SEQUENTIAL DATA WEIGHTING PROCEDURES FOR COMBINED RATIO ESTIMATORS IN COMPLEX SAMPLE SURVEYS

In sample surveys weighting is applied to data to increase the quality of estimates. Data weighting can be used for several purposes. Sample design weights can be used to adjust the differences in selection probabilities for non-self weighting sample designs. Sample design weights, adjusted for nonresponse and non-coverage through the sequential data weighting process. The unequal selection probability designs represented the complex sampling designs. Among many reasons of weighting, the most important reasons are weighting for unequal probability of selection, compensation for nonresponse, and post-stratification. Many highly efficient estimation methods in survey sampling require strong information about auxiliary variables, x. The most common estimation methods using auxiliary information in estimation stage are regression and ratio estimator. This paper proposes a sequential data weighting procedure for the estimators of combined ratio mean in complex sample surveys and general variance estimation for the population ratio mean. To illustrate the utility of the proposed estimator, Turkish Demographic and Health Survey 2003 real life data is used. It is shown that the use of auxiliary information on weights can considerably improve the efficiency of the estimates

Potentiation of cytotoxicity by combination of imatinib and chlorimipramine in glioma.

Rat C6 glioma is a chemo-resistant experimental brain tumor that is difficult to treat with various drug combinations. Previous studies suggested that imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is effective in pre-clinical trials for glioblastoma. Also, chlorimipramine (Anafranil) is an anti-depressant drug in use in the clinic and shown to have anti-neoplastic activity. We hypothesized that treatment of resistant C6 glioma with combination of imatinib and chlorimipramine may potentiate cytotoxicity and reverse resistance. C6 glioma was examined both as monolayer and as spheroid cultures. Several experimental designs were examined all of which showed synergistic activity albeit at different time kinetics. Combination treatment resulted in inhibition of cell growth and enhanced cell death as determined by dye exclusion. Further, the combination treatment resulted in significant induction of apoptosis as determined by Annexin V-FITC and PI. Also, there was inhibition of DNA synthesis and cAMP. Altogether, these findings supported the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of the combination treatment. Morphological studies were also performed using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Significant synergistic apoptosis was detected by the combination treatment in both the monolayers and spheroid cultures. There was also a synergistic effect in autophagy by the combination. Several altered morphological features were noted by both the individual compound and enhanced by the combination treatment. The present findings support our hypothesis and demonstrate the potentiation of cytotoxicity by the com-bination of imatinib and chlorimipramine in C6 glioma. Further, the findings suggest the potential clinical application of the combination in the treatment of drug-resistant glioma

Decreased therapeutic effects of noscapine combined with imatinib mesylate on human glioblastoma in vitro and the effect of midkine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glioblastoma (GBM) develops resistance to the advances in chemotherapy leading to poor prognosis and life quality. Consequently, new treatment modalities are needed. Our aims were to investigate the effects of combined noscapine (NOS) and imatinib mesylate (IM) on human GBM <it>in vitro </it>and the role of midkine (MK) in this new combination treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Monolayer and spheroid cultures of T98G human GBM cell line were used to evaluate the effects of IM (10 μM), Nos (10 μM) and their combination on cell proliferation and apoptotic indexes, cell cycle, the levels of antiapoptotic MK, MRP-1, p170, PFGFR-α, EGFR, bcl-2 proteins, apoptotic caspase-3 levels, morphology (SEM) and ultrastructure (TEM) for 72 hrs. Results were statistically analyzed using the Student's t-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The combination group induced highest decrease in cell proliferation and apoptotic indexes, caspase-3 levels, MRP-1 and PDGFR-α levels. The decrease in p170 levels were lower than IM but higher that NOS. The highest increases were in EGFR, MK, bcl-2 and cAMP levels in the combination group. The G0+G1 cell cycle arrest at the end of 72^ndhr was the lowest in the combination group. Apoptotic appearence was observed rarely both in the morphologic and ultrastructural evaluation of the combination group. In addition, autophagic vacuoles which were frequently observed in the IM group were observed rarely.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The combination of Nos with IM showed antagonist effect in T98G human GBM cells in vitro. This antagonist effect was correlated highly with MK levels. The effects of NOS on MRP-1, MK and receptor tyrosine kinase levels were firstly demonstrated in our report. In addition, we proposed that MK is one of the modulator in the switch of autophagy to cell death or survival/resistance.</p

