المؤلفون: Moreno-Moraleda, Elena¹ (AUTHOR), González-Moreno, Juan^2,3,4 (AUTHOR), Cisneros-Barroso, Eugenia³ (AUTHOR) euge0086@gmail.com, Ribot-Sansó, María Antonia^2,3 (AUTHOR), Ripoll-Vera, Tomás^3,4,5 (AUTHOR), Descals, Cristina^3,6 (AUTHOR), Uson, Mercedes^3,6 (AUTHOR), Montalà, Joan Carles^3,6 (AUTHOR), Figuerola, Antoni^3,4,6,7 (AUTHOR), Rodríguez, Adrián³ (AUTHOR), Losada, Inés^2,3,4 (AUTHOR)

المصدر: Neurological Sciences. Jun2024, Vol. 45 Issue 6, p2859-2867. 9p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *ASYMPTOMATIC patients, *RECEIVER operating characteristic curves, *KRUSKAL-Wallis Test, *SENSITIVITY & specificity (Statistics)

مستخلص: Background: Variant transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) can cause sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathy. Objective quantification of sudomotor function may be essential for early diagnosis and early initiation of treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of the Sudoscan® in ATTRv. Methods: Electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) was measured in V30M ATTRv patients, asymtomatic V30M carriers and healthy controls. Comparisons between the three groups were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and ROC curves were used to estimate the discriminatory power of ESC values between groups. Results: ESC was measured in 52 ATTRv patients, 107 asymptomatic carriers and 40 healthy controls. ESC was significantly lower in ATTRv patients compared to asymptomatic carriers and healthy controls in both feet and hands; median values are as follows: 40 µS, 78 µS and 81 µS, respectively (p < 0.001), and 53 µS, 69 µS and 74 µS, respectively (p < 0.001). ESC in feet < 70.5 µS had a sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 84.6% to discriminate asymptomatic carriers from patients with ATTRv. Conclusion: The determination of ESC by Sudoscan® is a rapid, noninvasive and easily reproducible technique capable of discriminating patients with ATTRv from asymptomatic carriers and healthy controls with adequate sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Ianieri, Manuel Maria^1,2 (AUTHOR), De Cicco Nardone, Alessandra¹ (AUTHOR), Greco, Pierfrancesco³ (AUTHOR) p.greco753@gmail.com, Carcagnì, Antonella^3,4 (AUTHOR), Campolo, Federica¹ (AUTHOR), Pacelli, Fabio^3,5 (AUTHOR), Scambia, Giovanni^1,3 (AUTHOR), Santullo, Francesco⁵ (AUTHOR)

المصدر: Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics. Jun2024, Vol. 309 Issue 6, p2697-2707. 11p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *ENDOMETRIOSIS, *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *SURGICAL anastomosis, *DENTAL extraction, *SURGICAL complications, *GASTROINTESTINAL surgery, *VISUAL analog scale

مستخلص: Purpose: The surgical approach to bowel endometriosis is still unclear. The aim of the study is to compare TICA to conventional specimen extractions and extra-abdominal insertion of the anvil in terms of both complications and functional outcomes. Methods: This is a single-center, observational, retrospective study conducted enrolling symptomatic women underwent laparoscopic excision of deep endometriosis with segmental bowel resection between September 2019 and June 2022. Women who underwent TICA were compared to classical technique (CT) in terms of intra- and postoperative complications, moreover, functional outcomes relating to the pelvic organs were assessed using validated questionnaires [Knowles-Eccersley-Scott-Symptom (KESS) questionnaire and Gastro-Intestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI)] for bowel function. Pain symptoms were assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores. Results: The sample included 64 women. TICA was performed on 31.2% (n = 20) of the women, whereas CT was used on 68.8% (n = 44). None of the patients experienced rectovaginal, vesicovaginal, ureteral or vesical fistula, or ureteral stenosis and uroperitoneum, and in no cases was it necessary to reoperate. Regarding the two surgical approaches, no significant difference was observed in terms of complications. As concerns pain symptoms at 6-month follow-up evaluations on stratified data, except for dysuria, all VAS scales reported showed significant reductions between median values, for both surgery interventions. As well, significant improvements were further observed in KESS scores and overall GIQLI. Only the GIQLI evaluation was significantly smaller in the TICA group compared to CT after the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: We did not find any significant differences in terms of intra- or post-operative complications compared TICA and CT, but only a slight improvement in the Gastro-Intestinal Quality of Life Index in patients who underwent the CT compared to the TICA technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Dilek, Mustafa¹ (AUTHOR), Soytürk, Hayriye² (AUTHOR), Bozat, Gökçe³ (AUTHOR), Hancı, Fatma⁴ (AUTHOR) fatmah.arslan@gmail.com, Taş, Sinan¹ (AUTHOR), Kabakuş, Nimet⁴ (AUTHOR)

المصدر: International Journal of Neuroscience. Jun2024, Vol. 134 Issue 6, p658-664. 7p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *SEIZURES (Medicine), *WAVENUMBER, *HYPEROXIA, *RATS

مستخلص: Objective: Preterm neonates encounter hyperoxia relatively early, and are more exposed to hyperoxic stress due to their insufficient antioxidant defense mechanisms. This study was planned around the hypothesis that this hyperoxic effect may cause a disposition to future acute seizures. Methods: This study was composed of two main groups Hyperoxy and Control (Room air with normal O2 levels) Groups. Group 1 – hyperoxia (Study): The experimental group consisted of premature newborn rats exposed to hyperoxia with their dams from birth to postnatal day 5. Group 2 – room air (Control): The group was not exposed to hyperoxia and housed the same room air and temperature as their dams. Female, Acute Epilepsy Female, Male, Acute Epilepsy Male, and a total of eight subgroups were formed in both the control and hyperoxia groups. When the rats were two months old, intracranial electrodes were attached to obtain electrocorticography (ECoG) recordings. Pre-model recordings were taken, after which an acute pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model of absence seizure was induced by the intraperitoneal administration of PTZ at 50 mg/kg. ECoG records were examined using the PowerLab system for 180 min. Spike wave number and duration, Spike wave frequency and amplitude data were evaluated.Results: Seven female and three male rats were exposed to hyperoxia, and a control group of five female and three male rats were included in the study. The median interquartile range for spike wave latency in the hyperoxia and control groups were 1112 (644–1545) and 654 (408–1152), frequency 4476 (3120–7421) and 3934 (2264–4704), and amplitude data 0.68 (0.59–0.79) and 0.52 (0.37–0.67), respectively. Although a difference was observed in median values capable of constituting susceptibility to epilepsy, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In terms of gender, spike-wave counts were significantly higher in female rats (p < 0.05). Females exposed to hyperoxia were more susceptible to epilepsy than both males and females in the control group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Exposure to hyperoxia in the first days of life of premature neonates due to their susceptibility to oxidative stress and insufficient antioxidant mechanisms, can cause a disposition to acute seizures. As a result, females exposed to hyperoxia during the neonatal period may be prone to epilepsy in maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: José Perales-Afán, Juan^1,2 Juanjo.peafan21@gmail.com, Aparicio-Pelaz, Diego¹, López-Triguero, Sheila¹, Llorente, Elena¹, José Puente-Lanzarote, Juan¹, Fabre, Marta^1,2

المصدر: Biochemia Medica. 2024, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p1-8. 8p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *VITAMIN D deficiency, *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *VOLUNTEER recruitment, *VITAMIN D, *PANDEMICS

مصطلحات جغرافية: ZARAGOZA (Spain)

مستخلص: Introduction: Many studies report vitamin D (25-OH-D) deficiency, although there is no consensus among scientific societies on cut-offs and reference intervals (RI). The aim of this study is to establish and compare RI for serum 25-OH-D by direct and indirect methods. Materials and methods: Two studies were performed in Zaragoza (Spain). A retrospective study (N = 7222) between January 2017 and April 2019 was used for RI calculation by indirect method and a prospective study (N = 312) with healthy volunteers recruited in August 2019 and February 2020 for direct method. Seasonal differences were investigated. Measurements were performed on Cobas C8000 (Roche-Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay technology. Results: Reference intervals (2.5-97.5 percentile and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, CIs) were as follows: by indirect method 5.6 ng/mL (5.4 to 5.8) - 57.2 ng/mL (55.2 to 59.8), in winter 5.4 ng/mL (5.2 to 5.7) - 55.7 ng/mL (53.6 to 58.4), while in summer 5.9 ng/mL (5.4 to 6.2) - 59.9 ng/mL (56.3 to 62.9). By direct method 9.0 ng/mL (5.7 to 9.5) - 41.4 ng/mL (37.6 to 48.0), in winter 7.4 ng/mL (3.9 to 8.6) - 34.6 ng/mL (30.6 to 51.5), while in summer 13.3 ng/mL (10.1 to 14.1) - 44.1 ng/mL (38.9 to 66.0). In both methods, RIs were higher in summer. A significant difference was observed in 25-OH-D median values between the two methods (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Reference interval calculation according to the studied area may be a useful tool to adapt the deficiency cut-offs for 25-OH-D. Our data support 25-OH-D values over 12.0 ng/mL for healthy population as sufficient, therefore current recommendations should be updated. In addition, differences in seasonality should be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Hadid‐Beurrier, Lama¹ (AUTHOR), Geryes, Bouchra Habib² (AUTHOR) bouchrahabib@hotmail.com, Jean‐Pierre, Antonella¹ (AUTHOR), Gaudin, Paul‐Adrien³ (AUTHOR), Feghali, Joëlle Ann⁴ (AUTHOR)

