Meta-learning based blind image super-resolution approach to different degradations.

Although recent studies on blind single image super-resolution (SISR) have achieved significant success, most of them typically require supervised training on synthetic low resolution (LR)-high resolution (HR) paired images. This leads to re-training necessity for different degradations and restricted applications in real-world scenarios with unfavorable inputs. In this paper, we propose an unsupervised blind SISR method with input underlying different degradations, named different degradations blind super-resolution (DDSR).

Blind Super-Resolution via Meta-Learning and Markov Chain Monte Carlo Simulation.

Learning based approaches have witnessed great successes in blind single image super-resolution (SISR) tasks, however, handcrafted kernel priors and learning based kernel priors are typically required. In this paper, we propose a meta-learning and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) based SISR approach to learn kernel priors from organized randomness. In concrete, a lightweight network is adopted as kernel generator, and is optimized via learning from the MCMC simulation on random Gaussian distributions.

Comprehensive Analysis and Identification of an Immune-Related Gene Signature with Prognostic Value for Prostate Cancer.

Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) has recently been proven to play a crucial role in the development and prognosis of tumors. However, the current knowledge on the potential of the TME in prostate cancer (PCa) remains scarce.

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the value of TME-related genes for PCa prognosis by integrative bioinformatics analysis.

A prediction model of delayed graft function in deceased donor for renal transplant: a multi-center study from China.

Background: Kidneys obtained from deceased donors increase the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) after renal transplantation. Here we investigated the influence of the risk factors of donors with DGF, and developed a donor risk scoring system for DGF prediction.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 1807 deceased kidney donors and 3599 recipients who received donor kidneys transplants in 29 centers in China.

Safety and Efficacy of Right Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Live Donor Nephrectomy: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of right retroperitoneal laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (LDN) in 81 cases of living-related renal transplant. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all living-related donors who underwent right retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy between June 2010 and December 2017 at the First Hospital of Jilin University and their corresponding recipients. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the hospital's electronic clinical data system.

Clopidogrel Reduces Fibronectin Accumulation and Improves Diabetes-Induced Renal Fibrosis.

Hyperglycemia-induced renal fibrosis causes end-stage renal disease. Clopidogrel, a platelet inhibitor, is often administered to decrease cardiovascular events in diabetic patients. We investigated whether clopidogrel can reduce diabetes-induced renal fibrosis in a streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes murine model and fibronectin involvement in this protective response.

Cell-penetrating Peptide-coated Liposomes for Drug Delivery Across the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Background/aim: Glioma is a deadly form of brain cancer. Doxorubicin is cytotoxic against glioma cells. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits its ability to be delivered to the brain.

Elimination of donor CD47 protects against vascularized allograft rejection in mice.

CD47 is a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a complex role in regulation of cell survival and function. We have previously shown that the interspecies incompatibility of CD47 plays an important role in triggering rejection of cellular xenografts by macrophages. However, the role of CD47 in solid organ transplantation remains undetermined.

Distributed ISAR Subimage Fusion of Nonuniform Rotating Target Based on Matching Fourier Transform.

In real applications, the image quality of the conventional monostatic Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) for the maneuvering target is subject to the strong fluctuation of Radar Cross Section (RCS), as the target aspect varies enormously. Meanwhile, the maneuvering target introduces nonuniform rotation after translation motion compensation which degrades the imaging performance of the conventional Fourier Transform (FT)-based method in the cross-range dimension. In this paper, a method which combines the distributed ISAR technique and the Matching Fourier Transform (MFT) is proposed to overcome these problems.

Anticancer Properties of Fenofibrate: A Repurposing Use.

Cancer is a leading cause of death throughout the world, and cancer therapy remains a big medical challenge in terms of both its therapeutic efficacy and safety. Therefore, to find out a safe anticancer drug has been long goal for oncologist and medical scientists. Among clinically used medicines with no or little toxicity, fenofibrate is a drug of the fibrate class that plays an important role in lowering the levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides while elevating the levels of high-density lipoproteins.

Recurrent primary hyperoxaluria type 2 leads to early post-transplant renal function loss: A case report.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 2 is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by glyoxylate reductase/hydroxypyruvate reductase deficiency and characterized by recurrent episodes of nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis. Herein, we describe a case of primary hyperoxaluria type 2 in a 33-year-old man who failed to respond to conventional therapies; thus renal transplantation was performed. This case demonstrated that, although primary hyperoxaluria type 2 is rare, hyperoxaluria should be suspected and blood oxalate and stone component be examined in patients with recurrent episodes of nephrolithiasis, particularly in those who are unresponsive to conventional therapies.

Lower pole approach in retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: a new approach for the management of renal vascular pedicle.

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness and safety of lower pole (LP) approach in retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN).

Methods: One hundred thirty-two renal cancer patients were scheduled for selective retroperitoneal LRN. The surgery parameters and outcomes were compared.

