Searching for the Novel Specific Predictors of Prostate Cancer in Urine: The Analysis of 84 miRNA Expression

The aim of this study was to investigate miRNA profiles of clarified urine supernatant and combined urine vesicle fractions of healthy donors and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer (PCa). The comparative analysis of miRNA expression was conducted with a custom miRCURY LNA miRNA qPCR panel. Significant combinations of miRNA pairs were selected by the RandomForest-based feature selection algorithm Boruta; the difference of the medians between the groups and a 95% confidence interval was built using the bootstrap approach. The Asymptotic Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney Test was performed for miRNA combinations to compare different groups of donors. Benjamini-Hochberg correction was used to adjust the statistical significance for multiple comparisons. The most diagnostically significant miRNAs pairs were miR-107-miR-26b.5p and miR-375.3p-miR-26b.5p in the urine supernatant fraction that discriminated the group of healthy patients and PCa patients, as well as miR-31.5p-miR-16.5p, miR-31.5p-miR-200b, miR-31.5p-miR-30e.3p and miR-31.5p-miR-660.5p in the fraction extracellular vesicles that were different between healthy men and benign prostate hyperplasia patients. Such statistical criteria as the occurrence of individual significant miRNA pairs in the total number of comparisons, median ΔCt difference, and confidence interval can be useful tools for determining reliable markers of PCa.

Download Full-text

Lack of influence of the antidopaminergic drug domperidone on basal and TRH-stimulated TSH-serum levels after oral administration

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1010550 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 101 (4) ◽

pp. 550-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K. W. Wenzel ◽

J. Döring

Keyword(s):

Oral Administration ◽

Thyroid Function ◽

Oral Absorption ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Oral Intake ◽

Serum Levels ◽

The Novel ◽

Antiemetic Drug ◽

First Pass ◽

The Difference

Abstract. Since antidopaminergic drugs are known to elevate basal and TRH-stimulated TSH-serum levels and since this effect was also shown after iv administration of the novel dopamine antagonistic agent domperidone, it was investigated, whether this antiemetic drug could interfere after oral intake with the evaluation of thyroid function. Oral domperidone caused a marked TSH-enhancement of TRH-induced TSH increments in 6 out of 14 euthyroid subjects, with no statistical significance, however. The difference between oral and parenteral influence as well as inter-individual changes are probably due to the varying first pass effect of the drug after oral absorption.

Download Full-text

StaTips Part VIII: Confidence interval for the sample mean

South European Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Research ◽

10.5937/sejodr7-27200 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 2-3

Author(s):

Giuseppe Perinetti

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Small Group ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

P Value ◽

Sample Mean ◽

Type Population ◽

The Difference ◽

Conducting Research

When conducting research on a given type of patients, it is impossible to examine all the existing subjects of that type (population)to derive the true mean of the parameter of interest. More realistically, by the investigation of a small group of subjects (sample) fromthe whole population, researchers can estimate an interval into which the true mean of the population lies. In statistics, such interval isreferred to as confidence interval (CI). The calculation of the CI from a sample mean is simple and gives important information, not onlyregarding the true mean of the population, but also on the statistical significance of the difference between groups being compared. Forthese reasons, the reporting of the CIs is preferred over the p value alone.

Download Full-text

The Value of P504s, 34βE12, Ki-67 and PSA in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

Nepalese Journal of Cancer ◽

10.3126/njc.v4i1.31849 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 88-93

Author(s):

Jin-Qi Song ◽

Ya-Nan Zhou ◽

Gang-Liang Tu ◽

Hui Xu

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Gleason Score ◽

Poor Prognosis ◽

Specific Antigen ◽

Control Group ◽

Ki 67 ◽

Prostate Hyperplasia ◽

Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽

Diagnosis Rate ◽

The Difference

Background: In recent years, the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) is increasing. Advanced PCa has a poor prognosis and high cost, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Therefore, how to improve the diagnosis rate and prognosis of early PCa is the focus of clinical research. This paper aims to investigate the value of P504s, 34βE12, Ki-67 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the diagnosis and prognosis of PCa. Objective: To investigate the expression of P504s, 34βE12, Ki67 and PSA in prostate tissues and their clinical significance. Methods: Twenty four cases in the study group were selected from PCa confirmed by pathology in the urology department of Chengde Affiliated Hospital from October 2018 to August 2020, and 33 cases of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) confirmed by pathology in the same period were selected as the control group. The expression of P504s, 34βE12 and Ki-67 in prostate tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The positive expression rates of P504s, 34βE12 and TPSA or F/TPSA in PCa patients were 95.8%, 12.5% and 87.5%, respectively. The positive rates in BPH patients were 9.1%, 93.9% and 27.3%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). PCa bone or lymph node metastasis was positively correlated with Ki-67 (r=0.423, p<0.05) and Gleason score (r=0.446, p<0.05), indicating a stronger correlation with Gleasonscore. Conclusion: The combined detection of P504s, 34βE12 and PSA is helpful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PCa. High Gleason score and ki-67 expression may indicate high risk of PCa metastasis and poor prognosis.