المصدر: Medical Physics. May2024, Vol. 51 Issue 5, p3687-3697. 11p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *NEUROLOGY, *RADIATION measurements, *ANGIOGRAPHY, *INTERVENTIONAL radiology, *IMAGING phantoms

مستخلص: Background: Radiation exposure from interventional radiology (IR) could lead to potential risk of skin injury in patients. Several dose monitoring software like radiation dose monitor (RDM) were developed to estimate the patient skin dose (PSD) distribution in IR. Purpose: This study benchmarked the accuracy of RDM software in estimating PSD as compared to GafChromic film baseline in‐vivo measurements on patients during cardiac, abdominal, and neurology IR procedures. Methods: The prospective study conducted in four IR departments included 81 IR procedures (25 cardiac, 31 abdominal, and 25 neurology procedures) on three angiographic systems. PSD and field geometry were measured by placing GafChromic film under the patient's back. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the software estimation and film measurement results in terms of PSD and geometric accuracy. Results: Median values of measured/calculated PSD were 1140/1005, 591/655.9, and 538/409.7 mGy for neurology, cardiac, and abdominal procedures, respectively. For all angiographic systems, the median (InterQuartile Range, IQR) difference between calculated and measured PSD was −10.2% (−21.8%–5.7%) for neurology, −4.5% (−19.5%–15.5%) for cardiac, and −21.9% (−38.7%–−3.6%) for abdominal IR procedures. These differences were not significant for all procedures (p > 0.05). Discrepancies increased up to −82% in lower dose regions where the measurement uncertainties are higher. Regarding the geometric accuracy, RDM correctly reproduced the skin dose map and estimated PSD area dimensions closely matched those registered on films with a median (IQR) difference of 0 cm (−1–0.8 cm). Conclusions: RDM is proved to be a useful solution for the estimation of PSD and skin dose distribution during abdominal, cardiac and neurology IR procedures despite a geometry phantom which is not specific to the latter type of IR procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Pan, Zexin¹ (AUTHOR), Owen, Art B.¹ (AUTHOR)

المصدر: Mathematics of Computation. Sep2024, Vol. 93 Issue 349, p2265-2289. 25p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *PETRI nets, *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *PROBABILITY theory, *INTEGRALS

مستخلص: We study approximate integration of a function f over [0,1]^s based on taking the median of 2r-1 integral estimates derived from independently randomized (t,m,s)-nets in base 2. The nets are randomized by Matousek's random linear scramble with a random digital shift. If f is analytic over [0,1]^s, then the probability that any one randomized net's estimate has an error larger than 2^{-cm^2/s} times a quantity depending on f is O(1/\sqrt {m}) for any c<3\log (2)/\pi ^2\approx 0.21. As a result, the median of the distribution of these scrambled nets has an error that is O(n^{-c\log (n)/s}) for n=2^m function evaluations. The sample median of 2r-1 independent draws attains this rate too, so long as r/m^2 is bounded away from zero as m\to \infty. We include results for finite precision estimates and some nonasymptotic comparisons to taking the mean of 2r-1 independent draws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Gavars, Didzis^1,2 (AUTHOR), Perminov, Dmitry^1,3 (AUTHOR), Tauckels, Eriks¹ (AUTHOR), Lindenberga, Ilze¹ (AUTHOR), Miķelsone, Agnese² (AUTHOR), Auce, Agris⁴ (AUTHOR) agris.auce@lu.lv

