scholarly journals The Fractal Dimension of Nuclear Chromatin as a Prognostic Factor in Acute Precursor B Lymphoblastic Leukemia

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 55-59
Author(s):  
Randall L. Adam ◽  
Rosana C. Silva ◽  
Fernanda G. Pereira ◽  
Neucimar J. Leite ◽  
Irene Lorand-Metze ◽  
...  

The fractal nature of the DNA arrangement has been postulated to be a common feature of all cell nuclei. We investigated the prognostic importance of the fractal dimension (FD) of chromatin in blasts of patients with acute precursor B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). In 28 patients, gray scale transformed pseudo-3D images of 100 nuclei (May–Grünwald–Giemsa stained bone marrow smears) were analyzed. FD was determined by the Minkowski–Bouligand method extended to three dimensions. Goodness-of-fit of FD was estimated by the R2 values in the log-log plots. Whereas FD presented no prognostic relevance, patients with higher R2 values showed a prolonged survival. White blood cell count (WBC), age and mean fluorescence intensity of CD45 (MFICD45) were all unfavorable prognostic factors in univariate analyses. In a multivariate Cox-regression, R2, WBC, and MFICD45, entered the final model, which showed to be stable in a bootstrap resampling study. Blasts with lower R2 values, equivalent to accentuated “coarseness” of the chromatin pattern, which may reflect profound changes of the DNA methylation, indicated a poor prognosis. In conclusion the goodness-of-fit of the Minkowski–Bouligand dimension of chromatin can be regarded as a new and biologically relevant prognostic factor for patients with B-ALL.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T2) ◽  
pp. 204-209
Author(s):  
Arsin A. Arsunan ◽  
Rezki Elisafitri ◽  
Atjo Wahyu ◽  
Aisyah Aisyah

BACKGROUND: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most common childhood hematological malignancies with an incident each year that tends to increase. AIM: This study aims to determine the survival rate of childhood ALL in Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital and the prognostic factors that influence it. METHODS: A retrospective cohort design was conducted among childhood ALL. The samples were patients ALL diagnosed since January 1, 2014, until 31, 2017, in Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo General Hospital. A total of 109 patients were selected by simple random sampling. Data collected through medical records observations. Data were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The cumulative survival rate of childhood ALL was 26%. The prognostic factors associated with survival of childhood ALL were nutritional status (p = 0.028), leukocyte counts (p = 0.000), platelet counts (p = 0.000), and comorbidity (p = 0.000). Based on multivariate analysis with Cox regression, the most influencing prognostic factor on survival of ALL patients was comorbidity (p = 0.000, hazard ratio = 3.699 confidence interval 95% 1.945–7.033). Childhood ALL with comorbidities had a risk of death 3699 times higher than childhood ALL without comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Nutritional status, leukocyte counts, platelet counts, and comorbidity were prognostic factors that influence survival of childhood ALL. Comorbidity was the most influencing prognostic factor on survival of childhood ALL.


2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 503-504
Author(s):  
Konradin Metze ◽  
Irene Lorand-Metze ◽  
Neucimar J. Leite ◽  
Randall L. Adam

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1410
Author(s):  
Anna Buchholz ◽  
Aurelia Vattai ◽  
Sophie Fürst ◽  
Theresa Vilsmaier ◽  
Christina Kuhn ◽  
...  

New prognostic factors and targeted therapies are urgently needed to improve therapeutic outcomes in vulvar cancer patients and to reduce therapy related morbidity. Previous studies demonstrated the important role of prostaglandin receptors in inflammation and carcinogenesis in a variety of tumor entities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression of EP4 in vulvar cancer tissue and its association with clinicopathological data and its prognostic relevance on survival. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tumor specimens of 157 patients with vulvar cancer treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Germany, between 1990 and 2008. The expression of EP4 was analyzed using the well-established semiquantitative immunoreactivity score (IRS) and EP4 expression levels were correlated with clinicopathological data and patients’ survival. To specify the tumor-associated immune cells, immunofluorescence double staining was performed on tissue samples. In vitro experiments including 5-Bromo-2′-Deoxyuridine (BrdU) proliferation assay and 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromid (MTT) viability assay were conducted in order to examine the effect of EP4 antagonist L-161,982 on vulvar carcinoma cells. EP4 expression was a common finding in in the analyzed vulvar cancer tissue. EP4 expression correlated significantly with tumor size and FIGO classification and differed significantly between keratinizing vulvar carcinoma and nonkeratinizing carcinoma. Survival analysis showed a significant correlation of high EP4 expression with poorer overall survival (p = 0.001) and a trending correlation between high EP4 expression and shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.069). Cox regression revealed EP4 as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival when other factors were taken into account. We could show in vitro that EP4 antagonism attenuates both viability and proliferation of vulvar cancer cells. In order to evaluate EP4 as a prognostic marker and possible target for endocrinological therapy, more research is needed on the influence of EP4 in the tumor environment and its impact in vulvar carcinoma.


