Polygenic Risk Score for Cardiovascular Diseases in Artificial Intelligence Paradigm: A Review

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) related mortality and morbidity heavily strain society. The relationship between external risk factors and our genetics have not been well established.It is widely acknowledged that environmental influence and individual behaviours play a significant role in CVD vulnerability, leading to the development of polygenic risk scores (PRS). We employed the PRISMA search method to locate pertinent research and literature to extensively review artificial intelligence (AI)-based PRS models for CVD risk prediction.Furthermore, we analyzed and compared conventional vs. AI-based solutions for PRS. We summarized the recent advances in our understanding of the use of AI-based PRS for risk prediction of CVD. Our study proposes three hypotheses: i) Multiple genetic variations and risk factors can be incorporated into AI-based PRS to improve the accuracy of CVD risk predicting. ii) AI-based PRS for CVD circumvents the drawbacks of conventional PRS calculators by incorporating a larger variety of genetic and non-genetic components, allowing for more precise and individualised risk estimations. iii) Using AI approaches, it is possible to significantly reduce the dimensionality of huge genomic datasets, resulting in more accurate and effective disease risk prediction models. Our study highlighted that the AI-PRS model outperformed traditional PRS calculators in predicting CVD risk. Furthermore, using AI-based methods to calculate PRS may increase the precision of risk predictions for CVD and have significant ramifications for individualized prevention and treatment plans.

Serum vitamin D level as a predictor of bronchial asthma in Egyptian children

This study was designed to assess the relationship between the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the clinical, functional severity and the level of asthma control among Egyptian asthmatic children. This case-control cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 asthmatic patients from those regularly attending the Pediatric Chest Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. Twenty healthy children of matched age and sex were recruited as the control group. Pulmonary function tests were significantly decreased in the asthmatic cases compared with the control [P < 0.01]. The serum vitamin D level was found to be significantly decreased in asthmatic children compared with the control group [P < 0.001]. Out of the 50 asthmatic children, 20 had a serum vitamin D level of less than 25 ng/ml, and were considered to be 'vitamin D deficient', whereas the remaining 30 children had a level ranging between >25 ng/ml and

association of serum total cortisol and pneumonia severity index

To study the relation between severity of pneumonia and serum cortisol level in a cohort of Egyptian patients. All consecutive adult patients with community acquired pneumonia [CAP] admitted to Mansoura University Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt between March 2008 and December 2008 were considered for study inclusion. Exclusion criteria were patients with HIV infection, impaired immune systems, collagen vascular disease, interstitial pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma requiring 10 mg of prednisolone at least daily, active malignant neoplasm, congestive heart failure [CHF], liver cirrhosis, or other causes of hypoproteinemia and septic shock. Pneumonia severity was scored at hospital admission according to pneumonia severity index [PSI] using the PORT criteria. The serum total cortisol was measured at hospital admission using ELISA. The present study comprised 23 adult patients with CAP: 14 male and 9 females with a mean age of 47 +/- 16.7 years. Total serum cortisol [mean 483.11 +/- 387.91 nmol/L] was positively correlated [p=0.012, R=0.576] with pneumonia severity as assessed by the PSI. Moreover, the total serum cortisol levels showed significantly negative correlation with arterial oxygen tension [R=-0.500, p=0.035], oxygen saturation% [R=0.450, p=0.029], and bicarbonate level [R=0.266, p=0.03], as well as a significant positive correlation with the extent of lung involvement [p=0.041]. Total serum cortisol showed a significantly positive correlation with the severity of CAP assessed by the PORT index [PSI] in our study population. A single measurement of total serum cortisol may provide helpful information as the complex 20-variables, which are used in pneumonia severity index

Collimator selection for high quality brain SPECT imaging

Different Types of collimators have been introduced in the practical usage of the gamma camera. The choice of the collimator depends firstly on the energy of the isotope, the required resolution sensitivity of the applied scan, and finally the size of the organ to be imaged. In the present study the fan-beam collimator was studied versus the parallel-hole collimator to clarify the importance of their properties in imaging of particular organs with the gamma camera. The study was done on a [Axis] dual head SPECT gamma camera provided with both parallel-hole and fan-beam collimators. The important part of this study was the clinical part at which the selected patients were coming for evaluation of the treatment response for brain tumors and detection of residual lesions or recurrence following surgical or radiotherapy treatment. Thirty patients with brain tumors of various histopathologic types including medalloblastoma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiformis and oligodenderoma were subjected to brain SPECT imaging. Three tests were done on each patient's reconstructed image: The ratio between the lesion average counts [total count I number of pixels] to the background average counts, the contrast of the lesion in each clinical case and the area of the lesion is also compared between the two collimators for the same patient's lesion. In conclusion fan beam is an accurate and good tool for imaging and assessment of the treatment response as well as planning in the radiotherapy unit

