Dear Editor,Lassa virus(LASV)is the causative agent of the acute viral hemorrhagic Lassa fever(LF),which is classified into Mammarenavirus within the Arenaviridae family,with a single-stranded,negative-sense,bisegment...Dear Editor,Lassa virus(LASV)is the causative agent of the acute viral hemorrhagic Lassa fever(LF),which is classified into Mammarenavirus within the Arenaviridae family,with a single-stranded,negative-sense,bisegmented RNA genome.Due to its high pathogenicity and lethality,LASV is considered as a priority threat to public health,with an estimated cases of 300,000 infections and 5000 deaths annually.LASV was first isolated and described as a clinical entity in 1969 in Lassa,Nigeria(Garry,2023).LASV isolates of different geographic and host origins are highly diverse in genomic sequences and phylogenetically classified into up to seven lineages,with each lineage predominately localized in specific countries.Although the research on LF has been carried out for decades since the pathogen first characterized,there is no approved antiviral drugs or vaccines for clinical use against LASV to date(Grant et al.,2023).One possible reason that hindered the development of countermeasures is that the preclinical studies on authentic LASV are restricted in high bio-containment biosafety level 4(BSL-4)facilities.In this letter,we describe isolation,and characterization of the LASV from the clinical samples.And we applied a coadministration assay of antiviral drugs for LASV by using a clinically isolated Mammarenavirus lassaense strain in the BSL-4 facility,aiming to investigate new therapeutic strategies for LASV infection.展开更多
Heterojunction has been widely used in vibration-driven piezocatalysis for enhanced charges separation,while the weak interfaces seriously affect the efficiency during mechanical deformations due to prepared by tradit...Heterojunction has been widely used in vibration-driven piezocatalysis for enhanced charges separation,while the weak interfaces seriously affect the efficiency during mechanical deformations due to prepared by traditional step-by-step methods.Herein,the intimate contact interfaces with shared S atoms are ingeniously constructed in SnS_(2)/SnS anchored on porous carbon by effective interface engineering,which is in-situ derived from temperature-dependent self-transformation of SnS_(2).Benefiting from intimate contact interfaces,the piezoelectricity is remarkably improved due to the larger interfacial dipole moment caused by uneven distribution of charges.Importantly,vibration-induced piezoelectric polarization field strengthens the interfacial electric field to further promote the separation and migration of charges.The dynamic charges then transfer in porous carbon with high conductivity and adsorption for significantly improved piezocatalytic activity.The degradation efficiency of bisphenol A(BPA)is 6.3 times higher than SnS_(2) and H_(2) evolution rate is increased by 3.8 times.Compared with SnS_(2)/SnS prepared by two-step solvothermal method,the degradation efficiency of BPA and H2 evolution activity are increased by 3 and 2 times,respectively.It provides a theoretical guidance for developing various multiphase structural piezocatalyst with strong interface interactions to improve the piezocatalytic efficiency.展开更多
The isolated fracture-vug systems controlled by small-scale strike-slip faults within ultra-deep carbonate rocks of the Tarim Basin exhibit significant exploration potential.The study employs a novel training set inco...The isolated fracture-vug systems controlled by small-scale strike-slip faults within ultra-deep carbonate rocks of the Tarim Basin exhibit significant exploration potential.The study employs a novel training set incorporating innovative fault labels to train a U-Net-structured CNN model,enabling effective identification of small-scale strike-slip faults through seismic data interpretation.Based on the CNN faults,we analyze the distribution patterns of small-scale strike-slip faults.The small-scale strike-slip faults can be categorized into NNW-trending and NE-trending groups with strike lengths ranging 200–5000 m.The development intensity of small-scale strike-slip faults in the Lower Yingshan Member notably exceeds that in the Upper Member.The Lower and Upper Yingshan members are two distinct mechanical layers with contrasting brittleness characteristics,separated by a low-brittleness layer.The superior brittleness of the Lower Yingshan Member enhances the development intensity of small-scale strike-slip faults compared to the upper member,while the low-brittleness layer exerts restrictive effects on vertical fault propagation.Fracture-vug systems formed by interactions of two or more small-scale strike-slip faults demonstrate larger sizes than those controlled by individual faults.All fracture-vug system sizes show positive correlations with the vertical extents of associated small-scale strike-slip faults,particularly intersection and approaching fracture-vug systems exhibit accelerated size increases proportional to the vertical extents.展开更多
Although African swine fever(ASF) has been prevalent for more than a century, it remains the number one swine disease that seriously endangers the global pig industry, and there is no effective means of prevention and...Although African swine fever(ASF) has been prevalent for more than a century, it remains the number one swine disease that seriously endangers the global pig industry, and there is no effective means of prevention and treatment(Wang et al. 2023). Due to its enormous economic and social impact, it is listed as a notifiable animal disease by the World Organization for Animal Health(Costard et al. 2013). Although ASF has been present in Sub-Saharan Africa since its first discovery in Kenya.展开更多
Porcine Contagious Pleuropneumonia(PCP)is a respiratory infectious disease of pigs caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.The disease has been prevalent in pig farms since it was first identified in 1957(Pattison e...Porcine Contagious Pleuropneumonia(PCP)is a respiratory infectious disease of pigs caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.The disease has been prevalent in pig farms since it was first identified in 1957(Pattison et al.1957).展开更多
Emerging evidence supports that sleep disorders are the main risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease(AD),and iron dysregulation may be the link between them.Our previous studies have confirmed that ketogenic ...Emerging evidence supports that sleep disorders are the main risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease(AD),and iron dysregulation may be the link between them.Our previous studies have confirmed that ketogenic diet(KD)can prevent chronic sleep deprivation-induced AD.However,it is uncertain whether exogenous ketones supplements(EKS),as an alternative intervention,have the same effects as KD.Thus,we investigated the prophylactic efficiency of EKS on chronic sleep deprivation-induced AD and reveal the underlying mechanism focus on iron metabolism.We observed that the prophylactic efficacy of EKS against chronic sleep deprivation-induced AD was comparable to that of KD.Meanwhile,our results suggest that both EKS and KD inhibited iron metabolism disorder through regulation of iron metabolism-related proteins.Moreover,we found that both EKS and KD reduced hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and iron-mediated lipid peroxides.Furthermore,EX527(silent information regulator 1(Sirt1)inhibitor),mostly abrogated these above protections of EKS,suggesting that the prophylactic effect of EKS on AD is partly dependent on Sirt1.Our findings provide novel evidence that EKS can be developed as functional foods to prevent or delay the development of AD,particularly in individuals with sleep disorders.展开更多
