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Objective: This study was undertaken to test whether the postinjury plasma concentration of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNF‐H), a marker of axonal injury, is a prognostic biomarker for the development of posttraumatic epilepsy. Methods: Tail vein plasma was sampled 48 h after traumatic brain injury (TBI) from 143 rats (10 naïve, 21 controls, 112 with lateral fluid percussion injury) to quantify pNF‐H by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. During the 6th postinjury month, rats underwent 30 days of continuous video‐electroencephalographic monitoring to detect unprovoked seizures and evaluate epilepsy severity. Somatomotor (composite neuroscore) and spatial memory (Morris water maze) testing and quantitative T2 magnetic resonance imaging were performed to assess comorbidities and lesion severity. Results: Of the 112 TBI rats, 25% (28/112) developed epilepsy (TBI+) and 75% (84/112) did not (TBI−). Plasma pNF‐H concentrations were higher in TBI+ rats than in TBI− rats (p <.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that plasma pNF‐H concentration distinguished TBI+ rats from TBI− rats (area under the curve [AUC] =.647, p <.05). Differentiation was stronger when comparing TBI+ rats exhibiting severe epilepsy (≥3 seizures/month) with all other TBI rats (AUC =.732, p <.01). Plasma pNF‐H concentration on day 2 (D2) distinguished TBI+ rats with seizure clusters from other TBI rats (AUC =.732, p <.05). Higher plasma pNF‐H concentration on D2 after TBI correlated with lower neuroscores on D2 (p <.001), D6 (p <.001), and D14 (p <.01). Higher pNF‐H concentration on D2 correlated with greater T2 signal abnormality volume on D2 (p <.001) and D7 (p <.01) and larger cortical lesion area on D182 (p <.01). Plasma pNF‐H concentration on D2 did not correlate with Morris water maze performance on D37–D39. Significance: Plasma pNF‐H is a promising clinically translatable prognostic biomarker for the development of posttraumatic epilepsy with frequent seizures or seizure clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lacunes, a characteristic feature of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), are critical public health concerns, especially in the aging population. Traditional neuroimaging techniques often fall short in early lacune detection, prompting the need for more precise predictive models. Methods: In this retrospective study, 587 patients from the Neurology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University who underwent cranial MRI were assessed. A nomogram for predicting lacune incidence was developed using LASSO regression and binary logistic regression analysis for variable selection. The nomogram's performance was quantitatively assessed using AUC-ROC, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA) in both training (n = 412) and testing (n = 175) cohorts. Results: Independent predictors identified included age, gender, history of stroke, carotid atherosclerosis, hypertension, creatinine, and homocysteine levels. The nomogram showed an AUC-ROC of 0.814 (95% CI: 0.791-0.870) for the training set and 0.805 (95% CI: 0.782-0.843) for the testing set. Calibration and DCA corroborated the model's clinical value. Conclusion: This study introduces a clinically useful nomogram, derived from binary logistic regression, that significantly enhances the prediction of lacunes in patients undergoing brain MRI for various indications, potentially advancing early diagnosis and intervention. While promising, its retrospective design and single-center context are limitations that warrant further research, including multi-center validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal quality control in clinical chemistry laboratories are based on analyzing samples of stable control materials among the patient samples. The control results are interpreted by using quality control rules that usually are designed to detect systematic errors. The best rules have a high probability of error detection (Ped), i.e. to detect the maximal allowable (critical) systematic error and a low probability of false rejection (Pfr, false alarm). In this work we show that quality control rules can be represented by points on a ROC curve which appears when Ped is plotted against Pfrand only the control limit is varied. Further, we introduce a new method for choosing the optimal control limit, analogous to choosing the optimal operating point on the ROC curve of a diagnostic test. This decision needs knowledge of the pretest probability of a critical systematic error, the benefit of detecting it when it occurs and the cost of false alarm. The ROC curve analysis showed that if rules based on N = 2 are used, mean rules outperform Westgard rules because the ROC curve of the mean rules was lying above the ROC curves of the Westgard rules. A mean rule also had a lower maximum expected increase in the number of unacceptable patient results reported during the presence of an out-of-control error condition (Max E(NUF)) than comparable Westgard rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study aimed to determine the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) cutoff scores for assessing patient satisfaction postlateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) patients. Analyzing 136 DLSS patients (83 males, 53 females), the study evaluated demographics, pain (Numeric Rating Scale), and JOABPEQ outcomes (low back pain, lumbar function, walking ability, social life, mental health). Patient satisfaction was surveyed, and based on their responses, patients were categorized into "Beneficial" and "Nonbeneficial" groups. Statistical analysis encompassed the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, t-tests, Mann–Whitney U test, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for JOABPEQ cutoff determination. Postoperative improvements in JOABPEQ scores, especially in walking ability, social life function, and mental health, were significant. Pain intensity, assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, also showed notable reductions. The Δ walking ability cutoff was set at 25.00, indicating substantial mobility improvement. This domain's area under the curve (AUC) was 0.815 (95% CI: 0.726–0.903), demonstrating high effectiveness in assessing patient satisfaction postsurgery. The study also found no significant differences in complication rates between groups for conditions like transient motor weakness, thigh pain/numbness, and revision surgery. This study underscores the value of patient-centered outcomes in evaluating LLIF surgery success for DLSS. The identified JOABPEQ cutoff values provide a quantitative tool for assessing patient satisfaction, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive postoperative evaluations beyond traditional clinical metrics for improved patient care and life quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The vegetarian vegan eating disorder screener (V-EDS) is an 18-item self-report screening tool designed to assess the unique elements of eating disorder symptomology in vegetarians and vegans. Previous results have suggested strong initial psychometric properties in non-clinical community samples of vegetarians and vegans. The present study sought to identify a preliminary threshold cut-off score to discriminate eating disorder pathology in a self-reported clinical and community sample. Methods This study involved secondary analysis using data collected in McLean et al. (Development and preliminary validation of a novel eating disorder screening tool for vegetarians and vegans: the V-EDS, 2023), comprising 599 non-clinical participants and 51 self-reported clinical participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compute possible cut-off values for the V-EDS. Results: ROC analysis indicated good performance of the V-EDS (area under the curve = 0.87), with integration of the Youden index demonstrating a global score of ≥ 18 to be optimal in predicting clinical caseness with good sensitivity (0.804) and specificity (0.843). Conclusions The present study fills an important gap as the first to investigate an optimal V-EDS score to discriminate level of impairment from eating disorder pathology in a sample of vegetarian and vegan community and self-reported clinical participants. We extend the utility of the V-EDS in discovering good discrimination power in classifying clinical caseness with a cut-off score of 18 shown to optimise the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity. Future research should focus on expanding the psychometric properties of the V-EDS in larger and more diverse participant groups, including gender, age, cultural identity, and eating disorder history.

Objective: To explore the correlation of lipid accumulation product (LAP) with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to assess the predictive value of LAP for MS risk in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with different body mass index (BMI). Methods: A total of 242 PCOS patients and 150 controls were recruited and divided into normal-weight, overweight, and obese groups, then further divided into MS and without MS subgroups. Clinical and anthropometric variables and laboratory results were recorded. LAP was calculated from waist circumference (WC) and triglyceride using sex-specific formulae. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were applied to determine and analyze the predictive value of LAP for MS. Results: The prevalence of MS among PCOS patients was 45.04%, which was significantly higher than that of the controls (10%). Stratified by BMI, the incidence of MS in the normal-weight, overweight, and obese PCOS groups were 15.58%, 41.43%, and 71.58%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that LAP was an independent risk factor for MS in both normal-weight and overweight groups; however, the results were not significant in the obese group. ROC curve analysis showed that LAP had an outstanding discrimination index for MS in normal-weight (AUC=0.960, cut-off value=42.5) and overweight (AUC=0.937, cut-off value=47.93) PCOS patients, with a sensitivity of 0.917/0.931 (normal-weight/overweight) and a specificity of 0.969/0.854 (normal-weight/overweight), respectively. Conclusion: Normal-weight and overweight PCOS patients also have a fairly high incidence of MS and should receive as much attention as obese patients. Compared to applying multiple clinical indicators, LAP is more convenient and facilitates acquiring early and accurate diagnoses of MS among non-obese PCOS patients using fewer MS markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The vegetarian vegan eating disorder screener (V-EDS) is an 18-item self-report screening tool designed to assess the unique elements of eating disorder symptomology in vegetarians and vegans. Previous results have suggested strong initial psychometric properties in non-clinical community samples of vegetarians and vegans. The present study sought to identify a preliminary threshold cut-off score to discriminate eating disorder pathology in a self-reported clinical and community sample. Methods: This study involved secondary analysis using data collected in McLean et al. (Development and preliminary validation of a novel eating disorder screening tool for vegetarians and vegans: the V-EDS, 2023), comprising 599 non-clinical participants and 51 self-reported clinical participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compute possible cut-off values for the V-EDS. Results: ROC analysis indicated good performance of the V-EDS (area under the curve = 0.87), with integration of the Youden index demonstrating a global score of ≥ 18 to be optimal in predicting clinical caseness with good sensitivity (0.804) and specificity (0.843). Conclusions: The present study fills an important gap as the first to investigate an optimal V-EDS score to discriminate level of impairment from eating disorder pathology in a sample of vegetarian and vegan community and self-reported clinical participants. We extend the utility of the V-EDS in discovering good discrimination power in classifying clinical caseness with a cut-off score of 18 shown to optimise the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity. Future research should focus on expanding the psychometric properties of the V-EDS in larger and more diverse participant groups, including gender, age, cultural identity, and eating disorder history. Plain English Summary: This study builds on the preliminary validation of a novel eating disorder screening tool for people adhering to a vegetarian and vegan diet called the V-EDS. In this study, we set out to develop a cut-off score for the V-EDS to distinguish people needing further evaluation for a possible eating disorder within the community. We found a global V-EDS score of ≥ 18 to be ideal in distinguishing between eating disorder symptomatic and non-eating disorder groups. In future, the V-EDS may prove useful for initial screening and symptom progression of eating disorders across both clinical and research settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The taxus chinensis fruit (TCF) shows promises in treatment of aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, its related constituents and targets against AD have not been deciphered. Objective: This study was to uncover constituents and targets of TCF extracts against AD. Methods: An integrated approach including ultrasound extractions and constituent identification of TCF by UPLC-QE-MS/MS, target identification of constituents and AD by R data-mining from Pubchem, Drugbank and GEO databases, network construction, molecular docking and the ROC curve analysis was carried out. Results: We identified 250 compounds in TCF extracts, and obtained 3,231 known constituent targets and 5,326 differential expression genes of AD, and 988 intersection genes. Through the network construction and KEGG pathway analysis, 19 chemicals, 31 targets, and 11 biological pathways were obtained as core compounds, targets and pathways of TCF extracts against AD. Among these constituents, luteolin, oleic acid, gallic acid, baicalein, naringenin, lovastatin and rutin had obvious anti-AD effect. Molecular docking results further confirmed above results. The ROC AUC values of about 87% of these core targets of TCF extracts was greater than 0.5 in the two GEO chips of AD, especially 10 targets with ROC AUC values greater than 0.7, such as BCL2, CASP7, NFKBIA, HMOX1, CDK2, LDLR, RELA, and CCL2, which mainly referred to neuron apoptosis, response to oxidative stress and inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, etc. Conclusions: The TCF extracts have diverse active compounds that can act on the diagnostic genes of AD, which deserve further in-depth study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geriatric syndromes associated with medications have been a social problem in Japan due to a rapid growing aging population in recent years. The aim of this study was to extract outpatients complaining of geriatric syndromes associated with medications at a pharmacy in Japan. We interviewed 206 outpatients individually by asking whether there were any symptoms labeled as geriatric syndromes they were conscious of after explaining about polypharmacy including typical symptoms such as drowsiness, depression, forgetfulness, reduced appetite, lightheadedness/dizziness, difficulty urinating and constipation with the use of a polypharmacy leaflet. The results showed that the prevalence of geriatric syndromes associated with medications was 7.8%, and moreover that the more medications patients take, the more they are likely to complain about their health problems. Especially, five or more medications were found to be associated with the increased frequency of geriatric syndromes in the outpatients. The present study suggests a simple screening method using active intervention and structured interview techniques for extraction of outpatients complaining of geriatric syndromes associated with medications at pharmacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifaceted neurological ailment affecting more than 50 million individuals globally, distinguished by a deterioration in memory and cognitive abilities. Investigating neurotrophin growth factors could offer significant contributions to understanding AD progression and prospective therapeutic interventions. Methods and results: The present investigation collected blood samples from 50 patients diagnosed with AD and 50 healthy individuals serving as controls. The mRNA expression levels of neurotrophin growth factors and their receptors were measured using quantitative PCR. A Bayesian regression model was used in the research to assess the relationship between gene expression levels and demographic characteristics such as age and gender. The correlations between variables were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients, and the diagnostic potential was assessed using a Receiver Operating Characteristic curve. NTRK2, TrkA, TrkC, and BDNF expression levels were found to be considerably lower (p-value < 0.05) in the blood samples of AD patients compared to the control group. The expression of BDNF exhibited the most substantial decrease in comparison to other neurotrophin growth factors. Correlation analysis indicates a statistically significant positive association between the genes. The ROC analysis showed that BDNF exhibited the greatest Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 0.76, accompanied by a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 66%. TrkC, TrkA, and NTRK2 demonstrated considerable diagnostic potential in distinguishing between cases and controls. Conclusion: The observed decrease in the expression levels of NTRK2, TrkA, TrkC, and BDNF in AD patients, along with the identified associations between specific genes and their diagnostic capacity, indicate that these expressions have the potential to function as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locating colonies of rare bats can be a time consuming process, as it is often difficult to know where to focus survey effort. However, identifying peaks of bat activity via acoustic monitoring may provide insights into whether a colony is locally present, and help screen out sites with low potential. Using a triage approach, we developed a survey methodology for locating colonies of the woodland-specialist barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus). We investigated whether woodland occupancy by a colony could be predicted by acoustic data, and assessed the influence of survey effort (number of acoustic detectors deployed) on detectability. The methodology was then trialled in citizen science surveys of 77 woodlands, with follow-up radio-tracking surveys by specialists being used to confirm presence or absence. Using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, we found that a threshold of four barbastelle passes recorded by at least one detector within one hour of sunset optimised the balance between the true- and false-positive rates. Subsequently, we found that a minimum survey effort of one detector per 6.25 hectares of woodland was needed to ensure a colony would be detected using this threshold, based on a survey sensitivity of 90%. Radio-tracking surveys in a subset of the woodlands, identified as having a high probability of being occupied by a colony based on acoustic monitoring, confirmed the presence of five previously unknown barbastelle maternity colonies. These results demonstrate that a triage system, in which high probability woodland sites are identified based on acoustic survey data, can be used to prioritise sites for future specialist surveys and conservation action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to introduce how to reasonably carry out the method of the multiple Logistic regression analysis by combining the ROC curve analysis. Firstly， it introduced two groups of the basic concepts related to the ROC curve analysis， that was， the statistical description of common diagnostic indicators and the ROC curve analysis method of the diagnostic data. Secondly， it introduced the core contents of the ROC curve analysis， that was， the calculation of the area under the ROC curve and the comparison of the area under multiple ROC curves. Thirdly， through an example of a diagnostic test， the whole process of how to use SAS software for the analysis was introduced， the contents were as follows： ① the analysis using only multiple Logistic regression analysis； ② the multiple Logistic regression analysis combined with the ROC curve analysis. The conclusion was that， for the diagnostic test data， combining the multiple Logistic regression analysis with the ROC curve analysis could obtain richer and more reasonable statistical analysis results.

