Disease Severity Parameters Research Articles

Changes in immature granulocyte levels and their association with disease activation following biologic therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

IntroductionAS is a chronic disease with an inflammatory serum microenvironment characterized by increased oxidative stress (OS). Along with OS, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are elevated in patients with AS. Overexpression of ROS causes active inflammatory processes leading to the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Immature granulocytes (IG) are essential to the chronic inflammatory process. This may mean that IG can be a parameter used in the follow-up of chronic inflammatory diseases such as AS. ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the change in IG in patients with AS who were on biologic medication for six months after diagnosis and to assess its relationship with disease activity, remission, and BASDAI score. MethodsThis single-center, retrospective study was conducted between January 2020 and January 2022. For the study, 68 patients were included in the patient group and 74 patients in the control group. Demographic and laboratory data were recorded and compared in the groups. Then, the patient group was divided into two groups: pre-biologic drug and post-biologic drug. Hemogram data, IG, ESR, CRP, and BASDAI data were recorded for both groups. Correlation analysis was performed between the results of IG data and hemogram and laboratory data. ConclusionIn our study, WBC, neutrophil, IG, and IG% ratios were significantly higher in AS patients compared to the control group. Neutrophil, IG, and IG% levels were significantly decreased in the AS group compared to pretreatment and post-treatment comparisons. In addition, IG levels were correlated with WBC, neutrophil, CRP, and ESR levels. This study hypothesized that IG values may be a valuable parameter for monitoring AS disease severity, response to treatment, and disease activation after biological drug use.

Proinflammatory Diet is Associated with Higher Pain, Disease Severity and Biochemical Parameters Associated with Inflammation in Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia, which is becoming increasingly common today, affects the quality of life of those affected. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between diet and pain, disease severity and biochemical parameters in fibromyalgia. Cross-sectional design using validated questionnaires. Fibroyalgia patients with Traditional and Complementary Medicine clinics. 84 patients with Fibromyalgia (FM), which was diagnosed by a rheumatologist. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 84 fibromyalgia patients in Turkey. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) was calculated by a 24-hour diet recall. Self-reported pain levels and disease severity were evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and a Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), respectively. Antropometric measures and biochemical parameters associated with inflammation were also evaluated. Linear regression analysis revealed that the VAS pain score [β (%95CI)=1,72 (0,90-2,55), p < 0,001], FIQ-R [β (%95CI)=5,62 (0,14-11,09), p < 0,001] and uric acid/creatinine ratio [β (%95CI)=0,21 (-0,10-0,52), p < 0,001] were positively associated with the DII after adjustments for BMI, body fat, fat free mass, cholesterol, fiber, caroten, iron, magnesium, vitamine C reported by the patients with FM. A pro-inflammatory diet was associated with higher pain, disease severity and uric acid/creatinine ratio in patients with FM.

Artificial neural network-based prediction of multiple sclerosis using blood-based metabolomics data

Multiple sclerosis (MS) remains a challenging neurological condition for diagnosis and management and is often detected in late stages, delaying treatment. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a promising approach to extracting MS information when applied to different patient datasets. Given the critical role of metabolites in MS profiling, metabolomics data may be an ideal platform for the application of AI to predict disease. In the present study, a machine-learning (ML) approach was used for a detailed analysis of metabolite profiles and related pathways in patients with MS and healthy controls (HC). This approach identified unique alterations in biochemical metabolites and their correlation with disease severity parameters. To enhance the efficiency of using metabolic profiles to determine disease severity or the presence of MS, we trained an AI model on a large volume of blood-based metabolomics datasets. We constructed this model using an artificial neural network (ANN) architecture with perceptrons. Data were divided into training, validation, and testing sets to determine model accuracy. After training, accuracy reached 87 %, sensitivity was 82.5 %, specificity was 89 %, and precision was 77.3 %. Thus, the developed model seems highly robust, generalizable with a wide scope and can handle large amounts of data, which could potentially assist neurologists. However, a large multicenter cohort study is necessary for further validation of large-scale datasets to allow the integration of AI in clinical settings for accurate diagnosis and improved MS management.

