Metalearning-Based Alternating Minimization Algorithm for Nonconvex Optimization

In this article, we propose a novel solution for nonconvex problems of multiple variables, especially for those typically solved by an alternating minimization (AM) strategy that splits the original optimization problem into a set of subproblems corresponding to each variable and then iteratively optimizes each subproblem using a fixed updating rule. However, due to the intrinsic nonconvexity of the original optimization problem, the optimization can be trapped into a spurious local minimum even when each subproblem can be optimally solved at each iteration. Meanwhile, learning-based approaches, such as deep unfolding algorithms, have gained popularity for nonconvex optimization; however, they are highly limited by the availability of labeled data and insufficient explainability. To tackle these issues, we propose a meta-learning based alternating minimization (MLAM) method that aims to minimize a part of the global losses over iterations instead of carrying minimization on each subproblem, and it tends to learn an adaptive strategy to replace the handcrafted counterpart resulting in advance on superior performance. The proposed MLAM maintains the original algorithmic principle, providing certain interpretability. We evaluate the proposed method on two representative problems, namely, bilinear inverse problem: matrix completion and nonlinear problem: Gaussian mixture models. The experimental results validate the proposed approach outperforms AM-based methods.

[Comparison of single infusion of anti-BCMA versus combined infusion of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells for immune reconstruction in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma]

Objective: We observed and compared the differences in immune reconstruction between single-infusion anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) , chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) , and combined infusion of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells in the treatment of recurrent/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) . Methods: Sixty-one patients with RRMM who underwent CAR-T cell therapy in our hospital from June 2017 to December 2020 were selected. Among them, 26 patients received anti-BCMA target, and 35 patients received anti-BCMA combined with anti-CD19 target. Using flow cytometry, we determined T cell subsets (CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+)) , B cells (CD19(+)) , and NK cells (CD16(+) CD56(+)) at different time points before and after CAR-T treatment, and detected immunoglobulin IgG, IgA and IgM levels by immunoturbidimetry. We compared the reconstruction rules of lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins in the two groups. Results: CD8(+) T lymphocytes recovered most rapidly after the infusion of CAR-T cells, returning to pre-infusion levels at 3 months and 1 month after infusion, respectively[BCMA: 695 (357, 1264) /μl vs 424 (280, 646) /μl; BCMA+CD19: 546 (279, 1672) /μl vs 314 (214, 466) /μl]. NK cells returned to normal levels at 3 months after infusion in both groups[BCMA: 171 (120, 244) /μl, BCMA+CD19: 153 (101, 218) /μl (Normal reference range 150-1100/μl) ]; however, the NK cells were not maintained at stable levels in the BCMA CAR-T cells group. The recovery of CD4(+) T lymphocytes in both groups was slow and remained persistently low within 12 months after infusion, and no recovery was observed in most patients. The reversal of the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) lasted for more than a year. The levels of CD19(+) B cells in both groups returned to baseline 3 months after infusion[BCMA: 62 (10, 72) /μl vs 57 (24, 78) /μl; BCMA+CD19: 40 (4, 94) /μl vs 29 (14, 46) /μl]. IgG returned to the pre-infusion level 12 months after infusion in the group with anti-BCMA cells alone, but not in the group with combined infusion of CD19 CAR T cells[7.82 (6.03, 9.64) g/L vs 6.92 (4.62, 12.76) g/L]. IgA returned to pre-infusion levels at 9 and 12 months after infusion, respectively[BCMA: 0.46 (0.07, 0.51) g/L vs 0.22 (0.12, 4.01) g/L; BCMA+CD19: 0.46 (0.22, 0.98) g/L vs 0.27 (0.10, 0.53) g/L]. IgM in both groups returned to pre-infusion levels 6 months after infusion[BCMA: 0.43 (0.06, 0.60) g/L vs 0.20 (0.13, 0.37) g/L; BCMA+CD19: 0.53 (0.10, 0.80) g/L vs 0.16 (0.11, 0.28) g/L]. There was no significant difference in the indexes of lymphocyte subpopulation reconstruction and immunoglobulin recovery between the two groups at each time point. Conclusion: This study showed that in patients with RRMM treated with CAR-T cells, the appropriate target antigen can be selected without considering the difference of immune reconstruction between anti-BCMA CAR-T and combined anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy.