China is a high incidence area of tuberculosis, and the situation of tuberculosis prevention and control is very serious, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is the focus and difficulty of tuberculosis prevention and control. In order to explore the risk factors of MDR-TB and build a risk prediction model, a case-control study was used to explore the risk factors of MDR-TB through field epidemiological investigation. Risk factors were screened by logistic regression, and risk prediction model was construc)ted. The area under ROC curve was used to evaluate the prediction efficiency, and H-L test was used to evaluate the goodness of fit. Multivariate analysis show that compare with drug sensitive TB patients, the risk of MDR in male is 4. 366 times higher than that in fe)male (P = 0. 002, 95% CI 1. 732 ~ 11. 004). Compare with those in high school and above, the risk of disease in middle school and below is 13. 627 times (P = 0. 008, 95% CI 2. 006 ~ 92. 560). Introversion is a protective factor (OR = 0. 181, P = 0. 033, 95% CI 0. 037 ~ 0. 872). The daily meat intake less than 150 g is 3. 804 times the risk of higher than 150 g (P = 0. 001, 95% CI 1. 670 ~ 8. 667). The area under the ROC curve of the joint predictor is 0. 790 (95% CI 0. 710 ~ 0. 870). The result of H-L test is χ² = 14. 956,P = 0. 060. It can be seen that male, under middle school, extrovert and low meat intake are related to the incidence of MDR-TB, and the joint predictor model has a high predictive value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G protein-coupled receptor 183 (GPR183) has been indicated to mediate the migration and localisation of immune cells in T cell-dependent antibody responses. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a canonical autoimmune disease involving B cell-mediated tolerance destruction and excessive pathogenic autoantibody production, in which multiple GPCRs play a role. To date, there has been no systematic study regarding the expression of GPR183 in lymphocyte subsets of SLE patients. In this research, firstly, we observed the expression trends of GRP183 in various T and B cell subsets in human tonsil tissues. These lymphocyte subsets include CD4+, CD8+, naïve T, effector T, Tfh, activated Tfh, Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, CD19+CD27-, CD19+CD27+, naïve B, germinal centre B, memory B, and plasma cells. Further, compared with healthy controls (HCs), GPR183 expression levels in above peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of patients with SLE were reduced overall. The differential expression of GPR183 expression between inactive and active SLE patients indicates that GPR183 expression may be concerned with the disease activity of SLE. This was further confirmed through the strong negative correlation with SLEDAI score and positive correlation with serum complement protein C3, C4 and C1q levels. Further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that GPR183 expression in circulating CD27-IgD+ B cells may be beneficial in distinguishing between inactive and active SLE patients. In addition, type I interferon stimulation could down-regulate the expression of GPR183 in peripheral blood T and B cell subsets. Aberrant expression of GPR183 may provide some novel insights into disease activity prediction and underlying pathogenesis of SLE.

Introduction: The age of 18 years is an important milestone for legal matters, and developmental parameters of teeth are often used for estimation of this age. The aim of this study is to assess the efficiency of third molar maturity index (I3M) in establishing age of 18 years in Dakshina Kannada population. Methods: A total of 700 orthopantomograms were retrieved from the archives of the radiology department of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. The length and the width of the open apex of the mandibular left third molar was assessed using Image J software and the Third molar maturity Index (I3M) was calculated and correlated with the age of the individual. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed the Area under curve of 0.94 and 0.96 in females and males, respectively, for prediction of age of 18 years. The cut-off of 0.08 predicted the 18-year cut-off with 97% specificity and 90.2% negative predictive value. The percentage of the accuracy was 80.23% if the I3M was

In this study, a pattern detection method is applied on the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 simulation outputs of seven GCMs—disseminated by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5)—to determine whether atmospheric teleconnection patterns detected in the ERA-20C reanalysis from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) will be observable in the future projections of the CMIP5 GCMs. The pattern detection technique—which combines the negative extrema method and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis—is used on the geopotential height field at the 500 hPa pressure level in wintertime, in the Northern Hemisphere. It was found that teleconnections obtained from the ERA-20C reanalysis dataset for the period of 1976–2005 remain observable in the majority of the GCM outputs under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios for the periods of 2006–2035, 2021–2050, and 2071–2100. The results imply that atmospheric internal variability is the major factor that controls the teleconnections rather than the impact of radiative forcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive amount of reactive species under chronic inflammation, which are accompanied by an increase body temperature, lead to diabetic complications. Phagocyte NADPH oxidase is the key enzyme in these processes. The role of high temperature in its regulation in diabetes is not clear. The aim was to investigate the effect of high temperature on NADPH-oxidase-dependent generation of reactive species in diabetic patients. Chemiluminescent method was applied to assess respiratory burst kinetics initiated by opsonized zymosan in blood or phorbol ester in isolated granulocytes. Analyzing ROC curves, the main predictors and changes in stages of activation of NADPH oxidase were determined. Phosphoisoforms of p47phox and p67phox were quantified by immunoblotting. Response to opsonized zymosan was lower in all subjects at 40 °C vs 37 °C, its kinetic parameters (except T max) were higher in blood of patients vs controls. Response rate was the main significant predictor to distinguish groups of subjects at 40 °C indicating NADPH oxidase upregulation in diabetes. Ca2+-dependent generation of reactive species by cells increased in both groups at 40 °C vs 37 °C, kinetic parameters were higher in patients. Initial phospho-p47phox level was higher in patient cells vs ones in controls. It was increased by ionomycin, phorbol ester, or 40 °C in control cells and unchanged in patient ones. Phospho-p67phox level was unchangeable in intact cells of healthy donors and patients at both temperatures. Excessive amounts of reactive species in patient cells were the consequence of granulocyte priming due to p47phox phosphorylation. Thus, high temperature decreased phagocytosis- and enhanced Ca2+-dependent generation of reactive species making the differences between controls and patients less pronounced. The effect of temperature on the generation of reactive species in blood granulocytes is associated with activity of NADPH oxidase that can be a prospective therapeutic target for pathologies accompanied by inflammation including type 2 diabetes. [Display omitted] • High temperature promoted low production of reactive species in blood. • The rate of respiratory burst was the most significant predictor. • Ca2+-dependent generation of reactive species by granulocytes was high at 40 °C. • p-p47phox was low in intact healthy donor cells and high in patient ones at 37 °C. • p-p47phox was high in healthy donor cells and unchangeable in patient ones at 40 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G protein-coupled receptor 183 (GPR183) has been indicated to mediate the migration and localisation of immune cells in T cell-dependent antibody responses. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a canonical autoimmune disease involving B cell-mediated tolerance destruction and excessive pathogenic autoantibody production, in which multiple GPCRs play a role. To date, there has been no systematic study regarding the expression of GPR183 in lymphocyte subsets of SLE patients. In this research, firstly, we observed the expression trends of GRP183 in various T and B cell subsets in human tonsil tissues. These lymphocyte subsets include CD4+, CD8+, naïve T, effector T, Tfh, activated Tfh, Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg, CD19+CD27-, CD19+CD27+, naïve B, germinal centre B, memory B, and plasma cells. Further, compared with healthy controls (HCs), GPR183 expression levels in above peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of patients with SLE were reduced overall. The differential expression of GPR183 expression between inactive and active SLE patients indicates that GPR183 expression may be concerned with the disease activity of SLE. This was further confirmed through the strong negative correlation with SLEDAI score and positive correlation with serum complement protein C3, C4 and C1q levels. Further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that GPR183 expression in circulating CD27-IgD+ B cells may be beneficial in distinguishing between inactive and active SLE patients. In addition, type I interferon stimulation could down-regulate the expression of GPR183 in peripheral blood T and B cell subsets. Aberrant expression of GPR183 may provide some novel insights into disease activity prediction and underlying pathogenesis of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk screening of non-native species that are likely to be invasive in a defined risk assessment area is crucial for implementing strategies of rapid response and mitigation to protect native biodiversity and socio-economic activities. However, for successful risk-ranking of the screened species, scientifically defensible evidence in support of the screening outcomes must be provided, and computation of a correctly calibrated threshold to distinguish between medium-risk and high-risk species must be achieved. This paper reviews published applications of the "second-generation" Weed Risk Assessment-type decision support tools (i.e. the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit and the Terrestrial Animal Species Invasiveness Screening Kit) and evaluates them in terms of the above two requirements. Several procedural errors were identified that involved: i) lack of provision of the report with details of the species-specific screenings; ii) incomplete justifications for the responses in the toolkit questionnaire; iii) incomplete details of the protocol used for the a priori categorisation of the screened species for threshold computation; iv) unaccepted or non-existent taxonomic names for the screened species (including typographical errors). Guidelines are provided for both assessors and reviewers to ensure that these procedural errors are avoided in future applications of these risk screening toolkits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The age of 18 years is an important milestone for legal matters, and developmental parameters of teeth are often used for estimation of this age. The aim of this study is to assess the efficiency of third molar maturity index (I3M) in establishing age of 18 years in Dakshina Kannada population. Methods: A total of 700 orthopantomograms were retrieved from the archives of the radiology department of Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore. The length and the width of the open apex of the mandibular left third molar was assessed using Image J software and the Third molar maturity Index (I3M) was calculated and correlated with the age of the individual. Results: Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed the Area under curve of 0.94 and 0.96 in females and males, respectively, for prediction of age of 18 years. The cut-off of 0.08 predicted the 18-year cut-off with 97% specificity and 90.2% negative predictive value. The percentage of the accuracy was 80.23% if the I3M was <0.08. Conclusion: The efficiency of the cut-off of 0.08 of I3M has been tested in various population including Kosovar, Peruvian, South Indian, Libyan, Montenegro, Croatian, African (Botswana), Albanian, and Serbian. Our study also shows the efficiency of the same in South Indian Dakshina Kannada population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li Li,1,&ast; Jianjun Wang,1,&ast; Zhongquan Li,2 Shuang Qiu,1 Junyu Cao,1 Yuan Zhao,1 Zhenfan Huang,1 Jie He,1 Feipeng Luo,3 Kunxian Yang1 1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province (Kunhua Hospital Affiliated to Kunming University of Science and Technology), Kunming, Yunnan, 650032, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Yunnan General Hospital of Armed Police, Kunming, Yunnan, 650032, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second People’s Hospital of Baoshan City, Kunming, Yunnan, 650032, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Kunxian YangDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province (Kunhua Hospital Affiliated to Kunming University of Science and Technology), No. 157, Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, Yunnan, 650032, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-0871-63627184Email kunxy0125@163.comPurpose: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. LncRNA HOTAIR (HOx Transcript AntIsense RNA) and Galectin-3 are involved in PTC. This study explored the clinical effect of lncRNA HOTAIR/Galectin-3 on PTC patients.Methods: Subjects were assigned into PTC (160 cases) and benign thyroid tumor groups (150 cases). Fasting peripheral venous blood was collected. LncRNA HOTAIR/Galectin-3 expressions in serum were detected. Subjects were assigned into HOTAIR/Glactin-3 high/low expression groups and their correlation with age, gender, BMI, tumor size, pathological stage, TSH, TPO-Ab, and TG-Ab in PTC was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted on diagnostic efficacy of HOTAIR or/and Galectin-3. The difference of area under the curve (AUC) was compared and analyzed.Results: HOTAIR and Glactin-3 were higher in PTC group and correlated with tumor pathological stage. Higher HOTAIR/Glactin-3 expression indicated a more advanced TNM stage. LncRNA HOTAIR was positively correlated with TPO-Ab and TG-Ab. AUC of HOTAIR for PTC diagnosis was 0.895, with 96.00% specificity and 80.63% sensitivity. AUC of Glactin-3 for PTC diagnosis was 0.817, with 66.67% specificity and 78.75% sensitivity. AUC of HOTAIR combining with Glactin-3 for PTC diagnosis was 0.969 with 96.00% specificity and 87.50% sensitivity. AUC of lncRNA HOTAIR was higher than that of Glactin-3, while AUC of the combination was higher than that of lncRNA HOTAIR or Glactin-3.Conclusion: LncRNA HOTAIR and Glactin-3 were highly expressed in PTC. The combination detection of lncRNA HOTAIR/Glactin-3 had higher diagnostic efficiency on the differential diagnosis of benign thyroid tumor and PTC.Keywords: papillary thyroid carcinoma, LncRNA HOTAIR, Glactin-3, combination detection, benign thyroid tumor, ROC curve analysis, diagnostic efficiency, TPO-Ab, PTC

Determining prerequisite requirements is vital for successful curriculum development and student on-schedule completion of the course of study. This study adapts the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine a threshold grade in a prerequisite course necessary for passing the next course in a sequence. This method was tested on a dataset of Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 grades of 164 undergraduate students majoring in mathematics at a private university in Kazakhstan. The results showed that while the currently used practice of setting prerequisite grade requirements is accurately identifying successful completions of Calculus 2, the ROC method is more accurate in identifying possible failures in Calculus 2. The findings also indicate that prior completion of Calculus 1 is positively associated with success in a Calculus 2 course. Thus, this study contributes to the field of mathematics education by providing a new data-driven methodology for determining the optimal threshold grade for mathematics prerequisite courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linli Liu,1 Zhou Lin,1 Beihong Zheng,2 Lanlan Wang,1 Jianqin Zou,1 Sanshan Wu,1 Zhongqing Jiang,1 Qiong Jin,1 Xuedan Lai,1 Peihong Lin1 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fuzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, People’s Republic of China; 2Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Linli LiuDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fuzhou First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province 350004, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86-591-88301693Email applewang814@163.comBackground: Severe preeclampsia may affect placental development, and high homocysteine (Hcy) levels are linked to intellectual disability. However, the correlation between perinatal Hcy levels and intellectual ability remains unknown in severe preeclampsia-affected offspring.Objective: We aimed to investigate the intellectual ability in offspring born from preeclamptic mothers and examine the role of prenatal Hcy in the prediction of intellectual disability in preschool-aged offspring.Methods: The IQ scores were compared between 101 children born to mothers with severe preeclampsia and 202 offsprings born to normotensive mothers. Maternal Hcy levels within 7 days prior to delivery and postnatal cord blood Hcy were measured. The associations of Hcy with IQ scores were evaluated, and the optimal cut-off values for predicting intellectual disability in the offspring were estimated.Results: The children born to mothers with severe preeclampsia had a greater postnatal cord blood Hcy than those born from normotensive mothers (P < 0.001), and the mothers with severe preeclampsia presented a higher prenatal Hcy (P < 0.001). The children born to mothers with severe preeclampsia had significantly lower IQ scores than those born from normotensive mothers, and a higher Hcy was associated with a lower IQ in preeclampsia-affected offspring. The prevalence of intellectual disability was 2.86 times higher in severe preeclampsia-affected offspring than in children born from normotensive mothers, and the prevalence of low IQ was greater in children born to mothers with severe preeclampsia than in those from normotensive mothers. ROC curve analysis showed that both maternal and cord blood Hcy were predictors of intellectual disability, and the optimal cut-off for predicting intellectual disability was 17.7 and 9.75 μmol/L for maternal and cord blood Hcy.Conclusion: Perinatal exposure to severe preeclampsia has an adverse effect on postnatal intellectual development, and high maternal and cord blood Hcy may contribute to this association.Keywords: preeclampsia, homocysteine, intellectual ability, ROC curve analysis

