Accurate brain tumour segmentation is critical for diagnosis and treatment planning, yet challenging due to tumour complexity. Manual segmentation is time-consuming and variable, necessitating automated methods. Deep ...Accurate brain tumour segmentation is critical for diagnosis and treatment planning, yet challenging due to tumour complexity. Manual segmentation is time-consuming and variable, necessitating automated methods. Deep learning, particularly 3D U-Net architectures, has revolutionised medical image analysis by leveraging volumetric data to capture spatial context, enhancing segmentation accuracy. This paper reviews brain tumour segmentation methods, emphasising 3D U-Net advancements. We analyse contributions from the Brain Tumour Segmentation (BraTS) challenges (2014-2023), highlighting key improvements and persistent challenges, including tumour heterogeneity, limited annotated data, varied imaging protocols, computational constraints, and model generalisation. Unlike previous reviews, we synthesise these challenges, proposing targeted research directions: enhancing model robustness through domain adaptation and multi-institutional data sharing, developing lightweight architectures for clinical deployment, integrating multi-modal and clinical data, and incorporating explainability techniques to build clinician trust. By addressing these challenges, we aim to guide future research toward developing more robust, generalisable, and clinically applicable segmentation models, ultimately improving patient outcomes in neuro-oncology.展开更多
Tamanu oil, derived from the nuts of Calophyllum inophyllum, has gained increasing attention for its potential in acne management due to its purported anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This analysis eval...Tamanu oil, derived from the nuts of Calophyllum inophyllum, has gained increasing attention for its potential in acne management due to its purported anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This analysis evaluates the efficacy of tamanu oil in acne treatment with a specific focus on its impact on inflammation and scar reduction. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive analysis of tamanu oil’s dual mechanism of action: reducing acne-related inflammation and promoting the healing of acne scars. Clinical trials and laboratory analyses were conducted to assess the oil’s effectiveness in diminishing erythema, swelling, and post-acne scarring compared to conventional treatments. Preliminary findings demonstrate that tamanu oil significantly reduces inflammation and accelerates wound healing, potentially offering a promising adjunct or alternative to standard acne therapies. Future research should aim to optimize formulation and application protocols, long-term effects, and comparative therapeutic efficacy with other anti-inflammatory agents. Tamanu oil offers a novel and effective approach to acne management, with potential advantages that go beyond inflammation reduction to include enhanced scar reduction, making it a subject that warrants further investigation.展开更多
Routine pelvic examinations in women prescribed oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for acne management are scrutinized to assess their impact on dermatological outcomes versus gynecological health. A synthesis of clinica...Routine pelvic examinations in women prescribed oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for acne management are scrutinized to assess their impact on dermatological outcomes versus gynecological health. A synthesis of clinical trials, patient surveys, and medical guidelines reveals that these routine exams do not significantly enhance the effectiveness of acne treatment with OCPs but are linked to increased patient discomfort and false-positive results. Evidence suggests that routine pelvic examinations do not significantly impact the effectiveness of acne management with OCPs but are associated with increased patient discomfort and higher rates of false-positive results. The analysis indicates that a more personalized approach, focusing on selective pelvic examinations based on individual risk factors and clinical symptoms, may offer a more practical and patient-centered alternative. The review advocates for a reexamination of existing guidelines to better align with a model of individualized care, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize best practices at the intersection of dermatological and gynecological care. Adopting a personalized approach to pelvic examinations could substantially improve patient care by minimizing unnecessary interventions and discomfort while maintaining the efficacy of acne treatment with oral contraceptive pills.展开更多
This study investigated how a gluten-free diet affects hormones, with particular emphasis on cortisol, thyroid, insulin, and sex hormones. Background: For medical diseases such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat ...This study investigated how a gluten-free diet affects hormones, with particular emphasis on cortisol, thyroid, insulin, and sex hormones. Background: For medical diseases such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, and celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is important. The main area of concern for research is how a gluten-free diet can affect hormone levels and related health consequences. A review of the body of research on this topic, including studies on hormone regulation and the impact of dietary modifications, is a part of the methodology. These findings imply that a gluten-free diet may have an impact on hormone levels, which may affect metabolism, weight, and general health. These implications include the need for additional studies, particularly in those with autoimmune illnesses, to completely comprehend the relationship between a gluten-free diet and hormone regulation.展开更多
Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial disease that is influenced by genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition, obesity, low physical activity, and unhealthy diet a...Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial disease that is influenced by genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition, obesity, low physical activity, and unhealthy diet are key risk factors for T2DM. Result: Type 2 diabetes is treated with various natural medicines, the most significant of which is berberine (BBR). Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid found in various medicinal plants, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities and (BBR) has the potential to treat various diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion: It has been found to be effective in AMPK activation, regulation of blood glucose and lipids, stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, inhibition of cancer cells, and reduction of fat formation.展开更多
Hollow tubular tissues and organs of our body have various functions: gastrointestinal (esophagus), respiratory (trachea), and vascular (veins, arteries). A panel of pathologies is associated with each of these tissue...Hollow tubular tissues and organs of our body have various functions: gastrointestinal (esophagus), respiratory (trachea), and vascular (veins, arteries). A panel of pathologies is associated with each of these tissues and therapeutic interventions, surgery or replacement may be necessary. A precise knowledge of the mechanical properties of these tissues is thus required in order to understand their functioning in native conditions, to be able to elaborate some prostheses, or to design appropriate surgical training tools. These tissues may undergo expansions or contractions (peristalsis) and are exposed to internal pressures. The wall of tubular organs is organized in different layers, and each layer consists of various cell types and extra-cellular matrix, depending on the physiological functions that the organ has to fulfil. This yields anisotropic and compliant structures. In inflation experiments, the linear elasticity approach is acceptable as long as the organ’s inflation remains moderate. In this paper, elasticity laws are revisited and supplemented in order to show that, coupled with modern experimental characterization tools, they provide useful information (compliances, directional Young moduli, Poisson ratios) for the design of artificial tubular organs. The importance of a precise determination of the wall thickness and its evolution during inflation is pointed out.展开更多