BACKGROUND Serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)levels and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings are widely used for the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer;however,research investigating their correlation remain...BACKGROUND Serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)levels and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings are widely used for the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer;however,research investigating their correlation remains limited.AIM To investigate the correlation between baseline MRI features and serum CEA levels in patients diagnosed with primary rectal cancer.METHODS Eighty patients(age:42-78 years)diagnosed with primary rectal cancer were enrolled.Baseline MRI examinations were performed to evaluate tumor size,T stage,circumferential resection margin status,extramural vascular invasion(EMVI),and lymph node metastasis.Serum CEA levels were concurrently measured.Statistical methods were used to analyze correlations.RESULTS Tumor size,T stage,EMVI,and lymph node metastasis were significantly correlated with serum CEA levels(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis identified T stage and lymph node metastasis as independent factors influencing serum CEA levels.CONCLUSION This study confirmed the correlation between baseline MRI features and serum CEA levels in patients with primary rectal cancer,highlighting their potential utility for precise diagnosis,staging,and prognostic evaluation.展开更多
Forestry waste(FW)is a significant renewable energy source in China.The substitution of coal blends(BC)with forestry waste to produce metallurgical coke was investigated aiming at expanding alternative resources and r...Forestry waste(FW)is a significant renewable energy source in China.The substitution of coal blends(BC)with forestry waste to produce metallurgical coke was investigated aiming at expanding alternative resources and reducing CO_(2)emissions in ironmaking process.The BC with different ratios of FW were carbonized in a fixed bed reactor,and the physicochemical structure of the coke derived from FW/BC co-carbonization was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,solid-state^(13)C nuclear magnetic resonance,optical microscopy,and scanning electron microscopy.The results reveal that the suitable incorporation of FW in BC is 10 wt.%,and the index of coke quality exhibits a good correlation with the optical anisotropy index and the aromaticity of the as-obtained cokes.The partial substitution of BC with FW exhibits potential benefits for colloid formation,owing to the higher hydrogen in FW.However,as the substitution ratio of BC with FW increases,it inhibits coke agglomeration due to more tortuous stacked structures formation during volatile releasing process.Moreover,it was identified that the substitution of higher BC ratios with FW results in the partial replacement of aromatic carbons by oxygenlinked carbons and aliphatic carbons.This substitution leads to a reduction in the aromaticity of the as-obtained coke.展开更多
BACKGROUND Rectal cancer is one of the common digestive system malignant tumors around the world.Its early diagnosis and staging are crucial for rectal cancer treatment and prognosis.In recent years,tumor markers have...BACKGROUND Rectal cancer is one of the common digestive system malignant tumors around the world.Its early diagnosis and staging are crucial for rectal cancer treatment and prognosis.In recent years,tumor markers have gradually received attention in early screening,treatment monitoring and prognostic evaluation of cancer,but their predictive role in rectal cancer staging and differentiation is still unclear.AIM To assess the prognostic value of tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)cancer antigen 72-4(CA72-4),carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),alongside multimodal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),for staging and differentiating rectal cancer in patients.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed 167 patients with rectal cancer who were treated at our institution from January 2020 to December 2024.Each patient underwent serological testing and multimodal MRI for diagnosis.Histopathological examination after surgical resection or imaging based on follow-up was used as the gold standard.According to the T stage and differentiation degree,patients were divided into low stage group(T1-T2)and high stage group(T3-T4).In addition,they were divided into low-differentiation groups and high-differentiation groups according to their differentiation degree.We compared the accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of tumor marker levels and MRI in rectal cancer stage and differentiation.RESULTS The study's findings indicate that in the context of rectal cancer T staging,there is substantial concordance between MRI and clinicopathological assessments,with a Kappa coefficient of 0.789(P<0.001).Similarly,for various degrees of tumor differentiation,MRI and clinicopathological evaluations demonstrated substantial agreement,with a Kappa coefficient of 0.651(P<0.001).Notably,the concentrations of tumor markers CA19-9,CA72-4,CEA,and AFP were significantly elevated in the T3-T4 stage compared to the T1-T2 stage.Furthermore,these markers were significantly higher in the low-differentiation group compared to the high-differentiation group(P<0.05).The combined use of tumor markers and MRI for preoperative T staging of rectal cancer yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 93.7%and a specificity of 94.6%,as evidenced by the receiver operating characteristic analysis,with an area under the curve of 0.947.For tumor differentiation,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 93.6%and 97.1%,respectively,with an area under the curve of 0.978(95%confidence interval:0.946-1.000),surpassing the accuracy of individual detection methods.CONCLUSION The CA19-9,CA72-4,CEA and AFP tumor markers combined with multimodal MRI have high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing rectal cancer stage and differentiation.Their diagnostic efficacy is significantly better than that of single tests,which can effectively improve the predictive ability of rectal cancer stage and differentiation,provide a more reliable diagnostic reference for clinical practice,and have important clinical significance.展开更多