Retrospective analysis of risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Older age and comorbidities are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, comprehensive identification of mortality risk factors can further guide disease management. We aimed to analyze predictors of in-hospital mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This retrospective cohort study included 400 COVID-19 patients admitted between March and December 2020. Demographics, vital signs, medical history, presenting symptoms, laboratory findings, treatments, and outcomes were extracted from the patient's electronic medical records. Patients were stratified into survivor (n = 300) and nonsurvivor (n = 100) groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze associations between variables and mortality. Nonsurvivors were older (mean age 65 vs 45 years) and had more hypertension (60% vs 33%), diabetes (40% vs 20%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (20% vs 5%), and chronic kidney disease (15% vs 3%). Shorter symptom onset to admission (7 vs 4 days), lower oxygen saturation (92% vs 96%), lymphopenia, and elevated inflammatory and coagulation markers were also associated with mortality (all P < 0.001). Mechanical ventilation (60% vs 3%) and therapeutic anticoagulation were more common in nonsurvivors (all P < 0.001). Age over 75 years (adjusted odds ratio 5.2), chronic medical conditions, elevated D-dimer, and mechanical ventilation had the strongest independent associations with mortality (P < 0.001). Older age, comorbidities such as chronic pulmonary and renal disease, disease severity parameters such as dysregulated inflammatory and coagulation markers, and the need for aggressive interventions predict increased mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Correlation of Serum IL-1β Level in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Disease Severity Parameters

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory, chronic disorder, characterized by prolonged inflammation of the synovial joints, with ultimate destruction of joints, high concentrations of IL-1β in the synovial fluid and serum RA patients correlated with RA incidence. This study was conducted to compare IL-1β concentration in serum from patients with RA and healthy controls with the correlation parameter being related to markers indicating disease severity. A case-control study enrolled 71 patients with RA and 46 healthy controls from an Iraqi Arab population. In the present study, the level of serum IL-1β was detected using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay method of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). This study found a correlation between the serum level of IL-1β and DAS28-CRP severity among RA patients (p=0.065). Furthermore, the serum level of IL-1β was significantly increased in RA patients compared to the level noted in the healthy group (p=0.039). Moreover, the results demonstrated a very weak correlation between the IL-1β level with CRP, ESR, and ACCP (r=0.079, r=0.059, r=0.080), respectively. In conclusion, the current study showed a correlation between the serum level of IL-1β and RA disease severity (DAS28) among the Iraqi Arab population, additionally, the study noted a very weak correlation between the IL-1β level with CRP, ESR, and ACCP.

Identification and validation of autophagy-related genes and exploration of their relationship with disease severity in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) pathogenesis might be impacted by autophagy. Nevertheless, autophagy-related gene utilization as a disease indicator about the course of CRSwNP has yet to be elucidated. This investigation aimed at discovering pivotal molecules related to autophagy to identify potential treatment targets for CRSwNP. The dataset GSE136825 was obtained via the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and afterward, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis linked to autophagy was employed via the R software. A comprehensive examination of autophagy-related DEGs was conducted using functional analytic techniques. The utilization of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network facilitated hub gene identification. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry staining techniques were performed to validate the expression levels of the central genes in clinical samples. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the correlation between hub genes and disease severity parameters. A comprehensive set of 86 autophagy-related DEGs were discovered. The functional enrichment analysis of autophagy-related DEGs revealed the identification of enrichment terms involved with the autophagy process. The results obtained from the PPI analysis suggest that there was interaction among the autophagy-related genes. The qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry staining, and western blot techniques yielded results, demonstrated that CXCR4, HMOX1, and SPP1 expression levels in CRSwNP agreed with the bioinformatics analysis of the dataset. Furthermore, a favorable association between CXCR4, HMOX1, and SPP1 expression levels with illness severity indicators was found. Bioinformatics analysis yielded 86 autophagy-related DEGs in CRSwNP. CXCR4, HMOX1, and SPP1 regulation of autophagy has been confirmed in CRSwNP progression and pathogenesis.

The Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index Provides No Additional Prognostic Information in Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

The pulmonary artery pulsatility index (PAPi, calculated as (SPAP - DPAP)/mRAP) has been suggested as a measure of right ventricular-vascular coupling (RVVC) and as a prognostic parameter in cardiovascular conditions, particularly right ventricular failure. This retrospective study investigated the relationship between the PAPi and its components with disease severity parameters, the RVVC, and clinical outcomes in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We analyzed data from 111 children from the Dutch National Registry with PAH. The PAPi (median 6.0 [3.9-8.3]) was calculated from heart catheterization data and the RVVC was determined as the TAPSE/sPAP ratio via echocardiography (0.25 ± 0.12 mm/mmHg). Disease severity was characterized by clinical, hemodynamic, and laboratory data. Cox proportional hazard modeling assessed the PAPi's predictive value for transplant-free survival. There was no correlation between the RVVC and PAPi (R = -0.208, p = 0.111, n = 60). The PAPi correlated negatively with uric acid (R = -0.387, p < 0.001) but not with other disease severity parameters. Mean right atrial pressure correlated with multiple disease severity indicators. Transplant-free survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 87%, 79%, and 73%, respectively. Neither the PAPi nor its components correlated with transplant-free survival. In conclusion, the PAPi does not correlate with the RVVC and this study could not demonstrate any prognostic value of the PAPi regarding disease severity or outcomes in children with PAH, challenging its utility in this population.

Molecular and Functional Cargo of Plasma-Derived Exosomes in Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia.

Background: Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a genetic disorder leading to frequent bleeding in several organs. As HHT diagnosis is demanding and depends on clinical criteria, liquid biopsy would be beneficial. Exosomes from biofluids are nano-sized vesicles for intercellular communication. Their cargo and characteristics represent biomarkers for many diseases. Here, exosomes of HHT patients were examined regarding their biosignature. Methods: Exosomes were isolated from the plasma of 20 HHT patients and 17 healthy donors (HDs). The total exosomal protein was quantified, and specific proteins were analyzed using Western blot and antibody arrays. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) co-incubated with exosomes were functionally examined via immunofluorescence, proliferation, and scratch assay. Results: The levels of the angiogenesis-regulating protein Thrombospondin-1 were significantly higher in HHT compared to HD exosomes. Among HHT, but not HD exosomes, a negative correlation between total exosomal protein and soluble Endoglin (sENG) levels was found. Other exosomal proteins (ALK1, ALK5) and the particle concentration significantly correlated with disease severity parameters (total consultations/interventions, epistaxis severity score) in HHT patients. Functionally, HUVECs were able to internalize both HD and HHT exosomes, inducing a similar change in the F-Actin structure and a reduction in migration and proliferation. Conclusions: This study provided first insights into the protein cargo and function of HHT-derived exosomes. The data indicate changes in sENG secretion via exosomes and reveal exosomal Thrombospondin-1 as a potential biomarker for HHT. Several exosomal characteristics were pointed out as potential liquid biomarkers for disease severity, revealing a possible new way of diagnosis and prognosis of HHT.

Follow-Up Imaging in Angiography-Negative Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield of follow-up investigations in aneurysm negative SAH patients. Material and MethodsIn 109 (25%) of 435 patients with SAH and initial negative DSA, the diagnostic yield of repeat DSA and MRI of the brain and craniocervical junction was reviewed. ResultsOf the 109 patients with an initial negative DSA, 51 (47%) had perimesencephalic (PM), 54 (50%) had non-perimesencephalic (NPM) blood distribution, and 4 (3.7%) had CT-negative SAH. A delayed bleeding source was determined in 3 of 82 (3.7%) patients who underwent repeat DSA, and in 1/5 patients who underwent a third DSA. The bleeding patterns of these patients were all NPM (n=4). Repeat DSA did not identify a bleeding source in patients with PM-SAH. MRI of the brain and craniocervical junction after 2 days revealed a bleeding source in 1/105 patients (1%) in a CT-negative SAH. When all diagnostic modalities, including exploratory craniotomy and MRI of the spinal axis were considered, the rate of delayed diagnosis of the bleeding source was 6.4% (7/109). In addition to the bleeding pattern, patients with delayed diagnosis of the bleeding source were characterized by worse disease severity parameters, worse radiological grading scales, and more in-hospital complications than patients without delayed diagnosis of a bleeding source. ConclusionThe results of this study support the use of repeat DSA in patients with NPM-SAH, however, routine repeat DSA may not be indicated in PM-SAH patients. The routine use of MRI remains controversial.

