High-Dimensional Feature Selection for Automatic Classification of Coronary Stenosis Using an Evolutionary Algorithm.

In this paper, a novel strategy to perform high-dimensional feature selection using an evolutionary algorithm for the automatic classification of coronary stenosis is introduced. The method involves a feature extraction stage to form a bank of 473 features considering different types such as intensity, texture and shape. The feature selection task is carried out on a high-dimensional feature bank, where the search space is denoted by O(2n) and n=473. The proposed evolutionary search strategy was compared in terms of the Jaccard coefficient and accuracy classification with different state-of-the-art methods. The highest feature selection rate, along with the best classification performance, was obtained with a subset of four features, representing a 99% discrimination rate. In the last stage, the feature subset was used as input to train a support vector machine using an independent testing set. The classification of coronary stenosis cases involves a binary classification type by considering positive and negative classes. The highest classification performance was obtained with the four-feature subset in terms of accuracy (0.86) and Jaccard coefficient (0.75) metrics. In addition, a second dataset containing 2788 instances was formed from a public image database, obtaining an accuracy of 0.89 and a Jaccard Coefficient of 0.80. Finally, based on the performance achieved with the four-feature subset, they can be suitable for use in a clinical decision support system.

Outcome of multidisciplinary treatment in laryngeal cancer. Retrospective study with 10-years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: In laryngeal cancer, multidisciplinary treatment improves the patient's quality of life and the possibility of preserving the larynx. Most cases occur in a locally advanced stage. The aim is to present the results according to the stage. METHOD: A retrospective study which analyzed the clinical stage, type of primary treatment, outcomes, and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: 451 patients were included. The median age was 66 years. The majority of the tumors presented in advanced stage (72%) and the most affected subsite was the glottis (84.5%). In the early stage the most frequent treatment was radiotherapy as the only treatment modality. In stages III and IVA, 65% were resectable. In stage IVB the management was non-surgical, with control in 26% of the cases. Survival at 10 years was related to the clinical stage: 81.7% for stage I and 0% for stages IVB and IVC. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with laryngeal cancer should be treated according to the clinical stage, through a multidisciplinary approach. Long-term follow-up showed a worse prognosis for advanced clinical stages.

ANTECEDENTES: En cáncer de laringe, el tratamiento multidisciplinario mejora la calidad de vida del paciente y la posibilidad de preservar la laringe. La mayor parte de estos cánceres se presentan localmente avanzados. El objetivo es presentar los resultados de acuerdo con la etapa. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo en el que se analizaron la etapa clínica, el tipo de tratamiento primario, los resultados y la sobrevida. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 451 pacientes. La mediana de edad fue de 66 años. El mayor porcentaje de los tumores se presentó en etapa avanzada (72%) y el sitio más afectado fue la glotis (84.5%). En etapa temprana, el tratamiento más frecuente fue la radioterapia. En las etapas III y IVA, el 65% fueron operables. En la etapa IVB el manejo fue no quirúrgico, con control en el 26% de los casos. La supervivencias a 10 años se relacionaron con la etapa clínica: 81.7% para la etapa I y 0% para las etapas IVB y IVC. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes con cáncer de laringe deben ser tratados de acuerdo con la etapa clínica y mediante un abordaje multidisciplinario. El seguimiento a largo plazo demostró un peor pronóstico para las etapas clínicas avanzadas.

Identification of an ethyl 5,6-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline-1-carboxylate as a catalytic inhibitor of DNA gyrase.

Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibacterial agents used clinically to treat a wide array of bacterial infections and target bacterial type-II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV). Fluoroquinolones, however potent, are susceptible to bacterial resistance with prolonged use, which limits their use in the clinic. Quinazoline-2,4-diones also target bacterial type-II topoisomerases and are not susceptible to bacterial resistance similar to fluoroquinolones, however, their potency pales in comparison to fluoroquinolones. To meet the increasing demand for antibacterial development, nine modified quinazoline-2,4-diones were developed to probe quinazoline-2,4-dione structure modification for possible new binding contacts with the bacterial type-II topoisomerase, DNA gyrase. Evaluation of compounds for inhibition of the supercoiling activity of DNA gyrase revealed a novel ethyl 5,6-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline-1-carboxylate derivative as a modest inhibitor of DNA gyrase, having an IC50 of 3.5 µM. However, this ethyl 5,6-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline-1-carboxylate does not trap the catalytic intermediate like fluoroquinolones or typical quinazoline-2,4-diones do. Thus, the ethyl 5,6-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline-1-carboxylate derivative discovered in this work acts as a catalytic inhibitor of DNA gyrase and therefore represents a new structural type of catalytic inhibitor of DNA gyrase.