Download Full-text

Estimating late toxicities based on multivariable NTCP models in patients of high-risk prostate cancer requiring pelvic nodal irradiation: Comparison between Proton beam therapy and helical tomotherapy

10.21203/rs.3.rs-776343/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Srinivas Chilukuri ◽

Sham Sundar ◽

Kartikeswar Patro ◽

Mayur Sawant ◽

Rangasamy Sivaraman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

High Risk ◽

Helical Tomotherapy ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Proton Beam Therapy ◽

Matched Pair ◽

Rank Test ◽

High Risk Prostate Cancer ◽

Signed Rank Test ◽

The Difference

Abstract Purpose:To compare the estimated late gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities between pencil beam scanning proton bream therapy (PBT) and helical Tomotherapy (HT) in patients of high-risk prostate cancers requiring pelvic nodal irradiation (PNI) using moderate hypo-fractionated regimen.Materials and MethodsTwelve consecutive patients treated with PBT at our centre were re-planned with HT using the same dose prescription and constraints. Late GI and GU toxicities were estimated based on the published NTCP models using clinico-dosimetric parameters. ΔNTCP (difference in absolute NTCP between HT and PBT plans) for each toxicity domains for all patients were calculated. Based on ΔNTCP, model-based selection (MBS) thresholds for PBT were applied on the dataset. One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to analyze distribution of data and either Paired T-test or Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test was used to test statistical significance. ResultsPBT and HT plans achieved adequate target coverage. PBT plans led to significantly better sparing of bladder, rectum and bowel bag especially in the intermediate range of 15-40Gy; whereas doses to penile bulb and femoral heads were higher with PBT plans. The average ΔNTCP for grade(G)2-rectal bleeding, G2-fecal incontinence, G2-stool frequency, G2-dysuria, G2-urinary incontinence and G1-hematuria were 12.17%, 1.67%, 2%, 5.83%, 2.42% and 3.91% respectively favoring PBT plans. The average cumulative ΔNTCP for GI and GU toxicities (ΣΔNTCP) were 16.58% (8.25-24.95; 95% CI) and 11.41%(6.8-16.05) respectively favoring PBT. On applying the MBS threshold of any G2 ΔNTCP >10%, 8 (67%) patients would have qualified for PBT.Conclusion:PBT plans led to superior OAR sparing compared to HT which translated to lower NTCP for late moderate GI and GU toxicities in patients of prostate cancer treated with PNI. For two-thirds of our patients, the difference in estimated absolute NTCP values between PBT and HT, crossed the accepted threshold for minimal clinically important difference.

Download Full-text

Carotene dioxygenase (EC 1. 13. 11. 21) activity in rat intestine: effects of vitamin A deficiency and of pregnancy

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn19860091 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 115-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Laurence Villard ◽

C. J. Bates

Keyword(s):

Vitamin A ◽

Vitamin A Deficiency ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Supernatant Fraction ◽

Retinyl Acetate ◽

Vitamin A Status ◽

Severe Deficiency ◽

Weanling Rats ◽

The Difference ◽

Tissue Vitamin

1. Female weanling rats were fed on a purified diet containing either no vitamin A, apart from traces present in casein (deficient groups), or the same diet containing 1.55 mg retinol as retinyl acetate/kg (control groups). In one experiment the deficient groups were given 1 μg retinol/d after 10 weeks, to permit successful reproduction under conditions of marginal vitamin A status. A proportion were mated at 11 weeks after weaning, and fetal development was permitted for 7 d or for 20 d before killing.2. Carotene dioxygenase (EC 1. 13.11.21) activity was measured in a supernatant fraction from intestinal mucosal scrapings. For each group, activity was 20–30% greater in the vitamin-A-deficient animals than in the controls, and the difference reached statistical significance for the virgin and 7 d pregnant animals in the first experiment (severe deficiency) and for the 20 d pregnant animals in the second experiment (less-severe deficiency).3. It is suggested that low tissue vitamin A levels may feedback to increase carotene dioxygenase activity, by mechanisms at present unknown, presumably to ensure a more efficient use of precursor dietary carotenoids.