Natural fractures controlled by faults in ultradeep carbonate strata play substantial roles as both fluid migration channels and storage spaces.However,characterizing the heterogeneous distribution of underground frac...Natural fractures controlled by faults in ultradeep carbonate strata play substantial roles as both fluid migration channels and storage spaces.However,characterizing the heterogeneous distribution of underground fractures within the complex three-dimensional geometry of strike-slip fault zones remains challenging.This study investigates the characteristics of natural fractures controlled by strike-slip faults in the fractured Middle and Lower Ordovician reservoirs of the central and northern Tarim Basin,China.Seismics,cores,and image logs were integrated to quantitatively analyze the intensity and dip angle of natural fractures and findings were verified using published sandbox simulations.The carbonate reservoir contains three main types of natural fractures:tectonic fractures,abnormal high-pressure-related fractures,and stylolites.Strike-slip faults control the distribution and characteristics of tectonic fractures across various scales.Generally,both fracture intensity and porosity exhibit a decreasing trend as the distance from the main fault surface increases.Compared with those in non-stepover zones along a strike-slip fault,natural fractures and faults in stepover zones are more developed along the fault strike,with significantly greater development intensity in central stepover regions than that at its two ends.Furthermore,strike-slip faults influence the dip angles of both natural fractures and secondary faults.The proportion of medium-to-low-dip angle fractures and faults in the stepover zone is greater than that in the non-stepover zone.Additionally,the proportion of medium-to low-dip angle fractures and faults in the middle of the stepover is greater than that at both ends.Therefore,strike-slip fault structures control the dip angle of natural fracture and the heterogeneity of secondary fault and fracture intensity.The linking damage zone in the stepover contains a larger volume of fractured rocks,making it a promising petroleum exploration target.The development of stepovers and the orientation of present-day in-situ stress substantially influence the productivity of fractured reservoirs controlled by strike-slip faults.The analysis in this study reveals that reservoir productivity increases as the angle between the strike-slip fault segment and the maximum horizontal principal stress decreases.This study provides valuable insights for quantitatively evaluating fracture heterogeneity in fractured reservoirs and establishing optimized selection criteria for favorable targets in fault-related fractured reservoirs.展开更多
Fissured coal mass under triaxial unloading condition exhibits higher burst potential than the triaxial loading condition,which poses challenge to safety and productivity of resources extraction and underground space ...Fissured coal mass under triaxial unloading condition exhibits higher burst potential than the triaxial loading condition,which poses challenge to safety and productivity of resources extraction and underground space utilization.To comprehensively understand the mechanism of unloading-induced burst during excavation process,this study investigated the fracture and energy evolution of samples with different fissure types such as single,two parallel,and two coplanar-parallel using PFC2D modelling.Triaxial loading tests were conducted to determine the compressive strengths and other parameters.With increase of fissure inclination angle,the triaxial compressive strength decreases forβ=0°-30°,and then increase forβ=30°-90°.The strength of samples with two coplanar-parallel fissures is the highest.Fissure can significantly change the distribution of fracture and elastic energy.Secondary cracks were generated starting from both ends of the fissure.Forβ=0°-60°,low elastic strain energy area was produced around the fissure along the loading direction.The elastic strain energy is transferred to the outside of fissures.Forβ=75°-90°,only a small amount of high elastic strain energy was generated on both sides of the fissure.The fracture expansion under unloading conditions occurred due to tensile stress T caused by unloading differential rebound deformation and the shear stress on the fissure surface.展开更多
A gas production potential method for optimization of gas wellsite locations selection is proposed in terms of the coalbed gas resources volume and the recoverability. The method uses the actual data about reservoirs ...A gas production potential method for optimization of gas wellsite locations selection is proposed in terms of the coalbed gas resources volume and the recoverability. The method uses the actual data about reservoirs in a coalbed gas field in central China to optimize wellsite locations in the studied area in combination with the dynamic data about actual production in the coalbed gas field, selects a favorable subarea for gas wells deployment. The method is established based on the basic properties of coal reservoirs, in combination with the coalbed thickness and the gas content to make an analysis of the gas storage potential of a coal reservoir, as well as resources volume and the permeability of a coal reservoir. This method can be popularized for optimization of wellsite locations in other methane gas development areas or blocks.展开更多
Coal and gas outburst is a complex dynamic disaster during coal underground mining.Revealing the disaster mechanism is of great signifcance for accurate prediction and prevention of coal and gas outburst.The geo-dynam...Coal and gas outburst is a complex dynamic disaster during coal underground mining.Revealing the disaster mechanism is of great signifcance for accurate prediction and prevention of coal and gas outburst.The geo-dynamic system of coal and gas outburst is proposed.The framework of geo-dynamic system is composed of gassy coal mass,geological dynamic environment and mining disturbance.Equations of stress–damage–seepage interaction for gassy coal mass is constructed to resolve the outburst elimination process by gas extraction with boreholes through layer in foor roadway.The results show the occurrence of outburst is divided into the evolution process of gestation,formation,development and termination of geo-dynamic system.The scale range of outburst occurrence is determined,which provides a spatial basis for the prevention and control of outburst.The formation criterion and instability criterion of coal and gas outburst are established.The formation criterion F1 is defned as the scale of the geo-dynamic system,and the instability criterion F2 is defned as the scale of the outburst geo-body.According to the geo-dynamic system,the elimination mechanism of coal and gas outburst—‘unloading+depressurization’is established,and the gas extraction by boreholes through layer in foor roadway for outburst elimination is given.For the research case,when the gas extraction is 120 days,the gas pressure of the coal seam is reduced to below 0.4 MPa,and the outburst danger is eliminated efectively.展开更多
Incorporation of the Monte Carlo(MC)algorithm in optimizing CyberKnife(CK)plans is cumbersome,and early models unconfigured MC calculations,therefore,this study investigated algorithm-based dose calculation discrepanc...Incorporation of the Monte Carlo(MC)algorithm in optimizing CyberKnife(CK)plans is cumbersome,and early models unconfigured MC calculations,therefore,this study investigated algorithm-based dose calculation discrepancies by selecting different prescription isodose lines(PIDLs)in head and lung CK plans.CK plans were based on anthropomorphic phantoms.Four shells were set at 2-60 mm from the target,and the constraint doses were adjusted according to the design stratcgy.After optimization,30%-90%PIDL plans were generated by ray tracing(RT).In the evaluation module,CK plans were recalculated using the MC algorithm.Therefore,the dosimetric parameters of different PIDL plans based on the RT and MC algorithms were obtained and analyzed.The discrepancies(mean+SD)were 3.72%+0.31%,3.40%+0.11%,3.47%+0.32%,0.17%+0.11%,0.64%+3.60%,7.73%+1.60%,14.62%+3.21%and 10.10%+1.57%for Djs,Dmeam),Dys,and coverage of the PTV,DGI,V,,V;and V,in the head plans and-6.32%+1.15%,-13.46%+0.98%,-20.63%+2.25%,-34.78%+25.03%,12248%+175.60%,-12.92%+5.41%,3.19%+4.67%and 7.13%+1.56%in the lung plans,respectively.The following parameters were significantly correlated with PIDL:dp98%at the 0.05 level and dpal,dys and dv3 at the 0.01 level for the head plans;dp98e%at the 0.05 level and do1e%,dpmeam,Ccoweange,dool,dvs and dv;at the 0.01 level for the lung plans.RT may be used to calculate the dose in CK head plans,but when the dose of organs at risk is close to the limit,it is necessary to refer to the MC results or to further optimize the CK plan to reduce the dose.For lung plans,the MC algorithm is recommended.For early models without the MC algorithm,a lower PIDL plan is recommended;otherwise,a large PIDL plan risks serious underdosage in the target area.展开更多