Breast cancer survival by immunohistochemistry-determined subtype: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer subtype classification according to hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) using immunohistochemistry is the standard practice for therapeutic decision making. OBJECTIVE: To design future studies information on characteristics and survival of each subtype is essential. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study to analyze clinical and pathologic features as well as survival data according to breast cancer immunohistochemistry subtype. RESULTS: There were 211 women with a RH(+)/HER2(-) breast cancer subtype, 53 HR(+)/HER2(+), 16 HER2(+) and 23 HR(-)/HER2(-), with a median overall survival in months of 39 (20.5-62.7), 42 (25.5-65), 42 (13.7-67.7) and 26 (11-78), respectively, for a 3.7 hazard ratio of death (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.3-10.3) for the triple negative group as compared to the HR(+)/HER2(-) group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HR positive subtypes by immunohistochemistry where most frequent and showed a greater overall survival compared to the triple negative subtype.

[Supervivencia en cáncer de mama por subtipo mediante inmunohistoquímica: Un estudio retrospectivo].

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer subtype classification according to hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) using immunohistochemistry is the standard practice for therapeutic decision making. OBJECTIVE: To design future studies information on characteristics and survival of each subtype is essential. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study to analyze clinical and pathologic features as well as survival data according to breast cancer immunohistochemistry subtype. RESULTS: There were 211 women with a RH(+)/HER2(-) breast cancer subtype, 53 HR(+)/HER2(+), 16 HER2(+) and 23 HR(-)/HER2(-), with a median overall survival in months of 39 (20.5-62.7), 42 (25.5-65), 42 (13.7-67.7) and 26 (11-78), respectively, for a 3.7 hazard ratio of death (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.3-10.3) for the triple negative group as compared to the HR(+)/HER2(-) group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HR positive subtypes by immunohistochemistry where most frequent and showed a greater overall survival compared to the triple negative subtype.

ANTECEDENTES: La clasificación del cáncer de mama en subtipos mediante la expresión de receptores hormonales (RH) y del receptor 2 del factor de crecimiento epidérmico humano (HER2) por inmunohistoquímica (IHQ) es una práctica estándar para la toma de decisiones terapéuticas. OBJETIVO: Conocer las características y supervivencia de cada subtipo de pacientes, que es indispensable para poder diseñar futuros estudios. MÉTODO: Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo evaluando las características clinicopatológicas y la supervivencia por subtipo mediante IHQ en mujeres con cáncer de mama. RESULTADOS: 211 mujeres con cáncer de mama RH(+)/HER2(­), 53 con RH(+)/HER2(+), 16 con HER2(+) y 23 con RH(­)/HER2(­), con una mediana de supervivencia global en meses de 39 (20.5-62.7), 42 (25.5-65), 42 (13.7-67.7) y 26 (11-78), respectivamente, para un cociente de riesgo (HR por sus siglas en inglés, Hazard Ratio): 3.7 (IC 95%: 1.3-10.3) en el grupo triple negativo comparado con RH(+)/HER2(­) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIÓN: Los subtipos con RH positivos por IHQ son los más frecuentes y este grupo de pacientes tienen una mejor supervivencia global comparada con las pacientes triple negativo.

Supervivencia en cáncer de mama por subtipo mediante inmunohistoquímica: Un estudio retrospectivo / Survival in breast cancer by subtype by immunohistochemistry: A retrospective study

Resumen Antecedentes: La clasificación del cáncer de mama en subtipos mediante la expresión de receptores hormonales (RH) y del receptor 2 del factor de crecimiento epidérmico humano (HER2) por inmunohistoquímica (IHQ) es una práctica estándar para la toma de decisiones terapéuticas. Objetivo: Conocer las características y supervivencia de cada subtipo de pacientes, que es indispensable para poder diseñar futuros estudios. Método: Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo evaluando las características clinicopatológicas y la supervivencia por subtipo mediante IHQ en mujeres con cáncer de mama. Resultados: 211 mujeres con cáncer de mama RH(+)/HER2(-), 53 con RH(+)/HER2(+), 16 con HER2(+) y 23 con RH(-)/HER2(-), con una mediana de supervivencia global en meses de 39 (20.5-62.7), 42 (25.5-65), 42 (13.7-67.7) y 26 (11-78), respectivamente, para un cociente de riesgo (HR por sus siglas en inglés, Hazard Ratio): 3.7 (IC 95%: 1.3-10.3) en el grupo triple negativo comparado con RH(+)/HER2(-) (p = 0.01). Conclusión: Los subtipos con RH positivos por IHQ son los más frecuentes y este grupo de pacientes tienen una mejor supervivencia global comparada con las pacientes triple negativo.