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in the brain, affecting approximately 4 million people worldwide. PD patients often feel an increas...Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in the brain, affecting approximately 4 million people worldwide. PD patients often feel an increase in anxiety levels daily. While there are medications/exercises to help relieve anxiety, there are limited methods to reduce anxiety without the help of a caretaker. As a result, MEDIC Foundation, a non-profit organization in British Columbia, Canada, is designing an automated system that consists of a wristband and an application which uses vi-bration therapy to help reduce anxiety of PD patients. Literature reviews were conducted to document the project’s needs. Phase I of the project focused on de-veloping a prototype for the application and phase II on developing the wrist-band. The team developed prototypes of a wristband that automatically applies vibration near the median nerve as the heart rate variability (HRV) deviates away from the normal threshold of the user, and an application that displays real-time heart rate variability signals as well as provides for relaxation. The development of the prototype is still in early progress. By creating this automated system, we aim to provide a solution to senior PD patients to relieve anxiety independently. .展开更多
Reproduction via cis-binary mechanisms appears to have evolved fairly early in the evolution of complex organisms, and a system committed to prior to evolution of humans. While the evolution of a chromosomal-specific ...Reproduction via cis-binary mechanisms appears to have evolved fairly early in the evolution of complex organisms, and a system committed to prior to evolution of humans. While the evolution of a chromosomal-specific approach has been a successful strategy for survival of a large variety of species including humans, the fidelity of sex determination leading to 100% cis-binary outcomes is not achieved in many species, with evidence for homosexual or bisexual behaviour evident in more than 1500 species. Thus, such outcomes indicates that sex determination is a multi-step process and not a single event, and as such, could lead to the appearance of variants during the process which developed much earlier than humans. Variants could arise either due to intrinsic variation in the steps of determination, or also be influenced by environmental factors of a biological or psychological nature. In contrast to homosexual variants which do not require interventions such as hormone therapy or surgery, expression of gender dysphoria, is more based in psychology, but also has biological underpinnings and can be influenced by such hormonal interventions and surgery. While the numbers of those with gender dysphoria is small (~0.6% - 1.0% of population), the attention given to this issue raises the possibility of biological and psychological environmental factors impacting the emergence of some of those expressing gender dysphoria. Furthermore, transitioning from male-to-female or female-to-male can have consequences regarding disease risks latter in life, including the appearance of autoimmune diseases. This review will attempt to review some of the evidence regarding sex determination, discuss why the system has potentially not been improved upon during evolution, how a potential role for sex chromosome function on neurodevelopment may be central to variation in humans, and how commitment to the current strategy is likely integrated into other sex-related events such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause to ensure species survival. It will also discuss how variants in sex determination could contribute to sex differences in disease risk and how epigenetic modifications could play a role in such risk. .展开更多
This study evaluates the performance and reliability of a vision transformer (ViT) compared to convolutional neural networks (CNNs) using the ResNet50 model in classifying lung cancer from CT images into four categori...This study evaluates the performance and reliability of a vision transformer (ViT) compared to convolutional neural networks (CNNs) using the ResNet50 model in classifying lung cancer from CT images into four categories: lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), large cell carcinoma (LULC), and normal. Although CNNs have made significant advancements in medical imaging, their limited capacity to capture long-range dependencies has led to the exploration of ViTs, which leverage self-attention mechanisms for a more comprehensive global understanding of images. The study utilized a dataset of 748 lung CT images to train both models with standardized input sizes, assessing their performance through conventional metrics—accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, specificity, and AUC—as well as cross entropy, a novel metric for evaluating prediction uncertainty. Both models achieved similar accuracy rates (95%), with ViT demonstrating a slight edge over ResNet50 in precision and F1 scores for specific classes. However, ResNet50 exhibited higher recall for LULC, indicating fewer missed cases. Cross entropy analysis showed that the ViT model had lower average uncertainty, particularly in the LUAD, Normal, and LUSC classes, compared to ResNet50. This finding suggests that ViT predictions are generally more reliable, though ResNet50 performed better for LULC. The study underscores that accuracy alone is insufficient for model comparison, as cross entropy offers deeper insights into the reliability and confidence of model predictions. The results highlight the importance of incorporating cross entropy alongside traditional metrics for a more comprehensive evaluation of deep learning models in medical image classification, providing a nuanced understanding of their performance and reliability. While the ViT outperformed the CNN-based ResNet50 in lung cancer classification based on cross-entropy values, the performance differences were minor and may not hold clinical significance. Therefore, it may be premature to consider replacing CNNs with ViTs in this specific application.展开更多
Ranaviruses are harmful viruses that infect amphibians, fish, and reptiles, and have caused particularly devastating declines in amphibian populations. One particular type of ranavirus, called Frog Virus 3 (FV3), has ...Ranaviruses are harmful viruses that infect amphibians, fish, and reptiles, and have caused particularly devastating declines in amphibian populations. One particular type of ranavirus, called Frog Virus 3 (FV3), has been extensively studied due to its prevalence and impact on amphibians. Previous research has primarily focused on the virus’s genes, but little attention has been given to the non-coding regions of its genome. This article reviews recent studies that reveal the ability of ranaviruses, including FV3, to encode microRNA (miRNA), a type of regulatory RNA. These viral miRNAs play a crucial role in suppressing frog immune genes, modulating the virus-host interaction, and promoting viral infection. Understanding how ranaviruses use miRNAs to control disease progression is essential for addressing the health threat they pose to wildlife and ecosystems.展开更多
