Predicting 3D dose distribution with scale attention network for prostate cancer radiotherapy.

The growing demand for radiation therapy to treat cancer has been directed to focus on improving treatment planning flow for patients. Accurate dose prediction, therefore, plays a prominent role in this regard. In this study, we propose a framework based on our newly developed scale attention networks (SA-Net) to attain voxel-wise dose prediction.

Interrupter respiratory resistance in healthy Chinese preschool children.

Background: Interrupter respiratory resistance (Rint) is useful in evaluating lung function in children who cannot perform the traditional lung function tests. However, available reference Rint values are confined to whites. Our aims were as follows: (1) to establish reference values in local preschool Chinese children, (2) to examine their relationship with demographic and anthropometric factors, and (3) to determine the 10-min and 6-week repeatability of Rint.

Identification of viral and atypical bacterial pathogens in children hospitalized with acute respiratory infections in Hong Kong by multiplex PCR assays.

Acute respiratory tract infection is a leading cause of hospital admission of children. This study used a broad capture, rapid and sensitive method (multiplex PCR assay) to detect 20 different respiratory pathogens including influenza A subtypes H1, H3, and H5; influenza B; parainfluenza types 1, 2, 3, and 4; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) groups A and B; adenoviruses; human rhinoviruses; enteroviruses; human metapneumoviruses; human coronaviruses OC43, 229E, and SARS-CoV; Chlamydophila pneumoniae; Legionella pneumophila; and Mycoplasma pneumoniae; from respiratory specimens of 475 children hospitalized over a 12-month period for acute respiratory tract infections. The overall positive rate (47%) was about twice higher than previous reports based on conventional methods.

Comparative study of nasopharyngeal aspirate and nasal swab specimens for diagnosis of acute viral respiratory infection.

Paired nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) and nasal swab (NS) samples from 475 children hospitalized for acute respiratory infection were studied for the detection of influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus by immunofluorescence test, viral culture, and multiplex PCR assay. The overall sensitivity of viral detection with NPA specimens was higher than that obtained with NS specimens.

Parallel hybridization analysis of multiple protein kinase genes: identification of gene expression patterns characteristic of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of human cancer deaths worldwide. To identify alterations of the genetic program associated with human HCC, we designed a new protocol based on the high-density replica method to analyze protein kinase gene expression in normal liver, HCC, and HCC-derived cell lines. RNA was prepared for reverse transcription and cDNA was used for PCR amplification of the conserved catalytic domain of protein kinase genes.

Oral sodium phosphate versus sulfate-free polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution in outpatient preparation for colonoscopy: a prospective comparison.

Background: Biochemical abnormalities induced by oral sodium phosphate and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias as potential sequelae have yet to be investigated.

Methods: We studied 98 outpatients scheduled to undergo diagnostic colonoscopy and prospectively randomized them to receive oral sodium phosphate or sulfate-free polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (SF-PEG-ELS) as recommended by the manufacturers.

Results: Forty-nine patients received sodium phosphate and 49 received SF-PEG-ELS.

Association of protein kinase FA/GSK-3alpha (a proline-directed kinase and a regulator of protooncogenes) with human cervical carcinoma dedifferentiation/progression.

Computer analysis of protein phosphorylation-sites sequence revealed that most transcriptional factors and viral oncoproteins are prime targets for regulation of proline-directed protein phosphorylation, suggesting an association of proline-directed protein kinase (PDPK) family with neoplastic transformation and tumorigenesis. In this report, an immunoprecipitate activity assay of protein kinase FA/glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha (kinase FA/GSK-3alpha) (a particular member of PDPK family) has been optimized for human cervical tissue and used to demonstrate for the first time significantly increased (P < 0.001) activity in poorly differentiated cervical carcinoma (82.

The rate of proliferation among African trypanosomes is a stable trait that is directly related to virulence.

The relationship between the growth rate of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and its virulence was investigated. A cloned, monomorphic, slow growing, and relatively avirulent line of T. b.