260 research outputs found

    International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes, Subcommittee on the taxonomy of Rhizobia and Agrobacteria, minutes of the annual meeting by videoconference, 5 July 2021, followed by online discussion until 31 December 2021.

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    Minutes of the closed meeting of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Rhizobia and Agrobacteria held by videoconference, 5 July 2021, followed by online discussion until 31 December 2021, and list of recent species

    Kidney cancer in the Middle East and North Africa region: a 30-year analysis (1990–2019)

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    Kidney cancer, a type of urogenital cancer, imposes a high burden on patients. Despite this, no recent research has evaluated the burden of this type of cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study explored the burden of kidney cancer from 1990 to 2019 according to age, sex and socio-demographic index (SDI). The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 data was utilized to estimate the incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) caused by kidney cancer. These estimates were reported as counts and as age-standardised rates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). The estimated age-standardised incidence, mortality, and DALY rates of kidney cancer in 2019 were 3.2 (2.8–3.6), 1.4 (1.2–1.6), and 37.2 (32.0–42.6) per 100,000, respectively. Over the period from 1990 to 2019, these rates have increased by 98.0%, 48.9%, and 37.7%, respectively. In 2019, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Lebanon had the largest age-standardised incidence, mortality, and DALY rates. The smallest age-standardised incidence rates were seen in Yemen, Afghanistan, and the Syrian Arab Republic. Additionally, the smallest age-standardised mortality and DALY rates were observed in the Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, and Morocco. The highest incidence rates were found among individuals aged 75–79 in both males and females. In 2019, the MENA/Global DALY ratio exceeded one for females aged 5–19 age and males aged 5–14, compared to 1990age groups in males. The burden of kidney cancer consistently rose with increasing SDI levels from 1990 to 2019. The increasing burden of kidney cancer highlights the urgent need for interventions aimed at improving early diagnosis and treatment in the region

    Predictive models for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and MCI identification: The use of cognitive scores and artificial intelligence algorithms

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    The paper presents a comprehensive study on predictive models for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis, implementing a combination of cognitive scores and artificial intelligence algorithms. The research includes detailed analyses of clinical and demographic variables such as age, education, and various cognitive and functional scores, investigating their distributions and correlations with AD and MCI. The study utilizes several machine-learning classifiers, comparing their performance through metrics like accuracy, precision, and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Key findings include the influence of gender on AD prevalence, the potential protective effect of education, and the significance of functional decline and cognitive performance scores in the models. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of ensemble methods and the robustness of the models across different data subsets, highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment

    Antiphospholipid antibodies: Paradigm in transition

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    OBJECTIVES: This is a critical review of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL). Most prior reviews focus on the aPL syndrome (APS), a thrombotic condition often marked by neurological disturbance. We bring to attention recent evidence that aPL may be equally relevant to non-thrombotic autoimmune conditions, notably, multiple sclerosis and ITP. ORGANIZATION: After a brief history, the recent proliferation of aPL target antigens is reviewed. The implication is that many more exist. Theories of aPL in thrombosis are then reviewed, concluding that all have merit but that aPL may have more diverse pathological consequences than now recognized. Next, conflicting results are explained by methodological differences. The lupus anticoagulant (LA) is then discussed. LA is the best predictor of thrombosis, but why this is true is not settled. Finally, aPL in non-thrombotic disorders is reviewed. CONCLUSION: The current paradigm of aPL holds that they are important in thrombosis, but they may have much wider clinical significance, possibly of special interest in neurology

    Vitamin A deficiency in the MENA region: a 30-year analysis (1990–2019)

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    BackgroundVitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a common micronutrient deficiency that imposes a substantial burden worldwide. This study examined the burden of VAD from 1990 to 2019 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by age, sex and sociodemographic index (SDI).MethodsThe data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database. We reported the prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) that were attributable to VAD for the MENA region, along with its constituent countries.ResultsIn 2019, the MENA region had 30.6 million prevalent cases of VAD, with an age-standardized prevalence rate of 5249.9 per 100,000 population. In addition, VAD was responsible for 62.2 thousand YLDs, with an age-standardized YLD rate of 10.2 per 100,000. The age-standardized prevalence [50.3% (−55.9 to −44.7)] and YLD [−49.3% (−55.3 to −43.1)] rates of VAD have significantly decreased since 1990. In 2019, the MENA region’s VAD-attributable YLD rate was below the global average for males and females across all age groups. Additionally, SDI was negatively associated the age-standardized YLD rate of VAD.ConclusionThis study underscores the necessity of frequently updating health data and developing guidelines and regulations to prevent, detect early, and effectively treat VAD in the MENA countries

    1000 Norms Project: Protocol of a cross-sectional study cataloging human variation

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    Background Clinical decision-making regarding diagnosis and management largely depends on comparison with healthy or ‘normal’ values. Physiotherapists and researchers therefore need access to robust patient-centred outcome measures and appropriate reference values. However there is a lack of high-quality reference data for many clinical measures. The aim of the 1000 Norms Project is to generate a freely accessible database of musculoskeletal and neurological reference values representative of the healthy population across the lifespan. Methods/design In 2012 the 1000 Norms Project Consortium defined the concept of ‘normal’, established a sampling strategy and selected measures based on clinical significance, psychometric properties and the need for reference data. Musculoskeletal and neurological items tapping the constructs of dexterity, balance, ambulation, joint range of motion, strength and power, endurance and motor planning will be collected in this cross-sectional study. Standardised questionnaires will evaluate quality of life, physical activity, and musculoskeletal health. Saliva DNA will be analysed for the ACTN3 genotype (‘gene for speed’). A volunteer cohort of 1000 participants aged 3 to 100 years will be recruited according to a set of self-reported health criteria. Descriptive statistics will be generated, creating tables of mean values and standard deviations stratified for age and gender. Quantile regression equations will be used to generate age charts and age-specific centile values. Discussion This project will be a powerful resource to assist physiotherapists and clinicians across all areas of healthcare to diagnose pathology, track disease progression and evaluate treatment response. This reference dataset will also contribute to the development of robust patient-centred clinical trial outcome measures
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