Background: Skin aging is an unavoidable process aggravated by environmental agents. Among other energy devices, non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) technology is widely used for skin tightening and body contouring as it...Background: Skin aging is an unavoidable process aggravated by environmental agents. Among other energy devices, non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) technology is widely used for skin tightening and body contouring as it is simpler and more affordable than other technologies that also minimize pain and side-effects. However, most of the current RF devices do not provide automatic skin temperature control and it is difficult to achieve controlled, deep, and harmless thermal increase, so treatment performance and safety is dependent on the operator’s movements and expertise. Objective: To show the potential of numerical simulations for optimizing the design of monopolar and bipolar RF electrodes that are capable of providing homogeneous, deep and controlled heating. Materials and methods: In-silico models were developed and analyzed using Comsol Multiphysics software to simulate the RF effect produced in tissue by rotating monopolar and bipolar electrodes with different geometries from the Sculpt & Shape RF device (Sinclair, Spain), operating at frequencies of 0.5 and 1 MHz. Ex-vivo and in-vivo proof-of-concept tests were carried out to validate the simulations. Finally, treatments were performed on 16 subjects and a total of 78 body areas to assess the clinical results generated by the RF electrodes for skin tightening and body contouring. Results: In-silico studies emulated the superficial and deep dispersion of heat due to the release of RF energy into human skin tissue. The rotating electrodes (monopolar and bipolar) and the selected RF frequency (0.5 and 1 MHz) determined the homogeneity of the thermal distribution, the penetration depth (between 4.37 mm and 25.0 mm) and the heating dynamics (between 30 and 100 seconds to reach the target skin temperature), which were confirmed by ex-vivo and in-vivo tests. In addition, real treatments on facial and body areas using skin temperatures of between 43˚C and 44˚C showed consistent results with good clinical efficacy for skin tightening, circumference reduction and cellulite reduction, with no adverse effects and high subject satisfaction. Conclusions: New monopolar and bipolar RF electrodes with rotating technology have been designed and optimized using numerical simulations. The use of in-silico studies and accurate models that reproduce the thermal behavior of human biological tissues can be used to better understand RF devices and to develop superior, efficient, and safer products more quickly.展开更多
Investigating the role of Big Five personality traits in relation to various health outcomes has been extensively studied. The impact of “Big Five” on physical health is here explored for older Europeans with a focu...Investigating the role of Big Five personality traits in relation to various health outcomes has been extensively studied. The impact of “Big Five” on physical health is here explored for older Europeans with a focus on examining age groups differences. The study sample included 378,500 respondents derived from the seventh data wave of Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The physical health status of older Europeans was estimated by constructing an index considering the combined effect of well-established health indicators such as the number of chronic diseases, mobility limitations, limitations with basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and self-perceived health. This index was used for an overall physical health assessment, for which the higher the score for an individual, the worst health level. Then, through a dichotomization process applied to the retrieved Principal Component Analysis scores, a two-group discrimination (good or bad health status) of SHARE participants was obtained as regards their physical health condition, allowing for further con-structing logistic regression models to assess the predictive significance of “Big Five” and their protective role for physical health. Results showed that neuroti-cism was the most significant predictor of physical health for all age groups un-der consideration, while extraversion, agreeableness and openness were not found to significantly affect the self-reported physical health levels of midlife adults aged 50 up to 64. Older adults aged 65 up to 79 were more prone to open-ness, whereas the oldest old individuals aged 80 up to 105 were mainly affected by openness and conscientiousness. .展开更多
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of BM (basement membrane) and SIS (small intestine submucosa) composite extracellular matrix staple line reinforcement in surgical procedures through finite elem...The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of BM (basement membrane) and SIS (small intestine submucosa) composite extracellular matrix staple line reinforcement in surgical procedures through finite element modelling simulations and leak-proof performance experiments. The mechanical analyses of soft tissues with and without staple line reinforcement were performed by establishing finite element models of three tissues, namely, stomach, intestine and lungs, under the use scenarios of different anastomosis staple models;and the leak-proof performance of the staple line reinforcement was evaluated by simulating leak-proof experiments of gastric incision margins, intestinal sections, and lung incision margins in vitro. The results showed that the equivalent average stresses of the staple line reinforcement were increased by 20 kPa-68 kPa in gastric and intestinal tissues, and 8 kPa-22 kPa in lung tissues. and that the BM and SIS composite extracellular matrix staple line reinforcement could strengthen the anastomotic structure, and at the same time disperse the high stresses of the anastomosed tissues, which could effectively reduce the postoperative complications such as anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic leakage, and provide a safer and more effective optimized design for surgical mechanical anastomosis. It can effectively reduce postoperative complications such as anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic leakage, and provide a safer and more effective optimized design for surgical mechanical anastomosis.展开更多
The management of non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension remains a concern in developing countries. In Guinea, whether by choice or necessity, traditional medicine and herbal remedies are ...The management of non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension remains a concern in developing countries. In Guinea, whether by choice or necessity, traditional medicine and herbal remedies are the primary recourse for the population, both in rural and urban areas. Previous investigations led to the development of two phytomedicines designed for managing essential hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes (DT2), named “Guinex-HTN®” and “Sattagas.” An evaluation of their therapeutic benefits was conducted during a prevalence survey carried out in Dubréka. This survey revealed a prevalence of 73.52% (211/287) for HTN, 36.58% (105/287) for DT2, and 33.45% (96/287) for combined DT2/HTN. The therapeutic potential of Sattagas and the combination of Sattagas with Guinex-HTN were assessed in diabetic and hypertensive diabetic patients, respectively. Comparisons were made between Sattagas, Metformin, Sattagas plus Metformin, and Sattagas plus Guinex-HTN regarding their impact on blood glucose levels and/or blood pressure values. After 6 months of treatment with 2 x 2 capsules per day, the anti-diabetic potential of Sattagas was confirmed by a significant reduction in blood glucose levels (from 2.59 ± 0.43 to 1.22 ± 0.43) in 80.95% (85/105) of patients, as well as a significant decrease in blood pressure values (from 177 ± 20.77/98 ± 10.70 to 149 ± 29.02/85 ± 13.64) in 90.16% (55/61) of hypertensive diabetics. The anti-diabetic effect of Sattagas (from 2.19 ± 0.29 to 1.22 ± 0.31 g/l) was similar to that of Metformin (from 2.14 ± 0.23 to 1.28 ± 0.41 g/l), and a synergistic effect was observed when Sattagas was combined with Metformin (from 2.21 ± 0.49 to 1.10 ± 0.20 g/l). In hypertensive diabetics, the combination of Sattagas and Guinex-HTN demonstrated a beneficial effect on blood pressure values. Except for some symptoms (epigastric pain, nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, fatigue) reported in 17 out of 103 patients that did not interfere with the continuation of treatment, both phytomedicines were well tolerated. Sattagas and Guinex-HTN, two products derived from Guinean pharmacopoeia, represent interesting and accessible alternatives for managing type 2 diabetes and hypertension, particularly among underprivileged populations in rural and urban areas of Guinea.展开更多
