Evaluation of relationship between cytokine and chemokine levels measured by using multiplex laboratory method before and after treatment and clinical course and treatment response in rheumathoid arthritis patients receiving TNF- and #945; blocker therapy

We present image processing algorithms for a new technique of ceramic proppant crush resistance characterization. To obtain the images of the proppant material before and after the test we used X-ray microtomography. We propose a watershed-based unsupervised algorithm for segmentation of proppant particles, as well as a set of parameters for the characterization of 3D particle size, shape, and porosity. An effective approach based on central geometric moments is described. The approach is used for calculation of particles’ form factor, compactness, equivalent ellipsoid axes lengths, and lengths of projections to these axes. Obtained grain size distribution and crush resistance fit the results of conventional test measured by sieves. However, our technique has a remarkable advantage over traditional laboratory method since it allows to trace the destruction at the level of individual particles and their fragments; it grants to analyze morphological features of fines. We also provide an example describing how the approach can be used for verification of statistical hypotheses about the correlation between particles’ parameters and their crushing under load.

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Lupus Nephritis: Role of Serum Complement Levels as Prognostic Marker

Journal of Clinical Research and Reports ◽

10.31579/2690-1919/124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 01-05

Author(s):

Richmond Gomes

Keyword(s):

Lupus Nephritis ◽

Treatment Response ◽

Lupus Erythematosus ◽

Serum Complement ◽

Class Iii ◽

Proliferative Lupus Nephritis ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Assess Treatment Response ◽

Serological Biomarkers

Background: Lupus Nephritis (LN) is one of the most common and serious manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Certain biomarkers for LN are sometimes able to assess treatment response of lupus nephritis. Objective: To compare serum complement levels (C3 & C4) as markers of treatment response of LN and their relation to the LN class in renal biopsy. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Nephrology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2018 to August 2019. Twenty seven patients who were diagnosed with lupus nephritis after kidney biopsy were included in this study. Serum complement levels (C3 & C4), 24 hours urinary total protein (24-hr UTP) and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-ds DNA) were measured in all patients at baseline, 3 months and 6 months after treatment. These biomarker values before and after treatment were compared between the treatment response and non response groups. Results: Serum C3 levels were significantly different in patients of proliferative lupus nephritis (Class III & Class IV) than non proliferative lupus nephritis (Class V) at baseline (0.47 ± 0.32 vs0.89 ± 0.43g/l, p = 0.009) and levels changed significantly 6 months after treatment (p <0.001) and likewise for Serum C4 levels (0.10 ± 0.06 vs0.24 ± 0.26g/l, p = 0.040). Serum C3 levels were also found to correlate significantly with SLEDAI and renal SLEDAI. No significant difference was observed for 24-hr UTP levels at baseline between remission and non-remission groups. Conclusion: Serum C3 & C4 levels may be utilized as serological biomarkers to predict and monitor the treatment response of lupus nephritis.

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Coexisting Germline CHEK2 and Somatic BRAFV600E Mutations in Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Their Association with Clinicopathological Features and Disease Course

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11111744 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 1744 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Danuta Gąsior-Perczak ◽

Artur Kowalik ◽

Agnieszka Walczyk ◽

Monika Siołek ◽

Krzysztof Gruszczyński ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Treatment Response ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Repair Process ◽

Clinicopathological Features ◽

Older Age ◽

Disease Outcome ◽

Disease Course ◽

Papillary Thyroid ◽

Risk Treatment ◽

Aggressive Clinical Course

BRAFV600E is the most common somatic mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and the majority of evidence indicates that it is associated with an aggressive clinical course. Germline mutations of the CHEK2 gene impair the DNA damage repair process and increase the risk of PTC. Coexistence of both mutations is expected to be associated with poorer clinical course. We evaluated the prevalence of concomitant CHEK2 and BRAFV600E mutations and their associations with clinicopathological features, treatment response, and disease course in PTC patients. The study included 427 unselected PTC patients (377 women and 50 men) from one center. Relationships among clinicopathological features, mutation status, treatment response, and disease outcomes were assessed. Mean follow-up was 10 years. CHEK2 mutations were detected in 15.2% and BRAFV600E mutations in 64.2% patients. Neither mutation was present in 31.4% cases and both BRAFV600E and CHEK2 mutations coexisted in 10.8% patients. No significant differences in clinicopathological features, initial risk, treatment response, or disease outcome were detected among these patient groups. CHEK2 mutations were significantly associated with older age, while BRAFV600E was significantly associated with older age and extrathyroidal extension. The coexistence of both mutations was not associated with more aggressive clinicopathological features of PTC, poorer treatment response, or disease outcome.

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Influence of the Subtle Energetic Changes on the Treatment Response in Patients with Insomnia

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v9n9p90 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 90

Author(s):

Edvard V. Kryzhanovskii ◽

Alexander B. Yavorsky ◽

Kwong C. Lim

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disturbance ◽

Treatment Response ◽

Psychological Indicators ◽

Eeg Data ◽

Before And After ◽

Psychophysiological Insomnia ◽

Somatic Disorders ◽

Insomnia Treatment

The article examines the questions of the treatment of insomnia in patients who do not have neurological, mental, and somatic disorders. A nonmedicamental method of sleep disturbance correction in persons with psychophysiological insomnia is considered. In particular, it is proposed to use AM-therapy as a method of insomnia treatment which implies that the patients sleep on the special activated mattresses. To assess the condition of patients before and after the treatment, clinical, psychophysiological and electroencephalographic (EEG) methods are used. The effectiveness of applying this type of insomnia therapy is provided by the improvement of the psychological indicators and EEG data.

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P1356PACLITAXEL-COATED BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY FOR STENOSIS OF ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULA IN PATIENTS UNDER HEMODIALYSIS: 18TH MONTH FOLLOW-UP

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfaa142.p1356 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

IOANNIS GRIVEAS ◽

GEORGIOS VOURLIOTAKIS ◽

IOANNIS KANDOUNAKIS

Keyword(s):

Clinical Course ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Minimal Invasive ◽

Arteriovenous Fistulas ◽

Day Clinic ◽

Before And After ◽

Vascular Stenosis ◽

Stage Renal Disease ◽

End Stage

Abstract Background and Aims The recording of the experience of the use of paclitaxel-coated balloons in patients with End Stage Renal Disease under hemodialysis (HD) exhibiting narrowing in arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). Method 20 patients with ultrasonographically confirmed AVF dysfunction were subjected after angiographic screening to prosthesis with a simple angioplasty balloon, and then a balloon drug gradually released the drug paclitaxel. After the damage was restored (one-day clinic), arteriovenous communication was used immediately. The degree of vascular stenosis, blood flow to it and kt / V before and after recovery were assessed by ultrasound. At the same time, the clinical course of the patient and the vestibule of the vessel were monitored for 18 months. Results In the 20 patients of the study, since the damage was recovered, AVF was immediately treated without any problems. After angioplasty the degree of stenosis of the responsible vessel was statistically significantly reduced from 69.85% to 27.38% (p <0.05). Flow volume increased statistically significantly from 690.47 mils / min to 942.67 mils / min (p <0.05). The kt / v of patients improved from 1.25 to 1.6. During the 18th -month follow-up, the clinical course of the patients was stable, no problems related to vascular access appeared. Restenosis occurred to two patients, one of each received another successful angioplasty. Conclusion Drug-releasing balloons can be a useful therapeutic option for patients with AVF stenosis due to accelerated endothelial hyperplasia. The use of paclitaxel-coated balloons helps reduce the risk of restenosis of arteriovenous anastomoses and is a safe, time consuming, minimal invasive and immediate solution to AVF management.

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