Category: Nevin Manimala

Chin Clin Oncol. 2024 Feb 5:cco-23-117. doi: 10.21037/cco-23-117. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: BRAF (B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase)-mutated colorectal cancer (CRC) still has poor prognostic. The efficacy of BRAF inhibitor is unpredictable just that intrinsic genetic complexity, immune microenvironment and partially unknown reason. Understanding the co-mutation mechanism can help improve treatment and follow-up strategies.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 35 (BRAF-mutated/BRAF wild-type) Chinese CRC and 125 Western CRC who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS). Co-occurrence mutation analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was enabled in this study.

RESULTS: Thirty-five (10.32%) patients were BRAF-mutated, with 17 patients were BRAF V600E in Beijing Hospital. Patients with BRAF mutation had significant association with high tumor mutational burden (TMB-H) (P=0.0004) and high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) (P=0.0003) than those with BRAF wildtype. In 125 BRAF-mutated Western CRC patients, the frequency of age at diagnosis, gender, sample type, Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM), MSI, TMB, and BRAF mutation type was consistent with Chinese data. However, the primary tumor location showed significant statistical differences (P<0.0001). Class 1 were more likely to occur in elder and female. Western cohort was consistent with above in Chinese cohort. Other clinicopathological features were not significantly associated with mutation type. However, Western cohort showed class 1 exhibited primary sample type predominance in both class 1 vs. others (P<0.05) and class 1 vs. class 3 (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the data showed TMB-H (57.69% vs. 11.76%, P<0.001) and MSI-H (28.21% vs. 0%, P<0.05) of the class 1 BRAF mutation proportion were significantly higher, compared with class 3 BRAF mutation. In concurrent oncogenic mutations, compared with non-class 1 BRAF mutation, class 1 are more likely to co-occur with passenger mutation. Data from Western populations showed similar results. We also found that the class 1 mutation was mutually exclusive with co-KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue) mutation in CRC, and co-APC (APC regulator of WNT signaling pathway) mutation appeared more frequently in non-class 1 BRAF mutation. KEGG pathway showed that fewer protocancer signaling pathways were enriched in the class 1, which further confirmed that this type had stronger tumorigenicity. GO enrichment also proved that class 1 had stronger tumorigenicity. Finally, prognostic analysis showed median overall survival (mOS) of 19.43 months in class 1 vs. 47.57 months in non-class 1 (P=0.0002). Further study showed that the mOS of class 1, class 2, class 3 and class NA (unknown) was 19.43, 28.50, 47.57 months and not reached (P=0.0001), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed class 1/non-class 1 BRAF mutation in CRC had significantly differences in co-mutation features, genomic markers and prognostic. Understanding BRAF mutation types and comutation mechanism will contribute to accurately grasping treatment and follow-up strategies and promoting the development of precision therapy for CRC in the future.

PMID:38372057 | DOI:10.21037/cco-23-117

Colorectal Dis. 2024 Feb 19. doi: 10.1111/codi.16916. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Same day discharge (SDD) for colorectal surgery shows increasing promise in the era of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and minimally invasive surgery. It has become increasingly relevant due to the constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to compare SDD and postoperative day 1 (POD1) discharge to understand the clinical outcomes and financial impact on factors such as cost, charge, revenue, contribution margin and readmission.

METHOD: A retrospective review of colectomies was performed at a single institution over a 2-year period (n = 143). Two populations were identified: SDD (n = 51) and POD1 (n = 92). Patients were selected by International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10 (ICD-10) and Diagnosis Related Grouper (DRG) codes.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference favouring SDD in total hospital cost (p < 0.0001), average direct costs (p < 0.0001) and average charges (p < 0.0016). SDD average hospital costs were $8699 (values in USD throughout) compared with $11 652 for POD 1 (p < 0.0001), and average SDD hospital charges were $85 506 compared with $97 008 for POD1 (p < 0.0016). The net revenue for SDD was $22 319 while for POD1 it was $26 173 (p = 0.14). Upon comparison of contribution margins (SDD $13 620 vs. POD1 $14 522), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.73). There were no identified statistically significant differences in operating room time, robotic console time, readmission rates or surgical complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Amidst the pandemic-related constraints, we found that SDD was associated with lower hospital costs and comparable contribution margins compared with POD1. Additionally, the study was unable to identify any significant difference between operating time, readmissions, and surgical complications when performing SDD.

