Effects of Palygorskite Inclusion on the Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Antioxidant Ability, and Mineral Element Content of Broilers

The present study was conducted to investigate different levels of palygorskite supplementation on the growth performance, meat quality, muscular oxidative status, and mineral element accumulation of broilers. One hundred ninety-two 1-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were allocated to four dietary treatments with six replicates of eight chicks per replicate. Birds in the four treatments were given a basal diet supplemented with 0, 5, 10 and 20 g/kg palygorskite for 42 days, respectively. Compared with the control group, neither 5 g/kg nor 10 g/kg palygorskite inclusion affected growth performance of broilers during the 42-day study (P > 0.05). However, the highest level of palygorskite supplementation at 20 g/kg increased feed/gain ratio (F/G) of broilers (P < 0.001). Yellowness (P < 0.001) and redness (P = 0.003) of breast muscle and yellowness of leg muscle (P = 0.001) were decreased by palygorskite supplementation at the levels of 10 g/kg and especially 20 g/kg. In addition, redness of leg muscle was also reduced by the inclusion of 20 g/kg palygorskite (P = 0.009). In contrast, malonaldehyde (MDA) accumulation in the breast muscle was significantly increased by 20 g/kg palygorskite supplementation (P < 0.001). Supplementation of palygorskite at either 10 or 20 g/kg significantly decreased lead (Pb) accumulation in the breast (P = 0.001) or thigh (P = 0.045) and copper (Cu) accumulation in the breast (P = 0.022). In conclusion, growth performance, meat color, and antioxidant capacity of meat would reduce with the increasing level of palygorskite supplementation, whereas a higher level of palygorskite (10 or 20 g/kg) can alter mineral element accumulations in muscles as evidenced by reduced muscular Cu and Pb contents.

Population Genomics Reveals Low Genetic Diversity and Adaptation to Hypoxia in Snub-Nosed Monkeys

Snub-nosed monkeys (genus Rhinopithecus) are a group of endangered colobines endemic to South Asia. Here, we re-sequenced the whole genomes of 38 snub-nosed monkeys representing four species within this genus. By conducting population genomic analyses, we observed a similar load of deleterious variation in snub-nosed monkeys living in both smaller and larger populations and found that genomic diversity was lower than that reported in other primates. Reconstruction of Rhinopithecus evolutionary history suggested that episodes of climatic variation over the past 2 million years, associated with glacial advances and retreats and population isolation, have shaped snub-nosed monkey demography and evolution. We further identified several hypoxia-related genes under selection in R. bieti (black snub-nosed monkey), a species that exploits habitats higher than any other nonhuman primate. These results provide the first detailed and comprehensive genomic insights into genetic diversity, demography, genetic burden, and adaptation in this radiation of endangered primates.

Impact of dynamical scattering on quantitative contrast for aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope images

Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope images taken under optimum-defocus conditions or processed offline can correctly reflect the projected crystal structure with atomic resolution. However, dynamical scattering, which will seriously influence image contrast, is still unavoidable. Here, the multislice image simulation approach was used to quantify the impact of dynamical scattering on the contrast of aberration-corrected images for a 3C-SiC specimen with changes in atomic occupancy and thickness. Optimum-defocus images with different spherical aberration (CS) coefficients, and structure images restored by deconvolution processing, were studied. The results show that atomic-column positions and the atomic occupancy for SiC 'dumbbells' can be determined by analysis of image contrast profiles only below a certain thickness limit. This limit is larger for optimum-defocus and restored structure images with negative CS coefficient than those with positive CS coefficient. The image contrast of C (or Si) atomic columns with specific atomic occupancy changes differently with increasing crystal thickness. Furthermore, contrast peaks for C atomic columns overlapping with neighboring peaks of Si atomic columns with varied Si atomic occupancy, which is enhanced with increasing crystal thickness, can be neglected in restored structure images, but the effect is substantial in optimum-defocus images.

