Individual Growth Patterns Research Articles

4D pathology: translating dynamic epithelial tubulogenesis to prostate cancer pathology.

The Gleason score is the gold standard for grading of prostate cancer (PCa) and is assessed by assigning specific grades to different microscopical growth patterns. Aside from the Gleason grades, individual growth patterns such as cribriform architecture were recently shown to have independent prognostic value for disease outcome. PCa grading is performed on static tissue samples collected at one point in time, whereas in vivo epithelial tumour structures are dynamically invading, branching and expanding into the surrounding stroma. Due to the lack of models that are able to track human PCa microscopical developments over time, our understanding of underlying tissue dynamics is sparse. We postulate that human PCa expansion utilizes embryonic and developmental tubulogenetic pathways. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of developmental pathways of normal epithelial tubule formation, elongation, and branching, and relate those to the static microscopical PCa growth patterns observed in daily clinical practise. This study could provide a rationale for the discerned pathological interobserver variability and the clinical outcome differences between PCa growth patterns.

Age and growth rate estimated by skeletochronology in loggerhead sea turtles from French Mediterranean waters

Abstract Skeletochronology was used to determine the ages of 30 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) found in French Mediterranean waters. Histological sections were performed with 30 humeri collected on stranded C. caretta on the coast of Provence and the Gulf of Lion. Lines of arrested growth (LAGs) were used to evaluate age, considering only one period of arrested growth per year. Two successive LAGs delimit an interval that is proportional to the individual’s body growth. In a first step, we created a skeletogram for each individual that identified its LAGs. Secondly, we measured the areas delineating successive intervals to determine individual growth patterns over the years. Two methods were used to deduce sea turtle age from histological sections: the correction factor (CF) method and the growth rate (GR) method, the latter using Von Bertalanffy growth function. Age estimations varied from 4.3 to 24.7 years (mean ± SD = 10.1 ± 4.8) with the CF method and from 6.2 to 25.6 years (mean ± SD = 12.2 ± 5.2) with the GR method, with no significant difference between the methods. The study sample was thus mostly composed of juveniles, which is also the most frequent life stage observed in the study area. The annual curved carapace length growth rate calculated with every LAG interval varied from 1.0 to 6.9 cm/year (mean ± SD = 3.5 ± 1.4, ). High variability in interindividual growth rates were observed, which is of interest in understanding the complex lifecycle of these long-lived marine reptiles.

Pediatric spinal alignment and spinal development

BackgroundKnowledge of the growth spurt and remaining growth is essential for managing musculoskeletal diseases in children. Accurate prediction of curve progression and timely interventions are crucial, particularly for conditions like adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). MethodsThis study conducted a comprehensive review and synthesis of existing literature on spinal growth, skeletal maturity classifications, and the evolution of sagittal alignment parameters during childhood and adolescence. Key anatomical elements involved in spinal development, natural history of spinal growth, and skeletal maturity assessment systems were analyzed. ResultsThe analysis highlighted that key parameters such as Pelvic incidence (PI), Pelvic tilt (PT), and Lumbar lordosis (LL) increase significantly with growth, especially during the pubertal growth spurt. In contrast, Sacral slope (SS) remains relatively constant, and Thoracic kyphosis (TK) shows a slight increase. Additionally, there is a posterior shift in the center of gravity as children grow, reflecting progressive postural maturation. The study also reviewed and compared various maturity classification systems, noting the reliability and clinical implications of systems like the Sanders Maturity Stage (SMS) and Tanner-Whitehouse III. ConclusionsReliable maturity classification systems, such as the Sanders Maturity Stage (SMS) and Tanner-Whitehouse III, allow for tailored treatments to individual growth patterns. Integrating these classification systems into clinical practice enables precise prediction of curve progression and timely therapeutic interventions. This includes options from bracing to surgical techniques like growing rods or vertebral body tethering (VBT), with growth modulation being a key factor in achieving successful outcomes.

