Sequential Adaptive Design Method for Incorporating External Data.

External data (e.g., real-world data (RWD) and historical data) have become more readily available.

GradMDM: Adversarial Attack on Dynamic Networks.

Dynamic neural networks can greatly reduce computation redundancy without compromising accuracy by adapting their structures based on the input. In this paper, we explore the robustness of dynamic neural networks against energy-oriented attacks targeted at reducing their efficiency. Specifically, we attack dynamic models with our novel algorithm GradMDM.

Privacy-preserving household load forecasting based on non-intrusive load monitoring: A federated deep learning approach.

Load forecasting is very essential in the analysis and grid planning of power systems. For this reason, we first propose a household load forecasting method based on federated deep learning and non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM). As far as we know, this is the first research on federated learning (FL) in household load forecasting based on NILM.

Bayesian two-stage design for phase II oncology trials with binary endpoint.

In phase II oncology trials, two-stage design allowing early stopping for futility and/or efficacy is frequently used. However, this design based on frequentist statistical approaches could not guarantee a high posterior probability of attending the pre-specified clinically interesting rate from a Bayesian perspective. Here, we proposed a new Bayesian design enabling early terminating for efficacy as well as futility.

Unicuspid Aortic Valve: A Rare Congenital Anomaly.

Unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) is a rare congenital aortic valve anomaly. It has 2 subtypes and often is associated with aortic valve dysfunction and corresponding clinical presentations. Echocardiography is the first choice of diagnostic method for UAV.

Design and Analysis of a Biosimilar Bridging Study with a Prediction Interval-Based Consistency Test.

The development of biosimilars has substantially increased in recent years. A biosimilar is a biological product which is highly similar to a licensed biological product (reference product), with no clinically meaningful differences between the proposed biosimilar and the reference product. A bridging study is a viable strategy to bring an approved biosimilar product from the original region(s) to new regions or countries.

Ethnic disparities in stillbirth risk in Yunnan, China: a prospective cohort study, 2010-2018.

Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in stillbirth risk had been documented in most western countries, but it remains unknown in China. This study was to determine whether exist ethnic disparities in stillbirth risk in mainland China.

Methods: Pregnancy outcomes and ethnicity data were obtained from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NEPHEP), a nationwide prospective population-based cohort study conducted in Yunnan China from 2010-2018.

Specificity and application of SOX2 antibody.

Sox2 is known to play an important role in maintaining the totipotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells. The purpose of this study was to prepare an anti-chicken Sox2 polyclonal antibody using prokaryotic expression techniques, to evaluate its specificity and to use it to investigate the expression and distribution of Sox2 in the chicken brain and lungs. The chicken Sox2 gene was amplified and subcloned to a pET-30a vector to construct a prokaryotic expression vector, pET-Sox2.

Ablation Versus Medical Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation in the Elderly: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison.

BACKGROUND Whether ablation therapy reduces the risk of death and embolic events in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS AF patients ≥65 years old receiving either catheter ablation or non-ablation therapy at 2 tertiary and 2 non-tertiary hospitals in Beijing from November 2009 to December 2012 were enrolled. Patients were followed up every 6 months for information on treatment and clinical event occurrence.

Thromboembolic risks associated with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation in Asian patients: a report from the Chinese atrial fibrillation registry.

Background: Several studies have reported on atrial fibrillation (AF) outcomes, including thromboembolism in patients with paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF; however the findings still remain controversial on whether risks differ between these clinical subtypes and limited data are available in Asian cohorts.

Methods: We compared the risk of thromboembolism between paroxysmal and persistent AF patients, in a large contemporary Chinese cohort study. A total of 8529 non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry (CAFR) study were enrolled.

China National Medical Products Administration approval summary: anlotinib for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer after two lines of chemotherapy.

