Progressive cognitive impairment evolving to dementia parallels parieto-occipital and temporal enlargement in idiopathic chronic hydrocephalus: a retrospective cohort study

Little is known regarding progressive enlargement of the ventricular system in symptomatic patients or asymptomatic subjects. Before eventual surgical treatment, we evaluated the clinical and radiological features of an extremely rare group of patients with idiopathic chronic hydrocephalus (ICH) and cognitive impairment evolving to dementia (n = 11), and an extremely rare group of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic adults (AMSA) with ventricular enlargement (n = 10). We quantified changes over time in the ventricular frontal, occipital, and temporal horns by measuring the Evans' index plus a parieto-occipital ratio and a temporal ratio, and their percentage of progression. Cerebral ventricles expanded over very long term in both demented patients with ICH and in AMSA. In AMSA, frontal enlargement predominated, whereas demented patients showed predominant parieto-occipital (p = 0.00) and temporal (p = 0.00) enlargement that progressed faster than in AMSA (p = 0.00). In ICH, progression of cognitive impairment parallels ventricular parieto-occipital and temporal horn enlargement. Limitations of this study are the retrospective nature, the non-uniform use of neuropsychological tests, the reduced sample size due to the extremely stringent enrollment criteria, the inability to determine the precise rate of progression

NIR spectral signatures of flexor and extensor muscles of the upper and lower limb in humans at varying lengths

NIR spectroscopy provides the spectral signatures (i.e. “fingerprints”) of living human muscles, which represent specific, accurate, and reproducible measures of their overall biological status. We showed that chemometric analysis applied to NIR spectra acquired from the upper limb distinguishes the biceps from the triceps. We acquired muscles reflectance spectra in the Vis-SWIR regions (350-2500 nm), utilizing an ASD FieldSpec 4™ Standard-Res Spectroradiometer with a spectral sampling capability of 1.4 nm at 350-1000 nm and 1.1 nm at 1001-2500 nm. Optical spectroscopy proves effective for studying human muscles in vivo and contribute to non-invasive more thorough evaluation of the muscular system

Keratoacanthoma associated to cutaneous horn manifestation: case report and difficulty of diagnosis

Background: Cutaneous horn (CH) is a conical hyperkatotic projection of skin with keratotic material. A broad variety of lesions may be found with clinical aspect of cutaneous horn, including malignant tumors.  Case report: We report a case of patient with 77- year-old male, presenting an asymptomatic lesion with clinical aspect of CH in lower lip. The clinical diagnosis hypothesis was squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and an incisional biopsy was performed. The histopathological analysis revealed a keratoacantoma (KA) and the lesion was completely removed. The one year follow-up revealed no recurrence. Discussion: CH rarely is accompanied by KA. However, KA shows a greater degree of nuclear atypia than SCC making the differentiation of two diseases very difficult. This case highligh the importance of histopathological examination to rule out malignancy.Introdução: O corno cutâneo (CC) é uma projeção hiperceratótica cônica da pele. Uma ampla variedade de lesões podem ser encontrados com aspecto clínico de corno cutâneo, incluindo tumores malignos. Relato de caso: Relatamos um caso de paciente do sexo masculino, 77 anos de idade, apresentando uma lesão assintomática, com aspecto clínico da CC no lábio inferior. A hipótese de diagnóstico clínico foi de carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) e uma biópsia incisional foi realizada. A análise histopatológica revelou um ceratoacantoma e a lesão foi completamente removida. Em um ano de acompanhamento nenhuma recidiva foi observada. Discussão: CC raramente é acompanhada por ceratoacantoma. No entanto, ceratoacantoma mostra um maior grau de atipia nuclear do que CEC tornando a diferenciação de duas doenças muito difícil. Neste caso ressaltamos a importância do exame histopatológico para descartar malignidade

Metodología para pronosticar demanda y clasificar inventarios en empresas comercializadoras de productos mayoristas

Objetivo: Proponer una metodología que permita la clasificación de inventarios y el pronóstico de la demanda, en empresas comercializadoras de productos mayoristas, los cuales son factores claves para optimizar su desempeño. Métodos y técnicas: La metodología se sustenta en el uso de una red neuronal artificial tipo perceptrón multicapa creada con el software Weka; con el agregado de resolver problemas de clasificación de ítems del inventario, basados en ABC y el proceso de análisis jerárquico AHP. La metodología constó de tres fases, la primera encargada de la clasificación de los inventarios, la segunda del pronóstico, y la tercera del análisis integrado de los resultados. Principales resultados: Se propuso una escala jerárquica de variables para la clasificación de ítems del inventario, así como de los pesos de los criterios y subcriterios que la conforman, y su rango de selección. Se mostró una manera efectiva para pronosticar la demanda de forma individualizada para cada ítem del inventario. Conclusiones: La aplicación de la herramienta metodológica en la empresa ACINOX UEB Holguín comercializadora, de la provincia Holguín, Cuba, validó su efectividad para resolver problemas de clasificación de inventarios y pronóstico de demanda. Como derivado de su aplicación, se proporcionó a sus directivos, un instrumento que permite la toma de decisiones en aras de favorecer aquellos ítems mejor clasificados y sus pronósticos

