PEDRA-EFB0: colorectal cancer prognostication using deep learning with patch embeddings and dual residual attention.

In computer-aided diagnosis systems, precise feature extraction from CT scans of colorectal cancer using deep learning is essential for effective prognosis. However, existing convolutional neural networks struggle to capture long-range dependencies and contextual information, resulting in incomplete CT feature extraction. To address this, the PEDRA-EFB0 architecture integrates patch embeddings and a dual residual attention mechanism for enhanced feature extraction and survival prediction in colorectal cancer CT scans.

Occurrence, Transport, and Full-Scale Adsorptive Removal of PFAS in Electroplating Parks in China.

The electroplating industry is an important source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, but there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the occurrence, transport, and removal of PFAS in electroplating parks. In this study, we investigated typical electroplating parks in China and conducted the first full-scale removal of PFAS from chromium-plating wastewater using pore-enlarged granular activated carbon (GAC) and hydrophobic anion exchange resin (AER). The results showed that 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) gradually replaced perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in China's electroplating industry.

Preoperative Prediction of Perineural Invasion in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Using Machine Learning Radiomics Based on Contrast-Enhanced CT Imaging.

The objective of the study is to assess the clinical value of machine learning radiomics based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images in preoperative prediction of perineural invasion (PNI) status in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A total of 143 patients with PDAC were enrolled in this retrospective study (training group, n = 100; test group, n = 43). Radiomics features were extracted from CECT images and selected by the Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO).

Synthetic double inversion recovery imaging for rectal cancer T staging evaluation: imaging quality and added value to T2-weighted imaging.

Objective: To assess the image quality of synthetic double inversion recovery (SyDIR) imaging and enhance the value of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) in evaluating T stage for rectal cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 112 pathologically confirmed rectal cancer patients were retrospectively selected after undergoing MRI, including synthetic MRI. The image quality of T2WI and SyDIR imaging was compared based on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), overall picture quality, presence of motion artifacts, lesion edge sharpness, and conspicuity.

Virtual-screening of xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides: Inhibition mechanisms and prediction of activity using machine-learning.

Xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory peptides can prevent XO-mediated hyperuricemia. Currently, QSAR about XO inhibitory peptides with different lengths remains to be enriched. Here, XO inhibitory peptides were obtained from porcine visceral proteins through virtual-screening.

Auger emitter in combination with Olaparib suppresses tumor growth via promoting antitumor immune responses in pancreatic cancer.

The present study aimed to clarify the hypothesis that auger emitter I particles in combination with PARP inhibitor Olaparib could inhibit pancreatic cancer progression by promoting antitumor immune response. Pancreatic cancer cell line (Panc02) and mice subcutaneously inoculated with Panc02 cells were employed for the in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively, followed by I and Olaparib administrations. The apoptosis and CRT exposure of Panc02 cells were detected using flow cytometry assay.

Spectral CT in the evaluation of perineural invasion status in rectal cancer.

Purpose: To investigate whether preoperative spectral CT quantitative parameters can assess perineural invasion (PNI) status in rectal cancer.

Methods: Sixty-two patients diagnosed with rectal cancer who underwent preoperative spectral CT were retrospectively enrolled and divided into positive and negative PNI groups according to histopathologic results. The CT attenuation value (HU) of virtual monochromatic images (40-70 keV), spectral curve slope (K), effective atomic number (Z), and iodine concentration (IC) from spectral CT were compared between these two groups using t test or rank sum test.

Marginal effects of public health measures and COVID-19 disease burden in China: A large-scale modelling study.

China had conducted some of the most stringent public health measures to control the spread of successive SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, the effectiveness of these measures and their impacts on the associated disease burden have rarely been quantitatively assessed at the national level. To address this gap, we developed a stochastic age-stratified metapopulation model that incorporates testing, contact tracing and isolation, based on 419 million travel movements among 366 Chinese cities.

Combination of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and anti-PD-L1 liposomes therapy suppressed hepatocellular carcinoma progression in mice.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious life-threatened tumor with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to study the effects of combination TACE and anti-PD-L1 liposome drug in treating HCC in mice models.

Methods: We constructed the liposome drug with phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol and mannitol, etc.

Target and non-target analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in representative chrome mist suppressants on the Chinese market.

Fluorinated chrome mist suppressants (CMSs) have been widely used in the electroplating industry globally, including China. In compliance with the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, China has phased out perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as CMS, except for closed-loop systems, before March 2019. Since then, several alternatives have been introduced to replace PFOS, but many of them still belong to the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) family.

Deep learning-extracted CT imaging phenotypes predict response to total resection in colorectal cancer.

Background: Deep learning surpasses many traditional methods for many vision tasks, allowing the transformation of hierarchical features into more abstract, high-level features.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative computed tomography (CT) image texture features and deep learning self-learning high-throughput features (SHF) on postoperative overall survival in the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Material And Methods: The dataset consisted of 810 enrolled patients with CRC confirmed from 10 November 2011 to 10 February 2018.

CT and MR imaging features of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm of the pancreas compared with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of pancreatic mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN) and compare them with those of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and neuroendocrine tumor (NET).