Uterin Serviksin Minimal Deviasyon Adenokarsinomu MDA

Minimal deviasyon adenokarsinom MDA servikal adenokarsinomların %1-3 oranında görülen bir varyantıdır.Nadir görülmesi nedeniyle standart tanısal metot ve tedavi protokolü yoktur. Uterin servikste 10-12 cm boyutunda kitlesi olan vakamızda tanı servikal biyopsi ile konamadı.Manyetik rezonans görüntülemede MRI MDA tanısı düşünüldü ve operasyon sonrası tanı kondu. Postoperatif olarak adjuvant kemoradyoterapi KRT uygulandı ve hasta 16 aylık bir süre rekürrens olmadan izlend

A Case of Brucellosis with a Rare Complication: Pericarditis

Objectives: To describe brucellosis and its possible complications according to clinical, laboratory and radiological findings. Methods: We describe a case of Brucella pericarditis visualized at transthoracic echocardiography with clinical manifestations. Results: Clinical manifestations, imaging and laboratory findings provided the correct diagnosis of Brucella pericarditis. The patient recovered fully following doxycycline and rifampin therapy. Conclusion: Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of disorders that affect the pericardium in endemic areas

Comparison of methods for the microbiological identification and profiling of cronobacter species from ingredients used in the preparation of infant formula

Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) can be isolated from a wide range of foods and environments, and its association with neonatal infections has drawn considerable attention from regulatory authorities. The principle route of neonatal infection has been identified as the ingestion of contaminated infant formula. A number of methods have been developed to identify Cronobacter spp., however these were before the most recent (2012 ) taxonomic revision of the genus into seven species. In this study, phenotyping, protein profiling and molecular methods were used to identify Cronobacter strains which had been recently isolated from ingredients used in the preparation of infant formula. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed that different Cronobacter strains had been recovered from the same food products. All isolates were identified as C sakazakii according to four genus specific PCR-probes and protein profiling using MALDI-TOF analysis. However, 16S rDNA sequence analyses and fusA allele sequencing gave more accurate identification: four strains were C sakazakii, one strain was C malonaticus and the remaining strain was C universalis. Multilocus sequence typing showed the strains were different sequence types. These results demonstrate the presence of different Cronobacter species in food ingredients used in the preparation of infant formula, and also the need for molecular identification and profiling methods to be revised according to taxonomic revisions

Sequential data weighting procedures for combined ratio estimators ın complex sample surveys

In sample surveys weighting is applied to data to increase the quality of estimates. Data weighting can be used for several purposes. Sample design weights can be used to adjust the differences in selection probabilities for non-self weighting sample designs. Sample design weights, adjusted for nonresponse and noncoverage through the sequential data weighting process. The unequal selection probability designs represented the complex sampling designs. Among many reasons of weighting, the most important reasons are weighting for unequal probability of selection, compensation for nonresponse, and post-stratification. Many highly efficient estimation methods in survey sampling require strong information about auxiliary variables, x. The most common estimation methods using auxiliary information in estimation stage are regression and ratio estimator. This paper proposes a sequential data weighting procedure for the estimators of combined ratio mean in complex sample surveys and general variance estimation for the population ratio mean. To illustrate the utility of the proposed estimator, Turkish Demographic and Health Survey 2003 real life data is used. It is shown that the use of auxiliary information on weights can considerably improve the efficiency of the estimates