The overlap coefficient (O V L) measures the similarity between two distributions through the overlapping area of their distribution functions. Given its intuitive description and ease of visual representation by the straightforward depiction of the amount of overlap between the two corresponding histograms based on samples of measurements from each one of the two distributions, the development of accurate methods for confidence interval construction can be useful for applied researchers. The overlap coefficient has received scant attention in the literature since it lacks readily available software for its implementation, while inferential procedures that can cover the whole range of distributional scenarios for the two underlying distributions are missing. Such methods, both parametric and non-parametric are developed in this article, while R-code is provided for their implementation. Parametric approaches based on the binormal model show better performance and are appropriate for use in a wide range of distributional scenarios. Methods are assessed through a large simulation study and are illustrated using a dataset from a study on human immunodeficiency virus-related cognitive function assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of morbidity among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of CDI are needed in clinical practice. The relationship between serum procalcitonin and CDI in IBD patients has not been investigated so far. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of measuring serum procalcitonin level to detect CDI in patients with the flare of IBD.Methods: One hundred twenty patients with IBD were enrolled in this study. Bacterial identification was performed using standard microbiological and molecular methods. The serum procalcitonin levels were measured in all patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to assess the value of procalcitonin for the prediction of CDI among IBD patients.Results: The median serum procalcitonin level was significantly increased in IBD patients with CDI compared to non-CDI IBD patients (0.69 ng/mL vs 0.32 ng/mL). In univariate analysis, log10 procalcitonin was associated with CDI (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.54-4.09, P-value < 0.001). Procalcitonin 1.1 ng/mL was 85% sensitive and 88% specific for the prediction of CDI. In the multivariable model including the covariates log10 procalcitonin, age, hospitalization, type of IBD, duration of the disease, and antibiotic usage, procalcitonin showed a robust association with CDI (OR 4.59, 95% CI 2.49-6.70, P-value < 0.001). An elevated procalcitonin level was associated with the presence of CDI among IBD patients.Conclusions: Our results indicate that procalcitonin level can be a good candidate biomarker for assessing the CDI in IBD patients. Further studies are required to decipher whether procalcitonin can predict CDI therapy or its recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kamran Baveicy,1 Shayan Mostafaei,2,3 Mitra Darbandi,4 Behrooz Hamzeh,4,5 Farid Najafi,4,6 Yahya Pasdar4,5 1Student Research Committee, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 2Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 3Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Health Institute, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 5Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 6Cardiovascular Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranCorrespondence: Yahya Pasdar Tel +98 83 38262005Fax +98 83 38263048Email yahya.pasdar@kums.ac.irBackground: The use of anthropometric indices is one of the new and low-cost diagnostic methods of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study aimed to determine optimal cutoff points for the visceral adiposity index (VAI), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) in the prediction of MetS.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 10,000 individuals aged from 35 to 65 years, recruited in Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases (RaNCD) cohort study, in the west region of Iran, in 2019. MetS was defined according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess predictive anthropometric indices and determine optimal cutoff values.Results: The optimal cutoff points for VAI were 4.11 (AUC: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.81– 0.84) in men and 4.28 (AUC: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.85– 0.87) in women to prediction of MetS. The optimal cutoff points for BRI were 4.75 (AUC: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.74– 0.77) in men and 6.17 (AUC: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.61– 0.64) in women to prediction of MetS. The optimal cutoff points for ABSI were 0.12 (AUC: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.47– 0.51) in men and 0.13 (AUC: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.47– 0.51) in women to prediction of MetS. The risk of MetS in men and women with a VAI higher than the optimal cutoff point was, respectively, 9.82 and 11.44 times higher than that in those with a VAI lower than the cutoff point.Conclusion: Although VAI might not be very cost-beneficial compared to IDF, our study showed VAI is a better predictor of MetS than BRI in adults. ABSI was not a suitable predictor for MetS.Keywords: metabolic syndrome, body shape index, body roundness index, visceral adiposity index, ROC curve analysis

Recent research on in vitro systems has focused on mimicking the in vivo situation of cells within the respiratory system. However, few studies have predicted inhalation toxicity using conventional and simple submerged two‐dimensional (2D) cell culture models. We investigated the conventional submerged 2‐D cell culture model as a method for the prediction of acute inhalation toxicity. Median lethal concentration (LC50) (rat, inhalation, 4 h) and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) (lung or bronchial cell, 24 h) data for 59 substances were obtained from the literature and by experiments. Cytotoxicity assays were performed on 44 substances with reported LC50, but without IC50, data to obtain the IC50 values. A weak correlation was observed between the IC50 and LC50 of all substances. Semi‐volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and non‐VOCs (NVOCs) (16 substances) with a water solubility of ≥1 g/L were strongly correlated between 24‐h IC50 and 4‐h LC50, and this had an excellent predictive ability to distinguish between Categories 1–3 and 4 (Globally Harmonized System classification for acute inhalation toxicity). Our results suggest that the submerged 2‐D cell culture model may be used to predict in vivo acute inhalation toxicity for substances with a water solubility of ≥1 g/L in SVOCs and NVOCs. We investigated the submerged 2‐D cell culture model as a method to predict acute inhalation toxicity. LC50 and IC50 data for 59 substances were obtained from the literature and by experiments. We observed a strong correlation and predictive ability between IC50 and LC50 in substances with high water solubility and low vapor pressure. This suggests that simple submerged 2‐D cell culture models may be used as an indicator of in vivo acute inhalation toxicity for these types of substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. This acute vascular event interferes with blood supply to the brain and induces a burst of free radicals such as nitric oxide and superoxide, producing peroxynitrite, a precursor of strong nitrating agents. Fibrinogen is one of the most abundant plasma proteins; it plays a role in the hemostatic system, mediating clot formation, which can be affected by nitrotyrosine formation. We hypothesized that nitration of fibrinogen by ONOOH and ONOOCO 2 − radical products could be one of the early events of the ischemic stroke, and protein-bound 3-nitrotyrosine could be a potential biomarker for diagnosis and/or prognosis of this condition. A targeted mass spectrometry approach was developed to analyze the nitration of fibrinogen and its association