PMID:38372024 | DOI:10.1111/codi.16916

Br J Neurosurg. 2024 Feb 19:1-6. doi: 10.1080/02688697.2024.2313674. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery targeting the ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus (Vim) has proven efficacy in the treatment of tremor.

AIMS: The primary aim is to investigate whether there is a statistically significant difference in patient outcomes when CT-guided targeting of the Vim is compared with MRI-guided targeting.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study concerning patients undergoing Vim-targeted DBS at the Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle (9^th August 2012 to 4^th January 2019). Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Scale (FTM TS) and EQ-5D scores were collected from patient notes. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM^® SPSS^® Statistics Version 24. Independent samples t-tests were used to compare means.

RESULTS: Independent samples t-test did not reveal a statistically significant difference between CT (n = 10; FTM TS mean = 65.40, SD = 11.40; EQ-5D mean = 39.50, SD = 17.87) and MR (n = 7; FTM TS mean = 60.57, SD = 7.50; EQ-5D mean = 32.14, SD = 9.94) groups in pre-surgery FTM TS (t(15) = 0.977, p = 0.344) and EQ-5D (t(15) = 0.982, p = 0.342) scores. No statistically significant difference between the CT (FTM TS mean = 24.12, SD = 20.47; EQ-5D mean = 75.56, SD = 15.63) and MR (FTM TS mean = 22.86, SD = 6.72; EQ-5D mean = 70.43, SD = 15.48) groups was revealed at 1 year assessment of FTM TS (t(14) = 0.155, p = 0.879) and EQ-5D (t(14) = 0.654, p = 0.524). The median difference between pre- and post-surgery FTM TS and EQ-5D scores in the CT group at 1 year was 43.00 and 35.00, respectively. The MR patient group median difference in pre- and post-surgery at 1 year was 35.00 and 35.00 respectively.

CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference between CT and MR image-guided targeting patient groups was detected.

PMID:38372013 | DOI:10.1080/02688697.2024.2313674

Vet Med Sci. 2024 Mar;10(2):e1360. doi: 10.1002/vms3.1360.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Morphometric measurements help to understand the skull morphology in different animal species, detect skull deformations and figure out their causes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to make a three-dimensional (3D) modelling of the badger skull using computed tomography, to show its anatomical structures and to reveal the morphometric measurement values.

METHODS: Skull measurements were carried out using a digital calliper at 27 measurement points based on metric measurement points. After the scanned images were stored in Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine format, they were transferred to MIMICS 20.1 (The Materialize Group) programme and 3D models the skulls were created. The surface area and volume values of the skulls were calculated on these models.

RESULTS: The volume and surface area parameters were expressed as mean ± SE. Four different indices were calculated using osteometric measurements. Statistical analyses were made by determining the mean value and standard deviation of the examined properties and the correlation coefficients among these properties. In the metric measurement points taken as a basis, the longest measurement in the skulls was the total length and its mean value was 124.60 ± 0.64 mm. The shortest measurement was the breadth dorsal to the external auditory meatus, and its mean value was 6.75 ± 0.24 mm.

CONCLUSIONS: Consequently, statistical differences in the craniometric values of badgers’ skulls were determined by using CT and 3D modelling software. In addition, it was concluded that the badger skull can be easily distinguished from other carnivore species by carrying out morphometric measurements.

PMID:38372005 | DOI:10.1002/vms3.1360

Heliyon. 2024 Jan 28;10(3):e25201. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25201. eCollection 2024 Feb 15.