This article introduces various editions of Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica)and displays or collects in the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),along with many other works on ...This article introduces various editions of Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica)and displays or collects in the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),along with many other works on the study of Li Shizhen.Li Shizhen is not only a distinguished physician and pharmacist in the Ming dynasty of China but also a great scientist in human history.The most prominent contribution Li had made was sorting and developing the traditional Chinese herbal medicine,with the compilation of Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica),which represented the highest level of pharmaceutical development of TCM from a new starting line.展开更多
Human rhinovirus(HRV)is one of the most important cold-causing pathogens in humans.Piwi-interacting RNAs(piRNAs)are a recently discovered class of small non-coding RNAs whose best-understood function is to repress mob...Human rhinovirus(HRV)is one of the most important cold-causing pathogens in humans.Piwi-interacting RNAs(piRNAs)are a recently discovered class of small non-coding RNAs whose best-understood function is to repress mobile element(ME)activity in animal germline.However,the profile of human/host piRNA during HRV infection is largely unknown.Here we performed high-throughput sequencing of piRNAs from H1-HeLa cells infected with HRV16 at 12 h,24 h,and 36 h.The results showed that 22,151,664,24,362,486 and 22,726,546 piRNAs displayed differential expression after HRV16 infection for three time points.A significant differential expression of 21 piRNAs was found in all time points and further verified by RT-qPCR,including 7 known piRNAs and 14 newly found piRNAs.In addition,piRNA prediction was performed on Piano using the SVM algorithm and transposon information.It found that novel_pir78110,novel_pir78107,novel_pir78097,novel_pir78094 and novel_pir76584 are associated with the DNA/hobo of Drosophila,Ac of maize and Tam3 of snapdragon(hAT)-Charlie transposon.The novel_pir97924,novel_pir105705 and novel_pir105700 recognize long interspersed nuclear elements 1(LINE-1).The novel_pir33182 and novel_pir46604 are related to the long terminal repeat(LTR)/(Endogenous Retrovirus1)ERV1 repetitive element.The novel_pir73855 is related to the LTR/ERVK repetitive element.Both novel_pir70108 and novel_pir70106 are associated with the LTR/ERVL-MaLR repetitive element.The novel_pir15900 is associated with the DNA/hAT-Tip100 repetitive element.Overall,our results indicated that rhinovirus infection could reduce the expression of some piRNAs to facilitate upregulation of LINE-1 transcription or retrotransposons'expression,which is helpful to further explore the mechanism of rhinovirus infection.展开更多
There is no unified planning standard for unstructured roads,and the morphological structures of these roads are complex and varied.It is important to maintain a balance between accuracy and speed for unstructured roa...There is no unified planning standard for unstructured roads,and the morphological structures of these roads are complex and varied.It is important to maintain a balance between accuracy and speed for unstructured road extraction models.Unstructured road extraction algorithms based on deep learning have problems such as high model complexity,high computational cost,and the inability to adapt to current edge computing devices.Therefore,it is best to use lightweight network models.Considering the need for lightweight models and the characteristics of unstructured roads with different pattern shapes,such as blocks and strips,a TMB(Triple Multi-Block)feature extraction module is proposed,and the overall structure of the TMBNet network is described.The TMB module was compared with SS-nbt,Non-bottleneck-1D,and other modules via experiments.The feasibility and effectiveness of the TMB module design were proven through experiments and visualizations.The comparison experiment,using multiple convolution kernel categories,proved that the TMB module can improve the segmentation accuracy of the network.The comparison with different semantic segmentation networks demonstrates that the TMBNet network has advantages in terms of unstructured road extraction.展开更多
Background: As a promising biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-Ⅱ(PIVKA-Ⅱ) has been studied extensively. However, its diagnostic capability varies across HCC...Background: As a promising biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-Ⅱ(PIVKA-Ⅱ) has been studied extensively. However, its diagnostic capability varies across HCC studies. This study aimed to compare the performance of PIVKA-Ⅱ with alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) in the diagnosis of HCC. Data sources: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify the studies from MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library Databases, which were published up to December 20, 2017 to compare the diagnostic capability of PIVKA-Ⅱ and AFP for HCC. The data were pooled using random effects model. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Summary receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was employed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of each marker. Results: Thirty-one studies were included. The pooled sensitivity(95% CI) of PIVKA-Ⅱ and AFP was 0.66(0.65–0.68) and 0.66(0.65–0.67), respectively in diagnosis of HCC; and the corresponding pooled specificity(95% CI) was 0.89(0.88–0.90) and 0.84(0.83–0.85), respectively. The area under the ROC curve(AUC) of PIVKA-Ⅱ and AFP was 0.856(0.817–0.895) and 0.770(0.728–0.811), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that PIVKA-Ⅱ was superior to AFP in terms of the AUC for both small HCC( < 3 cm) [0.863(0.825–0.901) vs 0.717(0.658–0.776)] and large HCC( ≥ 3 cm) [0.854(0.811–0.897) vs 0.729(0.682–0.776)]; for American [0.926(0.897–0.955) vs 0.698(0.594–0.662)], European [0.772(0.743–0.801) vs 0.628(0.594–0.662)], Asian [0.838(0.812–0.864) vs 0.785(0.764–0.806)] and African [0.812(0.794–0.840) vs 0.721(0.675–0.767)] HCC patients; and for HBV-related [0.909(0.866–0.951) vs 0.714(0.673–0.755)] and mixed-etiology [0.847(0.821–0.873) vs 0.794(0.772–0.816)] HCC. Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that PIVKA-Ⅱ is better than AFP in terms of the accuracy for diagnosing HCC, regardless of tumor size, patient ethnic group, or HCC etiology.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2303300,2023YFC2605504)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82172273 and 31670165)the Open Research Fund Program of the State Key Laboratory of Virology of China(2023JZZD-01).
