• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권18호
• /
• pp.7971-7975
• /
• 2014

Background: From our previous study, we established that cyclin A1 (CCNA1) promoter methylation is strongly correlated with multistep progression of HPV-associated cervical cancer, suggesting potential use as a diagnostic maker of disease. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of CCNA1 promoter methylation in residual cervical cells isolated from liquid-based cytology that underwent hrHPV DNA screening for cervical cancer, and then to evaluate this marker for diagnostic accuracy using parameters like sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratio. Methods: In this retrospective study, histopathology was used as the gold standard method with specimens separated into the following groups: negative (n=31), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL, n=34) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (HSIL+, n=32). The hrHPV was detected by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) and CCNA1 promoter methylation was examined by CCNA1 duplex methylation specific PCR. Results: The results showed the frequencies of CCNA1 promoter methylation were 0%, 5.88% and 83.33%, while the percentages of hrHPV were 66.67%, 82.35% and 100% in the negative, LSIL and HSIL+ groups, respectively. Although hrHPV infection showed high frequency in all three groups, it could not differentiate between the different groups and grades of precancerous lesions. In contrast, CCNA1 promoter methylation clearly distinguished between negative/LSIL and HSIL+, with high levels of all statistic parameters. Conclusion: CCNA1 promoter methylation is a potential marker for distinguishing between histologic negative/LSIL and HSIL+using cervical cytology samples.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제33권10호
• /
• pp.1351-1360
• /
• 2023

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that disturb hormonal homeostasis by binding to receptors. EDCs are metabolized through hepatic enzymes, causing altered transcriptional activities of hormone receptors, and thus necessitating the exploration of the potential endocrine-disrupting activities of EDC-derived metabolites. Accordingly, we have developed an integrative workflow for evaluating the post-metabolic activity of potential hazardous compounds. The system facilitates the identification of metabolites that exert hormonal disruption through the integrative application of an MS/MS similarity network and predictive biotransformation based on known hepatic enzymatic reactions. As proof-of-concept, the transcriptional activities of 13 chemicals were evaluated by applying the in vitro metabolic module (S9 fraction). Identified among the tested chemicals were three thyroid hormone receptor (THR) agonistic compounds that showed increased transcriptional activities after phase I+II reactions (T3, 309.1 ± 17.3%; DITPA, 30.7 ± 1.8%; GC-1, 160.6 ± 8.6% to the corresponding parents). The metabolic profiles of these three compounds showed common biotransformation patterns, particularly in the phase II reactions (glucuronide conjugation, sulfation, GSH conjugation, and amino acid conjugation). Data-dependent exploration based on molecular network analysis of T3 profiles revealed that lipids and lipid-like molecules were the most enriched biotransformants. The subsequent subnetwork analysis proposed 14 additional features, including T4 in addition to 9 metabolized compounds that were annotated by prediction system based on possible hepatic enzymatic reaction. The other 10 THR agonistic negative compounds showed unique biotransformation patterns according to structural commonality, which corresponded to previous in vivo studies. Our evaluation system demonstrated highly predictive and accurate performance in determining the potential thyroid-disrupting activity of EDC-derived metabolites and for proposing novel biotransformants.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권6호
• /
• pp.3819-3823
• /
• 2013

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The outcome of HCC depends mainly on its early diagnosis. To date, the performance of traditional biomarkers is unsatisfactory. Talins were firstly identified as cytoplasmic protein partners of integrins but Talin-1 appears to play a crucial role in cancer formation and progression. Our study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of serum Talin-1 (TLN1) compared to the most feasible traditional biomarker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HCC. Methods: TLN1 was detected using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from 120 Egyptian subjects including 40 with HCC, 40 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 40 healthy controls (HC). Results: ROC curve analysis was used to create a predictive model for TLN1 relative to AFP in HCC diagnosis. Serum levels of TLN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients were significantly higher compared to the other groups (p<0.0001). The diagnostic accuracy of TLN1 was higher than that of AFP regarding sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value in diagnosis of HCC. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that Talin-1 (TLN1) is a potential diagnostic marker for HCC, with a higher sensitivity and specificity compared to the traditional biomarker AFP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제42권2호
• /
• pp.92-96
• /
• 2007

