ASARA, a prediction model based on Child-Pugh class in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: Due to the high heterogeneity among hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), the prognosis of patients varies significantly. The decision-making on the initiation and/or repetition of TACE under different liver functions is a matter of concern in clinical practice. Thus, we aimed to develop a prediction model for TACE candidates using risk stratification based on varied liver function.

Novel epidemic models on PSO-based networks.

This paper proposes two spatio-temporal epidemic network models based on popularity and similarity optimization (PSO), called r-SI and r-SIS, respectively, in which new connections take both popularity and similarity into account. In the spatial dimension, the epidemic process is described by the diffusion equation; in the time dimension, the growth of an epidemic is described by the logistic map. Both models are represented by partial differential equations, and can be easily solved.

Association between the HFE C282Y, H63D Polymorphisms and the Risks of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 5,758 Cases and 14,741 Controls.

Background: Conflicting results have been obtained for the association between two common polymorphisms (C282Y, H63D) of human HFE (hereditary hemochromatosis) gene and the risks of the liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential role of HFE polymorphisms in the susceptibility to NAFLD, liver cirrhosis and HCC. After retrieving articles from online databases, eligible studies were enrolled according to the selection criteria.

ART score and hepatocellular carcinoma: An appraisal of its applicability.

Background: Assessment for retreatment with TACE (ART) score evaluates whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients can benefit from transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) retreatments. As previously reported, TACE has a good prognostic effect on patients with ART score of 0-1.5, while patients with ART score≥2.

A sensitive and specific hyperbranched rolling circle amplification assay and test strip for white spot syndrome virus.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a global threat to the prawn industry, and there is no simple method for field-based testing of this virus. We designed a padlock probe and primers to the capsid protein gene VP28 of WSSV, and established a hyperbranched rolling circle amplification (HRCA) assay and a corresponding strip-based test. The assay and the test strip both had similar high accuracy and specificity, and their sensitivity was about 10 copies/μL, which is 100 times higher than conventional PCR.

Lyssavirus surveillance in bats of southern China's Guangxi Province.

Although rabies virus is widely distributed in the world, and has been the subject of extensive investigations with the objective of its ultimate prevention, control, and management, there is much less knowledge of the characteristics, distribution, and infectivity of other lyssaviruses. Since bats are known animal vectors for all but one of the known lyssavirus genotypes, we have performed an extensive survey of bats in the Guangxi Province to provide information on lyssavirus distribution in southern China. The lyssavirus nucleoprotein gene was detected in brains of 2.

[Application of computer-aided surgical navigation system in orbital surgery].

Computer-aided surgical navigation system, which is a combination of computer technology and medical imaging, is one of the most popular and developing fields in recent years. The navigation system is aimed to improve the accuracy and security of the surgery by pre-operative planning, intra-operative navigation and post-operative evaluation. This paper introduces the essential elements, fundamental principles, and implementation steps of the navigation system; further reviews its usefulness and progress in orbital fractures reduction, orbital tumor surgery and orbital decompression.