Computer-aided automated detection of kidney disease using supervised learning technique

In this paper, we propose an efficient home-based system for monitoring chronic kidney disease (CKD). As non-invasive disease identification approaches are gaining popularity nowadays, the proposed system is designed to detect kidney disease from saliva samples. Salivary diagnosis has advanced its popularity over the last few years due to the non-invasive sample collection technique. The use of salivary components to monitor and detect kidney disease is investigated through an experimental investigation. We measured the amount of urea in the saliva sample to detect CKD. Further, this article explains the use of predictive analysis using machine learning techniques and data analytics in remote healthcare management. The proposed health monitoring system classified the samples with an accuracy of 97.1%. With internet facilities available everywhere, this methodology can offer better healthcare services, with real-time decision support in remote monitoring platform

Ameliorative effect of ethanolic extract of roots of Tetracera akara (Burm. f.) Merr. on D-galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats by downregulation of inflammatory mediators like TNFα, COX-2 and iNOS

161-171Tetracera akara, a climbing shrub locally called Nennalvalli or Pattuvalli, is an ethnomedicinal plant used by Kani tribe of Kerala to treat chronic liver disorders and inflammatory conditions.  The present study was aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic extract of roots of Tetracera akara root on D-Galactosamine induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of D-GalN (400 mg/kg in saline) in Wistar rats. Ethanolic extract of T. akara root (TA ETH) was administered to the experimental rats in varying doses of (50, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day), p. o. for 7 days. The hepatoprotective effect was evaluated by the estimation of biochemical markers of hepatic injury, anti-oxidant status of the liver by estimating hepatic catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and malondialdehyde, gene and protein expression level of inflammatory marker genes and histopathological evaluation of experimental animals. Administration of TA ETH (150 and 300 mg/kg) significantly (P ≤0.05) restored the levels of serum bilirubin, protein and other hepatic enzymes almost comparable to the standard drug Silymarin-treated groups. The levels of antioxidant enzymes like SOD and CAT were elevated and lipid peroxidation was inhibited as evident from the reduced levels of MDA. The gene expression studies by quantitative PCR method showed that TA ETH significantly (P ≤0.05) downregulated pro inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory COX-2 genes and upregulated IL 10 gene levels in D-GalN induced liver tissue, which was further confirmed in protein estimation by ELISA method. The histopathological observations were in correlation with the biochemical findings showing the presence of normal hepatic architecture, which further evidenced the hepatoprotective effect of TA ETH. Ethanolic extract of the root of T. akara possesses significant hepatoprotective activity mainly by scavenging reactive free radicals, boosting the endogenous antioxidant system in liver and inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediator like TNF α, COX-2, iNOS and promoting the anti-inflammatory IL 10, thus substantiating the tribal claim

Does the Alternate Rapid Maxillary Expansion-Constriction/Reverse Headgear Therapy Enhance Pharyngeal Airway Dimensions?

Objective:The enhanced effect of maxillary protraction following the Alternate Rapid Maxillary Expansion-Constriction/Reverse Headgear (AltRAMEC/RH) protocol over the Rapid Maxillary Expansion/Reverse Headgear (RME/RH) protocol has been well documented. However, it is not known if the airway dimensions also follow a similar enhancement. This retrospective cohort study therefore aims to compare dimensional changes in the pharyngeal airway after maxillary protraction following RME/RH, versus AltRAMEC/RH.Methods: Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms of 46 skeletal Class III patients with maxillary retrusion, who had undergone maxillary protraction using the AltRAMEC/RH or RME/RH protocol were compared for 20 dentoskeletal and airway variables. The waiting period of 6-8 months before initiating treatment served as the control period. The results were statistically evaluated using the paired t-test, the independent t-test, and the intraclass correlation coefficient.Results: The nasopharyngeal airway indicators in the AltRAMEC/RH group (PNS-ad1, PNS-ad2, UPD) showed a statistically significant mean increase of 2.09 mm, 2.74 mm, and 1.30 mm respectively. This was significantly more pronounced than the RME/RH group (P .001).Conclusions: The AltRAMEC/RH protocol produced more significant improvement in the nasopharyngeal airway dimensions as compared to the RME/RH protocol. The changes in the oropharyngeal airway were insignificant with both the protocols

HER2-enriched subtype and novel molecular subgroups drive aromatase inhibitor resistance and an increased risk of relapse in early ER+/HER2+ breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Oestrogen receptor positive/ human epidermal growth factor receptor positive (ER+/HER2+) breast cancers (BCs) are less responsive to endocrine therapy than ER+/HER2- tumours. Mechanisms underpinning the differential behaviour of ER+HER2+ tumours are poorly characterised. Our aim was to identify biomarkers of response to 2 weeks’ presurgical AI treatment in ER+/HER2+ BCs. METHODS: All available ER+/HER2+ BC baseline tumours (n=342) in the POETIC trial were gene expression profiled using BC360™ (NanoString) covering intrinsic subtypes and 46 key biological signatures. Early response to AI was assessed by changes in Ki67 expression and residual Ki67 at 2 weeks (Ki672wk). Time-To-Recurrence (TTR) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox models adjusted for standard clinicopathological variables. New molecular subgroups (MS) were identified using consensus clustering. FINDINGS: HER2-enriched (HER2-E) subtype BCs (44.7% of the total) showed poorer Ki67 response and higher Ki672wk (p<0.0001) than non-HER2-E BCs. High expression of ERBB2 expression, homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and TP53 mutational score were associated with poor response and immune-related signatures with High Ki672wk. Five new MS that were associated with differential response to AI were identified. HER2-E had significantly poorer TTR compared to Luminal BCs (HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.14–5.69; p=0.0222). The new MS were independent predictors of TTR, adding significant value beyond intrinsic subtypes. INTERPRETATION: Our results show HER2-E as a standardised biomarker associated with poor response to AI and worse outcome in ER+/HER2+. HRD, TP53 mutational score and immune-tumour tolerance are predictive biomarkers for poor response to AI. Lastly, novel MS identify additional non-HER2-E tumours not responding to AI with an increased risk of relapse

Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Modeling and Simulation in Civil Engineering

This conference proceedings contains articles on the various research ideas of the academic community and technical researchers presented at the 6th International Conference on Modeling and Simulation in Civil Engineering (ICMSC 2022). ICMSC 2022 was organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India on December 1-3, 2022. The main aim of this conference is to bring together leading academicians, researchers, technocrats, practitioners, and students to exchange and share their experiences and research outputs on all aspects of Civil Engineering, especially related to the modeling and simulation in Civil Engineering.  Conference Title: 6th International Conference on Modeling and Simulation in Civil EngineeringConference Acronym:  ICMSC 2022Conference Date: 1-3 December 2022Conference Location: IndiaConference Organizer: Department of Civil Engineering, TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, Indi