Analysis for genotyping Duffy blood group in inhabitants of Sudan, the Fourth Cataract of the Nile

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genetic polymophisms of the Duffy antigen receptor for the chemokines (DARC) gene successfully protected against blood stage infection by <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>infection. The Fy (a-, b-) phenotype is predominant among African populations, particularly those originating from West Africa, and it is rare among non-African populations. The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency of four Duffy blood groups based on SNPs (T-33C, G125A, G298A and C5411T) in two local tribes of Sudanese Arabs, the <it>Shagia </it>and <it>Manasir</it>, which are both from the region of the Fourth Nile cataract in Sudan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An analysis of polymorphisms was performed on 217 individuals (126 representatives of the <it>Shagia </it>tribe and 91 of the <it>Manasir)</it>. Real-time PCR and TaqMan Genotyping Assays were used to study the prevalence of alleles and genotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis of allelic and genotype frequency in the T-33C polymorphisms demonstrated a significant dominance of the <it>C </it>allele and <it>CC </it>genotype (OR = 0.53 [0.32-0.88]; p = 0.02) in both tribes. The G125A polymorphism is associated with phenotype Fy(a-, b-) and was identified in 83% of <it>Shagia </it>and 77% of <it>Manasir</it>. With regard to G298A polymorphisms, the genotype frequencies were different between the tribes (p = 0,002) and no single <it>AA </it>homozygote was found. Based on four SNPs examined, 20 combinations of genotypes for the <it>Shagia </it>and <it>Manasir </it>tribes were determined. The genotype <it>CC/AA/GG/CT </it>occurred most often in <it>Shagia </it>tribe (45.9%) but was rare in the <it>Manasir </it>tribe (6.6%) (p < 0.001 <it>Shagia </it>versus <it>Manasir</it>). The <it>FY*A^ES</it>allele was identified in both analysed tribes. The presence of individuals with the <it>FY*A/FY*A </it>genotype was demonstrated only in the <it>Shagia </it>tribe.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is probably the first report showing genotypically Duffy-negative people who carry both <it>FY*B^ES</it>and <it>FY*A^ES</it>. The identification of the <it>FY*A^ES</it>allele in both tribes may be due to admixture of the non-African genetic background. Taken as a whole, allele and genotype frequencies between the <it>Shagia </it>and the <it>Manasir </it>were statistically different. However, the presence of individuals with the <it>FY*A/FY*A </it>genotype was demonstrated only in the <it>Shagia </it>tribe.</p

Method-Induced Errors in Fractal Analysis of Lung Microscopic Images Segmented with the Use of HistAENN (Histogram-Based Autoencoder Neural Network)

The designing of Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CADx) is necessary to improve patient condition analysis and reduce human error. HistAENN (Histogram-based Autoencoder Neural Network, the first hierarchy level) and the fractal-based estimator (the second hierarchy level) are assumed for segmentation and image analysis, respectively. The aim of the study is to investigate how to select or preselect algorithms at the second hierarchy level algorithm using small data sets and the semisupervised training principle. Method-induced errors are evaluated using the Monte Carlo test and an overlapping table is proposed for the rejection or tentative acceptance of particular segmentation and fractal analysis algorithms. This study uses lung histological slides and the results show that 2D box-counting substantially outweighs lacunarity for considered configurations. These findings also suggest that the proposed method is applicable for further designing of classification algorithms, which is essential for researchers, software developers, and forensic pathologist communities

Pulpo-dentin complex response after direct capping with self-etch adhesive systems

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate morphologically the response of feline teeth pulp todirect pulp capping with two different self-etch adhesive systems. Twenty-four cavities in feline teeth were mechanicallyexposed and assigned to one of two experimental groups: AdheSE + Tetric Ceram (the ASE group),or Adper Prompt L-Pop + Filtek Supreme (the APLP group). There was also a control group Dycal Ca(OH)2liner + Amalgam (the CH group eight teeth), and six teeth were used as an intact control group. The animalswere sacrificed after 40 days. The teeth were removed and processed for standard histological evaluation, usinga scoring system for inflammatory cell response, pulp tissue disorganisation, reparative tissue formation, and thepresence of bacteria. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the ASE and APLP selfetchingresin systems during the observation period. The majority of the specimens presented inflammatorypulp response with tissue disorganisation and a lack of dentinal bridge formation. CH capping resulted in asignificantly smaller inflammatory pulp response and a considerably higher incidence of reparative dentin formation.ASE and APLP were comparably effective as direct pulp capping materials, but their application resultedin significantly greater pulp tissue damage than CH capping. Further in vivo human studies are necessary todetermine which adhesive resin systems should be clinically used for direct pulp capping without incurring severedamage to the pulpal tissue