Objective : The authors have speculated that metastatic brain lesions from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) show diverse radiological patterns and tumor responses after Gamma knife surgery (GKS), and have hypothesized that these can be predicted from tumor radiological characteristics. The goal of the current study was to identify the radiological characteristics of RCC brain metastases and the predictors of initial radiosurgical response after GKS. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on 48 lesions in 18 patients with RCC brain metastasis treated by GKS. The radiological characteristics of these lesions in magnetic resonance images (MRI) were classified into 3 categories according to enhancement patterns in T1-weighted images and signal intensity characteristics in T2-weighted images. Responses to GKS were analyzed according to these categories, and in addition, other potential predictive factors were also evaluated. Results : MRI findings in the three categories were diverse, though numbers of the lesion were comparable. At 2-month MRI follow-ups after GKS, response rate was 54% and the local tumor control rate 83%. T2 signal intensity was found to be the principal predictive factor of response to GKS, namely negative predictive factor. Other variables such as age, sex, tumor volume, dose, duration from initial diagnosis to GKS, and previous systemic therapies failed to show significant relationships with treatment response by multivariate analysis. Conclusion : Careful evaluation of the radiological characteristics of brain metastases from RCC is important prior to GKS because MRI heterogeneity has predictive value in terms of determining initial tumor response.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.268-277
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although it is crucial to identify those children likely to be treated in an appropriate nutrition rehabilitation programme and discharge them at the appropriate time, there is no golden standard for such identification. The current study examined the appropriateness of using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference for the identification, follow-up and discharge of malnourished children. We also assessed its discrepancy with the Weight-for-Height based diagnosis, the rate of recovery, and the discharge criteria of the children during nutrition rehabilitation. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study present findings from 156 children (aged 6-59 months) attending a supplementary feeding programme at Makadara and Jericho Health Centres, Eastern District of Nairobi, Kenya. Records of age, weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference were selected at three stages of nutrition rehabilitation: admission, follow-up and discharge. The values obtained were then used to calculate z-scores as defined by WHO Anthro while estimating different diagnostic indices. RESULTS: Mid-upper arm circumference single cut-off (< 12.5 cm) was found to exhibit high values of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio at both admission and discharge. Besides, children recorded higher rate of recovery at 86 days, an average increment of 0.98 cm at the rate of 0.14mm/day, and a weight gain of 13.49gm/day, albeit higher in female than their male counterparts. Nevertheless, children admitted on basis of low MUAC had a significantly higher MUAC gain than WH at 0.19mm/day and 0.13mm/day respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-upper arm circumference can be an appropriate tool for identifying malnourished children for admission to nutrition rehabilitation programs. Our results confirm the appropriateness of this tool for monitoring recovery trends and discharging the children thereafter. In principle the tool has potential to minimize nutrition rehabilitation costs, particularly in community therapeutic centres in developing countries.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.22-28
• /
• 2010

유방암 중에서 가장 발생율이 높은 침윤성 관상피암을 대상으로 생체 국소 수소핵 자기공명분광법(localized in vivo $^1H$ MRS)을 시행하여 조직학적 형태에 따른 자기공명 분광상(MR spectroscopy)의 특성을 분석하고자 본 연구를 실시하였다. 조직학적으로 침윤성 관상피암으로 진단 받은 환자 40명을 대상으로 하여 종양이 있는 부위를 실험군으로 정하였고 종양이 없는 반대쪽 부위를 대조군으로 정하여 3.0T MR scanner를 이용한 수소핵 자기공명분광영상으로 검사를 시행하여 영상 및 분광 정보를 얻었다. 유방암 환자 40명 중 34명(85%)에서 3.2 ppm 분광정점을 확인할 수 있었고 MRS상 3.2 ppm에서의 분광정점 발현여부를 유방암의 진단 기준으로 선택하는 경우 민감도는 85% (34/40), 특이도는 92.5% (37/40), 양성예측율은 100% (34/34), 음성 예측율은 86% (37/43)이었다. 정상 조직의 1.3 ppm에서의 분광정점을 진단 기준으로 정할때 민감도는 92.5% (37/40), 특이도는 85% (34/40), 양성 예측율은 100% (37/37), 음성 예측율은 91.8% (34/37)이었다. $^1H$ MRS방법이 유방암의 진단에 이용될 수 있는 가능성을 제시하였고 추후 지속적인 연구를 통해 임상적으로 진단 및 치료 판정에 널리 이용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권12호
• /
• pp.7433-7438
• /
• 2013

