Latest Issue
Issue 1 ， 2018
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A warning for Chinese academic evaluation systems: short-term bibliometric measures misjudge the value of pioneering contributions
Abstract：Publication citation-based research evaluation, even if only in support of peer review, is not everywhere, on every level, or for everyone suitable, because of differences in scientific research, patterns of research output, stages of scientific evolution, and merits—scientific or societal—of scientific results.Keywords：Academic evaluation;Pioneering work;Nobel Prize;Bibliometric indicator;Short-term evaluation- 14
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Published：2022-01-05
Editorial
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Towards precision medicine: from quantitative imaging to radiomics
Abstract：Radiology (imaging) and imaging-guided interventions, which provide multi-parametric morphologic and functional information, are playing an increasingly significant role in precision medicine. Radiologists are trained to understand the imaging phenotypes, transcribe those observations (phenotypes) to correlate with underlying diseases and to characterize the images. However, in order to understand and characterize the molecular phenotype (to obtain genomic information) of solid heterogeneous tumours, the advanced sequencing of those tissues using biopsy is required. Thus, radiologists image the tissues from various views and angles in order to have the complete image phenotypes, thereby acquiring a huge amount of data. Deriving meaningful details from all these radiological data becomes challenging and raises the big data issues. Therefore, interest in the application of radiomics has been growing in recent years as it has the potential to provide significant interpretive and predictive information for decision support. Radiomics is a combination of conventional computer-aided diagnosis, deep learning methods, and human skills, and thus can be used for quantitative characterization of tumour phenotypes. This paper discusses the overview of radiomics workflow, the results of various radiomics-based studies conducted using various radiological images such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron-emission tomography (PET), the challenges we are facing, and the potential contribution of radiomics towards precision medicine.Keywords：Radiological imaging;Personalised medicine;Precision medicine;Quantitative imaging;Radiogenomics;Radiomics- 11
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Published：2022-01-05
Review
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Gene locations may contribute to predicting gene regulatory relationships
Abstract：We propose that locations of genes on chromosomes can contribute to the prediction of gene regulatory relationships. We constructed a time-based gene regulatory network of zebrafish cardiogenesis on the basis of a spatio-temporal neighborhood method. Through the network, specific regulatory pathways and order of gene expression during zebrafish cardiogenesis were obtained. By comparing the order with locations of these genes on chromosomes, we discovered that there exists a reversal phenomenon between the order and order of gene locations. The discovery provides an inherent rule to instruct exploration of gene regulatory relationships. Specifically, the discovery can help to predict if regulatory relationships between genes exist and contribute to evaluating the correctness of discovered gene regulatory relationships.Keywords：Prediction;Gene regulatory relationships;Order of gene location;Spatio-temporal neighborhood method;Zebrafish cardiogenesis- 20
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Published：2022-01-05 -
A finite element analysis of the stress distribution to the mandible from impact forces with various orientations of third molars
Abstract：Objective:To investigate the stress distribution to the mandible, with and without impacted third molars (IM3s) at various orientations, resulting from a 2000-Newton impact force either from the anterior midline or from the body of the mandible.Materials and methods:A 3D mandibular virtual model from a healthy dentate patient was created and the mechanical properties of the mandible were categorized to 9 levels based on the Hounsfield unit measured from computed tomography (CT) images. Von Mises stress distributions to the mandibular angle and condylar areas from static impact forces (Load I-front blow and Load II left blow) were evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA). Six groups with IM3 were included: full horizontal bony, full vertical bony, full 450 mesioangular bony, partial horizontal bony, partial vertical, and partial 450 mesioangular bony impaction, and a baseline group with no third molars.Results:Von Mises stresses in the condyle and angle areas were higher for partially than for fully impacted third molars under both loading conditions, with partial horizontal IM3 showing the highest fracture risk. Stresses were higher on the contralateral than on the ipsilateral side. Under Load II, the angle area had the highest stress for various orientations of IM3s. The condylar region had the highest stress when IM3s were absent.Conclusions:High-impact forces are more likely to cause condylar rather than angular fracture when IM3s are missing. The risk of mandibular fracture is higher for partially than fully impacted third molars, with the angulation of impaction having little effect on facture risk.Keywords：Finite element analysis;Third molar;Mandible;Biomechanical simulation- 19
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Electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns of left anterior fascicular block and conduction impairment in ventricular myocardium: a whole-heart model-based simulation study