Effects of threonine supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, oxidative status, intestinal integrity, and barrier function of broilers at the early age

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of L-threonine (L-Thr) supplementation on the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant status, and intestinal health of broilers at the early age. One hundred and forty-four 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Arbor Acres Plus) were allocated into 3 treatments with 6 replicates of 8 birds each, and fed a basal diet (analyzed Thr content, 7.87 g/kg) supplemented with 0 (control diet), 1 and 3 g/kg L-Thr for 21 d, respectively. Treatments did not alter growth performance of broilers. Compared with control, 1 g/kg Thr supplementation increased relative weight of spleen (P = 0.013). A higher level of Thr (3 g/kg) increased relative weight of thymus (P = 0.003). The supplementation of 3 g/kg Thr reduced Escherichia coli (P = 0.040) and Salmonella colonies (P = 0.015), whereas increased Lactobacillus colonies (P < 0.001) in the cecal contents. Thr supplementation increased intestinal villus height (P < 0.05), and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.001), and the values for these parameters were intermediate with 1 g/kg Thr. Goblet cell density was increased by Thr supplementation (P < 0.001). The jejunal immunoglobulin G content was increased by the inclusion of Thr (P = 0.002). Broilers fed diet supplemented with 1 g/kg Thr exhibited increased concentrations of jejunal immunoglobulin M (P = 0.037) and secretory immunoglobulin A (P = 0.018). Likewise, 3 g/kg Thr inclusion increased ileal secretory immunoglobulin A content (P = 0.023). The jejunal malondialdehyde accumulation was reduced by Thr inclusion (P = 0.012). A higher level of Thr inclusion also reduced malondialdehyde content in the serum (P = 0.029). The high level of Thr inclusion (3 g/kg) upregulated mucin-2 mRNA expression (P = 0.034), whereas downregulated the mRNA abundances of interferon-γ (P = 0.036) and interleukin-1β (P = 0.031) in the ileum. In conclusion, L-Thr supplementation can improve immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of broilers at an early age.

Transcriptome Sequencing Analyses between the Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Line and Its Maintainer Line in Welsh Onion (Allium fistulosum L.)

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is important for exploiting heterosis in crop plants and also serves as a model for investigating nuclear–cytoplasmic interaction. The molecular mechanism of cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoration was investigated in several important economic crops but remains poorly understood in the Welsh onion. Therefore, we compared the differences between the CMS line 64-2 and its maintainer line 64-1 using transcriptome sequencing with the aim of determining critical genes and pathways associated with male sterility. This study combined two years of RNA-seq data; there were 1504 unigenes (in May 2013) and 2928 unigenes (in May 2014) that were differentially expressed between the CMS and cytoplasmic male maintainer Welsh onion varieties. Known CMS-related genes were found in the set of differentially expressed genes and checked by qPCR. These genes included F-type ATPase, NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase, etc. Overall, this study demonstrated that the CMS regulatory genes and pathways may be associated with the mitochondria and nucleus in the Welsh onion. We believe that this transcriptome dataset will accelerate the research on CMS gene clones and other functional genomics research on A. fistulosum L.

Integrated analysis in bi-parental and natural populations reveals CsCLAVATA3 (CsCLV3) underlying carpel number variations in cucumber

Carpel number variation in cucumber was controlled by a single gene, Cn . Linkage and association analysis revealed CsCLV3 as the candidate gene of the Cn locus. Carpel number (CN) is an important fruit quality trait of cucumber, but the genetic basis of CN variations is largely unknown. In the present study, segregating analysis in multiple bi-parental mapping populations (F2, F3, and RILs) derived from WI2757 (CN = 3) × True Lemon (CN = 5) suggested that CN is controlled by a simply inherited gene, Cn, with CN = 3 being incompletely dominant to CN = 5. Initial linkage mapping located Cn in a 1.9-Mb region of cucumber chromosome 1. Exploration of DNA sequence variations in this region with in silico bulked segregant analysis among eight re-sequenced lines allowed delimiting the Cn locus to a 16-kb region with five predicted genes including CsCLV3, a homolog of the Arabidopsis gene CLAVATA3. Fine genetic mapping in F2 and RIL populations and association analysis in natural populations confirmed CsCLV3 as the candidate gene for Cn, which was further evidenced from gene expression analysis and microscopic examination of floral meristem size in the two parent lines. This study highlights the importance of integrated use of linkage and association analysis as well as next-gen high-throughput sequencing in mapping and cloning genes that are difficult in accurate genotyping. The results provide new insights into the genetic control of CN variations in cucumber, which were discussed in the context of the well-characterized CLAVATA pathway for stem cell homeostasis and regulation of meristem sizes in plants. The associations of carpel number with fruit shape, size, and weight in cucumber and melon are also discussed.