Abstract Background: Breast cancer subtype classification according to hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) using immunohistochemistry is the standard practice for therapeutic decision making. Objective: To design future studies information on characteristics and survival of each subtype is essential. Method: We conducted a retrospective study to analyze clinical and pathologic features as well as survival data according to breast cancer immunohistochemistry subtype. Results: There were 211 women with a RH(+)/HER2(-) breast cancer subtype, 53 HR(+)/HER2(+), 16 HER2(+) and 23 HR(-)/HER2(-), with a median overall survival in months of 39 (20.5-62.7), 42 (25.5-65), 42 (13.7-67.7) and 26 (11-78), respectively, for a 3.7 hazard ratio of death (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.3-10.3) for the triple negative group as compared to the HR(+)/HER2(-) group (p = 0.01). Conclusions: HR positive subtypes by immunohistochemistry where most frequent and showed a greater overall survival compared to the triple negative subtype.

Coronary artery segmentation in X-ray angiograms using gabor filters and differential evolution.

Segmentation of coronary arteries in X-ray angiograms represents an essential task for computer-aided diagnosis, since it can help cardiologists in diagnosing and monitoring vascular abnormalities. Due to the main disadvantages of the X-ray angiograms are the nonuniform illumination, and the weak contrast between blood vessels and image background, different vessel enhancement methods have been introduced. In this paper, a novel method for blood vessel enhancement based on Gabor filters tuned using the optimization strategy of Differential evolution (DE) is proposed. Because the Gabor filters are governed by three different parameters, the optimal selection of those parameters is highly desirable in order to maximize the vessel detection rate while reducing the computational cost of the training stage. To obtain the optimal set of parameters for the Gabor filters, the area (Az) under the receiver operating characteristics curve is used as objective function. In the experimental results, the proposed method achieves an Az=0.9388 in a training set of 40 images, and for a test set of 40 images it obtains the highest performance with an Az=0.9538 compared with six state-of-the-art vessel detection methods. Finally, the proposed method achieves an accuracy of 0.9423 for vessel segmentation using the test set. In addition, the experimental results have also shown that the proposed method can be highly suitable for clinical decision support in terms of computational time and vessel segmentation performance.

Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim versus fluoroquinolones for the treatment of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bloodstream infections.

OBJECTIVES: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia causes high mortality rates, especially in bloodstream infections (BSIs) where there is a lack of comparative data with fluoroquinolones (FQs) and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT). The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes in patients with S. maltophilia BSI who were treated with FQs versus SXT. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to compare FQs (levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin) versus SXT for the treatment of S. maltophilia BSI. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were included in this retrospective study, including 32 treated with SXT and 22 treated with FQs (11 ciprofloxacin, 5 levofloxacin and 6 moxifloxacin). There were 3 deaths (13.6%) in the FQ group versus 10 (31.3%) in the SXT group (P=0.20). Modified Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score [odds ratio (OR)=1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.8] and broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to culture (OR=8, 95% CI 1.3-49.8) were significant predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin and levofloxacin are possible alternatives to SXT for S. maltophilia BSI; however, further investigation is needed to confirm these findings.

Inactivation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase by the dopamine metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde.

BACKGROUND: The aldehyde metabolite of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is an endogenous neurotoxin implicated in Parkinson's Disease. Elucidating protein targets of DOPAL is essential in understanding it's pathology. The enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a target of DOPAL. METHODS: GAPDH activity was measured via reduction of NAD+ cofactor (340 nm). Protein aggregation was assessed with SDS-PAGE methods and specific modification via chemical probes. RESULTS: Low micromolar levels of DOPAL caused extensive GAPDH aggregation and irreversibly inhibited enzyme activity. The inactivation of GAPDH was dependent on both the catechol and aldehyde moieties of DOPAL. It is suggested that Cys are modified and oxidized by DOPAL. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism by which DOPAL modifies GAPDH can serve as a mechanistic explanation to the pathological events in Parkinson's Disease.

Brief Report: Macrocephaly Phenotype and Psychiatric Comorbidity in a Clinical Sample of Mexican Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may present with macrocephaly. Few studies have analyzed the association with psychiatric comorbidity. Participants were 94 children with any ASD with an age range from 2 to 16 years (Mdn 6 years), 82% were boys. It was found that 20% of the sample had macrocephaly and 1% microcephaly. There was no association between the presence of macrocephaly and subtype of ASD. The most associated comorbidity was attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 54.2%, followed by specific phobia 34%, dysthimia 29.7%, oppositional defiant disorder 13.83% motor tics 11.7%, separation anxiety 9.5% and Gilles de la Tourette 8.5%. In conclusion, macrocephaly and psychiatric comorbidity in this clinical sample of children with ASD is similar to the international literature results.

Segmentation of Coronary Angiograms Using Gabor Filters and Boltzmann Univariate Marginal Distribution Algorithm.