Modeling individual growth reveals decreasing gray whale body length and correlations with ocean climate indices at multiple scales

AbstractChanges in body size have been documented across taxa in response to human activities and climate change. Body size influences many aspects of an individual's physiology, behavior, and ecology, ultimately affecting life history performance and resilience to stressors. In this study, we developed an analytical approach to model individual growth patterns using aerial imagery collected via drones, which can be used to investigate shifts in body size in a population and the associated drivers. We applied the method to a large morphological dataset of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) using a distinct foraging ground along the NE Pacific coast, and found that the asymptotic length of these whales has declined since around the year 2000 at an average rate of 0.05–0.12 m/y. The decline has been stronger in females, which are estimated to be now comparable in size to males, minimizing sexual dimorphism. We show that the decline in asymptotic length is correlated with two oceanographic metrics acting as proxies of habitat quality at different scales: the mean Pacific Decadal Oscillation index, and the mean ratio between upwelling intensity in a season and the number of relaxation events. These results suggest that the decline in gray whale body size may represent a plastic response to changing environmental conditions. Decreasing body size could have cascading effects on the population's demography, ability to adjust to environmental changes, and ecological influence on the structure of their community. This finding adds to the mounting evidence that body size is shrinking in several marine populations in association with climate change and other anthropogenic stressors. Our modeling approach is broadly applicable across multiple systems where morphological data on megafauna are collected using drones.

Associations between life course longitudinal growth and hip shapes at ages 60–64 years: evidence from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development

ObjectiveWe sought to examine associations between height gain across childhood and adolescence with hip shape in individuals aged 60–64 years from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and...

A semi-automated spectral approach to analyzing cyclical growth patterns using fish scales.

We introduce a new semi-automated approach to analyzing growth patterns recorded on fish scales. After manually specifying the center of the scale, the algorithm radially unwraps the scale patterns along a series of transects from the center to the edge of the scale. A sliding window Fourier transform is used to produce a spectrogram for each sampled transect of the scale image. The maximum frequency over all sampled transects of the average spectrogram yields a well-discriminated peak frequency trace that can then serve as a growth template for that fish. The spectrogram patterns of individual fish scales can be adjusted to a common period accounting for differences in date of return or size of fish at return without biasing the growth profile of the scale. We apply the method to 147 Atlantic salmon scale images sampled from 3 years and contrast the information derived with this automated approach to what is obtained using classical human operator measurements. The spectrogram analysis quantifies growth patterns using the entire scale image rather than just a single transect and provides the possibility of more robustly analyzing individual scale growth patterns. This semi-automated approach that removes essentially all the human operator interventions provides an opportunity to process large datasets of fish scale images and combined with advanced analyses such as deep learning methods could lead to a greater understanding of salmon marine migration patterns and responses to variations in ecosystem conditions.

Networks in Auxology – proceedings of the 31st Aschauer Soiree, held at Aschau, Germany, June 17th 2023