Methods: Twelve patients with pancreatic MiNEN, 24 patients with PDAC, and 24 patients with NET, who underwent both contrast-enhanced CT and MRI, were included. Clinical data and the key imaging features were retrospectively evaluated by two independent readers and compared between MiNEN and PDAC or NET.

Synthetic phase-sensitive inversion-recovery vessel for assessing extramural venous invasion in patients with rectal cancer: imaging quality and added value to T2-wighted imaging.

Objectives: To evaluate the imaging quality of a synthetic phase-sensitive inversion recovery (SyPSIR) vessel and to add value to T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) for extramural venous invasion (EMVI) detection in patients with rectal cancer.

Methods: Participants in this retrospective study underwent preoperative synthetic MRI between October 2020 and April 2022. SyPSIR image reconstruction was performed with a single inversion time of 10 ms.

Prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: A radiomics nomogram analysis based on CT images and clinicopathological features.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of predicting the early response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) based on CT radiomics nomogram before treatment.

Materials And Methods: The clinicopathological data and pre-treatment portal venous phase CT images of 180 consecutive AGC patients who received 3 cycles of NAC are retrospectively analyzed. They are randomly divided into training set (n = 120) and validation set (n = 60) and are categorized into effective group (n = 83) and ineffective group (n = 97) according to RECIST 1.

Synthetic MRI in differentiating benign from metastatic retropharyngeal lymph node: combination with diffusion-weighted imaging.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the synthetic MRI (syMRI), its combination with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and morphological features for discriminating benign from metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs).

Methods: Fifty-eight patients with a total of 63 RLNs (21 benign and 42 metastatic) were enrolled. The mean and standard deviation of syMRI-derived relaxometry parameters (T1, T2, PD; T1, T2, PD) were obtained from two different regions of interest (namely, partial-lesion and full-lesion ROI).

External auditory canal and middle ear tumors: characterization by morphology and diffusion features on CT and MRI.

Purpose: To explore the value of morphology and diffusion features on CT and MRI in the characterization of external auditory canal and middle ear tumors (EAMETs).

Methods: Forty-seven patients with histologically proved EAMETs (23 benign and 24 malignant) who underwent CT and MRI were retrospectively analyzed in this study. CT and MRI characteristics (including size, shape, signal intensity, border, enhancement degree, and bone changes) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value were analyzed and compared between benign and malignant EAMETs.

T2 relaxation time for the early prediction of treatment response to chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Objectives: Poor responders to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) can still have a good prognosis if the treatment strategy is changed in time. However, no reliable predictor of early-treatment response has been identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of T2 relaxation time in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the early prediction of a pathological response to CRT in LARC.

Assessing Diagnostic Value of Combining Ultrasound and MRI in Extrathyroidal Extension of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Purpose: To explore the separate diagnostic value of preoperative ultrasound (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the combination of US and MRI in extrathyroidal extension (ETE) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University review board. A total of 158 PTC patients with ETE received preoperative US and MRI examination and underwent surgery between May 2014 and December 2018 in Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University.

Clinical value and application of preoperative CT-guided hookwire localization of solitary pulmonary nodules for video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Background: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive technique for the diagnosis and management of small pulmonary nodular lesions However, the identification of some lung nodules remains difficult.

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the clinical value of preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided hookwire localization of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) for thoracoscopic resection.

Methods: Seventy-one patients with 74 SPNs underwent VATS wedge resection after CT-guided hookwire localization.

Quantitative T2 Mapping to Discriminate Mucinous from Nonmucinous Adenocarcinoma in Rectal Cancer: Comparison with Diffusion-weighted Imaging.

Purpose: Mucinous adenocarcinoma (MA) is associated with worse clinicopathological characteristics and a poorer prognosis than non-MA. Moreover, MA is related to worse tumor regression grade and tumor downstaging than non-MA. This study investigated whether lesions in MA and non-MA can be quantitatively assessed by T2 mapping technique and compared with the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Prognostic value of CT radiomics in evaluating lymphovascular invasion in rectal cancer: Diagnostic performance based on different volumes of interest.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate diagnostic performance of radiomic analysis using computed tomography (CT) to identify lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients diagnosed with rectal cancer and assess diagnostic performance of different lesion segmentations.

Methods: The study is applied to 169 pre-treatment CT images and the clinical features of patients with rectal cancer. Radiomic features are extracted from two different volumes of interest (VOIs) namely, gross tumor volume and peri-tumor tissue volume.

A pilot study of radiomics signature based on biparametric MRI for preoperative prediction of extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate efficiency of radiomics signature to preoperatively predict histological features of aggressive extrathyroidal extension (ETE) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with biparametric magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Materials And Methods: Sixty PTC patients with preoperative MR including T2WI and T2WI-fat-suppression (T2WI-FS) were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 35 had ETE and 25 did not.

Iodine-125 seed implantation treatment of lung metastases < 2.5 cm using 5-ml syringe as a guide.

Purpose: Small lung metastases change their location with respiration, making difficult to localize, therefore, increasing the number of punctures. Accurate puncture can reduce trauma to lung tissue and accelerate patient's recovery. The aim of the study was to present our experience with the technique of using local anesthesia 5-ml syringe as a guide for computerized tomography-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (CT-ISI).