METHODS: Following ethical approval and informed consent, 124 subjects were recruited into this cross-sectional study. Clinical oral examination assessed the number of Fordyce's granules and blood samples were collected to determine the serum cholesterol and ABO/Rh blood-group systems of individual subjects.
RESULTS: Blood group AB+ showed the highest mean of oral Fordyce's granules number and serum cholesterol level but this was not statistically significant compared to other blood groups. Female subjects in this study who were AB+ were had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels than males.
CONCLUSION: This study indicates an association between ABO blood group, serum cholesterol level and mean number of oral Fordyce's granules. A larger sample size in a future study is required to ascertain whether number of Fordyce's granules is an important measure of serum cholesterol, but the study does show that for AB+ individuals, females may have higher serum cholesterol than males.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A melatonin-loaded alginate-chitosan/beta-tricalcium phosphate composite hydrogel was successfully prepared and characterized. Thirty-six critical-sized bilateral class II furcation defects were created in six Mongrel dogs, and were randomly divided and allocated to three cohorts; sham, unloaded composite, and melatonin-loaded. Periodontal regenerative capacity was evaluated via histologic and histomorphometric analysis.
RESULTS: Melatonin-treated group showed accelerated bone formation and advanced maturity, with a significant twofold increase in newly formed inter-radicular bone compared with the unloaded composite. The short-term regenerative efficacy was evident 4 weeks postoperatively as a significant increase in cementum length concurrent with reduction of entrapped epithelium. After 8 weeks, the scaffold produced a quality of newly synthesized bone similar to normal compact bone, with potent periodontal ligament attachment.
CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin-loaded hydrogel template accelerated formation and enhanced quality of newly formed bone, allowing complete periodontal regeneration. Furthermore, the scaffold prevented overgrowth and entrapment of epithelial cells in furcation defects.
AIM: Our objective was to investigate the potential of AOC3 and LRRC17 as biomarkers for fibroblast activation thus predicting their roles in CRC progression.
METHODS: Immunofluorescence (IF) staining of AOC3 and LRRC17 was performed on myofibroblast line (CCD-112CoN), primary fibroblasts from colorectal tumor (CAFs), and adjacent normal tissue (normal fibroblasts-NFs). SW620 (epithelial CRC cell line) was used as a control. Conventional CAF biomarker (alpha-smooth muscle actin - α-SMA) was included in the IF analysis. Fluorescence intensity was compared between groups using ImageJ software. Proliferation and contractility of treated cells were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and collagen gel contraction assays, respectively. Fibroblast contraction under TGF-β1 treatment was compared to those treated with complete medium (addition of 10% serum) and serum free (SF) medium.
RESULTS: Positive AOC3, LRRC17, and α-SMA expression were observed in colonic fibroblasts, more prominent in CAFs, whereas negative staining was found in SW620. Significant downregulation of AOC3, and upregulations in LRRC17 and α-SMA expression was found in TGF-β1-treated fibroblasts compared to SF medium treatment (p-value<0.05). All fibroblasts exhibited higher proliferation in complete medium and under treatment with conditioned medium from SW620 than SF medium. Significant contraction of NFs was recorded in complete medium and TGF-β1 (p-value<0.01).
CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate AOC3 and LRRC17 as the potential markers of CAF activation which promote CRC progression.
METHODS: From a prospective database of endoscopic procedures maintained by the senior author, clinical data, imaging studies, operative charts, and videos of cases undergoing fully endoscopic retrosigmoid approach for cerebellopontine angle tumors were retrieved and analyzed. The pertinent literature was also reviewed.
RESULTS: The surgical technique of the fully endoscopic retrosigmoid approach was formulated.
CONCLUSION: The endoscopic technique has many advantages over the conventional procedures. In our hands, the technique has proven to be feasible, efficient, and minimally invasive with excellent results.
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between marrow fat and cortical bone thickness in β-thalassemia and to identify key determinants influencing these variables.
STUDY TYPE: Prospective.
SUBJECTS: Thirty-five subjects in four subject groups of increasing disease severity: 6 healthy control (25.0 ± 5.3 years, 2 male), 4 β-thalassemia minor, 13 intermedia, and 12 major (29.1 ± 6.4 years, 15 male).
FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 3.0 T, 3D fast low angle shot sequence and T1-weighted turbo spin echo.
ASSESSMENT: Analyses on proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and R2* values in femur subregions (femoral head, greater trochanter, intertrochanteric, diaphysis, distal) and cortical thickness (CBI) of the subjects' left femur. Clinical data such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and disease severity were also included.
STATISTICAL TESTS: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), mixed ANOVA, Pearson correlation and multiple regression. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.
RESULTS: Bone marrow PDFF significantly varied between the femur subregions, F(2.89,89.63) = 44.185 and disease severity, F(1,3) = 12.357. A significant interaction between subject groups and femur subregions on bone marrow PDFF was observed, F(8.67,89.63) = 3.723. Notably, a moderate positive correlation was observed between PDFF and CBI (r = 0.33-0.45). Multiple regression models for both PDFF (R2 = 0.476, F(13,151) = 10.547) and CBI (R2 = 0.477, F(13,151) = 10.580) were significant. Significant predictors for PDFF were disease severity (βTMi = 0.36, βTMa = 0.17), CBI (β = 0.24), R2* (β = -0.32), and height (β = -0.29) while for CBI, the significant determinants were sex (β = -0.27), BMI (β = 0.55), disease severity (βTMi = 2.15), and PDFF (β = 0.25).
DATA CONCLUSION: This study revealed a positive correlation between bone marrow fat fraction and cortical bone thickness in β-thalassemia with varying disease severity, potentially indicating a complex interplay between bone health and marrow composition.
EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.
METHODS: To overcome these limitations, our research introduces the ALLDet classifier, an innovative tool employing deep transfer learning for the automated analysis and categorization of ALL from White Blood Cell (WBC) nuclei images. Our investigation encompassed the evaluation of nine state-of-the-art pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models, namely VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, ResNet101, DenseNet121, DenseNet201, Xception, MobileNet, and EfficientNetB3. We augmented this approach by incorporating a sophisticated contour-based segmentation technique, derived from the Chan-Vese model, aimed at the meticulous segmentation of blast cell nuclei in blood smear images, thereby enhancing the accuracy of our analysis.
RESULTS: The empirical assessment of these methodologies underscored the superior performance of the EfficientNetB3 model, which demonstrated exceptional metrics: a recall specificity of 98.5%, precision of 95.86%, F1-score of 97.16%, and an overall accuracy rate of 97.13%. The Chan-Vese model's adaptability to the irregular shapes of blast cells and its noise-resistant segmentation capability were key to capturing the complex morphological changes essential for accurate segmentation.
CONCLUSION: The combined application of the ALLDet classifier, powered by EfficientNetB3, with our advanced segmentation approach, emerges as a formidable advancement in the early detection and accurate diagnosis of ALL. This breakthrough not only signifies a pivotal leap in leukemia diagnostic methodologies but also holds the promise of significantly elevating the standards of patient care through the provision of timely and precise diagnoses. The implications of this study extend beyond immediate clinical utility, paving the way for future research to further refine and enhance the capabilities of artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics.