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Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Oligodontia can be isolated or syndromic, associated with other ectodermal abnormalities. The aim of the study was to perform hair examination in orthodontic patients...
Oligodontia can be isolated or syndromic, associated with other ectodermal abnormalities. The aim of the study was to perform hair examination in orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia with a low clinical expression of symptoms of ectodermal origin. All available orthodontic patients diagnosed with oligodontia in the permanent dentition were enrolled. Hair examination included clinical evaluation of the patients' hair, trichoscopy, trichogram and evaluation of the hair shafts under a polarized light microscope. In total, 25 patients, 18 males and 7 females, aged 6 to 24 years were evaluated for the presence of dental and hair abnormalities. The number of congenitally absent teeth ranged from 6 to 24 teeth and diastemas, microdontia, taurodontism and altered tooth shape were found in 23 patients. Hair disorders were found in 68% of the subjects. Hypotrichosis, the heterogeneity of shaft color and loss of pigment, androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, trichoschisis, pili canaliculi, trichorrhexis nodosa and pseudomoniletrix were observed. Trichoscopy and trichogram are valid non-invasive diagnostic tests which could be used to differentiate between isolated and syndromic oligodontia in patients with a low clinical expression of ectodermal symptoms.
PubMed: 38732359
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14090945 -
Journal of Autoimmunity Oct 2023Disease course in sarcoidosis is highly variable. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and mediastinal lymph nodes show accumulation of activated T cells with a T-helper...
RATIONALE
Disease course in sarcoidosis is highly variable. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and mediastinal lymph nodes show accumulation of activated T cells with a T-helper (Th)17.1 signature, which correlates with non-resolving sarcoidosis. We hypothesize that the peripheral blood (PB) T cell phenotype may correlate with outcome.
OBJECTIVES
To compare frequencies, phenotypes and function of circulating T cell populations in sarcoidosis patients with healthy controls (HCs) and correlate these parameters with outcome.
METHODS
We used multi-color flow cytometry to quantify activation marker expression on PB T cell subsets in treatment-naïve patients and HCs. The disease course was determined after 2-year follow-up. Cytokine production was measured after T cell stimulation in vitro.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
We observed significant differences between patients and HCs in several T cell populations, including CD8 and CD4 T cells, Th1/Th17 subsets, CD4 T memory stem cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and γδ T cells. Decreased frequencies of CD4 T cells and increased frequencies of Tregs and CD8 γδ T cells correlated with worse outcome. Naïve CD4 T cells displayed an activated phenotype with increased CD25 expression in patients with active chronic disease at 2-year follow-up. A distinctive Treg phenotype with increased expression of CD25, CTLA4, CD69, PD-1 and CD95 correlated with chronic sarcoidosis. Upon stimulation, both naïve and memory T cells displayed a different cytokine profile in sarcoidosis compared to HCs.
CONCLUSIONS
Circulating T cell subpopulations of sarcoidosis patients display phenotypic abnormalities that correlate with disease outcome, supporting a critical role of aberrant T cell activation in sarcoidosis pathogenesis.
PubMed: 37863732
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103120 -
International Journal of Women's Health 2023To evaluate the dynamically impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the female reproductive system.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the dynamically impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the female reproductive system.
METHODS
An online survey was shared to women of reproductive age who had been infected with COVID-19 and recovered in China between January and March 2023.
RESULTS
In total, 610 women of childbearing age completed the menstrual component of the survey and 82.6% (n=504) women self-purchased medications without hospitalization. 254 women were menstruating during COVID-19 infection. 66.9% of them reported changes in menstruation, including cycle length (64.7%), menstrual flow (72.4%), and duration (53%), compared to pre-COVID-19. COVID-19-related chest tightness (OR: 9.5; 95% CI: 1.9-46.3), COVID-19-related stress (OR: 18.4; 95% CI: 1.4-249.7), and COVID-19-related low mood (OR: 6.2; 95% CI: 1.4-28.2) were associated with these menstrual changes. However, over 73% of women who menstruated during and after COVID-19 regained their pre-infection menstrual cycle (73%), duration (79.6%), and flow (75.2%) during their first menstruation after COVID-19 recovery. Compared to pre-infection, 19.7% (n=124) women reported changes in lower reproductive tract during COVID-19, including volume and color of vaginal discharge, vulvar pruritus, and vaginitis. These changes were significantly increased in those with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (OR: 12.1; 95% CI: 3.1-48.2), ovarian cysts (OR: 4.9; 95% CI: 1.2-19.4), and vaginitis (OR: 5.5; 95% CI: 2.1-14.4) prior to COVID-19. However, 52.4% reported that their lower reproductive tract health had returned to its pre-infection within the first month after recovery from COVID-19, while 73.5% reported a return to the pre-infection within 2 months.
CONCLUSION
Changes in menstruation and lower reproductive tract associated with COVID-19 are transient. Menstruation and lower reproductive tract health will gradually return to pre-COVID-19 status within 2 months of recovery, which can help alleviate excessive concerns about the effects of COVID-19 on the reproductive system.
PubMed: 38152614
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S433516 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Skin cancer is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of skin cells, primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial... (Review)
Review
Skin cancer is a condition characterized by the abnormal growth of skin cells, primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Different types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Despite the advancements in targeted therapies, there is still a need for a safer, highly efficient approach to preventing and treating cutaneous malignancies. Spices have a rich history dating back thousands of years and are renowned for their ability to enhance the flavor, taste, and color of food. Derived from various plant parts like seeds, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers, spices are important culinary ingredients. However, their value extends beyond the culinary realm. Some spices contain bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, which are known for their significant biological effects. These compounds have attracted attention in scientific research due to their potential health benefits, including their possible role in disease prevention and treatment, such as cancer. This review focuses on examining the potential of spice-derived phenolic compounds as preventive or therapeutic agents for managing skin cancers. By compiling and analyzing the available knowledge, this review aims to provide insights that can guide future research in identifying new anticancer phytochemicals and uncovering additional mechanisms for combating skin cancer.
Topics: Skin Neoplasms; Phenols; Spices; Phytochemicals; Humans
PubMed: 37687080
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176251 -
Journal of Taibah University Medical... Dec 2023Maxillofacial silicone is used to restore abnormalities due to congenital or acquired causes. However, the quality of silicone is far from ideal. This study was aimed at...
OBJECTIVES
Maxillofacial silicone is used to restore abnormalities due to congenital or acquired causes. However, the quality of silicone is far from ideal. This study was aimed at assessing the influence of the addition of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs; several nanometers in diameter and 2-5 μm long) on the physical and mechanical characteristics of maxillofacial silicone elastomers.
METHODS
Two CNF weight percentages (0.5% and 1%) were tested, and 180 specimens were divided into one control and two experimental groups. Each group was subdivided into six subgroups. In each subgroup, ten specimens subjected to each of the following tests: tearing strength, Shore-A hardness, tensile strength, elongation percentage, surface roughness, and color stability. The samples were additionally analyzed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM).
RESULTS
The 0.5% CNF group, compared with the control group, exhibited highly significantly greater tearing strength, elongation percentage, hardness Shore-A, and surface roughness, and substantially greater tensile strength. However, color stability did not significantly differ between groups.The 1% CNF group showed significantly greater Shore-A hardness, tear strength, color stability, and surface roughness, and insignificantly lower tensile strength and percentage elongating values, than the control group. FESEM imaging revealed good CNF dispersion. The FTIR spectra indicated that CNFs interacted with silicone through surface functional hydroxyl groups.
CONCLUSION
Addition of 0.5 wt. % CNF to silicone elastomers increased the material's mechanical tensile strength, tear strength, elongation percentage, and hardness as long as it stayed within the acceptable range for clinical use. Surface roughness increased in direct proportion to the amount of nanofibers added. Moreover, addition of 0.5 wt. % CNF to silicone polymers had insignificant effects on color stability.
PubMed: 37711757
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2023.07.002 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Aug 2023Hydrocele, an abnormal fluid collection between parietal and visceral layers of the tunica vaginalis, is the commonest cause of scrotal swelling, and it affects all age...
