Human papillomavirus is a prognostic marker for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We aimed to determine the value of CT-based radiomics for predicting the human papillomavirus status and overall ...survival in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Eighty-six patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively collected and grouped into training (
= 61) and test (
= 25) sets. For human papillomavirus status and overall survival prediction, radiomics features were selected via a random forest-based algorithm and Cox regression analysis, respectively. Relevant features were used to build multivariate Cox regression models and calculate the radiomics score. Human papillomavirus status and overall survival prediction were assessed via the area under the curve and concordance index, respectively. The models were validated in the test and The Cancer Imaging Archive cohorts (
= 78).
For prediction of human papillomavirus status, radiomics features yielded areas under the curve of 0.865, 0.747, and 0.834 in the training, test, and validation sets, respectively. In the univariate Cox regression, the human papillomavirus status (positive: hazard ratio, 0.257; 95% CI, 0.09-0.7;
= .008), T-stage (≥III: hazard ratio, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.34-9.99;
= .011), and radiomics score (high-risk: hazard ratio, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.21-11.46;
= .022) were associated with overall survival. The addition of the radiomics score to the clinical Cox model increased the concordance index from 0.702 to 0.733 (
= .01). Validation yielded concordance indices of 0.866 and 0.720.
CT-based radiomics may be useful in predicting human papillomavirus status and overall survival in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
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► We developed photo-sensitive, soluble polyimide gate insulator. ► We fabricated organic field-effect transistor device with the photo-patterned gate insulator layer. ► The polyimide ...gate insulator showed excellent resistance to the photo-patterning process.
We have developed photo-sensitive, low-temperature processable, soluble polyimide (PSPI) gate insulator with excellent resistance to the photo-patterning process. The PSPI was synthesized through one-step condensation polymerization of monomers 5-(2,5-dioxytetrahydrofuryl)-3-methyl-3-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride (DOCDA) and 3,5-diaminobenzyl cinnamate (DABC). PSPI thin film, fabricated at 160°C, has a dielectric constant of 3.3 at 10kHz, and leakage current density of <1.7×10−10A/cm2, while biased from 0 to 100V. PSPI could be easily patterned by selective UV-light exposure and dipping into γ-butyrolactone. To investigate the potential of the polyimide as the photo-patternable gate insulator, we fabricated pentacene OTFTs and confirmed the PSPI’s resistance to the photo-patterning process. The photo-patternable polyimide shows promise as gate dielectrics for OTFTs.
Cosmic-ray proton and helium spectra have been measured with the balloon-borne Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass experiment flown for 42 days in Antarctica in the 2004-2005 austral summer season. ...High-energy cosmic-ray data were collected at an average altitude of ~38.5 km with an average atmospheric overburden of ~3.9 g cm--2. Individual elements are clearly separated with a charge resolution of ~0.15 e (in charge units) and ~0.2 e for protons and helium nuclei, respectively. The measured spectra at the top of the atmosphere are represented by power laws with a spectral index of --2.66 ? 0.02 for protons from 2.5 TeV to 250 TeV and --2.58 ? 0.02 for helium nuclei from 630 GeV nucleon--1 to 63 TeV nucleon--1. They are harder than previous measurements at a few tens of GeV nucleon--1. The helium flux is higher than that expected from the extrapolation of the power law fitted to the lower-energy data. The relative abundance of protons to helium nuclei is 9.1 ? 0.5 for the range from 2.5 TeV nucleon--1 to 63 TeV nucleon--1. This ratio is considerably smaller than the previous measurements at a few tens of GeV nucleon--1.
We propose using optical repeaters in optical free-space communication systems to increase the transmission-length stably. We demonstrate an 8 /spl times/ 10-Gb/s terrestrial optical free-space ...transmission over 3.4 km using an optical repeater at the halfway. The optical repeater not only amplifies the signal channels but also prevents the accumulation of the detrimental scintillation noise during the propagation.
The major aneuploidies diagnosed prenatally involve the autosomes 13, 18, 21, and sex chromosomes X and Y. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allows rapid analysis of chromosome copy number in ...interphase cells. We retrospectively reviewed 130 amniotic fluid interphase FISH analyses from January 1997 to December 2001. The review was done in order to assess the role of interphase FISH among the patients who were at the risk of fetal aneuploidies. The sample was considered to be aneuploid when 70% of or more than the total number of hybridized nuclei displayed the same abnormal hybridization pattern for a specific probe. All of 130 cases but one met the criteria. The results were considered as informative and they were obtained in 24-48 hr. The overall detection rate for aneuploidies was 100% (2 cases of trisomy 21, 2 cases of trisomy 18, and 1 case of Turner syndrome). In comparison to cytogenetics, the rates of both sensitivity and specificity were 100%. The experiment demonstrates that FISH can provide a rapid and accurate clinical method for prenatal identification of chromosome aneuploidies. The experiment can also serve as an adjunctive test to help cytogenetics to reduce significant amount of emotional stress of patients and physicians through early decision making process.
Biological mechanisms underlying statin and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker therapies differ. Therefore, we compared vascular and metabolic responses to these therapies either alone or in ...combination in hypercholesterolemic, hypertensive patients.