Background: On May 8, 2018, the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved anlotinib, an orally administered anti-angiogenesis inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed after treatment with two or more lines of prior systemic chemotherapy. China NMPA reviewed and inspected a regional double-blinded, placebo-controlled, Phase III trial comparing the overall survival (OS) of NSCLC patients between the anlotinib and placebo arms. A total of 437 patients were randomized (2:1) to receive either anlotinib (n = 294) or placebo (n = 143) once daily on a 2-week on and 1-week off schedule.

Rare Simultaneous Left and Right-Sided Native Valve Infective Endocarditis Caused by Rare Bacterium.

Simultaneous left and right-sided native valve infective endocarditis (IE) is rare. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant organism for bilateral IE. Shunt diseases are common risk factors of both-sided IE.

Strategic Shift of Statistical Review on Data Quality Assessment for New Drug Applications in China.

Data quality is critical for clinical trials to obtain robust conclusions about drug safety and efficacy evaluation. Effective data quality evaluation has been one of the major obstacles to new drug approvals in China, which hinders innovation in drug discovery and development ultimately. To improve the data quality submitted for regulatory drug approval, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has issued serial official announcements and industry guidelines regarding improvement of the clinical trial data integrity and quality since 2015.

The Effects of a Community-Based Sodium Reduction Program in Rural China - A Cluster-Randomized Trial.

Background: Average sodium intake and stroke mortality in northern China are both among the highest in the world. An effective, low-cost strategy to reduce sodium intake in this population is urgently needed.

Objective: We sought to determine the effects of a community-based sodium reduction program on salt consumption in rural northern China.

Uptake of evidence-based statin therapy among atrial fibrillation patients in China: A report from the CAFR (Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry) Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, and hence, statin therapy is indicated in majority of AF patients.

Methods And Results: We analyzed data from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry (CAFR) involving 11,496 AF patients from 2011 to 2014. Practice patterns of statin therapy and factors associated with statin underuse were analyzed.

Current Status and Time Trends of Oral Anticoagulation Use Among Chinese Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: The Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study.

Background And Purpose: Reported rates of oral anticoagulation (OAC) use have been low among Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). With improved awareness, changing guidelines, this situation may be changing over time. We aimed to explore the current status and time trends of OAC use in Beijing.

Rationale and design of the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study.

Background: Robust data on the contemporary management of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in China are limited. Importantly current practice in AF management has changing dramatically in recent years. Data from a large registry study will enable us to evaluate the uptake and outcomes with different therapies in a large Chinese AF population.

Survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resectable esophageal carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of surgery alone for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) is still unsatisfactory. Presently, induction therapy followed by surgery is the standard treatment. Preoperative chemotherapy (CT) and chemoradiation (CRT) are proven effective induction therapies; however, few sample studies have addressed these treatments, thus, their superiority remains uncertain.

Adoptive immunotherapy of cytokine-induced killer cell therapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: The aim of this study was to systemically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: A computerized search of randomized controlled trials for CIK cell-based therapy was performed. The overall survival, clinical response rate, immunological assessment and side effects were evaluated.

Meta-analysis of methylcobalamin alone and in combination with lipoic acid in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of daily lipoic acid (300-600 mg i.v.) plus methylcobalamin (500-1000 mg i.

A rapid and sensitive method for the detection of aromatic amines in cosmetics.

Aromatic amines (AAs) are common chemical pollutants and banned ingredients in cosmetics. In this study, a rapid, simple and stable method for the detection of nine AAs in cosmetics was established based on the optimization of cation exchange solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The method displayed good linearity within a range of 2-1,000 µg/kg, with limits of quantitation at the level of µg/kg for cosmetic samples.

Internal versus external fixation for unstable distal radius fractures: an up-to-date meta-analysis.

Purpose: Our aim was to compare the effect of internal vs external fixation for unstable distal radius fractures regarding postoperative complications, clinical results and radiological outcomes.

Methods: We selected PubMed; Cochrane Library; EMBASE; BIOSIS; Ovid and the relevant English orthopaedic journals and pooled data from ten eligible randomised controlled trials containing 738 patients to conduct a subgroup analysis according to different periods of follow-up. Our aim was to summarise the best available evidence.