The beneficial effects of Zn on Akt-mediated insulin and cell survival signaling pathways in diabetes.

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements and participates in numerous physiological processes. Abnormalities in zinc homeostasis often result in the pathogenesis of various chronic metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and its complications. Zinc has insulin-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects and deficiency has been shown to aggravate diabetes-induced oxidative stress and tissue injury in diabetic rodent models and human subjects with diabetes.

Circulating vitamin D concentration and risk of prostate cancer: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Background: Though many studies have been performed to elucidate the association between circulating vitamin D and prostate cancer, no conclusive result is available. We carried out a dose-response meta-analysis to quantitatively examine the association of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration with prostate cancer.

Methods: Only prospective studies examining the associations of circulating 25[OH]D concentration with prostate cancer were eligible for the meta-analysis.

Fenofibrate inhibits mTOR-p70S6K signaling and simultaneously induces cell death in human prostate cancer cells.

Fenofibrate is the most widely used lipid-lowering drug, but it seems to have anti-tumor effects in several tumor cell lines. However, there are only a few reports on its effects on human prostate cancer cells. Thus, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of fenofibrate on human prostate cancer cells and potential mechanisms.

Diabetes Mellitus induces alterations in metallothionein protein expression and metal levels in the testis and liver.

Objective To investigate the effect of diabetes with and without vitamin E treatment on testicular metallothionein (MT) and metal (zinc, copper and iron) changes. Methods Diabetes was induced with a single intraperitoneal injection (i.p.

Farnesoid X receptor ligand CDCA suppresses human prostate cancer cells growth by inhibiting lipid metabolism via targeting sterol response element binding protein 1.

Aim: A wealth of studies have demonstrated that abnormal cellular lipid metabolism plays an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) development. Therefore, manipulating lipid metabolism is a potential PCa therapy strategy. In this study, our goal is to investigate the role of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in regulating the proliferation and lipid metabolism of human PCa cells following its ligand chenodexycholic acid (CDCA) treatment.

Effect of preoperative intravenous oxycodone administration on sufentanil consumption after retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative intravenous oxycodone administration on postoperative sufentanil consumption in patients undergoing retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Methods: Fifty patients scheduled for retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups- patients in Group O (n = 25) received intravenously 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ oxycodone; while the patients in Group C (n = 25) received 0.

Advantages of caudal block over intrarectal local anesthesia plus periprostatic nerve block for transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Objective: To compare caudal block with intrarectal local anesthesia plus periprostatic nerve block for transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy.

Methods: One hundred and ninety patients scheduled for transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy were randomized equally into Group-A who received caudal block (20 ml 1.2% lidocaine) and Group-B who received intrarectal local anesthesia (0.

Effect of preoperative intravenous oxycodone on sufentanil consumption after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of preoperative intravenous oxycodone on sufentanil consumption by patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy.

Methodology: Forty-six patients scheduled for laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were randomly divided into two groups: group O (n = 23) received intravenous oxycodone (0.1 mg/kg) 10 minutes before surgery over 2 minutes and group C (n = 23) received normal saline as a placebo.

EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE INTRAVENOUS OXYCODONE ON LOW-DOSE ROPIVACAINE SPINAL ANESTHESIA COMBINED WITH INTRATHECAL FENTANYL.

Background: Low-dose ropivacaine combined with intrathecal fentanyl can provide adequate anaesthesia with minimal haemodynamic variation. Preemptive analgesia can enhance analgesic effect of spinal anaesthesia without obvious side effects.

Aims: To assess the efficacy of preoperative intravenous oxycodone on transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) under 10 mg ropivacaine spinal anaesthesia combined with intrathecal 25 pg fentanyl.

A case of kidney transplantation using donation after circulatory death with renal calculi.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) supplies a big percentage of the organ source pool. Compared to living-related donations, donor kidneys from DCD are commonly with lower quality since they inevitably suffer from hypoxia, hypotension, and inadequate organ perfusion during the progression to circulatory arrest. The current case presents a 44-year-old male donor with wide range subarachnoid hemorrhage and multiple skull fracture from a car accident.

Association between sodium intakes with the risk of chronic kidney disease: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Objective: Inconsistent results regarding the association between sodium intake and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been reported. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the evidence from epidemiological studies of sodium with the risk of CKD.

Methods: Pertinent studies were identified by searching of PubMed and Web of Science.

CLINICAL RESEARCH REGARDING PREEMPTIVE ANALGESIC EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE KETAMINE AFTER TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF PROSTATE.

Objective: To investigate whether a single intravenous dose of ketamine before transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) led to reduced postoperative pain and tramadol consumption.

Methodology: Sixty patients undergoing elective TURP were randomized into one of two groups: the ketamine group (Group K, n = 30) received intravenous 0.5 mg/kg ketamine 10 min before surgery, and the control group (Group C, n = 30) received an equivalent volume of normal saline 30 min before surgery.