Cross entropy is a measure in machine learning and deep learning that assesses the difference between predicted and actual probability distributions. In this study, we propose cross entropy as a performance evaluation...Cross entropy is a measure in machine learning and deep learning that assesses the difference between predicted and actual probability distributions. In this study, we propose cross entropy as a performance evaluation metric for image classifier models and apply it to the CT image classification of lung cancer. A convolutional neural network is employed as the deep neural network (DNN) image classifier, with the residual network (ResNet) 50 chosen as the DNN archi-tecture. The image data used comprise a lung CT image set. Two classification models are built from datasets with varying amounts of data, and lung cancer is categorized into four classes using 10-fold cross-validation. Furthermore, we employ t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding to visually explain the data distribution after classification. Experimental results demonstrate that cross en-tropy is a highly useful metric for evaluating the reliability of image classifier models. It is noted that for a more comprehensive evaluation of model perfor-mance, combining with other evaluation metrics is considered essential. .展开更多
Developing a novel drop counter by introducing the Internet of Things concept has been vigorously conducted in recent years. Understanding the newly introduced drop counter’s flow rate control accuracy and flow rate ...Developing a novel drop counter by introducing the Internet of Things concept has been vigorously conducted in recent years. Understanding the newly introduced drop counter’s flow rate control accuracy and flow rate count feature is essential for improving safety in infusion management. This study aimed to verify if the new drop counters could secure accurate flow rate and drip count by conducting actual flow rate measurements using gravimetry and functional evaluation. A drop counter was attached to each drip chamber of the infusion set, and an IV drip was conducted at the 100 ml/h flow rate. The weight of discharged physiological saline was measured to plot trumpet curves. Next, three different types of drop counters were evaluated to determine if they maintained drip count accuracy according to the changes in their position angles. The flow rate errors in all conditions indicated trumpet-like curves, exhibiting an overall error range within ±10% in all observation windows. Although every drop counter successfully detected and measured dripping, it was challenging in some counters to detect dripping when the drip chamber was tilted. In comparing adult and pediatric IV sets, the adult IV set was found to be less likely to detect dripping in the angled position. No significant differences in results were confirmed between high and low flow rates, suggesting that the drop count function would not be affected by the flow rate in the ranges of typical infusion practices. Doppler sensors have a wide range of measurements and high sensitivity;the dripping was detected successfully even when the drip chamber was tilted, probably due to the advantages of these sensors. In contrast, miscounts occurred in those equipped with infrared sensors, which could not detect light intensity changes in tilted positions. Understanding the tendencies in flow rate errors in infusion can be valuable information for infusion management.展开更多
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an effective treatment for rotator cuff tears. Despite its advantages, complications occur at a high rate. Complications requiring revision include a high rate of base plate fail...Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an effective treatment for rotator cuff tears. Despite its advantages, complications occur at a high rate. Complications requiring revision include a high rate of base plate failure, 38% of which are due to instability. The primary stability the base plate ensures is a crucial factor and, thus, is the subject of much debate in clinical studies and biomechanical research. This study is aimed to provide data that will contribute to the base plate’s pri-mary stability and glenoid longevity by clarifying the stresses at the scapular fossa and base plate interface associated with elevation after RSA. A 3D finite element model was created from the DICOM data for the scapulohumeral joint and SMR shoulder system. For loading conditions, 30 N was applied for each posi-tion with abduction angles of 0, 45, 90, and 135 degrees. A three-dimensional fi-nite element analysis was performed using the static implicit method with LS-DYNA. The von Mises stresses in the scapular fossa were found not to exceed the yield stress on the bone even after elevation to an abduction angle of 135 de-grees after RSA. It is rough to uniformly compare the yield stress and the von Mises stress, but it was inferred that the possibility of fracture is low unless a large external force is applied. A maximum von Mises stress showed 0 degrees of abduction, suggesting that the lowered position is in a more severe condition than the elevated position. If better improvement is desired, it may be necessary to devise ways to reduce the stress on the upper screw. .展开更多
In recent years, there has been an increase in concern regarding the effects of paracetamol poisoning on liver tissues, particularly when consumed in large amounts. Some studies have estimated that paracetamol is invo...In recent years, there has been an increase in concern regarding the effects of paracetamol poisoning on liver tissues, particularly when consumed in large amounts. Some studies have estimated that paracetamol is involved in 56% of acute liver diseases, whereas 0.4% of paracetamol overdose cases result in fatal-ity. In this study, the effects of Moringa oleifera on paracetamol toxicity in the liver were explored. It has been demonstrated that Moringa oleifera is highly nu-tritious, contains bioactive molecules, and is therapeutically beneficial. Many studies have shown that Moringa oleifera leaves possess a wide range of biologi-cal properties, including antioxidant, tissue protection, analgesic, antihyperten-sive, and immunomodulatory activities. This study highlights the protective role of Moringa oleifera on handling possible paracetamol hepatotoxicity in male rats. .展开更多
Context: Advanced heart failure (AHF) poses a global challenge, where heart transplantation is a treatment option but limited by donor scarcity. Proposal: This study aims to enhance the performance of ventricular assi...Context: Advanced heart failure (AHF) poses a global challenge, where heart transplantation is a treatment option but limited by donor scarcity. Proposal: This study aims to enhance the performance of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in the face of adverse events (AEs) using a resilience-based approach. The objective is to develop a method for integrating resilience attributes into VAD control systems, employing dynamic risk analysis and control strategies. Results: The outcomes include a resilient control architecture enabling anticipatory, regenerative, and degenerative actions in response to AEs. A method of applied resilience (MAR) based on dynamic risk management and resilience attribute analysis was proposed. Conclusion: Dynamic integration between medical and technical teams allows continuous adaptation of control systems to meet patient needs over time, improving reliability, safety, and effectiveness of VADs, with potential positive impact on the health of heart failure patients.展开更多
