Sex identification of unknown human skeletal remains is of great importance in establishing identity and individuality. In adults, the hip bone is the most reliable sex indicator because of its ...sexual dimorphism. Each population should have its own specific standards of identification. The objective of this study is to develop a logistic regression formula for adult sex identification using threedimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) of the pelvis and to perform an assessment of its validity in sex determination among a sample of the Egyptian population in the Suez Canal region. 141 pelvic-abdominal CT images (free of any pelvic orthopaedic disorder) were included; they were reconstructed to produce 3D-CT pelvic images which were divided into a calibration group (47 male and 47 female) and a test group (47 CT images the sex of which was unknown to the observers). Twenty radiometric variables were measured for the calibration group. A logit response formula for sex prediction was developed and applied on the test group for sex prediction. The logit response formula for the test sample showed sensitivity, specificity, and an overall accuracy of 100%. The proposed method represents a quick and reliable metric method in establishing sex from a CT image of the pelvis bone.
In this study a probabilistic model was developed to estimate the intake level of Fe, Zn, Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Cu, Na, and K derived from consumption of infant formulas and processed cereal-based food in ...Spain. Infant formulas were classified in two categories (first term and follow-on) while cereal-based foods were split up in six groups according to their composition (without gluten, only with gluten, fruits, honey, cocoa, and integral cereal). Contributions to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) were studied for two population groups: 0-6-month-old and 6-month-1-year-old infants. The results reported that mineral and trace elements contents in these types of food cover the established DRIs for Ca, Mg, P, Fe, and K being relatively low for Zn and Cu. Conversely, Na and Mn contents were moderately high and should be decreased to reduce the prevalence of certain diseases.
Breast cancer is the most malignant tumor among women in the world. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) might better predict breast cancer prognosis. PvuII (T/C substitution), XbaI (A/G ...substitution), and aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) (G/A substitution) were evaluated as possible genetic prognostic factors for breast cancer. The aim of the current study was to assess the relation between PvuII (rs2234693), XbaI (rs9340799), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene polymorphisms AhR (rs2066853) in breast cancer prognosis. This was a case-control study that included 120 breast cancer patients classified into two groups. The first group included 60 patients with good prognostic factors, and the second group included 60 patients with poor prognostic factors. Blood samples were taken from all study participants to perform the genotyping assay. We found that positive genotypes of PvuII, XbaI, and AhR polymorphisms were strongly associated with better prognostic factors for breast cancer patients, while negative genotypes of PvuII and XbaI were more and significantly prevalent in poor prognostic breast cancer patients. We conclude that PvuII T/C, XbaI G/A, and AhR G/A alleles may be prognostic for breast cancer progression.
Production of active species is studied in N2 and in N2-O2 afterglows of electrical discharges at low and atmospheric gas pressures. They are produced in microwave discharges in a large range of gas ...pressures from a few Torr to 100 Torr and in corona discharges at atmospheric gas pressure. The active species in N2 afterglows are the N-atoms which are in the range of a few percents in the afterglows. The effect of O2 molecules in low percentages in low pressure N2microwave plasmas and as impurity in corona N2 discharges is specially analysed. The interaction of N and O-atoms with surfaces is studied for bacteria decontamination and for transmission of N-atoms though porous membranes. The processes of bacteria decontamination in N2-O2 afterglows are described for low pressure microwave and atmospheric pressure corona discharges. Transmission of N-atoms through porous membranes is studied at medium pressure (10–100 Torr) microwave afterglows.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related short-term mortality is high in dialysis patients, but longer-term outcomes are largely unknown. We therefore assessed patient recovery in a large cohort ...of dialysis patients 3 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis.
We analyzed data on dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021 from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA). The outcomes studied were patient survival, residence and functional and mental health status (estimated by their treating physician) 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. Complete follow-up data were available for 854 surviving patients. Patient characteristics associated with recovery were analyzed using logistic regression.