文摘Dear Editor,Lassa virus(LASV)is the causative agent of the acute viral hemorrhagic Lassa fever(LF),which is classified into Mammarenavirus within the Arenaviridae family,with a single-stranded,negative-sense,bisegmented RNA genome.Due to its high pathogenicity and lethality,LASV is considered as a priority threat to public health,with an estimated cases of 300,000 infections and 5000 deaths annually.LASV was first isolated and described as a clinical entity in 1969 in Lassa,Nigeria(Garry,2023).LASV isolates of different geographic and host origins are highly diverse in genomic sequences and phylogenetically classified into up to seven lineages,with each lineage predominately localized in specific countries.Although the research on LF has been carried out for decades since the pathogen first characterized,there is no approved antiviral drugs or vaccines for clinical use against LASV to date(Grant et al.,2023).One possible reason that hindered the development of countermeasures is that the preclinical studies on authentic LASV are restricted in high bio-containment biosafety level 4(BSL-4)facilities.In this letter,we describe isolation,and characterization of the LASV from the clinical samples.And we applied a coadministration assay of antiviral drugs for LASV by using a clinically isolated Mammarenavirus lassaense strain in the BSL-4 facility,aiming to investigate new therapeutic strategies for LASV infection.
文摘Heterojunction has been widely used in vibration-driven piezocatalysis for enhanced charges separation,while the weak interfaces seriously affect the efficiency during mechanical deformations due to prepared by traditional step-by-step methods.Herein,the intimate contact interfaces with shared S atoms are ingeniously constructed in SnS_(2)/SnS anchored on porous carbon by effective interface engineering,which is in-situ derived from temperature-dependent self-transformation of SnS_(2).Benefiting from intimate contact interfaces,the piezoelectricity is remarkably improved due to the larger interfacial dipole moment caused by uneven distribution of charges.Importantly,vibration-induced piezoelectric polarization field strengthens the interfacial electric field to further promote the separation and migration of charges.The dynamic charges then transfer in porous carbon with high conductivity and adsorption for significantly improved piezocatalytic activity.The degradation efficiency of bisphenol A(BPA)is 6.3 times higher than SnS_(2) and H_(2) evolution rate is increased by 3.8 times.Compared with SnS_(2)/SnS prepared by two-step solvothermal method,the degradation efficiency of BPA and H2 evolution activity are increased by 3 and 2 times,respectively.It provides a theoretical guidance for developing various multiphase structural piezocatalyst with strong interface interactions to improve the piezocatalytic efficiency.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U21B2062).
文摘The isolated fracture-vug systems controlled by small-scale strike-slip faults within ultra-deep carbonate rocks of the Tarim Basin exhibit significant exploration potential.The study employs a novel training set incorporating innovative fault labels to train a U-Net-structured CNN model,enabling effective identification of small-scale strike-slip faults through seismic data interpretation.Based on the CNN faults,we analyze the distribution patterns of small-scale strike-slip faults.The small-scale strike-slip faults can be categorized into NNW-trending and NE-trending groups with strike lengths ranging 200–5000 m.The development intensity of small-scale strike-slip faults in the Lower Yingshan Member notably exceeds that in the Upper Member.The Lower and Upper Yingshan members are two distinct mechanical layers with contrasting brittleness characteristics,separated by a low-brittleness layer.The superior brittleness of the Lower Yingshan Member enhances the development intensity of small-scale strike-slip faults compared to the upper member,while the low-brittleness layer exerts restrictive effects on vertical fault propagation.Fracture-vug systems formed by interactions of two or more small-scale strike-slip faults demonstrate larger sizes than those controlled by individual faults.All fracture-vug system sizes show positive correlations with the vertical extents of associated small-scale strike-slip faults,particularly intersection and approaching fracture-vug systems exhibit accelerated size increases proportional to the vertical extents.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1800100)the earmarked fund for China Agriculture Research System (CARS-35)。
文摘Although African swine fever(ASF) has been prevalent for more than a century, it remains the number one swine disease that seriously endangers the global pig industry, and there is no effective means of prevention and treatment(Wang et al. 2023). Due to its enormous economic and social impact, it is listed as a notifiable animal disease by the World Organization for Animal Health(Costard et al. 2013). Although ASF has been present in Sub-Saharan Africa since its first discovery in Kenya.
基金supported by the University-Industry Col aborative Education Program,China(220904860093831)。
文摘Porcine Contagious Pleuropneumonia(PCP)is a respiratory infectious disease of pigs caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.The disease has been prevalent in pig farms since it was first identified in 1957(Pattison et al.1957).
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province(ZR2021QH022,ZR2021QB198)National Natural Science Foundation of China(82001286)the Open Project of Liaocheng University Animal Husbandry Discipline(319462207-24)。
文摘Emerging evidence supports that sleep disorders are the main risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease(AD),and iron dysregulation may be the link between them.Our previous studies have confirmed that ketogenic diet(KD)can prevent chronic sleep deprivation-induced AD.However,it is uncertain whether exogenous ketones supplements(EKS),as an alternative intervention,have the same effects as KD.Thus,we investigated the prophylactic efficiency of EKS on chronic sleep deprivation-induced AD and reveal the underlying mechanism focus on iron metabolism.We observed that the prophylactic efficacy of EKS against chronic sleep deprivation-induced AD was comparable to that of KD.Meanwhile,our results suggest that both EKS and KD inhibited iron metabolism disorder through regulation of iron metabolism-related proteins.Moreover,we found that both EKS and KD reduced hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and iron-mediated lipid peroxides.Furthermore,EX527(silent information regulator 1(Sirt1)inhibitor),mostly abrogated these above protections of EKS,suggesting that the prophylactic effect of EKS on AD is partly dependent on Sirt1.Our findings provide novel evidence that EKS can be developed as functional foods to prevent or delay the development of AD,particularly in individuals with sleep disorders.
