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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Improved Glass Bead-Vortex Oscillation Method for DNA Extraction from Diatom

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Feb 25;38(1):119-126. doi: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410801.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of improving diatom DNA extraction by glass bead – vortex oscillation method.

METHODS: The DNeasy PowerSoil Pro kit was used as control, two plant DNA extraction kits with different principles (New Plant genomic DNA extraction kit and Plant DNA Isolation kit) and one whole blood DNA extraction kit (whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit) were selected to extract diatom DNA from lung tissue and water sample of the same drowning case. The combination of mass ratio of glass beads with different sizes and vortex oscillation time was designed, and the optimal DNA extraction conditions were selected with the addition of glass beads oscillation. The extracted products of the conventional group and the modified group were directly electrophoretic and detected by diatom specific PCR. Finally, all the extracts were quantified by qPCR, and the Ct values of different groups were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: When the frequency of vortex oscillation was 3 000 r/min, the optimal combination of DNA extraction was vortex oscillation for 4 min, and the mass ratio of large glass beads to small glass beads was 1∶1. The DNeasy PowerSoil Pro kit was used as a reference, and the Ct value of 10 mL water sample was greater than that of 0.5 g tissue. The Ct values of the other three kits used for plant DNA extraction decreased after the glass beads-vortex oscillation method was used, and the Ct values of the tissues before and after the improvement were statistically significant (P<0.05). The whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit used in this study could successfully extract diatom DNA, the extraction of water samples was close to DNeasy PowerSoil Pro kit, after the modified method was applied to tissue samples, the difference in Ct value was statistically significant (P<0.05). However, when the three kits were used to extract diatom DNA from water samples, Ct values before and after the improvement were only statistically significant in New Plant genomic DNA extraction kit group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The improved glass bead-vortex oscillation method can improve the extraction efficiency of diatom DNA from forensic materials, especially from tissue samples, by plant and blood DNA extraction kits.

PMID:35725715 | DOI:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410801

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Assisting Role of Pulmonary Hypostasis Phenomenon in Diagnosis of Drowning

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Feb 25;38(1):71-76. doi: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410920.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To study the phenomenon of pulmonary hypostasis in corpses of various causes of death, and to explore the potential value of this phenomenon in assisting forensic pathological diagnosis of drowning.

METHODS: A total of 235 cases with clear cause of death through systematic autopsy were collected from January 2011 to June 2021 in Guangzhou. According to the location of body discovery, the cases were divided into the water body group (97 cases) and the nonwater body group (138 cases), and the water body group was further divided into the water drowning group (90 cases) and the water nondrowning group (7 cases). Non-water body group was further divided into the nonwater drowning group (1 case) and the nonwater nondrowning group (137 cases). Three senior forensic pathologists independently reviewed autopsy photos to determine whether there was hypostasis in the lungs. The detection rate of pulmonary hypostasis was calculated.

RESULTS: The detection rate of pulmonary hypostasis in the water drowning group (90 cases) was 0, and the negative rate was 100%. The detection rate of pulmonary hypostasis in the water nondrowning group (7 cases) was 100% and the negative rate was 0. The detection rate of pulmonary hypostasis in the water body group and in the nonwater body group (after excluding 2 cases, 136 cases were calculated) was 7.22% and 87.50%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the detection rate of pulmonary hypostasis between water body group and nonwater body group, and between water drowning group and water nondrowning group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The disappearance of pulmonary hypostasis can be used as a specific cadaveric sign to assist in the forensic pathological diagnosis of drowning.

PMID:35725707 | DOI:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410920

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Inferring Postmortem Submersion Interval in Rats Found in Water Based on Vitreous Humor Metabolites

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Feb 25;38(1):59-66. doi: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410613.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The metabolomics technique of LC-MS/MS combined with data analysis was used to detect changes and differences in metabolic profiles in the vitreous humor of early rat carcasses found in water, and to explore the feasibility of its use for early postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) estimation and the cause of death determination.

