Measure Of Distribution Research Articles

NIMG-53. MRI-BASED RADIOMICS FOR DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN PERIFOCAL EDEMA AND NON-CONTRAST-ENHANCING GLIOBLASTOMA FOCI

Abstract OBJECTIVE Various intracranial tumors can lead to the development of perifocal edema. Differentiating edema from tumor on MRI might be easy in metastases and meningiomas but can be challenging in patients with glioblastoma. We set out to compare and characterize perifocal edema and non-contrast-enhancing glioblastoma foci by means of radiomic feature analysis. METHODS In this single-center, retrospective study, patients with intracranial tumors and perifocal edema on preoperative T2/FLAIR-sequences were included. Patients diagnosed with brain metastasis, meningioma or glioblastoma were eligible. Tumor and edema volumes were semi-automatically segmented and extracted. After image registration, contrast-enhancing tumor and necrosis on T1-weighted sequences were subtracted from T2/FLAIR-hyperintense tumor and perifocal edema. Radiomic features were computed. Distribution of radiomic features were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to compare the features. Significant features were identified based on p-values (<0.05) and post-hoc Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) tests were conducted. RESULTS The cohort comprised n=60 patients and was split in three groups according to histopathology (metastases, meningioma, glioblastoma). Each subgroup comprised n=20 patients (33.3%). 107 radiomic features of the T2-hyperintensity, after subtraction of contrast-enhancing tumor and necrosis, were tested for each patient. 18 radiomic features (17%) that mainly comprised measures of shape, texture and intensity distribution, e.g., sphericity (p<0.01), surface/volume (p<0.01), entropy (p<0.01), skewness (p<0.01) and kurtosis (p<0.01), showed no significant difference between metastases and meningiomas but differed significantly from the T2-hyperintensity of glioblastoma. The textual complexity of glioblastoma was significantly higher (p<0.01). CONCLUSION Radiomic feature analysis unraveled many features that might be helpful in differentiating perifocal edema from tumor infiltration. Future studies should aim at validating our results and further exploring the T2-hyperintensity of glioblastoma patients, e.g., suspected edema versus suspected tumor infiltration zone.

Sex Differences in Protein Biomarkers and Measures of Fat Distribution

Background Sex differences in obesity and fat distribution may in part explain differences in cardiovascular risk in men versus women. We sought to examine sex differences in the associations of obesity and adiposity measures with cardiovascular disease–related protein biomarkers. Methods and Results In a cross‐sectional observational cohort study, we examined whether the association of obesity (body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference) and adiposity measures (visceral adipose tissue) with biomarkers demonstrates effect modification by sex using multiplicative interaction terms in multivariable linear regression models. Among 3143 participants (mean age, 50 years; 49% women), sex modified the association of BMI, waist circumference, and visceral adipose tissue with cardiovascular disease–related protein biomarkers (7 for BMI, 3 for waist circumference, and 23 for visceral adipose tissue, false discovery rate [FDR]‐q int <0.05 for all). For example, higher BMI was associated with lower α 1 ‐microglobulin levels in men but not in women (ß, −0.113; SE, 0.028; P <0.001 in men versus ß, −0.007; SE, 0.024; P =0.78 in women). By contrast, higher BMI was associated with higher adipsin levels in men and women, but the association was more pronounced in women (ß, 0.287; SE, 0.023; P <0.001 in women versus ß, 0.189; SE, 0.026; P <0.001 in men). The associations of higher visceral adipose tissue with biomarkers representing adiposity, inflammation, and fibrosis were more pronounced in women versus men. Conclusions We found that sex modified the associations of obesity and adipose traits with cardiovascular risk ascertained by cardiovascular disease–related biomarkers including markers of adiposity, inflammation, and fibrosis. These findings highlight potential biological pathways that may underlie some of the observed differences in obesity‐related cardiovascular disease between women and men.