E3 ubiquitin ligases are participated in numerous processes, regulating the response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Botrytis susceptible1 interactor (BOI) is a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-type E3 ligase that m...E3 ubiquitin ligases are participated in numerous processes, regulating the response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Botrytis susceptible1 interactor (BOI) is a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-type E3 ligase that mediates the ubiquitination of BOS1 (Botrytis susceptible1), a transcription factor involved in stress and pathogen responses. Although BOI is an E3 ligase, there are reports to show that BOI interacts with target proteins such as DELLAs or CONSTANS to repress gibberellin responses and flowering without the degradation of the target proteins. In this article, we utilize diversified methods to comprehensively analyze the expression pattern, interaction network and function of BOI gene. Firstly, 1800 bp upstream region of BOI gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) genome was isolated, and fused GUS reporter gene. The resulting expression cassette was introduced into wild-type Arabidopsis through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The result demonstrated that BOI gene was expressed predominantly in leaves, siliques, young roots, and flowering tissues, indicating that BOI gene may be involved in multiple processes in plant growth and development in Arabidopsis. Besides, eight candidate interacting proteins were obtained from the Arabidopsis cDNA library via yeast two-hybrid technology, including EXO70E2 (AT5G61010), WRKY7 (AT4G24240), WRKY11 (AT4G31550), WRKY17 (AT2G24570), UBP20 (AT4G17895), L5 (AT1G12290), SAUR9 (AT4G36110) and TCP21 (AT5G08330). Functional analysis of these candidate interacting proteins manifested that they related to multiple pathways, including biological and abiotic stress, programmed cell death, protein degradation, material metabolism and transcriptional regulation. In addition, the results of the transient assay proclaimed that BOI protein affects the protein stability of EXO70E2 and L5 through its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Our results provide novel clues for a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying BOI-mediated regulations.展开更多
文摘Accurate brain tumour segmentation is critical for diagnosis and treatment planning, yet challenging due to tumour complexity. Manual segmentation is time-consuming and variable, necessitating automated methods. Deep learning, particularly 3D U-Net architectures, has revolutionised medical image analysis by leveraging volumetric data to capture spatial context, enhancing segmentation accuracy. This paper reviews brain tumour segmentation methods, emphasising 3D U-Net advancements. We analyse contributions from the Brain Tumour Segmentation (BraTS) challenges (2014-2023), highlighting key improvements and persistent challenges, including tumour heterogeneity, limited annotated data, varied imaging protocols, computational constraints, and model generalisation. Unlike previous reviews, we synthesise these challenges, proposing targeted research directions: enhancing model robustness through domain adaptation and multi-institutional data sharing, developing lightweight architectures for clinical deployment, integrating multi-modal and clinical data, and incorporating explainability techniques to build clinician trust. By addressing these challenges, we aim to guide future research toward developing more robust, generalisable, and clinically applicable segmentation models, ultimately improving patient outcomes in neuro-oncology.
文摘Tamanu oil, derived from the nuts of Calophyllum inophyllum, has gained increasing attention for its potential in acne management due to its purported anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. This analysis evaluates the efficacy of tamanu oil in acne treatment with a specific focus on its impact on inflammation and scar reduction. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive analysis of tamanu oil’s dual mechanism of action: reducing acne-related inflammation and promoting the healing of acne scars. Clinical trials and laboratory analyses were conducted to assess the oil’s effectiveness in diminishing erythema, swelling, and post-acne scarring compared to conventional treatments. Preliminary findings demonstrate that tamanu oil significantly reduces inflammation and accelerates wound healing, potentially offering a promising adjunct or alternative to standard acne therapies. Future research should aim to optimize formulation and application protocols, long-term effects, and comparative therapeutic efficacy with other anti-inflammatory agents. Tamanu oil offers a novel and effective approach to acne management, with potential advantages that go beyond inflammation reduction to include enhanced scar reduction, making it a subject that warrants further investigation.
文摘Routine pelvic examinations in women prescribed oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for acne management are scrutinized to assess their impact on dermatological outcomes versus gynecological health. A synthesis of clinical trials, patient surveys, and medical guidelines reveals that these routine exams do not significantly enhance the effectiveness of acne treatment with OCPs but are linked to increased patient discomfort and false-positive results. Evidence suggests that routine pelvic examinations do not significantly impact the effectiveness of acne management with OCPs but are associated with increased patient discomfort and higher rates of false-positive results. The analysis indicates that a more personalized approach, focusing on selective pelvic examinations based on individual risk factors and clinical symptoms, may offer a more practical and patient-centered alternative. The review advocates for a reexamination of existing guidelines to better align with a model of individualized care, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize best practices at the intersection of dermatological and gynecological care. Adopting a personalized approach to pelvic examinations could substantially improve patient care by minimizing unnecessary interventions and discomfort while maintaining the efficacy of acne treatment with oral contraceptive pills.
文摘This study investigated how a gluten-free diet affects hormones, with particular emphasis on cortisol, thyroid, insulin, and sex hormones. Background: For medical diseases such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, wheat allergy, and celiac disease, a gluten-free diet is important. The main area of concern for research is how a gluten-free diet can affect hormone levels and related health consequences. A review of the body of research on this topic, including studies on hormone regulation and the impact of dietary modifications, is a part of the methodology. These findings imply that a gluten-free diet may have an impact on hormone levels, which may affect metabolism, weight, and general health. These implications include the need for additional studies, particularly in those with autoimmune illnesses, to completely comprehend the relationship between a gluten-free diet and hormone regulation.
文摘Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial disease that is influenced by genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition, obesity, low physical activity, and unhealthy diet are key risk factors for T2DM. Result: Type 2 diabetes is treated with various natural medicines, the most significant of which is berberine (BBR). Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid found in various medicinal plants, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities and (BBR) has the potential to treat various diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusion: It has been found to be effective in AMPK activation, regulation of blood glucose and lipids, stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, inhibition of cancer cells, and reduction of fat formation.
文摘Hollow tubular tissues and organs of our body have various functions: gastrointestinal (esophagus), respiratory (trachea), and vascular (veins, arteries). A panel of pathologies is associated with each of these tissues and therapeutic interventions, surgery or replacement may be necessary. A precise knowledge of the mechanical properties of these tissues is thus required in order to understand their functioning in native conditions, to be able to elaborate some prostheses, or to design appropriate surgical training tools. These tissues may undergo expansions or contractions (peristalsis) and are exposed to internal pressures. The wall of tubular organs is organized in different layers, and each layer consists of various cell types and extra-cellular matrix, depending on the physiological functions that the organ has to fulfil. This yields anisotropic and compliant structures. In inflation experiments, the linear elasticity approach is acceptable as long as the organ’s inflation remains moderate. In this paper, elasticity laws are revisited and supplemented in order to show that, coupled with modern experimental characterization tools, they provide useful information (compliances, directional Young moduli, Poisson ratios) for the design of artificial tubular organs. The importance of a precise determination of the wall thickness and its evolution during inflation is pointed out.