基金Supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China,No.LTGY24H160006Jiaxing Medical Key Discipline,No.2023-ZC-015.
文摘BACKGROUND Serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)levels and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings are widely used for the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer;however,research investigating their correlation remains limited.AIM To investigate the correlation between baseline MRI features and serum CEA levels in patients diagnosed with primary rectal cancer.METHODS Eighty patients(age:42-78 years)diagnosed with primary rectal cancer were enrolled.Baseline MRI examinations were performed to evaluate tumor size,T stage,circumferential resection margin status,extramural vascular invasion(EMVI),and lymph node metastasis.Serum CEA levels were concurrently measured.Statistical methods were used to analyze correlations.RESULTS Tumor size,T stage,EMVI,and lymph node metastasis were significantly correlated with serum CEA levels(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis identified T stage and lymph node metastasis as independent factors influencing serum CEA levels.CONCLUSION This study confirmed the correlation between baseline MRI features and serum CEA levels in patients with primary rectal cancer,highlighting their potential utility for precise diagnosis,staging,and prognostic evaluation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51706160)Natural Science Foundation of Wuhan(2024040701010057)+2 种基金Hubei Technological Innovation Special Fund(Grant Nos.2023AFA004,2023BCB106,and 2022BCA085)14th“Five-Year Plan’’Hubei Provincial Advantaged Characteristic Disciplines Project of Wuhan University of Science and Technology(2023C0108)Foundation of Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Fume&Dust Pollution Control(HBIK2020-02).
文摘Forestry waste(FW)is a significant renewable energy source in China.The substitution of coal blends(BC)with forestry waste to produce metallurgical coke was investigated aiming at expanding alternative resources and reducing CO_(2)emissions in ironmaking process.The BC with different ratios of FW were carbonized in a fixed bed reactor,and the physicochemical structure of the coke derived from FW/BC co-carbonization was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,solid-state^(13)C nuclear magnetic resonance,optical microscopy,and scanning electron microscopy.The results reveal that the suitable incorporation of FW in BC is 10 wt.%,and the index of coke quality exhibits a good correlation with the optical anisotropy index and the aromaticity of the as-obtained cokes.The partial substitution of BC with FW exhibits potential benefits for colloid formation,owing to the higher hydrogen in FW.However,as the substitution ratio of BC with FW increases,it inhibits coke agglomeration due to more tortuous stacked structures formation during volatile releasing process.Moreover,it was identified that the substitution of higher BC ratios with FW results in the partial replacement of aromatic carbons by oxygenlinked carbons and aliphatic carbons.This substitution leads to a reduction in the aromaticity of the as-obtained coke.
基金Supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China,No.LTGY24H160006Jiaxing Medical Key Discipline,No.2023-ZC-015.
文摘BACKGROUND Rectal cancer is one of the common digestive system malignant tumors around the world.Its early diagnosis and staging are crucial for rectal cancer treatment and prognosis.In recent years,tumor markers have gradually received attention in early screening,treatment monitoring and prognostic evaluation of cancer,but their predictive role in rectal cancer staging and differentiation is still unclear.AIM To assess the prognostic value of tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)cancer antigen 72-4(CA72-4),carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9),and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),alongside multimodal magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),for staging and differentiating rectal cancer in patients.METHODS This study retrospectively analyzed 167 patients with rectal cancer who were treated at our institution from January 2020 to December 2024.Each patient underwent serological testing and multimodal MRI for diagnosis.Histopathological examination after surgical resection or imaging based on follow-up was used as the gold standard.According to the T stage and differentiation degree,patients were divided into low stage group(T1-T2)and high stage group(T3-T4).In addition,they were divided into low-differentiation groups and high-differentiation groups according to their differentiation degree.We compared the accuracy,sensitivity and specificity of tumor marker levels and MRI in rectal cancer stage and differentiation.RESULTS The study's findings indicate that in the context of rectal cancer T staging,there is substantial concordance between MRI and clinicopathological assessments,with a Kappa coefficient of 0.789(P<0.001).Similarly,for various degrees of tumor differentiation,MRI and clinicopathological evaluations demonstrated substantial agreement,with a Kappa coefficient of 0.651(P<0.001).Notably,the concentrations of tumor markers CA19-9,CA72-4,CEA,and AFP were significantly elevated in the T3-T4 stage compared to the T1-T2 stage.Furthermore,these markers were significantly higher in the low-differentiation group compared to the high-differentiation group(P<0.05).The combined use of tumor markers and MRI for preoperative T staging of rectal cancer yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 93.7%and a specificity of 94.6%,as evidenced by the receiver operating characteristic analysis,with an area under the curve of 0.947.For tumor differentiation,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 93.6%and 97.1%,respectively,with an area under the curve of 0.978(95%confidence interval:0.946-1.000),surpassing the accuracy of individual detection methods.CONCLUSION The CA19-9,CA72-4,CEA and AFP tumor markers combined with multimodal MRI have high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing rectal cancer stage and differentiation.Their diagnostic efficacy is significantly better than that of single tests,which can effectively improve the predictive ability of rectal cancer stage and differentiation,provide a more reliable diagnostic reference for clinical practice,and have important clinical significance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U21B2062)funding from the Chinese Scholarship Council(CSC)and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation Grantsin-Aid Program.