with ischemic stroke. First, a comprehensive mapping of 3-nitrotyrosine locations and their relative quantification was performed by LC-MS/MS, using in vitro nitrated fibrinogen samples. Twenty different 3-nitrotyrosine residues were identified on fibrinogen nitrated in vitro , varying with the peroxynitrite tofibrinogen molar ratio used. Nine tyrosine residues that were consistently modified at different treatment ratios were chosen to perform a targeted LC-MS/MS analysis in clinical samples. Enriched fibrinogen fractions from clinical samples from 24 ischemic stroke and 12 patients with non-inflammatory conditions were analysed with this method. Three of the nine tyrosine residues analysed (βY452, βY475 and γY380) showed a significant difference between the ischemic stroke and non-inflammatory disease groups. ROC curve analysis suggested an association of these residues either individually or in combination with ischemic stroke. Different tyrosine nitration patterns were also observed in fibrinogen modified in vitro and in vivo , suggesting differences in the nitration process in these situations. This is the first study showing a putative association between the nitration profile of specific tyrosine residues in human fibrinogen and ischemic stroke. [Display omitted] • The lack of blood supply due to the obstruction of a vessel by a fibrin clot causes acute cerebral ischemia. • Ischemic conditions lead to a burst of free radical species generating nitroxidative modifications on proteins. • Nitrated fibrinogen has been found in stress and pathological conditions, with important pathophysiological consequences. • A mass spectrometry approach to detect and quantify the nitration of fibrinogen in ischemic stroke was developed. • Data suggest nitrated fibrinogen may be a biomarker of ischemic processes as stroke, a major cause of disability and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Level of reactive species in blood is an important pathogenic factor in diabetes mellitus leading to dysfunctions of vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells and coagulation system abnormality. A massive release of reactive species (respiratory burst), catalyzed by NADPH oxidase in blood phagocytes, is not well understood in diabetes. The work aimed to study kinetics of response to microbial particles in blood to specify changes in regulatory mechanisms of generation of reactive species in patients with type 2 diabetes. Production of reactive species in blood and isolated granulocytes was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Respiratory burst was initiated by serum opsonized zymosan in blood samples and phorbol ester in cell samples. Kinetic parameters were calculated from experimental kinetic curves of chemiluminescence intensity. ROC curve analysis and mathematical modeling were used to reveal the most significant predictors and clarify specific mechanisms of NADPH oxidase activation. It was shown that kinetic parameters of response to opsonized zymosan (lag-time, response rate, amplitude, production of reactive species) were higher in blood of patients than controls. Amplitude and response rate were the most statistically significant predictors for distinguishing patients and controls at high glucose. It indicated NADPH oxidase activation was the target of hyperglycemia. Mathematical modeling showed hyperglycemia increased stability of NADPH oxidase complex, decreased synchronization of its assembling and elevated neutrophil capacity to phagocytosis in patients. Weak or no dependence of response kinetics on ionomycin concentration was shown in patients indicating changed Ca2+-dependent mechanism of NADPH oxidase activation. Hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes causes disturbances in mechanisms of NADPH oxidase activation associated with both phagocytosis and the state of intracellular signaling systems, including Ca2+-dependent. We suggest that NADPH oxidase in blood granulocytes can be a promising target for clinical intervention improving management of diabetic complications associated with inflammation. Image 1 • Generation of reactive species was more intensive in blood of patients vs controls. • Amplitude and response rate of respiratory burst were significant predictors. • Modeling showed changes in stability and assembly of NADPH oxidase in diabetes. • Granulocyte capacity to phagocytosis enhanced in patients in model. • Ca2+-signaling in generation of reactive species by granulocytes impaired in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current classification of meningioma is based on the mitotic count, brain invasion and atypical histological changes. We re-evaluated the cases of meningioma to make accurate grading and to investigate the effects of morphological parameters and their relationship with each other. We discussed the counting method of mitotic activity. We tried to develop a novel method to determine the most accurate grade. Materials and Methods: In this study, three hundred nine cases of meningioma were re-evaluated. The number of mitosis in 10 consecutive high-power fields, as well as the total number of mitosis in 1 cm² area, was found for all cases. Receiver Operating Characteristics curve analysis was performed on the mitotic counts of 304 cases (grade I and II) in both 10 consecutive high-power fields and 1 cm² for predicting the grade. Results: In Receiver Operating Characteristics curve analysis, the number of mitoses determining grade II with 99% specificity and 84.4% sensitivity in 1 cm2 was 7 or more. Receiver Operating Characteristics curve analysis for the mitotic count in 10 consecutive high-power fields when the number of mitosis 4 or more, the sensitivity was 84.4%, and it was 100% specific for grade II. Conclusion: The major cause of the grade change was the number of mitotic activities. We recommend that the mitotic activity count in a large area. Especially, if there is 7 or more mitosis in 1 cm2, the case is to be high-grade. On the other hand, the presence of 1 or more mitosis in 42 high-power fields supports that this case is more likely to be grade II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Eating Disorder Examination – Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) is a widely used self‐report measure of eating‐disordered behaviors and attitudes. Recent studies utilizing confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) have proposed alternative and shorter forms. The aim of this study was to compare the full‐length version of the EDE‐Q and several proposed short forms (7‐item, 8‐item, and 18‐item) in terms of their psychometric properties, including concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity, factor structure, and sensitivity to change. Methods: Participants from two eating‐disorder clinical samples (N = 175 and 38) and from a nonclinical sample (N = 3,413) completed a battery of measures, including the Portuguese version of the EDE‐Q. Analyses compared psychometric properties of the available short forms of the EDE‐Q among each other. Results: All forms of the EDE‐Q showed good internal consistency values, correlated highly among each other (r >.90) and with different measures of eating psychopathology (r >.80). All EDE‐Q forms were able to distinguish between cases and controls with moderate‐to‐high accuracy and were sensitive to change. CFA failed to support the proposed factor structure for all the EDE‐Q forms, except for the 7‐item form. Discussion The present study provides empirical background for choosing between different forms of the EDE‐Q. Findings indicate that for nonclinical and for clinical research, including studies of treatment change and outcome, the short forms of the EDE‐Q can be used. A shorter version is a viable alternative when less time‐consuming alternatives are needed, such to quickly screen for eating‐disorder psychopathology or to perform session‐by‐session treatment monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Partial iga deficiency (pIgAD), including selective IgA deficiency, is one of the most common types of immunodeficiency. Early detection is crucial to prevent complications, such as recurrent infections and anaphylactic reactions to blood derivatives. Material and methods: useful screening methods have not yet been established. We conducted a single-center retrospective observational study, with low serum iga patients to clarify the risk factors of pigad among patients with low serum levels of IgA. all patients with low serum iga levels treated in our outpatient clinic from april 2010 to March 2016 were retrospectively reviewed using electronic medical records. We performed χ² tests and Student's t-tests for the univariate analysis, logistic regression analysis using the multiple imputation method for the multivariate analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: the univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between the pigad group and the non-pIgAD group in age, gender, blood cell counts, serum protein levels, and renal function tests. the multivariate analysis revealed that female gender, a white blood cell counts lower than 10,000/µl, and a hemoglobin level of 10.0-15.0 g/dl are predictive factors of pIgAD. Conclusions: after estimating any missing data using the multiple imputation method, age younger than 60 years old was also statistically significant. ROC curve analysis confirmed the validity of the model used in our multivariate analysis. When clinicians encounter low serum IgA patients who are female, of younger age, and have normal blood cell counts, and hemoglobin levels, they should suspect the existence of pIgAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Long Interspersed Nuclear Elements-1 (LINEs-1) methylation from white blood cells (WBCs) DNA has been proposed as biomarker associated with different types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the degree of WBCs LINE-1 methylation, according to high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (hrHPV) status in a healthy population, and the association with high-grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN2+) in hrHPV positive women. Methods Women with abnormal cervical cells were enrolled and classified by histological diagnosis and hrHPV infection. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic variables and lifestyle factors. LINE-1 methylation level in WBCs was measured by pyrosequencing-based methylation analysis after bisulfite conversion. Results Among 252 women diagnosed with normal cervical epithelium, with regard to LINE-1 methylation level no significant difference was observed between hrHPV positive and hrHPV negative women, also adjusting for known risk factors of infection. The association between WBCs LINE-1 methylation and CIN2+ status was analyzed in hrHPV positive women. The median value of LINE-1 methylation levels was higher in cases (CIN2+) than in controls (75.00% versus 73.17%; p = 0.002). For a one-unit increase in LINE-1 methylation level, the odds of being diagnosed with CIN2+ increased by 10%, adjusting for known factors related to LINE-1 methylation (adjOR: 1.10; 95% CI:1.01–1.20; p = 0.032). The Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified the cut-off value of 73.8% as the best threshold to separate cases from controls (sensitivity: 63.4% and specificity: 61.8%). Conclusions LINE-1 methylation status in WBCs DNA may represent a cost-effective and tissue-accessible biomarker for high-grade CIN in hrHPV positive women. However, LINE-1 hypermethylation cannot be considered specific for cervical cancer (CC) and a model based solely on LINE-1 methylation levels has limited performance. Further investigations are necessary to propose and validate a novel methylation biomarker panel, based on LINE-1 methylation and other differentially methylated regions, for the screening of women at risk of CC.

INTRODUCTION: Foot deformities and amputations, are parameters that have been studied as risk factors for diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). However, inclusion of "foot deformities" and "amputations" in a single, broad variable and with reference to the severity of these deformities, may better characterize subjects who are prone to develop DFU. METHODS: the objective of the study was the examination of amputative and non-amputative foot deformities severity as risk factor for DFU in relation with the other established risk factors. A cross-sectional and case-control study was conducted from October 2005 to November 2016. One hundred and thirty-four subjects with type 1 and 2 diabetes, with and without active foot ulcers, participated. A structured quantitative interview guide was used. Univariate logistic regression analysis for the literature's established risk factors was performed, as well as for two versions of the ''amputative and non-amputative foot deformities severity' variable. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA) for three models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were carried out. RESULTS: From the MLRA, only PAD was significant (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.17-10.82, P=0.025 and OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.02-10.08, P=0.033). Concerning the ROC curve analysis of the models, the one with the three categories "amputative and non-amputative foot deformities severity" variable had the greatest area under the ROC curve (0.763, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: A united variable for lower extremity amputations and other foot deformities with reference to their severity, could be more helpful to the clinicians in identifying patients with diabetes at risk for foot ulceration.

Introduction and Objective: To obtain a new cut-off point (CP) for a lumbar flexion-relaxation (RF) test established with tetrapolar (e.) electrodes, from values already defined with bipolar devices., Materials and Methods: The study sample consists of 47 patients in a situation of temporary disability due to low back pain (DL). They were evaluated by means of an isometric dynamometry test, a kinematic test and an assessment of the FR phenomenon. Two experiments with ROC curves are proposed. The first, with 47 patients who consecutively performed the RF test with both types of electrodes, using the cut-off point (CP) known for the e. bipolar (2.49μV). In the second, with the EMG data recorded with e. tetrapolar in 17 patients, a DeLong test was performed that compares the 2 ROC curves that were constructed on the one hand, by classifying the sample from dynamometry and kinematic tests, and on the other, by classifying them with the bipolar EMG values., Results: A total of 34 patients adequately completed the evaluations of the first experiment and 17 patients the second. The first study shows a cut-off point of 1.2μV, with an AUC of 87.7%; Sensitivity 84.2% and Specificity 80%. The second shows a PC for e. bipolars of 1.21μV (AUC 87.5%) and for e. tetrapolar values of 1.43 (AUC 82.5%) with a DeLong test without significant differences between both curves (p>0.4065)., Conclusions: The validation methodology with ROC curves has made it possible to obtain a new PC for the RF test in a practical way, simply by simultaneously performing both tests on the same group of patients until a significant sample is obtained., (Copyright © 2023. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

The evaluation of general circulation models (GCM) is a fundamental step in climate research in terms of both quality assurance/quality control and realistic representation of the dynamics of the atmospheric flows in the future projections. In this paper, a statistical method is introduced to evaluate GCMs with respect to teleconnection patterns in the winter 500 hPa geopotential height field over the Northern Hemisphere (NH). The procedure uses the combination of negative extrema method and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The proposed method is demonstrated using selected general circulation models (GCMs) disseminated by the CMIP5 project. The ERA-20C reanalysis was used as a reference, supported by the NCEP/NCAR R1 reanalysis. The proposed method enables us to track changes in the geographical positions of the action centers (ACs); therefore, to detect improvement/deterioration in the GCM performance with time. It was found that the majority of the GCMs reproduce prominent teleconnections of the NH but fail to capture the eastward shift of the ACs over the Pacific Ocean in the last decades of the 20th century. The GCMs reproduce teleconnections with stronger correlations over the north-western part of the Atlantic Ocean compared to the reanalyses. The construction of mobile teleconnection indices is proposed to gain further insight into the performance of the models and to support a regional-scale analysis. The method can be easily applied to the recent CMIP6 simulations.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of ankle talus by CT scanning in patients with Kashin- Beck disease. Methods We included 40 patients with ankle pain for this study. CT examination was carried out to measure talus diameter, i.e., from the upper at inside to the lower at outside and from the upper at outside to the lower at inside in coronal direction; from the upper at front to the lower at behind, from upper at front to the upper at behind in sagittal direction. The statistically significant indexes were included in the ROC curve analysis. Results CT measurement of the talus in ankle joints showed that the distance of the talus in ankle joints from the upper at outside to the lower at inside (3.76±0.34)cm, the upper at front to the lower at behind (4.98±0.36)cm in KBD group were significantly lower than those in OA group (4.26±0.34)cm and (5.40±0.37)cm, which was significantly difference (t= -3.599, 4.646, P =0.00). ROC curve analysis showed that there was significant difference between KBD group and OA group, and the cut-off value of the distance from the upper at outside to the lower at inside was 4.055cm, with sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 90%. When the cut-off value of the distance from the upper at front to the lower at behind was 5.41cm, the sensitivity was 65% and the specificity was 95%. Conclusion The distance of the talus of KBD ankle joints from the upper at outside to the lower at inside (cut-off value of 4.055cm) in coronal direction and the upper at front to the lower at behind (cut-off value was 5.41cm) in sagittal direction can be used as specific diagnostic indicators of ankle joint damage for KBD in adults [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early identification of learning difficulties is a critical component of the Response to Intervention (RtI) model. In kindergarten, the screening of foundational reading skills can provide a data-based guideline for identifying students requiring a more intensive response-based intervention before starting elementary school. This study examines the classification accuracy and best predictors of a set of Spanish curriculum-based measures administered during kindergarten. The study's sample included 189 students tested in the fall, winter, and spring. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted. The composite score of the curriculum-based measurement (CBM) revealed area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of 0.83, 0.97, and 0.94 in the fall, winter, and spring, respectively. Phonemic awareness and letter-sound knowledge were the only isolated measures that demonstrated excellent AUC values throughout kindergarten. Logistic regression models showed that, when entered simultaneously, all measures were significant predictors of reading risk at some moment of the school year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a scarce cancerous disease, originating from parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland. MTC can be manifested as an aggressive carcinoma with metastasis, especially in sporadic forms. Mutations of the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto‐oncogene occurs in all hereditary and a few somatic MTCs, so detection of RET mutations is needed for prompt and appropriate treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding regulatory RNAs. Extensive studies have done in progress or suppression of several types of cancers such as MTCs with the remarkable application as prognostic markers. Of the effective miRNAs in cancers, miR‐144 and miR‐34 were evaluated in our study. Blood samples of 25 RET‐positive and 25 RET‐negative blood samples of patients with MTC were evaluated for these miRNAs, using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Analysis of the results was performed by the 2 −ΔΔCt method, showing that miR‐144 and miR‐34a expression had a relative increase in patients with MTC compared with normal control samples and also in RET positives versus RET negatives. We recruited 50 out of 350 MTC plasma samples (27 female and 23 male) which were selected based on RET mutation in exon 11 (25 RET‐positive and 25 RET‐negative), with a mean ± SD age of 37.04 ± 1.74 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done to investigate the prognostic value of these miRNAs; although, they showed no significant prognostic value as MTC biomarkers in plasma samples. In conclusion, miRNAs can be used as biomarkers of cancers such as MTC; however, more studies are needed to find the best candidate miRNAs for the diagnosis of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral potential prediction is a process of establishing a statistical model that describes the relationship between evidence variables and mineral occurrences. In this study, evidence variables were constructed from geological, remote sensing, and geochemical data collected from the Lalingzaohuo district, Qinghai Province, China. Based on these evidence variables, a conjugate gradient logistic regression (CG-LR) model was established to predict exploration targets in the study area. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and prediction–area (P-A) curves were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the CG-LR model in mineral potential mapping. The difference between the vertical and horizontal coordinates of each point on the ROC curve was used to determine the optimal threshold for classifying the exploration targets. The optimal threshold corresponds to the point on the ROC curve where the difference between the vertical coordinate and the horizontal coordinate is the largest. In exploration target prediction in the study area, the CG algorithm was used to optimize iteratively the LR coefficients, and the prediction effectiveness was tested for different epochs. With increasing iterations, the prediction performance of the model becomes increasingly better. After 60 iterations, the LR model becomes stable and has the best performance in exploration target prediction. At this point, the exploration targets predicted by the CG-LR model occupy 14.39% of the study area and contain 93% of the known mineral deposits. The exploration targets predicted by the model are consistent with the metallogenic geological characteristics of the study area. Therefore, the CG-LR model can effectively integrate geological, remote sensing, and geochemical data for the study area to predict targets for mineral exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation from pulse contour analysis (SVV PCA), plethysmographic variability index (PVI), central venous pressure (CVP) and global end-diastolic volume index measured by transpulmonary thermodilution (GEDVI TPTD) to predict fluid responsiveness (FR) in dogs. Prospective study. A group of 40 bitches (13.8–26.8 kg) undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane under volume-controlled ventilation (tidal volume 12 mL kg–1; inspiratory pause during 40% of inspiratory time; inspiration:expiration ratio 1:1.5). Transpulmonary thermodilution cardiac output was recorded through a femoral artery catheter. FR was evaluated by a fluid challenge (lactated Ringer's, 20 mL kg–1 over 15 minutes) administered once (n = 21) or twice (n = 18) before surgery. Individuals were responders if stroke volume index measured by transpulmonary thermodilution increased >15% after the last fluid challenge. Of the 39 animals studied, 21 were responders and 18 were nonresponders. Area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) was 0.976, 0.906, 0.868 and 0.821 for PPV, PVI, CVP and SVV PCA , respectively (p < 0.0001 from AUROC = 0.5). GEDVI TPTD failed to predict FR (AUROC: 0.660, p = 0.078). Best cut-off thresholds discriminating responders and nonresponders, with respective zones of diagnostic uncertainty (gray zones) were: PPV >16% (15–16%), PVI >11% (10–13%), SVV PCA >10% (9–18%) and CVP ≤1 mmHg (0–3 mmHg). Percentage of animals within gray zone limits was 13% (PPV), 28% (PVI), 51% (SVV PCA) and 67% (CVP). PPV has better diagnostic accuracy to predict FR (conclusive results in nearly 90% of population) than other preload indexes in healthy dogs. When invasive blood pressure is unavailable, PVI will predict FR with reasonable accuracy (conclusive results in approximately 70% of the population). PPV and PVI values above gray zone limits (>16% and >13%, respectively) can reliably predict responders to volume expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: foot deformities and amputations are parameters that have been studied as risk factors for diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). However, inclusion of "foot deformities" and "amputations" in a single, broad variable and with reference to the severity of these deformities, may better characterize subjects who are prone to develop DFU. Methods: the objective of the study was the examination of amputative and non-amputative foot deformities severity as risk factor for DFU in relation with the other established risk factors. A cross-sectional and case-control study was conducted from October 2005 to November 2016. One hundred and thirty-four subjects with type 1 and 2 diabetes, with and without active foot ulcers, participated. A structured quantitative interview guide was used. Univariate logistic regression analysis for the literature's established risk factors was performed, as well as for two versions of the "amputative and non-amputative foot deformities severity" variable. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis (MLRA) for three models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were carried out. Results: from the MLRA, only PAD (peripheral arterial disease) was significant (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.17-10.82, P=0.025 and OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.02- 10.08, P=0.033). Concerning the ROC curve analysis of the models, the one with the three categories amputative and non-amputative foot deformities severity variable, had the greatest area under the ROC curve (0.763, P<0.001). Conclusion: a united variable for lower extremity amputations and other foot deformities with reference to their severity, could be more helpful to the clinicians in identifying patients with diabetes at risk for foot ulceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]