ABSTRACT

Contaminated fomites can lead to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and human norovirus (HuNoV) disease outbreaks. Improved decontamination methods that are user-friendly, cost-effective, and waterless are being researched for sustainability. Traditional ultraviolet light (UV-C) technologies though effective for surface decontamination have drawbacks, using mercury lamps, that pose user-safety risk and environmental hazards. Therefore, UV-C light emitting diode (LED) systems are being designed for delivering required antiviral doses. The objective of this research was to determine the ability of UV-C LED (279 nm) systems to inactivate HuNoV surrogates, feline calicivirus (FCV-F9) and Tulane virus (TV), and HAV on Formica coupons in comparison to UV-C (254 nm) systems. FCV-F9 (∼6 log PFU/mL), TV (∼7 log PFU/mL), or HAV (∼6 log PFU/mL) at 100 μL were surface-spread on sterile Formica coupons (3 × 3 cm²), air-dried, and treated for up to 2.5 min with both systems. Each experiment was replicated thrice. Recovered infectious plaque counts were statistically analyzed using mixed model analysis of variance. FCV-F9, TV, and HAV showed D₁₀ values of 23.37 ± 0.91 mJ/cm², 16.32 ± 3.6 mJ/cm², and 12.39 ± 0.70 mJ/cm² using 279 nm UV-C LED, respectively and D₁₀ values of 9.97 ± 2.44 mJ/cm², 6.83 ± 1.13 mJ/cm² and 12.40 ± 1.15 mJ/cm², respectively with 254 nm UV-C. Higher 279 nm UV-C LED doses were required to cause HuNoV surrogate reduction than 254 nm UV-C, except similar doses with both systems were needed for HAV inactivation on Formica surfaces. It remains critical to measure UV intensity of optical sources and optimize exposure times for desired log reduction on surfaces.

PMID:38371995 | PMC:PMC10873656 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25201

Heliyon. 2024 Feb 7;10(3):e25802. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25802. eCollection 2024 Feb 15.

ABSTRACT

The system or unit survives when strength is more significant than the stress enjoined. This procedure is usually used in many companies to test their product. The reliability or the quality of the scheme or component is described by the parameters of stress-strength reliability ($R=P(X>Y$)) where X denotes strength and Y indicates stress. In this article, we adopted the statistical inference of R while the two arbitrary factors X and Y are independent and approach the Lomax lifetime distribution with common scale parameters. Also, the strength and stress variables are subjected to a partial step-stress-quickened life experiment. The classical estimation and Bayes method create the point estimate of R. Confidence intervals of R are computed with asymptotic distribution, bootstrap technique, and Bayesian credible intervals. All results are evaluated and compared under an extensive simulation study. Finally, the lifetime data sets generated from the Lomax distribution are used to analyze the system’s reliability by estimating R.

PMID:38371973 | PMC:PMC10873739 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25802

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2024 Feb 19;150(2):93. doi: 10.1007/s00432-023-05578-1.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Precise identification of lymph node metastases is vital for the management of cervical cancer. However, the existing diagnostic methods for lymph node metastases have certain drawbacks. In this study, we aim to explore the expression of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-to-stroma CD8⁺ T cells ratio (CD8⁺ T cells T:S ratio) and its association with lymph node metastases of cervical cancer.

METHODS: Hundred and ten cervical cancer tissues and 39 biopsy tissues from patients were investigated immunocytochemically for the expression of CAFs and CD8⁺ T cells. The statistical correlation analysis was carried out using the SPSS system.

RESULTS: A strong and statistically significant negative correlation (r= – 0.690; P < 0.001) was observed between CAF density and CD8⁺ T cells T:S ratio. Not only were CAFs density and CD8⁺ T cells T:S ratio correlated with lymph node metastases respectively (P < 0.001), but the combination of them also significantly correlated with lymph node metastases (P < 0.001). Then, we constructed the combined diagnosis model (Logit (P) = – 4.446 + 0.300 × CAFs + 0.752 × CD8+ T cells T:S Ratio) of cervical cancer lymph node metastases. ROC curves analysis showed that the ROC curves areas for CAFs, CD8⁺ T cells T:S ratio, and a combination of both are 0.879, 0.747, and 0.951. Then, the prediction model was verified by biopsy specimens and consistent results were obtained.

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CAF density and CD8⁺ T cells T:S ratio has a significant predictive value for lymph node metastases in patients with cervical cancer.

PMID:38369672 | DOI:10.1007/s00432-023-05578-1

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2024 Feb 18. doi: 10.1111/jog.15904. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Women with overweight or obesity are recommended to lose weight before conception to optimize pregnancy outcomes. However, the obstetrical implications of prepregnancy weight loss have been minimally examined. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between prepregnancy weight loss and maternal metabolic and inflammatory profiles during a subsequent pregnancy.

METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2003-2018). Participants were women who were pregnant at the time of assessment. Prepregnancy weight loss was described as percent weight change based on self-reported baseline (1 year before pregnancy) and prepregnancy weight. Metabolic (e.g., blood pressure [BP]) and inflammatory biomarkers (i.e., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) were determined by standard medical tests. Statistical analyses included linear regressions with appropriate imputation, weighting, and variance estimation techniques.

RESULTS: Participants (N = 236) reported a mean percent weight loss of 4.6% (standard error [SE] = 0.3%) during the year before pregnancy. Regression models showed that prepregnancy weight loss was inversely associated with levels of total cholesterol (β = -1.24, p = 0.01), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (β = -0.79, p < 0.01), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (β = -0.18, p < 0.01). The effect of prepregnancy weight loss on BP, insulin sensitivity, and hs-CRP was not significant, although there was a trend toward higher levels of diastolic BP (β = 0.24, p = 0.07) and hs-CRP (β = 0.10, p = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS: This study found favorable changes in lipid profiles following prepregnancy weight loss. Due to limitations such as a relatively small sample size, self-reported weight measures, and missing data on several outcome variables, future studies are needed to confirm study findings.

PMID:38369640 | DOI:10.1111/jog.15904

Vet Res Commun. 2024 Feb 19. doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10333-z. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Trypanosomosis is a tropical disease caused by various protozoan haemoparasites, which affects wild and domestic animals, the latter ones related to worldwide livestock production systems. Species such as Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma evansi have been described using serological and molecular tools in several countries from South and Central America. However, Ecuador presents a relevant knowledge gap in the associated general epidemiology and risk factors of the disease. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of trypanosomosis in cattle from different regions of Ecuador. 745 serum samples from 7 Coastal and 3 Amazon provinces were screened for IgG anti-Trypanosoma spp. antibodies, using an in-house indirect ELISA. The seropositivity was explored and associated with several variables such as sex, age, breed, region, management, and province, using statistical tools. The general seroprevalence of trypanosomosis was 19.1% (95% CI: 16.30-22.1%). The Amazonian provinces of Sucumbíos and Napo and the Coastal province of Esmeraldas presented the highest seroprevalence values of 36.7% (95% CI: 27.67-46.47%), 23.64% (95% CI: 16.06-32.68%) and 25% (95% CI: 15.99-35.94%), respectively. Statistical significance was found for the region, province, and management variables, indicating as relevant risk factors the extensive management and Amazon location of the cattle analyzed. Specific actions should be taken to identify the exact species on reservoirs and susceptible hosts, evaluate the implication of farm management and cattle movement as risk factors, and implement surveillance and treatment plans for affected herds.

PMID:38369611 | DOI:10.1007/s11259-024-10333-z

Sci Rep. 2024 Feb 18;14(1):4001. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-54422-0.

ABSTRACT

3D seismic attributes analysis can help geologists and mine developers associate subsurface geological features, structures, faults, and ore bodies more precisely and accurately. The major influence of this application is to evaluate the usage of the 3D seismic attributes analysis in gold mine planning. For this, we evaluate the novel theory of complex T-spherical hesitant fuzzy (CTSHF) sets and their operational laws. Furthermore, we derive the CTSHF Aczel-Alsina weighted power averaging (CTSHFAAWPA) operator, CTSHF Aczel-Alsina ordered weighted power averaging (CTSHFAAOWPA) operator, CTSHF Aczel-Alsina weighted power geometric (CTSHFAAWPG) operator, and CTSHF Aczel-Alsina ordered.com weighted power geometric (CTSHFAAOWPG) operator. Some properties are also investigated for the above operators. Additionally, we evaluate the problems of 3D seismic attributes analysis to mine planning under the consideration of the proposed operators, for this, we illustrate the problem of the multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) technique for the above operators. Finally, we demonstrate some examples for making the comparison between prevailing and proposed information to improve the worth of the derived operators.

PMID:38369600 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-024-54422-0