INTRODUCTION
Hydrocele, an abnormal fluid collection between parietal and visceral layers of the tunica vaginalis, is the commonest cause of scrotal swelling, and it affects all age groups. Calcification of hydrocele sac/wall is a rare clinical entity. The etiology of calcification of hydrocele sac is not clear, but most literature proposes that calcification is secondary to chronic irritation. Trauma and infectious diseases including Schistosoma haematobium, filariasis, and tuberculosis can also cause calcification of the hydrocele sac.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 74-year-old Ethiopian male patient presented with left side scrotal swelling of 3 years duration, which was initially small but progressively increased. He had no history of trauma, and he had no history of swelling on the contralateral side. Scrotal ultrasound (US) showed a large echodebrinous left-side scrotal collection with calcifications, bilateral testis appear normal in size, echogenicity, and color Doppler flow with the index of likely chronic hematocele. Therefore, with a diagnosis of left-sided calcified hydrocele, the patient was operated on and the calcified sac was excised and sent for histopathology. Finally, the patient was discharged improved after 2 days of hospital stay.
CONCLUSION
Calcification of the tunica vaginalis is very rare and is probably due to chronic irritation of the wall from the coexisting hydrocele. Surgical excision of calcified hydrocele sac is the treatment of choice.
Topics: Humans; Male; Animals; Aged; Egg Shell; Testicular Hydrocele; Genital Diseases, Male; Scrotum; Testis; Calcinosis; Inflammation
PubMed: 37580791
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-04076-9 -
Computer Methods and Programs in... Oct 2023Combining knowledge of clinical pathologists and deep learning models is a growing trend in morphological analysis of cells circulating in blood to add objectivity,...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Combining knowledge of clinical pathologists and deep learning models is a growing trend in morphological analysis of cells circulating in blood to add objectivity, accuracy, and speed in diagnosing hematological and non-hematological diseases. However, the variability in staining protocols across different laboratories can affect the color of images and performance of automatic recognition models. The objective of this work is to develop, train and evaluate a new system for the normalization of color staining of peripheral blood cell images, so that it transforms images from different centers to map the color staining of a reference center (RC) while preserving the structural morphological features.
METHODS
The system has two modules, GAN1 and GAN2. GAN1 uses the PIX2PIX technique to fade original color images to an adaptive gray, while GAN2 transforms them into RGB normalized images. Both GANs have a similar structure, where the generator is a U-NET convolutional neural network with ResNet and the discriminator is a classifier with ResNet34 structure. Digitally stained images were evaluated using GAN metrics and histograms to assess the ability to modify color without altering cell morphology. The system was also evaluated as a pre-processing tool before cells undergo a classification process. For this purpose, a CNN classifier was designed for three classes: abnormal lymphocytes, blasts and reactive lymphocytes.
RESULTS
Training of all GANs and the classifier was performed using RC images, while evaluations were conducted using images from four other centers. Classification tests were performed before and after applying the stain normalization system. The overall accuracy reached a similar value around 96% in both cases for the RC images, indicating the neutrality of the normalization model for the reference images. On the contrary, it was a significant improvement in the classification performance when applying the stain normalization to the other centers. Reactive lymphocytes were the most sensitive to stain normalization, with true positive rates (TPR) increasing from 46.3% - 66% for the original images to 81.2% - 97.2% after digital staining. Abnormal lymphocytes TPR ranged from 31.9% - 95.7% with original images to 83% - 100% with digitally stained images. Blast class showed TPR ranges of 90.3% - 94.4% and 94.4% - 100%, for original and stained images, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed GAN-based normalization staining approach improves the performance of classifiers with multicenter data sets by generating digitally stained images with a quality similar to the original images and adaptability to a reference staining standard. The system requires low computation cost and can help improve the performance of automatic recognition models in clinical settings.
Topics: Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Neural Networks, Computer; Staining and Labeling; Blood Cells; Leukocytes
PubMed: 37301181
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107629 -
Cureus Aug 2023Background and objective Color vision abnormality is a condition where the faculty to identify one or more primary colors is either defective (anomalous) or absent...