Aim: To identify new biomarkers for NPC diagnosis with an anti-EBV Western blot test kit. Methods: Serum samples from 64 NPC patients and healthy subjects with four specific VCA-IgA/EA-IgA profiles were tested with an anti-EBV Western blot test kit from EUROIMMUN AG. Proteins were quantified with scores of intensity visually assigned to the protein bands. The markers which showed statistical differences between the NPC and non-NPC subjects were further evaluated in another 32 NPC patients and 32 controls in comparison with established biomarkers including VCA-IgA, EA-IgA, EBV-related protein IgG, and EBV DNA. Results: Among the markers screened, EA-D p45-IgG showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between NPC and non-NPC subjects with VCA-IgA positivy. In 32 VCA-IgA positive NPC patients and 32 control subjects, the diagnostic accuracy of EA-D p45-IgG was 78.1% with a positive predictive value of 77.8% and a negative predictive value of 78.6%. In the verification experiment, the specificity and sensitivity of EA-D p45-IgG were 75.0% and 90.6 %, respectively. Conclusions: EA-D p45-IgG might be a potential biomarker for NPC diagnosis, especially among VCA-IgA positive subjects.

• 한국환경복원기술학회지
• /
• 제19권6호
• /
• pp.19-30
• /
• 2016

The projection of climate-related range shift is critical information for conservation planning of Korean fir (Abies koreana E. H. Wilson). We first modeled the distribution of Korean fir under current climate condition using five single-model species distribution models (SDMs) and the pre-evaluation weighted ensemble method and then predicted the distributions under future climate conditions projected with HadGEM2-AO under four $CO_2$ emission scenarios, the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5, 6.0 and 8.5. We also investigated the predictive uncertainty stemming from five individual algorithms and four $CO_2$ emission scenarios for better interpretation of SDM projections. Five individual algorithms were Generalized linear model (GLM), Generalized additive model (GAM), Multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), Generalized boosted model (GBM) and Random forest (RF). The results showed high variations of model performances among individual SDMs and the wide range of diverging predictions of future distributions of Korean fir in response to RCPs. The ensemble model presented the highest predictive accuracy (TSS = 0.97, AUC = 0.99) and predicted that the climate habitat suitability of Korean fir would increase under climate changes. Accordingly, the fir distribution could expand under future climate conditions. Increasing precipitation may account for increases in the distribution of Korean fir. Increasing precipitation compensates the negative effects of increasing temperature. However, the future distribution of Korean fir is also affected by other ecological processes, such as interactions with co-existing species, adaptation and dispersal limitation, and other environmental factors, such as extreme weather events and land-use changes. Therefore, we need further ecological research and to develop mechanistic and process-based distribution models for improving the predictive accuracy.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• 제48권2호
• /
• pp.114-123
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to develop a computer-assisted detection system based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm and to evaluate the potential usefulness and accuracy of this system for the diagnosis and prediction of periodontally compromised teeth (PCT). Methods: Combining pretrained deep CNN architecture and a self-trained network, periapical radiographic images were used to determine the optimal CNN algorithm and weights. The diagnostic and predictive accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve, confusion matrix, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using our deep CNN algorithm, based on a Keras framework in Python. Results: The periapical radiographic dataset was split into training (n=1,044), validation (n=348), and test (n=348) datasets. With the deep learning algorithm, the diagnostic accuracy for PCT was 81.0% for premolars and 76.7% for molars. Using 64 premolars and 64 molars that were clinically diagnosed as severe PCT, the accuracy of predicting extraction was 82.8% (95% CI, 70.1%-91.2%) for premolars and 73.4% (95% CI, 59.9%-84.0%) for molars. Conclusions: We demonstrated that the deep CNN algorithm was useful for assessing the diagnosis and predictability of PCT. Therefore, with further optimization of the PCT dataset and improvements in the algorithm, a computer-aided detection system can be expected to become an effective and efficient method of diagnosing and predicting PCT.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제50권11호
• /
• pp.1061-1066
• /
• 2007