[Necessity of repeated roll test in horizontal semicircular canalithasis positioned diagnosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of repeated roll test in horizontal semicircular canalithasis(HSC-Can) positioned diagnosis, so as to investigate the cecessity of repeated roll test.

METHODS

The patients with a chief complaint of positional vertigo accepted two consecutive cycles roll test, the evoked nystagmus characteristics of each cycle recorded by video-nystagmuograph(VNG), whose direction, intensity, time and other parameters characteristics were analyzed in 51 HSC-Can.

RESULTS

Horizontal nystagmus in the same direction with turning were induced in HSC-Can roll test. In 51 HSC-Can, roll test cycle 1 and cycle 2 induced nystagmus same strength side in 26 cases(51.0%), of which 19 cases with stronger nystagmus intensity in cycle 2, another 7 cases were weaker; the opposite strength side of the two loops induced nystagmus, and cycle 1 evoked nystagmus intensity were weaker than cycle 2, based on cycle 2 results determined HSC-Can affected side in 25 cases (49.0%). Lesion and normal side in cycle 1 induced nystagmus duration (x±s, the same below) were (13.4±11.5)s and (14.1±9.9)s, respectively intensity (18.1±22.4)°/s and (13.0±12.0)°/s; as in cycle 2 induced nystagmus duration was (20.7±10.2)s and (18.0±12.0)s, strength respectively(40.4±28.0)°/s and (15.6 ±11.2)°/s. Cycle 2 ipsilateral rotor position evoked nystagmus showed longer duration and stronger intensity than cycle 1. Between two cycle induced ipsilateral nystagmus duration, intensity differences were statistically significant (t values were -4.233 and -5.154, P=0.000). 51 HSC-Can patients, 44 patients selected repositioning maneuver, after 1-2 times of maneuver, 41 cases (93.2%) showed complete resolution of symptoms, all cases's symptoms were improved; other 7 patients selected medication only.

CONCLUSION

The proposed suspicious HSC-Can patients should receive at least two cycles roll test, and mainly in the second cycle could determine the location of the responsible semicircular canals.

NRAGE is involved in homologous recombination repair to resist the DNA-damaging chemotherapy and composes a ternary complex with RNF8-BARD1 to promote cell survival in squamous esophageal tumorigenesis

NRAGE, a neurotrophin receptor-interacting melanoma antigen-encoding gene homolog, is significantly increased in the nucleus of radioresistant esophageal tumor cell lines and is highly upregulated to promote cell proliferation in esophageal carcinomas (ECs). However, whether the overexpressed NRAGE promotes cell growth by participating in DNA-damage response (DDR) is still unclear. Here we show that NRAGE is required for efficient double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair via homologous recombination repair (HRR) and downregulation of NRAGE greatly sensitizes EC cells to DNA-damaging agents both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, NRAGE not only regulates the stability of DDR factors, RNF8 and BARD1, in a ubiquitin-proteolytic pathway, but also chaperons the interaction between BARD1 and RNF8 via their RING domains to form a novel ternary complex. Additionally, the expression of NRAGE is closely correlated with RNF8 and BARD1 in esophageal tumor tissues. In summary, our findings reveal a novel function of NRAGE that will help to guide personalized esophageal cancer treatments by targeting NRAGE to increase cell sensitivity to DNA-damaging therapeutics in the long run.

