Evaluation of electrocardiographic ventricular repolarization parameters in stable coronary artery disease

Aim: To examine the relationship between the SYNTAX score (SS) and cardiac repolarization parameters such as cQTd and Tp-e values, and Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/JT, Tp-e/QTc, and Tp-e/JTc ratios in patients who have stable angina pectoris. Methods: 12-lead resting electrocardiograms (ECGs) and SS of 160 patients (51 female and 109 male) undergoing coronary angiography with the pre-diagnosis of stable angina pectoris were evaluated. Patients with a SS below 22 were classified as Group 1 (low-SYNTAX), and those above 22 (high-SYNTAX) as Group 2. Forty-four patients with normal coronary angiography were included in Group 3. Results: Mean age of the patients was 62.4±9.1 years. The heart rate, QRS, QT, cQT and JT durations between the groups were similar. In addition, relatively recent ventricular repolarization indices such as Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/JT, Tp-e/QTc, and Tp-e/JTc ratios were also not substantially different between groups. Conclusion: Several surface ECG predictors of ventricular arrhythmias, including QTd, JT and Tp-e intervals and their ratios to QT and JT, are not significantly correlated with SYNTAX score-assessed CAD severity in patients with stable angina pectoris

Exploring the Consistency of the Quality Scores with Machine Learning for Next-Generation Sequencing Experiments

Background. Next-generation sequencing enables massively parallel processing, allowing lower cost than the other sequencing technologies. In the subsequent analysis with the NGS data, one of the major concerns is the reliability of variant calls. Although researchers can utilize raw quality scores of variant calling, they are forced to start the further analysis without any preevaluation of the quality scores. Method. We presented a machine learning approach for estimating quality scores of variant calls derived from BWA+GATK. We analyzed correlations between the quality score and these annotations, specifying informative annotations which were used as features to predict variant quality scores. To test the predictive models, we simulated 24 paired-end Illumina sequencing reads with 30x coverage base. Also, twenty-four human genome sequencing reads resulting from Illumina paired-end sequencing with at least 30x coverage were secured from the Sequence Read Archive. Results. Using BWA+GATK, VCFs were derived from simulated and real sequencing reads. We observed that the prediction models learned by RFR outperformed other algorithms in both simulated and real data. The quality scores of variant calls were highly predictable from informative features of GATK Annotation Modules in the simulated human genome VCF data (R2: 96.7%, 94.4%, and 89.8% for RFR, MLR, and NNR, respectively). The robustness of the proposed data-driven models was consistently maintained in the real human genome VCF data (R2: 97.8% and 96.5% for RFR and MLR, respectively)

Effect of Missing Data Imputation on Deep Learning Prediction Performance for Vesicoureteral Reflux and Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Clinical Study

Ozgur, Su/0000-0002-8993-674X;WOS: 000556223500008PubMed: 32733929Missing observations are always a challenging problem that we have to deal with in diseases that require follow-up. in hospital records for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI), the number of complete cases is very low on demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and imaging data. on the other hand, deep learning (DL) approaches can be used for highly missing observation scenarios with its own missing ratio algorithm. in this study, the effects of multiple imputation techniques MICE and FAMD on the performance of DL in the differential diagnosis were compared. the data of a retrospective cross-sectional study including 611 pediatric patients were evaluated (425 with VUR, 186 with rUTI, 26.65% missing ratio) in this research. CNTK and R 3.6.3 have been used for evaluating different models for 34 features (physical, laboratory, and imaging findings). in the differential diagnosis of VUR and rUTI, the best performance was obtained by deep learning with MICE algorithm with its values, respectively, 64.05% accuracy, 64.59% sensitivity, and 62.62% specificity. FAMD algorithm performed withaccuracy = 61.52,sensitivity = 60.20, and specificity was found out to be 61.00 with 3 principal components on missing imputation phase. DL-based approaches can evaluate datasets without doing preomit/impute missing values from datasets. Once DL method is used together with appropriate missing imputation techniques, it shows higher predictive performance.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [114S011]This work was supported by TUBITAK with Project No. 114S011

Pknox2 Expression And Regulation In The Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Of Fanconi Anemia Patients And Healthy Donors

HOX and TALE transcription factors are important regulators of development and homeostasis in determining cellular identity. Deregulation of this process may drive cancer progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of these transcription factors in the bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) of Fanconi anemia (FA) patients, which is a cancer-predisposing disease. Expression levels of HOX and TALE genes in BM-MSCs were obtained from FA patients and healthy donors by RT-qPCR and highly conserved expression levels were observed between patient and donor cells, except PKNOX2, which is a member of TALE class. PKNOX2 was significantly downregulated in FA cells compared to donors (P<0.05). PKNOX2 expression levels did not change with diepoxybutane (DEB), a DNA crosslinking agent, in either donor or FA cells except one patient's with a truncation mutation of FANCA. A difference of PKNOX2 protein level was not obtained between FA patient and donor BM-MSCs by western blot analysis. When human TGF-beta 1 (rTGF-beta 1) recombinant protein was provided to the cultures, PKNOX2 as well as TGF-beta 1 expression increased both in FA and donor BM-MSCs in a dose dependent manner. 5ng/mL rTGF-beta stimulation had more dominant effect on the gene expression of donor BM-MSCs compared to FA cells. Decreased PKNOX2 expression in FA BM-MSCs may provide new insights into the molecular pathophysiology of the disease and TGF-beta 1 levels of the microenvironment may be the cause of PKNOX2 downregulation.Wo

Comparison Of Karydakis Technique With Limberg Flap Procedure In Pilonidal Sinus Disease: Advantages Of Karydakis Technique

Objective: Several surgical techniques are being performed in the treatment of pilonidal sinus disease; however there is no single agreed technique that could be used in all patients. In this study we compared the results of the patients on which we implemented Karydakis Technique and Limberg flap procedure, the two most common techniques and tried to find the better operative modality. Methodology: One hundred thirty three patients operated between January 2004 and November 2008 and followed up regularly were included in the study. Patients who came applied due to recurrence were not included. Seventy three patients were operated with Karydakis technique and 60 patients were operated with Limberg flap procedure. Two groups were compared in terms of hospitalization period, work loss period, recurrence rate, infection rate, and whether seroma and hematom formed or not. Results: Operation period, hospitalization period, work loss period were shorter for the patients on which Karydakis technique was implemented (P<0.05). While no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of recurrence rate (P=0.034), wound dehiscence, wound infection, hematom/seroma rate were more in Limberg flap group (P=0.001, P=0.032, P=0.022, respectively). Conclusion: Karydakis technique, which is one of the most practiced surgical techniques in treatment of Pilonidal sinus disease, should be a preferred method in terms of shorter operation time, hospitalization period and less work loss and lower complication.Wo

Epidemiologic Trends In Hbv Infections At A Reference Centre In Turkey: An 11-Year Retrospective Analysis

Objective. To identify changes in hepatitis B epidemiology after the implementation of the nationwide vaccination program in Turkey, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and related tests performed over a period of 11 years (2000-2010) at a reference centre were retrospectively overviewed and statistically analysed for trends. Results. Assay results for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and e antigen (HBeAg), Anti-HBs, Anti-HBe, Anti-HBc immunoglobulins and HBV DNA as well as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gama-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels, obtained via standardized commercial assays were included in the analysis. Overall, a stable anti-HBs incidence (43.6%) and male predominance in infected individuals were noted. Total Anti-HBc was detected in 43.3% of the Anti-HBs reactive population, demonstrating that the immunity against HBV has still been acquired through virus exposure. An intermediate HBsAg seroprevalence of 6.0% was observed with a significant decrease from 12.3% to 5.0% from 2000 to 2010. Anti-HBe positive infections were more frequent than those with HBe antigenemia (77.1% vs. 18.5%) with a notable increase from 2000 to 2003. HBV DNA was detected in 23.6-25.6% with serological markers of viral replication and was more prevalent in HBeAg positive individuals in parallel with AST, ALT and GGT levels. Evidence for horizontal transfer as the major transmission route was revealed with a reduction of childhood HBV infections, attributable to the ongoing vaccination efforts

Does N ratio affect survival in D1 and D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer?

AIM: To identify whether there could have been changes in survival if lymph node ratio (N ratio) had been used

Changes In Comorbid Diseases In Morbidly Obese Patients Treated By Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding

Objectives: Morbid obesity is often accompanied by several comorbid diseases which reduce lifespan and impair quality of life. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a minimal invasive procedure effective in the treatment of morbid obesity. The aim of this study was to determine the change in comorbidities in patients treated by LAGB who achieved weight loss. Methodology: Among 134 morbidly obese patients treated by LAGB, 127 patients who were followed regularly and evaluated regarding the change in comorbidities, and laboratory and clinical measurements were recorded. Excess weight loss (EWL) and the percent improvement in comorbid diseases (PICD) were calculated by using the Friedman's test. P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 127 cases with a mean age of 29.51+/-6.7 years. Pre-operative BMI was 48.38+/-7.81 kg/m(2). Comorbid disease was present in 62 (48.8%) patients. The mean follow-up duration was 23.83+/-8.78 months. The EWL was 52.6% (p<0.05) and the PICD was 74.8% (p<0.05). Complications were noted in 34 patients (26.8%). Conclusions: LAGB is a minimally invasive procedure which is effective in the treatment of morbid obesity, and reduces the length of hospital stay. Comorbid diseases are significantly improved in patients who achieve weight loss by the LAGB procedure.Wo