Publications by authors named "Tong A"

The accurate segmentation of land cover in high-resolution remote sensing imagery is crucial for applications such as urban planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. However, traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) struggle to balance fine-grained local detail with large-scale contextual information. To tackle these challenges, we combine large-kernel convolutions, attention mechanisms, and multi-scale feature fusion to form a novel LKAFFNet framework that introduces the following three key modules: LkResNet, which enhances feature extraction through parameterizable large-kernel convolutions; Large-Kernel Attention Aggregation (LKAA), integrating spatial and channel attention; and Channel Difference Features Shift Fusion (CDFSF), which enables efficient multi-scale feature fusion.

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Based on the success of cancer immunotherapy, personalized cancer vaccines have emerged as a leading oncology treatment. Antigen presentation on MHC class I (MHC-I) is crucial for the adaptive immune response to cancer cells, necessitating highly predictive computational methods to model this phenomenon. Here, we introduce HLApollo, a transformer-based model for peptide-MHC-I (pMHC-I) presentation prediction, leveraging the language of peptides, MHC, and source proteins.

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Objectives: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are manifestations of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. This study aims to describe the clinical features of PPGLs in VHL patients and the distinctions between VHL disease-related PPGLs and sporadic PPGLs.

Design, Patients And Measurements: The study included all patients with VHL disease and PPGLs treated in a single centre from 2007 to 2023.

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The efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is still inconclusive in solid tumor treatment. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a potent strategy to reshape CAR-T cell therapy with promising outcomes. This review aims to discuss the significant potential of nano-engineered CAR-T cell therapy in addressing existing challenges, including CAR-T cell engineering evolution, tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation, and precise CAR-T cell therapy (precise targeting, monitoring, and activation), under the main consideration of clinical translation.

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Stress is a key factor in psychotic relapse, and mindfulness offers stress resilience and well-being benefits. This study examined the effects of mindfulness-based intervention for psychosis (MBI-p) in preventing relapse at 1 year among patients with remitted psychosis in Hong Kong. MBI-p is a newly developed manual-based mindfulness protocol and was tested to have improved well-being and clinical outcomes in a pilot study with remitted psychosis patients.

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Objective: Data were extracted from preexisting published studies and evaluated retrospectively to compare lactate and base deficit values at baseline and posthemorrhage with changes in corresponding hemoglobin (Hb) and Hct measurements to assess any association of such changes with severity of hemorrhage over time. To understand the goal, the objective of this study was to demonstrate statistical changes in laboratory values as described above.

Methods: Previous prospectively designed experiments on 120 mixed-breed dogs were conducted.

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Pancreatic endocrine-exocrine crosstalk plays a key role in normal physiology and disease. For instance, endocrine islet beta (β) cell secretion of insulin or cholecystokinin (CCK) promotes progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an exocrine cell-derived tumor. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern endocrine-exocrine signaling in tumorigenesis remain incompletely understood.

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Background: Minimally invasive focal therapy of low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer is becoming more common and has demonstrated lower morbidity compared to other treatments. Multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has the potential to be an effective posttreatment evaluation method for residual/recurrent neoplasm.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of mpMRI to detect residual/recurrent neoplasm after focal therapy treatment of prostate cancer using a 3-point Likert scale.

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Article Synopsis
  • β1-3-linked -acetylglucosaminide is a common carbohydrate structure essential for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and is part of various biological molecules.
  • β1-3--acetylglucosaminyltransferase (NmLgtA) can help synthesize HMOs but faces challenges like low enzyme expression, instability, and aggregation.
  • Researchers enhanced NmLgtA's functionality by altering its structure, resulting in a more stable and effective enzyme (NmLgtA-Opti) that improves HMO production while retaining its specific catalytic abilities.
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Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have shown significant promise in cancer treatment, enhancing drug selectivity and therapeutic efficacy as demonstrated in multiple clinical studies. Bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (BsADCs), which combine the targeting capabilities of BsAbs with the cytotoxic potential of ADCs, offer a novel approach to overcoming several challenges associated with ADCs, including limited internalization, off-target toxicity, and drug resistance. In this study, we identified solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) as a highly expressed protein in a variety of solid tumors, making it a promising therapeutic target.

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is becoming increasingly prominent, posing a serious threat to human health. Its prevalence is rising every year, and often affects young people. In the past few decades, research on marine algae has been recognized as a major field of drug discovery.

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The present study reviews the role of catheter ablation (CA) in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), a widespread arrhythmia associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The present review explores current indications and recent evidence supporting CA, assessing patient outcomes and identifying common complications associated with the procedure. Emphasis is placed on optimizing risk factors prior to ablation, including weight control and hypertension management, as these measures can significantly enhance post-procedural outcomes.

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Objective: Some patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) suffer from glucose metabolic disorders. The aim was to investigate the relationship between glucose metabolic disorders and catecholamine levels in 705 patients with PPGL.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 705 patients diagnosed with PPGL at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2018 to 2023.

