Rapid segmentation of computed tomography angiography images of the aortic valve: the efficacy and clinical value of a deep learning algorithm.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to explore the reliability and clinical value of fast, accurate automatic segmentation of the aortic root based on a deep learning tool compared with computed tomography angiography.

Methods: A deep learning tool for automatic 3-dimensional aortic root reconstruction, the CVPILOT system (TAVIMercy Data Technology Ltd., Nanjing, China), was trained and tested using computed tomography angiography scans collected from 183 patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement from January 2021 to December 2022.

Antifoaming Agent for Lubricating Oil: Preparation, Mechanism and Application.

In the process of using lubricating oil, it is inevitable that bubbles will be produced, which can not only accelerate the oil's oxidation and shorten the oil change cycle but also reduce its fluidity and lubricity, aggravate the wear of mechanical parts and produce an air lock that interrupts the oil pump supply and causes an oil shortage accident. This paper mainly and comprehensively discusses the foaming process and its harm, the defoaming mechanism and defoaming method of lubricating oil, more specifically, the synthesis, application, advantages, disadvantages and current situation of three kinds of chemical defoaming agents, namely silicone defoaming agent, non-silicone defoaming agent and compound defoaming agent. Finally, the paper looks forward to the future development of special defoaming agents for lubricating oil.

Feasibility and safety of combined percutaneous coronary intervention among high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Recent reports indicated that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be correlated with increased mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the feasibility and safety of combined PCI in high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials through June 2016.

Stroke-Related Changes in the Complexity of Muscle Activation during Obstacle Crossing Using Fuzzy Approximate Entropy Analysis.

This study investigated the complexity of the electromyography (EMG) of lower limb muscles when performing obstacle crossing tasks at different heights in poststroke subjects versus healthy controls. Five poststroke subjects and eight healthy controls were recruited to perform different obstacle crossing tasks at various heights (randomly set at 10, 20, and 30% of the leg's length). EMG signals were recorded from bilateral biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), medial gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior during obstacle crossing task.

A 3D printed smartphone optosensing platform for point-of-need food safety inspection.

The deficiency in rapid and in-field detection methods and portable devices that are reliable, easy-to-use, and low cost, results in the difficulties to uphold the high safety standards in China. In this study, we introduce a rapid and cost-effective smartphone-based method for point-of-need food safety inspection, which employs aptamer-conjugated AuNPs as the colorimetric indicator, and a battery-powered optosensing accessory attached to the camera of a smartphone for transmission images capture. A user-friendly and easy-to-use Android application is developed for automatic digital image processing and result reporting.

Alterations of Muscle Activation Pattern in Stroke Survivors during Obstacle Crossing.

Objective: This study investigates changes in the neuromuscular activation pattern of the lower limb muscles in stroke survivors when crossing obstacles of three different heights.

Methods: Eight stroke survivors and eight age-, height-, and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited and instructed to cross over obstacles with heights of 10, 20, and 30% leg length. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded from the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) of both limbs.

Taxane-cisplatin-fluorouracil as induction chemotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis of the 5-year efficacy and safety.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of taxane (docetaxel or paclitaxel), cisplatin, and fluorouracil (Tax-PF) with cisplatin plus fluorouracil (PF) regimen by a meta-analysis of data retrieved from the literature.

Methods: Seven randomized clinical trials were identified, which included patients with advanced head and neck cancer who underwent induction chemotherapy with either a Tax-PF or PF protocol. The outcomes included the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and different types of adverse events.

Biology and immunology of cancer stem(-like) cells in head and neck cancer.

Immunological approaches against tumors including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have been investigated for about 50 years. Such immunotherapeutic treatments are still not sufficiently effective for therapy of HNSCC. Despite the existence of immunosurveillance tumor cells may escape from the host immune system by a variety of mechanisms.

Prognostic significance of ALDH1A1-positive cancer stem cells in patients with locally advanced, metastasized head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1A1) has now been recognized as a cancer stem(-like) cells (CSCs) marker in various tumors including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The objective of this study was to examine the expression of ALDH1A1 in patients with locally advanced, metastasized HNSCC and to determine its prognostic value.

Methods: Human papillomavirus genotypes and expression of ALDH1A1, Twist1, and p16 were analyzed in specimens of 81 patients with primary HNSCC and 49 lymph node metastases.

Wdr66 is a novel marker for risk stratification and involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We attempted to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by gene expression profiling of frozen esophageal squamous carcinoma specimens and examined the functional relevance of a newly discovered marker gene, WDR66.

Methods: Laser capture microdissection technique was applied to collect the cells from well-defined tumor areas in collaboration with an experienced pathologist. Whole human gene expression profiling of frozen esophageal squamous carcinoma specimens (n = 10) and normal esophageal squamous tissue (n = 18) was performed using microarray technology.

ALDH1-positive cancer stem-like cells are enriched in nodal metastases of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma independent of HPV status.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is caused by high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) or alcohol and tobacco abuse. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is a confirmed marker for cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) of OSCC responsible for therapy resistance, recurrence and metastasis. Associations between HR-HPV/p16, CSC frequency and clinicopathological parameters in patients with metastatic OSCC were investigated.

Cardiovascular medications in angiogenesis--how to avoid the sting in the tail.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death worldwide. Cardiovascular medications have recently been found to have favorable effects also for the treatment of noncardiovascular diseases, including cancer. In this review, we use a reverse bedside-to-bench approach to investigate the effects of common cardiovascular medications on tumor angiogenesis and vascular angiogenesis.

[The role of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation in the prediction of quality of life in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery].

Objective: To assess the value of European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE) in predicting quality of life in patients post coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG).

Methods: A total of 387 patients underwent CABG in our institute from December of 2002 to December of 2007 were assessed by EuroSCORE before operation. Health-related quality of life (QoL) was estimated postoperatively with Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ), Nottingham healthy profile (NHP) and Duke activity status index (DASI) in order to evaluate the value of EuroSCORE for predicting quality of life in patients post CABG.

[Quality of life five years after coronary artery bypass grafting].

Objective: The quality of life (QOL) 5 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was evaluated by NHP, SAQ and DASI questionnaires.

Methods: NHP, SAQ and DASI questionnaires were mailed to 287 patients who received CABG in our department between Jan 2001 and Jan 2002. The reliability and construct validity of the questionnaires and the influence factor of QOL were analyzed.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits interleukin-1beta-induced endogenous monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 secretion in type II alveolar epithelial cells.

As important multifunctional cells in the lung, alveolar epithelial type II (AEII) cells secrete numerous chemokines on various stimuli. Our previous data showed that AEII cells also express the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and the proinflammatory factor interleukin (IL)-1beta induces CGRP secretion in the A549 human AEII cell line. In the present study, the CGRP-1 receptor antagonist human (h)CGRP(8-37) (0.