Molecular detection of methicillin resistant "mecA" gene in coagulase negative staphylococci causing bacteremia

CoNS and specifically, the dominant species Staph epidermidis have emerged in recent years as pathogens of serious nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care. Methicillin resistant strains are particularly important because they show narrow therapeutic options. Detection of methicillin resistance among CoNS is often difficult, because these microorganisms present a hetero-resistant pattern. This work aimed to isolate the aerobic and facultative anaerobic organisms causing bacteremia in PICU of Ain Shams University hospital, assess the antibiotic-sensitivity for these organisms and to study the molecular detection of methicillin resistant "mecA" gene in CoNS in comparison with the phenotypic disk diffusion method. The study included 100 patients admitted to the PICU, from March 2003 to August 2003, for whom blood cultures were performed. Bacterial isolates including CoNS isolates were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing and PCR for detection of mecA gene. This study showed that 42% of patients had positive blood culture. Gram-positive organisms accounted for 47.7% of cases of which 42.9% were CoNS. Gram-negative organisms represented 38.1% and Candida spp accounted for 14.2%. The antibiotic sensitivity for CoNS isolates ranged from 22.2% [for both oxacillin and methicillin] to 66.7% [ampicillin + sulbactam]. Out of the 18 CoNS isolates, 11 isolates were mecA positive while the rest 7 isolates were mecA negative. Comparing the PCR with disk diffusion results showed that from 11 mecA positive isolates, 9 isolates were detected by disk diffusion as methicillin resistant [MR] and this include only Staph. epidermidis isolates. The other two mecA positive isolates were found to be methicillin sensitive [MS] by disk diffusion. From the 7 mecA negative isolates, 2 isolates were MS by disk diffusion. CoNS were the main blood stream infection [BSI] pathogen in Ain Shams University hospital PICU. MRCoNS were resistant to many antibiotics used. Disk diffusion test was significantly correlated with the PCR in case of Staph epidermidis but PCR was more rapid method for detection of MRCoNS

Preparation and characterization of some thiomalato-metal complexes that have a therapeutic interest

The present article has been carried out to prepare with high yield a thiomalato-gold[I] complex which is used as an antirheumatic drug and is sold under the name myochrisin, in addition to thiomalato complexes of copper, silver and platinum complexes expected to be a therapeutic value. The composition and the optical and structural characteristics of various prepared complexes were determined by using chemical as well as thermal analyses, electronic absorption spectra, infrared spectra, mass spectra and electron spin resonance. The different complexes can be prepared with yields exceeding 75%. These findings indicate that the thiomalato-gold[I] complex can be manufactured on an economic basis

Recovery of vanadium pentaoxide and potassium sulfate from spent catalyst using ammonium sulfate

The aim of the present work was directed to investigate thoroughly, the effectiveness of extraction of vanadium oxides as well as potassium sulfate from the spent vanadium pentaoxide catalyst using ammonium sulfate as an attacking reagent, in order to avoid the use of corrosive acids. The investigation was also aimed to utilize the accumulated amounts of spent catalyst in production of vanadium pentaoxide and potassium sulfate which help in minimization of environmental pollutions arised from accumulation of the former one by times. The chemical reactions between the reactive species, resulted from thermal decomposition of ammonium sulfate and various species forming the spent catalyst at different temperatures ranged between 200-450[degree sign] C were investigated in detail the different reaction products were characterized by means of x-ray diffraction patterns as well as by electronic absorption spectra, whereas the contents of tetra-and pentavalent vanadium species were determined by volumetric methods of chemical analysis. Depending on the different results, samples of vanadium pentaoxide and potassium sulfate were prepared in pure forms from the spent catalyst