METHODS: The experimental model was established in natural lake water with 100 SD rats were randomly divided into a drowning group (n=50) and a postmortem (CO2 suffocation) immediately submersion group (n=50). Vitreous humor was extracted from 10 rats in each group at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h postmortem for metabolomics analyses, of which 8 were used as the training set to build the model, and 2 were used as test set. PCA and PLS multivariate statistical analysis were performed to explore the differences in metabolic profiles among PMSI and causes of death in the training set samples. Then random forest (RF) algorithm was used to screen several biomarkers to establish a model.

RESULTS: PCA and PLS analysis showed that the metabolic profiles had time regularity, but no differences were found among different causes of death. Thirteen small molecule biomarkers with good temporal correlation were selected by RF algorithm. A simple PMSI estimation model was constructed based on this indicator set, and the data of the test samples showed the mean absolute error (MAE) of the model was 0.847 h.

CONCLUSIONS: The 13 metabolic markers screened in the vitreous humor of rat corpses in water had good correlations with the early PMSI. The simplified PMSI estimation model constructed by RF can be used to estimate the PMSI. Additionally, the metabolic profiles of vitreous humor cannot be used for early identification of cause of death in water carcasses.

PMID:35725705 | DOI:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410613

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Virtual Autopsy Morphological Features of Drowning

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Feb 25;38(1):53-58. doi: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410806.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To explore the application value of virtual autopsy to obtain key evidence information on drowned corpses and its application value of virtual autopsy in the diagnosis of drowning.

METHODS: In this study, 7 corpses were selected as the research objects. The image data of corpses were collected by computed tomography (CT) before conventional autopsy. The characteristics of corpses were observed through image reading, combined with virtual measurement indexes, and compared with 15 non-drowned corpses.

RESULTS: The postmortem CT of drowning showed the more fluid in respiratory tract than the non-drowning, and ground-glass opacities in the lung. The statistical volume of fluid in the sinus (maxillary sinus and sphenoid sinus) was (10.24±4.70) mL in drowning cases and (2.02±2.45) mL in non-drowning cases. The average CT value of fluid in the sinus, left atrial blood and gastric contents in drowning cases were (15.91±17.20), (52.57±9.24) and (10.33±12.81) HU, respectively, which were lower than those in non-drowning cases (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive consideration of multiple characteristic image manifestations and the virtual measurement indexes are helpful to the forensic pathological diagnosis of drowning. Virtual autopsy can be used as an auxiliary method in the forensic diagnosis of drowning.

PMID:35725704 | DOI:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410806

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Evaluation of Inspection Efficiency of Diatom Artificial Intelligence Search System Based on Scanning Electron Microscope

Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Feb 25;38(1):40-45. doi: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410719.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To explore the application values of diatom artificial intelligence (AI) search system in the diagnosis of drowning.

METHODS: The liver and kidney tissues of 12 drowned corpses were taken and were performed with the diatom test, the view images were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Diatom detection and forensic expert manual identification were carried out under the thresholds of 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 of the diatom AI search system, respectively. Diatom recall rate, precision rate and image exclusion rate were used to detect and compare the efficiency of diatom AI search system.

RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the number of diatoms detected in the target marked by the diatom AI search system and the number of diatoms identified manually (P>0.05); the recall rates of the diatom AI search system were statistically different under different thresholds (P<0.05); the precision rates of the diatom AI system were statistically different under different thresholds(P<0.05), and the highest precision rate was 53.15%; the image exclusion rates of the diatom AI search system were statistically different under different thresholds (P<0.05), and the highest image exclusion rate was 99.72%. For the same sample, the time taken by the diatom AI search system to identify diatoms was only 1/7 of that of manual identification.

CONCLUSIONS: Diatom AI search system has a good application prospect in drowning cases. Its automatic diatom search ability is equal to that of experienced forensic experts, and it can greatly reduce the workload of manual observation of images.