Download Full-text

MMP-9 Overexpression Due to TIMP-1 and RECK Underexpression is Associated with Prognosis in Prostate Cancer

The International Journal of Biological Markers ◽

10.5301/jbm.2011.8831 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 255-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sabrina Thalita Reis ◽

José Pontes-Junior ◽

Alberto Azoubel Antunes ◽

Juliana Moreira De Sousa-Canavez ◽

Marcos Francisco Dall'Oglio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Specific Pattern ◽

Control Group ◽

Negative Regulators ◽

Prostate Hyperplasia ◽

Fresh Frozen ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Tissue Specimens

Background Extracellular matrix homeostasis is strictly maintained by a coordinated balance between the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the expression of MMP-9 and its specific inhibitors, TIMP-1 and RECK, are expressed in a reproducible, specific pattern and if the profiles are related to prognosis and clinical outcome in prostate cancer (PC). Methods MMP-9, TIMP-1, and RECK expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in fresh-frozen malignant tissue specimens collected from 79 patients with clinically localized PC submitted to radical prostatectomy (RP). Frozen benign prostatic tissue from another 10 men with prostate cancer, also submitted to RP, was analyzed to determine if the profile of gene expression was maintained. The control group consisted of 11 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Results In the tumor samples, MMP-9 was overexpressed by 9.2 times, and TIMP-1 and RECK were underexpressed (0.75 and 0.80 times, respectively). Overexpression of MMP-9 was significantly related to PSA levels above 10 ng/mL (p=0.033). In addition, MMP-9 overexpression was related to biochemical recurrence, with a marginal statistical significance (p=0.089). MMP-9 was also overexpressed in benign tissues of patients with PC, as were TIMP-1 and RECK, in contrast to their underexpression in tumor samples. Conclusion Our results show that MMP-9 is overexpressed and its negative regulators are underexpressed in PC tissue, emphasizing a possible role of MMP-9 in the carcinogenesis process. Additionally, we noticed a relationship between MMP-9 overexpression and increased levels of PSA, an important prognostic factor. In benign tissue adjacent to tumors, the MMP-9 equilibrium is likely maintained because the expression of its negative regulators is preserved.

Download Full-text

Understanding the Difference Between Standard Deviation and Standard Error of the Mean, and Knowing When to Use Which

Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1177/0253717620933419 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 (4) ◽

pp. 409-410

Author(s):

Chittaranjan Andrade

Keyword(s):

Standard Deviation ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Standard Error ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Sample Mean ◽

Population Mean ◽

Sample Data ◽

The Mean ◽

The Difference

Many authors are unsure of whether to present the mean along with the standard deviation (SD) or along with the standard error of the mean (SEM). The SD is a descriptive statistic that estimates the scatter of values around the sample mean; hence, the SD describes the sample. In contrast, the SEM is an estimate of how close the sample mean is to the population mean; it is an intermediate term in the calculation of the 95% confidence interval around the mean, and (where applicable) statistical significance; the SEM does not describe the sample. Therefore, the mean should always be accompanied by the SD when describing the sample. There are many reasons why the SEM continues to be reported, and it is argued that none of these is justifiable. In fact, presentation of SEMs may mislead readers into believing that the sample data are more precise than they actually are. Given that the standard error is not presented for other parameters, such as difference between means or proportions, and difference between proportions, it is suggested that presentation of SEM values can be done away with, altogether.

Download Full-text

Are women leaders significantly better at controlling the contagion?

10.1101/2020.06.06.20124487 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Soumik Purkayastha ◽

Maxwell Salvatore ◽

Bhramar Mukherjee

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Women Leaders ◽

Median Time ◽

Reproduction Number ◽

Time Varying ◽

The Novel ◽

Median Percentage ◽

The Difference ◽

Novel Coronavirus

AbstractRecent media articles have suggested that women-led countries are doing better in terms of their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We examine an ensemble of public health metrics to assess the control of COVID-19 epidemic in women- versus men-led countries worldwide based on data available up to June 3. The median of the distribution of median time-varying effective reproduction number for women- and men-led countries were 0.89 and 1.14 respectively with the 95% two-sample bootstrap-based confidence interval for the difference (women - men) being [- 0.34, 0.02]. In terms of scale of testing, the median percentage of population tested were 3.28% (women), 1.59% (men) [95% CI: (−1.29%, 3.60%)] with test positive rates of 2.69% (women) and 4.94% (men) respectively. It appears that though statistically not significant, countries led by women have an edge over countries led by men in terms of public health metrics for controlling the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.One Sentence SummaryWe quantitatively compare countries led by women with countries led by men in terms of public health metrics for controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Download Full-text