Author(s):  
Philip J. Johnson ◽  
Sofi Dhanaraj ◽  
Sarah Berhane ◽  
Laura Bonnett ◽  
Yuk Ting Ma

Abstract Background The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a presumed measure of the balance between neutrophil-associated pro-tumour inflammation and lymphocyte-dependent antitumour immune function, has been suggested as a prognostic factor for several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods In this study, a prospectively accrued cohort of 781 patients (493 HCC and 288 chronic liver disease (CLD) without HCC) were followed-up for more than 6 years. NLR levels between HCC and CLD patients were compared, and the effect of baseline NLR on overall survival amongst HCC patients was assessed via multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results On entry into the study (‘baseline’), there was no clinically significant difference in the NLR values between CLD and HCC patients. Amongst HCC patients, NLR levels closest to last visit/death were significantly higher compared to baseline. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that NLR was an independent prognostic factor, even after adjustment for the HCC stage. Conclusion NLR is a significant independent factor influencing survival in HCC patients, hence offering an additional dimension in prognostic models.


Author(s):  
Andrew X. Zhu ◽  
Richard S. Finn ◽  
Yoon-Koo Kang ◽  
Chia-Jui Yen ◽  
Peter R. Galle ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Post hoc analyses assessed the prognostic and predictive value of baseline alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), as well as clinical outcomes by AFP response or progression, during treatment in two placebo-controlled trials (REACH, REACH-2). Methods Serum AFP was measured at baseline and every three cycles. The prognostic and predictive value of baseline AFP was assessed by Cox regression models and Subpopulation Treatment Effect Pattern Plot method. Associations between AFP (≥ 20% increase) and radiographic progression and efficacy were assessed. Results Baseline AFP was confirmed as a continuous (REACH, REACH-2; p < 0.0001) and dichotomous (≥400 vs. <400 ng/ml; REACH, p < 0.01) prognostic factor, and was predictive for ramucirumab survival benefit in REACH (p = 0.0042 continuous; p < 0.0001 dichotomous). Time to AFP (hazard ratio [HR] 0.513; p < 0.0001) and radiographic (HR 0.549; p < 0.0001) progression favoured ramucirumab. Association between AFP and radiographic progression was shown for up to 6 (odds ratio [OR] 5.1; p < 0.0001) and 6–12 weeks (OR 1.8; p = 0.0065). AFP response was higher with ramucirumab vs. placebo (p < 0.0001). Survival was longer in patients with an AFP response than patients without (13.6 vs. 5.6 months, HR 0.451; 95% confidence interval, 0.354–0.574; p < 0.0001). Conclusions AFP is an important prognostic factor and a predictive biomarker for ramucirumab survival benefit. AFP ≥ 400 ng/ml is an appropriate selection criterion for ramucirumab. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, REACH (NCT01140347) and REACH-2 (NCT02435433).


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8554
Author(s):  
Zhen Li ◽  
Wanmin Zhao ◽  
Miaoyao Nie

This paper applies fractal theory to research of green space in megacity parks due to the lack of a sufficient qualitative description of the scale structure of park green space, a quantifiable evaluation system, and operable planning methods in traditional studies. Taking Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen as examples, GIS spatial analysis technology and the Zipf model are used to calculate the fractal dimension (q), the goodness of fit (R2), and the degree of difference (C) to deeply interpret the connotation of indicators and conduct a comparative analysis between cities to reveal fractal characteristics and laws. The research results show that (1) the fractal dimension is related to the complexity of the park green space system; (2) the fractal dimension characterizes the hierarchical iteration of the park green space to a certain extent and reflects the internal order of the scale distribution; (3) the scale distribution of green space in megacity parks deviates from the ideal pyramid configuration; and (4) there are various factors affecting the scale structure of park green space, such as natural base conditions, urban spatial structure, and the continuation of historical genes working together. On this basis, a series of targeted optimization strategies are proposed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Song ◽  
Chuan Tian

Background. Marital status has been reported to be a prognostic factor in multiple malignancies. However, its prognostic value on gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have not yet been determined. The objective of the present analysis was to assess the effects of marital status on survival in patients with GISTs. Methods. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to analyze 6195 patients who were diagnosed with GISTs from 2001 to 2014. We also use Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression to analyze the impact of marital status on cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results. Patients in the married group had more frequency in white people, more high/moderate grade tumors, and were more likely to receive surgery. Widowed patients had a higher proportion of women, a greater proportion of older patients (>60 years), and more common site of the stomach. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that marital status was an independent prognostic factor for GISTs (P<0.001). Married patients had better CSS than unmarried patients (P<0.001). Subgroup analysis suggested that widowed patients had the lowest CSS compared with all other patients. Conclusions. Marital status is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with GISTs, and widowed patients are at greater risk of cancer-specific mortality.


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