المصدر: Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B: Natural, Exact & Applied Sciences. Apr2024, Vol. 78 Issue 2, p133-140. 8p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *AGE groups

مصطلحات جغرافية: LATVIA

مستخلص: The reference intervals and median values of serum vitamin B12 level in blood from patients among the Latvian population were established for different age groups with a two-year step using data for a large number of patients, accumulated in E. Gulbis Laboratory in Latvia. The data represents the general population of Latvia. An indirect in silico method, developed in E. Gulbis laboratory for determination of serum vitamin B12 blood level reference intervals, was used. Strong elevation of serum vitamin B12 blood level was observed in children who were between 2 and 10 years old. The paper discusses the serum vitamin B12 values for children and a different serum vitamin B12 reference interval for young children is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Papastefanou, I.¹ (AUTHOR), Nobile Recalde, A.² (AUTHOR), Silva Souza, Y.² (AUTHOR), Syngelaki, A.^1,2 (AUTHOR), Nicolaides, K. H.^1,2 (AUTHOR) kypros@fetalmedicine.com

المصدر: Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Apr2024, Vol. 63 Issue 4, p457-465. 9p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *VASCULAR endothelial growth factors, *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *UTERINE artery, *PLACENTAL growth factor, *WOMEN'S hospitals

مصطلحات جغرافية: ENGLAND

مستخلص: Objectives: First, to describe the distribution of biomarkers of impaired placentation in small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) pregnancies with neonatal morbidity; second, to examine the predictive performance for growth‐related neonatal morbidity of a high soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio or low PlGF; and, third, to compare the performance of a high sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio or low PlGF with that of the competing‐risks model for SGA in predicting growth‐related neonatal morbidity. Methods: This was a prospective observational study of women attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation in two maternity hospitals in England. The visit included recording of maternal demographic characteristics and medical history, an ultrasound scan and measurement of serum PlGF and sFlt‐1. The primary outcome was delivery within 4 weeks after assessment and at < 42 weeks' gestation of a SGA neonate with birth weight < 10th or < 3rd percentile, combined with neonatal unit (NNU) admission for ≥ 48 h or a composite of major neonatal morbidity. The detection rates in screening by PlGF < 10th percentile, sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio > 90th percentile, sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio > 38 and the competing‐risks model for SGA, using combinations of maternal risk factors and Z‐scores of estimated fetal weight (EFW) with multiples of the median values of uterine artery pulsatility index, PlGF and sFlt‐1, were estimated. The detection rates by the different methods of screening were compared using McNemar's test. Results: In the study population of 29 035 women, prediction of growth‐related neonatal morbidity at term provided by the competing‐risks model was superior to that of screening by low PlGF concentration or a high sFlt‐1/PlGF concentration ratio. For example, at a screen‐positive rate (SPR) of 13.1%, as defined by the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio > 38, the competing‐risks model using maternal risk factors and EFW predicted 77.5% (95% CI, 71.7–83.3%) of SGA < 10th percentile and 89.3% (95% CI, 83.7–94.8%) of SGA < 3rd percentile with NNU admission for ≥ 48 h delivered within 4 weeks after assessment. The respective values for SGA with major neonatal morbidity were 71.4% (95% CI, 56.5–86.4%) and 90.0% (95% CI, 76.9–100%). These were significantly higher than the respective values of 41.0% (95% CI, 34.2–47.8%) (P < 0.0001), 48.8% (95% CI, 39.9–57.7%) (P < 0.0001), 37.1% (95% CI, 21.1–53.2%) (P = 0.003) and 55.0% (95% CI, 33.2–76.8%) (P = 0.035) achieved by the application of the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio > 38. At a SPR of 10.0%, as defined by PlGF < 10th percentile, the competing‐risks model using maternal factors and EFW predicted 71.5% (95% CI, 65.2–77.8%) of SGA < 10th percentile and 84.3% (95% CI, 77.8–90.8%) of SGA < 3rd percentile with NNU admission for ≥ 48 h delivered within 4 weeks after assessment. The respective values for SGA with major neonatal morbidity were 68.6% (95% CI, 53.1–83.9%) and 85.0% (95% CI, 69.4–100%). These were significantly higher than the respective values of 36.5% (95% CI, 29.8–43.2%) (P < 0.0001), 46.3% (95% CI, 37.4–55.2%) (P < 0.0001), 37.1% (95% CI, 21.1–53.2%) (P = 0.003) and 55.0% (95% CI, 33.2–76.8%) (P = 0.021) achieved by the application of PlGF < 10th percentile. Conclusion: At 36 weeks' gestation, the prediction of growth‐related neonatal morbidity by the competing‐risks model for SGA, using maternal risk factors and EFW, is superior to that of a high sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio or low PlGF. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Kim, Seonghwan^1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Park, Daseul^4,5 (AUTHOR), Shin, Youmin^4,5 (AUTHOR), Kim, Mee Kum^1,3,6 (AUTHOR), Jeon, Hyun Sun^1,7 (AUTHOR), Kim, Young-Gon⁴ (AUTHOR) ifree7@gmail.com, Yoon, Chang Ho^1,3,6 (AUTHOR) ifree7@gmail.com