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF MULTIPARAMETRIC ENDORECTAL ULTRASOUND AND ENHANCED IMAGING COLONOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EARLY COLORECTAL CANCER

Koloproktologia ◽

10.33878/2073-7556-2020-19-3-49-64 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 49-64

Author(s):

E. M. Bogdanova ◽

Yu. L. Trubacheva ◽

O. M. Yugai ◽

S. V. Chernyshov ◽

E. G. Rybakov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Muscle Layer ◽

Endorectal Ultrasound ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Early Colorectal Cancer ◽

Morphological Examination ◽

Optical Magnification ◽

The Difference ◽

Enhanced Imaging

AIM: to compare multiparametric endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) and enhanced imaging colonoscopy in the diagnosis of early colorectal cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODS: the study included 78 patients with epithelial rectal tumor. All the patients underwent multiparametric ERUS and colonoscopy with examination by narrow beam imaging (NBI) at optical magnification. All the patients were operated.RESULTS: a morphological examination removed specimens revealed adenomas in 48 cases, in 19 specimens – adenocarcinomas in situ and T1, and in 11 specimens – adenocarcinomas with invasion of the muscle layer or deeper. When calculating the accuracy indicators of diagnostic methods for groups of patients with adenoma, Tis-T1 adenocarcinoma, and T2-T3 adenocarcinoma, the difference in the sensitivity and specificity of the methods in none of the presented groups did not reach the level of statistical significance (p>0.05).ROC analysis showed that ultrasound has a prognostic value comparable to colonoscopy. The area difference was 0.013 (p=0.85).CONCLUSION: endoscopy and ultrasound have similar value in the diagnosis of malignant transformation of rectal adenomas.

Download Full-text

Clinical Study of Qingpeng Ointment Treatment of Shoulder-Hand Syndrome After Cerebral Hemorrhage During the Rehabilitation Period

Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening ◽

10.2174/1386207323666201211093227 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

Author(s):

Ruihuan Pan ◽

Shanshan Ling ◽

Haodong Yang ◽

Yan Huang ◽

Lechang Zhan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Cerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Clinical Medicine ◽

External Rotation ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Hand Function ◽

Tibetan Medicine ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

The Difference

Background: Shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) refers to a syndrome causing sudden edema, shoulder pain and limited hand function. Qingpeng ointment, a kind of Tibetan medicine, can reduce swelling, relieve pain, tonify stagnation and clear the meridians, which is consistent with the pathological mechanism of SHS after stroke. Therefore, if clinical trials can be used to explore the effectiveness of Qingpeng ointment for treatment of poststroke SHS and promote its application in clinical medicine, this is of specific significance for the treatment of poststroke SHS. Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Qingpeng ointment in the treatment of poststroke SHS. To provide an objective basis for a better therapeutic treatment for poststroke SHS． Method: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted. This study recruited 120 patients with poststroke SHS who met the inclusion criteria. They were randomized into the treatment group and the control group, with 60 patients allocated to each group. The treatment group received routine medical treatment and rehabilitative care after using the Qingpeng ointment, while the patients in the control group received only routine treatment without the ointment. All patients received clinical assessment with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), measurement of the range of motion (ROM) of the upper-limb joints, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-U) and the Modified Barthel Index Score (MBI) before and after the whole treatment. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, the VAS scores of both groups were decreased significantly (P＜0.05), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There is no statistical significance for the difference between the treatment group and control group in terms of the FMA-U and MBI scores and the forward bend, backward, outstretch, external rotation and pronation angles after treatment. The increases in the values of VAS, FMA-M and MBI in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The increases in the values of the forward bend, outreach and external rotation angles in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The treatment group showed better results than the control group in terms of the relief of pain symptoms, the improvement of motor function and the improvement of the activities of daily living for patients with shoulder-hand syndrome after cerebral hemorrhage. Qingpeng ointment is effective and safe in treating poststroke SHS.

Download Full-text