목 적 : 소아의 발달 장애는 조기에 발견하면 조기 치료가 가능하게 되어 치료 효과가 높아지고 후유 장애를 최소화할 수 있다. 발달 장애의 조기 발견을 위하여 기존에 사용해 오던 정식 발달 선별검사는 대부분 시간이 오래 걸리고, 복잡하며, 의료인력이 추가로 필요하기 때문에 바쁜 소아과 외래에서 모든 소아에게 적용하기는 어렵다. 기존의 발달검사 대신에 부모가 작성한 내용을 토대로 평가하는 발달 설문 양식들 중 Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)는 60개월 이전의 소아의 발달 선별을 목적으로 개발된 검사이다. 본 연구의 목적은 소아과 외래에서 시행하는 발달 지연의 선별 도구로서 ASQ의 타당성을 알아보기 위한 것이다. 방 법 : 가톨릭대학교 의과대학 부속 성모병원 소아과 외래를 방문한 소아의 부모에게 진료 전 대기 시간 동안 한국형 ASQ (K-ASQ)를 완성하도록 하였다. 설문지를 완성한 총 150명 중 만삭 출생아이며 이전에 발달지연의 진단을 받은 적이 없고, 기타 선천성 기형, 경련성 질환을 포함한 신경학적 이상, 유전성 질환의 경력이 없는 소아 67명을 대상으로 하였다. K-ASQ는 각 영역별로 평균에서 2 표준편차(SD) 아래 점수보다 낮으면 "실패"로 판정하며, 한 발달 분야 이상에서 "실패"가 있는 경우를 "선별검사 양성"으로 하였다. 최종 발달평가는 Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II (BSID-II)를 사용하여 판단하였으며, 지능 혹은 운동발달 지수가 평균보다 -1 SD 미만인 경우는 발달지연으로 판정하였다. K-ASQ의 결과를 BSID-II와 비교하여 분석하였다. 결 과 : 1) 대상아의 평균 연령은 $16.4{\pm}7.4$개월($6{\pm}30$개월 범위, 중앙치 14개월)이었다. 10명(14.9%)은 출생 시 부당경량아였으며, 평균 출생체중 $3.1{\pm}0.6kg$, 재태기간 $38.8{\pm}1.4$주이었다. 9명(13.4%)이 쌍생아였고, 33명(49.0%)이 남아였다. 대상 소아들의 모친의 평균 교육 기간은 $13.6{\pm}2.4$년, 53명(79.1%)이 고등학교 졸업 이상의 학력을 가졌고, 21명(31.3%)이 정규직 근무자였다. ASQ 설문지를 완성하는데 평균 $10.2{\pm}3.0$분이 소요되었다. (2) 17명(25.4%)이 ASQ 선별검사 양성이었는데, 그 중 4명은 발달이 지연되었고, 나머지 13명의 발달은 정상이었다. BSID-II로 판정한 발달 지연아 8명 중 4명은 ASQ 선별검사에서 양성이었고, 다른 4명은 선별검사 음성이었다. ASQ 선별검사 음성인 50명 중 4명이 발달지연으로 판단되었다. (3) BSID-II와 비교한 K-ASQ의 민감도(sensitivity)는 50.0%, 특이도(specificity) 78.0%, 양성 예측치 (positive predictive value) 23.5%, 음성 예측치(negative predictive value)는 92.0%로 나타났다. 결 론 : K-ASQ는 높은 음성 예측치를 보여 소아과 외래에서 소아 발달 지연의 선별 도구로서 사용하는 것이 타당한 것으로 판단되었다.