المصدر: PLoS ONE. 3/14/2024, Vol. 19 Issue 3, p1-14. 14p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *DRY eye syndromes, *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *HOSPITALS, *GRADING of students

مستخلص: There is an increasing need for an objective grading system to evaluate the severity of dry eye disease (DED). In this study, a fully automated deep learning-based system for the assessment of DED severity was developed. Corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) images of DED patients from one hospital for system development (n = 1400) and from another hospital for external validation (n = 94) were collected. Three experts graded the CFS images using NEI scale, and the median value was used as ground truth. The system was developed in three steps: (1) corneal segmentation, (2) CFS candidate region classification, and (3) estimation of NEI grades by CFS density map generation. Also, two images taken on different days in 50 eyes (100 images) were compared to evaluate the probability of improvement or deterioration. The Dice coefficient of the segmentation model was 0.962. The correlation between the system and the ground truth data was 0.868 (p<0.001) and 0.863 (p<0.001) for the internal and external validation datasets, respectively. The agreement rate for improvement or deterioration was 88% (44/50). The fully automated deep learning-based grading system for DED severity can evaluate the CFS score with high accuracy and thus may have potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Maherndl, Nina¹ (AUTHOR) nina.maherndl@uni-leipzig.de, Moser, Manuel^2,3 (AUTHOR), Lucke, Johannes^2,4 (AUTHOR), Mech, Mario⁵ (AUTHOR), Risse, Nils⁵ (AUTHOR), Schirmacher, Imke⁵ (AUTHOR), Maahn, Maximilian¹ (AUTHOR)

المصدر: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 2024, Vol. 17 Issue 5, p1475-1495. 21p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *RHYME, *MEDIAN (Mathematics), *SHAPE measurement

مستخلص: Riming is a key precipitation formation process in mixed-phase clouds which efficiently converts cloud liquid to ice water. Here, we present two methods to quantify riming of ice particles from airborne observations with the normalized rime mass, which is the ratio of rime mass to the mass of a size-equivalent spherical graupel particle. We use data obtained during the HALO-(AC) 3 aircraft campaign, where two aircraft collected radar and in situ measurements that were closely spatially and temporally collocated over the Fram Strait west of Svalbard in spring 2022. The first method is based on an inverse optimal estimation algorithm for the retrieval of the normalized rime mass from a closure between cloud radar and in situ measurements during these collocated flight segments (combined method). The second method relies on in situ observations only, relating the normalized rime mass to optical particle shape measurements (in situ method). We find good agreement between both methods during collocated flight segments with median normalized rime masses of 0.024 and 0.021 (mean values of 0.035 and 0.033) for the combined and in situ method, respectively. Assuming that particles with a normalized rime mass smaller than 0.01 are unrimed, we obtain average rimed fractions of 88 % and 87 % over all collocated flight segments. Although in situ measurement volumes are in the range of a few cubic centimeters and are therefore much smaller than the radar volume (about 45 m footprint diameter at an altitude of 500 m above ground, with a vertical resolution of 5 m), we assume they are representative of the radar volume. When this assumption is not met due to less homogeneous conditions, discrepancies between the two methods result. We show the performance of the methods in a case study of a collocated segment of cold-air outbreak conditions and compare normalized rime mass results with meteorological and cloud parameters. We find that higher normalized rime masses correlate with streaks of higher radar reflectivity. The methods presented improve our ability to quantify riming from aircraft observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]