文摘Natural fractures controlled by faults in ultradeep carbonate strata play substantial roles as both fluid migration channels and storage spaces.However,characterizing the heterogeneous distribution of underground fractures within the complex three-dimensional geometry of strike-slip fault zones remains challenging.This study investigates the characteristics of natural fractures controlled by strike-slip faults in the fractured Middle and Lower Ordovician reservoirs of the central and northern Tarim Basin,China.Seismics,cores,and image logs were integrated to quantitatively analyze the intensity and dip angle of natural fractures and findings were verified using published sandbox simulations.The carbonate reservoir contains three main types of natural fractures:tectonic fractures,abnormal high-pressure-related fractures,and stylolites.Strike-slip faults control the distribution and characteristics of tectonic fractures across various scales.Generally,both fracture intensity and porosity exhibit a decreasing trend as the distance from the main fault surface increases.Compared with those in non-stepover zones along a strike-slip fault,natural fractures and faults in stepover zones are more developed along the fault strike,with significantly greater development intensity in central stepover regions than that at its two ends.Furthermore,strike-slip faults influence the dip angles of both natural fractures and secondary faults.The proportion of medium-to-low-dip angle fractures and faults in the stepover zone is greater than that in the non-stepover zone.Additionally,the proportion of medium-to low-dip angle fractures and faults in the middle of the stepover is greater than that at both ends.Therefore,strike-slip fault structures control the dip angle of natural fracture and the heterogeneity of secondary fault and fracture intensity.The linking damage zone in the stepover contains a larger volume of fractured rocks,making it a promising petroleum exploration target.The development of stepovers and the orientation of present-day in-situ stress substantially influence the productivity of fractured reservoirs controlled by strike-slip faults.The analysis in this study reveals that reservoir productivity increases as the angle between the strike-slip fault segment and the maximum horizontal principal stress decreases.This study provides valuable insights for quantitatively evaluating fracture heterogeneity in fractured reservoirs and establishing optimized selection criteria for favorable targets in fault-related fractured reservoirs.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD1000705)the Basic Research Project of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education-Key Project of Independent Topic Selection(LJ212410147007).
文摘Fissured coal mass under triaxial unloading condition exhibits higher burst potential than the triaxial loading condition,which poses challenge to safety and productivity of resources extraction and underground space utilization.To comprehensively understand the mechanism of unloading-induced burst during excavation process,this study investigated the fracture and energy evolution of samples with different fissure types such as single,two parallel,and two coplanar-parallel using PFC2D modelling.Triaxial loading tests were conducted to determine the compressive strengths and other parameters.With increase of fissure inclination angle,the triaxial compressive strength decreases forβ=0°-30°,and then increase forβ=30°-90°.The strength of samples with two coplanar-parallel fissures is the highest.Fissure can significantly change the distribution of fracture and elastic energy.Secondary cracks were generated starting from both ends of the fissure.Forβ=0°-60°,low elastic strain energy area was produced around the fissure along the loading direction.The elastic strain energy is transferred to the outside of fissures.Forβ=75°-90°,only a small amount of high elastic strain energy was generated on both sides of the fissure.The fracture expansion under unloading conditions occurred due to tensile stress T caused by unloading differential rebound deformation and the shear stress on the fissure surface.
文摘A gas production potential method for optimization of gas wellsite locations selection is proposed in terms of the coalbed gas resources volume and the recoverability. The method uses the actual data about reservoirs in a coalbed gas field in central China to optimize wellsite locations in the studied area in combination with the dynamic data about actual production in the coalbed gas field, selects a favorable subarea for gas wells deployment. The method is established based on the basic properties of coal reservoirs, in combination with the coalbed thickness and the gas content to make an analysis of the gas storage potential of a coal reservoir, as well as resources volume and the permeability of a coal reservoir. This method can be popularized for optimization of wellsite locations in other methane gas development areas or blocks.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52004117,52174117 and 51674132)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China(2021T140290 and 2020M680975)the Discipline Innovation Team of Liaoning Technical University(LNTU20TD-03 and LNTU20TD-30).
文摘Coal and gas outburst is a complex dynamic disaster during coal underground mining.Revealing the disaster mechanism is of great signifcance for accurate prediction and prevention of coal and gas outburst.The geo-dynamic system of coal and gas outburst is proposed.The framework of geo-dynamic system is composed of gassy coal mass,geological dynamic environment and mining disturbance.Equations of stress–damage–seepage interaction for gassy coal mass is constructed to resolve the outburst elimination process by gas extraction with boreholes through layer in foor roadway.The results show the occurrence of outburst is divided into the evolution process of gestation,formation,development and termination of geo-dynamic system.The scale range of outburst occurrence is determined,which provides a spatial basis for the prevention and control of outburst.The formation criterion and instability criterion of coal and gas outburst are established.The formation criterion F1 is defned as the scale of the geo-dynamic system,and the instability criterion F2 is defned as the scale of the outburst geo-body.According to the geo-dynamic system,the elimination mechanism of coal and gas outburst—‘unloading+depressurization’is established,and the gas extraction by boreholes through layer in foor roadway for outburst elimination is given.For the research case,when the gas extraction is 120 days,the gas pressure of the coal seam is reduced to below 0.4 MPa,and the outburst danger is eliminated efectively.
基金This study was supported by grants from National Key Research and Development Plan for Digital Diagnostic Equipment Research and Development(No.2016YFC0106700)the Natural Science Foundation of Union Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology(No.02.03.2018-131).
文摘Incorporation of the Monte Carlo(MC)algorithm in optimizing CyberKnife(CK)plans is cumbersome,and early models unconfigured MC calculations,therefore,this study investigated algorithm-based dose calculation discrepancies by selecting different prescription isodose lines(PIDLs)in head and lung CK plans.CK plans were based on anthropomorphic phantoms.Four shells were set at 2-60 mm from the target,and the constraint doses were adjusted according to the design stratcgy.After optimization,30%-90%PIDL plans were generated by ray tracing(RT).In the evaluation module,CK plans were recalculated using the MC algorithm.Therefore,the dosimetric parameters of different PIDL plans based on the RT and MC algorithms were obtained and analyzed.The discrepancies(mean+SD)were 3.72%+0.31%,3.40%+0.11%,3.47%+0.32%,0.17%+0.11%,0.64%+3.60%,7.73%+1.60%,14.62%+3.21%and 10.10%+1.57%for Djs,Dmeam),Dys,and coverage of the PTV,DGI,V,,V;and V,in the head plans and-6.32%+1.15%,-13.46%+0.98%,-20.63%+2.25%,-34.78%+25.03%,12248%+175.60%,-12.92%+5.41%,3.19%+4.67%and 7.13%+1.56%in the lung plans,respectively.The following parameters were significantly correlated with PIDL:dp98%at the 0.05 level and dpal,dys and dv3 at the 0.01 level for the head plans;dp98e%at the 0.05 level and do1e%,dpmeam,Ccoweange,dool,dvs and dv;at the 0.01 level for the lung plans.RT may be used to calculate the dose in CK head plans,but when the dose of organs at risk is close to the limit,it is necessary to refer to the MC results or to further optimize the CK plan to reduce the dose.For lung plans,the MC algorithm is recommended.For early models without the MC algorithm,a lower PIDL plan is recommended;otherwise,a large PIDL plan risks serious underdosage in the target area.