Twenty-seven scientists met for the annual Auxological conference held at Aschau, Germany, to particularly discuss the interaction between social factors and human growth, and to highlight several topics of general interest to the regulation of human growth. Humans are social mammals. Humans show and share personal interests and needs, and are able to strategically adjust size according to social position, with love and hope being prime factors in the regulation of growth. In contrast to Western societies, where body size has been shown to be an important predictor of socioeconomic status, egalitarian societies without formalized hierarchy and material wealth-dependent social status do not appear to similarly integrate body size and social network. Social network structures can be modeled by Monte Carlo simulation. Modeling dominance hierarchies suggests that winner-loser effects play a pivotal role in robust self-organization that transcends the specifics of the individual. Further improvements of the St. Nicolas House analysis using re-sampling/bootstrap techniques yielded encouraging results for exploring dense networks of interacting variables. Customized pediatric growth references, and approaches towards a Digital Rare Disease Growth Chart Library were presented. First attempts with a mobile phone application were presented to investigate the associations between maternal pre-pregnancy overweight, gestational weight gain, and the child’s future motor development. Clinical contributions included growth patterns of individuals with Silver-Russell syndrome, and treatment burden in children with growth hormone deficiency. Contributions on sports highlighted the fallacy inherent in disregarding the biological maturation status when interpreting physical performance outcomes. The meeting explored the complex influence of nutrition and lifestyle on menarcheal age of Lithuanian girls and emphasized regional trends in height of Austrian recruits. Examples of the psychosocial stress caused by the forced migration of modern Kyrgyz children and Polish children after World War II were presented, as well as the effects of nutritional stress during and after World War I. The session concluded with a discussion of recent trends in gun violence affecting children and adolescents in the United States, and aspects of life history theory using the example of "Borderline Personality Disorder." The features of this disorder are consistent with the notion that it reflects a "fast" life history strategy, with higher levels of allostatic load, higher levels of aggression, and greater exposure to both childhood adversity and chronic stress. The results were discussed in light of evolutionary guided research. In all contributions presented here, written informed consent was obtained from all participants in accordance with institutional Human investigation committee guidelines in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki amended October 2013, after information about the procedures used.

Early Orthodontic Intervention in Cleft Lip-Palate and Noncleft Children with Developing Class III Malocclusion: A Clinical Study.

Orthopedic correction of skeletal class III malocclusion in a growing patient is crucial as it can circumvent future surgical procedures. The aim of the study is to evaluate the dental and skeletal effects of early orthodontic intervention of developing class III malocclusion. A final sample of 38 children in the age-group of 6-14 years having skeletal class III malocclusion was selected. Subjects were divided into two groups; group I-included 18 children (male-10, female-8) with surgically repaired cleft lip and palate and group II-20 children (male-14, female-6) without any cleft lip and palate. Cemented rapid maxillary expansion (RME) appliances with 11 mm hyrax screws were used in all patients. Elastic traction forces were applied to the reverse-pull headgear worn by the patients. Both pre- and posttreatment records along with lateral cephalograms were taken. The pre- and posttreatment mean and standard deviation measurements of the angular and linear observations were statistically analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 13) and were correlated through independent t-test and paired t-test. Following headgear therapy, improvement was greater in the cleft group than noncleft group with greater advancement of maxilla along with clockwise rotation of mandible in clefts. Protraction mechanics with expansion can be employed successfully in repaired cleft lip and palate and noncleft prepubertal children having developing class III malocclusion, showing concave profile, and retrusive maxilla. Accurate diagnosis and understanding of the individual growth pattern are crucial in the early interception of a class III malocclusion to achieve a more favorable facial profile. Sahoo SS, Dash JK, Sahoo PK, et al. Early Orthodontic Intervention in Cleft Lip-Palate and Noncleft Children with Developing Class III Malocclusion: A Clinical Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(5):716-723.

Analysis of Early Growth of Piglets from Hyperprolific Sows Using Random Regression Coefficient.

Management of hyperprolific sows is challenging when it comes to controlling birth weight variability and piglet survival in large litters. The growth of low birth weight piglets can be compromised and have a negative impact on production efficiency. The objective of the study was to apply a random regression coefficient model to estimate the main effects of the growth of piglets of highly prolific sows. The dataset contained growth data for 360 piglets from 25 Pen Ar Lan Naima sows. In addition to routine procedures after farrowing, piglets were weighed five times: on day 1 after farrowing, on day 14 of life, at weaning on day 28, on day 30 of nursery period, and at the end of the nursery period when piglets were 83 days old. Data were treated as longitudinal, with body weight as the dependent variable. Fitting age as a quadratic regression within piglets in the random part of the model helped to determine the significant effect of birth weight, litter size, and parity on the growth of the piglets. Since the piglets from large litters often have non-uniform birth weights and this can affect further growth, the use of a random regression coefficient model is practical for analysing the growth of such piglets due to the ability to describe the individual growth pattern of every individual.