This paper presents a novel method for improving the training step of the single-scale Gabor filters by using the Boltzmann univariate marginal distribution algorithm (BUMDA) in X-ray angiograms. Since the single-scale Gabor filters (SSG) are governed by three parameters, the optimal selection of the SSG parameters is highly desirable in order to maximize the detection performance of coronary arteries while reducing the computational time. To obtain the best set of parameters for the SSG, the area (Az ) under the receiver operating characteristic curve is used as fitness function. Moreover, to classify vessel and nonvessel pixels from the Gabor filter response, the interclass variance thresholding method has been adopted. The experimental results using the proposed method obtained the highest detection rate with Az = 0.9502 over a training set of 40 images and Az = 0.9583 with a test set of 40 images. In addition, the experimental results of vessel segmentation provided an accuracy of 0.944 with the test set of angiograms.

A Novel Diversity-Based Replacement Strategy for Evolutionary Algorithms.

Premature convergence is one of the best-known drawbacks that affects the performance of evolutionary algorithms. An alternative for dealing with this problem is to explicitly try to maintain proper diversity. In this paper, a new replacement strategy that preserves useful diversity is presented. The novelty of our method is that it combines the idea of transforming a single-objective problem into a multiobjective one, by considering diversity as an explicit objective, with the idea of adapting the balance induced between exploration and exploitation to the various optimization stages. Specifically, in the initial phases, larger amounts of diversity are accepted. The diversity measure considered in this paper is based on calculating distances to the closest surviving individual. Analyses with a multimodal function better justify the design decisions and provide greater insight into the working operation of the proposal. Computational results with a packing problem that was proposed in a popular contest illustrate the usefulness of the proposal. The new method significantly improves on the best results known to date for this problem and compares favorably against a large number of state-of-the-art schemes.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. aqueous extract attenuates hepatic steatosis through down-regulation of PPAR-γ and SREBP-1c in diet-induced obese mice.

The growing incidence of obesity is a worldwide public health problem leading to a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which extends from steatosis to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. We investigated whether the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs) reduces body weight gain and protects the liver by improving lipid metabolism in high fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6NHsd mice. We found that oral administration of the Hs extract reduced fat tissue accumulation, diminished body weight gain and normalized the glycemic index as well as reduced dyslipidemia compared to the obese mice group that did not receive Hs treatment. In addition, Hs treatment attenuated liver steatosis, down-regulated SREBP-1c and PPAR-γ, blocked the increase of IL-1, TNF-α mRNA and lipoperoxidation and increased catalase mRNA. Our results suggest that the anti-obesity, anti-lipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of the Hs extract are related to the regulation of PPAR-γ and SREBP-1c in the liver.

Impact of restaurant hygiene grade cards on foodborne-disease hospitalizations in Los Angeles County.

Although health departments routinely inspect restaurants to assess compliance with established hygienic standards, few data are available on the effectiveness of these efforts in preventing foodborne disease. The study reported here assessed the impact on foodborne-disease hospitalizations in Los Angeles County of a restaurant hygiene grading system that utilized publicly posted grade cards. The grading systm was introduced in January 1998. Hospital discharge data on foodborne-disease hospitalizations were analyzed for Los Angeles County and, as a control, for the rest of California during the period 1993-2000. Ordinary least-squares regression analysis was done to measure the effect of the grading progam on these hospitalizations. After baseline temporal and geographic trends were adjusted for, the restaurant hygiene grading program was associated with a 13.1 percent decrease (p < .01) in the number of foodborne-disease hospitalizations in Los Angeles County in the year following implementation the program (1998). This decrease was sustained over the next two years (1999-2000). The results suggest that restaurant hygiene grading with public posting of results is an effective intervention for reducing the burden of foodborne disease.

[Bochdalek's hernia in adults]. / Hernia de Bochdalek en el adulto.

Bochdalek hernia is a congenital defect of the posterolateral region of the diaphragm, usually on the left side, and is most often seen in infants, rare in the adult. In a bibliographical review of the literature we found 100 cases reported of Bochdalek hernia in the adult. We present the case of a 52 year old man with Bochdalek hernia, he presented gastric symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Upper gastrointestinal barium study showed the stomach inside the thoracic cavity, endoscopy showed ischemical changes in gastric mucosa The surgical repair was done through left thoracotomy without surgical complications, four years later the patient is asymptomatic.

Ganaderia del Beni : Polo de desarrollo economico

Contenido: 1.Generalidades.Introduccion.Consideraciones sobre desarrollo economico.Situacion actual de la industria ganadera 2.Estudio del mercado.Situacion actual en los paises vecinos, Chile y Peru.Caracteristicas del mercado boliviano.Fuentes de abastecimiento, canales de distribucion.Transporte 3.estudio del tamano y localizacion.Ubicacion.Determinacion del tamano.Consideraciones practicas 4.Estudio tecnico.Descripcion del proceso.Equipo necesario 5.Consideraciones economicas.Inversiones necesarias.Presupuesto de gastos e ingresos.