Maximum likelihood estimation of elliptical tail

This study is focused on the efficient estimation of the elliptical tail. Initially, we derive the density function of the spectral measure of an elliptical distribution concerning a dominating measure on the unit sphere, which consequently leads to the density function of the elliptical tail. Subsequently, we propose a maximum likelihood estimation based on the derived density function class. The resulting maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) is proven to be consistent and asymptotically normal. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the MLE is asymptotically efficient, with the added advantage that its asymptotic covariance matrix can be feasibly estimated at a low computational cost. A simulation study and real data analysis are conducted to illustrate the efficacy of the proposed method.

The Impact of Alpha-s1 Casein Hydrolysate On Chronic Insomnia: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial

BackgroundAlpha-s1 casein hydrolysate (ACH; Lactium®) is recognized as a supplementary treatment to enhance sleep quality. However, limited studies utilizing objective sleep assessment tools have resulted in a lack of substantial validation. This study aimed to assess the effects of ACH on both subjective sleep assessments and objective polysomnography (PSG) recordings in a hospital-based cohort of Taiwanese individuals with chronic insomnia. MethodsIn this 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 36 participants diagnosed with chronic insomnia were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the ACH or placebo groups. Initially, participants in the ACH group received 600 mg of ACH daily, which was reduced to 300 mg for the latter two weeks; the placebo group received maltodextrin capsules throughout the study. The study utilized polysomnography (PSG), along with detailed sleep questionnaires including the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Global Sleep Disorders Score (GSDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), to assess improvements in sleep quality and related health markers. The efficacy of the intervention was assessed through measures of sleep efficiency, stage distribution, and psychological well-being, comparing results from before to after the treatment phase. ResultsThe study demonstrated that ACH treatment notably enhanced sleep quality, evidenced by significant improvements in ISI, GSDS, PSQI, ESS, and HADS scores at both week 2 and 4 (all p-values < 0.05) compared with baseline scores. When compared to the placebo group, the ACH group experienced a marked reduction in GSDS scores over time (p = 0.045). Furthermore, PSG data revealed a significant decrease in sleep onset latency from baseline in the ACH group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.012; -7.7 ± 16.0 minutes vs. 6.1 ± 17.7 minutes for ACH and placebo groups, respectively). These results indicate that ACH treatment effectively improved sleep initiation and overall sleep quality. ConclusionACH Supplementation significantly improved sleep quality, particularly by reducing GSDS scores and sleep onset latency, demonstrating its potential as an effective intervention for chronic insomnia. Future studies with larger samples and exploration of long-term effects are needed to confirm these results.

Multi-platform biomarkers of response to an immune checkpoint inhibitor in the neoadjuvant I-SPY 2 trial for early-stage breast cancer.

Only a subset of patients with breast cancer responds to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we analyze pretreatment biopsies from patients in the I-SPY 2 trial who receive neoadjuvant ICB using multiple platforms to profile the tumor microenvironment. A variety of immune cell populations and markers of immune/cytokine signaling associate with pathologic complete response (pCR). Interestingly, these differ by breast cancer receptor subtype. Measures of the spatial distributions of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment, in particular colocalization or close spatial proximity of PD-1+ Tcells with PD-L1+ cells (immune and tumor cells), are significantly associated with response in the overall cohort as well as the in the triple negative (TN) and HR+HER2- subtypes. Our findings indicate that biomarkers associated with immune cell signaling, immune cell densities, and spatial metrics are predictive of neoadjuvant ICB efficacy in breast cancer.

The Study of Segregation and its Consequences in the Kabul City

This study investigates urban segregation in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, utilizing a multifaceted theoretical framework that integrates various explanatory models of segregation. The research targets the general population of Kabul, with a sample size of 233 individuals selected through a non-probabilistic cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using a comprehensive questionnaire focused on the Afghan context, incorporating insights from relevant studies. The analysis was conducted using SPSS software, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Demographic characteristics and participant responses in ethnically dominated areas were summarized using frequencies and percentages, while key variables were examined using measures of central tendency, dispersion, and distribution, including mean, standard deviation, variance, skewness, and kurtosis. The segregation tendencies of Kabul residents were analyzed using T-test, ANOVA and Spearman correlation. The results reveal a pronounced level of segregation within Kabul, with significant implications including the reinforcement of ethnocentric attitudes, the preservation of distinct subcultural identities, enhanced feelings of community security, and increased intra-group political and social engagement. The study found that followers of Shia Islam tend to segregate themselves from other religious groups, while the Pashtun ethnic group shows the lowest tendency toward segregation. Additionally, Kabul citizens tend to live among their own religious groups and the lower the level of education of individuals, the greater their tendency to separation.

