase-10 was lower in adenomas (p = 0.035) and cancers (p = 0.001). Immunohistochemical results showed caspase-8 up-regulation in adenomas (p = 0.014), and caspase-10 down-regulation in adenomas (p = 0.034) and cancers (p < 0.001) compared with normal mucosa samples. Cancers with poor differentiation had lower caspase-10 mRNA and protein levels than those with better differentiation (p = 0.041 and p = 0.046, respectively). The protein expression of caspase-8 and -10 was in accordance with the mRNA expression (p = 0.043 and p = 0.018, respectively). Conclusions: Caspase-8 expression was up-regulated in rectal adenomas. Caspase-10 expression was down-regulated in both rectal adenomas and cancers, and was further related to differentiation. Caspase-8 and -10 may be involved in the pathogenesis of rectal cancer.

Objective: To examine E1AF mRNA expression and to determine whether it is correlated with tumor progression and matrilysin in human rectal cancer. Methods: Real-time RT-PCR was used to determine E1AF and matrilysin expression in 100 matched rectal cancers and normal tissues. Results: Among the 100 rectal cancers, 69 cases of E1AF mRNA overexpression were observed. E1AF mRNA overexpression correlated well with matrilysin. In carcinomas, E1AF mRNA overexpression correlated significantly with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, venous involvement and advanced pTNM stage. Conclusions: E1AF was correlated significantly with tumor progression of human rectal cancer and may be an important factor in rectal cancer progression.

Aims To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) with anal sphincter preservation (ASP) for low rectal cancers. Methods Patients undergoing LTME with ASP or open procedures (OTME) for low rectal cancers were prospectively followed up. All patients were treated in curative attempt and were free of local recurrence during the study. HRQoL was assessed by questionnaires during 3–6 months, 12–18 months, and 2–5 years after surgery. Results From June 2001 to March 2006, 125 patients undergoing LTME and 103 undergoing OTME were included in this study. In contrast to OTME patients, the LTME ones showed significantly better physical function during 3–6 months after surgery, less micturition problems within 12–18 months, less male sexual problems and better sexual function during 12–18 months after surgery, with better sexual enjoyment after 24 months postoperatively. Both groups showed significant improvement in most subscales from the first to the second assessment, and an improvement in sexual enjoyment from the second to the third assessment. The sexual function, micturition problems and male sexual problems in the LTME group significantly improved from the first to the second assessment, whereas the sexual function in the OTME group improved from the second to the third assessment. Conclusions Patients undergoing LTME for low rectal cancers can achieve superior postoperative HRQoL than patients undergoing OTME, with superior physical function, micturition function, overall sexual and male sexual functions in the short term, and better sexual enjoyment in the long term. The HRQoL of both LTME and OTME patients may be expected to improve over time, particularly over the first postoperative year.

To investigate the relationship between cyclin D2 and P210(BCR/ABL) tyrosine kinase in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).RT-PCR, Western blot and flow cytometry were performed to detect the expression of cyclin D2 in K562 cells and in K562-ib-eGFP cells which express intracellular single-chain antibody (sFv, intrabody) against ABL tyrosine kinase domain.Cyclin D2 expression in K562-ib-eGFP cells was 18.90% which was lower than that of control K562 cells (48.10%), and the number of S-phase cells in K562-ib-eGFP was 40.40% which was much lower than that in K562 cells (64.34%).Cyclin D2 is a potential down-stream signal molecule of the p210(BCR/ABL) tyrosine kinase in CML. The altered expression of cyclin D2 may contribute to the over proliferation of CML cells.

To develop an in vitro assay that allows the culture and identification of a single human bone marrow progenitor closely related to hematopoietic stem cell, which is more primitive than LTC-IC, and to find an efficient culture conditions for NK-IC expansion.Fusion protein IL6/IL2 was reconstructed and expressed in E. coli DH5 alpha. ML-IC was determined by watching if the single cell can give rise to secondary progenitors with both LTC-IC and NK-IC characteristics. LTC-IC frequency was determined by the CFC clonogenic methylcellulose assay. NK-IC frequency was determined by phenotyping CD56 positive NK cells. The effect of FPIL6/IL2 on the expansion of NK-IC was examined by comparing the colony number of NK cells before and after the culture.After the initial 4-week expansion culture, we showed that (25.75 +/- 5.68)% of freshly sorted Lin-/34+/DRdim cells were able to generate functional NK-IC in one or more secondary FPIL6/IL2 cultures, whereas (6.81 +/- 1.97)% in the control. A total of 102 NK-IC cells were present when were cultured for 6-7 weeks in FPIL6/IL2 expansion medium, which was much higher than the 33 NK-IC cells in the control.ML-IC assay will prove useful to assess a very primitive hematopoietic cell with multilineage generative capacity. FPIL6/IL2 is capable of initiating and promoting NK-IC expansion greatly in ex vivo cultures in terms of net-conservation and net proliferation.

To study the effects of anti-ABL tyrosine kinase intrabody on the growth of human chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells in nude mice.A recombinant retroviral vector MSCV-ibE-IRES-eGFP was constructed to express intracellular single-chain antibody (intrabody) against ABL tyrosine kinase domain in CML cells. K562 cells were transduced with the retrovirus, eGFP+ cells were then selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The intrabody mRNA expression was determined by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). BCR/ABL and c-ABL protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity in the cells was examined. Transduced cells and control group K562 cells were transplanted into nude mice respectively and the tumor sizes were dynamically observed.K562-ibE cell was obtained. Expression of the BCR/ABL and c-ABL protein tyrosine kinase activity of harvested K562-ibE cells were markedly inhibited. At 14, 21 and 28 days after cell injection, the tumor volumes of experimental mice were obviously smaller than that of control mice, about one half of the control groups (P0.05).The growth of K562-ibE cells was significantly inhibited in vivo. It is possible that inhibition of the BCR/ABL protein tyrosine kinase activity by the intrabody blocked BCR/ABL signal transduction pathway, promoted apoptosis and reduced tumorigenicity of K562 cells in vivo.