Fine genetic mapping of target leaf spot resistance gene cca-3 in cucumber, Cucumis sativus L

The cucumber target leaf spot resistance gene cca - 3 was fine mapped in a 79-kb region harboring a CC-NB-ARC type R gene that may be responsible for the hypersensitive responses to infection of the target leaf spot pathogen in cucumber. The target leaf spot (TLS) is one of the most important foliar diseases in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In this study, we conducted fine genetic mapping of a simply inherited recessive resistance gene, cca-3 against TLS with 193 F2:3 families and 890 F2 plants derived from the resistant cucumber inbred line D31 and the susceptible line D5. Initial mapping with microsatellite markers and bulked segregant analysis placed cca-3 in a 2.5-Mbp region of cucumber chromosome 6. The D5 and D31 lines were re-sequenced at 10× genome coverage to explore new markers in the target region. Genetic mapping in the large F2 population delimited the cca-3 locus in a 79-kb region with flanking markers Indel16874230 and Indel16953846. Additional fine mapping and gene annotation in this region revealed that a CC-NB-ARC type resistance gene analog, Csa6M375730, seems to be the candidate gene for cca-3. One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was found in the NB-ARC domain of this candidate gene sequence between D31 and D5 that may lead to amino acid change, thus altering the function of the conserved NB-ARC motif. This SNP was validated in the segregating population as well as 24 independent cucumber lines. There was significantly higher level of cca-3 expression in the leaves of D5 (susceptible) than in D31 (resistant), and the expression level was positively correlated with the areas of necrotic spots on leaves after inoculation. It seems the cca-3 resistance gene was able to induce hypersensitive responses to the infection by TLS pathogen.

Effects of Fetal and Neonatal Murine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Infusion on MicroRNA-145 Expression in Renal Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in MRL/lpr Mice

For patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus, current medications are insufficient to control their condition, and new treatments are necessary. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of fetal and neonatal murine peripheral blood (FNPB) mononuclear cells and their impact on microRNA-145 (miR-145) in renal vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of MRL/lpr lupus-prone mice. MRL/lpr mice aged 20 weeks were randomized to 3 groups of 15 (control group, radiation group, infusion group). The renal tissues were subjected to pathological examination. In situ hybridization assay was applied to measure miR-145 expression in renal vessels of MRL/lpr mice. The infusion group had significantly better results for pathological renal tissue lesions than either the control or radiation group. In MRL/lpr mice, there was positive expression of miR-145 in renal VSMCs, although the expression of miR-145 was not discernible in renal vascular intima and adventitia. The miR-145 expression in renal VSMCs in the infusion group was significantly higher than in the control or radiation group, and higher in the radiation group than in the control group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. The increased expression of miR-145 in renal VSMCs might be one of the mechanisms supporting FNPB as a therapy for lupus nephritis; it also suggests that the miR-145 in renal vessels might be a new target for treatment of lupus nephritis.

Effects of Heat-oxidized Soy Protein Isolate on Growth Performance and Digestive Function of Broiler Chickens at Early Age

This study was conducted to investigate effects of heat-oxidized soy protein isolate (HSPI) on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, apparent nutrient digestibility and digestive function of broiler chickens. A total of 320 1-day-old Arbor Acres chicks were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 replicates of 10 birds, receiving diets containing soy protein isolate (SPI, control group) or the same amount of SPI heated in an oven at 100°C for 1, 4, or 8 h, for 21 days, respectively. The results indicated that compared with the control group, body weight gain and feed intake of birds fed diet containing SPI heated for 8 h were significantly lower (p<0.05). Serum urea nitrogen concentration was higher in the broilers fed diet containing SPI heated for 4 or 8 h at d 21 (p<0.05). In contrast, serum glucose content was decreased by HSPI substitution at d 21 (p<0.05). The relative pancreas weight in HSPI groups was higher than that in the control group at d 21 (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the opposite effect was observed for relative weight of anterior intestine and ileum in broilers fed a diet containing SPI heated for 8 h (p<0.05). Birds fed diets containing SPI heated for 4 or 8 h had a decreased lipase activity in anterior intestinal content at d 14 and 21 (p<0.05), respectively. In addition, the same effect was also noted in broilers given diets containing SPI heated for 1 h at d 21 (p<0.05). Similarly, amylase, protease and trypsin activity in anterior intestinal content were lower in broilers fed diets containing SPI heated for 8 h at d 21 (p<0.05). The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) from d 8 to 10 and DM, crude protein (CP), and ether extract from d 15 to 17 were lower in broilers fed diets containing SPI heated for 8 h (p<0.05). Besides, birds given diets containing SPI heated for 4 h also exhibited lower CP apparent digestibility from d 15 to 17 (p<0.05). It was concluded that HSPI inclusion can exert a negative influence on the growth performance of broilers, which was likely to result from the simultaneously compromised digestive function.