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial with 3 treatment arms (each 2 months) and 2 washout periods (each 2 months). Forty-seven hypertensive, hypercholesterolemic patients were given simvastatin 20 mg and placebo, simvastatin 20 mg and losartan 100 mg, or losartan 100 mg and placebo daily during each 2-month treatment period. Losartan alone or combined therapy significantly reduced blood pressure compared with simvastatin alone. Compared with losartan alone, simvastatin alone or combined therapy significantly changed lipoproteins. All 3 treatment arms significantly improved flow-mediated dilator response to hyperemia and decreased plasma malondialdehyde and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 levels relative to baseline measurements. However, these parameters were changed to a greater extent with combined therapy compared with simvastatin or losartan alone (both P<0.001 and P=0.030 for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by ANOVA). Combined therapy or losartan alone significantly increased plasma adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity (determined by QUICKI) relative to baseline measurements. These changes were significantly greater than in the group treated with simvastatin alone (P<0.001 for adiponectin, P=0.029 for QUICKI by ANOVA).
Simvastatin combined with losartan improves endothelial function and reduces inflammatory markers to a greater extent than monotherapy with either drug in hypercholesterolemic, hypertensive patients.
T1-PWI with high temporal resolution may provide a reliable relative CBV value as a valid alternative to T2*-PWI under increased susceptibility. The purpose of this study was to assess the technical ...and clinical performance of T1-relative CBV in patients with postoperative high-grade gliomas.
Forty-five MRIs of 34 patients with proved high-grade gliomas were included. In all MRIs, T1- and T2*-PWIs were both acquired and processed semiautomatically to generate relative CBV maps using a released commercial software. Lesion masks were overlaid on the relative CBV maps, followed by a histogram of the whole VOI. The intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman plots were used for quantitative and qualitative comparisons. Signal loss from both methods was compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test of zero voxel percentage. The MRIs were divided into a progression group (
= 20) and a nonprogression group (
= 14) for receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
Fair intertechnique consistency was observed between the 90th percentiles of the T1- and T2*-relative CBV values (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.558,
< .001). T2*-PWI revealed a significantly higher percentage of near-zero voxels than T1-PWI (17.7% versus 3.1%,
< .001). There was no statistically significant difference between the area under the curve of T1- and T2*-relative CBV (0.811 versus 0.793,
= .835). T1-relative CBV showed 100% sensitivity and 57.1% specificity for the detection of progressive lesions.
T1-relative CBV demonstrated exquisite diagnostic performance for detecting progressive lesions in postoperative patients with high-grade gliomas, suggesting the potential role of T1-PWI as a valid alternative to the traditional T2*-PWI.
Interaction between preformed nucleocapsids and viral envelope proteins is critical for the assembly of virus particles in infected cells. The pre-S1 and pre-S2 and cytosolic regions of the human ...hepatitis B virus envelope protein had been implicated in the interaction with the core protein of nucleocapsids. The binding affinities of specific subdomains of the envelope protein to the core protein were quantitatively measured by both ELISA and BIAcore assay. While a marginal binding was detected with the pre-S1 or pre-S2, the core protein showed high affinities to pre-S with apparent dissociation constants (KDapp) of 7.3±0.9 and 8.2±0.4μM by ELISA and BIAcore assay, respectively. The circular dichroism analysis suggested that conformational change occurs in pre-S through interaction with core protein. These results substantiate the importance of specific envelope domains in virion assembly, and demonstrate that the interaction between viral proteins can be quantitatively measured in vitro.
Diminished control of standing balance, traditionally indicated by greater postural sway magnitude and speed, is associated with falls in older adults. Tai Chi (TC) is a multisystem intervention that ...reduces fall risk, yet its impact on sway measures vary considerably. We hypothesized that TC improves the integrated function of multiple control systems influencing balance, quantifiable by the multi-scale "complexity" of postural sway fluctuations.
To evaluate both traditional and complexity-based measures of sway to characterize the short- and potential long-term effects of TC training on postural control and the relationships between sway measures and physical function in healthy older adults.
A cross-sectional comparison of standing postural sway in healthy TC-naïve and TC-expert (24.5±12 yrs experience) adults. TC-naïve participants then completed a 6-month, two-arm, wait-list randomized clinical trial of TC training. Postural sway was assessed before and after the training during standing on a force-plate with eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC). Anterior-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) sway speed, magnitude, and complexity (quantified by multiscale entropy) were calculated. Single-legged standing time and Timed-Up-and-Go tests characterized physical function.
At baseline, compared to TC-naïve adults (n = 60, age 64.5±7.5 yrs), TC-experts (n = 27, age 62.8±7.5 yrs) exhibited greater complexity of sway in the AP EC (P = 0.023), ML EO (P<0.001), and ML EC (P<0.001) conditions. Traditional measures of sway speed and magnitude were not significantly lower among TC-experts. Intention-to-treat analyses indicated no significant effects of short-term TC training; however, increases in AP EC and ML EC complexity amongst those randomized to TC were positively correlated with practice hours (P = 0.044, P = 0.018). Long- and short-term TC training were positively associated with physical function.
Multiscale entropy offers a complementary approach to traditional COP measures for characterizing sway during quiet standing, and may be more sensitive to the effects of TC in healthy adults.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01340365.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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