Investigation of the utility of smartphone-based gait analyses in discrimination between patients with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

Objective To reveal the discriminative value of gait parameters between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) subjects. Methods We included all consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AD and those with a diagnosis of PD who applied to our polyclinic between March 2022 and June 2022. The demographic and clinical features were evaluated during interviews. The gait analyses were performed using a quantitative, smartphone-based gait analyses program. Using this program, the step time (ST), step length (SL), step number (SN), gait velocity (GV), and cadence were measured in all individuals. Results Overall, 31 patients with AD and 45 with PD were enrolled in the analyses. The mean age of the AD group was higher according to those with PD. As expected, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) values were lower in the AD group. The comparative analyses of the gait parameters between groups did not reveal differences in any of the measures. The correlation analyses to investigate the possible association between the disease severity and gait parameters revealed that the MDS-UPDRS showed low negative correlations with SL and GV. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the evaluation of gait using the gait analyses program does not contribute to the discrimination between AD and PD in clinical practice.

A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis on the Potential Use of miR-150 as a Novel Biomarker in the Detection and Progression of Multiple Sclerosis.

MicroRNA-150 (miR-150) plays a critical role in immune regulation and has been implicated in autoimmune diseases like Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This review aims to evaluate miR-150's potential as a biomarker for MS, necessitating this review to consolidate current evidence and highlight miR-150's utility in improving diagnostic accuracy and monitoring disease progression. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases like PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, SciSpace, MDPI and Web of Science, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Studies focusing on miR-150 implications in MS were included. Data extraction was conducted, while quality assessment was done using the NOS and AMSTAR 2 tools. With the extracted data a statistical analyses conducted. 10 eligible articles were included in review. Findings show that miR-150 levels were consistently deregulated in MS patients compared to healthy controls, correlating with disease severity and clinical parameters such as (EDSS) scores and disease activity. Additionally, miR-150 is implicated in the inflammatory pathogenesis of MS, affecting immune cell regulation and inflammatory pathways. MiR-150 is a promising biomarker for MS, showing significant potential for improving diagnostic accuracy and monitoring disease progression. Its consistent deregulation in MS patients and correlation with clinical parameters underscore its clinical utility. Further research should validate miR-150's salivary presence and its possible usage as a novel biomarker and therapeutic potential in the development of MS.

Assessment of disease severity with magnetic resonance cholangiography in pediatric-onset primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) has supplanted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) as the preferred imaging modality for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). However, data about the accuracy of MRCP in assessing disease severity are limited, particularly in children. We assessed the accuracy of MRCP in disease severity evaluation and investigated the correlation between imaging findings and biochemical parameters (including the multivariate risk index SCOPE) in patients with pediatric-onset PSC. We included 36 patients with PSC (median age: 16) who had MRCP and ERCP performed within 4-month intervals. Two experts, blinded to ERCP findings, evaluated the bile duct changes in consensus using the Modified Amsterdam PSC Score. The agreement between MRCP and ERCP evaluations was tested with weighted kappa statistics and the correlation between disease severity and biochemical parameters with Spearman's rank correlation. The agreement between MRCP and ERCP was good for extrahepatic (weighted kappa 0.69; 95% confidence of interval [CI] 0.53-0.84) but fair for intrahepatic (weighted kappa 0.35; 95% CI 0.14-0.56) bile ducts. Intrahepatic and extrahepatic MRCP scores correlated with APRI (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.020 and ρ = 0.39, p = 0.033, respectively), while extrahepatic MRCP score also correlated with biliary neutrophils (ρ = 0.36, p = 0.035). We found a good correlation between the SCOPE index and intrahepatic MRCP score (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.004), and extrahepatic MRCP score (ρ = 0.57, p = 0.001). MRCP is accurate at evaluating the severity of extrahepatic bile duct changes in pediatric-onset PSC but tends to underestimate intrahepatic changes. The SCOPE index's robust correlation with imaging scores supports its role as a comprehensive diagnostic tool, outperforming individual laboratory metrics.

Longitudinal Assessment of Blood-Based Inflammatory, Neuromuscular, and Neurovascular Biomarker Profiles in Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness: A Prospective Single-Center Cohort Study.

The diagnosis of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired weakness (ICUAW) and critical illness neuromyopathy (CINM) is frequently hampered in the clinical routine. We evaluated a novel panel of blood-based inflammatory, neuromuscular, and neurovascular biomarkers as an alternative diagnostic approach for ICUAW and CINM. Patients admitted to the ICU with a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of ≥ 8 on 3 consecutive days within the first 5 days as well as healthy controls were enrolled. The Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRCSS) was calculated, and motor and sensory electroneurography (ENG) for assessment of peripheral nerve function were performed at days 3 and 10. ICUAW was defined by an MRCSS < 48 and CINM by pathological ENG alterations, both at day 10. Blood samples were taken at days 3, 10, and 17 for quantitative analysis of 18 different biomarkers (white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, C-terminal agrin filament, fatty-acid-binding protein 3, growth and differentiation factor 15, syndecan 1, troponin I, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1α [IL-1α], IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1). Results of the biomarker analysis were categorized according to the ICUAW and CINM status. Clinical outcome was assessed after 3 months. Between October 2016 and December 2018, 38 critically ill patients, grouped into ICUAW (18 with and 20 without) and CINM (18 with and 17 without), as well as ten healthy volunteers were included. Biomarkers were significantly elevated in critically ill patients compared to healthy controls and correlated with disease severity and 3-month outcome parameters. However, none of the biomarkers enabled discrimination of patients with and without neuromuscular impairment, irrespective of applied classification. Blood-based biomarkers are generally elevated in ICU patients but do not identify patients with ICUAW or CINM. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02706314.

Biopotential of Cyanobacteria, Fulvic Acid and Nano-chitosan in Controlling Leaf Rust of Wheat

Biocontrol agents, including Cyanobacteria, Spirulina platensis and Nostoc calcicole, as well as Fulvic Acid and nano-chitosan were tested to control leaf rust of wheat under field conditions during 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 growing seasons. All biocontrol agents significantly reduced all parameters for disease severity i.e. coefficient of infection (CI), the average coefficient of infection (ACI) and the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) compared to untreated control. The best treatments were nano-chitosan which recorded efficacy of 91.17% followed by S. platensis (90.2%) in the application of two sprays for disease control. All biocontrol agents significantly increased grain yield components of wheat. Applications of two sprays were more effective than one spray. From our research work it can be concluded that S. platensis, N. calcicole, Fulvic Acid and nano-chitosan can be used for controlling leaf rust disease as a safe alternative to chemical fungicides.

Health Related Quality of Life and Psychosocial Profile of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease and Their Caregivers

Abstract Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic, debilitating disorder can negatively affect health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes in SCD. Aim of the Study Primary objective was to assess the prevalence of impaired psychosocial profile and poor HRQoL among SCD patients and their caregivers in comparison to age and sex matched controls, while secondary objective was to determine the association of such impairment if any with parameters of disease severity. Methods An observational, case control study recruited sixty-five children and adolescent with confirmed SCD, conducted at Paediatric Haematology Oncology clinic, Ain Shams University, Egyptfrom1st of August 2020 to 28th of February 2021. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and thorough clinical and psychiatric assessments were conducted. Quality-of-life (QoL) of both children and their caregivers were performed compared to 65 matched healthy control. Results sixty five children and adolescents with confirmed SCD were included; there were 34 (52.3%) boys and 31 (47.7%) girls and their mean age was 11.40 ± 3.55. Most patients 44(67.7%) had sickle HbSβ+-thalassemia, the most frequent manifestations were vasoooclusive crises in 24 (36.9%) patients, The most common causes for hospital admission were pain crisis in 14 (33.3%) patients and vasoocclusive crisis in 14 (33.3%). Results indicated that patients with SCD and their caregivers had depression and anxiety symptoms scores more than reported in control group.Sickle children had significantly less self-esteem and quality of life than control children, least scores in s ick le c hild re n Q O L wer e in co mmunica t io n do ma in. These were s ignific a nt ne ga t ive consequences, advanced age, duration of illness, number and duration of hospitalizations, disease severity score and occurrence of complications were associated with psychological disorders. Conclusion The QOoL of children suffered from SCD and their caregivers is adversely affected necessitate implementation of interventions which focus on reducing depressive symptoms, enhancing self-esteem and QoL.

Field response and genetic variability of elite spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes for septoria tritici blotch under natural infection in Northwest Ethiopia

AbstractFungal diseases cause significant yield loss to wheat production. Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the ascomycete fungus Zymoseptoria trtici, is one of the major fungal diseases affecting wheat production worldwide. In Ethiopia, STB is a severe problem that causes significant yield loss in high and mid‐altitude wheat‐growing areas. The use of resistant varieties is one of the sustainable disease management strategies, particularly for resource‐poor farmers in developing countries. Two hundred and fifty bread wheat genotypes were evaluated to identify septoria tritici resistant genotypes and estimate the extent of genetic variability for resistance to STB and other economically important traits using alpha lattice design under natural infestation in two STB hotspot environments. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes, environment, and genotype × environment interaction for all traits measured. The genetic coefficient of variance was lower than the phenotypic coefficient of variance for all traits studied, and both test environments showed the influence of the environment on trait expression. High and moderate heritability values were observed for the septoria disease severity parameters, indicating that the STB resistance trait was less influenced by the environment. The days to heading and plant height were inversely correlated with disease severity. This suggests that genotypes with tall plant height and long maturity period could be resistant to septoria tritici blotch through escape mechanisms. Four of the genotypes, namely, G‐215, G‐255, G‐257, and G‐258, were found to be resistant across all locations. These and other promising genotypes will be used in future breeding programmes to select or develop high‐yielding and STB‐resistant bread wheat genotypes that can be deployed in septoria tritici blotch‐prone areas. Highly susceptible genotypes will also be used as controls for STB resistance breeding programmes.

Artificial Intelligence for Detecting Periodontitis: Systematic Literature Review

Background The determination of the diagnosis of inflammatory periodontitis is generally based on clinical examination, which is then strengthened by radiographic examination. Still, the inequality of assessment of clinical conditions, along with limitations of radiographic interpretation, makes determining the diagnosis of the periodontal disease difficult. The use of artificial intelligence as a digital system approach is believed to reduce costs, time, the need for medical services, and medical errors that may occur due to human factors. Objective This systematic review study is to analyze the use of dental and panoramic radiographs combined with the use of artificial intelligence in establishing the diagnosis of periodontitis based on the parameters of periodontal disease severity according to the 2017 American Academy of Periodontology/European Federation of Periodontology Workshop (pocket depth, clinical attachment loss (CAL) and the pattern and level of alveolar bone damage that occurs). Methods Journal searches for articles published in English were carried out through the PubMed and Scopus databases in the 2011-2021 period, using the search terms periodontitis, periodontal disease, food impaction, trauma occlusion, periapical radiograph, panoramic, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and periodontal bone loss, after going through article selection, two suitable articles were obtained. Results Two studies fell into the analyzed category. Both list periodontal bone loss as a parameter that marks periodontitis, and the use of panoramic photos in detecting this parameter assisted by Convolutional Neural Networks as artificial intelligence. Conclusion The use of panoramic radiographs and Convolutional Neural Networks as artificial intelligence that serves as a tool to detect periodontal bone damage has almost the same results as experienced clinicians In order for this method to be developed in the future to help clinicians establish the diagnosis, more clinical and image data will be required.

The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)-concentration-dependent association between anti-inflammatory capacity and sepsis: A single-center cross-sectional study.

Known to have pleiotropic functions, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) helps to regulate systemic inflammation during sepsis. As preserving HDL-C level is a promising therapeutic strategy for sepsis, the interaction between HDL and sepsis worth further investigation. This study aimed to determine the impact of sepsis on HDL's anti-inflammatory capacity and explore its correlations with disease severity and laboratory parameters. We enrolled 80 septic subjects admitted to the intensive care unit and 50 controls admitted for scheduled coronary angiography in this cross-sectional study. We used apolipoprotein-B depleted (apoB-depleted) plasma to measure the anti-inflammatory capacity of HDL-C. ApoB-depleted plasma's anti-inflammatory capacity is defined as its ability to suppress tumor necrosis factor-α-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in human umbilical-vein endothelial cells. A subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate in septic subjects according to disease severity. ApoB-depleted plasma's anti-inflammatory capacity was reduced in septic subjects relative to controls (VCAM-1 mRNA fold change: 50.1% vs. 35.5%; p < 0.0001). The impairment was more pronounced in septic subjects with than in those without septic shock (55.8% vs. 45.3%, p = 0.0022). Both associations were rendered non-significant with the adjustment for the HDL-C level. In sepsis patients, VCAM-1 mRNA fold change correlated with the SOFA score (Spearman's r = 0.231, p = 0.039), lactate level (r = 0.297, p = 0.0074), HDL-C level (r = -0.370, p = 0.0007), and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein level: r = 0.441, p <0.0001; white blood cell: r = 0.353, p = 0.0013). ApoB-depleted plasma's anti-inflammatory capacity is reduced in sepsis patients and this association depends of HDL-C concentration. In sepsis patients, this capacity correlates with disease severity and inflammatory markers. These findings explain the prognostic role of the HDL-C level in sepsis and indirectly support the rationale for targeting HDL-C as sepsis treatment.

Effect of the Timing of Fungicide Application on Yield and Quality Parameters of Wheat Infected with Fusarium Crown Rot Disease

Crown rot caused by Fusarium culmorum (FCR) is a common and important pathogen affecting the cereal industry through grain yield and quality losses. In this study, the effects of epoxiconazole plus prochloraz application and several other applications on disease severity and grain quality parameters including thousand-grain weight (TGW), grain yield (GY), protein (GP), Zeleny sedimentation (ZS), wet gluten (WG) and Grain index (GI), were assessed. The efficacy of epoxiconazole plus prochloraz, were determined in the T1 (ZGS25), T2 (ZGS34), and T3 (ZGS45) growth stages of winter wheat with seven alternative spray programs. These programs were based on (i) the application (SF) of seed fungicide to infected seeds (ii) control without fungicide (non-SF) and (iii) three different growth stages of wheat. The interaction between seed fungicide applied and fungicide application time was significant (P≤0.01) for DS, ZS, and WG. The effectiveness regarding the disease severity, TGW, and GY of epoxiconazole plus prochloraz in relation to FCR wheat showed significant (P≤0.01) changes depending on the application time. The disease severity resulted in lower T1-T2 (9.66%) and T1-T2-T3 (9.91%) stages than the other stages. The highest yields were obtained when the fungicide was applied twice at the T1-T2 stages. DS/TGW and DS/GY were negatively correlated and TGW/GY was positively correlated in SF.

Serum and Vitreous Levels of Placenta Growth Factor in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients: Correlation With Disease Severity and Optical Coherence Tomographic Parameters.

Purpose The primary objective of this study was to compare placenta growth factor (PlGF) levels in the serum and vitreous of diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients to non-diabetic controls. Additionally, the study aimed to establish associations between serum and vitreous PlGF concentrations and to examine the correlation between vitreous PlGF in DR patients and morphological parameters. Methods This study included serum and vitreous samples from 38 patients, including 21 patients with DR and 17 non-diabetic controls. The control group included non-diabetic patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with retinal tears secondary to posterior vitreous detachment or trauma. PlGF levels were quantified in vitreous and serum samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans from DR patients were evaluated to measure the central retinal thickness (CRT) and macular volume (MV). Results DR patients had significantly higher mean vitreous PlGF levels compared to non-DR patients (70.0±39.2 vs. 46.47±9.7 pg/mL, p-value=0.004). However, no significant increase in mean serum PlGF levels was observed in DR patients (p-value=0.232). Within the DR group, proliferative DR (PDR) patients presented significantly higher vitreous PlGF levels than non-PDR (NPDR) patients (76.5±41.0 vs. 42.5±5.0 pg/mL, p-value=0.009). There was no association between serum and vitreous PlGF levels. The correlation between vitreous PlGF levels and morphological parameters was rsp=0.175, p-value=0.488 for CRT, and rsp=0.288, p-value=0.262 for MV. Conclusion This study emphasizes the important role of PlGF in neovascularization, specifically highlighting its overexpression exclusively in vitreous from PDR patients. The observed increase in PlGF levels may be indicative of disease severity. The lack of correlation between vitreous and serum PlGF levels suggests a potential dissociation between intravitreal and systemic PlGF synthesis. Consequently, targeting PlGF in therapeutic approaches may offer an additional strategy for ocular pathologies with a neovascular component.