Popularity and parity assessment for more inclusive and balanced aquaculture development

Aquaculture, a rapidly expanding food production system, holds promise for improving global food security and resilience. However, imbalanced growth has led to a highly uneven distribution of aquaculture production among countries, a concern that has not been comprehensively examined. This paper fills this knowledge gap by developing an innovative indicator system to assess this issue based on aquaculture development in ~ 200 countries over five decades. The system utilizes the “effective number of countries” (ENC) as a basic measure of production distribution and extends it into two novel indicators, popularity and parity, to gauge inclusiveness and balance. The assessment from 1970 to 2020 reveals that aquaculture has become a global enterprise, operating in nearly 90% of countries. Nevertheless, there is still substantial potential for growth in aquaculture popularity across most of 43 species groups examined here. Regarding concerns over persistently imbalanced aquaculture growth, our assessment reveals that aquaculture parity increased during 1970–2020 in the majority of 85 country groups examined here, including 18 of 27 regions and subregions. Global parity is also on the rise in the new millennium (2000–2020). However, the global aquaculture parity remains considerably lower than those of capture fisheries and terrestrial meat production. This suggests that imbalanced global aquaculture development cannot be solely attributed to countries’ comparative advantages. This extraordinary imbalance could compromise global food security and food system resilience, but it also signifies untapped growth potential. Mainstreaming aquaculture popularity and parity as policy indicators can foster more inclusive and balanced development and unlock this potential. The proposed indicator system can be applied across diverse sectors and scales, contributing to a broader and refined understanding of the dynamics within the global food system.

Individual differences in distributional statistical learning: Better frequency "discriminators" are better "estimators".

People can easily extract and encode statistical information from their environment. However, research has primarily focused on conditional statistical learning (i.e., the ability to learn joint and conditional relationships between stimuli) and has largely neglected distributional statistical learning (i.e., the ability to learn the frequency and variability of distributions). For example, learning that "E" is more common in the English alphabet than "Z." In this article, we investigate how distributional learning can be measured by exploring the relationship between, and psychometric properties of, four different measures of distributional learning-from the ability to discriminate relative frequencies to the ability to estimate frequencies. We identified moderate relationships between four distributional learning measures and these tasks accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in performance across tasks (44.3%). A measure of divergent validity (intrinsic motivation) did not significantly correlate with any statistical learning measure and accounted for a separate portion of the variance across tasks. Our results suggest that distributional statistical learning encompasses the ability to discriminate between relative frequencies and estimating them.

Statistical research on Megahertz-peaked spectra pulsars

Abstract Megahertz-peaked spectra (MPS) pulsars are referred as whose radio spectra turn over around 100 MHz. We identified 53 MPS pulsars based on the spectral data from the literature, and statistically analyzed the spatial location distribution, the magnetic field-period distribution, peak frequencies, spectral indices, and dispersion measures of these MPS pulsars. We found that there is a strong positive correlation between the dispersion measures and the peak frequencies of MPS pulsars, and the negative correlations of the dispersion measures with spectral indices and the ages are also found. Such correlations suggest that the interstel lar medium is an important factor that affects observational properties of MPS pulsars.

