Hip joint ultrasonographic (US) imaging is the golden standard for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) screening. However, the effectiveness of this technique is subject to interoperator and intraobserver variability. Thus, a multi-detection deep learning artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system was developed and evaluated. The deep learning model used a two-stage training process to segment the four key anatomical structures and extract their respective key points. In addition, the check angle of the ilium body balancing level was set to evaluate the system’s cognitive ability. Hence, only images with visible key anatomical points and a check angle within ±5° were used in the analysis. Of the original 921 images, 320 (34.7%) were deemed appropriate for screening by both the system and human observer. Moderate agreement (80.9%) was seen in the check angles of the appropriate group (Cohen’s κ = 0.525). Similarly, there was excellent agreement in the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value between the measurers of the alpha angle (ICC = 0.764) and a good agreement in beta angle (ICC = 0.743). The developed system performed similarly to experienced medical experts; thus, it could further aid the effectiveness and speed of DDH diagnosis.

Purpose The zinc finger protein, ZBTB48, is a telomere-associated protein. It was renamed as telomeric zinc finger-associated protein (TZAP) binding to elongated telomeres. However, its expression level was not measured in cancers. Patients and Methods We analyzed TZAP mRNA levels in 60 colorectal cancers (CRC) and its correlation with telomere length and TERT was studied. Results TZAP mRNA in CRC was higher statistically than that in paired non-cancerous tissues (p = 0.033). Higher TZAP was found in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-positive CRCs (>5 ng/mL) (p = 0.012). Shorter telomere was found in CRCs with high TZAP expression than that with low TZAP expression (p = 0.010). According to quantitative correlation analysis, TZAP has a correlation with age ( r = −0.349, p = 0.007), TERT ( r = 0.279, p = 0.041) and telomere length ( r = −0.305, p = 0.021). TZAP expression did not harbor prognostic value in CRC. Inhibition of TZAP expression by siRNA suppresses cell growth in HT29 cells; however, it resulted in increased cell viability in HCT116 cells. TZAP inhibition induces a decrease in mRNA levels of TERT in both HT29 and HCT116 cells. TCGA data analysis showed higher expression of TZAP showed poorer overall survival in colon cancer (p = 0.001); however, it did not have a significance in rectal cancer (p = 0.951). Conclusion We suggested that TZAP may be a possible biomarker for CRC.

Abstract.A positive correlation between telomere length and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number has previously been observed in healthy individuals, and in patients with psychiatric disorders. In the present study, telomere length and mtDNA copy number were evaluated in gastric cancer (GC) tissue samples. DNA was extracted from 109 GC samples (including 82 intestinal, and 27 diffuse cases), and the telomere length and mtDNA copy number were analyzed using a quantitative-polymerase chain reaction assay. The relative telomere length and mtDNA copy number in tumor tissue, as compared with in normal tissue, (mean ± standard deviation) in all GC samples were 11.48±1.14 and 14.86±1.35, respectively. Telomere length and mtDNA copy number were not identified as exhibiting clinical or prognostic value for GC. However, positive correlations between telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number were identified in GC (r=0.408, P<0.001) and in the adjacent normal mucosa (r=0.363; P<0.001). When stratified by Lauren classification, the correlation was identified in intestinal type GC samples (r=0.461; P<0.001), but not in diffuse type GC samples (r= 0.225; P= 0.260). This result indicated that loss of the correlation of telomeres and mitochondrial function may induce the initiation or progression of GC pathogenesis.

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