Somatic growth of pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) in relation to variation in temperature and eutrophication in a Central Europe Lake

Global climate change has been altering freshwater ecosystems by impacting many ecological processes, including individual fish growth. Predictions of responses of local fish populations to future environmental change can draw inferences from past long-term biochronological data. In this study, we reconstructed individual growth pattern of one of the most valuable predatory species in European inland waters, pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca), using back-calculated length from their otoliths. Samples were collected at the Lipno reservoir (Czech Republic) between 2008 and 2020. We used linear mixed-effects models to investigate how individual state and environmental conditions affect the somatic growth of the local pikeperch population. We found that individual growth rates increased with temperature and tended to be higher when chlorophyll-a concentration was higher, and water transparency was lower. This suggests the species will likely benefit from the warmer waters predicted in future climate scenarios. However, the decreasing nutrient loading associated with efforts to curb eutrophication in Central Europe may offset these benefits. Together, these results provide a better understanding of how multiple environmental factors, directly and indirectly, influence the somatic growth of pikeperch in long term.

Unveiling dental age patterns in a Chinese population: A study in Surabaya using the Demirjian method

Tooth development can serve as a means to estimate an individual's chronological age, which is crucial in dental treatment planning and understanding individual growth patterns. Demirjian et al. devised a technique to assess dental maturity in Caucasians by evaluating crown and root formation stages on dental radiographs. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of Demirjian's method for age assessment among Chinese children (aged 9-15 years). The present study involved 30 panoramic radiographs of outpatients (15 males and 15 females, aged 9-15 years) at the Dental Hospital Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya. The information, including the sex and chronological age of each subject, was recorded, and the dental age was estimated using the Demirjian method. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0. The results indicated that male subjects exhibited a slight overestimation of dental age by 0.34 years, whereas female subjects showed a slight underestimation of 0.51 years, with no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that the Demirjian method effectively estimates the dental age of Chinese children in Surabaya. Further research with larger sample sizes and diverse populations is recommended to enhance the method's validity.

Longitudinal Height Growth in Children and Adolescents with Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus Compared to Controls in Pune, India

Background. Height growth is affected by longterm childhood morbidity. Objectives. To compare the growth curves of Indian children diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and a control group of children without diabetes, and to see how parental height and disease severity affect the growth pattern. Subjects and Methods. The data came from: (i) the Sweetlings T1DM (STDM) study with 460 subjects aged 4–19 years, previously diagnosed with T1DM and followed for 2–6 (median 3) years, with repeat measurements of height and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and (ii) the Pune School-Children Growth (PSCG) study with 1,470 subjects aged 4–19 years, and height measured annually for median 6 years. Height growth was modeled using SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR), a mixed effects model which fits a cubic spline mean curve and summarizes individual growth in terms of differences in mean size, and pubertal timing and intensity. Results. SITAR explained 99% of the variance in height, the mean curves by sex showing that compared to controls, the children with diabetes were shorter (by 4/5 cm for boys/girls), with a later (by 1/6 months) and less intense (−5%/−10%) pubertal growth spurt. Adjusted for mean height, timing and intensity, the diabetic and control mean curves were very similar in shape. SITAR modeling showed that mean HbA1c peaked at 10.5% at age 15 years, 1.0% higher than earlier in childhood. Individual growth patterns were highly significantly related to parental height, age at diabetes diagnosis, diabetes duration, and mean HbA1c. Mean height was 3.4 cm more per + 1 SD midparental height, and in girls, 2 cm less per + 1 SD HbA1c. Conclusion. The results show that the physiological response to T1DM is to grow more slowly, and to delay and extend the pubertal growth spurt. The effects are dose-related, with more severe disease associated with greater growth faltering.

Cranial structure and condylar asymmetry of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveThe aim of this prospective cross sectional study was to evaluate the cranial structure and condylar asymmetry of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosed after 25 years of age compared to a healthy adult control group.MethodsEighteen adult patients (57.4 ± 11.4 years) with RA were compared with a control group. Cephalometric analysis and the Habets method for the calculation of the condylar asymmetry were used. The main cephalometric data investigated were focused on the diagnosis of hyperdivergent cranial structure (NSL/ML, NL/ML), backwards rotation of the mandible (Fh/ML), short vertical ramus (Ar:Go), steep mandibular plane (ML/Oc).ResultsThe cephalometric data considered were not significantly different in the RA vs controls except for the steepness of the occlusal plane (NL/Oc), which was steeper in the patients group (P < 0.02) and the ramus of the mandible which was greater in patients. The asymmetry of the condyles was significant (P < 0.003) and different from the control group, but that of the ramus was not.ConclusionsIn this study, RA patients diagnosed after 25 years of age did not show a different pattern of growth with respect to the control group. As expected, the condyles showed a difference being asymmetrical in RA patients due to the high turnover of this joint reacting to severe systemic inflammation in conditions of continuous functional work, load and forces. This study follows a previous study with the same research plan conducted on young JIA patients who showed a different pattern of growth of the skull leading to a severe hyperdivergent cranial structure with backward rotation of the mandible; this is mainly due to the insufficient growth of the condylar site exposed to the inflammatory process during development. Unlike JIA patients, this study showed that RA patients follow an individual growth pattern not affected by inflammation, even if they show joint asymmetry.

Comparison of Pharyngeal Airway Width among Individuals having Skeletal Class I Malocclusion with Different Growth Patterns

Introduction: An interaction can be seen between respiratory function and the maxillary growth pattern. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess and compare the pharyngeal airway width of individuals with different growth patterns in skeletal class I malocclusion. Materials and Method: Analytical cross-sectional study was done to assess total of 60 cephalometric radiographs of individuals with skeletal class I malocclusion pattern selected through convenience sampling method. McNamara analysis was done to measure the width of upper and lower pharyngeal space. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS version 20. One way ANOVA and Post Hoc test were done to determine the mean difference of upper and lower pharyngeal airway space width in between individuals of skeletal class I malocclusion with different growth pattern. Result: There was no significant mean difference in upper pharyngeal airway space (p=0.201) seen in between three growth patterns of individuals with class I malocclusion. However, the study participants with vertical growth pattern showed significantly less lower pharyngeal space width (8.36±2.63mm) than in horizontal growth pattern (10.89±3.46 mm, p=0.028). Conclusion: The findings of this study conclude that in skeletal class I malocclusion, there is no difference in upper pharyngeal space dimensions among individuals with different growth patterns but the vertical growth pattern shows smaller dimension of lower pharyngeal space than horizontal growth pattern.

Classification of early age facial growth pattern and identification of the genetic basis in two Korean populations

Childhood to adolescence is an accelerated growth period, and genetic features can influence differences of individual growth patterns. In this study, we examined the genetic basis of early age facial growth (EAFG) patterns. Facial shape phenotypes were defined using facial landmark distances, identifying five growth patterns: continued-decrease, decrease-to-increase, constant, increase-to-decrease, and continued-increase. We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for 10 horizontal and 11 vertical phenotypes. The most significant association for horizontal phenotypes was rs610831 (TRIM29; β = 0.92, p-value = 1.9 × 10−9) and for vertical phenotypes was rs6898746 (ZSWIM6; β = 0.1103, p-value = 2.5 × 10−8). It is highly correlated with genes already reported for facial growth. This study is the first to classify and characterize facial growth patterns and related genetic polymorphisms.

Effects of Class II elastics during growth on the functional occlusal plane according to skeletal pattern and extraction vs nonextraction.

To investigate the effect of Class II intermaxillary elastics on the functional occlusal plane (FOP) of growing patients. A total of 50 participants aged 11 to 16 years were selected from a university clinic archive >1-year after treatment and after undergoing 6 months of Class II elastic wear, taking pretreatment (T0) and posttreatment (T1) lateral cephalometric radiographs, and consenting to participate at recall (T2). Participants were divided into 3 groups according to skeletal pattern or into 2 groups according to treatment with extraction (E) or nonextraction (NE). Angular changes of FOP relative to the Sella-Nasion (SN), mandibular plane (MP), and Frankfort horizontal (FH) were compared within and between groups. A statistically significant reduction of FOP-SN/FH, but not of FOP-MP, was found from T0-T1-T2 when all patients were grouped together. FOP-SN/MP/FH was significantly the largest in the patients with a hyperdivergent skeletal pattern, but lowest in the patients with a hypodivergent skeletal pattern at T0, T1, and T2 (P < .032). FOP-MP at T0-T2 was statistically larger in group E than in group NE (P < .02). No differences were found for FOP changes (change before treatment minus after treatment and change after treatment minus 1 year after treatment) between different skeletal patterns (P > .433) and treatment groups (P > .193). Use of Class II elastics during the growth period was not found to show adverse effects on FOP rotation. Neither skeletal pattern nor treatment modality differed in the response to Class II elastics with regard to FOP changes. Individual patient growth pattern must be taken into consideration when treatment planning the use of Class II elastics. Orthodontists should take into account individual skeletal and growth patterns while using Class II elastics.

Comedonecrosis Gleason pattern 5 is associated with worse clinical outcome in operated prostate cancer patients

Individual growth patterns and cribriform architecture are increasingly considered in risk stratification and clinical decision-making in men with prostate cancer. Our objective was to establish the prognostic value of individual Gleason 5 patterns in a radical prostatectomy (RP) cohort. We reviewed 1064 RPs and recorded Grade Group (GG), pT-stage, surgical margin status, Gleason 4 and 5 growth patterns as well as intraductal carcinoma. The clinical endpoints were biochemical recurrence and post-operative distant metastasis. Gleason pattern 5 was present in 339 (31.9%) RPs, of which 47 (4.4%) presented as primary, 166 (15.6%) as secondary, and 126 (11.8%) as tertiary pattern. Single cells/cords were present in 321 (94.7%) tumors with Gleason pattern 5, solid fields in 90 (26.5%), and comedonecrosis in invasive carcinoma in 32 (9.4%) tumors. Solid fields demonstrated either a small nested morphology (n = 50, 14.7%) or medium to large solid fields (n = 61, 18.0%). Cribriform architecture was present in 568 (53.4%) RPs. Medium to large solid fields and comedonecrosis coincided with cribriform architecture in all specimens, and were not observed in cribriform-negative cases. In multivariable analysis adjusted for Prostate-Specific Antigen, pT-stage, GG, surgical margin status and lymph node metastases, cribriform architecture (Hazard Ratio (HR) 9.9; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 3.9–25.5, P < 0.001) and comedonecrosis (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.7, P = 0.01) were independent predictors for metastasis-free survival, while single cells/cords (HR 1.2; 95% CI 0.7–1.8, P = 0.55) and medium to large solid fields (HR 1.6, 95% CI 0.9–2.7, P = 0.09) were not. In conclusion, comedonecrosis in invasive carcinoma is an independent prognostic Gleason 5 pattern for metastasis-free survival after RP. These data support the current recommendations to routinely include cribriform pattern in pathology reports and indicate that comedonecrosis should also be commented on.

Transcripts switched off at the stop of phloem unloading highlight the energy efficiency of sugar import in the ripening V. vinifera fruit

Transcriptomic changes at the cessation of sugar accumulation in the pericarp of Vitis vinifera were addressed on single berries re-synchronised according to their individual growth patterns. The net rates of water, sugars and K+ accumulation inferred from individual growth and solute concentration confirmed that these inflows stopped simultaneously in the ripe berry, while the small amount of malic acid remaining at this stage was still being oxidised at low rate. Re-synchronised individual berries displayed negligible variations in gene expression among triplicates. RNA-seq studies revealed sharp reprogramming of cell-wall enzymes and structural proteins at the stop of phloem unloading, associated with an 80% repression of multiple sugar transporters and aquaporins on the plasma or tonoplast membranes, with the noticeable exception of H+/sugar symporters, which were rather weakly and constitutively expressed. This was verified in three genotypes placed in contrasted thermo-hydric conditions. The prevalence of SWEET suggests that electrogenic transporters would play a minor role on the plasma membranes of SE/CC complex and the one of the flesh, while sucrose/H+ exchangers dominate on its tonoplast. Cis-regulatory elements present in their promoters allowed to sort these transporters in different groups, also including specific TIPs and PIPs paralogs, and cohorts of cell wall-related genes. Together with simple thermodynamic considerations, these results lead to propose that H+/sugar exchangers at the tonoplast, associated with a considerably acidic vacuolar pH, may exhaust cytosolic sugars in the flesh and alleviate the need for supplementary energisation of sugar transport at the plasma membrane.

Histopathological validation of safe margin for nephron-sparing surgery based on individual tumor growth pattern

BackgroundTo evaluate the clinicopathologic value of morphological growth patterns of small renal cell carcinoma (sRCC) and determine the actual demand for taking a rim of healthy parenchyma to avoid positive SM.MethodsData was collected from 560 sRCC patients who underwent laparoscopic surgeries from May 2010 to October 2017. One hundred forty-nine cases received nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) and others received radical nephrectomy (RN). All specimens were analyzed separately by two uropathologists, and three morphological growth patterns were identified. The presence of pseudocapsule (PC), surgical margins (SM), and other routine variables were recorded. The relationship between growth patterns and included variables was measured by the χ2 test and Fisher’s exact probability test. Survival outcomes were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.ResultsThe median age of patients was 63.2 years old and the mean tumor diameter was 3.0 cm. Four hundred eighty (85.7%) cases were clear cell RCC and 541 (96.6%) cases were at the pT1a stage. Peritumoral PC was detected in 512 (92.5%) specimens, and the ratio of tumor invasion in PC in infiltration pattern increased obviously than that of the other growth patterns. Similarly, the pT stage was significantly correlated with the infiltration pattern as well. One hundred forty-nine patients underwent NSS and 3 (2.0%) of them showed positive SM after operation. Statistical differences of the 5-year overall survival (OS) and the cancer-specific survival (CSS) existed between different morphological growth patterns, PC status, and pT stages.ConclusionsMorphological growth patterns of sRCC might be used as a potential biomarker to help operate NSS to avoid the risk of positive SM. How to distinguish different morphological growth patterns before operation and the effectiveness of the growth pattern as a novel proposed parameter to direct NSS in sRCC patients deserves further exploration.

Determination of a predictive growth model for cultivated African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1882)

In recent years, aquaculture of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1882) has experienced rapid growth in Africa, Asia and Europe. In order to improve its rearing systems, it is imperative to determine the individual growth patterns of the species. Individual fish growth is relevant when evaluating commercial viability, planning the time of harvest or projecting profits. In this study, we analysed the growth data of African catfish juveniles reared in an indoor freshwater recirculation aquaculture system and fed five different commercial aquafeeds over a period of 111 days. We fitted five nonlinear growth models—von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Brody, Richards and logistic—to the weight data and applied the Akaike information criterion, the sum of squares and the maximum likelihood to determine the model that best describes the growth data of the species under the controlled culture conditions. According to the goodness-of-fit criteria, the Gompertz model was consistently the one that best described the growth of African catfish. The F-test showed significant differences (p = 0.05) for one of the experimental feeds (T1,2) that produced the superior growth in terms of rate and biomass.