Anti-cancer effects of baicalein on cervical carcinoma cells through down-regulation of the ERK/p38/MAPK pathway

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of baicalein on apoptosis of HeLa human cervical cancer (CC) cells and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. HeLa cells were treated with 20, 50, 100, or 200 μmol/L baicalein for 24, 36, and 48 hours, and CCK-8 assays were used to detect cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to assess apoptosis rate. Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR was used to measure ERK1/2, p38, and JNK mRNA levels in HeLa cells, and western blotting was performed to measure ERK1/2, p38, and JNK protein levels. The CCK-8 assay showed that the OD value of HeLa cells gradually decreased with increasing baicalein concentrations (P < 0.01) and treatment time (P < 0.01). These results indicated a negative time- and dose-dependent effect of baicalein on HeLa cells. Baicalein treatment of HeLa cells significantly increased apoptosis rate (P < 0.01). In HeLa cells treated with 50 or 200 μmol/L baicalein for 24 h, expression levels of ERK1/2 and p38 mRNA were significantly reduced, whereas that of JNK mRNA was increased (P < 0.01). The levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and p38 were significantly reduced, and the level of JNK protein was increased (P < 0.01). Taken together, baicalein appeared to exert anti-cancer effects on HeLa cells through induction of apoptosis and regulation of the ERK/p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

A pilot screening study for low bone mass in Singaporean women using years since menopause and BMI

OBJECTIVE

Current risk assessment tools for osteoporosis have inconsistent performance across different cohorts, making them difficult for clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate a simple screening index comprising years since menopause (YSM) and body mass index (BMI) that identifies postmenopausal Singaporean women with a greater likelihood of low bone mass.

METHODS

The study used data from 188 treatment-naïve postmenopausal women. The associations between low bone mass and different demographic variables, including age, YSM and BMI, were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Diagnostic performance of the calculated screening index was compared to the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA) and the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX^®).

RESULTS

YSM and BMI were significantly associated with low bone mass. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.803 for the screening index, 0.759 for the OSTA, 0.683 for the FRAX^® (major osteoporotic fracture probability [MOFP]) and 0.647 for the FRAX^® (hip fracture probability [HFP]). Non-parametric Spearman's correlation between the screening index and the other models was 0.857 with the OSTA score, 0.694 with the FRAX^® (HFP) and 0.565 with the FRAX^® (MOFP) (p < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnostic performance of the screening index comprising YSM and BMI was equivalent to the OSTA and the FRAX^®. A risk chart was developed for clinicians to identify and recommend subjects for a further dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Validation of this model in larger and more diverse cohorts is required.

[Advances in research of microRNA in the growth and development of mandibular condyle cartilage]

MicroRNA (miRNA) are a class of small non-coding single-stranded RNA that exert their biological effects by binding to target messenger RNA (mRNA). There is new evidence that miRNA may play an important role in regulating the growth and development of mandibular condylar cartilage. In this paper, the production and mechanism of miRNA are reviewed, and the progress of studies on the growth and development of mandibular condylar cartilage, which is helpful to further study the growth and development of mandibular condylar cartilage.

[The current status and applications of implantable bone-conduction devices]

Implantable bone-conduction devices are characterized by the fact that the vibration is transmitted through bone conduction. The technology and surgical techniques in the application of implantable bone-conduction devices have developed considerably in recent years, experiencing a transformation from percutaneous to transcutaneous implantation. This article reviewed current developments in the types, surgical indications, and complications, as well as compared between the various bone-conduction devices to provid references for clinical application.

Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma may be misdiagnosed as gastritis cystica profunda

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. The low detection rate of early GC is one of the reasons for its high mortality rate. Thanks to the application of new gastroscopy technology, the detection rate of early GC has increased. Highly differentiated adenocarcinoma accounts for about 70% of all early GC cases; however, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma is difficult to diagnose because of its non-significant structural abnormality and cellular atypia. Gastritis cystica profunda is a rare disease characterized by the presence of the gastric intrinsic gland in the muscularis mucosa and/or submucosa, which is easily confused with highly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Therefore, attention should be paid to the identification of these two different entities in the clinical work.

[Protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide against liver injury induced by D-galactose in aging mice and its mechanisms]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP) against liver injury induced by D-galactose in aging mice and its mechanisms.

METHODS

Male C57BL/6J were randomly divided into three groups with 10 mice in each group. In the D-galactose model group, the mice were subcutaneously injected with D-galactose (120 mg/kg) qd×42; in the ASP+D-galactose group, from the 8th day of the establishment of D-galactose model, the mice were subcutaneously injected with ASP (120 mg/kg) qd×35. In the normal control group, the mice were subcutaneously injected with isotonic saline of the same volume at the same time point. On the 2nd day after the injection was finished, the ocular blood was collected to prepare serum and measure the content of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBil). The liver tissue homogenate was prepared to measure the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA), and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). A paraffin section of liver tissue was prepared; HE staining was performed to observe the pathomorphological changes of the liver, periodic acid-Schiff staining (PAS) was used to observe the changes in glycogen in the liver, and a transmission electron microscope was used to observe the hepatocyte ultrastructure.

RESULTS

The D-galactose model group had increased content of ALT, AST, and TBil, reduced activities of SOD and GSH-Px, an increased content of MDA, and severe liver injuries; the hepatocytes showed degenerative changes, the amount of glycogen in the liver decreased, and the accumulation of AGEs increased. The ASP+D-galactose group had reduced content of ALT, AST, and TBil, increased activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and reduced content of MDA and AGEs; the amount of glycogen in the liver increased, and liver injury and hepatocyte injury were alleviated.

CONCLUSION

ASP can antagonize the liver injury induced by D-galactose in aging mice, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress.