Airspace Dimension Assessment (AiDA) by inhaled nanoparticles: benchmarking with hyperpolarised 129Xe diffusion-weighted lung MRI

AbstractEnlargements of distal airspaces can indicate pathological changes in the lung, but accessible and precise techniques able to measure these regions are lacking. Airspace Dimension Assessment with inhaled nanoparticles (AiDA) is a new method developed for in vivo measurement of distal airspace dimensions. The aim of this study was to benchmark the AiDA method against quantitative measurements of distal airspaces from hyperpolarised 129Xe diffusion-weighted (DW)-lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). AiDA and 129Xe DW-MRI measurements were performed in 23 healthy volunteers who spanned an age range of 23–70 years. The relationship between the 129Xe DW-MRI and AiDA metrics was tested using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Significant correlations were observed between AiDA distal airspace radius (rAiDA) and mean 129Xe apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) (p < 0.005), distributed diffusivity coefficient (DDC) (p < 0.001) and distal airspace dimension (LmD) (p < 0.001). A mean bias of − 1.2 µm towards rAiDA was observed between 129Xe LmD and rAiDA, indicating that rAiDA is a measure of distal airspace dimension. The AiDA R0 intercept correlated with MRI 129Xe α (p = 0.02), a marker of distal airspace heterogeneity. This study demonstrates that AiDA has potential to characterize the distal airspace microstructures and may serve as an alternative method for clinical examination of the lungs.

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Determination of the Estrogenic Activity of Coffee Extract Solutions Prepared from Capsule Coffee Using the BG1Luc4E2 Assay

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa045_097 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 464-464

Author(s):

Junichi Sakaki ◽

Melissa Melough ◽

Cathy Yang ◽

Anthony Provatas ◽

Christopher Perkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Estrogenic Activity ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Positive Control ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Estrogenic Potential ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

Estrogenic Chemicals

Abstract Objectives Estrogenic chemicals (ECs) possess estrogenic activity (EA) which can have harmful effects on the reproductive system. Coffee is known to have estrogenic potency due to its natural phytoestrogens, but coffee prepared from plastic capsules (capsule coffee) may increase exposure to ECs and consequently increase EA, potentially increasing risk to reproductive health. The objective of this study was to determine the EA of capsule coffee extract solutions in vitro. Methods Six varieties of capsule coffee and two varieties of coffee prepared from whole beans using a stainless-steel French press were first brewed then concentrated and extracted. The BG1Luc4E2 assay was then conducted to determine the EA of the coffee extracts. The normalized EA (% RME2) of the coffee extracts was determined as the relative estrogenic potency compared to the maximum normalized EA of the positive control 17β-estradiol (set to 100 % RME2). EA was determined if at least one data point on the concentration-response curve was above 15% RME2 and confirmed via inhibition with the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. The correlation between the EA estimated by the BG1Luc4E2 assay and the estrogenic potential (EEQ) was determined with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results All eight coffee extract solutions tested positive for EA and results were confirmed by their complete inhibition with ICI. The level of EA for the six capsule coffee extracts ranged from 48 to 56 % RME2, while the level of EA for the two coffee varieties prepared from whole beans were 40 and 42 % RME2. There was a significant correlation between EA and EEQ was (ρ = 0.8857, P = 0.0333). Conclusions These results indicate that the EAs of capsule coffees were higher than that of coffee prepared from a plastic-free method and that the EA measured in an in vitro model was correlated with the calculated estrogenic potential of the coffee extract's EC contents. Future studies are warranted in in vivo models as well as in humans as tests of estrogenic potency in vitro do not necessarily predict the effects in living organisms. Funding Sources This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

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Correlation Between Disability Measure and Black Hole (T1 Hypointense Lesion) Lesion Load in Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-194103/v3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amir Valizadeh ◽

Elham Barati ◽

Mohammad Ali Sahraian ◽

Mohammad Reza Fattahi ◽

Mana Moassefi

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Lesion Volume ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

Disability Status ◽

Formation And Evolution ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Abstract Introduction: As the role of neurodegeneration in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) has become more prominent, the formation and evolution of chronic or persistent T1-hypointense lesions (Black Holes) have been used as markers of axonal loss and neuronal destruction to measure disease activity. However, findings regarding this subject are controversial. In this study we aim to clarify the level of importance of T1 hypointense lesions for estimating the prognosis of patients.Methods: We will search MEDLINE (through PubMed), Embase and Web of Science for relevant studies. We will extract the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (SRCC) between the T1 hypointense lesion volume and Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in participants. All included studies will be evaluated for the risk of bias. We will also perform a meta-analysis on the data. The risk of publication bias will be evaluated using Funnel plots. Finally, we will assess the confidence in cumulative evidence using an adapted version of GRADE.

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Preliminary magnetic resonance study of the macromolecular proton fraction in white matter: a potential marker of myelin?

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/1352458503ms911oa ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 246-249 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

G R Davies ◽

A Ramani ◽

C M Dalton ◽

D J Tozer ◽

C AM Wheeler-Kingshott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Relaxation Time ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetization Transfer ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Magnetization Transfer Ratio ◽

Specific Information ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Potential Marker ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient

We report on a new quantitative magnetization transfer (MT) technique that allows for the in vivo estimation of the macromolecular proton fraction (f) and the bound pool T2 relaxation time (T2b), whilst permitting whole brain coverage. In this pilot study, five subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) and five healthy controls were studied. Both f and T2b were significantly different between MS lesions and normal control white matter (WM). Relationships between f and T1 relaxation time [Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs) =-0.97, P <0.001] and f and the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR; rs =0.80, P <0.001) were observed. C ompared with MTR, f and T2b have the potential advantage of relative independence from MT acquisition protocol while offering more pathologically specific information. In particular, f may provide a more direct indication of myelin content in WM.

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Correlation between disability measure and Black Hole (T1 hypointense lesion) lesion load in brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS): Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-194103/v4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amir Valizadeh ◽

Elham Barati ◽

Mohammad Ali Sahraian ◽

Mohammad Reza Fattahi ◽

Mana Moassefi

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Lesion Volume ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

Disability Status ◽

Formation And Evolution ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

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Deregulation of lncRNA HIST1H2AG-6 and AIM1-3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

BMC Medical Genomics ◽

10.1186/s12920-021-00994-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hui Jiang ◽

Peian Lou ◽

Xiaoluo Chen ◽

Chenguang Wu ◽

Shihe Shao

Keyword(s):

Roc Curve ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is mainly affected by genetic and environmental factors; however, the correlation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) with T2DM remains largely unknown. Methods Microarray analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in patients with T2DM and healthy controls, and the expression of two candidate lncRNAs (lnc-HIST1H2AG-6 and lnc-AIM1-3) were further validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to measure the degree of association between the two candidate lncRNAs and differentially expressed mRNAs. Furthermore, the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway and GO (Gene Ontology) enrichment analysis were used to reveal the biological functions of the two candidate lncRNAs. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed. Results The microarray analysis revealed that there were 55 lncRNAs and 36 mRNAs differentially expressed in patients with T2DM compared with healthy controls. Notably, lnc-HIST1H2AG-6 was significantly upregulated and lnc-AIM1-3 was significantly downregulated in patients with T2DM, which was validated in a large-scale qRT-PCR examination (90 controls and 100 patients with T2DM). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient revealed that both lncRNAs were correlated with 36 differentially expressed mRNAs. Furthermore, functional enrichment (KEGG and GO) analysis demonstrated that the two lncRNA-related mRNAs might be involved in multiple biological functions, including cell programmed death, negative regulation of insulin receptor signal, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lnc-HIST1H2AG-6 and lnc-AIM1-3 were significantly correlated with T2DM (OR = 5.791 and 0.071, respectively, both P = 0.000). Furthermore, the ROC curve showed that the expression of lnc-HIST1H2AG-6 and lnc-AIM1-3 might be used to differentiate patients with T2DM from healthy controls (area under the ROC curve = 0.664 and 0.769, respectively). Conclusion The profiles of lncRNA and mRNA were significantly changed in patients with T2DM. The expression levels of lnc-HIST1H2AG-6 and lnc-AIM1-3 genes were significantly correlated with some features of T2DM, which may be used to distinguish patients with T2DM from healthy controls and may serve as potential novel biomarkers for diagnosis in the future.

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Cervical cord myelin abnormality is associated with clinical disability in multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/13524585211001780 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135245852110017

Author(s):

Lisa Eunyoung Lee ◽

Irene M Vavasour ◽

Adam Dvorak ◽

Hanwen Liu ◽

Shawna Abel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Dorsal Column ◽

Cervical Cord ◽

In Vivo Measurement ◽

Subclinical Disease ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Myelin water imaging (MWI) was recently optimized to provide quantitative in vivo measurement of spinal cord myelin, which is critically involved in multiple sclerosis (MS) disability. Objective: To assess cervical cord myelin measurements in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and progressive multiple sclerosis (ProgMS) participants and evaluate the correlation between myelin measures and clinical disability. Methods: We used MWI data from 35 RRMS, 30 ProgMS, and 28 healthy control (HC) participants collected at cord level C2/C3 on a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Myelin heterogeneity index (MHI), a measurement of myelin variability, was calculated for whole cervical cord, global white matter, dorsal column, lateral and ventral funiculi. Correlations were assessed between MHI and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), timed 25-foot walk, and disease duration. Results: In various regions of the cervical cord, ProgMS MHI was higher compared to HC (between 9.5% and 31%, p ⩽ 0.04) and RRMS (between 13% and 26%, p ⩽ 0.02), and ProgMS MHI was associated with EDSS ( r = 0.42–0.52) and 9HPT ( r = 0.45–0.52). Conclusion: Myelin abnormalities within clinically eloquent areas are related to clinical disability. MWI metrics have a potential role for monitoring subclinical disease progression and adjudicating treatment efficacy for new therapies targeting ProgMS.

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Association between Endoscopic Milk-White Mucosa, Epithelial Intracellular Lipid Droplets, and Histological Grade of Superficial Non-Ampullary Duodenal Epithelial Tumors

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11050769 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 769

Author(s):

Yuko Hara ◽

Kenichi Goda ◽

Shinichi Hirooka ◽

Takehiro Mitsuishi ◽

Masahiro Ikegami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Droplets ◽

Histological Grade ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Intraepithelial Neoplasia ◽

Low Grade ◽

Intracellular Lipid ◽

En Bloc ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

Positive Rate

We previously reported that superficial non-ampullary duodenal tumors (SNADETs) commonly had a whitish mucosal surface, named milk-white mucosa (MWM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of MWM with epithelial intracellular lipid droplets (immunohistochemically stained by adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP)) and histological tumor grades. We reviewed endoscopic images and the histopathology of SNADETs resected en bloc endoscopically. We analyzed the correlation between the positive rates of endoscopic MWM in preoperative endoscopy and resected specimens, and ADRP-positive rates in the resected specimens. Associations between the MWM-positive rates and tumor grades, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN)/intramucosal carcinoma (IC), and low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) were analyzed. All the 92 SNADETs analyzed were <20 mm and histologically classified into 39 HGIN/IC and 53 LGIN. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between MWM-positive and ADRP-positive rates (p < 0.001). MWM-positive rates were significantly lower in the HGIN/IC than in the LGIN in preoperative endoscopy (p < 0.001) and resected specimens (p = 0.02). Our results suggest that endoscopic MWM is closely associated with epithelial intracellular lipid droplets and that the MWM-positive rate may be a predictor of histological grade in small SNADETs.

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Correlation between nasopharyngoscopy and cephalometry in the diagnosis of hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsils

International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology ◽

10.7162/s1809-97772012000200009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (02) ◽

pp. 209-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luana Berwig ◽

Ana da Silva ◽

Eliane Corrêa ◽

Eliane Serpa ◽

Rodrigo Ritzel

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Study ◽

Fiber Optic ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Accurate Diagnosis ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significance Level ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

Tonsil Hyperplasia ◽

Pharyngeal Tonsil

Summary Introduction: Hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil is one of the main causes of mouth breathing, and accurate diagnosis of this alteration is important for proper therapeutic planning. Therefore, studies have been conducted in order to provide information regarding the procedures that can be used for the diagnosis of pharyngeal obstruction. Objective: To verify the correlation between nasopharyngoscopy and cephalometric examinations in the diagnosis of pharyngeal tonsil hyperplasia. Method: This was a cross-sectional, clinical, experimental, and quantitative study. Fifty-five children took part in this study, 30 girls and 25 boys, aged between 7 and 11 years. The children underwent nasofibropharyngoscopic and cephalometric evaluation to determine the grade of nasopharyngeal obstruction. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient at the 5% significance level was used to verify the correlation between these exams. Results: In the nasopharyngoscopy evaluation, most children showed grade 2 and 3 hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil, which was followed by grade 1. In the cephalometry assessment, most children showed grade 1 hyperplasia of the pharyngeal tonsil, which was followed by grade 2. A statistically significant regular positive correlation was observed between the exams. Conclusion: It was concluded that the evaluation of the pharyngeal tonsil hyperplasia could be carried out by fiber optic nasopharyngoscopy and cephalometry, as these examinations were regularly correlated. However, it was found that cephalometry tended to underestimate the size of the pharyngeal tonsil relative to nasopharyngoscopy.

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Dentists’ knowledge of fluoride cariostatic mechanisms

Nowa Stomatologia ◽

10.25121/ns.2018.23.3.102 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Urszula Kaczmarek ◽

Wojciech Kowalczyk ◽

Dariusz Gozdowski ◽

Dorota Olczak-Kowalczyk

Keyword(s):

Rank Correlation ◽

Bone Fragility ◽

Caries Prevention ◽

Water Fluoridation ◽

Chi Square ◽

Significance Level ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Almost All

Introduction. The use of age- and risk-adjusted caries prevention requires up-to-date knowledge on the cariostatic effects of fluoride, as well as the methods and safety of fluoride prophylaxis. Aim. The aim of the study was to assess dentists’ knowledge of the safety and mechanism of anticaries effects of fluoride. Material and methods. An anonymous questionnaire was conducted among 212 dentists participating in dental training. The questions included in the questionnaire related to knowledge about water fluoridation, fluoride cariostatic mechanisms and the safety of fluoride prophylaxis. The chi-square test and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. A significance level of 0.05 was used. Results. Incorrect knowledge about water fluoridation was demonstrated by 26.9% of respondents in the country and 16.0% of respondents in Europe. Most respondents (80.7%) reported higher efficacy of exogenous vs endogenous anticaries approaches, and more than half of respondents (59.0%) considered the processes of remineralisation and demineralisation as the most important anticaries activity. Almost all respondents (95.7%) agreed that the use of fluoride for caries prevention is controversial, mainly due to its dose-dependent therapeutic or toxic effects (85.4%). According to about 20% of respondents, cariostatic fluoride doses have adverse effects on the general health, mainly in the form of bone fragility (10.4%). Conclusions. Lack of correct knowledge about the dominant cariostatic effects of fluoride may result in the choice of an inappropriate preventive method or avoiding local application of fluoride preparations for fear of adverse systemic effects, which may in turn lead to increased caries prevalence in a given population.

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Evaluation Method for Green Ecological Airports in China Based on Combination Weighting

PROMET - Traffic&Transportation ◽

10.7307/ptt.v30i4.2531 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 419-428

Author(s):

Danwen Bao ◽

Xiaoling Zhang ◽

Jiayu Gu

Keyword(s):

Evaluation Method ◽

Rank Correlation ◽

Resource Conservation ◽

Evaluation Index System ◽

Weighting Method ◽

Environmental Friendliness ◽

International Airport ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽

Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽

The Status

To scientifically and accurately evaluate the status of the development of green airports in China, evaluation methods of green, ecological airports are established in this paper. To address the shortcomings in subjective and objective weighting methods, we propose a combination weighting method based on Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and evaluation grades based on interval approximation. At the same time, by taking into account resource conservation, environmental friendliness, operation efficiency, and people-oriented service, we propose an evaluation index system and an interval number for each index. Lastly, the theory is applied to five large airports in different regions of China. Analysis of the evaluation results shows that Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) have the highest scores for the resource conservation and environmental friendliness indexes, thus indicating that the development of a green ecological airport is closely related to its passenger transportation scale and economic strength. All considered airports showed the need for upgrading public service facilities and constructing intelligent equipment. The method proposed in this paper is reasonable and reliable; therefore, it can provide guidance for the evaluation and construction of green, ecological airports.

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