文摘Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in the brain, affecting approximately 4 million people worldwide. PD patients often feel an increase in anxiety levels daily. While there are medications/exercises to help relieve anxiety, there are limited methods to reduce anxiety without the help of a caretaker. As a result, MEDIC Foundation, a non-profit organization in British Columbia, Canada, is designing an automated system that consists of a wristband and an application which uses vi-bration therapy to help reduce anxiety of PD patients. Literature reviews were conducted to document the project’s needs. Phase I of the project focused on de-veloping a prototype for the application and phase II on developing the wrist-band. The team developed prototypes of a wristband that automatically applies vibration near the median nerve as the heart rate variability (HRV) deviates away from the normal threshold of the user, and an application that displays real-time heart rate variability signals as well as provides for relaxation. The development of the prototype is still in early progress. By creating this automated system, we aim to provide a solution to senior PD patients to relieve anxiety independently. .
文摘Reproduction via cis-binary mechanisms appears to have evolved fairly early in the evolution of complex organisms, and a system committed to prior to evolution of humans. While the evolution of a chromosomal-specific approach has been a successful strategy for survival of a large variety of species including humans, the fidelity of sex determination leading to 100% cis-binary outcomes is not achieved in many species, with evidence for homosexual or bisexual behaviour evident in more than 1500 species. Thus, such outcomes indicates that sex determination is a multi-step process and not a single event, and as such, could lead to the appearance of variants during the process which developed much earlier than humans. Variants could arise either due to intrinsic variation in the steps of determination, or also be influenced by environmental factors of a biological or psychological nature. In contrast to homosexual variants which do not require interventions such as hormone therapy or surgery, expression of gender dysphoria, is more based in psychology, but also has biological underpinnings and can be influenced by such hormonal interventions and surgery. While the numbers of those with gender dysphoria is small (~0.6% - 1.0% of population), the attention given to this issue raises the possibility of biological and psychological environmental factors impacting the emergence of some of those expressing gender dysphoria. Furthermore, transitioning from male-to-female or female-to-male can have consequences regarding disease risks latter in life, including the appearance of autoimmune diseases. This review will attempt to review some of the evidence regarding sex determination, discuss why the system has potentially not been improved upon during evolution, how a potential role for sex chromosome function on neurodevelopment may be central to variation in humans, and how commitment to the current strategy is likely integrated into other sex-related events such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause to ensure species survival. It will also discuss how variants in sex determination could contribute to sex differences in disease risk and how epigenetic modifications could play a role in such risk. .
文摘This study evaluates the performance and reliability of a vision transformer (ViT) compared to convolutional neural networks (CNNs) using the ResNet50 model in classifying lung cancer from CT images into four categories: lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), large cell carcinoma (LULC), and normal. Although CNNs have made significant advancements in medical imaging, their limited capacity to capture long-range dependencies has led to the exploration of ViTs, which leverage self-attention mechanisms for a more comprehensive global understanding of images. The study utilized a dataset of 748 lung CT images to train both models with standardized input sizes, assessing their performance through conventional metrics—accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, specificity, and AUC—as well as cross entropy, a novel metric for evaluating prediction uncertainty. Both models achieved similar accuracy rates (95%), with ViT demonstrating a slight edge over ResNet50 in precision and F1 scores for specific classes. However, ResNet50 exhibited higher recall for LULC, indicating fewer missed cases. Cross entropy analysis showed that the ViT model had lower average uncertainty, particularly in the LUAD, Normal, and LUSC classes, compared to ResNet50. This finding suggests that ViT predictions are generally more reliable, though ResNet50 performed better for LULC. The study underscores that accuracy alone is insufficient for model comparison, as cross entropy offers deeper insights into the reliability and confidence of model predictions. The results highlight the importance of incorporating cross entropy alongside traditional metrics for a more comprehensive evaluation of deep learning models in medical image classification, providing a nuanced understanding of their performance and reliability. While the ViT outperformed the CNN-based ResNet50 in lung cancer classification based on cross-entropy values, the performance differences were minor and may not hold clinical significance. Therefore, it may be premature to consider replacing CNNs with ViTs in this specific application.
文摘Ranaviruses are harmful viruses that infect amphibians, fish, and reptiles, and have caused particularly devastating declines in amphibian populations. One particular type of ranavirus, called Frog Virus 3 (FV3), has been extensively studied due to its prevalence and impact on amphibians. Previous research has primarily focused on the virus’s genes, but little attention has been given to the non-coding regions of its genome. This article reviews recent studies that reveal the ability of ranaviruses, including FV3, to encode microRNA (miRNA), a type of regulatory RNA. These viral miRNAs play a crucial role in suppressing frog immune genes, modulating the virus-host interaction, and promoting viral infection. Understanding how ranaviruses use miRNAs to control disease progression is essential for addressing the health threat they pose to wildlife and ecosystems.