Background and objective Color vision abnormality is a condition where the faculty to identify one or more primary colors is either defective (anomalous) or absent (anopia). Occupations like armed forces, merchant navy, navigation, and police and fire services require normal color vision. There is a scarcity of data in the literature regarding the prevalence of congenital color vision abnormality in patients in South India. In light of this, the present study aimed to find the prevalence of congenital color vision abnormality in patients attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) at a tertiary eye care center in South India. Materials and methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary eye care center in South India from December 2014 to December 2016. Patients with a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20, normal direct and consensual pupillary light reflex, normal anterior segment, and undilated fundus examination were included. Color vision was assessed using Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates, American Optical Hardy-Rand-Rittler (AO HRR), and then the Farnsworth Munsell D15 arrangement test. All the results were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Statistical significance was calculated using the ANOVA test. Results A total of 371 patients were screened for color vision abnormality; 184 (49.59%) patients were males and 187 (50.40%) were females. Out of 371 patients in the study, 363 (98.10%) had normal color vision while eight patients (2.16%) had color vision abnormality. Of the eight patients with color vision abnormalities, six (75%) had abnormal color vision on all three tests and two (25%) had an abnormality on only two tests (Ishihara and AO HRR). Out of 184 males in the study, eight patients (4.34%) had abnormal color vision while none of the 187 females had color vision abnormality; this difference was statistically significant (p=0.03). Conclusions Early diagnosis and providing education and awareness of this condition are necessary as part of guiding young people with regard to their career options and we recommend that all children should undergo color vision screening before entering high school.
PubMed: 37736427
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43837 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Abnormal retrobulbar hemodynamics have been linked to the development of various ocular diseases, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic... (Review)
Review
Abnormal retrobulbar hemodynamics have been linked to the development of various ocular diseases, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. Additionally, altered retrobulbar blood flow has been observed in patients with severe cardiovascular diseases, including carotid artery occlusion, stroke, heart failure, and acute coronary syndrome. Due to the complex and intricate anatomy of retrobulbar blood vessels and their location behind the eyeball, measurement of retrobulbar blood flow and vascular reactivity, as well as the interpretation of the findings, are challenging. Various methods, such as color Doppler imaging, computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance imaging, have been employed to assess retrobulbar blood flow velocities in vivo. Color Doppler imaging represents a fast and non-invasive method to measure retrobulbar blood flow velocities in vivo. While no information about vessel diameter can be gained performing this method, computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance imaging provide information about vessel diameter and detailed information on the anatomical course. Additionally, ex vivo studies, such as myography, utilizing genetically modified animal models may provide high optical resolution for functional vascular investigations in these small vessels. To our best knowledge, this is the first review, presenting a detailed overview of methods aiming to evaluate retrobulbar blood flow and vascular reactivity in both humans and laboratory animals. Furthermore, we will summarize the disturbances observed in retrobulbar blood flow in retinal, optic nerve, and cardiovascular diseases.
PubMed: 38066755
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13233514 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023Intergeneric and interspecific hybridization has been employed for the breeding of to transfer desirable traits between species, producing novel phenotypes with...
Intergeneric and interspecific hybridization has been employed for the breeding of to transfer desirable traits between species, producing novel phenotypes with improved size, color, form, and flower-bearing ability. These characteristics are often enhanced; however, many of these hybrids are triploids and have reduced or complete sterility, for example, Queen Beer 'Mantefon', an important novelty-type cultivar in Asia, particularly in China, Japan, and Republic of Korea. Despite the increasing demand for the crop for ornamental purposes, little is known about its cytogenetics, which is essential for breeding and, consequently, crop improvement. In this study, karyotyping using fluorescence in situ hybridization, meiotic chromosome behavior analysis, pollen staining, and in vitro viability germination tests were performed to understand the cause of hybrid sterility and pollen abnormality in Queen Beer 'Mantefon' from a cytogenetic perspective. Viability tests revealed pollen infertility at all flower developmental stages, confirmed by the absence of pollen tube growth. Aberrant chromosomal behavior was observed in pollen mother cells (PMCs), frequently forming univalents, chromosomal bridges, and laggards during the entire meiotic process. PMCs were also divided irregularly into sporads with varying numbers of micronuclei, which may be responsible for pollen sterility in this cultivar. Altogether, the cytogenetic analyses provided insights into the pollen development of Queen Beer 'Mantefon' and the conceivable causes of its infertility.
PubMed: 37570982
DOI: 10.3390/plants12152828