文摘This article introduces various editions of Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica)and displays or collects in the Shanghai Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),along with many other works on the study of Li Shizhen.Li Shizhen is not only a distinguished physician and pharmacist in the Ming dynasty of China but also a great scientist in human history.The most prominent contribution Li had made was sorting and developing the traditional Chinese herbal medicine,with the compilation of Ben Cao Gang Mu(《本草纲目》Compendium of Materia Medica),which represented the highest level of pharmaceutical development of TCM from a new starting line.
基金This work was supported by the China MegaProject for Infectious Disease(2018ZX10102001,2018ZX10711001,2018ZX10734401 and 2018ZX10734404)the SKLID Development Grant(2011SKLID104).
文摘Human rhinovirus(HRV)is one of the most important cold-causing pathogens in humans.Piwi-interacting RNAs(piRNAs)are a recently discovered class of small non-coding RNAs whose best-understood function is to repress mobile element(ME)activity in animal germline.However,the profile of human/host piRNA during HRV infection is largely unknown.Here we performed high-throughput sequencing of piRNAs from H1-HeLa cells infected with HRV16 at 12 h,24 h,and 36 h.The results showed that 22,151,664,24,362,486 and 22,726,546 piRNAs displayed differential expression after HRV16 infection for three time points.A significant differential expression of 21 piRNAs was found in all time points and further verified by RT-qPCR,including 7 known piRNAs and 14 newly found piRNAs.In addition,piRNA prediction was performed on Piano using the SVM algorithm and transposon information.It found that novel_pir78110,novel_pir78107,novel_pir78097,novel_pir78094 and novel_pir76584 are associated with the DNA/hobo of Drosophila,Ac of maize and Tam3 of snapdragon(hAT)-Charlie transposon.The novel_pir97924,novel_pir105705 and novel_pir105700 recognize long interspersed nuclear elements 1(LINE-1).The novel_pir33182 and novel_pir46604 are related to the long terminal repeat(LTR)/(Endogenous Retrovirus1)ERV1 repetitive element.The novel_pir73855 is related to the LTR/ERVK repetitive element.Both novel_pir70108 and novel_pir70106 are associated with the LTR/ERVL-MaLR repetitive element.The novel_pir15900 is associated with the DNA/hAT-Tip100 repetitive element.Overall,our results indicated that rhinovirus infection could reduce the expression of some piRNAs to facilitate upregulation of LINE-1 transcription or retrotransposons'expression,which is helpful to further explore the mechanism of rhinovirus infection.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.62261160575,61991414,61973036)Technical Field Foundation of the National Defense Science and Technology 173 Program of China(Grant Nos.20220601053,20220601030)。
文摘There is no unified planning standard for unstructured roads,and the morphological structures of these roads are complex and varied.It is important to maintain a balance between accuracy and speed for unstructured road extraction models.Unstructured road extraction algorithms based on deep learning have problems such as high model complexity,high computational cost,and the inability to adapt to current edge computing devices.Therefore,it is best to use lightweight network models.Considering the need for lightweight models and the characteristics of unstructured roads with different pattern shapes,such as blocks and strips,a TMB(Triple Multi-Block)feature extraction module is proposed,and the overall structure of the TMBNet network is described.The TMB module was compared with SS-nbt,Non-bottleneck-1D,and other modules via experiments.The feasibility and effectiveness of the TMB module design were proven through experiments and visualizations.The comparison experiment,using multiple convolution kernel categories,proved that the TMB module can improve the segmentation accuracy of the network.The comparison with different semantic segmentation networks demonstrates that the TMBNet network has advantages in terms of unstructured road extraction.
基金supported in part by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China(81472284 and 81672699)Shanghai Pujiang Program(16PJD004)
文摘Background: As a promising biomarker of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-Ⅱ(PIVKA-Ⅱ) has been studied extensively. However, its diagnostic capability varies across HCC studies. This study aimed to compare the performance of PIVKA-Ⅱ with alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) in the diagnosis of HCC. Data sources: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify the studies from MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library Databases, which were published up to December 20, 2017 to compare the diagnostic capability of PIVKA-Ⅱ and AFP for HCC. The data were pooled using random effects model. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Summary receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was employed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of each marker. Results: Thirty-one studies were included. The pooled sensitivity(95% CI) of PIVKA-Ⅱ and AFP was 0.66(0.65–0.68) and 0.66(0.65–0.67), respectively in diagnosis of HCC; and the corresponding pooled specificity(95% CI) was 0.89(0.88–0.90) and 0.84(0.83–0.85), respectively. The area under the ROC curve(AUC) of PIVKA-Ⅱ and AFP was 0.856(0.817–0.895) and 0.770(0.728–0.811), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that PIVKA-Ⅱ was superior to AFP in terms of the AUC for both small HCC( < 3 cm) [0.863(0.825–0.901) vs 0.717(0.658–0.776)] and large HCC( ≥ 3 cm) [0.854(0.811–0.897) vs 0.729(0.682–0.776)]; for American [0.926(0.897–0.955) vs 0.698(0.594–0.662)], European [0.772(0.743–0.801) vs 0.628(0.594–0.662)], Asian [0.838(0.812–0.864) vs 0.785(0.764–0.806)] and African [0.812(0.794–0.840) vs 0.721(0.675–0.767)] HCC patients; and for HBV-related [0.909(0.866–0.951) vs 0.714(0.673–0.755)] and mixed-etiology [0.847(0.821–0.873) vs 0.794(0.772–0.816)] HCC. Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicates that PIVKA-Ⅱ is better than AFP in terms of the accuracy for diagnosing HCC, regardless of tumor size, patient ethnic group, or HCC etiology.