Effect of zinc-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite on growth performance, zinc accumulation, and gene expression of zinc transporters in broilers

This study investigated Zn-bearing zeolite clinoptilolite (Zn-ZCP) as a Zn supplement on performance, organ or tissue development, Zn accumulation in tissues, and gene expression of Zn transporters in the duodenum of broilers. A total of 300 1-d-old Arbor Acres chickens were randomly allocated to 5 dietary treatments with 6 replicate cages of 10 birds per treatment for a 21-d feeding period. The treatments comprised a basal corn–soybean meal diet without supplemental Zn (the control) or similar diets supplemented with 80 mg/kg Zn from ZnSO4 or 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn- ZCP, respectively. Supplementation of Zn-ZCP had a positive effect on G:F (linear, P < 0.05) and had tendency difference on ADG (linear, P < 0.1) of broilers during 1 to 21 d. Incremental Zn-ZCP inclusion in the diet increased the fresh weight of the pancreas (linear, P < 0.05) and tibia (linear, P < 0.05) in broilers on d 14. The same trend to the fresh weight of the tibia (linear, P < 0.05) and pancreas (linear, P < 0.05) was observed on d 21. Increasing Zn-ZCP level showed a linear response on Zn concentration in the liver (linear, P < 0.001), pancreas (linear, P < 0.05), and tibia (linear, P < 0.05) on d 14. The same trend of Zn concentrations in pancreas (linear, P < 0.05) and tibia (linear, P < 0.001) was observed on d 21. The mRNA levels of Zn transporter 2 (ZnT-2) and Zn transporter 5 (ZnT-5) in the duodenum of chicks fed the diet with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP did not differ from those of chicks fed the control diet, but both were lower (P < 0.05) than those of chicks fed ZnSO4 diet. Metallothionein (MT) mRNA levels of broilers fed the diet supplemented with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP or ZnSO4 was higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Dietary treatments did not affect the mRNA expression of Zn transporter 1 (ZnT-1) or metal response element-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1). In conclusion, as a Zn supplement, Zn-ZCP was comparable to ZnSO4 for enhancing Zn accumulation and growth performance of broilers during 1 to 21 d. Broilers fed the diet with 80 mg/kg Zn from Zn-ZCP had different expressions of ZnT-2 and ZnT-5 in the duodenum compared with those fed the ZnSO4 diet.

Restoring defect structures in 3C-SiC/Si (001) from spherical aberration-corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscope images by means of deconvolution processing

The [110] cross-sectional samples of 3C-SiC/Si (001) were observed with a spherical aberration-corrected 300 kV high-resolution transmission electron microscope. Two images taken not close to the Scherzer focus condition and not representing the projected structures intuitively were utilized for performing the deconvolution. The principle and procedure of image deconvolution and atomic sort recognition are summarized. The defect structure restoration together with the recognition of Si and C atoms from the experimental images has been illustrated. The structure maps of an intrinsic stacking fault in the area of SiC, and of Lomer and 60° shuffle dislocations at the interface have been obtained at atomic level.