Enhanced visualization of quench dynamics of HTS coils through embedded and distributed fiber optical sensing

The development of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils and magnets marks a significant advancement across various fields. To ensure their safety and reliability, thorough performance testing under extreme multi-field conditions is essential. This study introduces an innovative method that utilizes embedded and distributed fiber optical sensing (ED-FOS) in HTS pancake coils for precise real-time thermal monitoring and quench visualization. Incorporated during the manufacturing process, the ED-FOS sensors offer comprehensive and distributed measurements of thermal behavior during quenches. Our experiments demonstrate the ED-FOS effectively detects quenches caused by overcurrent and thermal issues. Unlike conventional techniques that rely on global voltage or magnetic field assessments, ED-FOS provides high spatiotemporal resolution and enhances temperature sensitivity. This capability allows for accurate, real-time identification and tracking of quench locations, which is essential for evaluating reliability and safety, as well as for improving performance. This advancement in HTS coil technology paves the way for wider application in critical fields and significantly enhances the design and management of superconducting coils.

A smart, multi-configuration, and low-cost system for water turbidity monitoring

Measuring the amount of suspended sediment in rivers is important for a better understanding of phenomena like soil erosion or floods. Since such phenomena are not spatially homogeneous, a distributed measurement approach is required to obtain fine-grained and realistic models. We designed and implemented a low-cost, flexible, and smart suspended sediment concentration monitor. The system only uses components that are easy to find and assemble. This, together with the reduced costs, enables the use of multiple instances for distributed monitoring. The system can operate according to different configurations, fixed or mobile, and using a variety of connection technologies, to possibly cover the various necessities that arise from the diverse installation sites. Each measuring unit automatically retrieves its operational parameters, easing the configuration of a possibly large distributed measurement system.

The association between food insecurity and obesity, a body shape index and body roundness index among US adults

Research has established a positive association between food insecurity and obesity, typically assessed by body mass index (BMI); However, studies examining the relationship between food insecurity and measures of body fat content and distribution are lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the association between food insecurity and obesity ([BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) and body fat indicators assessed by body roundness index ([BRI] > 6.72) and a body shape index ([ABSI] > 0.08). This is a cross-sectional study using NHANES data 2007–2020. Household food security was assessed by U.S. Food Security Survey Module questionnaire. Multivariable-adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios and 95% CIs. Compared to those with full food security, the adjusted ORs for obesity were 1.28 (95% CI:1.18, 1.39), 1.40 (95% CI:1.28, 1.53), and 1.43 (95% CI:1.30, 1.57) for those with marginal, low and very low food security, respectively. The corresponding ORs for high BRI were, respectively, 1.39 (95% CI:1.26, 1.52), 1.50 (95% CI:1.36, 1.66), and 1.60 (95% CI:1.43, 1.78). Similar results were observed for ABSI. The analyses of BMI suggested a potential sex difference, as significant associations were found in women, but not in men. This study confirms previous evidence of the positive association between food insecurity and obesity among US adults.

Microphysical characteristics of torrential predecessor rain events over the Yangtze River Delta Area and the related tropical cyclones

The precipitation structures and microphysical characteristics of predecessor rain events (PREs) over the Yangtze River Delta area and related tropical cyclones (TCs) from 2014 to 2019 were investigated using Dual-frequency Precipitation radar data from Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) for drop size distributions (DSDs). Results showed that the total mean rain rate of PREs was larger than that of TCs, primarily due to higher convective and stratiform rain rates, with enhanced fractional coverage of convective rain in PREs. Examination of microphysical characteristics revealed that a greater quantity of small-sized droplets and a smaller quantity of medium- as well as large-sized droplets contributed towards PREs in comparison with TCs. The conclusion still holds when partitioning DSDs based on different precipitation rate categories. Further investigation of DSDs using gamma functions illustrated that precipitation in PREs had lower average mass-weighted diameters (Dm) and enhanced normalized number concentration (Nw) compared with TCs; partitioning precipitation into convective and stratiform components illustrated a larger Dm and lower Nw in TCs than PREs. The analysis of microphysical and thermodynamical processes using the reanalysis data indicates that relatively intense convective activity with drier conditions may be favorable to enhancing raindrop growth through collision-coalescence processes, as a result of larger Dm in TCs than PREs. The empirical relations (Z–R algorithms) applied in different rain regimes (stratiform, convective, and total PREs) revealed significant diversities, relying on weather conditions and geographical locations. Plain language summaryThe Yangtze River Delta area is an important economic belt in China. Under climate change, observed frequent occurrences of weather extremes of heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones (TCs) exert adverse effects on economic development in this region. Thus, a deep understanding of the mechanism of TCs torrential rainfall in the Yangtze River Delta area is urgently necessary. In this study, we investigated the precipitation patterns and microphysical characteristics of predecessor rain events (PREs) in the Yangtze River Delta region, and their association with TCs in the South China Sea-Western North Pacific Ocean (SCS-WNPO) area from 2014 to 2019. We found that PREs had a higher total mean precipitation rate than TCs. Further examination using gamma functions demonstrated that PREs exhibited lower average mass-weighted diameters (Dm) and higher normalized intercept parameters (Nw) than TCs. This pattern persisted when distinguishing between convective and stratiform precipitation components. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution to the literature because these results provide valuable insights into the distinct precipitation characteristics of PREs and TCs in the study region and contribute to a better understanding of tropical cyclone-related rainfall patterns, and act as a scientific basis for disaster mitigation.

Development and in situ application of actively heated fiber Bragg grating cable for soil water content measurement

The actively heated fiber-optic (AHFO) technology has emerged as a frontier and hotspot in soil water content measurement, offering advantages such as easy installation, large-scale distributed measurement capability, and resistance to electromagnetic interference. However, current AHFO water content sensors fail to simultaneously achieve high precision, applicability for deep soil, and automated real-time monitoring, thereby limiting their development and application. Therefore, this study introduces a novel actively heated fiber Bragg grating (AH-FBG) cable. Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the heating uniformity of the AH-FBG cable and to establish the temperature characteristic value (Tt) – soil water content (θ) calibration formula for water content measurement. Subsequently, AH-FBG cables were deployed for in situ soil water content monitoring in a test pit on the Loess Plateau. Through two-year monitoring data verified the accuracy of the AH-FBG cable and elucidated the spatiotemporal distribution of in situ loess water content. Laboratory results demonstrated superior heating uniformity of AH-FBG cable, with a Tt standard deviation of approximately 0.3 °C. In the field, the AH-FBG cable exhibited excellent performance in soil water content measurement, achieving a high accuracy of 0.023 cm3/cm3. Further analysis revealed that the θ fluctuation predominantly occurred within a 10 m depth from the soil surface, with an overall upward trend over the two-year monitoring period; the response of shallow θ to precipitation was significant but exhibited increasing hysteresis with depth; frequent precipitation significantly enhanced water infiltration depth. This study provides technical guidance for high-precision, quasi-distributed, automated and real-time water content measurement of deep soil.

Between Public and Private: A Study of the Rural Fertilization System during the Collectivization Period (1949–1963) – With a Focus on Shanxi Province

Abstract Manure is a critical productive resource for agricultural development. With the advancement of the collectivization movement, household manure accumulation became a key source of fertilizer for collective agricultural operations. However, the process of farmers contributing fertilizer to the collective faced setbacks due to factors such as unreasonable compensation. In response, various localities gradually developed fertilization systems centered around tasks, compensation, and rewards and penalties. The essence of these systems was an economic balance between collective fertilizer use and increased farmer income, generally characterized by considerations for both public and private interests, but prioritizing the public over the private. In the dynamic restructuring of the relationship between labor input and income distribution, political norms and economic measures adjusted to one another. The economic rationality of the peasants interacted with the “egalitarianism” culture in rural areas, reflecting the complex interplay between public and private interests during the collectivization period in rural society.

Mean Absolute Deviation (About Mean) Metric for Kurtosis

In this paper, we introduce a MAD (about mean) alternative metric to classical kurtosis. Using the formula for mean absolute deviation, we identify two special points and construct the corresponding distributions with these reference points as their means. The proposed alternative is computed from mean absolute deviations for these distributions. These measures are bounded, require only the existence of first-order moments, and are easy to interpret. We illustrate the computation of these measures for several well-known distributions.

The analysis of P2P networks with malicious peers and repairable breakdown based on Geo/Geo/1+1 queue

The incredible growth of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks has brought with it some complex challenges, such as trust issues and high bandwidth consumption. To address these challenges, this paper analyzes the “free-riding” behavior, system energy consumption, and the benefits of requesting and service peers in the network. A Geo/Geo/1+1 queuing model is built with malicious peers which includes several strategies such as repairable breakdown, synchronized multiple working vacations, differentiated service, and waiting threshold. The matrix-geometric solution method is used to obtain steady-state distribution and performance measures. By conducting numerical experiments and analyzing the impact of each parameter, it is possible to optimize the system's performance and reduce energy consumption. With careful adjustments to parameter values, significant cost savings of requesting peers and energy conservation can be achieved. The resulting analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of P2P networks, and the strategies proposed in the study can be used to optimize the performance of P2P networks.

Experimental research on strain distribution measurement of PC beams based on weak grating array sensing technology

The strain and deformation of bridges are important parameters to reflect the state of bridge structures. The traditional measurement methods are to obtain the partial strain of a bridge by point strain sensor or to obtain the deformation of some special bridge positions by static level and other methods. These methods can not realize the continuous distributed measurement of bridge stress state. The grating array is a new sensing technology with the characteristics of large capacity, long distance, distribution, and high precision. In this paper, the grating array strain optical cable is installed on PC (pre-stressed concrete) beams to conduct loading and unloading experiments under various working conditions compared with other measurement methods. The experimental results show that the grating array strain sensing technology can realize the distributed measurement of bridge strain, and offer a what we believe is a novel approach to bridge health monitoring.

CORRELATION BETWEEN THE DISORDER OF THE THYROID GLAND, OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT IN THE FEMALE GENDER

Introduction: The thyroid gland is the endocrine gland responsible for the production of thyroid hormones, a regulator of growth, development and basal metabolic rate of the organism. It also has a wide range of physiological effects on the organism such as: general thermogenesis, physiological metabolic effects, growth and developmental features and when these parameters move up and down they lead to acute or chronic pathology. Pathologies of the thyroid gland are very frequent diseases in our country, especially in the female gender. As far as diseases are concerned, when we have iodine deficiency, imbalance of thyroid hormone values such as an increase that leads to hyperthyroidism or a decrease in values that leads to hypothyroidism, other diseases such as Hashimoto's, Graves etc. Obesity is a state of metabolic disorders, sometimes considered a disease in which excess body fat is accumulated to such an extent that it can negatively affect human health. Obesity is related to the function of the thyroid gland and this metabolic disorders is a very frequently in reproductive female. Body BMI is measured with a metric formula where body weight (in kg) divided by body height (in m2) set to the square power gives us the body index-BMI (%) measure. Purpose of the study: This paper aims to investigate the correlation of thyroid gland disorders and hormonal imbalance with the phenomenon of body weight as the main causes of this metabolic disease . Material and method: The research will take a total of 80 patients, they will be divided by gender and age groups into three categories. The first group will include patients from: 15 to 20 years, the second group from: 21 to 50 years and the third group from: 51 to 70 years. From the patients included in the research, blood samples will be taken and the hormones will be analyzed: TSH, FT4, FT3 also BMI will be measured. The data will be processed with serum and will be analyzed by means of the modern automatic method enzyme Fluorescent Immunoassay (Biomerie). The BMI of the body will be measured with a metric formula where the weight of the patient (in kg) divided by the height of the patient (in m2) set to the square power will give us the measure of body index-BMI (%). SPSS – Software package version 20.0 Numerical series were analyzed using central tendency measures (average, median, minimum values, maximum values), as well as distribution measures (standard deviation); To determine the regularity of the frequency distribution of the examined variables, the Shapiro-Wilk W Test was used; Non-parametric tests for two independent parameters were used to test the significance and difference between some numerical parameters with irregular frequency distribution (Mann Whitney U test); To determine statistical significance, a two-way analysis was used with a significance level (means) of p&lt;0.05. Research results: Endocrine disorders are more frequent and appear faster in the thyroid gland. Statistics show that there are millions of people affected by these metabolic syndrome problems. The results of the research will give a real insight into the function of the thyroid gland, the state of the level of hormonal status and the impact of metabolic syndrome of BMI, which can lead to hormonal imbalance and metabolic disorder. Conclusion: From the analyzes performed on patients of different age groups and genders, we come to the conclusion that: • Hormonal disorders of the thyroid gland can be the main cause of the BMI factor, • The correlation of thyroid hormone status and metabolic status are in continuous correlation with obesity, overweight, infertility, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. • These changes of the thyroid gland and the BMI can have negative consequences for human health such as in osteoporosis and electrolytes imbalance.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND TOTAL PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN TPSA

Introduction: The urinary system consists of four main organs: the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and these organs work to filter blood, remove waste, form urine, and eliminate urine from the body. In recent years there have been encouraging strides in understanding and studying the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and total prostate specific antigen-TPSA. Purpose of the study: The purpose of the research will focus on biochemical markers such as: urea, creatinine, uric acid as urine degradation products and identification of parameters of diseases of the urogenital tract. Urinary status parameters will also be analyzed such as: proteinuria, hematuria, glycosuria, bilirubin, urobilinogen, pH, etc., parameters which are present during diseases and infections of the urogenital tract. The purpose of the paper will also analyze the bacteriological and virological parameters such as: ureoplasma, mycoplasma, chlamydia, toxoplasma and cytomegalovirus, which are identifying parameters for infections of the urogenital tract in different age groups and genders. This work will also consist in the measurement of total prostate specific antigen-TPSA as a main marker for the identification of prostate diseases. Material and method: In the research, a total of 50 male patients will be taken to analyze the urinary condition. Urine analyzes will be performed by collecting urine in sterile cups and using the urine microscopy method and the urine strip test using the chromatographic method, where these analyzes were performed according to the European guideline standards manual (2023). Vitek is an identification system that can identify bacteria and yeast. This test uses the biochemical reactions and nutrient utilization of the microorganism to make the identification of the bacteria and the antibiogram. The test requires that a sufficient amount of growth be obtained during a specified growth period of 18 – 70 hours. Patients of the study group for Total Prostate Specific Antigen (TPSA) were analyzed through the blood serum in ng/mL of the patients with the fluorescent immunoassay test method with Vidas Biomerie. Also 20 patients to analyze the total prostate specific antigen TPSA with serum and will be analyzed with fluorescent enzymatic immunoassay methods (Vidas). SPSS – Software package version 20.0 Numerical series were analyzed using central tendency measures (average, median, minimum values, maximum values), as well as distribution measures (standard deviation); To determine the regularity of the frequency distribution of the examined variables, the Shapiro-Wilk W Test was used; Non-parametric tests for two independent parameters were used to test the significance and difference between some numerical parameters with irregular frequency distribution (Mann Whitney U test); To determine statistical significance, a two-way analysis was used with a significance level (means) of p&lt;0.05. Results: From the results, it was found that urinary infections are frequent and appear during the attack with bacteria and viruses such as ureoplasma, mycoplasma, chlamydia and cytomegaloviruses, which are identifying parameters for infections of the urogenital tract in different age groups of the male gender. Conclusion: From the analyzes performed on patients of different age groups, we came to the conclusion that: • The parameters of the urinary system will be able to give a real picture of infectious diseases of the urinary tract. • Biochemical markers can identify the functional state of the urinary tract. • Antibiogram and cytomegaloviruses - microbiological and virological status can give an insight into the type of urinary infections. • The prostate-specific antigen TPSA can be taken as the main marker for the identification of tumoral disease of the prostate gland.