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Objectives: Inconsistent elevation of catecholamines (CAs) and metanephrines (MNs) was observed in pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGLs). This study aimed to explore its potential causes and report the diagnostic efficacy of MNs and CAs in a large Chinese PPGL cohort.

Methods: Clinical data and results of hormone tests were retrospectively collected.

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Post-transcriptional processing and modification of viral RNA, including alternative splicing, polyadenylation, and methylation, play crucial roles in regulating viral gene expression, enhancing genomic stability, and increasing replication efficiency. These processes have significant implications for viral biology and antiviral therapies. In this study, using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) direct RNA sequencing (DRS), we provided a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome and epitranscriptome features of the HIV-1 B (NL4-3) subtype strain and, for the first time, characterized these features in the CRF01_AE (GX2005002) subtype strain.

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Background: Primary aldosteronism is predominantly caused by excessive aldosterone production from the adrenal cortex, and the aldosterone-producing structures could take many forms, like adenomas, nodules, micronodules, and so on. Most studies of primary aldosteronism were limited to the hotspot driver genes responsible for autonomous aldosterone production; however, the panoramic genetic architecture and genomic alterations of aldosterone-producing structures and their adjacent hyperplasia glands remain unknown.

Methods: In this study, whole-exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses were performed using functional nodules and matched hyperplasia tissues, which were microdissected guided by aldosterone synthase immunohistochemistry.

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Aims: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a potential complication of foot and ankle surgery. There is a lack of agreement on contributing risk factors and chemical prophylaxis requirements. The primary outcome of this study was to analyze the 90-day incidence of symptomatic VTE and VTE-related mortality in patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery and Achilles tendon (TA) rupture.

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Introduction: Local disease recurrence following focal therapy (FT) for prostate cancer may be due to failure to eradicate focal disease or development of disease in the untreated prostate (in- and out-of-field recurrences). Several studies suggest in-field contrast enhancement (CE) on post-treatment multi-parametric (mp) MRI between 6-12 months following FT indicates residual disease. The present study assesses the incidence and oncologic implications of early CE observed following primary partial gland cryoablation (PPGCA).

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Article Synopsis
  • - A two-hit model for aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) development has been proposed, and new cases have been documented that support this model, with two cases of primary aldosteronism (PA) featuring large functional adenomas and mutations in relevant genes.
  • - The first patient also had a colorectal cancer history and exhibited mutations in the APC gene, confirmed by immunohistochemistry, while the second patient had a mutation in the CTNNB1 gene.
  • - This study highlights that the two-hit model involves a sequence of events: the first mutation promotes cell proliferation, while the second results in hormonal hypersecretion, although further research is needed to identify the factors behind the first hit that triggers cell proliferation. *
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Aims: To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Semaglutide in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and identify its potential targets.

Methods: We systematically evaluated the effect of Semaglutide on Alzheimer's disease (AD), using both mice and human organoid models.

Results: Behavioral analyses on APP/PS1 mice demonstrated that Semaglutide improved the cognitive capabilities, particularly in the learning and memory domains.

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Article Synopsis
  • Our understanding of how the atria (upper chambers of the heart) work and how they can become dysfunctional (atrial cardiomyopathy) has improved, especially regarding their impact on various heart conditions.
  • Different atrial medical procedures can affect the way the atria function, and it's important for healthcare professionals to be aware of potential negative effects that may not show up right away.
  • By identifying early signs of atrial dysfunction, clinicians can intervene sooner, potentially preventing serious changes in atrial structure and function before they lead to visible health issues.
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Glioblastoma (GBM) represents the most aggressive primary brain tumor, and urgently requires effective treatments. Oncolytic adenovirus (OA) shows promise as a potential candidate for clinical antitumor therapy, including in the treatment of GBM. Nevertheless, the systemic delivery of OA continues to face challenges, leading to significantly compromised antitumor efficacy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigated how immune responses and inflammatory factors play a role in patients with pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas (PPGLs), focusing on changes in lymphocyte subsets and their clinical significance.
  • Data from 327 patients were analyzed, revealing that older patients exhibited reduced lymphocyte counts, and there were correlations between lymphocyte levels and hormone levels.
  • Key findings identified specific lymphocyte and inflammatory parameters as significant indicators for metastatic PPGLs, leading to the development of a predictive nomogram with good accuracy.
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Article Synopsis
  • Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine antibodies with chemotherapy drugs to specifically target cancer cells while reducing side effects.* -
  • The study focused on a bispecific ADC (BsADC) that targets PD-L1 and B7-H3 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, effectively delivering the toxin monomethyl auristatin E.* -
  • Results showed the BsADC was more effective than other ADCs, enhancing immune response and inducing immunogenic cell death, suggesting it could be a valuable strategy for future cancer therapies.*
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