effect of d-glucosamine sulfate on temporomandibular joint antigen induced arthritis in albino rats [histological, histocheniic and digital image analysis]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of d-glucosamine sulfate on tem-poromandibular joint arthritis. The present study was carried out on ninety male albino rats of average weight [150 - 20gmO]. These rats were divided into control healthy, arthritic arthritic nontreated and treated groups. Thirty rats for control and sacrificed parallel with group II and, III, thirty rats for group II [arthritic nontreated] which subdivided into three equal subgroup A, B,C they were sacrificed after arthritis induction by thirty, sixty, ninety days respectively and thirty rats for group III [treated group] which subdivided into three equal subgroups D, E, F. they were sacrificed after thirty, sixty and ninety days of treatment of arthritis respectively. The specimens were taken, fixed, demineralized and processed for paraffin sections. The sections were studied histologically, his-tochemically, statistically and digital image analysis.The results of this study, histologically; in group II there were side adhesion between the articular cartilage and the disc, thinning and irregularities of some parts of articular cartilage and destruction of subchondoral bone. These criteria decreased in severity from subgroup A to C. but in group III all these criteria in group II regenerated gradually from subgroup D to F which appeared nearly normal at subgroup F. Histochemically; in group II the collagen fibers were decreased and disarranged with matrix defect and loss of toludine blue stain, intense reaction to acid phosphatase, mild reaction to alkaline phosphatase. In group III the collagen fibers and matrix regenerated gradually from D to F after the treatment, very weak reaction to acid phosphatase and intense reaction to alkaline phosphatase. Digital image analysis revealed that the net collagen matrix was increased in group III more than group II. statistical analysis, there was significant increase in cartilage thickness and collagen matrix in group III more than group II.Based on the previous results we conclude that, treatment of temporomandibular joint arthritis by d-glucosamine sulfate leads to decrease the degenerative changes of osteoarthiritis in the joint, increases collagen formation, enhances the matrix formation and reduce the osteoarthritic pain. This paper was extracted from a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for master degree in oral biology by rehab r elzehery [demonstrator in oral biology, faculty of dentistry, man-soura university]

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril and lisinopril, on collagen synthesis by cultured rat liver cells

Several studies have documented the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEI] as antifibrogenic and antiproliferative in different tissues in vivo and in vitro but unfortunately non of them has investigated this effect on collagen synthesis by individual liver cells. In this study we focused on the in vitro effect of two ACEI with different pharmacologic properties, captopril and lisinopril, on the synthesis of types I and III collagens by individual liver cells, since these types of collagens are the most abundant ECM molecules both in normal and fibrotic liver. Rat liver cells were isolated, separated according to cell types through density gradient centrifugation in percoll then cultured as separate clones for 24 hours. Types I and III collagens secretion was measured by gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] and computer analysis of their alpha chains after purification from cell culture media. Both captopril and lisinopril significantly reduced types I and III collagens by cultured hepatocytes [HC], liver endothelial cells [EC], and hepatic stellate cells [HSC] with more prominent action for captopril than lisinopril. The present study document the inhibitory effect of ACEI on types I and III collagen synthesis by liver cell sub-population in vitro by a mechanism independent on the systemic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and possibly through a mechanism involving a local renin-angiotensin system or interference with intracellular events involved in collagen synthesis

Nutritional status: an important determinant for the quality of life [QOI] among the elderly

The relationships between nutrition, aging, and quality of life [QOL] are inter-related. This work aimed at studying the relationship between the nutritional status and QOL in the elderly; also, the association between comorbidities, socio-demography, life style, and their QOL. The study was conducted during the year 2004 from April to June, in a village at Gharbia Governorate. It included 303 elderly with a mean age of 67.15 +/- 7.54. Data were collected using a questionnaire sheet that included [1] socio-demographic and life style factors, [2] assessment and grading of the nutritional status using the [MNA] Mini-Nutritional Assessment form, and [3] measuring the QOL using [MOS] Medical Outcome Study 36-item short form [SF-36]. The study showed that 12.87% of the elderly were malnourished and 19.8% were of poor QOL. Poor nutritional status was significantly associated with low score of QOL [X4[2]=64.27] and with most of the dimensions of the QOL form such as physical functioning and mental health status [X2[2]= 64.73 and X2[2]=40.03, respectively]. Factors that affected food intake such as lack of appetite, GIT problems, and teeth problems were significantly affecting the QOL among the studied sample. The more the number of chronic diseases among the elderly, the lower was the score of QOL [R[s] =-0.6, P<0.05]. Poor QOL associated significantly with advanced age [40.23%], with male sex [29.17%], widowhood [36.36%], living alone [42.11%], and with restricted mobility [29.84%]. The study recommended the use of QOL measures before and after nutritional programs interventions among the elderly as screening tools for improving management of the nutritional status

effects of melatonin administration on some endocrine functions in rats

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chronic oral melatonin administration in dose of 0.4 mg/kg B.W. daily for 30 days on serum TSH, T4, FSH, LH and insulin. 160 albino rats of both sexes were used, they were grouped into 16 groups, of which 8 groups were used to investigate the endocrinal effects of melatonin in both light and dark conditions. The other 8 groups were used for the same investigations under stressful condition in both light and dark as well. Half of all these groups were served as placebo controls. It was concluded that exogenous melatonin is recommended only as replacement therapy for persons sleeping in light to avoid disturbance of thyroid function especially in hyperthyroid patients. Also, melatonin has no role in counteracting the effects of acute stress on the endocrine functions related to TSH, T4, LH, FSH and insulin