PMID:35725702 | DOI:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410719

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The clinical treatment of bacterial keratitis: A review of drop instillation regimes

Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2022 Jun 17:101725. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2022.101725. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Bacterial keratitis (BK) presentations are often treated using the commercially available second-generation fluoroquinolones ciprofloxacin 0.3% and ofloxacin 0.3% as monotherapy. The guidelines available for instillation regimes are often not supported by data from clinical studies. This review examines the peer-reviewed clinical studies and compared treatment failure rates for ciprofloxacin 0.3% and ofloxacin 0.3% for BK in relation to Day-1 drop-regimes. From the statistical analysis, this review derived evidence-based clinically applicable minimum drop-regimes for the treatment of BK on Day-1. Lower numbers of drops of ciprofloxacin on Day-1 were significantly associated with increased treatment failure rates (p < 0.002). The derived minimum number of drops on Day for ciprofloxacin on Day-1 was 47 drops, and for ofloxacin 24 drops. The mean number of drops used in the clinical studies was significantly lower than the manufacturers’ recommended Day-1 regimes for both ciprofloxacin (p = 0.0006) and ofloxacin (p = 0.048). From Day-3 to -6 of treatment the drop rates for ciprofloxacin relative to recommended rates were higher, and for ofloxacin lower (p = 0.014). The findings of this review were then compared with a representative sample of published guidelines and case studies to determine the validity of applying those drop-regimes in clinical practice. Although the manufacturers’ suggested minimum drop-regimes on Day-1 were significantly different (120 drops ciprofloxacin, 34 drops ofloxacin, p < 0.0001), many of the published guidelines suggested the same drop-regime for both fluoroquinolones. The suggested drop numbers on Day-1 for ciprofloxacin in these guidelines and case studies were significantly less than those used in the clinical studies (p = 0.043). Increased treatment failure rates for ciprofloxacin are associated with lower drop numbers on Day-1. The Day-1 dosing rates for ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin should be considered separately, and the regimes suggested in published guidelines and case studies may need be re-considered in light of the findings of this review.

PMID:35725684 | DOI:10.1016/j.clae.2022.101725

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Influence of uterine manipulator on oncological outcome in minimally invasive surgery of endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2022 Jun 9:S0748-7983(22)00484-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2022.05.034. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The endoscopic approach for early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) treatment is considered gold standard. Some authors expressed their concern regarding uterine manipulator (UM) as a risk factor for tumor spillage and dissemination allowing peritoneal or lympho-vascular spaces invasion (LVSI). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of UM on the presence of LVSI, recurrence rate and presence of atypical or malignant peritoneal cytology in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS: We searched electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. The pooled results were used to evaluate the association between the use of UM and oncological outcomes. This systematic review was reported according to PRISMA statement 2020. Statistical meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager software.

RESULTS: This systematic review included 18 studies (3 prospective studies, 13 retrospective studies, and 2 RCT). The pooled results showed no significant difference (RR: 0.86, 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.08) in the incidence of LVSI between manipulated hysterectomy and total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and between UM group and non-UM group in minimally invasive surgery (RR: 1.18, 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.85), no significant difference in the rate of recurrence (RR: 1.11, 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.74), in the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology between manipulated and non-manipulated hysterectomies in minimally invasive surgery (RR: 1.89, 95% CI, 0.74 to 4.83) and before and after the use of uterine manipulator (RR: 1.21, 95% CI, 0.68 to 2.16). We found a positive association between malignant cytology and hysterectomies in which a uterine manipulator had been used in a sub-group analysis where LH/LAVH were compared to TAH. (RR = 2.26, 95% CI, 1.08-4.71. P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis supports that the use of uterine manipulator for minimally invasive treatment of endometrial cancer does not increase the rate of recurrence and LVSI. Therefore, the opportunity of any other studies on its use in endometrial cancer women should be questioned.