Abstract：Left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) is a heart disease identifiable from an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG). It has been reported that LAFB is associated with an increased risk of heart failure. Non-specific intraventricular conduction delay due to the lesions of the conduction bundles and slow cell to cell conduction has also been considered as another cause of heart failure. Since the location and mechanism of conduction delay have notable variability between individual patients, we hypothesized that the impaired conduction in the ventricular myocardium may lead to abnormal ECGs similar to LAFB ECG patterns. To test this hypothesis, based on a computer model with a three dimensional whole-heart anatomical structure, we simulated the cardiac exciting sequence map and 12-lead ECG caused by the block in the left anterior fascicle and by the slowed conduction velocity in the ventricular myocardium. The simulation results showed that the typical LAFB ECG patterns can also be observed from cases with slowed conduction velocity in the ventricular myocardium. The main differences were the duration of QRS and wave amplitude. In conclusion, our simulations provide a promising starting point to further investigate the underlying mechanism of heart failure with LAFB, which would provide a potential reference for LAFB diagnosis.Keywords：Electrocardiogram (ECG);Simulation;Heart model;Left anterior fascicular block (LAFB)- 153
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Published：2022-01-05 -
Effect of corticosteroids on atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation: a meta-analysis#
Abstract：Objective:The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore the effect of corticosteroids on atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation.Methods:We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for published articles describing the effect of corticosteroids in preventing AF recurrence after catheter ablation. Data on study and patient were extracted. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by use of a random-effect model, and P values of <0.05 were considered significant.Results:Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies involving 846 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Within one month of catheter ablation, corticosteroid use was associated with a declined risk of recurrence of AF in RCT (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.85, P=0.005), but without significant effect in cohort studies (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.30, P=0.94). After three months of catheter ablation, corticosteroids did not have a significant effect in the prevention of late recurrence of AF in either RCT (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.59, P=0.49) or cohort studies (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.31, P=0.78).Conclusions:Our meta-analysis suggested that periprocedural administration of corticosteroids of catheter ablation was associated with reduction of early but not late recurrence of AF.Keywords：Atrial fibrillation;Corticosteroids;Catheter ablation;Meta-analysis- 21
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Published：2022-01-05 -
Activity of metalloproteinases and adiponectin in obese patients—a possible factor of incisional hernias after bariatric procedures
Abstract：Purpose:Metalloproteinases are a key component of the pathogenesis of abdominal hernias. Obesity is considered a risk factor in herniogenesis and hernia recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, MMP-13, and adiponectin in morbidly obese and non-overweight controls.Materials and methods:The participants were recruited from among patients undergoing bariatric and non-bariatric surgery and divided into two groups: I (body mass index (BMI)≥35 kg/m2, n=40) and II (BMI<25 kg/m2, n=30). Serum concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13, and adiponectin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:A statistically significant difference between groups was observed for MMP-2 concentration. The median MMP-9 concentration was higher in the obese group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Median MMP-13 concentrations did not differ between groups. Serum adiponectin concentration was insignificantly higher in the non-obese group. Conclusions:The elevated serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations in obese individuals may be related to the higher incidence of incisional hernias in this population.Keywords：Metalloproteinase;Adiponectin;Obesity;Incisional hernia- 18
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Published：2022-01-05 -
Complementary feeding patterns among ethnic groups in rural western China
Abstract：Objective:This study investigated complementary feeding practices among four ethnic groups (Han, Uygur, Tibetan, and Zhuang) based on a cross-sectional survey in rural western China.Methods:In 2005, a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit 9712 children (7411 Han, 1032 Uygur, 678 Tibetan, and 591 Zhuang) between 6 and 35 months of age and their mothers from 45 counties in 10 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) in western China.Results:The rates of early introduction (before 6 months) of complementary foods in four ethnic groups (Han, Uygur, Tibetan, and Zhuang) were 71.30%, 95.95%, 82.40%, and 72.30%, respectively. The Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI) for Uygur and Tibetan children was lower than that for Han children at all age groups. Uygur children were more likely to have unqualified ICFI compared with Han children in a multivariate logistic regression (odds ratio (OR)=5.138, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.340–6.084). A higher level of maternal education, greater family wealth, and the availability of complementary feeding educational materials decreased the likelihood of an unqualified ICFI. The nutritional status of children (Han, Tibetan, and Zhuang) with qualified ICFI was better than that for children with unqualified ICFI.Conclusions:Appropriate interventions are required to improve complementary feeding practices in rural western China.Keywords：Complementary feeding;Infant and Child Feeding Index (ICFI);Ethnic group;Western China- 130
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Published：2022-01-05
Article
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Physical interactions and mutational analysis of MoYpt7 in
Magnaporthe oryzae #Abstract：In this study, we analyzed the physical interactions of the dominant negative isoform of moYpt7. Our results show that moYpt7 interacts with moGdi1. The dominant negative isoform of moYpt7 (dominant negative isoform, N125I) is essential for colony morphology, conidiation, and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus. These results further demonstrate the biological functions of moYpt7 in Magnaporthe oryzae.Keywords：Bimolecular fluorescence complementation;Immunoprecipitation;MoGdi1;MoYpt7- 16
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Published：2022-01-05
Correspondence
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