文摘Background: Skin aging is an unavoidable process aggravated by environmental agents. Among other energy devices, non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) technology is widely used for skin tightening and body contouring as it is simpler and more affordable than other technologies that also minimize pain and side-effects. However, most of the current RF devices do not provide automatic skin temperature control and it is difficult to achieve controlled, deep, and harmless thermal increase, so treatment performance and safety is dependent on the operator’s movements and expertise. Objective: To show the potential of numerical simulations for optimizing the design of monopolar and bipolar RF electrodes that are capable of providing homogeneous, deep and controlled heating. Materials and methods: In-silico models were developed and analyzed using Comsol Multiphysics software to simulate the RF effect produced in tissue by rotating monopolar and bipolar electrodes with different geometries from the Sculpt & Shape RF device (Sinclair, Spain), operating at frequencies of 0.5 and 1 MHz. Ex-vivo and in-vivo proof-of-concept tests were carried out to validate the simulations. Finally, treatments were performed on 16 subjects and a total of 78 body areas to assess the clinical results generated by the RF electrodes for skin tightening and body contouring. Results: In-silico studies emulated the superficial and deep dispersion of heat due to the release of RF energy into human skin tissue. The rotating electrodes (monopolar and bipolar) and the selected RF frequency (0.5 and 1 MHz) determined the homogeneity of the thermal distribution, the penetration depth (between 4.37 mm and 25.0 mm) and the heating dynamics (between 30 and 100 seconds to reach the target skin temperature), which were confirmed by ex-vivo and in-vivo tests. In addition, real treatments on facial and body areas using skin temperatures of between 43˚C and 44˚C showed consistent results with good clinical efficacy for skin tightening, circumference reduction and cellulite reduction, with no adverse effects and high subject satisfaction. Conclusions: New monopolar and bipolar RF electrodes with rotating technology have been designed and optimized using numerical simulations. The use of in-silico studies and accurate models that reproduce the thermal behavior of human biological tissues can be used to better understand RF devices and to develop superior, efficient, and safer products more quickly.
文摘Investigating the role of Big Five personality traits in relation to various health outcomes has been extensively studied. The impact of “Big Five” on physical health is here explored for older Europeans with a focus on examining age groups differences. The study sample included 378,500 respondents derived from the seventh data wave of Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The physical health status of older Europeans was estimated by constructing an index considering the combined effect of well-established health indicators such as the number of chronic diseases, mobility limitations, limitations with basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and self-perceived health. This index was used for an overall physical health assessment, for which the higher the score for an individual, the worst health level. Then, through a dichotomization process applied to the retrieved Principal Component Analysis scores, a two-group discrimination (good or bad health status) of SHARE participants was obtained as regards their physical health condition, allowing for further con-structing logistic regression models to assess the predictive significance of “Big Five” and their protective role for physical health. Results showed that neuroti-cism was the most significant predictor of physical health for all age groups un-der consideration, while extraversion, agreeableness and openness were not found to significantly affect the self-reported physical health levels of midlife adults aged 50 up to 64. Older adults aged 65 up to 79 were more prone to open-ness, whereas the oldest old individuals aged 80 up to 105 were mainly affected by openness and conscientiousness. .
文摘The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of BM (basement membrane) and SIS (small intestine submucosa) composite extracellular matrix staple line reinforcement in surgical procedures through finite element modelling simulations and leak-proof performance experiments. The mechanical analyses of soft tissues with and without staple line reinforcement were performed by establishing finite element models of three tissues, namely, stomach, intestine and lungs, under the use scenarios of different anastomosis staple models;and the leak-proof performance of the staple line reinforcement was evaluated by simulating leak-proof experiments of gastric incision margins, intestinal sections, and lung incision margins in vitro. The results showed that the equivalent average stresses of the staple line reinforcement were increased by 20 kPa-68 kPa in gastric and intestinal tissues, and 8 kPa-22 kPa in lung tissues. and that the BM and SIS composite extracellular matrix staple line reinforcement could strengthen the anastomotic structure, and at the same time disperse the high stresses of the anastomosed tissues, which could effectively reduce the postoperative complications such as anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic leakage, and provide a safer and more effective optimized design for surgical mechanical anastomosis. It can effectively reduce postoperative complications such as anastomotic bleeding and anastomotic leakage, and provide a safer and more effective optimized design for surgical mechanical anastomosis.
文摘The management of non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension remains a concern in developing countries. In Guinea, whether by choice or necessity, traditional medicine and herbal remedies are the primary recourse for the population, both in rural and urban areas. Previous investigations led to the development of two phytomedicines designed for managing essential hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes (DT2), named “Guinex-HTN®” and “Sattagas.” An evaluation of their therapeutic benefits was conducted during a prevalence survey carried out in Dubréka. This survey revealed a prevalence of 73.52% (211/287) for HTN, 36.58% (105/287) for DT2, and 33.45% (96/287) for combined DT2/HTN. The therapeutic potential of Sattagas and the combination of Sattagas with Guinex-HTN were assessed in diabetic and hypertensive diabetic patients, respectively. Comparisons were made between Sattagas, Metformin, Sattagas plus Metformin, and Sattagas plus Guinex-HTN regarding their impact on blood glucose levels and/or blood pressure values. After 6 months of treatment with 2 x 2 capsules per day, the anti-diabetic potential of Sattagas was confirmed by a significant reduction in blood glucose levels (from 2.59 ± 0.43 to 1.22 ± 0.43) in 80.95% (85/105) of patients, as well as a significant decrease in blood pressure values (from 177 ± 20.77/98 ± 10.70 to 149 ± 29.02/85 ± 13.64) in 90.16% (55/61) of hypertensive diabetics. The anti-diabetic effect of Sattagas (from 2.19 ± 0.29 to 1.22 ± 0.31 g/l) was similar to that of Metformin (from 2.14 ± 0.23 to 1.28 ± 0.41 g/l), and a synergistic effect was observed when Sattagas was combined with Metformin (from 2.21 ± 0.49 to 1.10 ± 0.20 g/l). In hypertensive diabetics, the combination of Sattagas and Guinex-HTN demonstrated a beneficial effect on blood pressure values. Except for some symptoms (epigastric pain, nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, fatigue) reported in 17 out of 103 patients that did not interfere with the continuation of treatment, both phytomedicines were well tolerated. Sattagas and Guinex-HTN, two products derived from Guinean pharmacopoeia, represent interesting and accessible alternatives for managing type 2 diabetes and hypertension, particularly among underprivileged populations in rural and urban areas of Guinea.
文摘Cross entropy is a measure in machine learning and deep learning that assesses the difference between predicted and actual probability distributions. In this study, we propose cross entropy as a performance evaluation metric for image classifier models and apply it to the CT image classification of lung cancer. A convolutional neural network is employed as the deep neural network (DNN) image classifier, with the residual network (ResNet) 50 chosen as the DNN archi-tecture. The image data used comprise a lung CT image set. Two classification models are built from datasets with varying amounts of data, and lung cancer is categorized into four classes using 10-fold cross-validation. Furthermore, we employ t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding to visually explain the data distribution after classification. Experimental results demonstrate that cross en-tropy is a highly useful metric for evaluating the reliability of image classifier models. It is noted that for a more comprehensive evaluation of model perfor-mance, combining with other evaluation metrics is considered essential. .