Metodología para pronosticar demanda y clasificar inventarios en empresas comercializadoras de productos mayoristas

Objective: To recommend a methodology that allows for inventory classification and demand forecasting, by wholesale supplier companies, as critical factors to implement performance optimization. Methods and techniques: The methodology relies on the use of a multilayer artificial neural network developed with Weka software, which adds a solution to inventory item classification problems, which is based on ABC and analytics of hierarchy processes (AHP). The methodology was developed in three phases, the first one was in charge of inventory classification, the second was related to forecasting, and the third, to integrated result analysis. Main results: A hierarchical scale of variables was suggested for inventory item classification, as well as weigthing opinions and sub-opinions, and its selection extent. An effective way of forecasting individual demands was presented for every inventory item. Conclusions: The application of this methodological tool by ACINOX sales company in Holguin province corroborated its effectiveness to solve inventory classification problems and demand forecasting. As a result, all the executives have access to a tool that contributes to decision-making, in order to favor better items classification and forecasting. Key words: demand forecasting; aggregate planning; artificial neural networks; inventory classification; ABC classification.Objetivo: Proponer una metodología que permita la clasificación de inventarios y el pronóstico de la demanda, en empresas comercializadoras de productos mayoristas, los cuales son factores claves para optimizar su desempeño. Métodos y técnicas: La metodología se sustenta en el uso de una red neuronal artificial tipo perceptrón multicapa creada con el software Weka; con el agregado de resolver problemas de clasificación de ítems del inventario, basados en ABC y el proceso de análisis jerárquico AHP. La metodología constó de tres fases, la primera encargada de la clasificación de los inventarios, la segunda del pronóstico, y la tercera del análisis integrado de los resultados. Principales resultados: Se propuso una escala jerárquica de variables para la clasificación de ítems del inventario, así como de los pesos de los criterios y subcriterios que la conforman, y su rango de selección. Se mostró una manera efectiva para pronosticar la demanda de forma individualizada para cada ítem del inventario. Conclusiones: La aplicación de la herramienta metodológica en la empresa ACINOX UEB Holguín comercializadora, de la provincia Holguín, Cuba, validó su efectividad para resolver problemas de clasificación de inventarios y pronóstico de demanda. Como derivado de su aplicación, se proporcionó a sus directivos, un instrumento que permite la toma de decisiones en aras de favorecer aquellos ítems mejor clasificados y sus pronósticos

Investigation of oral and general health status and IL-1β gene polymorphism as risk factors for oral mucositis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship of OM with possible risk factors such as oral health condition, immunological status and IL-1β profile in patients submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Fifty-four individuals submitted to HSCT were included. All patients received previous dental treatment and photobiomodulation (PBM) as the institutional OM preventive protocol. OM scores, immune status, and IL-1β levels were determined during the conditioning period and at D+3 and D+8 after HSC infusion. IL-1β gene polymorphism was also analyzed during conditioning. Possible associations of OM with risk factors were analyzed using conditional Fisher’s exact test. OM was observed in 34 patients (62.9%) classified as Grade 1 (13 patients/24.1%), Grade 2 (14 patients/25.9%), Grade 3 (3 patients/5.5%), and Grade 4 (4 patients/7.4%). Allogeneic HSCT individuals exhibited a higher OM grade than autologous subjects. Moreover, an association was observed between severe OM and severe gingivitis (p = 0.01), neutropenia (p = 0.03), and leukopenia (p = 0.04). A significant association between OM and lower IL-1β levels was detected at three time points, i.e., conditioning (p = 0.048), D+3 (p = 0.01), and D+8 (p = 0.005). The results showed that IL-1β gene polymorphism was not associated with OM. Our study provided important insights into the scope of OM risk factors in the setting of HSCT. Patients submitted to HSCT with severe gingivitis prior to chemotherapy and with severe neutropenia and leukopenia exhibited a higher OM grade. Further investigation will be necessary to better understand the exact role of IL-1β in the context of OM pathobiology and to validate cytokine analysis in larger cohorts