In 2449 hemodialysis patients (mean ± SD age 67.5 ± 14.4 years, 62% male), survival probabilities at 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis were 90% for nonhospitalized patients (n = 1087), 73% for patients admitted to the hospital but not to an intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 1165) and 40% for those admitted to an ICU (n = 197). Patient survival hardly decreased between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. At 3 months, 87% functioned at their pre-existent functional and 94% at their pre-existent mental level. Only few of the surviving patients were still admitted to the hospital (0.8-6.3%) or a nursing home (∼5%). A higher age and frailty score at presentation and ICU admission were associated with worse functional outcome.
Mortality between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis was low and the majority of patients who survived COVID-19 recovered to their pre-existent functional and mental health level at 3 months after diagnosis.
Rapid control of intraocular inflammation in non-infectious uveitis (NIU) is mandatory to avoid irreversible structural and functional damage. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of ...intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulses in the treatment of NIU.
A retrospective case series of 112 patients who received IVMP for the treatment of NIU, either isolated or associated with different underlying diseases, was studied. Intraocular inflammation (anterior chamber cells and vitritis) was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were macular thickness and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Patients were assessed at baseline visit, and at days 2-5, 7, 15 and 30 after initiation of IVMP pulse therapy.
A total of 112 patients (mean age 42±14.5 yrs) were assessed. An underlying immune-mediated disease was diagnosed in 73 patients. Inflammatory ocular patterns were panuveitis (n=68), posterior uveitis (n=30), anterior uveitis (AU) (n=12), and intermediate uveitis (n=2). Additionally, patients presented cystoid macular oedema (CME) (n=50), retinal vasculitis (n=37), and exudative retinal detachment (n=31). Therapies used before IVMP included intraocular glucocorticoids (n=4), high-dose oral systemic glucocorticoids (n=77), and conventional (n=107) or biologic (n=40) immunosuppressive drugs. IVMP dose ranged from 80 to 1,000 mg/day for 3-5 consecutive days. Improvement was observed in AU, vitritis, BCVA, CME, and retinal vasculitis. At first month evaluation, total remission was achieved in 19 patients. Side effects of IVMP were respiratory infections (n=3), uncontrolled hyperglycaemia (n=1), herpes zoster (n=1), and oral candidiasis (n=1).
IVMP pulse therapy was effective and safe, and achieved rapid control of NIU.
Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has a higher incidence of bile-duct injuries than open cholecystectomy. Although a learning curve phenomenon was attributed to biliary injuries early after its ...introduction, we were interested in trends in biliary injury rates over time as laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a mature technology. Objective To analyze the frequency and anatomic distribution of bile-duct injuries referred after laparoscopic cholecystectomy over a 10-year period. Design Retrospective, case-series. Setting Tertiary, referral hepatobiliary unit. Patients Referrals to ERCP unit for diagnosis and treatment of biliary injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intervention ERCP to diagnose level and severity of bile duct injury. Main Outcome Measurements Type and anatomy of bile-duct injury, reason for cholecystectomy, mean time between injury and diagnosis, presenting symptoms, ratio of bile-duct injuries diagnosed over total ERCPs done per year. Results There were 87 bile-duct leaks, 28 leaks with stones, 51 strictures, and 17 complete duct transactions. The bile-duct injury rate calculated per 100 ERCPs per year was 0.84 (1994), 0.99 (1995), 1.36 (1996), 1.41 (1997), 1.03 (1998), 1.31 (1999), 0.84 (2000), 0.75 (2001), 1.15 (2002), and 0.94 (2003). Limitations Single institution, retrospective analysis, unknown denominator of cholecystectomies done in referral area per year to calculate true bile-duct injury rate. Conclusions Static incidence in frequency, anatomic distribution, and rate per 100 ERCPs per year of postcholecystectomy bile-duct injuries at a tertiary referral hepatobiliary unit over a 10-year period of observation.
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