文摘Developing a novel drop counter by introducing the Internet of Things concept has been vigorously conducted in recent years. Understanding the newly introduced drop counter’s flow rate control accuracy and flow rate count feature is essential for improving safety in infusion management. This study aimed to verify if the new drop counters could secure accurate flow rate and drip count by conducting actual flow rate measurements using gravimetry and functional evaluation. A drop counter was attached to each drip chamber of the infusion set, and an IV drip was conducted at the 100 ml/h flow rate. The weight of discharged physiological saline was measured to plot trumpet curves. Next, three different types of drop counters were evaluated to determine if they maintained drip count accuracy according to the changes in their position angles. The flow rate errors in all conditions indicated trumpet-like curves, exhibiting an overall error range within ±10% in all observation windows. Although every drop counter successfully detected and measured dripping, it was challenging in some counters to detect dripping when the drip chamber was tilted. In comparing adult and pediatric IV sets, the adult IV set was found to be less likely to detect dripping in the angled position. No significant differences in results were confirmed between high and low flow rates, suggesting that the drop count function would not be affected by the flow rate in the ranges of typical infusion practices. Doppler sensors have a wide range of measurements and high sensitivity;the dripping was detected successfully even when the drip chamber was tilted, probably due to the advantages of these sensors. In contrast, miscounts occurred in those equipped with infrared sensors, which could not detect light intensity changes in tilted positions. Understanding the tendencies in flow rate errors in infusion can be valuable information for infusion management.
文摘Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an effective treatment for rotator cuff tears. Despite its advantages, complications occur at a high rate. Complications requiring revision include a high rate of base plate failure, 38% of which are due to instability. The primary stability the base plate ensures is a crucial factor and, thus, is the subject of much debate in clinical studies and biomechanical research. This study is aimed to provide data that will contribute to the base plate’s pri-mary stability and glenoid longevity by clarifying the stresses at the scapular fossa and base plate interface associated with elevation after RSA. A 3D finite element model was created from the DICOM data for the scapulohumeral joint and SMR shoulder system. For loading conditions, 30 N was applied for each posi-tion with abduction angles of 0, 45, 90, and 135 degrees. A three-dimensional fi-nite element analysis was performed using the static implicit method with LS-DYNA. The von Mises stresses in the scapular fossa were found not to exceed the yield stress on the bone even after elevation to an abduction angle of 135 de-grees after RSA. It is rough to uniformly compare the yield stress and the von Mises stress, but it was inferred that the possibility of fracture is low unless a large external force is applied. A maximum von Mises stress showed 0 degrees of abduction, suggesting that the lowered position is in a more severe condition than the elevated position. If better improvement is desired, it may be necessary to devise ways to reduce the stress on the upper screw. .
文摘In recent years, there has been an increase in concern regarding the effects of paracetamol poisoning on liver tissues, particularly when consumed in large amounts. Some studies have estimated that paracetamol is involved in 56% of acute liver diseases, whereas 0.4% of paracetamol overdose cases result in fatal-ity. In this study, the effects of Moringa oleifera on paracetamol toxicity in the liver were explored. It has been demonstrated that Moringa oleifera is highly nu-tritious, contains bioactive molecules, and is therapeutically beneficial. Many studies have shown that Moringa oleifera leaves possess a wide range of biologi-cal properties, including antioxidant, tissue protection, analgesic, antihyperten-sive, and immunomodulatory activities. This study highlights the protective role of Moringa oleifera on handling possible paracetamol hepatotoxicity in male rats. .
文摘Context: Advanced heart failure (AHF) poses a global challenge, where heart transplantation is a treatment option but limited by donor scarcity. Proposal: This study aims to enhance the performance of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in the face of adverse events (AEs) using a resilience-based approach. The objective is to develop a method for integrating resilience attributes into VAD control systems, employing dynamic risk analysis and control strategies. Results: The outcomes include a resilient control architecture enabling anticipatory, regenerative, and degenerative actions in response to AEs. A method of applied resilience (MAR) based on dynamic risk management and resilience attribute analysis was proposed. Conclusion: Dynamic integration between medical and technical teams allows continuous adaptation of control systems to meet patient needs over time, improving reliability, safety, and effectiveness of VADs, with potential positive impact on the health of heart failure patients.
文摘E3 ubiquitin ligases are participated in numerous processes, regulating the response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Botrytis susceptible1 interactor (BOI) is a RING (Really Interesting New Gene)-type E3 ligase that mediates the ubiquitination of BOS1 (Botrytis susceptible1), a transcription factor involved in stress and pathogen responses. Although BOI is an E3 ligase, there are reports to show that BOI interacts with target proteins such as DELLAs or CONSTANS to repress gibberellin responses and flowering without the degradation of the target proteins. In this article, we utilize diversified methods to comprehensively analyze the expression pattern, interaction network and function of BOI gene. Firstly, 1800 bp upstream region of BOI gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) genome was isolated, and fused GUS reporter gene. The resulting expression cassette was introduced into wild-type Arabidopsis through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The result demonstrated that BOI gene was expressed predominantly in leaves, siliques, young roots, and flowering tissues, indicating that BOI gene may be involved in multiple processes in plant growth and development in Arabidopsis. Besides, eight candidate interacting proteins were obtained from the Arabidopsis cDNA library via yeast two-hybrid technology, including EXO70E2 (AT5G61010), WRKY7 (AT4G24240), WRKY11 (AT4G31550), WRKY17 (AT2G24570), UBP20 (AT4G17895), L5 (AT1G12290), SAUR9 (AT4G36110) and TCP21 (AT5G08330). Functional analysis of these candidate interacting proteins manifested that they related to multiple pathways, including biological and abiotic stress, programmed cell death, protein degradation, material metabolism and transcriptional regulation. In addition, the results of the transient assay proclaimed that BOI protein affects the protein stability of EXO70E2 and L5 through its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Our results provide novel clues for a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying BOI-mediated regulations.