RNA-Seq reveals leaf cuticular wax-related genes in Welsh onion

The waxy cuticle plays a very important role in plant resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses and is an important characteristic of Welsh onions. Two different types of biangan Welsh onions (BG) were selected for this study: BG, a wild-type covered by wax, which forms a continuous lipid membrane on its epidermal cells, and GLBG, a glossy mutant of BG whose epidermal cells are not covered by wax. To elucidate the waxy cuticle-related gene expression changes, we used RNA-Seq to compare these two Welsh onion varieties with distinct differences in cuticular wax. The de novo assembly yielded 42,881 putative unigenes, 25.41% of which are longer than 1,000 bp. Among the high-quality unique sequences, 22,289 (52.0%) had at least one significant match to an existing gene model. A total of 798 genes, representing 1.86% of the total putative unigenes, were differentially expressed between these two Welsh onion varieties. The expression patterns of four important unigenes that are related to waxy cuticle biosynthesis were confirmed by RT-qPCR and COG class annotation, which demonstrated that these genes play an important role in defense mechanisms and lipid transport and metabolism. To our knowledge, this study is the first exploration of the Welsh onion waxy cuticle. These results may help to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the waxy cuticle and will be useful for waxy gene cloning, genetics and breeding as well as phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of the Welsh onion.

Genetic variants in transcription factors are associated with the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of metformin

One-third of type 2 diabetes patients do not respond to metformin. Genetic variants in metformin transporters have been extensively studied as a likely contributor to this high failure rate. Here, we investigate, for the first time, the effect of genetic variants in transcription factors on metformin pharmacokinetics (PK) and response. Overall, 546 patients and healthy volunteers contributed their genome-wide, pharmacokinetic (235 subjects), and HbA1c data (440 patients) for this analysis. Five variants in specificity protein 1 (SP1), a transcription factor that modulates the expression of metformin transporters, were associated with changes in treatment HbA1c (P < 0.01) and metformin secretory clearance (P < 0.05). Population pharmacokinetic modeling further confirmed a 24% reduction in apparent clearance in homozygous carriers of one such variant, rs784888. Genetic variants in other transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-α, were significantly associated with HbA1c change only. Overall, our study highlights the importance of genetic variants in transcription factors as modulators of metformin PK and response.

Observation of enhanced monopole strength and clustering in (12)Be

In a recent breakup-reaction experiment using a Be12 beam at 29  MeV/nucleon, the 0+ band head of the expected He4+He8 molecular rotation was clearly identified at about 10.3 MeV, from which a large monopole matrix element of 7.0±1.0  fm2 and a large cluster-decay width were determined for the first time. These findings support the picture of strong clustering in Be12, which has been a subject of intense investigations over the past decade. The results were obtained thanks to a specially arranged detection system around zero degrees, which is essential in determining the newly emphasized monopole strengths to signal the cluster formation in a nucleus.

A novel staging model to classify oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients in China

BACKGROUND

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the predominant subtype of oesophageal carcinoma in China, with the overall 5-year survival rate of <10%. The current tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system has become so complex that it is not easy to use in the life expectancy assessment. We aim to combine clinical variables and biomarkers to develop and validate a relative simple and reliable model, named the FENSAM, for ESCC prognosis.

METHODS

To build the FENSAM, we analysed 22 potential prognostic factors from 461 patients, including 9 biomarkers (Ezrin, Fascin, desmocollin 2 (DSC2), pFascin, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), connective-tissue growth factor (CTGF), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), NGAL receptor (NGALR), and cysteine-rich angiogenic protein 61 (CYR61)) and other 13 clinical variables. We selected significant factors associated with survival of ESCC patients, and used them to build our FENSAM model. We then obtained the hazard risk score of the model to classify ESCC patients. In addition, we validated the model in an independent cohort of 290 patients from the same hospital. The predictive performance of the model was assessed by the Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTS

We found six markers significantly associated with survival of ESCC patients (Ezrin, Fascin, ATF3, surgery extent, N-stage, and M-stage). They were combined to create a novel four-stage FENSAM model for patients' classification. FENSAM possessed a high classification precision similar to the TNM staging system, but with a much simpler model. The efficiency of FENSAM was evaluated by different quantiles of AUC and the results of survival analysis. The validation result demonstrated the potential of the FENSAM model to improve classification accuracy for ESCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

FENSAM provides an alternative classifier for ESCC patients with a high classification precision using a simple model.