effect of the temperament of friesian cows on milking ability

Six weeks observation were made on milking ability of h and milked 46 multiparous Friesian cows, in relation to their dairy temperament, classified as docile [18], slightly restless [14], restless [8], nervous [6]. The mean milk letdown time [second], milking time [min.], milk flow rate [kg/min.], and milk yield [kg/12 hours], respectively, were recorded. The dairy temperament had a significant effect [P <0.01] on letdown time, milk yield and milking time, but there was no significant effect on the milk flow rate. It can be concluded that, a docile temperament is an economically more milk producer than the nervous one, within the same breed and the same method of husb and ry

Effect of group size, age and strain on the behaviour of Japanese quail

Fifty six quail hens from two strains [28 from each] were included in this study. Birds of each strain were divided into 4 groups in density of 2, 3, 4, and 5 birds/cage in two replicates for each group. Birds were observed for period from 6 to 12 weeks of age for changes in behavioral traits due to population size, age and strain effects. There was a significant difference in drinking, moving, preening and ruffling frequencies due to group size effect. However, larger sized groups perform higher percentage of rest, lower percentage and frequency of st and ing, higher frequencies of moving, preening, ruffling, head shaking and more wing and leg stretch and fewer aggressive pecking and gained more weight than the small sized groups. Positive correlation between body weight and group size was also observed. Moreover, feeding, drinking, moving and st and ing behavior were highly significantly [P <0.01] affected with age. On the other h and, except st and ing and aggressive pecking, none of the behavioral pattern was significantly affected by the strain of quail. The percentage and frequency of aggression was significantly higher in brown than white quails. Moreover, brown quails gained significantly more weight than white ones

study of reproductive problems among workers exposed to video-display terminals with emphasis on spontaneous abortion

This study is aimed at the investigation of the relationship between abortion and stillbirth and exposure to VDTs in Egypt. A cross sectional study [ex-post-facto] design was used. The study population consisted of married female workers exposed for at least 12 hours weekly to VDTs in the last two years in four governorates; Ismailia, Cairo, Suez and Port-Saeid. The study was conducted in 1991-1992. The control group consisted of female clerical workers from the same work-sites. A sample size of 148 individuals per group was estimated to be enough to detect a prevalence OR of 2.3, with a 95% level of confidence and 80% power. The choice of the control group from the workers population was to avoid the healthy worker effect. Exposure was ascertained from the registers to avoid misclassification. A questionnaire was used for the collection of personal, occupational and obstetric data. It was tested before use. Quality control was done during data collection. Analysis of the results has shown a statistically significant association between the intensity and duration of exposure and abortion. Regression analysis has excluded age and parity as confounders. Analysis of job factors is discussed. The results of this study add to the evidence of the association between exposure to VDTs and spontaneous abortion

Observations on the ovarian activity of slaughtered buffaloes in Iraq

Examination of the ovaries of 224 nonpregnant buffalo cows revealed that 171 [76.33%] specimens have active ovaries, 30 [13.39%] cases showed ovarian inactivity, while cystic ovaries was observed in 11 [4.9%] specimens, 4 [1.79%] specimens have ovarian teratomas and 8 [3.56%] showed ovaro-dursal adhesions

Biometrical and histomorphological studies on the oviducts of the ewes

The oviducts of 52 slaughtered Iraqi ewes were described macroscopically and microscopically during the different phases of the estrous cycle. The biometry and morphology were presented. The histological findings were also illustrated

IgE and histamine levels in tears and serum in relation to clinical types and severity of vernal keratoconjunctivitis

The concentration of IgE antibodies and histamine in tears and serum of [44] patients with vernel keratoconjunctivitis [V.K.C] were measured. The levels compared to the levels in [15] Patients with allergic conjunctivitis [A.C] and [15] normal non atopic controls. It was found that IgE and histamine levels were significantly increased in patients with V.K.C than in patients with A.C, and in both than in normal subjects. IgE and histamine in tears were higher in palpebral than in bulbar V.K.C., and in severe than in mild grades of activity of V.K.C. IgE and histamine in serum were not changed in relation to the types or severity of the disease. After treatment it was obvious that, drop of histamine in tears was rapid and associated with comfort from symptoms, while the decrease in IgE was delayed and was associated with regressim of papillae or corneal infiltration. Accordingly, cortisone was found superior to sodium cromoglycate in management of the severe grade, and both were good in the modrate grade, while antistine privine was of value in the mild grade. One may suggest that determination of tear IgE and histamine are reliable diagnostic tests for management of V.K.C