PMID:35725683 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejso.2022.05.034

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

Quality or quantity? Pitfalls of assessing the effect of endometrial thickness on live birth rates

Fertil Steril. 2022 Jun 17:S0015-0282(22)00318-1. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.05.015. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35725672 | DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.05.015

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The stationarity control of the average links for the Hebb complex dynamical network via external stimulus signals

ISA Trans. 2022 Jun 10:S0019-0578(22)00295-6. doi: 10.1016/j.isatra.2022.06.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The model of complex dynamical network (CDN) can be represented as the mathematic graph, in which some characteristics may emerge from the dynamic nodes group (NG) and links group (LG). This paper primarily focuses on the feature appearing from the dynamic links. The average link weight (ALW), as a novel quantitative index to describe the characteristic of dynamic links is introduced. Inspired by the Hebb’s neuroscience theory, the Hebb complex dynamical network (HCDN) is constructed. The ALW of the HCDN can track a given target via external stimulus signals with adaptive amplifiers’ proportional coefficients. In other words, the stationary network implies the ALW is a constant in time. Finally, two simulation examples are performed to validate the proposed adaptive update law’s effectiveness.

PMID:35725668 | DOI:10.1016/j.isatra.2022.06.001

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Nevin Manimala Statistics

The Appalachia Mind Health Initiative (AMHI): a pragmatic randomized clinical trial of adjunctive internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for treating major depressive disorder among primary care patients

Trials. 2022 Jun 20;23(1):520. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06438-y.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disease morbidity. Combined treatment with antidepressant medication (ADM) plus psychotherapy yields a much higher MDD remission rate than ADM only. But 77% of US MDD patients are nonetheless treated with ADM only despite strong patient preferences for psychotherapy. This mismatch is due at least in part to a combination of cost considerations and limited availability of psychotherapists, although stigma and reluctance of PCPs to refer patients for psychotherapy are also involved. Internet-based cognitive behaviorial therapy (i-CBT) addresses all of these problems.

METHODS: Enrolled patients (n = 3360) will be those who are beginning ADM-only treatment of MDD in primary care facilities throughout West Virginia, one of the poorest and most rural states in the country. Participating treatment providers and study staff at West Virginia University School of Medicine (WVU) will recruit patients and, after obtaining informed consent, administer a baseline self-report questionnaire (SRQ) and then randomize patients to 1 of 3 treatment arms with equal allocation: ADM only, ADM + self-guided i-CBT, and ADM + guided i-CBT. Follow-up SRQs will be administered 2, 4, 8, 13, 16, 26, 39, and 52 weeks after randomization. The trial has two primary objectives: to evaluate aggregate comparative treatment effects across the 3 arms and to estimate heterogeneity of treatment effects (HTE). The primary outcome will be episode remission based on a modified version of the patient-centered Remission from Depression Questionnaire (RDQ). The sample was powered to detect predictors of HTE that would increase the proportional remission rate by 20% by optimally assigning individuals as opposed to randomly assigning them into three treatment groups of equal size. Aggregate comparative treatment effects will be estimated using intent-to-treat analysis methods. Cumulative inverse probability weights will be used to deal with loss to follow-up. A wide range of self-report predictors of MDD heterogeneity of treatment effects based on previous studies will be included in the baseline SRQ. A state-of-the-art ensemble machine learning method will be used to estimate HTE.

DISCUSSION: The study is innovative in using a rich baseline assessment and in having a sample large enough to carry out a well-powered analysis of heterogeneity of treatment effects. We anticipate finding that self-guided and guided i-CBT will both improve outcomes compared to ADM only. We also anticipate finding that the comparative advantages of adding i-CBT to ADM will vary significantly across patients. We hope to develop a stable individualized treatment rule that will allow patients and treatment providers to improve aggregate treatment outcomes by deciding collaboratively when ADM treatment should be augmented with i-CBT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04120285 . Registered on October 19, 2019.

PMID:35725644 | DOI:10.1186/s13063-022-06438-y